Difficult conversations don’t have to blow up, or get avoided until they do. In this deep dive, Ryan unpacks Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a framework created by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg that’s been used everywhere from workplaces to classrooms to peace talks.

You’ll hear the story behind NVC and get practical tools to use in your own leadership, relationships, and even at home. Ryan walks step by step through the four moves of NVC:

• Observation – describe what you saw without judgment
• Feeling – name the impact it had on you
• Need – identify the value or standard at stake
• Request – make a clear, respectful ask

It’s not about softening accountability. It’s about leading conversations that reduce defensiveness, build trust, and create a path forward, whether with your team, your kids, or your closest relationships.

Here are some resources to help you on your NVC journey:

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) ResourcesOfficial & Core Resources

Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC)

• The official international organization founded by Marshall B. Rosenberg.
• Link: https://www.cnvc.org/

PuddleDancer Press Free Resources

• Offers free printable handouts on the 4-Part NVC Process, and essential Feelings and Needs lists.
• Link: https://nonviolentcommunication.com/resources/

Learning & Training

NVC Academy

• A major online learning hub with courses, a resource library, and free introductory materials.
• Link: https://nvcacademy.com/

BayNVC – Basics of NVC

• A concise and helpful article explaining the core concepts of Nonviolent Communication.
• Link: https://baynvc.org/basics-of-nonviolent-communication/

Foundational Book

• Book: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD. (Available wherever books are sold or via link above.)