logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2021
52m 6s

Why Conversations Go Wrong

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode

Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak different languages? We talk with linguist Deborah Tannen about how our conversational styles can cause unintended conflicts, and what we can do to communicate more effectively with the people in our lives.

If you like our work, please try to support us! See how you can help at support.hiddenbrain.org. To learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at news.hiddenbrain.org

Up next
Aug 25
The Trauma Script
When tragedy strikes, it’s natural to be devastated. But psychologist George Bonanno finds that many of us recover from life’s blows more quickly than we might expect. This week, we talk with Bonanno about his research and why it has changed how many scientists think about trauma ... Show More
50m 13s
Aug 18
How Our Brains Learn
Have you ever fallen asleep in school or during a work meeting? Maybe you felt your eyes glaze over as your boss or a teacher droned on and on about a topic that had no relevance to you. What's missing from these classrooms and conference rooms is engagement: A state of being abs ... Show More
1h 22m
Aug 11
The Best Years of Your Life
Aging isn’t just a biological process. Our outlooks and emotions also change as we age, often in ways that boost our well-being. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Laura Carstensen, who helps us unpack the science behind this surprising finding, and s ... Show More
1h 19m
Recommended Episodes
May 2019
Language Creates Your Reality with Anna Gát
Instant messaging has transformed how we communicate, but what does that mean for our relationships? This is the first time in human history that we can communicate with anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Yet, miscommunication happens now more than ever before. Anna Gát is the co-foun ... Show More
1h 22m
Jun 2024
Opposite Love Languages
How can a marriage work when the spouses have opposite love languages? The good news is, anyone can learn to speak a love language that's not natural to them. Discover your spouse's love language, and then become an expert at speaking it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in ... Show More
1 m
Oct 2023
104. How to Control Your Emotions in Difficult Conversations
We all encounter challenging discussions in our personal and professional lives. Understanding how to manage our emotions in these moments can significantly influence the outcomes of these conversations. In this episode of the My English Matters podcast, Amnah and Madam Azimah di ... Show More
23m 35s
May 2024
How Can We Be More Effective With Language?
Have you ever wondered what’s up with double negation, the history of gender neutral pronouns, or why swearing is taboo? Then get ready for this week’s guest, linguist Anne Curzan! Anne and Jonathan talk about how the English language has evolved since the 1300s and how our words ... Show More
55m 20s
Jun 2022
Better Communication Skills
Unless you live in a cave, effective communication is something you need to master to get what you want in life.Have you ever been in a conversation and felt you were not being heard?It's time to step around to their side of the table and see things from their point of view.Every ... Show More
11 m
Oct 2020
21. Words Matter: How to Make Your Communication Inclusive
What way can the language we use reinforce existing stereotypes and biases? In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Sarah Soule, Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Organizational Behavior sits down with lecturer and host Matt Abrahams to discuss how even the details of our ... Show More
21m 53s
Jul 2023
Why Babies Babble And What It Can Teach Adults About Language
In which we metaphorically enter the UCLA Language Acquisistion Lab's recording castle, guided by linguistics researcher Dr. Megha Sundara. NPR science correspondent Sydney Lupkin temporarily takes over the host chair to talk to Sundara about all things baby babble. Along the way ... Show More
10m 57s
Jan 2016
Body Language!
Body language is how you communicate without words. Some say it bears more impact in communication than speaking words. Learn about how you say what you say could mean more than you think. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/ ... Show More
38m 10s
Aug 2023
[Rebroadcast] How to Have Deeper Conversations
#158: Conversations can be a source of frustration, but they can also be the source of our deepest and most fulfilling joys. The bonds that we form with others are forged in large part through conversations. In this episode, we’ll talk about the key skill needed to have good conv ... Show More
27m 54s