Tamsen Webster on Speaking So They Can’t Unhear Your Message

Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

Erik Fisher

Business, Entrepreneurship, Self-improvement, Careers, Education

4.5 • 875 Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this shortcast episode, Erik Fisher talks with Tamsen Webster about the hidden structure behind every message that sticks. Tamsen introduces the Red Thread—a framework for crafting ideas that feel obvious in hindsight and impossible to ignore. Whether you’re pitching a project, leading a team, or launching a product, this episode will help you connect what you’re saying to what people are already thinking.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Belief Comes Before Behavior: Tamsen explains why people won’t act on your idea until it aligns with who they believe they are.
The Red Thread Framework: A practical way to structure your message using five building blocks—Goal, Problem, Truth, Change, and Action.
The Role of Story Without Telling Stories: How you can build narrative logic even if you never tell a single anecdote.
Why Ideas Fall Flat: Tamsen shares the #1 reason messages don’t stick—and how to rework them to resonate deeply.
How to Create Agreement Without Force: You’ll hear why persuasion isn’t about pressure—it’s about showing people what they already believe.

This episode is packed with insights on how to design messages that don’t just land—they last.

To learn more about the Red Thread or grab Tamsen’s latest book Say What They Can’t Unhear, visit tamsenwebster.com.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome back to Beyond the To Do List, a podcast about productivity.
0:25.2	I'm your host, Eric Fisher, and this episode has been a long one in the making.
0:28.2	I am finally talking with Tamzin Webster.
0:32.9	We had to reschedule this one a few different times, but you don't need to know that, but I just thought I'd share.
0:36.6	In this conversation, we are talking about her latest book,
0:39.2	Say What They Can't Unhear, nine principles of lasting change. But we also incorporate and talk about her previous book,
0:45.3	Find Your Red Thread, Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible. And so between those two books,
0:50.8	we talk about change and communication,uasion. We talk about why belief
0:57.2	comes before behavior. Tamzin explains that people don't act on your idea until it aligns with
1:03.6	who they believe they are. We also talk about the red thread framework. It's a practical way
1:08.9	to structure your message and messaging, the role that story
1:12.8	plays without telling stories, how you can build a narrative logic, even if you're not telling
1:19.1	anecdotes. And we also talk about the number one reason that ideas fall flat and messages don't
1:26.0	stick. So no matter what role you're in, you're communicating.
1:29.9	And that's exactly where this episode is going.
1:32.5	We're talking about connecting what you're saying with what people are already thinking
1:37.2	and helping your ideas resonate, stick, and create change that lasts.
1:45.0	Well, it is my privilege to welcome to the show,
1:47.7	Tamsen Webster.
1:48.8	Tamsen, welcome to beyond the to-do list.
1:52.1	I am delighted to be here.
1:54.5	I live and die by my to-do list so that I can get beyond it.
	...

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