💡 We’re Premiering Glasp Talk #52!
Join us live for the premiere of our fifty-second session:
“Sound Affects: How Sound and Listening Shape Our Lives,” featuring Julian Treasure, one of the most listened-to speakers in TED history.
▶️ When: May 29 at 10:00 am PDT (6:00 pm BST, 10:30 pm IST)
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This is the fifty-second session of Glasp Talk!
Glasp Talk features intimate conversations with leading thinkers and creators, revealing the stories, struggles, and insights that shape their work.
Today’s guest is
, a globally renowned sound and communication expert whose five TED Talks—especially "How to Speak So That People Want to Listen"—have garnered over 160 million views. Julian is the author of award-winning books like “How to Be Heard” and Sound Business, and his upcoming book, “Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet,” launches in June 2025.If you want to reread or highlight this newsletter, save it to Glasp.
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Book: “Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet“
Sound Affects is Julian Treasure’s powerful new book about how sound influences our health, emotions, behavior, and the world around us — and how we can listen more consciously to live better.
Transcripts of YouTube
Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of Glasp Talk. Today, we are honored to welcome Julian Treasure, globally renowned expert on sound and communication, author of award-winning books like How to Be Heard and Sound Business, and the mind behind five TED Talks with over 160 million views, including the iconic How to Speak So That People Want to Listen. And Julian is the founder of The Listening Society and has helped over 150,000 online students… Read More
Highlights
The Power of Sound and Conscious Listening:
Julian explains the four effects of sound—physiological, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral—and emphasizes how sound unconsciously influences our bodies, emotions, focus, and decisions. He advocates for "conscious listening" as a way to reclaim control over our auditory environment.Designing Healthy Soundscapes and Embracing Silence:
Julian promotes the idea of “soundscaping,” encouraging people to evaluate their environments with three questions: Is this sound healthy, helpful, and happy? He highlights the importance of regular exposure to silence and nature sounds, which are increasingly rare but vital for wellbeing.The Future of Voice and AI in Communication:
He envisions a near future where AI enables seamless voice-based interactions with technology, replacing screen and keyboard interfaces. However, Julian cautions that empathy and deep human understanding, rooted in real listening, remain uniquely human and essential in an AI-driven world.
Key Questions & Insights
Q: What inspired Julian Treasure to focus on sound and listening as his life’s work?
Julian’s journey began with music from a young age, which trained him in attentive, multi-track listening. His professional background in branding and media led him to notice how little businesses considered sound. This eventually inspired him to found The Sound Agency and dedicate his life to promoting conscious listening.
Q: What are the four effects of sound that Julian describes?
Julian outlines that sound affects us physiologically (e.g., heart rate, brainwaves), psychologically (e.g., emotions), cognitively (e.g., focus and productivity), and behaviorally (e.g., purchasing decisions). These often happen subconsciously, highlighting why intentional listening and sound design are crucial.
Q: How does Julian define “conscious listening”?
Conscious listening is the act of being fully present and attentive to sound. Julian compares it to meditation, requiring humility, presence, and intention. He believes it’s a foundational skill for leadership, empathy, and meaningful communication in all areas of life.
Q: What is Julian’s view on the role of AI in future communication?
Julian predicts that voice will become the main interface with technology, moving us away from screens to more natural, spoken interaction. While AI may enhance communication, he warns that it lacks human empathy and emotional understanding, skills rooted in true listening.
Q: What advice does Julian give to improve speaking and listening skills?
For speaking: Get vocal training—it’s surprising how few professionals do.
For listening: Treat it as a skill you can master. Practice silence daily, and become aware of your auditory environment by asking if it’s healthy, helpful, and happy. These steps lead to stronger relationships, leadership, and personal well-being.
Q: What legacy does Julian hope to leave?
Julian aims to foster a world that listens—where listening is taught to children, valued in leadership, and embedded in culture. He hopes to shift society away from noise, distraction, and division toward empathy, understanding, and deeper human connection.
The Listening Society
The Listening Society is Julian Treasure’s online community dedicated to helping people improve their listening, communication, and sound awareness skills.
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