221. Don’t Get Lost in Translation: Staying Cool When Every Word Counts

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams interviews Giampaolo Bianchi, a simultaneous interpreter for organizations like the UN and WHO, focusing on international diplomacy, human rights, and global health. Giampaolo discusses his training, which includes mastering English, Spanish, and French, and shares techniques for staying calm under pressure, such as maintaining posture, breathing, and focusing on the present. He emphasizes the importance of conveying emotion and ideas rather than just translating words, and he details preparation strategies like researching organizations, delegates, and jargon to maximize cognitive bandwidth. Giampaolo also provides advice for improving spontaneous speaking, such as analyzing communication styles and practicing different ways of expressing the same concept.