There's a nine-word trick behind every question Nayeema Raza asks, and it works on more than headlines.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams speaks with journalist, former NYT/Vox producer, and host of Smart Girl, Dumb Questions, Nayeema Raza to unpack the tools she uses to make complex ideas land. Together, they discuss:
• How to ask better questions
• How curiosity can be a foundation of great communication
• How to be more confident without being certain, and why that difference matters
• The 9-word rule for cutting through noise and making your message land
• How to simplify complex topics and make information accessible to anyone
• How to reduce anxiety through preparation and improvisation (without being scripted)
• Why screen time is changing how we communicate and what to do about it

As Nayeema puts it, "The dumbest thing you can be is a know-it-all." Nayeema has spent her career translating complexity for other people - headlines, hosts, generations. Tune in to discover how she turns that instinct on herself, and on the eleven-year-old who taught her something about presence no algorithm could.

About The Guest
Nayeema Raza is a journalist, podcaster, and filmmaker exploring the intersection of power, tech, and culture. She is the host of Smart Girl, Dumb Questions, former executive producer and co-host of On with Kara Swisher, and former senior editor at The New York Times, where she launched the podcast Sway. A documentary producer (Sublime) and TED speaker, she holds master's degrees from Harvard and Stanford and is a Council on Foreign Relations Term Member.

About Matt
Matt Abrahams is a leading communication expert, lecturer in organizational behavior at Stanford GSB, and host of the award-winning Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. He has coached presenters at TED, the World Economic Forum, and the UN Secretary-General's office, and his online talks have garnered millions of views worldwide. He is the author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Speaking Up without Freaking Out, two bestselling guides to confident, spontaneous communication.

Key Quotes
• "You want to be confident enough that there is some space left in your opinion to consider how other people think." - Nayeema Raza (06:56)
• "The dumbest thing you can be is a know-it-all." - Nayeema Raza (07:21)
• "I like to be prepared enough that I have a map and then absolutely prepared to throw it away." - Nayeema Raza (10:51)
• "I fear that people are just not curious or seeking wisdom. They're just seeking information. So, are we losing it? No, I still think it's there. I fear that people aren't searching for it." - Matt Abrahams (18:52)

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:23 Making Complex Information Accessible
02:26 The 9-Word Rule
06:20 Translating Between Generations
06:50 Confidence vs Certainty
07:58 Managing Nerves When Interviewing
10:26 Preparation vs Improvisation
14:37 Nayeema’s TED Talk Moment
17:30 Staying Relevant as You Age
21:04 Matt's 3 Questions
25:55 Conclusion

Relevant Links:
Nayeema Raza: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/nayeema-raza/

Nayeema’s Ted Talk: http://go.ted.com/nayeemaraza

Smart Girl, Dumb Questions Podcast: https://www.smartgirldumbquestions.com/

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