Become More Compelling Radio is a podcast where I (Jeff Callahan) have conversations with charisma and people skill experts. My goal with each conversation is to deconstruct what makes them fantastic at what they do, and pass that glorious information along to you on a silver platter so that you can craft a more compelling social life. To learn more about maximizing your social skills and charisma using behavior and psychology head over to www.becomemorecompelling.com
In this episode of the Become More Compelling podcast, I brought back Nick Gray, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party.
You'll hear us cover a lot, including why in-person connection still matters, and what it actually takes to build strong friendships as an adult.
We talk about the role of humor in conversations. We get into why having a personal website isn't optional if you want to control your online and AI-based reputation.
We...
If you've ever frozen mid-conversation, overthought what to say, or replayed a moment 500 times in your head… this episode for you.
You'll learn a 4-step framework—borrowed from a literal fighter pilot—that'll help you stop second-guessing and start speaking up.
You ...
Are you putting in effort to get better socially... but still feel stuck?
If you're an overthinker, this might sound familiar:
👉 You're applying effort—but not seeing the results you want.
👉 You feel like you're doing the righ...
Quick question for you: How can you jump into a conversation without feeling awkward?
Ever find yourself hesitating to join a group, fearing you'll disrupt their flow?
You're not alone! It's normal to fear that awkward silence that hits when you walk over.
But don't worry, I've got some tips to help you start more conversations in your day-to-day life.
In this episode of the BMC podcast I cover…
✅ A mindset shift that will help yo...
Belief you need to unlearn: Everyone is constantly judging you.
Unlearning this can make you more socially successful, a better communicator and help you stop overthinking social situations.
Why is this important? Believing everyone is judging you can paralyze you in social situations, making you hesitant to speak up in meetings, approach new people, or share your ideas.
Letting go of this belief can unlock new opportunities—leadin...
Do you have to step out of your comfort zone to be interesting?
Yes, but shattering your comfort zone isn't the answer, do this instead.
Let's dig in.
Good things happen outside your comfort zone. If we all stayed within our comfort zones, we'd be on the couch watching Reels all day. While that's safe and low-risk, it means missing out on opportunities for growth.
Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to meeting new people, st...
Do you ever feel nervous meeting new people?
Here's a game-changing concept: You don't have to like everyone, and not everyone has to like you.
This realization can make your interactions smoother and less nerve-wracking.
✅ Embrace that not every interaction will be magical.
✅ Increase your "surface area of luck" by meeting more people.
✅ Focus on your 50% of the interaction—be open and enthusiastic.
I's about quantity leading to ...
A belief that you need to unlearn is "You need to be perfect to succeed"
"Perfect" can take many forms socially...
"I need to say something really profound in this meeting."
"I could say that thing, but it's not interesting enough."
"I could ask this question, but it might sound silly."
"Perfect" is that imaginary bar that you need to jump over to give yourself permission to speak up.
It's a trap!
This belief can hold you back b...
Do you want to make more friends, build your network, and throw parties that make people say "I can't WAIT for the next one!"?
My guest Nick Gray is here to show you how!
He's sharing secrets straight from his book The 2-Hour Cocktail Party. In this episode, you'll learn:
Look, we've ALL been in social situations where we feel a little nervous.
Maybe we want to make a good first impression, be more charismatic and charming, or just have a good interaction. In this episode, we'll look at 5 ways to be charming even when you're nervous.
And we'll look at none other than the Batman himself, Robert Pattinson.
We'll brea...
Have you ever wondered how to not be boring in a conversation?
Maybe you really want to be more interesting, but you don't know how, maybe you KNOW deep down that you're not boring, but you just need some pointers.
In part 2 of this series, we're going to cover 4 ways you can be less boring and more interesting in a conversation.
NEXT STEP:
QUIZ - Do you know what your communication style is? Take this quiz and get a custom report...
Building the skill of being witty in conversation is super important. When you meet a new person at work, for example, and you're able to crack a joke, it demonstrates that you don't take yourself too seriously, have a good sense of humor, and are socially skilled.
All good things!
If you've ever wondered how to be witty in conversation, this episode will fix you up!
We'll look at three clips of Will Ferre...
Building the SKILL of talking to anyone with confidence is SO important.
If you're not able to  communicate with confidence, it'll be more difficult to advance in your career, lead/inspire your team at work, or be confident in a social situation.
In this episode (video here on YouTube), I'll show you 5 ways to talk to anyone with confidence.
You'll want to stick around till the end of the episode because I'll outline the biggest ...
How To Be A Great Storyteller.
Having the skill of telling a few good stories is a really important people skill.
Pulling out a great story can be a fantastic way of entertaining people, providing information or even persuading others.
In this episode, I'm going to break down a story by Bill Hader and walk you through 4 tips on how to tell a great story.
You'll be able to use these storytelling tips in your next Zoom meeting f...
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.