Vanessa Van EdwardsScience of People, Science Of People · Behavioral Researcher, Founder, Author, Harvard Instructor

I Studied The World's Best Speakers (and the findings were shocking)

17 Aug 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

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In this YouTube monologue, Vanessa Van Edwards explains how she spent years analyzing the habits of some of the most memorable conversationalists—such as Howard Stern, Jerry Seinfeld, Malcolm Gladwell, and a historic dialogue between Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lyndon B. Johnson. She describes her research process, the recurring patterns she uncovered (effective questioning, navigating awkward moments, managing conflict, and making others feel understood), and how these insights are distilled into a practical framework presented in her new book, Conversation. The video serves both as a presentation of her findings and a promotion of the book, promising readers concrete scripts for handling anger, shutdowns, and graceful conversation endings, with the ultimate goal of helping anyone create genuine connection in any interaction.

Chapters

I spent years studying some of the greatest conversationalists I could find. Howard Stern, Jerry Seinfeld, Malcolm Gladwell. I even tracked down an almost forgotten conversation between Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lyndon B. Johnson right after he took emergency office after President Kennedy. That conversation shaped history. I kept asking myself the same question: what makes some people unforgettable to talk to? Is it charisma, confidence, humor? No. It was something much more learnable. Across thousands of conversations, I found the same patterns showing up again and again. The best conversationalists know how to ask the right questions, navigate around moments, especially the awkward ones, that handle conflict, and make people feel genuinely understood. That's exactly what I put into my new book, Conversation. Inside, I'll walk you through the blueprint I wish everyone had, including exactly what to say when someone's angry, someone's shutting down, even how to end a conversation gracefully. My goal is to teach you how to create connection in almost any situation. Conversation is also available wherever books are sold.