Jan. 5, 2026
How to Sound Clear When You're Under Pressure (2 TRICKS)
Chris Miller shares two easy-to-remember frameworks — 1-2-3 and PARA — for answering any question clearly and confidently, even when you're caught off guard.
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YouTube Never sound unprepared again! This episode is only 20 minutes. Sounding clear isn’t about having the perfect words — it’s about structure. In this episode, I walk through two frameworks that help you communicate confidently when you’re thinking on your feet.
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0:00
Have you ever had a moment where you had no idea what to say?
Maybe it's in a job interview, you are on a date, you're meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in a while and they ask you a question that you didn't expect.
Well, in this episode I want to give you 2 frameworks that I have recently learned that will always give you something to say even when you are the most unprepared.
0:26
Welcome to the Talk to People podcast.
This is your host, Chris Miller, and I have been doing something it's 2026 that I want to do more of and that is invest in myself and my ability to bring you all more value on the Talk to People podcast.
0:43
So I'm reading more books and I just spent $250 to invest in myself by joining a communication Academy.
I have a goal this year to be able to help more people hands on with communication advice and consulting.
0:58
So before I really hop out there, I want to be able to look around to see what works best and what other people are doing who have already done really well in this space.
So one of the things I'm doing is going to different communication academies or resources online, even meeting with people in person or over the phone to get coached myself.
1:19
In this past week, I learned 2 frameworks that I thought would be a perfect podcast episode to give to you.
Because one of the biggest questions and fears that people bring to me is what do I do if someone comes up to me?
1:35
They ask me something and I'm not prepared.
I don't know what to say.
I have to speak off the cuff.
And there's a lot of different ways we can take this, but those moments typically aren't knowledge issues.
It's typically not a competence issue or something that you lack internally.
1:52
Rather, it's a framework issue.
If you have frameworks that you can call on and then put whatever information you need in those frameworks, then you'll always be able to answer the questions behind me.
I have a picture of the Human Torch.
If you're watching on Spotify, the video podcast, then you're able to see that as well as on YouTube.
2:13
The reason why I have the Human Torch behind me is because I want you to be like the Human Torch in any moment.
Something the Human Torch can do is immediately he's on fire, and I want you to immediately be on fire in any conversation, in any view, any interview you're on, and any question or answer panel, any date you go on.
2:34
I want you to be able to turn this on, turn into the Human Torch and answer the perfect and best question you can answer with an awesome, compelling whoa, how'd you do that?
You must have prepared a lot.
Answer.
OK, here we go.
2:51
The first framework I want you to think about is really simple to understand, but also really simple to remember, and that is the 123 framework.
What's the importance of frameworks?
The importance of frameworks is that you're listening to this podcast now or you're watching this podcast so that whenever you actually need the framework, you can pull it out.
3:12
So right now you don't need the framework.
You're just listening, you're watching, you're studying, I like to call it working on your off time.
So your on time is as good as it can be, right?
So as I explained this framework to you, maybe you need to write it down, maybe you need to pause the podcast and try it out for yourself with a different question, with a different context so that you know how to use this framework and then resume the podcast and then we'll go to the next framework.
3:41
But I really want to stress the importance of figuring out frameworks that work for you.
So maybe you these frameworks aren't your frameworks, but it's good for you to know that way you can check them out.
And maybe they are your framework that you add to your toolkit and you use it later this year and it helps, helps a lot.
4:03
So the first framework 321, here's how I want you to remember it.
One thing, two types, three steps.
I'll give it to you backwards.
Three steps, two types, one thing.
4:21
So we're going to practice this framework with different questions that you could ask me.
Copper mines, OK, I don't know anything about copper mining, but if someone were to ask you, Chris, what are your thoughts on copper mines?
You can say the one thing about copper mines is they are full of really precious, super useful material that everyone needs.
4:48
So we need to really value copper mines.
OK, maybe I am doing this wrong because I should probably talk about things that I know about, but I tried the framework with something I don't know about.
So just to complete the framework.
5:05
OK, tell me about copper mines.
OK, well there's two types of copper mines you need to be thinking about.
The first type of copper mine is domestic.
Domestic copper mines have a lot of legality and regulation.
Then there's international copper mines.
5:22
International copper mines are a bit more Wild West.
They are typically more productive 'cause they have less labor laws, which results in a cheaper product.
But there may be some risk whenever you invest or purchase copper from international copper mines because you have no idea what is being put into that product.
5:44
And if you invest in a international copper mine, you may lose some of your investment because they may have some legality issues.
OK.
So the first answer I did was the one thing you need to know about copper mines is, is it's a a precious material that everybody uses.
6:02
So we really need to value them.
The second thing I said was two types.
Well, there's two types of copper mines, there's international and then there's domestic.
And then to give you the framework a little bit more, the three steps.
So you can either say one thing, 2, two types or three steps.
6:18
So Chris, what do you think about copper mines?
Well, three big things about copper mines.
The first thing we need to be thinking about is it's such a precious metal that we need to do everything we can to ensure we are keeping copper mines nearby.
6:36
We are utilizing them with peak efficiency because at some point we will run out of copper.
The second thing we need to be thinking about is educating our youth about the importance of copper and seeing if there's ways that we can make more of what we already have.
6:55
Are there scientific processes out there that, like alchemy, can create more copper out of a little copper?
And then the third thing is, once we have that copper, how are we partnering with engineers and product developers to make the copper go as far as it can go?
7:13
Are there ways that we can optimize it, that we can replace copper with an alternate component that can do just as well yet has even more supply?
OK, so that's three steps.
7:29
So I'm going to do this with something I actually know.
I wanted to kind of start out-of-the-box to challenge myself.
I ended up doing OK, but I panicked at first.
OK, so if someone says, Chris, tell me about communication, then I say the one thing you need to know about communication is it's less about yourself and more about your audience.
7:48
The best communicators I see aren't the ones that are thinking about the perfect things to say.
They're the ones who are thinking about making the audience feel the best way they can.
I want you to be able to recognize your audience, audience recognition, rather than caring less about yourself.
8:04
And what you'll find is you will be less nervous because you're not thinking about what's going on in you.
You are actually able to watch something else, project the care outward, project the nerves outward so you can think about your audience.
So I answered that question by saying the one thing about communication.
8:23
Now if they say, if they say, Chris, tell me about communication, then I can say, well, two types of communication I want you to be thinking about.
The first is interpersonal communication.
That's you talking with the people around you.
It can be something as simple as a conversation with a Co worker, or you can be in a small group conversation at a City Hall meeting talking about something that is really high stakes or at the dinner table talking about something more intimate that may be more private.
8:53
The other side of communication is intrapersonal communication.
That's what's going on inside.
It's one of the most underrated, but one of the most important parts of communication because if you can, if you can explain and express why you are feeling the emotions you're feeling or what you truly want to say, what your inner voice is telling you to say, and how to best connect with the people around you, you will be a better communicator.
9:21
OK, so that's two types.
So I said one type of communication is interpersonal communication.
Another type is interpersonal.
A note to you as I'm doing these frameworks, I could be saying a whole bunch of other things.
I could have said two types of communication is face to face communication and then digital computer mediated communication.
9:40
I could have said two types of communication you need to be thinking about is non verbal communication and verbal communication.
It's just the two types.
Bucket gives you a framework to answer the question and then to finish with three steps.
9:56
If someone were to say, Chris, tell me a little bit more about communication, I could say, well, there's a lot to say about communication, but let me give you 3 steps about how to become a better communicator.
The first thing is to really figure out what you're there for.
10:13
Are you wanting to connect with the audience?
So that or wanting to connect with a certain individual or an audience, depending on the context you're in, to be a better friend.
Are you looking for a promotion?
Are you trying to go out on a date?
Are you trying to persuade them to invest in a product?
10:30
The first thing you need to be thinking about is your goal.
Once you know your goal, then we can figure out how to get there.
The second step to become a great communicator is to prepare.
If you spend 5 minutes preparing for whatever you're about to go to do, it's going to feel like your IQ went up five points.
10:49
If you spend 30 minutes preparing, it's going to feel like your IQ went up 30 points.
Preparation is one of the most mismanaged tools and superpowers that we have.
If you can prepare about what topics you're going to talk about.
11:06
If you can prepare about how you're going to finish your speech so that you can make people feel better, that's going to make you so much of A dangerous, so much more of a dangerous communicator.
And then the third step to become the best communicator you can is to practice, to get in repetitions, to do the best that you can possibly do, to show up every single day.
11:31
You will be better, I promise.
Don't focus on really big jumps.
Just focus on taking a small step every single day.
And by the end of the year, you won't even recognize how great of a communicator you are and how much growth you've actually made.
11:48
OK, so that was I said the one thing about communication is knowing what your audience thinks.
I said two types of communication is interpersonal and intrapersonal.
And then I said three steps to become a better communicator.
You can do this with anything.
12:04
Any question people ask you, you can comment below questions and I could respond to them how I would answer them in the comments just using this framework.
So 1231 thing, two types, three steps.
The other framework that I want to get to you.
12:20
And before we get to this framework, if you could quickly like and subscribe rate this podcast if you've enjoyed it.
I need to be better at inserting things like this into the podcast format.
I was listening to the Mel Robbins podcast and wow, they've really figured it out.
12:36
They have all these different segments with perfect music that goes in and out.
Me, I'm just sitting here on a microphone in my guest bedroom, trying my best to educate people from afar with things that I think is interesting and interests me.
That being said, if you could rate this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you find it, if you could share with someone that really helps this podcast.
12:56
I'm trying my best to be consistent with a new episode every Tuesday in 2026.
And the more consistent I am, the more Spotify is going to like me.
But it's gonna extra like me if more people listen to this podcast.
So share this with people who you know, are wanting to grow, who have a high priority on getting that better job or finding their spouse or being able to connect better with people at their on the job, at their workplace, you name it.
13:27
So try your best to show this podcast, OK.
The second framework that you need to know is called para.
This is point action result ask.
This is taught to me by Vin Young.
He's one of the best communication teachers that I've seen on YouTube.
13:44
He does it all.
He's got over 4 million followers.
So para PARA point action result ask.
So I'm going to give you an example.
So imagine we are in a meeting about the Talk to People podcast.
Frankly, I would love to grow the talk to People podcast, but I need help.
14:03
So imagine all of you are helping me with growing the talk to People podcast.
And you say, Chris, we're going to start with a point, something that you found, OK, something that you thought you say, Chris, I've noticed that your video episodes get a lot more traction than your audio episodes.
14:26
So that's a point.
Then you follow that with an action.
OK, so the point was, Chris, I noticed your video podcasts get a lot more traction than your audio episodes action would be.
I put together a quick list of each of your video episodes and or each of your audio episodes you've done in the past 12 months.
14:48
So the point, Chris, I noticed your video podcasts perform better than your audio ones than the action.
I put together a list of each audio episode you've done in the past 12 months.
Then a result this, the result that we're going to use for this episode or for this example is what I found is that there are 10 different episodes in that audio episode list that I think we could tweak slightly and have big returns if we release on video.
15:15
And then you follow that with an ask the APARA point action result.
Ask the ask would you like to take?
What would we like to schedule a couple of weeks on the recording, on the recording calendar so that we can quickly shoot a couple of these video episodes.
15:37
OK, So in full, it sounds like, Hey, Chris, I noticed your video podcasts performed better than your audio ones.
So I put together a list of each audio episode you've had in the past 12 months.
And what I found was that there are 10 different episodes that I think we could tweak slightly and video them and have great return, especially really good return on a minimal investment.
16:02
Would you like to maybe mark off a couple of weeks on our content calendar so that we could shoot these video episodes?
That sounds great, right?
I'd be like, yeah, thank you so much.
You sound super smart.
In the communication example, we could say, hey, Chris, what what is the everybody's talking?
16:25
Like what?
I just wonder what the secret sauce is.
Like, how do you become a better communicator?
And then I'm like, one of the things is, or one of the things I've realized is I always feel more confident when I prepare just 5 minutes.
For instance, before this meeting on my drive here, I was incredibly unprepared.
16:44
But at a stoplight, I sat there, it was a really long stoplight, and I just went through what are a few things that I could possibly say.
And now I'm sitting here feeling more confident and almost feeling like I have something to contribute, even though the past few weeks I haven't felt that way.
17:01
So maybe for future meetings, we could all just take 5 minutes, only 5 minutes to prepare on one thing we could bring to the table.
So that's point, action, result, ask PARA.
And if you are ever sitting in a meeting, if you are ever sitting in some type of high stakes or low stakes, basically anywhere, you can always write down PARA, what's my point, what's my action, what's the result and what's the ask.
17:32
And then one thing, two types, 3 steps.
Whatever you say with podcasts.
Chris, tell me about podcasts.
The one thing about podcasts is consistency matters, but what matters most is adaptability.
17:48
Chris, tell me about podcasts.
Well, two type of podcasts.
You need to be thinking about the first.
The first type is informational.
These podcasts really focus on the content.
They really want to make sure they have high, high integrity with their content.
18:06
They want to make sure they cite their sources and they work a lot with researching.
The second type of podcast is entertainment only.
They want to make sure they get the best vibe.
Their preparation is on getting the right people in the right places.
That way it's really entertaining when people watch.
18:22
Chris, tell me about podcasts.
OK, well, three steps you need to start a podcast.
The 1st is to figure out the general frame for what your podcast is about.
The second is decide how you want to do your podcast.
You want to do a audio or a video only?
18:37
Would you like to do it every week?
Would you like it to just be you or would you like to have a Co host?
Would you like episodes to be a solo episode like this or would you like it guest episodes like my first fifty that I recorded of the Talk to People podcast?
Once you know your frame and you know exactly how you want to do it, then the third thing is just to record and publish.
18:59
The best way to improve is by trying and applying.
Then you can react to the results, then plan and improve.
But knowledge is only power when you apply it.
So to start a podcast, get your general frame, then think about the context in the form of delivery you want to provide your audience.
19:21
Finally, start recording and press publish.
That's going to be how you create your podcasts.
Thanks for asking me about podcasts.
OK, one thing, two types, three steps.
Now I want you to go and I want you to use these frameworks.
19:39
Write them down, challenge yourself to use them in the next week.
I bet it's going to be helpful and I bet you are going to feel better.
And when you feel better, you communicate better.
Feel good, look good, feel good, talk good.
It all matters.
Thanks for listening to the Talk to People podcast.
19:56
If you can leave a review, leave a comment on Spotify.
I think those are cool.
And I have zero and share this episode with someone who you think would benefit from it.
Maybe a business partner, someone at work, a friend that you know who's trying to make make things great, someone you know who just created a Bumble account and they're going on dates, Whoever that is, be sure to tell him I said hi.
20:20
And remember, life is better when you talk to people and I'll see you next time.