Purposeful Empathy with Anita Nowak

Watch this episode to learn how empathy is grounded in neuroscience. Neuroeconomist Dr. Paul Zak researches brain processes related to virtuous behaviours like trustworthiness and generosity. He is also the author of The Moral Molecule. In this episode, he describes the underlying neurochemical processes of prosocial behaviour, including empathy. He also explains why new technology can be a double...

Watch this episode to learn how to avoid an empathy burnout from a practising psychologist. Dr. Juli Fraga is Co-founder of the Empathy Bootcamp, a series of on-demand courses that help leaders and educators learn to improve their communication, de-program emotional blocks , and harness the inner strength to show up stronger for people in personal distress. In this episode, she describes their met...

Watch this episode to learn how teams can practice empathy to deepen workplace connections. Michael Ventura is the author of Applied Empathy. His work focuses on helping leaders and their teams catalyze change. He has worked with Google, Nike, Microsoft, the United Nations, and Obama administration. In this episode, he describes how businesses can measure empathy through KPIs including retention,...

Watch this episode to learn why emotional development is as important as academic development. Lynne Azarchi is the author of The Empathy Advantage and Executive Director of KidsBridge Youth Center, a non-profit organization that has helped more than 30,000 students and educators improve their social and emotional learning (SEL). In this episode, she shares ways in which parents and educators can...

Watch this episode to hear Nigerian chemist-turned empathy strategist talk about the relationship between chemistry and empathy. Musa Bello (aka Sodium), founder of the Mubell Empathy Academy, is on a mission to inspire empathic leadership. In this episode, he explains why leaders are responsible for creating a culture of empathy in the workplace and how Google Maps is a good model for leadership....

Watch this episode to learn why Ashoka believes “everyone is a changemaker." Barb Steele is the Executive Director of Ashoka Canada, a social purpose organization that supports social entrepreneurs. Fabrice, a proud Ashoka Fellow, is the Founder of Pour 3 Points, a non-profit organization that helps transform sports coaches into life-skill coaches. In this episode, Barb describes why empathy is cr...

Watch this episode to hear an organizational psychologist explain how conscious empathy can combat toxic workplaces. Debra Kurtz, Chief Empathy Officer of Conscious Empathy, is committed to leveraging the science of empathy to build more inclusive workplaces. In this episode, she unpacks several academic concepts such as “empathy as a motivated phenomenon” and "emotional acknowledgment” to describ...

Watch this episode to hear a serial social entrepreneur explain why "collaborative systems evolution" is needed to create a better world. Jeroo Billimoria is a passionate advocate for children's rights, the founder of several award-winning global impact organizations and the Co-Founder of Catalyst 2030 - an innovator-led movement committed to achieving the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) b...

Watch this episode to learn how patient-clinician relationships can be improved through an innovative practice called 3rd Conversation. Co-founder of X4-Health, Christine Bechtel is a nationally recognized patient advocate and expert in digital health and quality healthcare. In this episode, she describes how "bi-directional empathy” is a powerful communication tool that positively impacts both pa...

Watch this episode to learn how an engineer became more empathic after going to art school Seung Chan Lim (Slim) is an Executive Performance Coach and author of Realizing Empathy. In this episode, he explains why we have to take responsibility for developing empathy, while also surrendering to the process. He also shares what his personal relationships taught him about him empathy. 00:00 Introduct...

Watch this episode to understand how empathy training boosts employee engagement and wellbeing. Leanne Butterworth is Founder of Empathy First and host of “The Professional Empathy Podcast.” In this episode, she explains why empathic leadership is a business imperative. She also discusses the potential and limitations of virtual reality for empathy training. 00:00   Introduction 00:23 &n...

Watch this episode to learn how to improve your digital health and wellness. Nina Hersher is CEO of the Digital Wellness Institute and co-founder of Digital Wellness Day which reached 7.5 million people last year. In this episode, she offers tools and advice about how to have a healthier relationship with technology. 00:00   Introduction 00:23   About Nina Hersher 01:35  &...

Watch this episode to learn about deep listening, empathic interviewing and creating a human-centered culture in the workplace.   Dr. Crystal Clarke is a social psychologist and executive coach who studies human connection, how to foster it, and what gets in the way. In this episode, she describes why workplaces need to adopt a more human-centred approach. She also shares a story about how an...

How Therapeutic Clowns Make Sick Children and Seniors Smile Watch this episode to be moved and inspired by a professional therapeutic clown discuss her work. Melissa Holland is the co-founder of the Dr. Clown Foundation. She and her team of therapeutic clowns work with children and seniors in hospitals and other healthcare settings. In this episode, she shares touching anecdotes about the impact c...

Watch this episode to learn why an anthropologist thinks ethnography is a wonderful lens for empathy. Stanford educator, Dr. Nethra Samarawickrema, is an anthropologist, coach, and Co-Creator of the Lab for Listening. Her work combines ethnography, non-violent communication (NVC), and design thinking to harness the transformative potential of empathy. In this episode, she shares how NVC changes th...

Watch this episode to learn why a game creator believes video games are a new form of art that can cultivate empathy. Amy Noel Green is a writer, speaker and video game designer whose Ted Talk has been seen over one million times. In this episode, she describes how she and her husband processed their son’s illness and death by co-creating a narrative video game called “That Dragon, Cancer.” She al...

Watch this episode to hear about the importance of empathy in organizations, leadership, and technology. Dr. Gautham Pallapa is the author of Leading with Empathy and founder of Transformity, an organization devoted to “transforming humanity through empathy and technology.” In this episode, he describes how a burnout early in his career changed the way he approaches work and leadership. He also ex...

Watch this episode to learn why practicing empathy is a powerful way to build bridges. Christy Vines is the president and CEO of the Ideos Institute, a research and practice organization focused on engaging empathy and empathic intelligence in spaces of conflict, division, and polarization. In this episode, she talks about their newly released documentary film "Dialogue Lab: America" and the path...

Watch this episode to learn why we should all prioritize human connection. Jon Gruber is the Strategy Lead at Einhorn Collaborative, a foundation that advances the science and practice of empathy, mutual understanding, and relationship building. In this episode, Jon shares how the organization addresses  what they call the "crisis of connection" through their Bonding, Bridging, and Building s...

Watch this episode to hear a lawyer describe why empathy is such a profoundly important part of her profession and how moved she is when her clients extend empathy to her. Anita Szigeti is a practising lawyer, mental health law expert, and President of the Law and Mental Disorder Association. In this episode, she explains why lawyers must cultivate empathy, especially when working with clients wit...

Watch this episode to learn how a new framework can help changemakers create empathic connections while doing social impact work. Heather Hiscox is the founder and CEO of Pause for Change and Co-Creator of the Possibility Project, an online conversion series for disruptive changemakers. In this episode, she unpacks her P.A.U.S.E framework and describes how empathy is a thread throughout. We also d...

Watch this episode to learn why a professional marketer believes empathy is the key to success. Marissa Latshaw has devoted her career to marketing and is the creator of the Empathetic Positioning Process. In this episode, we discuss her model of three Cs: Curiosity, clarity and connection. We also discuss how this model incorporates empathy into the field of marketing and the importance this has...

Watch this episode to learn why Moral Courage means speaking truth to the power of our ego. Allison Gerrard is Director of Education & Training at the Moral Courage Project, an organization that teaches a no-shaming method of communication. In this episode, she explains why we all have a primordial fear of being judged. She also describes why empathy helps people communicate across divides - w...

Watch this episode to learn why one entrepreneur believes empathy drives his company’s success. Paul L. Gunn Jr is the author of the best-selling book Succeed the Right Way: What Every Compassionate Business Person Must Know. As CEO of KUOG Corporation, he has made it his mission to lead with purpose and empathy as core values. In this episode, we discuss loving-kindness and the importance of serv...

Watch this episode to learn why empathy involves a suite of technical skills.  Andrea Goulet is the author of Empathy-Driven Software Development. In this episode, she describes why the industry needs more empathy. Not only to help it overcome a history and culture of shame and contempt, but also to help its coders flourish by developing 12 empathy skills.  00:00 – Introduction 00:25 – A...