# The Communication Skills Nobody Taught Us | Michael Ashford

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-thought-atlas-podcast-7652117/the-communication-skills-nobody-taught-us-michael-ashford.md
Podcast: [The Thought Atlas Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-thought-atlas-podcast-7652117)
Published: 2026-06-19T11:17:42+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessed-igberase/episodes/The-Communication-Skills-Nobody-Taught-Us--Michael-Ashford-e3j1tgq
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/10d5ce7f8/podcast/play/119649242/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-4-7%2F423697072-44100-2-84316f8168bd3.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1868

## Resource

Communication is something we do every day.Yet most of us were never taught how to do it well.We learn through mistakes.Through conflict.Through misunderstanding.And often, we confuse being heard with being understood.In this episode of Thought Atlas, I'm joined by Michael Ashford, a communication coach, marketing executive, former award-winning journalist, and host of the Rethinking Communication podcast.His work centers on a simple but profound idea:Communication isn't just about speaking.It's about understanding.Through his book Can I Ask A Question?, Michael explores how curiosity, better questions, and intentional conversations can transform relationships, leadership, and the way we make sense of each other.Together, we explore:• Why communication is so difficult despite doing it every day• The communication skills schools rarely teach• The difference between hearing and understanding• Why conflict isn't something to fear• The lost art of asking good questions• Why technology hasn't made us feel more connected• Narratives and the stories that shape reality• Persuasion versus understanding• Leadership and human nature• The communication skills every person should learnThis isn't simply a conversation about communication.It's an exploration of curiosity, conflict, relationships, and the deeper human desire to understand—and be understood.🌍 Thought Atlas:https://joinpodmatch.com/thoughtatlas⁠🌍 Michael Ashford:https://michaelashford.com⁠

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## Transcript

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