The #1 Small Talk Rule That Makes People Like You (Stanford Communication Professor)

EPISODE · Apr 20, 2026 · 46 MIN

The #1 Small Talk Rule That Makes People Like You (Stanford Communication Professor)

from Tiger Sisters · host Cherie Brooke Luo and Jean Luo

Thank you to Shopify for sponsoring this video. Start now at https://shopify.com/tigersisters Thank you SoFi for sponsoring this video. Sign up here: https://www.sofi.com/TigerPlusSign up for our newsletter here and be the first to access our upcoming LIVE EVENT: https://cherieluo.substack.com/subscribeHave you ever walked away from a conversation with someone and thought: “how are they so magnetic?” Or, have you ever left a meeting and wondered: “why did I say it like that?”Today, we’re joined by Professor Matt Abrahams – a world-renowned communication expert, Stanford GSB lecturer, host of the podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, and Cherie’s former TEDx coach – to break down the science (and strategy) behind how to talk to anyone.Tune in for lessons on: ✅ How to get out of your head and connect in real time ✅ The #1 mistake killing your communication ✅ Matt’s “What, So What, Now What” framework for confidence on the spot ✅ Tips to get in (and out of!) small talk ✅ The 5 stories everyone should have ready (for networking, interviews, and life) ✅ How to take your networking – and Zoom interviews – to the next level Plus, we get tactical with real exercises you can start using this week: from recording yourself, to building your personal “story bank,” to becoming what Matt calls a “communication athlete.”Consider this your guide to thinking faster, speaking smarter, and connecting better 🤓📝PS… Tiger Fam: We ran into a few technical difficulties this time and there were a few dips in audio levels, but we worked extremely hard to make it the best episode possible! What did you think? Did you even notice? We’d love your feedback!Timestamps:00:44: Episode Intro 01:35: Introducing Matt Abrahams 01:54: What actually makes someone easy to talk to? 03:40: Why Matt records his students in different scenarios 05:40: 5 fundamental stories everyone should have in their arsenal 09:34: Matt’s go-to story… about toothpaste 10:45: How to prepare to be spontaneous 11:30: Being a “communication athlete” 13:30: The Pin Drop Principle’s techniques 14:30: The best way to have successful small talk 17:38: How to get OUT of small talk 21:34: How to judge yourself less while talking 22:45: An improv game to try (“shout the wrong name”)24:00: Why memorizing is so bad 30:42: “What, so what, now what” framework to speak on the spot 34:10: Bad vs. good apologies 39:20: How to communicate while networking 41:45: The science and art of “biz rizz” 42:50: Tips for connecting on virtual meetings and calls 45:32: Closing thoughts🐯👯‍♀️ We’re the Tiger Sisters — your Wall Street & Silicon Valley big sisters Decoding Money • Power • Love✨ New episodes every Monday | Shorts all week ✨💌 Want to partner with us? Sponsorships: [email protected] trust us?▫️ Cherie Brooke Luo — 100M+ views demystifying tech, finance & MBAs▫️ Jean Luo — ex-Goldman Sachs, ex-Snapchat exec, 50+ AI patents, startup investor▫️ Together: 4 Ivy League degrees • built billion-dollar products • two startups — decoded for youWhat you’ll get (and keep):▫️ 🚀 Ivy League cheat sheets — no $250K tuition▫️ Personal finance playbooks (salary, investing, negotiation)▫️ Networking scripts behind $100M+ deals & job offers▫️ Real conversations with CEOs, operators & investors▫️ Mindset resets — clarity without the pricey coach▫️ Systems for career, money, and long-term growth💛 LET’S CONNECT~ CHERIE ~Instagram — /cherie.brookeTikTok — /cherie.brookeSubstack — cherieluo.substack.comLinkedIn — /cherie-luo~ JEAN ~Instagram — /jeanluo_LinkedIn — /jeanluo👉 Hit Subscribe & tap the 🔔, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes a massive difference in helping new people discover Tiger Sisters.🛍️ Items:🍵 Sisters Matcha — www.sistersmatcha.com🌀 Everything else — https://amzn.to/3z0dx5b

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The #1 Small Talk Rule That Makes People Like You (Stanford Communication Professor)

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