Purposeful Empathy with Anita Nowak

Watch this episode to learn how the circular economy 2.0 can promote human rights and dignity in addition to sustainability. Lis Suarez-Visbal is an Ashoka Fellow, Circular Economy Expert and Doctoral researcher at Utrecht University, with nearly two decades leading a social enterprise that promoted women’s empowerment. In this episode, she explains how policymakers and companies in the apparel se...

Watch this episode to learn how one social enterprise is advancing literacy through evidence-based programming that engages parents and the community. Camesha Cox is an Ashoka Fellow, award-winning education-sector trailblazer and Founder and Executive Director of The Reading Partnership (TRP), a non-profit that designs and delivers community-based literacy programs and educational resources. In t...

Watch this episode to learn why it’s high time to shift the power asymmetry between the public and social sectors. Shaun Loney is Senior Director of Encompass Coop, a coalition of skilled practitioners who engage with diverse stakeholders, from grassroots communities to policymakers, empowering communities with the tools to create systemic change through innovative social enterprise solutions. He...

Watch this episode to learn how "tried and true" Indigenous law-based approaches can guide Western legal code towards a more sustainable future. Ashoka Canada Fellow, Jessica Clogg, is Executive Director and Senior Counsel for West Coast Environmental Law, where she has served as an environmental and Indigenous rights lawyer for the past 25 years. In this episode, she explains why enviro...

Watch this episode to learn why scientists could benefit from some "shut up and listen” humility. Shelly Elverum is the supporter of Ikaarvik which is committed to supporting Inuit youth reclaim their roles as the Arctic’s first scientists, capable of managing resources, determining their cultural and economic futures, and adapting to rapid climate and cultural change in the North. In this ep...

Watch this episode to learn how one social enterprise is tackling maternal health justice for racialized groups head-on. Elsie Amoako is the Founder and CEO of Mino Care, a non-profit organization that provides access to culturally safe healthcare services for racialized birthing persons. In this episode, she discusses how racial stereotypes and implicit biases negatively impact the healthcare out...

Watch this episode to learn why leading companies are turning to Indigenous Elders for guidance about the evolution of AI. Alejandro Mayoral Baños, Founder and Executive Director of the Indigenous Friends Association (IFA) and Ashoka Fellow, champions tech equity and digital sovereignty. In this episode, he explains why everyone has a role to play to ensure that technology acts as a tool for revit...

Watch this episode to hear an HR expert describe 4 stages of psychological safety. Brandon Springle describes himself as an HR Maverick, with a career spanning from Supply Chain to Sports & Entertainment. In this episode, he shares why employees flourish in a psychologically safe culture - one in which they can be authentic, demonstrate empathy, and feel a heightened sense of presence and purp...

Watch this episode to hear what a life scientist has to say about psychedelics and human consciousness, and the pioneering research he’s doing called "coma resurrection therapy.” Dr. Hyder Khoja is the Founder & CEO of Transcendent Life Sciences, and Emblem Nutraceuticals. He is a leading voice in the life sciences, with over two decades in drug discovery, development, and policy innovati...

Watch this episode to hear an expert explain how mindfulness and self-compassion can shield students and teachers from educational trauma. Dr. Lee-Anne Gray is a psychologist, educator, international speaker, and author of three books: Educational Trauma: Examples From Testing to the School-to-Prison Pipeline; LGBTQ+ Youth: A Guided Workbook to Support Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity; and S...

Watch this episode to learn how empathic AI can improve therapy, business, and society.    Minter Dial is a podcaster, speaker, and the author of Heartificial Empathy: Putting Heart into Business and Artificial Intelligence . In this episode, he discusses how technology affects human connection, and argues that empathy can help make businesses thrive. 00:00 Preview  00:46 Introduction  01:07 About...

Watch this episode to understand why empathy is necessary for women mourning a miscarriage. Jessica Budgell is an empowerment coach and curator of the "Women-Supporting-Women" community. Based on her lived experience, she is also the creator of a self-directed online course called Maneuvering through Miscarriage. In this episode, she describes the course’s 3-modules and explains why its...

Watch this episode to learn why it’s important to bring empathy and humanity into business.    Samie Al-Achrafi is Founder and CEO of Marmalade fish, a global management consultancy and certified B-Corp, and author of #Time4Humanity . He is also a pioneer of the Conscious Leadership movement. In this episode, he explains why our humanity has been excluded from business, what it would look like to...

Watch this episode to learn about the role sensitive souls can play in social justice work.    Dorcas Cheng-Tozun is an award-winning writer, editor, author, and former columnist for Inc.com . Her latest book is Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways . In this episode, she discusses the role empathy plays in activism and the unique challenges empaths face doin...

Watch this episode to learn how to foster an empathic ecosystem in healthcare. Dr. Jeremy Howick is a clinical epidemiologist and Director of the Stoneygate Centre for Excellence in Empathic Healthcare at the University of Leicester. In this episode, using evidence based-research, he describes how why it’s critical to embed empathy in the delivery of healthcare, and how empathy can prevent burnout...

Watch this episode to learn about the important role empathy plays in patient safety.  Dr. Soojin Jun is a board-certified geriatric and population health pharmacist. Passionate about empathy in healthcare and patient rights, she is a founding member of Patients for Patient Safety US. In this episode, she discusses the importance of self-empathy for healthcare professionals, and the role pharmacis...

Watch this episode to learn why anyone struggling with their mental health deserves our empathy. Jeff Davis is a mental health advocate, international speaker, and the award-winning author of The Power of Authentic Leadership ; Reach Your Mountaintop ; and Traveling Triumphs . In this episode, he shares his personal mental health struggle - which included a near-suicide attempt - offers insight in...

Watch this episode to learn how an artist and educator is fostering empathy and belonging through innovative community arts projects. Shannon Hutchison is the founder of Beyond Our Image, a social enterprise focused on creating stronger communities and more empathy in the workplace through storytelling. As a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Shannon uses her professional photography and teaching...

Watch this episode to better understand how our brain works, and how to leverage neuroscience to become a more empathic leader. Ben Ampil, a certified neuroscience and NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) coach, believes the more we understand inner workings of our brain, the better we can make our brains work. In this episode, he explains why our brain conserves energy; how to use the “BBC” techniq...

Watch this episode to learn why one techpreneur believes humans must be at the centre of all AI development. Matt Celuszak is the Founder and CEO of Element Human, a company on a mission to "enable everyday devices to observe, monitor and feedback human interaction in a safe way that promotes the well being of the individual, monitors the health of the population, and furthers the evolution o...

Watch this episode to learn why the future of work is kind.   Sophie Bretag, founder & CEO of Metta Leaders, believes we kindness can transform organizational culture and change the world. In this episode, she describes her work as a passionate advocate for mental health and psychological safety in the workplace, and walks through a couple of examples of "breath work” that can help leader...

Watch this episode to learn about a coach on a mission to make the world a more empathic place. Neil Lewis is the founder of The Empathy Coach, an organization that specializes in empathic, relationship-based leadership, coaching and communication. In this episode, Neil shares his personal path to empathy work, discusses his "5 habits of highly empathic people" and explains why we should...

Watch this episode to learn why leaders and workplaces need more empathy. Maxine Budhu is an empathic leadership coach who believes that exceptional leaders are authentic and practice empathy. In this episode, she explains why organizations cannot achieve sustainable success without empathy, and a covers a three-step process towards empathic leadership: Developing self-awareness, identifying blind...

Watch this episode to learn why optimism can be a powerful positive force in our lives. Bill Burke is the Founder of The Optimism Institute, a media enterprise on a mission to inspire people with an optimistic, hopeful vision of the world and its future. After a career spent in media and broadcasting, he advocates for staying optimistic in the face of negative news every day. In this episode, Bill...

Watch this episode to savour a story of how a dog unlocked empathy in a woman’s life - at the age of 65. Rona Maynard is the former Editor of Chatelaine Magazine and author of Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging, and Loving This World. In this episode, Rona describes how she found happiness and was inspired towards greater kindness and compassion, thanks to her first dog, Casey. She also looks...