Episodes

  • Why Innocent People Sound Guilty When They Talk

    Why Innocent People Sound Guilty When They Talk
    Apr 26 2026

    You don't have to be a criminal to sound like one. Every day, in offices, relationships, dating profiles and press statements, people use four specific strategies to mislead you without technically lying. And the uncomfortable truth is that you use all four of them too.


    In this episode of How Words Work I break down the four strategies of Truthful Deception. Convincing, Avoidance, persuasion and Selection. I show you exactly how they sound in the wild, from Taylor Frankie Paul's police statement to Bill Clinton describing one of the most scrutinised relationships in modern political history as an “acquaintance." And from a dating profile that tries so hard to sound relaxed it becomes exhausting, to a simple question about a report that somehow turns into a conversation about Jane's personal life.


    By the end of this episode you'll never hear a conversation the same way again.


    How Words Work is a weekly podcast with Jack Fox. 📩 Want to go deeper? Jack's newsletter Credible lands in your inbox every week with one idea you can use straight away. Sign up here: https://jack-fox.kit.com/dfc55f19a6

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    12 mins
  • Why You Talk Like Someone on Death Row

    Why You Talk Like Someone on Death Row
    Apr 19 2026

    You've never killed anyone. You've never stood in front of a jury. But the way you speak when you're nervous, defensive, or trying too hard? It follows the exact same patterns as some of the most notorious criminals ever put on trial.


    In this first episode of How Words Work with Jack Fox, Jack reveals why lying is far rarer than you think and why that's actually more alarming, not less. The real threat isn't the outright lie. It's Truthful Deception, the art of misleading someone while never technically saying anything false.


    Using the case of Scott Peterson, a cookie-stealing kid, and a workplace alibi that unravels in four words, Jack shows you how the truth leaks out whether we want it to or not. And more importantly, how to make sure your own words never work against you.


    If you want to speak with more authority, spot when you're being misled, and understand why the truth is always in the words, this is where it starts.


    Want to go deeper? Jack's newsletter Credible lands in your inbox every week with one idea you can use immediately. Sign up here: https://jack-fox.kit.com/dfc55f19a6

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    9 mins
  • Why Explaining Early Kills Credibility

    Why Explaining Early Kills Credibility
    Apr 11 2026
    Explaining feels helpful, but under pressure it sounds like protection. This episode looks at why people explain before committing, how this shows up in deceptive and manipulative language, and why listeners hear defence before they hear information. You’ll learn why answering first and stopping early makes you sound composed, credible, and in control without trying harder.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    5 mins
  • Why Your Answers Sound Evasive Even When You’re Telling the Truth

    Why Your Answers Sound Evasive Even When You’re Telling the Truth
    Apr 5 2026
    When a question feels uncomfortable, people often answer at a higher, safer level than they were asked. This episode breaks down how criminals and manipulators use general language to reduce exposure, how honest people do the same thing under everyday pressure, and why listeners immediately sense that something is missing. You’ll learn how matching the ground of the question restores credibility and reduces follow-up instantly.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    5 mins
  • Why Saying “Honestly” Makes People Doubt You

    Why Saying “Honestly” Makes People Doubt You
    Mar 29 2026
    People use words like “honestly” when they feel pressure to be believed. This episode explains why credibility markers appear in deceptive and manipulative language, how honest people use them without realising, and why listeners hear uncertainty the moment they show up. You’ll learn why removing these words makes your statements sound calmer, firmer, and more believable without adding anything at all.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    4 mins
  • Using One Simple Word Will Change How Others See You Forever

    Using One Simple Word Will Change How Others See You Forever
    Mar 22 2026
    When people feel exposed, they quietly remove themselves from their language. In this episode, you’ll learn how dropping pronouns reduces ownership, why phrases like “didn’t do it” sound weaker than “I didn’t do it,” and how this pattern shows up in deception, manipulation, and everyday discomfort. You’ll also hear why saying “I love you” carries more commitment than “love you,” and how staying in your sentences immediately increases credibility.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    5 mins
  • Two Words That Instantly Boost Your Credibility

    Two Words That Instantly Boost Your Credibility
    Mar 15 2026
    Yes and no are the simplest answers you can give, and the hardest ones to say under pressure. This episode explores why people who are managing belief avoid commitment, how criminals and manipulators stretch answers to stay safe, and why listeners react instantly when yes or no is missing. You’ll learn how clean answers restore credibility and why avoiding them makes you sound unsure even when you are telling the truth.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    5 mins
  • Why Saying Less Makes You Sound More Honest

    Why Saying Less Makes You Sound More Honest
    Mar 8 2026
    Most people lose credibility after they’ve already answered the question. In this episode, you’ll learn why liars, manipulators, and abusers struggle with silence, why honest people talk past the right stopping point, and how extra words quietly undo trust. You’ll understand why brevity sounds grounded, why silence sounds confident, and how stopping earlier makes everything you say land with more authority.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    6 mins