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The Science of Conversation: Decoding Our 200-Millisecond Dance

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What makes some conversations flow while others falter? Discover the hidden patterns in our daily dialogues, from neural synchronization to the power of follow-up questions. Drawing from Uri Hasson's brain research, Elizabeth Stokoe's conversation analysis, and Chris Voss's negotiation techniques, learn practical tools to transform how you connect.

The Science of Conversation: Decoding Our 200-Millisecond Dance
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How This Personalized Podcast Was Made

This podcast was created using BeFreed’s AI, based on selected books, the creator’s learning goals, and their preferred tone.

Talk: The Science of Conversation
link
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talk-elizabeth-stokoe/1137179759
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
link
https://www.cnvc.org/store/nonviolent-communication-a-language-of-life
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/esther-perel-how-to-find-build-maintain-healthy-romantic-relationships
Durably reducing transphobia: A field experiment on door‑to‑door canvassing
link
https://prejudicereduction.princeton.edu/publications/durably-reducing-transphobia-field-experiment-door-door-canvassing
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/chris-voss-how-to-succeed-at-hard-conversations
Parent coaching increases conversational turns and advances infant language development
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1921653117
Modern Wisdom Podcast
link
https://modernwisdom.libsyn.com/506-elizabeth-stokoe
Celeste Headlee TEDx
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better_conversation
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High (Third Edition)
link
https://www.mhebooklibrary.com/doi/book/10.1036/9781260474190
Reducing Exclusionary Attitudes Through Interpersonal Conversation: Evidence From Three Field Experiments
link
https://isps.yale.edu/research/publications/isps20-01
Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results
link
https://books.apple.com/us/book/conversational-intelligence/id699296255
Motivational interviewing in medical care settings: a systematic review and meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24001658/
How to Speak (MIT OpenCourseWare)
link
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/res-tll-005-how-to-speak-january-iap-2018/download
Timing in turn‑taking and its implications for processing models of language
link
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00731/full
Uri Hasson TED
link
https://www.ted.com/speakers/uri_hasson
It doesn’t hurt to ask: Question‑asking increases liking
link
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:35647952
Speaker–listener neural coupling underlies successful communication
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1008662107
You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters
link
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250297204
Language style matching predicts relationship initiation and stability
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21149854/
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
link
https://www.penguinbookshop.com/book/9780143118442
Beyond the 30‑Million‑Word Gap: Children’s conversational exposure is associated with language‑related brain function
link
https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5945324
How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion
link
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/639563/how-minds-change-by-david-mcraney/
On Dialogue
link
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-dialogue-david-bohm/1116874382
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
link
https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/science-of-social-bonding-in-family-friendship-and-romantic-love
A simplest systematics for the organization of turn‑taking for conversation
link
https://www.conversationanalysis.org/schegloff-media-archive/simplest-systematics-for-turn-taking-language-1974/
Universals and cultural variation in turn‑taking in conversation
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0903616106
Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication
link
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cues-vanessa-van-edwards/1139479242
Julian Treasure TED
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_how_to_speak_so_that_people_want_to_listen
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
link
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/erin-meyer/the-culture-map-intl-ed/9781610396714/
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Input question

What makes some conversations flow while others feel awkward?

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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likes117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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comments96
likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments201
thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments12
likes117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments96
likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments201
thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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