Ep. 24 - The Art of Candid Conversation with Jonathan Schneider

Tired of small talk that goes nowhere? This week, Carolina sits down with Jonathan Schneider, co-founder of The Kandor Company—a qualitative market research firm that helps global brands like Porsche and Microsoft understand the "why" behind human behavior.Jonathan, also a valued member of the Thrive Power Yoga community, shares his unique insights on fostering truly effective and engaging conversations in our daily lives. Discover why asking "what do you do?" might be the most common, yet least insightful, question. Learn techniques from a master interviewer on how to move beyond superficial exchanges, whether you're at a dinner party or meeting new people. Jonathan shares his personal mantra for listening, the power of asking "small questions that lead to big answers," and why avoiding "why" can open up deeper dialogue.Jonathan is the co-founder of The Candor Company (www.thecandorcompany.com), a boutique qualitative market research firm that works with the world’s leading companies to help them better understand their customers.Jonathan’s firm works with such clients as Porsche, Microsoft, Google, and P&G.  Walk down any aisle in your grocery store, peruse the shelves at Best Buy, or use social media, and you’re likely to encounter a product or service that Candor has had a hand in developing.Jonathan began his career in the advertising industry where he saw his first focus group and thought that the job looked like fun and seemed like something that he could do. He was right but it took him some time to get there with stops at Emory University in Atlanta for his MBA and a job in GE’s marketing research department along the way. In 2001 in Atlanta, he met his business partner, Liz Moore, and founded The Candor Company with her.Join us to uncover practical tips for breaking free from conversational ruts, navigating sensitive topics, and creating more authentic connections in a world often dominated by screens and surface-level interactions.