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Have you ever wondered why empathy is often considered a “soft skill,” and whether it truly has a place in driving real results within leadership, organizations, and communication? On this week’s episode of Speaking with Confidence, I tackle this question head-on with my guest, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, an expert in empathy, emotional intelligence, and visionary leadership.

I’m Tim Newman, your host–a recovering college professor turned communication coach. Every week, I help listeners build the skills and confidence they need to show up powerfully in every conversation. Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Winemiller, whose mission is to help leaders become future visionaries by making empathy skills-based, data-driven, and results-oriented. Melissa brings a rich background as both a world-traveling musician and a former academic who has dedicated her life to understanding and teaching empathy for profit, productivity, and innovation.

Our conversation kicks off with Melissa’s fascinating backstory: how a lifelong passion for music took her across the globe, on tours and prestigious stages, and even saw her playing French horn alongside legends like Ray Charles and conversing with David Ogden Steers (MAS*H’s Winchester). As Melissa shares, her journey from the world of performance to academia—and ultimately to empathy research—was shaped by witnessing both the highs of artistic connection and the lows of broken, unempathetic systems.

Here's what we covered:

• Melissa’s journey from international touring musician to empathy expert and academic
• Life and communication lessons from the world of music performance
• The vulnerability of public speaking versus musical performance
• Teaching and connecting with students through listening and individualized communication
• The real impact of empathy (and lack thereof) in education and business
• Why empathy is undervalued—and how research supports its ROI
• Strategies for leaders to foster trust, engagement, and innovation through empathy
• The Johari Window model for communication and self-awareness
• The difference between kindness and niceness in leadership and business
• Practical ways to build empathy in teams and organizations (plus when real change requires a leadership overhaul)
• The case for embedding empathy in educational systems from an early age
• Real world examples from Melissa’s book about the financial and human costs of broken organizations
• Where to find Melissa’s book, connect online, and catch her TEDx talk (soon to be released!)

Melissa’s insights go far beyond theory—they’re deeply rooted in lived experience, rigorous research, and a powerful vision for future-forward leadership. Don’t miss this episode if you want to learn how to use empathy not just to “feel good,” but to drive lasting, meaningful results in your work and life.

Thanks for joining me—Tim Newman—on this journey to speaking with confidence. Be sure to check out speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com for your free eBook, “Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and How to Overcome Them,” and stay tuned for our next episode!

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