It goes without saying that the social fabric of America is becoming more frayed as the years go on and discourse becomes more vitriolic. With the growth of virtual engagement, specifically through social media, intensifying polarization has led humanity to lose grasp of the civic practice of intentional listening. How can we cultivate a culture where we engage in a manner that promotes mutual understanding? 

Dr. Graham Bodie has dedicated his career to the art of listening. Along with serving as a professor of Integrated Marketing Communications at the University of Mississippi, Graham is a leader of the Listen First Project. Listen First seeks to mend our frayed social fabric by building relationships and bridging divides. Through events, resourcing, and the formation of local movements, Listen First combats universally felt crises of distance, division, and dehumanization across differences with conversations that prioritize understanding. 

Graham sat down with Chris back in September of 2019 to discuss the need for people to escape their echo chambers, recognize their biases, and to realize that strong convictions and intentional listening are not mutually exclusive. He discusses a need for listening to be taught and practiced in politics, personal relationships, and Christian faith formation. 

Resources

The National Conversation Project is an initiative of Listen First that creates spaces for individuals and communities to develop skills in intentional listening and constructive dialogue. Get involved by checking out their website: https://www.nationalconversationproject.org/

Similar to Listen First, Someone To Tell It To seeks to promote listening through the cultivation of meaningful relationships. They offer resources, trainings, and a podcast on their website: https://someonetotellitto.org/

The International Listening Association is the leading organization of listening education, business, research, and training:  https://listen.org/

Learn more about Listen First Project: http://www.listenfirstproject.org/

Follow Listen First on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listenfirstproject/

Follow Listen First on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ListenFirstProject

Learn more about Graham Bodie’s work and research at his website: http://www.grahambodie.com/