In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Larry Schooler to explore the role of dialogue in healing conflict and building stronger communities.

Larry works with cities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to facilitate consensus around high-stakes and deeply contentious issues — from repairing relationships between law enforcement and communities of color to guiding communities through memorialization after tragedy. His work centers on creating spaces where those most affected by conflict are directly involved in shaping solutions.

Together, they discuss what distinguishes genuine dialogue from performative conversation, how truth and reconciliation models have been used in cities and nations to promote healing, and why communication is essential not just for managing conflict, but for resolving it. The conversation also examines trust-building, conflict de-escalation, and what gives hope — and concern — about the current state of public discourse.

Grounded in both research and practice, this episode invites listeners to rethink how communication can foster closure, accountability, and growth in moments of deep division.