I feel truly lucky to have met Diane Miller through the Fielding University Certificate Program in Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement. Diane is a thoughtful, down to earth, and inspiring leader in the Dialogue and Deliberation field. At the end of 2010, I had a chance to record a conversation with Diane, partly prompted by my great interest in one of her most recent projects - heading up the organizing committee for the 2010 US National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation workshop in Austin Texas. We, happily, covered many other topics as well. I hope you enjoy listening. (I also take responsibility for some of the strange background noises on the recording. I think they have something to do with skype, but am not sure)

Here are the topics we covered:

- what is the big deal about dialogue and deliberation for Diane.

- is dialogue and deliberation starting to be an accepted method in our highest levels of leadership? How can we promote it more effectively?

- looking at issues from different points of views (eg. elected officials, government staff members, and citizens)

- about Austin Texas and Diane's workplace, Envision Central Texas

- how Diane first got involved with the National Coaliton for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD)

- Diane talks about managing the NCDD national conference in 2008

- the genesis of the NCDD Austin workshop in 2010

- Diane's wisdom on the most effective factors in conference planning

- some conference planning challenges, also some strengths

- The 2010 NCDD Austin workshop agenda

- some interactive technology used at conference. More info, photos, videos, etc available at http://www.ncdd.org/events/austin.php

- Diane's experiences taking the 2009 Fielding Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement program