What's the difference between a leader and a manager? Why should we avoid the industrial age-style race to the bottom? This week we are sharing a brief moment of Oliver’s conversation with Seth Godin, 21-time best-selling author and one of the leading business thinkers in the world. Check out episode 263 for the full conversation. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/...
Jun 20, 2025•8 min•Ep. 292
If you don’t have a point, everything you say is pointless. Oliver speaks with Joel Schwartzberg, communication expert and author of “The Language of Leadership” and “Get to the Point” (updated edition out this month). Let’s face it, there is too much rambling and hot air in business. Joel shares concepts such as the “I Believe That” Test and the “XY Test” that help leaders ensure they have a clearly defined point before they speak. This is a highly actionable episode about avoiding rambling for...
Jun 12, 2025•45 min•Ep. 291
This week Oliver is a guest on the Amplified Leadership podcast hosted by Oliver Degnan. They discuss what it truly means to "Speak like a CEO", how to make your story sticky, how to create a compelling vision, how to communicate better as a team, how to build trust, and much more. This is a value-packed half an hour with lots of actionable advice! Get the 21 Storytelling Structures every leader should know: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/1f04d6ddfc Find out more about Dr Oliver Degnan: https://w...
Jun 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 290
Drowning in Zoom calls and Slack threads? No energy left at the end of the day? Zoom fatigue is real. So is information overload. To understand science-backed strategies that get better results from your virtual communication while preserving your energy, Oliver speaks to Andrew Brodsky. Andrew is a management professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the author of "Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication". They dive deep into the science and strategy behind effective vir...
May 29, 2025•41 min•Ep. 289
What if an algorithm could read your personality better than your best friend? In this eye-opening episode, Oliver sits down with Dr. Sandra Matz – Columbia Business School professor, computational psychologist, and author of Mindmasters – to explore how our digital footprints reveal far more than we think. Sandra unpacks how AI tools can accurately infer our Big Five personality traits, mental health, and values using everything from Google searches to smartphone activity. Oliver and Sandra dis...
May 22, 2025•47 min•Ep. 288
Leaders who use humor are seen as more confident, competent and get better results – if they do it the right way. Andrew Tarvin is the CEO of Humor That Works and author of the book by the same name. He shares how leaders can use humor as a serious tool for better results. But it’s not about being haha funny or being a slap-on-the-back kinda boss. It’s about bringing lightness to leadership that increases performance, status and – yes – makes work a little more fun. Andrew shares compelling insi...
May 15, 2025•50 min•Ep. 287
Scott Walker is a world-class kidnap-for-ransom negotiator who deals with hostage takers, pirates and cyber-attacks. Scott has successfully negotiated more than 300 such incidents using the principles he shares in his best-selling book ‘Order Out of Chaos’. The New York Times called it “a masterclass in communication excellence”. Now Scott is back with his follow-up, ‘Eye of The Storm’ – a book that lifts the curtain on how we make decisions, and how we don’t become slaves to our emotions. Since...
May 08, 2025•36 min•Ep. 286
Success isn't just about what you know, but your ability to influence and persuade those in positions of power. On this episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with the brilliant Melody Wilding. Melody is an award-winning executive coach, speaker, and bestselling author. Drawing on her extensive experience and insights from her book, "Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge," Melody provides you with practical strategies for effective communication with superio...
May 01, 2025•52 min
Forget the myth of the "naturally" inspiring leader. Adam Galinsky, author of "Inspire", reveals the science behind inspiration – and how you can cultivate it. Adam is the world’s #1 expert on inspirational leadership. He is a professor at Columbia Business School and has been studying the science of inspiration for over 20 years. His new book “Inspire” is one of the best books on leadership in recent years. His TED Talk, “How to Speak Up for Yourself,” has been viewed millions of times. Adam sh...
Apr 24, 2025•48 min•Ep. 284
Want your idea to spread like wildfire? Do you want to move your audience to action? There is a way to achieve this. This week, Oliver is joined by John Yorke, a world-renowned storytelling expert and former head of BBC Drama, to unravel the secrets of compelling narratives. John wrote the OG of storytelling books: "Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them" and became the storyteller’s storyteller. When it was published over a decade ago, it opened many eyes to story structures, the...
Apr 17, 2025•42 min•Ep. 283
Are you really listening? Or just waiting to talk? Most leaders overestimate their listening skills. To understand why and how you can become a 10 out of 10 listener, Oliver is joined by Oscar Trimboli. Oscar is a globally-recognized listening expert and the author of How to Listen who will shatter your assumptions about hearing and connection. Discover how deep listening can revolutionize your communication, influence, and leadership. Uncover the hidden gap between hearing and truly listening, ...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min
Oliver Aust speaks with Dr. Oliver Degnan about a critical issue: burnout. It's not just stress, it's much more dangerous. Dr. Degnan challenges common misconceptions about burnout and lays bare the self-inflicted wounds that lead to the brink. He explores the crucial difference between stress and burnout, how a breakdown in trust fuels it, why it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, the power of positive connection, why "work-life balance" is flawed, and how to leverage AI to prevent it. Dr. Deg...
Apr 03, 2025•52 min
Why is it so hard to disagree without falling out? And how can we get better at managing disagreements? To find out, Oliver speaks to Julia Minson, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. They explore the crucial skill of productive disagreement in life and at work. Discover why smart people struggle with disagreements, the biggest mistakes we make in tough conversations, and practical strategies to foster a culture of constructive dialogue. Julia introduces her 'HEAR' fr...
Mar 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 280
Distractions are everywhere. But how do you regain focus and control in an age of constant interruptions? This week, Oliver speaks with Nir Eyal, the internationally acclaimed behavioral designer, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, and former Stanford Lecturer. He explains that distraction isn't just about external triggers but often stems from a desire to escape discomfort. Discover practical strategies to manage internal triggers, design a focused environment, and create an indis...
Mar 20, 2025•43 min
What if I told you there's a secret weapon that can transform your leadership, boost team morale, and create a culture of peak performance? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Professor Michael Norton, a renowned psychologist at HBS and author of The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power of Our Everyday Actions. Professor Norton's research reveals the surprising impact of rituals – those seemingly small, repeated actions that hold immense meaning. They explore: How CEOs can use rituals...
Mar 13, 2025•36 min
No success without trust. But how do you build trust when trust in leadership is at an all-time low? Natalie Doyle Oldfield is a globally recognized expert on trust and author of Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth. She explains how trust is often formed subconsciously as the first thing in an interaction between humans. People decide whether to trust you based on gut feeling and perception of your presence. So leaders must build trust BEFORE they need it. She explai...
Mar 06, 2025•34 min•Ep. 277
What if everything we experience is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves? In this episode, Oliver sits down with one of his intellectual heroes. Will Storr, bestselling author of The Science of Storytelling, The Status Game and now A Story is a Deal to explore how stories define our reality, shape our decisions, and influence human behavior. Will explains why humans live in two worlds, the world of survival and the world of story, and how understanding this duality can transform the way we co...
Feb 20, 2025•42 min•Ep. 276
Is going viral just luck, or is there a science behind it? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Brendan Kane, digital strategist, bestselling author, and the mastermind behind some of the biggest social media success stories. Brendan has helped global brands, top celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, and countless businesses achieve explosive digital growth. Brendan reveals the secrets of viral content, explaining the key ingredients behind content that captivates millions, how to ba...
Feb 13, 2025•42 min•Ep. 275
Is it possible to write so that even busy CEOs respond? Yes, it is. If you know how. On this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver sits down with Harvard professor Todd Rogers, co-author of Writing for Busy Readers , to uncover why most messages fail – and how to fix them. Todd is a behavioral scientist who has spent years studying how people read (or rather, don’t read). His research-backed insights will change the way you write forever. Along with co-author Jessica Lasky Fink, Todd distil...
Feb 04, 2025•46 min•Ep. 274
Peter Sorgenfrei is the leadership coach you want to have at your side. As a six-time CEO and founder, he understands the challenges and the overwhelm experienced by anyone who is unapologetically ambitious. But he also learned the hard way that you have to listen to your body and mind to be successful and, more importantly, to keep your sanity. In this episode, he takes us inside his journey as a founder, sharing the unexpected lessons that shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and per...
Jan 30, 2025•50 min•Ep. 273
You build your life and career one conversation at a time. But how can we be authentic and impactful while connecting with others? To find out, Oliver sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, celebrated behavioral scientist, Harvard professor, and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves. Together, they unpack the science behind effective communication and how understanding your "conversational compass" can transform how you connect with others. Dr. Brooks gives i...
Jan 23, 2025•37 min•Ep. 272
Matthew Dicks, bestselling author of Storyworthy and Stories Sell reveals how stories captivate, connect, and inspire. The key isn’t a list of events but a moment of transformation – without change, it’s just a report. Matthew’s journey to globally-recognized expert began with a surprise win at The Moth storytelling competition, but it wasn’t luck. His years as a writer, teacher, and even wedding DJ prepared him to hold any audience’s attention. His honest account of overcoming self-doubt shows ...
Jan 16, 2025•46 min•Ep. 271
Scott Walker is one of the world’s foremost experts on negotiation. When hostage situations, kidnappings, or cyber attacks put lives and livelihoods at stake, Scott is the crisis negotiator called in to resolve the chaos. Having successfully negotiated over 300 high-stakes incidents, Scott shares the field-proven principles from his best-selling book "Order Out of Chaos" - hailed as "A Masterclass in Communication Excellence" by The New York Times. Today, Scott trains leaders and teams to negoti...
Dec 12, 2024•3 min•Ep. 270
What are the critical skills that define leadership today? With over 20 years of experience advising top global executives, Oliver explains why communication is the #1 skill for success, how to build an irresistible personal brand, and strategies for overcoming communication challenges in a world increasingly shaped by remote work and AI. Discover why Richard Branson’s personal brand outshines his company’s, learn how to become "unignorable" in a crowded market, and uncover why your communicatio...
Dec 05, 2024•46 min•Ep. 269
Want to build a thriving community but not sure where to start? Daisy Morris, founder of The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency developed the framework for you. Oliver and Daisy dive into the essential difference between an audience and a community, and what both individuals and companies often get wrong about community building. Daisy shares her 10 powerful steps to creating a thriving community, including how to find your people, share your magic, collaborate effectively, and ke...
Nov 27, 2024•44 min•Ep. 268
With more than 10m books sold, John Strelecky is one of the most successful and inspirational authors of our time. His first book, "The Café on the Edge of the World," gained international acclaim and has been translated into over 40 languages, selling millions of copies. John has written extensively about leadership and is the creator of the "Big Five for Life" concept that inspires leaders and businesses to discover their purpose and lead fulfilling lives. In this episode, he shares how he wen...
Nov 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 212
What if we challenged traditional notions of success and leadership? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Gigi Danzinger, a philanthropist and social entrepreneur who, at 60, changed her name to reflect a bold new chapter. Gigi shares her unique approach to social impact, focusing on empowering communities through initiatives in Hudson, New York. From a basic income pilot, her investments in underappreciated founders and her "no strings attached" philanthropy, Gigi is redefining what it m...
Nov 14, 2024•26 min•Ep. 266
Culture is destiny. How we treat each other at work has a huge impact on business success and personal fulfillment. But how can leaders navigate the complexities of remote and hybrid work while cultivating an environment that attracts top talent and drives innovation? Oliver Aust sits down with company culture expert Chris Dyer, author of "The Power of Company Culture" and "Remote Work", to unpack the key pillars of building a world-class company culture. From embracing transparency and empoweri...
Nov 07, 2024•41 min
Do you ever feel like you're drowning in work? Constantly battling a never-ending swarm of emails, Slack messages, and meeting invites? Wondering how you can use automation and new tools to make your life easier? We all know the feeling all too well. In this week's episode, Oliver Aust speaks with Nick Sonnenberg. Nick is a serial entrepreneur, a guest lecturer at Columbia University, and the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, "Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools...
Oct 31, 2024•41 min
This week’s guest is none other than Seth Godin – the world’s most famous marketer, a highly successful entrepreneur, and the author of 21 best-selling books. Seth just released his brand-new book This is Strategy, a groundbreaking guide to creating meaningful change in a complex world. In addition to strategy – which is a compass and not a map – we discuss leadership, storytelling and communications. My favorite quote: "Management runs a race to the bottom; leadership offers a chance to run for...
Oct 23, 2024•33 min
