What makes a person captivating? How can some instantly connect with an audience, while others fall flat? This week I'm thrilled to have one of my kindred spirits on the podcast with me. Vanessa Van Edwards is a professional people watcher, self-described "recovering awkward person," and author of the new book Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People. Listen on to learn how Vanessa bootstrapped her Science of People research company, the best place to stand at a networking event, and the top secrets to make your TED talk go viral. More About Vanessa Van Edwards























Vanessa Van Edwards is a published author and behavioral investigator. She is a professional people watcher—speaking, researching and cracking the code of interesting human behavior for audiences around the world. Vanessa’s groundbreaking workshops and courses teach individuals how to succeed in business and life by understanding the hidden dynamics of people. Vanessa is a Huffington Post columnist and Penguin author. She has been featured on NPR, the Wall Street Journal, the Today Show and USA Today. She has written for CNN, Fast Company and Forbes.Topics We CoverPivot blessings in disguiseHow Vanessa bootstrapped Science of People and why she decided to pivot away from her original passive income businessHow to avoid reinventing the wheel—especially "broke down rickety wheels"Why conducting original research makes your work more viralHow Vanessa started a research-based company without a Ph.D. in social scienceSecrets from the most successful TED speakers: on hand gestures, how you share your message, why smiling makes you seem more intelligent, and the difference between memorized vs. internalized contentThe most strategic spot to stand at a networking event for making the best connectionsHow to recover from social awkwardnessCaptivate: Secrets From Viral TED Talks With Vanessa Van EdwardsListen below or on iTunes, SoundCloud, Overcast, Stitcher, or Google Play Music:Resources MentionedVanessa Van Edwards on the web, Twitter, YouTube TutorialsTop Ten TED Talks of All TimeVanessa's Book: Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People



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