Watch this episode to hear Nigerian chemist-turned empathy strategist talk about the relationship between chemistry and empathy.

Musa Bello (aka Sodium), founder of the Mubell Empathy Academy, is on a mission to inspire empathic leadership. In this episode, he explains why leaders are responsible for creating a culture of empathy in the workplace and how Google Maps is a good model for leadership. He also shares the backstory of his transition from chemistry to empathy, and what he learned about interpersonal communication in both fields.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 About Musa Bello

01:55 How Musa got his nickname “Sodium”

05:00 Why Musa believes empathy is the bedrock of peace and innovation

05:40 The backstory behind Musa's empathy work

08:37 Why being authentic is more important than high performance

10:32 Why Musa spells relationship as “relay-tionship”

13:11 How Musa’s chemistry background relates to his work in empathy-training

15:21 Why empathy is necessary to leadership

18:03 The important role of leaders in building cultures of empathy at work

21:24 The biochemistry of emotions

24:04 The emotional, cognitive, and behavioural aspects of emotion

28:19 Musa Bello’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH Musa Bello

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/musa-bello-sodium-357ab4109

✩ Website http://www.sodiumspeaks.com

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to learn why Ashoka believes “everyone is a changemaker."

Barb Steele is the Executive Director of Ashoka Canada, a social purpose organization that supports social entrepreneurs. Fabrice, a proud Ashoka Fellow, is the Founder of Pour 3 Points, a non-profit organization that helps transform sports coaches into life-skill coaches. In this episode, Barb describes why empathy is critical to social entrepreneurship, and Fabrice unpacks the importance of empathy in coaching.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 About Barb Steele

00:55 About Fabrice Vil

02:06 What is Ashoka Canada?

04:17 What is Pour 3 Points?

07:10 Why did Fabrice become a social entrepreneur?

08:55 How the COVID-19 pandemic exposed inequalities in our society

11:23 Barb shares two impact stories created by Ashoka Fellows

16:14 The connection between coaching and leadership development

21:44 Why everyone can - and should - be a changemaker

26:33 Two ways Ashoka is contributing to the empathy movement

29:15 What is the true role of a coach?

32:30 Barb Steele’s Purposeful Empathy story

34:00 Fabrice Vil’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH Barb Steele

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/barb-steele1/

✩ Website https://ashokacanada.org/fellows/profiles/

CONNECT WITH Fabrice Vil

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabricevil/

✩ Website https://pour3points.ca/en/

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to hear an organizational psychologist explain how conscious empathy can combat toxic workplaces.

Debra Kurtz, Chief Empathy Officer of Conscious Empathy, is committed to leveraging the science of empathy to build more inclusive workplaces. In this episode, she unpacks several academic concepts such as “empathy as a motivated phenomenon” and "emotional acknowledgment” to describe how leaders can become more empathetic.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 About Debra Kurtz

01:57 The difference between being “empathic" and “empathetic"

05:00 The need for empathy plus action

06:26 Why "emotional acknowledgement" is the basis for creating trust in the workplace 07:44 The role of awareness in conscious empathy

10:12 What’s the #1 reason people leave their jobs?

13:23 What does workplace bullying look like?

15:14 Why people don't speak up in toxic workplaces

17:26 Why toxic workplaces are bad for business

18:48 Debra Kurtz’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH Debra Kurtz

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrakurtz44/

✩ Website http://www.consciousempathy.com

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to hear a serial social entrepreneur explain why "collaborative systems evolution" is needed to create a better world.

Jeroo Billimoria is a passionate advocate for children's rights, the founder of several award-winning global impact organizations and the Co-Founder of Catalyst 2030 - an innovator-led movement committed to achieving the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) by 2030. In this episode, she she shares the origin story behind her lifetime commitment to social impact and what she perceives are the key drivers to social transformation.

0:00 Introduction

00:23 About Jeroo Billimoria

02:50 What propelled Jeroo down the path of social entrepreneurship

04:52 What motivated Jeroo’s early work with young children

07:36 The personal benefits of social impact work

09:02 Jeroo’s advice for young people starting their careers

10:48 How strategy and serendipity go hand-in-hand

12:57 What is collaborative systems change?

16:29 How does Jeroo respond to critics and skeptics?

20:26 Jeroo’s 5 principles of systems change

21:06 Why it’s important to celebrate success and let go of what’s not working

24:31 Jeroo Billimoria’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH JEROO BILLIMORIA

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroobillimoria/

✩ Website https://catalyst2030.net/

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to learn how patient-clinician relationships can be improved through an innovative practice called 3rd Conversation.

Co-founder of X4-Health, Christine Bechtel is a nationally recognized patient advocate and expert in digital health and quality healthcare. In this episode, she describes how "bi-directional empathy” is a powerful communication tool that positively impacts both patients and physicians.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 About Christine Bechtel

01:29 Why has the the patient-clinician relationship eroded?

04:39 Christine describes 3rd Conversation and the reason it was developed

06:47 The importance of non-violent communication in healthcare

08:08 What is “bi-directional empathy?"

9:48 Anita shares an anecdote about a positive and negative experience at a hospital

15:24 Why the healthcare system impedes empathic communication

19:24 What is the impact of 3rd Conversation?

23:20 How human-centered approaches improve workplace performance

26:03 Why the politicization of COVID negatively impacted clinician-patient relationships

29:07 Christine Bechtel’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE BECHTEL

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-bechtel-369b725/

✩ Website http://www.3rdConversation.org

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to learn how an engineer became more empathic after going to art school

Seung Chan Lim (Slim) is an Executive Performance Coach and author of Realizing Empathy. In this episode, he explains why we have to take responsibility for developing empathy, while also surrendering to the process. He also shares what his personal relationships taught him about him empathy.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 About Slim

02:05 Why Slim used to negatively judge artists

04:02 What it means to “realize empathy”

07:30 Surrendering to empathy

09:00 Why taking responsibility is critical for realizing empathy

11:54 What Slim learnt about empathy after reconnecting with his father

15:37 How Slim went from engineering to art

19:00 Why Slim was encouraged to go to art school

24:50 Slim’s Purposeful Empathy story

30:00 How being vulnerable helped Slim support his girlfriend

37:34 The importance of showing vulnerability

CONNECT WITH SEUNG CHAN LIM

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seungchan/

✩ Website https://realizingempathy.com/

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to understand how empathy training boosts employee engagement and wellbeing.

Leanne Butterworth is Founder of Empathy First and host of “The Professional Empathy Podcast.” In this episode, she explains why empathic leadership is a business imperative. She also discusses the potential and limitations of virtual reality for empathy training.

00:00   Introduction

00:23   About Leanne Butterworth

02:09   How did Leanne’s post-partum depression lead her to empathy?

07:09   How virtual reality can be leveraged for empathy training

12:12   Why is empathy training mission-critical for leaders right now?

14:44   How Leanne responds to leaders who claim they are performance driven and have no time for empathy

18:05   How has Leanne’s empathy work changed her personal relationships?

21:16   The business case for adopting empathy in the workplace

25:00   Create an empathic culture in the virtual work environment

28:44   The importance for employees to feel heard, valuable, and visible

31:29   Leanne Butterworth’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH LEANNE BUTTERWORTH

✩ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannebutterworth/

✩ Website https://www.empathyfirst.com.au/

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to learn how to improve your digital health and wellness.

Nina Hersher is CEO of the Digital Wellness Institute and co-founder of Digital Wellness Day which reached 7.5 million people last year. In this episode, she offers tools and advice about how to have a healthier relationship with technology.

00:00   Introduction

00:23   About Nina Hersher

01:35   Backstory: Why Nina got into “digital wellness”

05:11   What is “digital flourishing”?

08:11   How can we explore and engage our different habits and tools to have a healthy relationship with technology

09:41   How to improve our digital wellness

12:51   How to move from an unhealthy to a healthy relationship with technology?

15:03   What about children’s addiction to technology?

19:25   Advice for digital wellness when you work from home

22:54   Nina’s prediction about a return to in-person work

26:03   Digital Wellness Day

27:38   Why “zoom fatigue” happens and how to deal with it

29:21   Nina Hersher’s Purposeful Empathy story

CONNECT WITH NINA HERSHER

✩ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninahersher/

✩ Website https://www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com/

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani

Watch this episode to learn about deep listening, empathic interviewing and creating a human-centered culture in the workplace.  

Dr. Crystal Clarke is a social psychologist and executive coach who studies human connection, how to foster it, and what gets in the way. In this episode, she describes why workplaces need to adopt a more human-centred approach. She also shares a story about how an “empathic interview” with a boy changed her perspective about motherhood.  

00:00 Introduction 

00:23 About Crystal Clarke 

01:46 What is “bankrupt empathy”? 

06:00 The role of empathy in Crystal’s work 

08:59 Crystal’s work with the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity and The Listening Project 

11:28 What is a human-centred approach to culture?  

12:31 The importance of "deep listening" to create a human connection 

16:23 Can introverts practice deep listening? 

17:36 How leaders can become Empathic Leaders 

20:33 How to create an empathic connection in virtual spaces 

24:40 Creating human-centered workplaces   

27:58 Crystal’s work with organizations 

30:13 Crystal Clarke’s Purposeful Empathy story  

CONNECT WITH CRYSTAL CLARKE 

✩ Website www.drcrystalclarke.com 

✩ Instagram @drcrystalclarke   

CONNECT WITH ANITA 

✩ Email [email protected]   

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/   

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak 

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram 

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21 

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook 

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity 

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast  

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International   

REACH THEM AT 

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach 

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/ 

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/ 

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International 

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl 

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl  

Video edited by David Tsvariani

How Therapeutic Clowns Make Sick Children and Seniors Smile

Watch this episode to be moved and inspired by a professional therapeutic clown discuss her work.

Melissa Holland is the co-founder of the Dr. Clown Foundation. She and her team of therapeutic clowns work with children and seniors in hospitals and other healthcare settings. In this episode, she shares touching anecdotes about the impact clowns have on patients’ wellbeing and describes how clowning has changed her perspective of life.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 About Melissa Holland

01:52 What is a therapeutic clown?

02:44 Why Melissa went into clowning

04:34 A poignant clowning moment

11:27 Melissa's self-care practices

14:28 How her work has changed her life

17:27 Clowning in refugee camps

18:04 The physiological impact of laughter

22:04 Why is empathy so important to clowning?

26:39 Training to become a therapeutic clown

29:31 Melissa’s work with seniors

32:57 Has healthcare has become more patient-centered?

35:13 Clowning online and virtually

39:50 Melissa Holland’s Purposeful Empathy story

Listen to the audio version here: https://anchor.fm/anita-nowak

CONNECT WITH MELISSA HOLLAND

✩ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-holland-5b847239/

✩ Website https://fondationdrclown.ca/

CONNECT WITH ANITA

✩ Email [email protected]

✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com/

✩ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak

✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram

✩ Twitter https://twitter.com/anitanowak21

✩ Facebook Page https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyFacebook

✩ Facebook Group https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyCommunity

✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast

This episode was brought to you by Grand Heron International

REACH THEM AT

✩ Website www.grandheroninternational.ca; www.ghi.coach

✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grand-heron-international/

✩ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grandheroninternational/

✩ Instagram @Grand_Heron_International

✩ Twitter @GrandHeronIntl

✩ https://twitter.com/GrandHeronIntl

Video edited by David Tsvariani