Welcome to episode #1039 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).

I believe that communication has always been one of the most valuable skills in business. But in an era of AI-generated content, algorithmic feeds, podcasts, newsletters, keynote stages, short-form video and endless digital noise, it may be becoming even more important. Few people have spent more time studying what makes ideas resonate than Carmine Gallo. A communication coach, author, and instructor in executive education at Harvard, Carmine is best known for bestselling books including Talk Like TED, The Storyteller's Secret, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and many more. His latest project, Viral Voices - From TED Talks To TikTok, Persuasive Communication Skills For The Digital Age, is an audio-original experience that explores what great communicators can teach us about influence, storytelling, and audience engagement in a rapidly changing media landscape. In this conversation, Carmine argues that while the tools of communication have evolved dramatically, the human brain has not. Drawing on research from neuroscience, psychology, evolutionary biology, and his conversations with communicators ranging from business leaders to digital creators, he explains why storytelling remains one of humanity's most powerful technologies. The discussion explores why movement captures attention, why narrative structures continue to dominate modern platforms, and why great communicators are made through deliberate practice rather than born with natural talent. Carmine also shares his AMP framework for communication improvement: Ability, Message, and Practice. Along the way, the conversation examines the opportunities and challenges created by AI, including the growing tension between polished machine-generated content and authentic human expression. At a moment when everyone has access to powerful communication tools, Carmine makes a compelling case that imagination, personal experience, and genuine human insight are becoming the ultimate differentiators. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:00:47.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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Here is my conversation with Carmine Gallo.
Viral Voices - From TED Talks To TikTok, Persuasive Communication Skills For The Digital Age.
Talk Like TED.
The Storyteller's Secret.
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs.
Carmine's other books.
Follow Carmine on X.
Follow Carmine on Instagram.
Follow Carmine on LinkedIn.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction to Communication and Influence. (03:11) - The Evolution of Communication Tools. (05:56) - The Power of Storytelling. (08:48) - Understanding Audience Engagement. (11:48) - The Role of Movement in Communication. (14:59) - The Hero's Journey in Storytelling. (18:08) - The Nature vs. Nurture Debate in Communication. (21:02) - The AMP Model for Effective Communication. (24:05) - The Impact of AI on Communication. (26:58) - The Challenge of Authenticity in AI-Generated Content. (29:48) - Attention Spans and Content Consumption. (33:05) - The Future of Communication in the Age of AI.