This Week: How Often Do You Talk to Yourself? Probably Not Enough.

Lessons in self-expression from author Susan Cain, psycholinguist Maryellen MacDonald, and Emmy-winning correspondent Bill McGowan. Oh, and did you get a Father's Day gift yet?

This Week on the Next Big Idea Podcast

How Susan Cain found her voice.

Susan Cain

always knew she wanted to be a writer. But her path to becoming one was anything but straightforward. She took a creative writing class in college and came away convinced she wasn’t very talented. So she pivoted: law school, white-shoe firm, eyes set on making partner. Seven years later, a senior partner walked into her office with life-changing news. It wasn’t going to happen. “I burst into tears,” Susan recalls. Three hours later, she quit. Within a week, she enrolled in a creative non-fiction class. A few years after that, despite never having published a word in her life, she sold her first book, Quiet, in a bidding war. Today, she ranks among the most successful non-fiction writers of her generation. In this episode, Susan takes us inside her journey from rejection to literary sensation, revealing the unexpected lessons she learned along the way. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

---

Give Dad the Gift of Big Ideas

Don’t panic, but this Sunday is Father’s Day. If you haven’t found the perfect present yet, don’t sweat it. Give him a gift that’s smart, inspiring, and lasts all year long: a membership to the the Next Big Idea Club. He’ll get a curated selection of the best new nonfiction as selected by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. Use the code DAD20 at checkout for 20% off new memberships or gift memberships.

---

Book Bite of the Week

Make people remember what you say.

This week in the Next Big Idea app, learn how to speak in a way that will make you unforgettable. Journalists and communication coaches Bill McGowan and Juliana Silva offers key insights from their new book Speak, Memorable: The Art of Captivating an Audience. Listen to the key insights—read by Bill and Juliana—in the Next Big Idea App.

---

This Week on Author Insider

Are you a working—or aspiring—writer? Collaborate with literary leaders, discover proven tactics to grow your writing career as a business, and unlock private, off‑the‑record gatherings. Connect, learn, and grow together through an exclusive community of authors and industry experts. See a list of upcoming events (including an exclusive chat with Cal Newport) and join our growing community at Author Insider.

---

This Week on the Next Big Idea Daily Podcast

How often do you talk to yourself? Not enough.

Turns out that speaking—to others or to yourself—isn’t just a way of communicating important information and ideas. Psycholinguist Maryellen MacDonald says it's also good for you. Her new book is More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.