What is your body saying when you’re not speaking, and how could it be holding you back? In this episode, world-renowned body language expert Mark Bowden explains how nonverbal signals impact trust, credibility, and executive presence. Discover how our brains instinctively scan for safety cues, and why understanding body language is critical for anyone who leads, presents, or communicates under pressure.

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TRANSCRIPTION

“What instantly comes to your mind when you see me cross my arms?”

Andrea Wojnicki – Talk About Talk:

I’ve been told that’s a sign of defensiveness, but I’m not sure that’s true.

Mark Bowden:

Yeah? Well, good. You know, I’d start by checking who told you that.

AW:

I think it’s just common knowledge, right?

MB:

Common knowledge. Yeah, stupid. You know, I actually stopped trying to count all the reasons why people cross their arms after I hit 30. It just got boring. There are many, many reasons.

Meet Mark Bowden

AW: Mark Bowden is a world-renowned body language expert, and he’s been on my radar for a while. When we finally connected for this interview, we discovered that we live and work near each other. What a coincidence! We both share a passion for helping others communicate more effectively.

But I have to say: Mark blew my mind.

This conversation took twists and turns I didn’t see coming. So buckle up. You’re about to learn a ton about body language, perception, credibility, and so much more.

Welcome to the Talk About Talk Podcast!

In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with body language expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author Mark Bowden. You’ll learn the one key thing you need to focus on to instantly improve your body language, and your communication overall. You’ll also gain insight into how our motivations, including our primal survival instincts, shape our perceptions of others, especially when it comes to interpreting body language. And finally, we’ll bust a few body language myths that you’ve probably accepted as truth…until now.

If you’re a returning listener, welcome back. I’m so glad you’re here. And if you’re new to Talk About Talk, welcome! Please subscribe to the podcast on your platform of choice (Apple, Spotify, or YouTube), where you can actually see me and Mark in action. Subscribing ensures you never miss an episode and that you receive ongoing communication coaching from me every two weeks.

We cover topics like:

• Overcoming imposter syndrome


• Giving powerful presentations


• Establishing executive presence


• Building your personal brand


• And yes, body language.

You can also find free learning resources, coaching services, and more on the Talk About Talk website: talkabouttalk.com.

A Quick Roadmap

First, I’ll introduce Mark, then we’ll dive into our interview. Afterward, I’ll summarize with three key learnings that I hope you’ll take away. You don’t need to take notes. Just keep doing whatever you’re doing: walking, driving, lounging on the couch. I’ve got you covered. And of course, you can always reference the show notes in your podcast app for more details.

About Mark Bowden

Mark Bowden is a globally recognized authority on body language. He’s been named the No. 1 Body Language Professional in the world multiple times by Global Gurus.

His unique GesturePlane™ system of nonverbal communication empowers audiences to use body language to stand out, build trust, and gain credibility.

Mark is the founder of TRUTHPLANE®, a communication training company that serves major organizations including Zoom, Shopify, Real Madrid, Toyota, the U.S. Army, and NATO. He’s also worked with G7 prime ministers and business leaders worldwide.

He’s a bestselling author, a popular instructor in Canada’s top-ranked EMBA program at the Kellogg-Schulich School of Business, and the current President of the National Communication Coach Association of Canada.

You might’ve seen Mark on the Dr. Phil Show, CNN, CBS, or Global News, or watched his TEDx talk, “The Importance of Being In-Authentic,” which has reached tens of millions of viewers. He’s also a co-host of the YouTube hit The Behavior Panel, which has garnered more than 75 million views.

Thank you so much for being here today, Mark, to talk with me, and the Talk About Talk listeners, about body language.

MB:

It’s great to be here. So, what are your thoughts? What are your questions or observations?

AW:

Let’s start with the big picture. I coach senior executives on all things communication. So how, and why, does body language fit into the broader context of communication and executive presence?

MB:

Easy. I judge you. You judge me. We all judge each other. That’s it. Now, how do we do that?

Well, we could come up with all kinds of explanations that aren’t really true. But the reality is, we form (and continue to form) judgments based mostly on how people behave in front of us. What their face is doing. What their body is doing. What their hands are doing. How they’re dressed. The environment they’re in.

We judge partly by vocal tone, but we barely judge each other on what’s actually said. In fact, we often just make up what we think someone said based on how they behaved. So if you change, or more importantly, choose, your behaviors, you stand a much better chance of shaping how someone judges you. That influences how they interpret what you’ve said and even what they imagine you said.

AW:

So the transcript doesn’t really matter?

MB:

Right. Here’s the interesting thing. I could say something with very positive content, and if you transcribed it, it would read positively. But if I use body language that communicates negativity, that’s what people will walk away with.

AW:

Mm-hmm.

MB:

I’ll ask people, “What images came to mind when I said that?” And they’ll often report negative associations, even though my words were positive. That’s because they weren’t truly listening. Their brains were inventing meaning based on how I looked and behaved. And that narrative, the one their brains created, completely tak