Conversations That Count

About Conversations That Count

Most professionals spend 80% of their workday communicating — and almost none have a system for getting better at it. Conversations That Count changes that. Hosted by David Shaft — President's Club Banker at Rocket Mortgage, Dale Carnegie graduate, and Detroit storyteller — CTC delivers real conversations with executives, industry leaders, and everyday professionals who break down the communication skills that actually move careers forward. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Professional multi-camera video production on YouTube. Full audio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. What you'll learn: • Workplace communication: better meetings, tougher feedback, and difficult conversations that don't blow up relationships • Public speaking and presentations: how to open strong, handle Q&A, and keep any room engaged • Professional networking: small talk that leads somewhere, LinkedIn outreach that gets replies, follow-up that builds real relationships • Storytelling: how to tell your story in 60 seconds and communicate with impact in any room • Leadership communication: negotiation, influence, and the Dale Carnegie principles that still work today CTC is syndicated on the Mission Matters Network and features professionals across automotive, finance, tech, healthcare, and Detroit's growing entrepreneurship scene — because great communication looks different in every industry. Whether you're a mid-career professional chasing a promotion, a manager who needs to run better meetings, or anyone who wants to communicate with more confidence, credibility, and impact — this show was built for you. Free resource: Download the free Communication Playbook — 10 frameworks, scripts, and exercises to help you communicate like a pro. Get it at: https://ctcpodcast.media/free-playbook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube — and never miss an episode. Stories That Stick. Skills That Scale.

Publisher

David Shaft

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jan 2023

Latest episode

28 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Why This CEO Signs His Emails 'Just Vinnie' | Vinnie Forese

   Vinnie Forese, President & CEO of Link-Systems International, on approachable leadership, mentorship, and why empathy beats AI.

2. 

   23 Jul 2026

   Rock Bottom Has an Expiration Date

   Rock bottom is not permanent. It has an expiration date, and most people never stop to check when it runs out. In this solo session, David Shaft makes a freeing case: you cannot always choose when you hit rock bottom, but with the right action you get to decide when it ends. Leaning on the old line this too shall pass and the reminder that you carry a 100 percent survival rate for everything you have already survived, he lands it with a ham. Leave it in the freezer and rock bottom keeps forever. Take it out, put it in the sun, and that expiration date moves up fast. Try this: the next time you are at the bottom, say this too shall pass out loud, then take one action today that moves your expiration date up instead of sitting in it. CHAPTERS 0:00 Rock bottom has an expiration date 0:31 This too shall pass 1:12 Your 100 percent survival rate 1:31 Drawing the rock 2:07 What goes down has to come back up 2:54 Nothing stays at the bottom forever 3:38 You decide when it expires 4:20 The freezer versus the sun 4:53 The ham analogy 6:39 Try this, move your expiration date up 7:09 Close, this too shall pass Get the free Communication Playbook: https://ctcpodcast.media/free-playbook CONNECT WITH CTC: Website: https://ctcpodcast.media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/conversations-that-count-a31f16a6-3131-4c8f-982f-19d52407e8eb/id1890348796 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3J6lZ10GvK07qCv3aQxnkR LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/david-shaft ALSO FROM DAVID SHAFT (voice): Gildenmyth: https://gildenmyth.com The Sleeping Almanac: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSleepingAlmanac Kingdoms at Dusk: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTCouRuuI30LEwUdKIaOE5w Follow Conversations That Count on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. (00:00) - Rock bottom has an expiration date (00:31) - This too shall pass (01:12) - Your 100 percent survival rate (01:31) - Drawing the rock (02:07) - What goes down has to come back up (02:54) - Nothing stays at the bottom forever (03:38) - You decide when it expires (04:20) - The freezer versus the sun (04:53) - The ham analogy (06:39) - Try this, move your expiration date up (07:09) - Close, this too shall pass

3. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Every choice is a trade. The real skill is knowing what you are paying, and being okay with the price.

   Everything you do has an opportunity cost. Every choice means you are paying something to get something else, and most people never stop to notice what they are giving up. In this solo session, David Shaft shares the question a mentor used to cut through his venting about business: how do you make it to the gym every day? That flipped his whole frame into what would I do with that time anyway, and straight into opportunity cost. Gym or couch. Free time or money. Marriage or a little isolation. He walks through why every choice is a trade, why the cost is often only paid in the moment, and why the real skill is knowing exactly what you are paying and being okay with the price. Try this: the next time you are dreading something, name the alternative out loud. Ask what you would actually do with that time anyway, and decide if you are okay with the trade. CHAPTERS 0:00 Everything has an opportunity cost 0:09 What would you do anyway? 0:53 The gym question that changed it 1:48 Every choice is a trade 2:16 Gym or couch, pick one 3:38 Free time or money 4:13 Marriage, and the cost of a choice 5:44 The cost is only paid in the moment 6:50 Nothing is free, know what you are paying 7:41 Close Get the free Communication Playbook: https://ctcpodcast.media/free-playbook CONNECT WITH CTC: Website: https://ctcpodcast.media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/conversations-that-count-a31f16a6-3131-4c8f-982f-19d52407e8eb/id1890348796 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3J6lZ10GvK07qCv3aQxnkR LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/david-shaft ALSO FROM DAVID SHAFT (voice): Gildenmyth: https://gildenmyth.com The Sleeping Almanac: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSleepingAlmanac Kingdoms at Dusk: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTCouRuuI30LEwUdKIaOE5w Follow Conversations That Count on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. (00:00) - Everything has an opportunity cost (00:09) - What would you do anyway? (00:53) - The gym question that changed it (01:48) - Every choice is a trade (02:16) - Gym or couch, pick one (03:38) - Free time or money (04:13) - Marriage, and the cost of a choice (05:44) - The cost is only paid in the moment (06:50) - Nothing is free, know what you are paying (07:41) - Close

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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