This week’s F Word is first impressions—and no, this isn’t about being polished, likable, or charismatic.
In this episode, Dr. Daryl Appleton breaks down the real psychology behind first impressions, including the one question used by the CIA that reveals how someone handles stress, power, and emotional responsibility:
“When was the first time you had to be the adult in the room?”
From job interviews to first dates to family dynamics, this episode gives you a science-backed framework for decoding people beyond their résumé or highlight reel.
You’ll learn:
Why we assess people on warmth and competence within seconds
How language, tense, and tone reveal unprocessed pain
What emotional granularity says about stress tolerance and leadership
How microexpressions leak truth before words do
Why defensiveness is a data point—and curiosity is a growth signal
How to ask better questions without interrogating or diagnosing
You’ll also get a practical decoder toolkit for:
✔️ Job interviews
✔️ Dating
✔️ Friendships & family
✔️ Leadership and trust-building
This episode isn’t about judging people.
It’s about seeing them clearly—and showing up clearly yourself.