Host Leslie is joined by Orly Israel, founder of The Listening Table, which offers judgment-free spaces where people can sit down and be heard without interruption, advice, or fixing. Orly shares how his listening practice began through a prison communication workshop, how “just listening” can build trust faster than we think, and what he’s learned from years of hearing strangers’ real stories in public.

The conversation also turns deeply personal as Orly reflects on losing his home in the Palisades Fire, and the long tail of trauma that followed: displacement, instability, guilt, and the challenge of rebuilding a grounded life while trying to stay mission-driven. Together, Leslie and Orly explore the loneliness epidemic, the role of connection in preventing crisis, why men struggle to form emotionally supportive friendships—as well as what it looks like to show up for people in the aftermath of disaster.

Guest

Orly Israel is the founder of The Listening Table, an initiative offering neutral, judgment-free spaces where people can be heard without interruption or advice. Since 2020, the project has been viewed online by millions and has inspired dozens of listening tables worldwide.

Resources & Links

The Listening Table

OrlyIsrael.com

The Nature of Nurture

TheNatureofNurture.com

Patreon Membership

https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheNatureofNurture

Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheNatureofNurture

Credits

Hosted by Dr. Leslie Carr

Guest: Orly Israel

Produced by Dr. Leslie Carr and Bri Coorey

Recorded at SLAP Studios LA