Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Episode 235 - Refine, Reframe, Repeat: Make Your Communication a Slam Dunk

Host: Matt Abrahams
Guest: Chiney Ogwumike (Professional basketball player, ESPN analyst, gender equality advocate)
Date: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the crucial role of effective communication in both sports and professional life. Host Matt Abrahams sits down with Chiney Ogwumike — WNBA athlete, ESPN broadcaster, and former Stanford basketball star — to break down practical strategies for high-pressure situations, the value of practice and authenticity, and tools for making complex communication accessible. The conversation touches on overcoming fear, the lessons from great coaches, breaking barriers in male-dominated spaces, and building routines for clarity and confidence in public-facing roles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Communication Under Pressure (02:21–04:37)

• Basketball as a Communication Lab:
  Chiney describes basketball as an arena that forces communication, both verbal and nonverbal, and underscores the need for shorthand (symbols, cues) for rapid teamwork.

  "You have to be able to use your voice, find your voice. That doesn't mean you have to talk a lot. It just means that you have to communicate the important messages."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 02:35

• Trust, Chemistry, and Multichannel Messages:
  She credits working with legendary coach Tara VanDerveer for teaching her the power of nonverbal symbols and consistency in communication.

  "Coach Tara... taught us symbols — 1, 2, 3, 4, shapes, movements that could be read... It really shows you the essence of chemistry."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 03:12

2. Overcoming Fear Through Preparation and Practice (04:37–06:12)

• Practice as the Path to Confidence:
  Chiney opens up about her free throw anxiety and how repetition and relentless practice transformed her fear into confidence, a lesson she applies across her career.

  "There is freedom on the other side of your fear. Meaning if you go in there and you practice... a repetition of errors shows a lack of intelligence... So for me... I just kept shooting free throw after free throw after free throw."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 04:37

• Universal Application — Public Speaking:
  Matt draws parallels to common fears in communication, like public speaking, highlighting the importance of practice and incremental progress.

3. Lessons from Great Coaches: Incremental Growth (06:52–08:21)

• Consistency and Small Steps:
  Chiney shares her mother's saying, "Tiny drops of water make a mighty ocean," connecting it to the power of showing up consistently, focusing on incremental improvements, and the cumulative impact on performance and self-perception.

  "The best things in life are things you work at over long periods of time… Those incremental things that are sustainable, those tiny drops of water that builds an ocean, that can change the tides of how you perceive yourself."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 06:52

4. Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces & The Power of Imperfect Authenticity (09:13–10:48)

• Barriers and Perceptions in Broadcasting:
  Chiney describes the double scrutiny she faces as a woman covering the NBA and how she handles public mistakes and judgment.

  "They see you before they hear you, they judge you before they know you, but they still can't stop you."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 09:13

  • She rejects perfectionism and stresses embracing mistakes, reframing them as learning opportunities and emphasizing authenticity.

  "Perfection is overrated... Not many people, if any, are perfect communicators... What you do when [a mistake] happens is what defines how you are as a communicator. Those are the things where you accept your humanity."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 09:13

• Being Relatable:
  Authenticity and self-acceptance not only alleviate pressure but also build trust and relatability with audiences.

5. Strategies for Clear, Impactful Broadcasting (12:14–14:10)

• Three-Part Communication Routine:
  Chiney details her preparation routine for broadcasting — applicable to any high-stakes communication:

  1. Research & Fact-Checking:
     She collaborates with researchers to back up her opinions with data, especially valuable as a woman in a male-dominated field.

     "People want to be like, oh, but what do you know? You never played in the NBA. What I do know are numbers and facts."
     — Chiney Ogwumike at 12:14

  2. Mental Preparation:
     She centers herself with two prayers (the Serenity prayer and Guardian Angel prayer), building a mindset of calm and focus, similar to her rituals before games.

     "[I] say the Serenity prayer... I did those two things before every basketball game, too... giving my protection in this moment to my spirituality."
     — Chiney Ogwumike at 13:07

  3. Rule of Threes:
     She structures her analysis in three key points, helping audiences retain information and avoid information overload.

     "People can take information the best in threes... Three key points are very easy to be retained."
     — Chiney Ogwumike at 13:54

6. Audience Q&A: Advice, Role Models, Essentials (16:16–18:45)

• Advice for Young Women Entering the Workforce:

  "You belong and so does your voice... Comparison being the thief of joy instead of staying true to your own path and being authentically yourself."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 16:45

• Communicator She Admires:
  Chiney lauds Lisa Leslie, not only for her verbal communication but for the way she carries herself, reinforcing that presence and behavior are just as communicative as words.

  "Communication is not just what we say verbally. It's how you carry yourself. What are you communicating to the world?"
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 17:33

• Top 3 Ingredients for Successful Communication:
  Preparation, authenticity, and purpose.

  "Preparation, authenticity, and purpose."
  — Chiney Ogwumike at 18:39

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There is freedom on the other side of your fear." — Chiney Ogwumike, 04:37
• "Tiny drops of water make a mighty ocean." — Chiney’s mom / Chiney Ogwumike, 06:52
• "They see you before they hear you, they judge you before they know you, but they still can't stop you." — Chiney Ogwumike, 09:13
• "Perfection is overrated... What you do when [a mistake] happens is what defines how you are as a communicator." — Chiney Ogwumike, 09:13
• "Preparation, authenticity, and purpose." — Chiney Ogwumike, 18:39

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Effective teamwork through shorthand and nonverbal cues: 02:21–03:12
• Overcoming pressure and fear in performance: 04:37–06:12
• Lessons from great coaches; incremental growth: 06:52–08:21
• Dealing with visibility and imperfection in broadcasting: 09:13–10:48
• Chiney’s three-step routine for effective, credible communication: 12:14–14:10
• Rapid-fire questions (Advice, Role Models, Top Ingredients): 16:16–18:45

Summary Takeaways

• Effective communication is multi-channel: Words, symbols, and body language all matter, especially under pressure.
• Practice and repetition, not perfection, build confidence and skill.
• Consistency and small, daily improvements are more valuable than grand gestures.
• Authenticity and embracing mistakes make communicators relatable and credible.
• Preparation—fact-checking, mental routines, and clear structure—are the backbone of high-impact communication.
• Everyone’s presence and voice belong—the key is to show up purposefully and authentically.

This episode is rich in practical wisdom and inspiration for communicators at any level, blending sports and real-world communication scenarios with actionable advice and memorable stories.