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Think Fast, Talk Smart · June 22, 2026 · 25m

299. Choose The Right Channel: How Stanford Finds Its Voice

Farnaz Khadem, Matt Abrahams
Show Notes

Farnaz Khadem, Vice President of University Communications at Stanford, discusses how to communicate with impact when stakes are high. She argues that effective communication isn't about broadcasting information—it's about ensuring it connects with the right audience through the right channel. Drawing on her experience guiding institutions through crises and helping experts reach broader audiences, Khadem shares practical frameworks for building trust, adapting messaging, and communicating transparently during uncertainty.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Three foundational questions guide every communication decision02:38
Before communicating, ask: What's the goal? Who's the audience? What does the data tell us?
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Transparency about uncertainty builds trust more than false confidence05:38
When you don't know what's happening, saying 'I don't know' is more credible than speculation or silence.
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Channel selection is a data-driven strategic decision, not a default03:58
Where you communicate (social media, press, internal channels, direct outreach) should be determined by where your specific audience is and what behavior you want to drive.
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Crisis preparation requires practicing communication under pressure, not just planning responses08:44
Being ready for a crisis means rehearsing how you'll communicate—not just writing potential statements.
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Editorial

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Communication is about connection, not just information transfer02:38
Effective communication requires ensuring your message reaches and resonates with the audience—not simply broadcasting information into the void.
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Misc

✧Khadem emphasizes that 'people want to know what's actually happening'—even if that means saying 'I don't know.'
✧The episode references her earlier appearance (Ep. 22) on crisis communication, suggesting this is part of an ongoing conversation about high-stakes messaging.
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