CM 305: Maryellen MacDonald on Talking as a Superpower

In today’s hyper-connected world, when you want to communicate, you’ve got so many alternatives to talking. But before you spend another minute drafting a text or email, consider how essential it is for us to talk to others. Talking – whether self-talk, sign language, or in-person speaking – is a process we need for learning, setting goals, and managing our emotions. That’s because talking is a multi-step process, and to do it well, we can’t skip a step. Maryellen MacDonald is a Professor of Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her book, More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World, gives us many reasons to prioritize talking in our lives. It’s a key component of a healthy life. Episode Links How Can You Get Better at Learning a Foreign Language? Good-Enough Production: Selecting Easier Words instead of More Accurate Ones Interview with Alison Wood Brooks on her book, Talk The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you

You can listen to CM 305: Maryellen MacDonald on Talking as a Superpower online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

CM 305: Maryellen MacDonald on Talking as a Superpower is an episode from Curious Minds: Innovation in Life and Work by Gayle Allen.

This episode is 54:05 long.

This episode was published on Nov 15, 2025.

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