🔍 Episode Summary:

What if the secret to being a great conversationalist wasn’t about having the right answers—but about asking the right questions?

In this episode, Chris and Patrick explore how powerful questions shape connection, curiosity, and conversation. Whether you're introverted, unsure what to say next, or just want to get better at dialogue, they offer one universal tool that works across nearly every situation.

From lighthearted banter to moments that stop you in your tracks, they unpack why the best communicators are often the best question-askers. And no, you don’t need to be extroverted or performative—you just need to be curious.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why asking great questions is more powerful than having great answers
• How to keep a conversation going—even when you feel awkward or stuck
• What makes a question meaningful, memorable, and connective
• How to shift the spotlight to the other person (in a good way)
• Why a well-placed question can build trust faster than a great story

👥 Let’s Connect

Website: https://www.makingyourselfclear.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31PIiklfkBV3fwbCt9i20h

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-yourself-clear/id1798973268

RSS Feed: https://media.rss.com/makingyourselfclear/feed.xml

iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-making-yourself-clear-269115710/

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b62ac464-9205-46bf-a4e8-f66a16fd61e1/making-yourself-clear

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id6491442

🔍 Episode Summary:

Have you ever gotten lost in the clouds of abstract language—or buried under too much detail? Welcome to the Ladder of Abstraction.

In this episode, Chris and Patrick explore how this powerful concept shapes every conversation you have. Whether you're talking about a specific cow named Bessie or referring to "assets" or "conscious beings," you're moving up or down a ladder that affects how clearly you’re understood.

They explain how mastering this ladder helps you hit the right level of detail for your audience, improve clarity, and avoid both oversimplification and overcomplication. With practical examples, playful metaphors, and some laughs along the way, they’ll help you recognize when to zoom in—and when to zoom out.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• What the Ladder of Abstraction is and why it matters

• How to recognize when you're speaking too generally—or too specifically

• How to move up or down the ladder depending on your audience

• Why clarity lives in the ability to flex across levels

• How to apply this concept in conversations, writing, and presentations

👥 Let’s Connect

Website: https://www.makingyourselfclear.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31PIiklfkBV3fwbCt9i20h

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-yourself-clear/id1798973268

RSS Feed: https://media.rss.com/makingyourselfclear/feed.xml

iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-making-yourself-clear-269115710/

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b62ac464-9205-46bf-a4e8-f66a16fd61e1/making-yourself-clear

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id6491442

🔷 LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-iskander/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-wj-neary-578ba8241/

🔍 Episode Summary:

You know those conversations where someone gives you an answer that’s technically correct… but still leaves you confused, misled, or frustrated?

In this episode, Chris and Patrick introduce four unwritten rules for clear communication—based on philosopher H.P. Grice’s famous “Maxims of Conversation.” These rules govern how we speak so that others understand, and how to listen for clarity or misdirection.

With real-life examples, smart humor, and practical insight, they explore how these rules show up (or fall apart) in politics, relationships, and everyday conversations.

Whether you're leading a team, parenting a teenager, or just trying to be less misunderstood, this one’s for you.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why “technically true” isn’t always clear

• How to recognize when someone is dodging, deflecting, or confusing on purpose

• Four practical rules to follow in any conversation

• How to communicate clearly without oversharing or under-delivering

• The subtle difference between being accurate and being helpful

🎧 Listen now and sharpen your ability to speak clearly, listen critically, and make yourself understood—every time.

👥 Let’s Connect

Website: https://www.makingyourselfclear.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31PIiklfkBV3fwbCt9i20h

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-yourself-clear/id1798973268

RSS Feed: https://media.rss.com/makingyourselfclear/feed.xml

iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-making-yourself-clear-269115710/

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b62ac464-9205-46bf-a4e8-f66a16fd61e1/making-yourself-clear

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id6491442