The name listening ALCHEMY came to Raquel Ark in the middle of the night, evoking ideas of how art and science could combine to distil and purify the act of listening.

Soon after, she was asked to deliver a number of workshops on listening, giving her the confidence to build a career around the subject to which she has devoted her life and turn listening ALCHEMY into a business.

As her recent TED talk testifies, listening is the centre of Raquel's work as a communications coach, public speaker, mentor of leaders, and host of the Listen IN podcast. 

Raquel’s mission is to give listening a voice, and she teaches people how to listen in a way that creates true connection, leading to change and action at an individual level and a broader, systemic level.

In our conversation, Raquel shares powerful insights about her life and work, including a metaphorical tool for getting present in coaching sessions, and wisdom about how people's minds really work when they are listening.

In this episode, we talk about:

The power of playfulness in opening doors to new coaching methods

Coaching as a meditation on presence

How to make sure you are understood in the way that's important to you

Listening circles and how to ensure everyone's voice is heard

Raquel explains how listening is about more than words, and you will learn how to allow your clients to listen to themselves.

For more information about Raquel, visit https://listeningalchemy.com/ or email her at [email protected].

For information about Robbie’s wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswale.com, and to buy his book, click here.

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

- Robbie’s book, How to Start (a book, business or creative project) When You’re Stuck https://geni.us/startwhenyourestuck

- Vera Janke https://www.linkedin.com/in/verajanke/

- International Coaching Federation (ICF) https://coachingfederation.org/

- Transformational Presence: How to Make a Difference in a Rapidly Changing World, by Alan Seale https://transformationalpresence.org/transformational-presence-book/

- Coaches Rising, The Power of Presence https://www.coachesrising.com/powerofpresence/

- Robbie’s article on recommitting https://www.robbieswale.com/writing/2018/5/23/recommitting-is-the-journey

- Raquel's TED talk on Growing your Listening Superpower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wgFrKRjYiA

- Raquel’s conversation with Colin Smith https://listeningalchemy.com/2021/11/15/stop-doing-listening-and-start-being-a-listener-with-colin-smith-2/

- Presencing Institute https://www.presencing.org/

- Jodie Goulden https://keynotewomen.com/speaker/jodiegoulden

- Niels Van Quaquebeke https://www.the-klu.org/faculty-research/faculty/resident-faculty/niels-van-quaquebeke/

- Mike Toller https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-32-mike-toller

- Myles Downey https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-31-myles-downey

- Guy Itzchakov https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guy-Itzchakov-2

- Templeton Foundation's Listening and Learning study https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/blog/listening-and-learning-changing-mindsets-and-emotional-responses-promote-human-flourishing

- Avi Kluger https://www.avi-kluger.com/about-me

- Raquel's podcast, Listen In https://podcasts.apple.com/br/podcast/listen-in/id1457489060?l=en

- Listen In episode with Corine Jansen https://listeningalchemy.com/2019/08/12/practical-insights-for-leaders-to-bring-listening-into-their-organizations-that-have-real-impact-with-corine-jansen-part-2/

- Raquel's Listening Playgrounds https://listeningalchemy.com/listening-playgrounds/

- Rebel Wisdom https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/