2025 | 2025 Part 1 | 2024 | 2023
Presenting Confidently and Clearly in a Non-native Language
by Matt Abrahams
For most of us, presenting confidently and clearly in our native language is hard enough, but communicating in another language is marked by unique challenges and opportunities for growth. What follows is specific advice that can help all non-native speakers…
Matt's favorite ELL podcasts
Molly Sands
12/09/2025
embed (verb)
Definition: to put something firmly inside something else or include it as part of something
Example from the episode: “And so we are doing some really interesting interventions right now with teams where we embed AI not just as an individual collaborator for everyone on the team, but also into some of these team processes and ways of working.”
Example sentence: “The teacher embeds games into the lesson.”
onboarding (noun)
Definition: the process of helping new people learn their job and join a group
Example from the episode: “Yeah, we've had great success with onboarding with an AI buddy.”
Example sentence: “Onboarding helps new students learn the rules.”
distributed (adjective)
Definition: spread out across different places instead of all in one place
Example from the episode: “Her work focuses on understanding how teams can collaborate more effectively in a distributed and hybrid work environment, especially in the world of AI.”
Example sentence: “A distributed network has many separate computers.”
in the mix (idiom)
Definition: actively involved with others or taking part in a situation
Example from the episode: “And within Atlassian, we're really able to get in the mix with teams and change how they work and measure lots of different types of outcomes.”
Example sentence: “The coach got in the mix to help.”
Chat Matt
12/02/2025
hiccup (verb)
Definition: to have a small, sudden problem that stops something from working for a short time
Example from the episode: “The technology might hiccup, the responses might surprise you, and that's actually pretty normal when you're testing something new.”
Example sentence: “My computer hiccuped and the screen froze.”
setup (noun)
Definition: the arrangement or equipment needed to make something ready to use
Example from the episode: “That is the longest setup I have done for any interview.”
Example sentence: “We finished the tent setup before night.”
skeptical (adjective)
Definition: not sure that something is true or will work
Example from the episode: “I'm about to give a presentation to senior executives who seem skeptical about my proposal.”
Example sentence: “Mom looked skeptical when I said I finished my homework.”
uncharted territory (idiom)
Definition: a new or unknown situation that people have not experienced before
Example from the episode: “You've built something impressive, but now you're stepping into uncharted territory to see how it performs.”
Example sentence: “For him, living alone was uncharted territory.”
Sandy Pentland
11/27/2025
accent (verb)
Definition: to emphasize something so people notice it
Example from the episode: “What it is, is certain patterns of interaction, and those are accented by excitement or delay.”
Example sentence: “The director accented the scene with music.”
bottleneck (noun)
Definition: a place or problem that slows down progress or causes delay
Example from the episode: “How can this data be used to identify communication bottlenecks in a company or help create more effective and efficient teams once you understand the network?”
Example sentence: “The slow server is a bottleneck.”
frontier (adjective)
Definition: near the edge of knowledge or technology; very new and not fully explored
Example from the episode: “And you don't need the frontier model to do this at all. You can do this with any of the open source ones.”
Example sentence: “This is a frontier area of research.”
on top of something (idiom)
Definition: in addition to something else
Example from the episode: “Language seems to be built on top of that, but we didn't get rid of it.”
Example sentence: “On top of his homework, he had to wash the dishes.”
Dr. Deepak Chopra
11/25/2025
delineate (verb)
Definition: to describe or show something in a clear and detailed way
Example from the episode: “I appreciate how you delineated all the aspects of presence, and anybody listening knows that I love things that are memorable.”
Example sentence: “He delineated the plan for the project.”
dogma (noun)
Definition: a belief or set of beliefs that people accept as true without question
Example from the episode: “We use conscious communication and we refrain from dogma and being right and all that.”
Example sentence: “He followed the dogma without asking why.”
compassionate (adjective)
Definition: showing care and concern for people who are hurting or in need
Example from the episode: “That's inclusive, that's compassionate.”
Example sentence: “A compassionate teacher helps every student.”
think outside the box (idiom)
Definition: to think in a new or creative way that is different from usual ideas
Example from the episode: “And what that has to do with cancer or any disease is people who don't know too much think outside the box.”
Example sentence: “The team thought outside the box and won the contest.”
Gina Bianchini
11/20/2025
crystallize (verb)
Definition: to become clear or to make an idea or plan definite
Example from the episode: “And where this really became true for me and where it crystallized was, this was maybe a couple of decades ago, but I was just like stuck where I was physically.”
Example sentence: “The plan crystallized in her mind.”
tribe (noun)
Definition: a group of people who share the same culture, interests, or who support each other
Example from the episode: “What advice do you have for finding your tribe, for finding your community?”
Example sentence: “She joined a tribe of artists.”
niche (adjective)
Definition: describing something that fits into a small, special, or focused area or group
Example from the episode: “Prior to Mighty Networks, she was the CEO and co-founder of Ning, a global platform for creating niche social networks.”
Example sentence: “He writes about a niche topic.”
set the scene (idiom)
Definition: to prepare people by giving background information or creating the right mood or atmosphere
Example from the episode: “And I had not thought of, as you rightly introduced, that a good host or facilitator is also the one who can maximize and leverage the technology, be it AI or other tools, to help, again, set the scene, set the table for the community building.”
Example sentence: “The video set the scene for the lesson.”
Tech Tools Miniseries - Loom
11/13/2025
polish (verb)
Definition: to make something smoother, cleaner, or better
Example from the episode: “Loom utilizes AI to transcribe your video and auto draft a relevant title, summary, chapters, and action items, including helping you polish the video, removing filler words and silences, so you can communicate even more effectively.”
Example sentence: “The editor helped polish the article.”
pivot (noun)
Definition: a big change in a plan, idea, or direction
Example from the episode: “But from November, 2015 when we started building to June of 2016, so nine months, we had a couple major pivots about how we would apply it and bring it to the workplace.”
Example sentence: “The team made a pivot in their plan.”
latent (adjective)
Definition: something that exists but is not yet seen or used
Example from the episode: “By the time you were ready to actually share a link, it had already been 20, 25 minutes, and we felt like there was a ton of latent potential within this space to bring video recording and sharing to the workplace based off of the fact that consumer behavior tends to lead the enterprise.”
Example sentence: “There is latent interest in the new game.”
side by side (idiom)
Definition: next to each other so you can compare or work together
Example from the episode: “And with a tool like yours, it allows you the opportunity to try slightly different variations and compare them literally side by side so you can see how that looks different.”
Example sentence: “The pictures are shown side by side.”
Colin Fisher
11/11/2025
emerge (verb)
Definition: to come out or appear from somewhere
Example from the episode: “The kind of synergy that we talk about in group work really only emerges when we don't all think the same thing, when we don't all have the same knowledge and skills, and that we share them with one another.”
Example sentence: “New ideas emerged during our class.”
peril (noun)
Definition: something that is very dangerous or risky
Example from the episode: “I used to teach classes on group communication and I always start by talking to my students about the benefits and perils of groups.”
Example sentence: “The hikers were in peril on the snowy mountain.”
sticky (adjective)
Definition: when something is hard to change or remove
Example from the episode: “So group formation is such an important time in a group's life that the stuff that we do when we first get together tends to be really sticky.”
Example sentence: “A sticky problem can be hard to fix.”
right off the bat (idiom)
Definition: immediately, at the very beginning
Example from the episode: “You got some of the really important ones right off the bat there.”
Example sentence: “The team scored right off the bat.”
Muriel Wilkins
11/04/2025
caveat (verb)
Definition: to add a small warning or extra explanation to what you say
Example from the episode: “But, you know, let me caveat that by saying I think beliefs are very unique to the individual.”
Example sentence: “I caveat my idea with a short warning.”
dissonance (noun)
Definition: a feeling of disagreement or conflict between ideas or actions
Example from the episode: “So with uncover, it's number one, understanding that there might be dissonance between the way that what you want to achieve and what you're actually achieving, right?”
Example sentence: “There is dissonance between his words and actions.”
doable (adjective)
Definition: possible to do or finish
Example from the episode: “What is within my capabilities? Or my team's capabilities or the organization's capabilities and what is the time limit that I have, and then what's doable within that timeframe?”
Example sentence: “The project is doable in one week.”
prone to (idiom)
Definition: likely to do something or to have something happen
Example from the episode: “I, myself is somebody who, for most of my life, have been very prone to take action as quickly as I can.”
Example sentence: “He is prone to eat his lunch.”
Tech Tools Miniseries - Calendly
10/30/2025
route (verb)
Definition: to send someone or something along a particular path or direct them to the right place
Example from the episode: “They can even pay you depending on the service that you use, or they may be routed to the right person.”
Example sentence: “The app will route your call to support.”
prospect (noun)
Definition: a person who might become a customer, client, or partner
Example from the episode: “And we all know when you're booking a meeting, a prospect, a candidate, a partner, an advisor, whoever it is, you don't wanna lose that momentum.”
Example sentence: “We met a prospect at the fair.”
ripe (adjective)
Definition: ready to be used, picked, or to succeed
Example from the episode: “And it's certainly a ripe field, right?”
Example sentence: “The market is ripe for new toys.”
piece of the puzzle (idiom)
Definition: a part of a larger plan or problem that helps make the whole clear
Example from the episode: “The next piece of the puzzle is very much the meeting itself.”
Example sentence: “This clue is a piece of the puzzle.”
AMA Listen Up
10/28/2025
ace (verb)
Definition: to do very well on a test or task and get a top score
Example from the episode: “I want to introduce you to ways you can ace your listening.”
Example sentence: “He aced the interview and got the job.”
predisposition (noun)
Definition: a natural tendency to think, feel, or act in a certain way
Example from the episode: “These are our predispositions, our concerns, our hesitations.”
Example sentence: “He has a predisposition to be shy.”
ambient (adjective)
Definition: relating to the sound, light, or feeling around something
Example from the episode: “This has to do with just the physical ambient noise.”
Example sentence: “The park's ambient sounds helped me relax.”
give someone grace (idiom)
Definition: to treat someone with kindness and forgiveness when they make a mistake
Example from the episode: “I'm going to give you an example where I failed to give myself some grace.”
Example sentence: “We should give someone grace during hard times.”
Astro Teller
10/21/2025
destigmatize (verb)
Definition: make people see that something, like failure or asking for help, is not shameful
Example from the episode: “If we just agreed we're gonna spend ninety plus percent of our time learning, then we need to destigmatize failure so we can have our learning loops be as tight as possible.”
Example sentence: “We need to destigmatize making mistakes.”
guardrail (noun)
Definition: a barrier at the side of a road or a rule that helps keep people or ideas safe
Example from the episode: “So that's one way to help put some intellectual guardrails around what we're about to go do.”
Example sentence: “We set guardrails to keep the game safe.”
audacious (adjective)
Definition: very bold and willing to try new or risky things
Example from the episode: “So the goal is actually to come up with these audacious ideas and strivings and then to as quickly as possible negate them.”
Example sentence: “She had an audacious plan to build a robot.”
institutional knowledge (idiom)
Definition: the knowledge, habits, and ways of working that people in an organization learn over time
Example from the episode: “The truth is, some of it is just institutional knowledge, and that's sort of a background radiation that's very real at X.”
Example sentence: “We need to write down institutional knowledge for future workers.”
Tech Tools Miniseries - Superhuman
10/16/2025
lurk (verb)
Definition: to hide or wait quietly so you are not seen
Example from the episode: “Number one, if you've gone through everything in your inbox, you have no anxiety about what dangers or horrors might lurk beneath if you come across anything that's on fire or which is particularly important.”
Example sentence: “I saw someone lurk near the gate.”
stream (noun)
Definition: a steady flow of things like messages or work
Example from the episode: “For example, our customers split their inbox into the streams of work that matter most, so they can immediately focus on what needs their attention.”
Example sentence: “The stream of messages was long.”
nuts (adjective)
Definition: very crazy, extreme, or surprising
Example from the episode: “I actually get an email every six to 10 seconds. It's completely nuts.”
Example sentence: “The traffic today was nuts.”
stay on top of something (idiom)
Definition: to keep control of a task so it does not fall behind
Example from the episode: “All you see are the list of things yet to do, and the end of the list is plainly in sight because you're staying on top of it.”
Example sentence: “They stay on top of the team schedule.”
Chiney Ogwumike
10/14/2025
deflect (verb)
Definition: to cause something to change direction
Example from the episode: “One of the things that I learned from the greatest coach I've ever played for, iconic Tara VanDerveer, is she's very big on symbols because oftentimes there's so many things in this world that can be distractions, that can be things that can be used to sort of deflect what your goal is or what you're trying to achieve.”
Example sentence: “A strong wind can deflect a paper airplane.”
huddle (noun)
Definition: a small group of people who gather to talk and plan
Example from the episode: “Unlike some sports that have time for in-game planning and communication, think of like a football huddle, basketball is incredibly fast paced.”
Example sentence: “Our class gathered in a huddle to share ideas.”
over-conscious (adjective)
Definition: feeling too aware or worried about your appearance or actions
Example from the episode: “I would always tell people my hands didn't feel like my hands because I was over-conscious of what I looked like, what I felt like in that moment.”
Example sentence: “I sometimes feel over-conscious when I sing in public.”
lost in the sauce (idiom)
Definition: to become so distracted or confused that you lose focus on what you are doing
Example from the episode: “Now, if you have a delusion of facts, then you might get lost in the sauce.”
Example sentence: “They became lost in the sauce during the fun activity and missed the start of class.”
Stanley McChrystal
10/07/2025
affect (verb)
Definition: to cause a change in something or someone.
Example from the episode: “So it's really about people, process, and tools are the ways that you actually affect that change.”
Example sentence: “A smile can affect someone's day.”
silo (noun)
Definition: a part of an organization that keeps information to itself.
Example from the episode: “The first thing about sharing information that I found later in my military career is we had natural silos vertically, and then we also had the hierarchy creates other boundaries for the flow of information.”
Example sentence: “We try to share so no one works in a silo.”
omnipresent (adjective)
Definition: present everywhere or very common.
Example from the episode: “And so nowadays with information technology as omnipresent as it is, we can usually reach everybody almost at any time.”
Example sentence: “Phones are omnipresent in the city.”
drop the bombshell (idiom)
Definition: to say something surprising or shocking that changes a situation.
Example from the episode: “Now, the other thing, though, occasionally a leader will do that and then want to walk out of the room, drop the bombshell and want to walk out of the room.”
Example sentence: “She dropped the bombshell and everyone was quiet.”
Rethinks: Jenny & Matt
09/16/2025
reframe (verb)
Definition: to think about or say something in a new or different way
Example from the episode: “So I like to encourage people to reframe how they see mistakes.”
Example sentence: “She reframed her mistake as a lesson.”
mediocrity (noun)
Definition: the state of being average or not very good
Example from the episode: ‘On the very first day of the strategic communication class I co-teach, I have the audacity to say to my students, “Maximize your mediocrity.”’
Example sentence: “He did not want a life of mediocrity.”
thrilled (adjective)
Definition: very excited and happy
Example from the episode: “I thank all of you for taking the time to learn from the book, and I am thrilled that so many people around the world are working to hone and develop their spontaneous speaking.”
Example sentence: “I am thrilled to see you today.”
cold call (idiom)
Definition: to ask someone to speak or answer a question without giving them time to prepare
Example from the episode: “About a decade ago, the deans at the business school came to me with a problem, and the problem was that our incredibly bright students were panicking and choking in cold call situations.”
Example sentence: “The teacher made a cold call in class.”
Ilana Golan
09/02/2025
maneuver (verb)
Definition: to move or guide carefully, often around something
Example from the episode: “I could probably have maneuvered anywhere if I only knew, right?”
Example sentence: “He maneuvered the car through the narrow street.”
leap (noun)
Definition: a big jump or a sudden change
Example from the episode: “What should we be looking for when it's time for us to consider a pivot or a leap?”
Example sentence: “The company made a leap to new technology.”
eclectic (adjective)
Definition: made up of many different types or styles
Example from the episode: “So you have quite an amazing and eclectic career, including being a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, an F-16 flight instructor, and more.”
Example sentence: “He has an eclectic collection of books.”
in hindsight (idiom)
Definition: understanding something better after it has happened
Example from the episode: “But I think, you know, in hindsight, I wish more people would be more awake through their life.”
Example sentence: “In hindsight, I should have studied more for the test.”
Laura Spinney
08/21/2025
implant (verb)
Definition: to put an idea or feeling into someone's mind in a way that stays there
Example from the episode: “You don't have to operate to implant an idea in their head.”
Example sentence: “He wanted to implant hope in the children.”
thesis (noun)
Definition: “the main idea or opinion that someone wants to explain or prove in a paper or speech”
Example from the episode: “Would you mind summarizing your central thesis of that article and then explain why storytelling is so important and essential to being human?”
Example sentence: “He explained his thesis clearly in class.”
blunt (adjective)
Definition: using plain, direct words that may sometimes seem rude or not gentle
Example from the episode: “And at the same time, it's a blunt instrument.”
Example sentence: “His blunt answer surprised everyone.”
a mouthful (idiom)
Definition: a phrase or sentence that is long or difficult to say
Example from the episode: “That's a mouthful to say.”
Example sentence: “’Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ is a mouthful.”
Alison Wood Brooks and Naomi Bagdonas
08/19/2025
uncover (verb)
Definition: to find or discover something that was hidden or unknown
Example from the episode: “Everything that someone gives you, they are giving you gold and follow-up questions are this magic way to uncover meaning and intention because we all attribute different meaning to what people are saying.”
Example sentence: “The detective worked hard to uncover the truth.”
rhetoric (noun)
Definition: language or talk that sounds good but may be used to persuade or explain something
Example from the episode: “Something that I've realized, there's a lot of rhetoric you'll see on LinkedIn or among people that's like, well, don't ask this question, ask this question.”
Example sentence: “Politicians often use rhetoric to get votes.”
evergreen (adjective)
Definition: something that stays interesting or useful for a long time
Example from the episode: “I think that just is an evergreen topic and skill that really resonates with people, both on the asking side.”
Example sentence: “Certain songs are evergreen and always popular.”
nitty gritty (idiom)
Definition: the most important and basic details of something
Example from the episode: “Once you get past that top line advice of ask more, then you can get into the nitty gritty of what is a good question, in what circumstances, and what types of question asking should we avoid.”
Example sentence: “The book covers the nitty gritty of cooking.”
Jenn Wynn
08/12/2025
regulate (verb)
Definition: to control or manage something in a proper way
Example from the episode: “So if you can pause and regulate your nervous system, then you're going to be a better version of yourself at the time when you most need to be the best version of yourself.”
Example sentence: “The government works to regulate traffic rules.”
synergy (noun)
Definition: when two or more people or things work together to create a better outcome
Example from the episode: “I've heard the quote: 'Dialogue is the birthplace of synergy.'”
Example sentence: “Our teamwork showed great synergy during the game.”
idiosyncratic (adjective)
Definition: having habits or ways of doing things that are unusual or unique to one person
Example from the episode: “And it's so interesting because not only are people really unique, even idiosyncratic, it shows you that what makes a conversation difficult is much less the topic and much more the inner experience that each person is having.”
Example sentence: “She has an idiosyncratic way of writing stories.”
a lump in somebody’s throat (idiom)
Definition: a feeling in your throat that happens when you feel very emotional
Example from the episode: “So for me, I get a lump in my throat or like a tightness in my chest.”
Example sentence: “The singer got a lump in her throat before the concert.”
Giampaolo Bianchi
08/07/2025
anchor (verb)
Definition: to hold something firmly in one place so it does not move
Example from the episode: “You keep your back straight, try to anchor yourself to the ground, and that helps.”
Example sentence: “She anchored the tent with strong ropes.”
delegate (noun)
Definition: a person chosen to represent others at a meeting or event
Example from the episode: “Given the delegates that are there, you know, sometimes you might even go so far as to look up the delegates online and see if there are already recorded speeches of them so that you can listen to them and sort of prepare by getting used to their accent.”
Example sentence: “The delegate spoke for all the students.”
in-the-moment (adjective)
Definition: happening right now and without planning ahead
Example from the episode: “As part of our four-part miniseries on spontaneous speaking, we introduced you to a number of coaches whose jobs require successful, in-the-moment communication.”
Example sentence: “The coach teaches in-the-moment thinking.”
lost in translation (idiom)
Definition: when the real meaning is not understood because of language or other problems
Example from the episode: “And we can all actively work to make sure our messages aren't lost in translation.”
Example sentence: “My idea was lost in translation during the meeting.”
Peter Sagal
08/05/2025
perturb (verb)
Definition: to make someone feel worried or upset
Example from the episode: “The way I prepare to go on stage and be confident and in the moment and not perturbed by the stress is by doing it for 26 years.”
Example sentence: “Don’t perturb your friend when she is studying.”
composure (noun)
Definition: the state of being calm and in control of your feelings
Example from the episode: “But with a little work, we can all find composure and clarity.”
Example sentence: “She kept her composure during the test.”
delusional (adjective)
Definition: believing in things that are not true or real
Example from the episode: “And in a weird way, that's kind of delusional, but in other ways, it's absolutely necessary.”
Example sentence: “It is delusional to think you can fly without wings.”
on the fly (idiom)
Definition: to do something quickly without planning before
Example from the episode: “I kind of had to learn it on the fly.”
Example sentence: “I made the cake on the fly without a recipe.”
James Root
07/29/2025
allude (verb)
Definition: to mention something in an indirect way without saying it clearly
Example from the episode: “Clearly, work is changing. And one of those changes, as you alluded to, is that workers in terms of their age and generations are increasing in the workplace.”
Example sentence: “The story alluded to a secret treasure.”
archetype (noun)
Definition: a perfect example of a certain kind of person or thing
Example from the episode: “His latest book is The Archetype Effect.”
Example sentence: “Tigers are an archetype of wild animals.”
extraordinary (adjective)
Definition: very special or unusual in a good way
Example from the episode: “We did some work that said, I think about 115 million jobs are going to move to people who are over 55 years old by the end of this decade. It's an extraordinary number.”
Example sentence: “The view from the mountain was extraordinary.”
a means to an end (idiom)
Definition: something that you do to achieve a result or goal, not for its own sake
Example from the episode: “It's a means to an end of something that happens outside work.”
Example sentence: “Learning English is a means to an end for better opportunities.”
SEED Live Event from Africa
07/24/2025
discount (verb)
Definition: to decide that something is not important or not true
Example from the episode: “If the company was confessing something that was particularly surprising or might seem counter to what an individual's priors might be, they were discounted very heavily and believed to be not at all responsible with respect to corporate social responsibility.”
Example sentence: “She discounted the rumors because they were false.”
greenwashing (noun)
Definition: when a company says it is helping the environment but is not really doing much
Example from the episode: “So, for example, in the environmental space, rather than putting out something that might resemble something on the spectrum of greenwashing, companies would put something out talking about how dirty their supply chains are.”
Example sentence: “Some companies use greenwashing to seem eco-friendly.”
astute (adjective)
Definition: very good at noticing and understanding things quickly
Example from the episode: “And general public is very astute at picking up something that feels like it could be hypocritical or feels like it could be an empty statement that doesn't connect to their, general business and so on.”
Example sentence: “The detective was astute and caught the thief.”
flesh out (idiom)
Definition: to add more details to an idea or plan
Example from the episode: “When you say that your business is the Uber of something else, what is it about Uber's business model that you are saying applies in your business, and so the article really tries to flesh those ideas out.”
Example sentence: “The writer fleshed out the story with new details.”
Emily Falk
07/15/2025
prime (verb)
Definition: to prepare someone or something to be ready for a particular action or situation
Example from the episode: “So very helpful that there are things we can do in advance to prime others, but also things we have to do to ourselves to set ourselves up.”
Example sentence: “The coach primed the team for the big game.”
catchall (noun)
Definition: a word or phrase that is used to include many different things
Example from the episode: “And I use social relevance as this kind of catchall for these thoughts about what other people are thinking and feeling, which also helps us predict what they're gonna do and how we might communicate successfully with them, or negotiate or win a game of chess.”
Example sentence: “The word ‘transport’ is a catchall for cars, bikes, and buses.”
compatible (adjective)
Definition: able to work well together or exist in harmony
Example from the episode: “By extension, thinking about what are the ways that we can tap into those processes and think about making behaviors that we want to do or that are compatible with our long-term goals, feel identity congruent and socially valuable now.”
Example sentence: “My phone is compatible with this charger.”
in sync (idiom)
Definition: working or moving together in a smooth and timely way
Example from the episode: “Whereas the strangers often spend a lot of the time in that kind of small talk space where they're trying to establish common ground and getting in sync.”
Example sentence: “We worked in sync to clean the room quickly.”
Richard Edelman
07/10/2025
emanate (verb)
Definition: to come out from a source or place
Example from the episode: “The idea that somehow all concepts emanate from the 50 states is deeply fallacious.”
Example sentence: “The sound seemed to emanate from the open window.”
quartile (noun)
Definition: one of four equal parts in a set of data
Example from the episode: “The mass class divide, the bottom quartile and the top quartile have fundamentally different views of the world.”
Example sentence: “The lowest quartile of students needed extra help.”
obligatory (adjective)
Definition: required by a rule or law
Example from the episode: “I want to switch back to the obligatory AI question.”
Example sentence: “It is obligatory to finish your homework before playing.”
devil’s advocate (idiom)
Definition: someone who takes an opposing view just to test ideas
Example from the episode: “And while it can be certainly frustrating at times, I have found that having a devil’s advocate makes the work better and makes me better.”
Example sentence: “She played devil’s advocate to challenge the proposal.”
Greg Burke
07/08/2025
enlist (verb)
Definition: to ask for help or support from someone
Example from the episode: “I believe attention is our most precious commodity and if I can't get your attention, I can't engage you and enlist you.”
Example sentence: “We need to enlist friends to clean the park.”
bootcamp (noun)
Definition: a short, intensive training program to learn new skills
Example from the episode: “We do a bootcamp, a public speaking bootcamp at the beginning of the MBA.”
Example sentence: “I joined a coding bootcamp to learn computer skills.”
unassuming (adjective)
Definition: not trying to attract attention; simple and quiet
Example from the episode: “He was unassuming, he wasn't aggressive, and let them speak.”
Example sentence: “The unassuming boy smiled quietly.”
get your facts straight (idiom)
Definition: to make sure you understand the true information
Example from the episode: “And I think the thing I learned there was get your facts straight.”
Example sentence: “She told me to get your facts straight about the story.”
Whitney Johnson LinkedIn Live
06/26/2025
chart (verb)
Definition: to make a picture or graph that shows information
Example from the episode: “Together, these three episodes will help you chart your career path and find your job fit.”
Example sentence: “He likes to chart his running distances.”
payoff (noun)
Definition: the reward or result you get from doing something
Example from the episode: “But the reason you do it, the payoff is that you believe that right now your life may be over one, up one, over one, up one, and it might be perfectly fine.”
Example sentence: “His effort led to a clear payoff in his grades.
neural (adjective)
Definition: related to the nerves or the brain
Example from the episode: “It's a decision where you've got these very thick neural pathways, these comfortable routines, these super highways of habit, and you are making the decision that you are going to rewire your brain.”
Example sentence: “The brain uses neural messages to send information.”
pay somebody’s dues (idiom)
Definition: to work hard and prove you deserve success
Example from the episode: “When you hear a person saying things like, ‘I've paid my dues’, ‘I could do this in my sleep.’”
Example sentence: “Every star performer paid their dues before shining.”
Andrew Brodsky
06/24/2025
relay (verb)
Definition: to pass a message from one person to another
Example from the episode: “For instance, if we're considering meetings versus email, are you relaying information?”
Example sentence: “He relays my message to his dad.”
determinant (noun)
Definition: a factor that decides the result of something
Example from the episode: “So what I'm hearing you say is the biggest determinant of which channel you use is what you're trying to accomplish.”
Example sentence: “Good practice is a determinant of success in sports.”
nonconforming (adjective)
Definition: not following the usual rules or styles
Example from the episode: “When we have a group of people staring at us, we're afraid often of saying something really nonconforming because they'll judge us.”
Example sentence: “His art is nonconforming and very creative.”
back and forth (idiom)
Definition: moving or talking from one side to the other repeatedly, like a conversation
Example from the episode: “Do you want to have a back and forth?”
Example sentence: “We had a friendly back and forth during the game.”
Alison Fragale
06/17/2025
emulate (verb)
Definition: to copy someone’s behavior or actions because you admire them
Example from the episode: “They have to be doing human things, and they started to learn from them and emulate them in ways that would serve them well in their own development.”
Example sentence: “I want to emulate my teacher because she is very kind.”
consent (noun)
Definition: permission or agreement to do something
Example from the episode: “With status, it's a judgment in other people's minds. You can't steal it, you can't have it without their willing consent.”
Example sentence: “You need your parents’ consent to go on the trip.”
pivotal (adjective)
Definition: very important and affecting the way things develop
Example from the episode: “For people who feel like they excel in conveying that perception to others, it's almost always they'll tell me they had a pivotal person in their life at a youngish age that showed up for them in that way, and they started to study that.”
Example sentence: “The teacher played a pivotal role in my success.”
fall into place (idiom)
Definition: when everything becomes clear or works out well
Example from the episode: “Whereas if you pursue status before or at least alongside power, everything is going to fall into place, right?”
Example sentence: “The plan may be hard now, but it will fall into place.”
Rob Siegel
06/10/2025
frame (verb)
Definition: to create or give a clear idea or way of looking at something
Example from the episode: “I need to make sure that I'm looking at things from multiple perspectives and points of view. That also helps me frame it for the people with whom I'm communicating.”
Example sentence: “The teacher framed the story to make it interesting.”
dilemma (noun)
Definition: a situation where you have to choose between two difficult options
Example from the episode: “He teaches a variety of classes, including System Leadership, The Industrialist's Dilemma, and Corporations, Finance, and Governance.”
Example sentence: “The boy had a dilemma choosing between ice cream and cake.”
nuanced (adjective)
Definition: having small and important differences that are not easy to notice
Example from the episode: “In fact, all hard issues are nuanced.”
Example sentence: “She gave a nuanced answer that showed she understood well.”
dumb something down (idiom)
Definition: to make something easier to understand by making it less detailed or complex
Example from the episode: “How do you take something that's complex and make it more accessible without dumbing it down to the point that it gets challenging?”
Example sentence: “Don’t dumb down the story; we want the full version.”
Joseph Grenny
06/03/2025
diminish (verb)
Definition: to become smaller, less important, or weaker
Example from the episode: “This notion of if I announce what I'm doing, does it diminish what I'm actually trying to do, as well as if in advance I were to tell you, how would that impact you?”
Example sentence: “Don't let failure diminish your hope.”
compromise (noun)
Definition: an agreement where each side gives up something to solve a problem
Example from the episode: “You're likely to let me do that, because now you understand the intention and it's less subject to that kind of ethical compromise.”
Example sentence: “We made a compromise to share the toys.”
coercive (adjective)
Definition: using force or pressure to make someone do something
Example from the episode: “How can we be more intentional about influencing others without coming across as manipulative or coercive?”
Example sentence: “The boss should avoid coercive actions.”
cut to the chase (idiom)
Definition: to skip the details and get to the main point quickly
Example from the episode: “If I announce in advance that, Hey Matt, you know, I'm going to give you three compliments and then I'm going to pitch an idea to you, you'd probably say, ‘Just cut to the chase, Joseph,’ right?”
Example sentence: “The teacher asked us to cut to the chase in our presentations.”