Super communication:Unlock the secret language of connection

Aug 11, 2026

So much of what we aim to do in our interactions with others depends on our ability to communicate. Author Charles Duhigg’s recent book, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, explores what it takes to be just that.

Duhigg suggests that we first remember there are three types of conversations:

practical
emotional
social

Knowing which type of conversation you are having is helpful, and it’s also important for those in the conversation to agree on this. I can think of times when the other person thought it was a practical conversation while I thought it was emotional. Not the best outcome.

Duhigg stresses the importance in asking the right kind of questions. For example, in the Fast Friends experiment, a pair of strangers was instructed to ask each other 36 questions. The questions were personal and followed a process of escalating self-disclosure. People were prompted to ask about their beliefs, values and experiences. In other words, it was not just small talk. Seven weeks after the experiment, many of the participants had stayed in touch or at least attempted to do so.

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Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.