Keith McArthur

Celeste Headlee: Conversations That Matter

Celeste Headlee, author of We Need to Talk, shares her tips on how we can all have conversations that matter. And Kathleen Trotter, our fitness contributor, critiques the fitness routine of host Keith McArthur.

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Episode 8 Show Notes

[00:00] Welcome and Intro

[1:01] Featured interview with Celeste Headlee

Celeste is author of We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter and radio host of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting. Celeste’s TEDx Talk –10 ways to have a better conversation – was one of 2016’s most watched TED talks, with over 12-million views.

In this conversation, Keith and Celeste discuss:

  • What makes a good first question in an interview [1:54]
  • We Need to Talk is a conversation book for people who might not think they need it [3:36]
  • Most people overestimate their own conversation skills {4:16]
  • What’s wrong with the current state of conversation?  [6:10]
  • Why talking is usually better than email [7:40]
  • Celeste’s past as an imperfect conversationalist [8:20]
  • When you become a better conversationalist, the people around you get better too [10:08]
  • How putting your phone away and being present can make you a much better conversationalist [11:49]
  • Why you shouldn’t bring up your own personal experience when someone is talking about theirs [13:13]
  • How Celeste used her role as a professional interviewer to test out different rules of conversation [15:36]
  • Celeste still struggles with keeping her mind from wandering; she has ADHD [17:28]
  • A simple technique when your brain is really unable to focus on a conversation: Tell the other person the truth [18:58]
  • The importance of the worlds “I don’t know” [20:04]
  • The less we know about a subject, the less we’re aware of our actual ignorance about the subject [21:33]

[23:07] Celeste Headlee’s Instruction Manual

1. What are the habits you maintain every day to stay happy and healthy? [23:28]

  • Exercise in the morning
  • Meditate for at least 20 minutes
  • Make bed every morning
  • Get in 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables each day plus 80 ounces of water

2. What personal development book do you recommend? [24:12]

  • Yes Please by Amy Poehler
  • “She’s basically talking to you about how she created the life that she has now and a lot of it is about empowerment.”

3. Favorite inspirational quote? [25:21] 

  • “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama

4. What’s your one guilty pleasure? [25:44]

  • Nachos

5. When your time comes, how do you want to be remembered? [26:00]

  • “I hope I’m just remembered for doing the best I could. To leave the world better than I found it.”

[26:35] Where to find Celeste

[27:23] A critique of Keith’s fitness routine with regular fitness contributor Kathleen Trotter

Kathleen Trotter is author of Finding Your Fit: A Compassionate Trainer’s Guide to Making Fitness a Lifelong Habit

[36:53] Closing words

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