CivilTalk

What does it take to rebuild trust, strengthen communities, and move forward in a world that often feels divided? In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Rich Harwood — founder and president of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and author of The New Civic Path and Stepping Forward. Together, we explore what it means to create real change in modern society through deepe...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast , we speak with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn - decision scientist, founder and CEO of Decisive, educator at Cornell and Columbia, and author of Problem Solved , Problem Solver , and her newest book The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI . Drawing from her research and the development of the AREA Method , Cheryl explains how individuals and organizatio...

In this episode of CivilTalk , Topacio Althaus sits down with strategist, mediator, and leadership advisor Jason Craige Harris for a wide-ranging conversation about alignment, integrity, and the work of repairing relationships within families, organizations, and institutions. Jason is the CEO of Perception Strategies , a consulting firm that helps leaders and organizations strengthen culture, navi...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, Topacio Althaus sits down with Sabina Nawaz — leadership coach, keynote speaker, and former Microsoft executive — to explore how pressure and power quietly shape behavior at the top. Drawing from her book You’re the Boss , Sabina unpacks a critical truth of leadership: as roles expand, the pressure to perform can corrupt even the best intentions, and incre...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with leadership expert, bestselling author, and podcast host Mike Robbins for a thoughtful conversation about trust, authenticity, and the human dynamics that shape workplace culture. Drawing from more than twenty-five years of experience working with organizations like Google, Microsoft, Pixar, the NBA, and Harvard University — and from his bo...

Today on the CivilTalk Podcast, we are joined by the incredible Erica Keswin : a workplace strategist who has spent more than two decades helping organizations around the world build cultures rooted in connection, clarity, and care. In this episode, Erica unpacks her research on why rituals matter, how leaders can retain and re-energize teams in a changing world, and what it means to “bring your h...

Between family arguments, online outrage, and political hostility, many people feel like civil dialogue is slipping away. Marianne Viray believes we can bring it back. In this episode, we speak with the Executive Director of Disagree Better , whose work blends decades of political experience with tools that help people communicate across deep differences without losing dignity. Marianne shares the...

What if laughter isn’t just entertainment, but medicine for the mind, body, and culture? In this episode of The CivilTalk Podcast , host Topacio Althaus sits down with Craig Shoemaker — Emmy-winning comedian, TEDx speaker, and founder of Laughter Heals and Laughter Worx . With four decades of experience on stage and in boardrooms, Craig reveals how humor rewires the brain, restores connection, and...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Hoffmann , Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Jessica leads groundbreaking research on how social and emotional learning (SEL) shapes school climate, student creativity, and the well-being of both students and educators. We talk about the sc...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Bea Boccalandro , author of Do Good at Work and a leading voice on workplace purpose. Bea has spent decades helping companies and individuals discover how meaningful work transforms not only organizations, but also our personal well-being. We explore why so many employees feel disengaged despite record spending on workplace programs — and...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, host we sit down with Mike Veny — award-winning mental health speaker, drummer, author, and CEO of Lovely Refinement. Determined to overcome a lifetime of severe mental health challenges, Mike has built a career helping leaders and organizations turn pain into purpose and burnout into resilience. Together, we explore Mike’s journey from professional drumme...

What happens when people don’t feel they matter? Burnout, disconnection, and disengagement. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Zach Mercurio — author of The Power of Mattering — joins the CivilTalk Podcast to discuss the essential role of significance in leadership and organizational life. Together, we explore how leaders can create cultures of belonging and meaning, why mattering is a basic psych...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast , we sit down with Dr. Vanessa Druskat—award-winning researcher, professor, and the pioneering mind behind the Team Emotional Intelligence (Team EI) model. With over three decades of research into what makes teams succeed, Vanessa shares how emotionally intelligent team cultures—not just individual talent—are the key to collaboration, performance, and long-...

In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we sit down with the engineers who helped bring CivilTalk to life: Mike Castor, Nick Nartaro, and Mike Fara. Together, we explore how the platform was intentionally designed to center emotional intelligence, civil discourse, and human-led collaboration—while using AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement. From seamless onboarding and role-based design t...

What if creativity—not constant hustle—was the key to better leadership, stronger teams, and sustainable growth? In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast , we sit down with Natalie Nixon, PhD —award-winning author, creativity strategist, and founder of Figure 8 Thinking —to explore why creativity is a strategic imperative for leaders and organizations in every industry. Natalie unpacks her signatu...

What makes someone truly perform under pressure? And why do some people thrive in chaos while others break? In this episode of CivilTalk Podcast , we sit down with Rich Diviney—retired Navy SEAL commander, bestselling author, and founder of The Attributes Inc. We explore the hidden drivers of performance that go beyond skill—resilience, adaptability, humility—and how they shape our ability to lead...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we’re joined by global leadership expert and author Henna Inam to explore what it really means to lead from within. We dive into practical, honest conversation around emotional intelligence, authentic leadership, and personal growth — for anyone who wants to become a better leader, educator, or human. Henna shares key insights from her books Wired for Auth...

What does it really take to lead in today’s world—and what are most leaders still overlooking? In this episode, Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson—clinical psychologist, professor, and founder of RACE Space Inc.—joins us to unpack why racial literacy is an essential and teachable skill for emotionally intelligent leadership. We explore how this competency can be developed, modeled, and passed on to younger...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast , CivilTalk host Topacio Althaus is joined by psychologist and author Dr. Todd Kashdan for a bold and thought-provoking conversation on emotional intelligence, curiosity, and the science of dissent. Drawing from his latest book The Art of Insubordination , Kashdan explains how principled nonconformity can drive justice, creativity, and meaningful change—whe...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast , Topacio is joined by Dr. Marcella Runell — Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Mount Holyoke College —for a powerful conversation about emotional intelligence, cross-racial friendship, hip hop, multifaith leadership, and creating cultures of care in higher education. Dr. Runell shares reflections from her co-authored book UnCommon Bond...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Michael Horn—coauthor of Disrupting Class , Blended , and Choosing College —for a deep conversation about how education can evolve through innovation, disruption and human-centered design. We explore how the current system wasn’t built to support every student, what we can learn from other sectors through the lens of disruptive innovation,...

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly and a nationally recognized leader in SEL integration and educational equity. Together, we explore how schools can embed emotional intelligence into systems, support both students and teachers, and innovate in public education despite resource challenges. David shares insights from his work leading th...

Robin Hills, Director of Ei4Change and author of The Authority Guide to Emotional Resilience in Business , joins us to talk about how emotional intelligence can be taught, applied, and embedded into leadership. With over 500,000 learners across 200+ countries, Robin shares his journey of building a global platform for EQ education, the intersection of AI and emotional intelligence, and how resilie...

In this episode of the CivilTalk podcast, we sit down with world-renowned emotional intelligence expert and author Dr. Richard Boyatzis to explore what truly drives great leadership and lasting personal change. Co-author of the groundbreaking book Primal Leadership and author of The Science of Change , Dr. Boyatzis shares insights from decades of research on emotional intelligence, leadership deve...

How can understanding the science of persuasion help us foster more civil conversations, build trust, and navigate the digital age ethically? In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Christopher Phelps—entrepreneur, best-selling author, and U.S. CEO of the Cialdini Institute—to explore the intersection of ethical influence, emotional intelligence, and civility. Together, we d...