The One Body Language Cue That Beats All the Others | Social Intelligence Briefing
In this episode, AJ and Johnny reveal one of the most powerful — and overlooked — body language cues in human behavior: the freeze.
First uncovered by former FBI counterintelligence agent Joe Navarro, the freeze isn’t fidgeting or eye contact — it’s the moment someone suddenly goes still. Whether you’re leading a team, negotiating a deal, or having a difficult conversation, this cue can tell you when you’ve hit something real.
You’ll learn exactly what the freeze means in the brain, how to spot it in real time, and the one move that separates amateurs from operators when it happens. This 10-minute skill upgrade will forever change how you read people, build trust, and uncover the truth in any conversation.
Chapters:
00:00 – The FBI’s secret body language cue01:30 – What the “freeze” reveals about the brain
03:00 – How to spot the freeze in feedback and negotiation05:00 – The two-second silence that surfaces truth07:00 – Three signs of the freeze: motion, breath, and face08:00 – The Two-Second Freeze Drill (step-by-step)10:00 – Training your nervous system to stay calm under pressure
Episode Resources: If you want to build your network the way spies build sources, go grab our free guide: Network Like A Spy at theartofcharm.com/spy
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15:26
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15:26
3 Steps to Move from Stress to Strength | Jon Rosemberg
Episode Description:
AJ and Johnny sit down with Jon Rosemberg to unpack how to break free from survival mode and start thriving in your work, relationships, and mindset. They explore how chronic stress, fear, and comparison keep us stuck in scarcity — and how awareness and reframing can open new paths to fulfillment. Jon introduces his AIR framework (Awareness, Inquiry, Reframing), showing how to calm the nervous system, challenge limiting beliefs, and reconnect with purpose. They also discuss emotional intelligence, vulnerability in leadership, and how success and thriving aren’t the same thing. This episode is for anyone ready to overcome burnout, regain agency, and create a life that feels meaningful — not just manageable.
Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome and defining survival mode
02:30 – Why our minds stay stuck in scarcity
05:00 – Survival mode’s impact on relationships and connection
08:00 – Introducing the AIR framework: Awareness, Inquiry, Reframing
13:00 – Naming beliefs and shifting self-judgment
18:00 – Thriving vs. success: the power of meaning and mastery
23:00 – Balancing authenticity and belonging
29:00 – Understanding core values and agency
36:00 – Managing the inner critic and finding perspective
45:00 – From directive to collaborative leadership
A Word From Our Sponsors
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The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back.
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Episode resources:
JonRosemberg.com
A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning
Check in with AJ and Johnny!
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57:48
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57:48
The Elicitation Protocol | Social Intel Brief
Ever wonder how top performers turn casual small talk into career-changing conversations? In this episode of Social Intelligence Brief, AJ and Johnny reveal the 3L Protocol — a proven system used by intelligence operatives and elite networkers to make powerful connections fast.
You’ll learn how to identify emotional signals in conversation, reflect them back authentically, and turn them into trust through micro-favors — all without sounding manipulative or forced. Whether you’re at a networking event, a date, or a team meeting, this framework helps you move from surface-level chatter to deep rapport in under 30 seconds.
This isn’t about asking better questions — it’s about noticing better.
What to Listen For
[00:00:00] The hidden skill that turns small talk into influence[00:00:27] Why high-value people respond to social intelligence — not effort[00:02:02] The 3L Protocol: Listen, Label, Leverage[00:03:24] How to recognize goals, constraints, and emotional cues[00:04:21] The difference between labeling and giving advice[00:05:23] Real-world example: turning a casual chat into trust[00:06:21] How to use “micro-favors” to show value fast[00:07:47] Examples for networking, dating, and professional settings[00:09:21] The secret to effortless alignment and emotional connection[00:10:35] Final recap: Listen. Label. Leverage.
A Word From Our Sponsors
Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com
The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back.
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Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at makeheadway.com/CHARM and use my code CHARM for 25% off.
Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm.
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This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm
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Curious about your influence level?
Get your Influence Index Score today!
Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence.
Check in with AJ and Johnny!
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Johnny on LinkedIn
AJ on Instagram
Johnny on Instagram
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13:53
3 Mindset Shifts to Build Emotional Resilience | Shireen Rizvi and Jesse Finkelstein
When emotions clash with reason, clarity feels impossible. In this episode, AJ and Johnny sit down with psychologists Dr. Shireen Rizvi and Dr. Jesse Finkelstein — coauthors of Real Skills for Real Life — to explore how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) turns emotional chaos into calm, actionable wisdom. They break down DBT’s balance of change and acceptance, show how to identify “skills deficits” behind recurring struggles, and reveal why mindfulness and emotional awareness are the foundation of resilience.
You’ll learn how to use DBT’s practical frameworks — including the Wise Mind and DEAR MAN skills — to strengthen communication, build emotional regulation, and handle difficult conversations without losing self-respect. Whether you’re negotiating at work, managing conflict, or simply trying to understand yourself better, this conversation gives you a playbook for thinking clearly and acting with intention — even under pressure.
What to Listen For[00:01:00] What DBT adds to traditional CBT — and why it works[00:02:28] The balance between change and acceptance in personal growth[00:05:06] Reframing emotional struggles as “skills deficits”[00:07:02] Breaking emotional loops and rewriting your story[00:10:28] Understanding “Wise Mind” — integrating logic and emotion[00:16:33] How emotion is data — not distraction[00:20:12] Using mindfulness to expand your perspective and reduce suffering[00:26:42] Building confidence through mastery and self-compassion[00:31:28] DBT frameworks for clarity in high-stakes conversations[00:33:46] Using DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST to communicate effectively[00:49:22] How self-respect, values, and truth create lasting confidence
A Word From Our Sponsors
Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com
The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back.
If you’ve put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Use code CHARM at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year.
Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns.
Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at makeheadway.com/CHARM and use my code CHARM for 25% off.
Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm.
Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm.
This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm
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Curious about your influence level?
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Episode resources:
Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions, and Relationships
Check in with AJ and Johnny!
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1:01:21
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1:01:21
The Intrigue Framework — Presence That Does the Talking
Ever wonder why some people light up a room the moment they walk in? That’s not luck — it’s aura. In this episode, AJ and Johnny unpack the science and strategy behind building an authentic magnetic presence. From making people feel good in your company to inviting them into your passions and showing up fully present, you’ll learn the repeatable steps that make others naturally gravitate toward you.
Drawing from behavioral psychology and emotional intelligence research, they share how to master attention, turn validation into connection, and transform your energy into influence. Whether you’re leading, dating, or networking, this episode gives you the blueprint for developing a presence that people remember — and want more of.
What to Listen For
[00:00:00] What “aura” really is — and how it’s built
[00:00:40] Why attention is the first step to influence
[00:01:16] Turning any attention — even negative — into opportunity
[00:02:08] The first pillar: make people feel good around you
[00:02:34] Science of emotional validation and active responding
[00:03:46] Emotional intelligence vs. being “just nice”
[00:05:10] How to respond when others struggle or fail
[00:06:08] Second pillar: invite people into your passions
[00:07:21] Why hosting beats talking — and builds closeness fast
[00:08:53] The “power of the invite” and how reciprocity builds aura
[00:09:43] Third pillar: presence is the new status signal
[00:10:50] The posture and body language that kill your aura
[00:11:42] Final recap: feel good, share passion, stay present
A Word From Our Sponsors
Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com
The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back.
Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns.
Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at makeheadway.com/CHARM and use my code CHARM for 25% off.
Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm.
Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm.
This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm
Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM TODAY to get started
Curious about your influence level?
Get your Influence Index Score today!
Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence.
Check in with AJ and Johnny!
AJ on LinkedIn
Johnny on LinkedIn
AJ on Instagram
Johnny on Instagram
The Art of Charm on Instagram
The Art of Charm on YouTube
The Art of Charm on TikTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Art of Charm is where self-motivated people, just like you, come to learn from the company’s coaches about to how to master human dynamics, relationships, and becoming your best self with the help of Johnny and AJ, the company’s founders. Johnny and AJ bring their 11 years of coaching experience from their famous Bootcamps, where they host clients in Los Angeles from all over the world and they share their stories, best practices and themselves on this weekly podcast. Not only does The Art of Charm help everyday people, including active members of the military, learn how to become higher performers, better spouses, partners, and coworkers, they dig deep into human behavior, the science behind it, and demystify what we do and why we do it.