logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2020
19m 45s

Presenting Life Kit: How To Have Better ...

NPR
About this episode
With the holidays coming, we're all trying to figure out how to celebrate with loved ones from a distance. When all we have to connect this year are phone calls and video chats, how do we make the most out of our conversations? In this episode from NPR's Life Kit Sam gets advice from the owner of a hair salon, whose job has taught her to be a good conversationalist. Then, Sam talks to journalist and professional speaker Celeste Headlee. Celeste, who gave a TED talk on this topic, shares her guidance on how to have more meaningful conversations.

You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Aug 22
Inside the White House meme factory
We need to talk about the memes your tax dollars paid for. What is the federal government trying to communicate with them?The social media accounts of the White House and the Department of Homeland Security have been chock-full of memes: memes that mock people being deported, mem ... Show More
20m 24s
Aug 20
Cringe culture says stop. We say lean in.
Has online hate ever been this cruel?Brendan Abernathy is a singer-songwriter who went viral earlier this year for an earnest performance of his song "married in a year." The backlash was immediate, and one word popped up over and over again in the comments: "cringe."Brittany and ... Show More
21m 20s
Aug 18
The newest influencers? Porn stars.
Sex sells. So does outrage. That's why these sex workers are making rage bait. In the past few months, UK and Australian-based OnlyFans creators like Bonnie Blue and Annie Knight made headlines for their extreme sex stunts, most notably for sleeping with over 100 men in one day. ... Show More
12m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
How To Have Meaningful Conversations At Holiday Gatherings
Having good conversations is an art form. To help you out at end-of-year gatherings, NPR's Sam Sanders tapped longtime radio host and podcaster Celeste Headlee for her tips for really listening and connecting. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices ... Show More
18 m
Mar 2021
How to have better conversations (with Celeste Headlee)
Humans need to have conversations every day-- at our jobs, in our homes, in government-- so how can we handle these better? Celeste Headlee is an award winning journalist who has done everything from anchoring morning news on public radio to covering presidential campaigns. In th ... Show More
30 m
Apr 2021
#207 How to have conversations that matter
In this week’s Ask the Expert interview, Sarah talks to author, radio host and TED speaker Celeste Headlee about how to have better conversations at work. Together they discuss why most of us focus too much on what we’re going to say rather than what we can learn from conversatio ... Show More
22m 18s
May 2020
10 ways to have a better conversation | Celeste Headlee
When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations -- and that most of us don't converse very well. Celeste Headlee has worked as a radio host for decades, and she knows the ingredients of a great conversation: Honesty, brevity, c ... Show More
12m 3s
Dec 2022
How You Can Be More Intentional With Your Words | Sadie Robertson Huff & Heather Thompson Day
What do words mean? What does it mean when we say, "I'm a Christian"? Communications professor, author, and podcast host Heather Thompson Day joins Sadie to talk all things communication: how important it is in EVERY facet of our lives, why it's so important to define our terms w ... Show More
50m 3s
Feb 2024
How to Have Better Conversations (with author Charles Duhigg)
Gwyneth is joined by the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author of Supercommunicators to talk about the art and science behind meaningful conversation. Duhigg explains the three types of conversations, what makes certain ones work, and the traits of highly effective communi ... Show More
1h 3m
May 2023
Trailer: How to Talk to People
On How to Talk to People we explore the barriers to relationship building and why—in a world of endless potential for connection—so many people still feel alone. From the struggle to prioritize non-romantic relationships, to just feeling uncertain of what to talk about with stran ... Show More
2m 48s
May 2023
How to Talk to People: How to Make Small Talk
Making small talk can be hard—especially when you’re not sure whether you’re doing it well. But conversations are a central part of relationship-building. In this first episode of How to Talk to People, we explore the psychological barriers to making good small talk and unravel t ... Show More
37m 56s
Feb 2025
Encore: Having Hard Conversations: How to Avoid Being Avoidant
Hey, Fellow Travelers. This week, we’re checking in with Savannah, Ryan and Beth, Danica, and Amy to hear how our sessions have impacted their lives since we last spoke. All of them had trouble communicating with someone--a spouse, sibling, boyfriend--about an important issue in ... Show More
41m 21s
Apr 2024
Judy Woodruff: How Will We Live Our Beautiful, Terrible Days?
How do we navigate life within these beautiful, terrible days? In this special live episode of the Everything Happens podcast, Kate sits down with American broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff at the historic Sixth & I Synagogue in Washington, DC to discuss Kate’s latest book, Have ... Show More
42m 15s