Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. A graduate of Yale and Harvard Business School, he writes for The New Yorker and has spent his career decoding how habits, productivity, and communication shape success in business and life. In this conversation, Charles breaks down the science behind “super communication,” how to handle emotionally charged conversations, and why mastering these skills is one of the highest‑ROI ways to make more money.

On this episode we talk about:

How Charles went from third‑grade sticker arbitrage to Harvard Business School, private equity, and ultimately a career writing blockbuster business books.
Why business stories—and the drama, risk, and reward inside companies—make for the most compelling lessons about money and careers.
The three types of conversations (practical, emotional, and social/identity) and why mismatching them destroys connection.
Motivational interviewing: how to ask questions that move people toward better decisions without arguing, lecturing, or triggering defensiveness.
How to protect friendships and relationships in a polarized world by getting curious instead of furious, asking deep questions, and managing your own reactions first.

Top 3 Takeaways

Great communicators don’t just talk well; they recognize which kind of conversation they’re in (practical, emotional, or social/identity) and match the other person so both sides feel heard.
Motivational interviewing and deep questions let you influence others far more effectively than debates or data dumps, because you help them talk themselves toward insight instead of trying to “win” an argument.
Self‑observation—catching your own motives, reactions, and habits in real time—is a trainable skill that turns better communication into a habit and becomes a major edge in leadership, sales, and making money.

Notable Quotes

“If you’re feeling furious, get curious.”
“Successful communication requires having the same kind of conversation at the same moment.”
“The best communicator in any room usually isn’t the one talking the most—they’re the one everyone feels understood by.”

Connect with Charles Duhigg:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesduhigg
Twitter/X: https://x.com/cduhigg
Website: https://charlesduhigg.com
Newsletter (The Science of Better): https://thescienceofbetter.net or via his site
Book: Supercommunicators

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