Merry Christmas from The Communication Guys! Episode 68 of The Communication Guys podcast is the final episode of 2017, and we couldn’t think of a better way to finish out the year than by looking back at some of the most popular episodes of 2017, from “How to Cast Your Vision so Others Catch It” to “Overcoming Shyness.” If you manage to find a quiet moment today, listen in.

Words matter. If you don’t believe it, try using the wrong one at the wrong place or time. The wrong word can get you fired, or publicly humiliated. The wrong word can lead to confusion or misunderstanding—or even start a war. Yet all of us are prone to 7 common word choice errors that we can easily correct. In “7 Word Choice Mistakes and How to Avoid Them,” the Guys describe 5 of the most common word choice errors and how to correct them. Can you really sound smarter in just 30 minutes? Apply these principles and find out.

"Are people avoiding me, or is it just my imagination?" Sometimes, without meaning to, we send subtle nonverbal signals that warn people off and push them away. It’s as though we have a sign around our neck that says, “DO NOT DISTURB,” and we don’t even know we’re wearing it. In “Am I a Person People Avoid?” the Guys describe 5 signals you may be unconsciously sending that cause people to avoid you, and how to replace them with signals that draw people in.

Are you an initiator? If you are, you’re part of a rare minority. Most people wait for someone else to think of the idea, plan the event, make the phone call, or extend the invitation. They wait for you to get the car rolling, then gladly climb aboard. But there’s great reward in being the kind of person who’s willing to make that first move. In “Why if Pays to Be the Initiator,” the Guys explain why initiators are valuable people—and why all of us should join their ranks.