The Generative Listening Podcast

Katie R. Place, Ph. D., APR is a professor of public relations at Quinnipiac University where she teaches courses in public relations and ethics. She has published more than 90 conference papers on the topics of organizational listening, public relations ethics, and gender and public relations. Prior to returning to academia, Dr. Place was a public affairs and not-for-profit communications profess...

Anna Michele Bulszewicz is a mission-driven business communication expert, founder & CEO of Anna Michele Communications , and full-time professor at St. Bonaventure University's Jandoli School of Communication, where she also directs a global studies program in Italy. A former award-winning morning show journalist, Anna brings her on-air experience into the classroom and boardroom alike. She is th...

Rodney Franks was born and raised in California. From a young age, he experienced a powerful encounter with God and was brought up in the Baptist tradition, deeply rooted in the Word. As a young adult, he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Over time, through intentional discipleship and spiritual formation, Rodney underwent years of deliverance, emotional healing, and the renewing of his mind in ali...

Barry Svigals, FAIA, is an architect, artist, educator, and national speaker. As Founder and Partner Emeritus of Svigals+Partners, he has led award-winning projects for clients including Yale University, Boston College, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His firm is especially known for designing learning environments and the nationally recognized Sandy Hook Elementary School. A Yale College and...

Rache Brand is a visionary founder, operator, and growth expert dedicated to systemic change and innovation. She has led mission-driven ventures tackling global health and sustainability challenges, from launching a multinational ESOP-backed service business to spearheading a research initiative that reached 1 million children, influencing national policy.  Her experience spans scaling consumer br...

Jay Morris is the retired VP and Chief Learning Officer of Yale New Haven Health, with over 35 years of leadership experience at organizations including Merck, Allstate, Trinity Health, and Ernst & Young. He specializes in executive coaching, leadership development, and organizational culture. He helps leaders build trust and alignment through a concept he calls Intuitive Agility. Jay is the autho...

Rebecca Desjardins is a community organizer, wedding coordinator, and facilitator of meaningful conversations. Listening plays a vital role in her work from helping couples plan their dream weddings to supporting her mother through health care challenges. Rebecca pays special attention to the small, yet habitual acts of listening – rather than one-off grandiose ones. An offer to listen is also an...

Noah Ullman is a founding partner of Ant Creative and a dynamic force who has changed from identifying as futurist to technologist to humanist. Noah explores the ancient Greek concept of the six types of love and how he has applied these distinctions to his own life and relationships. Noah and Brent discuss the critical role of asking the right questions in the era of AI, emphasizing that while ma...

Virtual reality can be far more than recreational. After years working as a therapist, Dr. Kryn McClain has now sought out to answer the question: how can therapists provide a safer space to expose people to triggers that we couldn't actually do in an office? The answer? Virtual reality. She's worked to develop a platform of virtual reality modules to allow people who have PTSD, panic attacks, or...

Rod Miller is a renowned coach, spiritual guide and a pastor, helping leaders unlock their full potential by cultivating heart, mind, body, and soul connections. In this episode, Rod shares a powerful story about navigating a challenging, potentially threatening conversation most would run from.  Rod bridges the gap between the multiple spheres he has traveled and worked in, from religious institu...

Stefani Calvano Schwartz is an implementer at EOS Worldwide . A mother of five, she reflects on how her journey through listening helped her break free from limiting beliefs and step into a more fulfilling life. Brent and Stefani explore the transformative power of listening—especially listening to oneself. She encourages her children to listen deeply to themselves and their bodies – teaching them...

Paul Hitchcock, founder of Giant Jaxx Media , has cherished the "gift of gab" his entire life. Paul describes his family as "world champion talkers", and he attributes his communication skills to the value his family placed on listening and storytelling. Paul and Brent differentiate between listening with an agenda and listening to understand and support. Throughout the episode, Brent and Paul exp...

Ellen is a holistic health coach and speaker, working with people to pair the data of her client's test results with intentional conversations on the direction of their lives – a duo she calls the art and science of being human. Ellen talks about practicing the identities we want to claim, rather than blindly believing the stories we've been telling ourselves about the types of people we are. She...

In this episode, the art of listening is explored with Jason Simms, principal at PR agency Theirsay . Jason's career began in journalism, in which his job was to translate technical details into relatable stories for a media audience. Jason reveals how he often listens not just to gather information but to create a narrative that resonates with different audiences. Brent and Jason delve into the c...

What if the key to unlocking everything you desire lies not in what you say, but in how you listen? This provocative question lies at the heart of Generative Listening, a new podcast hosted by renowned coach, speaker, and entrepreneur Brent Robertson. The podcast aims to reimagine how we think about and practice listening — and how listening can redefine lives, relationships, and leadership. The G...