CivilTalk

Today on the CivilTalk Podcast, we are joined by the incredible Erica Keswin: a workplace strategist who has spent more than two decades helping organizations around the world build cultures rooted in connection, clarity, and care.

In this episode, Erica unpacks her research on why rituals matter, how leaders can retain and re-energize teams in a changing world, and what it means to “bring your human to work” when hybrid schedules and digital tools dominate our days.

This is a conversation about empathy, rituals, intentionality, and redesigning the workplace so people—not just productivity—come first. Whether you lead a team, work in a fast-paced environment, or simply care about creating more civil, emotionally intelligent spaces, you’ll walk away with insights you can use right now.

Between family arguments, online outrage, and political hostility, many people feel like civil dialogue is slipping away. Marianne Viray believes we can bring it back.

In this episode, we speak with the Executive Director of Disagree Better, whose work blends decades of political experience with tools that help people communicate across deep differences without losing dignity.

Marianne shares the personal experiences that shaped her belief that disagreement isn’t dangerous; contempt is. Through the story of the Dignity Index, Marianne reveals how individuals, leaders, and entire communities can move from division to understanding using simple, human-centered practices.

If you’ve ever wondered how to talk to someone you disagree with—or how we heal a polarized nation—this conversation is for you.

What if laughter isn’t just entertainment, but medicine for the mind, body, and culture?

In this episode of The CivilTalk Podcast, host Topacio Althaus sits down with Craig Shoemaker— Emmy-winning comedian, TEDx speaker, and founder of Laughter Heals and Laughter Worx. With four decades of experience on stage and in boardrooms, Craig reveals how humor rewires the brain, restores connection, and transforms leadership from the inside out.

Together, they explore the neuroscience of joy, the emotional intelligence behind authentic humor, laughing exercises, and how laughter can rebuild civility in our workplaces and our world.

Learn more at CivilTalk.com — home of OrgTalk, our groundbreaking tool that helps organizations measure, track, and strengthen civility in real time, turning empathy and respect into daily habits.

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Hoffmann, Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Jessica leads groundbreaking research on how social and emotional learning (SEL) shapes school climate, student creativity, and the well-being of both students and educators.

We talk about the science behind Yale’s two high school initiatives, RULER and inspirED, and explore how teaching emotional skills at an early age builds healthier, more creative, and more resilient communities. Jessica also shares her insights on emotion regulation, the role of peers in shaping emotional development, and why SEL isn’t just for students — it’s a foundation for life.

If you’re curious about how emotional intelligence can transform schools, fuel creativity, and strengthen communities, this conversation is packed with both science and heart.

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Bea Boccalandro, author of Do Good at Work and a leading voice on workplace purpose. Bea has spent decades helping companies and individuals discover how meaningful work transforms not only organizations, but also our personal well-being.

We explore why so many employees feel disengaged despite record spending on workplace programs — and why the real issue is often a “purpose deficit.” Bea shares powerful insights on how to connect our daily tasks to something bigger, why purpose drives both performance and happiness, and how leaders can create cultures where people thrive.

Whether you’re a leader searching for better engagement, or an individual seeking more fulfillment in your work, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to rethink what “doing good at work” really means.

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, host we sit down with Mike Veny — award-winning mental health speaker, drummer, author, and CEO of Lovely Refinement. Determined to overcome a lifetime of severe mental health challenges, Mike has built a career helping leaders and organizations turn pain into purpose and burnout into resilience.

Together, we explore Mike’s journey from professional drummer to corporate wellness change-maker, the inspiration behind his best-selling book Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero, and how his podcast Coffee With Mike brings belonging to the forefront of leadership conversations. Mike also shares insights from his Unleash Your Groove® drumming workshops, his books Mental Health for Success and The Self-Care Book, and the tools leaders need to cultivate environments of trust, adaptability, and true belonging.

Whether you’re a leader, educator, or simply someone seeking to strengthen your own emotional wellness, this episode will leave you with actionable takeaways — and a reminder that emotional wellness is not a luxury, but a gift that accelerates everything else in life.

What happens when people don’t feel they matter? Burnout, disconnection, and disengagement. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Zach Mercurio — author of The Power of Mattering — joins the CivilTalk Podcast to discuss the essential role of significance in leadership and organizational life. Together, we explore how leaders can create cultures of belonging and meaning, why mattering is a basic psychological need, and the practical steps to move beyond slogans and into real, purpose-driven systems.

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Vanessa Druskat—award-winning researcher, professor, and the pioneering mind behind the Team Emotional Intelligence (Team EI) model. With over three decades of research into what makes teams succeed, Vanessa shares how emotionally intelligent team cultures—not just individual talent—are the key to collaboration, performance, and long-term success.

We explore the core components of the Team EI model, why leaders should stop trying to "fix" people, and how to instead build systems that support emotional connection, trust, and high performance. Vanessa also discusses insights from her new book, The Emotionally Intelligent Team, and what the future holds for leadership and organizational culture.

Topics include:

• What emotionally intelligent teams actually look like
• The hidden systems that shape team behavior
• How to build psychological safety and authentic connection
• Why team culture—not just EQ—drives success
• Practical advice for leaders in hybrid and remote environments

Learn more about Vanessa and her book: vanessadruskat.com

In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we sit down with the engineers who helped bring CivilTalk to life: Mike Castor, Nick Nartaro, and Mike Fara.

Together, we explore how the platform was intentionally designed to center emotional intelligence, civil discourse, and human-led collaboration—while using AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement. From seamless onboarding and role-based design to the power of prompts, emotion tagging, and real-time discussion loops, this episode dives deep into what makes CivilTalk and ORGtalk truly different.

We also unpack how the mobile experience supports reflection on the go, how the Humanity Layer™ extends the classic OSI model, and why the future of innovation demands more than speed—it demands civility, clarity, and shared purpose.

Whether you're leading a team, teaching a course, or designing culture inside your organization, this episode is a must-listen.

Learn more at civiltalk.com

What if creativity—not constant hustle—was the key to better leadership, stronger teams, and sustainable growth?

In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Natalie Nixon, PhD—award-winning author, creativity strategist, and founder of Figure 8 Thinking—to explore why creativity is a strategic imperative for leaders and organizations in every industry.

Natalie unpacks her signature WonderRigor™ framework, showing how balancing curiosity with discipline unlocks innovation and drives better results. She also introduces insights from her upcoming book Move. Think. Rest., where she reframes productivity around movement, reflective thought, and intentional rest—three practices that help leaders avoid burnout and fuel clearer thinking in the age of AI.

You’ll discover how to:

• Foster a culture of curiosity and creativity on your team
• Reframe productivity for yourself and your organization
• Navigate uncertainty with greater foresight and adaptability
• Unlock the creative capacity you need to build a future-ready business

If you’re a business leader, educator, or entrepreneur looking to build a more innovative and resilient organization, this episode is packed with fresh perspectives and practical strategies you can start using today.