With so many distractions in the world, it's becoming more difficult to focus while listening to others, but effective listening can improve your relationships overnight. Steve discusses five reasons why you might struggle listening to friends, family, romantic partners, and strangers.

Communication Junkie

Five Reasons Why You're a Bad Listener

From the clothes we wear to the coffee we drink, we all make decisions about how to present ourselves to the world. In this episode, Steve discusses what those nonverbal choices communicate to other people.

Nonverbal Packaging and Personal Branding

Words, language, spelling, grammar, and punctuation aren't just for English class. In this week's episode, Steve discusses why choosing the right words, spelling those words correctly, using proper grammar, and knowing when to insert commas also affects our communication skills.

Your Words Matter

Steve discusses how unchecked emotions can damage interpersonal relationships, then gives some practical suggestions for managing debilitating emotions in healthier ways.

Go to Your Happy Place

Ever known someone who is constantly making excuses? They're usually weak, ineffective communicators and relationship partners. Ever known someone who steps up and takes responsibility when things go wrong? They're usually powerful, effective communicators and relationship partners. In the Season 5 finale, Steve discusses the importance of taking responsibility for your words and actions.

Powerful People Take Responsibility for their Words and Actions

Ever wish you could travel back in time and relive memories? Ever try to replicate special moments, but it never quite feels the same? In the Season 6 premiere, Steve discusses one of the basic principles of Communication.

The Communication River Keeps On Flowing

In this episode, Steve discusses Social Identity Theory. Why is our identity so influenced by our group affiliations? Why do sports teams, bands, and political parties define who we are as people? And why do we spend our lives criticizing all of the opposing groups?

Why We Love Our Groups and Hate Everyone Else

Hopefully all of our romantic relationships last forever and we all live happily ever after, but statistically speaking, the majority of our relationships will fail. In this episode, Steve discusses why that happens and how to avoid heartbreak.

Why Relationships End

The world keeps getting louder. More than ever, distractions interfere with interpersonal communication and relationships. In this episode, Steve discusses how to turn down the noise and focus on what's right in front of us.

Turning Down the Interpersonal Noise

Old metaphors like "melting pot" never accurately represented the United States. Instead of melting down many cultures to form one new culture, Steve discusses why recognizing cultural differences actually improves communication and relationships.

No More Melting Pots: Recognizing Cultural Differences

In this episode, Steve discusses how perfectionism can be paralyzing, but for creative people, the cure can make us happier and healthier human beings.

Perfectionism and the Healing Power of Creativity

Ever say something and wonder why the heck you said it? Ever found yourself acting like someone you aren’t? In this episode, Steve uses Communication Accommodation Theory to explain why.

Shifting Personalities and People-Pleasing

In this episode, Steve explains every hideous fashion trend that has ever existed. Cargo shorts. Low-rise jeans. Belly chains. Big hair. What were we thinking? There's actually a very simple explanation.

Persuasion, Influence, and Social Proof

From Cabbage Patch Kids, to Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies, and dozens of other products along the way, companies use scarcity to make cheap toys more valuable than diamonds. In this episode, Steve discusses why people always want what they can't have.

Scarcity: Why People Want What They Can't Have

Ever wonder why miserable people want to make everyone around them miserable too? Or why people get so much pleasure from trolling strangers on social media. In the Season 6 finale, Steve explains why misery loves company and how to break the downward spiral in our own lives.

Equity Theory: Creating Balance in Relationships and Life

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode one, we start at the beginning with the introduction.

Public Speaking Tips: Introduction

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode two, we discuss the importance of a thesis statement.

Public Speaking Tips: Thesis Statement

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode three, we discuss the importance of using evidence.

Public Speaking Tips: Using Evidence

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode four, we discuss how to avoid reasoning fallacies.

Public Speaking Tips: Reasoning Fallacies

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode five, we discuss the conclusion.

Public Speaking Tips: Conclusion

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode six, we discuss how to exude confidence during your speech delivery.

Public Speaking Tips: Delivery Confidence

In this season, Steve will share practical tips for giving a speech. In episode seven, we discuss how your personality affects your speech delivery.

Public Speaking Tips: Delivery Personality

In this season, Steve shares practical tips for giving a speech. In episode eight, we discuss how your speech is a performance, and you're the star of the show.

Public Speaking Tips: Delivery Performance

No one likes to admit they're wrong, but the reason goes much deeper than just stubborn pride. In this week's episode, Steve discusses what we can learn from cults and why people have so much trouble admitting they made a mistake.

Why It's So Hard to Admit You're Wrong

The Golden Rule has many forms throughout nearly all religious and secular worldviews, but all of them can be explained through basic human nature. In this episode, Steve explains why reciprocity is such a powerful persuasive strategy.

Reciprocity: Demystifying the Golden Rule

In honor of Valentine's Day, Steve discusses the many varieties of love. While most people have their hearts set on the love we see in romantic comedies, what happens to those couples after the movie ends? What happens if you never get married? Perhaps there isn't one version of love that's right for everyone. Maybe every type has a place in our lives.

The Many Faces of Love

If you don't think white privilege and systemic racism are real, give Steve six minutes to share one example of how systemic racism puts black children in danger every summer.

White Privilege and Systemic Racism

Steve discusses why the next thing you say or do is always the most important thing you say or do.

The Power of Nexting

Ever wonder why misunderstandings are so common? Or why conflict often spins out of control? Curious about the secret to marital bliss? Want to become a more powerful communicator? Using research, humor, and personal storytelling, Professor Steven Fuller shares practical communication skills to improve your interpersonal relationships.

Communication Junkie

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