Tiger Sisters

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

April 20, 2026·46 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

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: partnerships@tigersisters.coWhy 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

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