Successful hairstylists and barbers are experts at their craft and in, wait for it… – human connection.

Paying a barber or hairstylist to cut, color, or trim one’s hair is something most of us have experienced. If you were to look past the primary objective of getting a nice hair-do, the concerns that arise with choosing the right stylist or barber can be quite daunting. You could ask yourself, “are they professional? Are they pleasant and fun to be around? Are they a good listener?

These key human traits are what help us develop good and lasting relationships in general, and for many, play a big role in the client and hairstylist relationship. Many times the stylists and barbers take on a special role that goes beyond making our hair look good.

Through in-chair conversations, deep listening, and the familiarity that develops over time, professionals like Cadie King, build trust through open and honest communication with their clients. It takes time to hone the craft of an expert stylist through training, building knowledge, and skills and experience. To create and maintain the fidelity and loyalty that Cadie’s has with her clients, it takes patience, kindness, listening, honesty, and strong communication skills, all the foundational principles of empathy. Like a good therapist, "what is said in the chair, stays in the chair."

Empathy Podcast gets scientific in this episode, as Nelson and Holly talk with Jeremy Koester to discover how building greater awareness of individual body chemistry plays a key role in our ability to empathize with others. Jeremy studies epigenetics, which can be defined as '“in addition to changes in genetic sequence.”

The term has evolved to include any process that alters gene activity without changing the DNA sequence, and leads to modifications that can be transmitted to daughter cells..."  We learn the importance of self-reflection and the internal awareness of our memories, core beliefs, and lived experiences to better understand and relate to others in a meaningful way. Through mindfulness and intentional practice, Jeremy explains that we can remap and rewrite our own narratives.

As an Epigenetics coach and a teacher of empathy, Jeremy helps creative leaders strengthen their inner awareness to drive stronger business results.

Organizations create policies to align employees towards shared organizational values. But when we go to work, we don't leave our diverse identities at home. Managing individuals with diverse genders, socioeconomic, racial, and religious backgrounds can be challenging. Yet, generating respect and a sense of belonging, overcoming dysfunctional conflict, and fostering diverse perspectives and points of view are essential to organizational success. 

In this episode, Nelson and Holly talk with professors, Jason Lambert and Joy Leopold, to explore what makes achieving these goals so important, and so difficult for organizations to accomplish.  Listen in to discover what can organizations do to help their employees learn to understand different ways of thinking and contributing in the workplace, and how to use this insight to think critically to produce stronger work output. Find out how each of us can uncover and overcome our individual biases in order to empathize, and connect, with others. 

Welcoming organizational diversity and fostering an inclusive work environment has a big payoff, but it takes more than magic dust and luck to pull it off. It takes empathy, thoughtful design, measurable goals, and ongoing effort to achieve success.

Gary Walker is a seasoned visual effects designer, marathon coach and community leader. In this episode, he shares that "It requires negotiation, communication, and empathy for what everyone's goals are, to come together to create a common solution." 

We learn about the importance of building trust, creating a safe physical and emotional space, and staying focused on the 'why', for the success of his business and his team of runners. This episode is about moving beyond fear, embracing vulnerability, and seeing empathy as a valuable step in connection.

Gary Walker has been making visual storytelling look good for over 30 years. An Oscar and Emmy-nominated visual effects designer, he created and supervised digital compositing and motion graphics for studio and independent films. 

In the last 14+ years, he's committed his energy to TeamFX, a social justice community that happens to also engage in ‘couch-to-race’  training for the Austin marathon and half marathon. Gary leads this whole community health movement, in partnership with runners and local business leaders to help end the cycle of life-threatening abuse, neglect & exploitation, raising funds for Austin’s Children’s Shelter in Austin, Texas. 

We have the honor of having Gabriel Sepulveda, where we discuss the dynamics of government policy, lobbying and advocacy work and the role of empathy in shaping decisions.

Gabriel describes the process that goes into development of public policy and the current climate of politics in the United States. He helps us discover how exposing ourselves to the diverse perspectives and ways of help us make more informed decisions, support higher levels of  empathy, and foster greater cooperation and community engagement.

Gabriel Sepulveda is Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs and is a political consultant working in governmental affairs, advocacy, and lobbying.