Why People Misunderstand You (Even When You're Clear) & The Secret Life of Leaves

Ever send an email asking several questions, only to get a reply that answers just one of them? Or discover that someone completely missed your most important point? It turns out the way you write and organize an email can make a big difference in how people respond. Listen as I explain some simple techniques that can help you get better, more complete answers to your emails. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web/

You know exactly what you meant. So why did the other person hear something completely different? Misunderstandings happen constantly, even between people who know each other well. Innocent comments get interpreted as criticism, conversations turn into arguments, and people become convinced their version of events is the right one. Why does communication go wrong so easily? And what can you do to make sure people actually understand what you're trying to say? Dr. Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, joins me to explain the surprising science behind miscommunication. Drawing on decades of relationship research, she reveals why we so often misinterpret one another, why we stubbornly defend our own perceptions, and how to repair a conversation when things go wrong. She is author of Why Don’t You Understand Me?: The Surprising Science Behind Connecting in a World of Missed Signals. (https://link.amazon/B01SuP5Do).

Leaves are everywhere. You've probably seen millions of them without giving them much thought. But those ordinary-looking leaves are actually performing some of the most extraordinary feats in nature. Powered by sunlight, they manufacture their own food, pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release the oxygen that makes life on Earth possible. And here's something remarkable: There was a time when trees didn't even have leaves! So why did leaves evolve? How do they accomplish so much? And what would happen to our world without them? Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Silverman joins me to reveal the fascinating hidden world of leaves and explain why these seemingly simple things are among nature's greatest inventions. He is author of nine books, including Nature's Magicians: How Leaves Conjure Up Our World (https://link.amazon/B06dPGc2Y).

You might think the best way to impress people is to appear smart, capable, and completely on top of things. But being too perfect can actually make people like you less. Research suggests that a small, harmless mistake can sometimes make a competent person seem more appealing. So how does that work? And what's the surprisingly simple lesson you can use to make yourself more likable? Listen and find out. https://openmedia.yale.edu/projects/iphone/departments/psyc/psyc110/transcript09.html

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