The Empathy Edge

America is about to turn 250 years old. My guest today believes this moment is asking something from all of us. Not a celebration or parade, but a reckoning, a chance to find our way back to each other. Brandon Peele is a bestselling author of 6 books on purpose and civic leadership, is Executive Director of the National Pilgrimage, and a trusted keynote speaker and consultant. His work sits at the intersection of purpose, democracy, and what it means to be a nation. 

On June 9th, 2026, a caravan of diverse Americans will set out on the National Pilgrimage — driving through the heart of this nation, sitting with people along the way, and asking the questions our political system never asks: What values should guide us? What would it take for this to be a great place for all of us to raise children? What kind of country do we want to leave for the next generation? The journey culminates in the National Assembly — a virtual gathering open to everyone on July 6th and 7th, 2026, from 5 to 8 pm PDT, where your voice will be heard and counted. Six storytellers will then travel to Chicago, and on July 9th — the anniversary of the 14th Amendment — they will read aloud a new national covenant. PBS documentarians are capturing every mile.

You'll learn more details and how to get involved. We discuss why empathy is the core mechanism of e pluribus unum — out of many, one — and why, just like any organization, we need a shared moral vision to know where we're going and who we want to be. Brandon shares the three layers of democracy and why our nation's problems are as much moral, psychological, and spiritual as they are political.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The purpose of government and how we have forgotten the core vision of our democracy
• How the founding beliefs of spirituality and Natural Law shaped the country
• A shared vision of what we can all be as diverse Americans
• Ways you can join in or support the pilgrimage and virtual assembly

"This is not about politics. This is about a shared moral vision that includes all of us, and so I don't care how you voted or if you voted. I don't care how you make love. I don't care how much melanin is in your skin. You're an American, and you belong in this conversation." —  Brandon Peele

References:

The Empathy Edge:

• Dr. Claire Yorke: Can Empathy Fix Broken Politics?
• Sam Daley-Harris: Reclaiming Our Democracy
• James Coan: Closing the Perception Gap that Tears Us Apart

About Brandon Peele: Executive Director, National Pilgrimage

Brandon Peele is a best-selling author and the Executive Director of the National Pilgrimage. He's trusted as a keynote speaker, consultant, and program leader by organizations such as Google, Harvard Business School, Johnson & Johnson, Stanford University, JDRF, Morgan Stanley, U.S. Marine Corps, YPO, University of California - Berkeley, Vistage, Forum for Workplace Inclusion, LinkedIn, the U.S. Navy, Slalom Consulting, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the University of Minnesota.

He is the author of Bison Medicine (2025),  Purpose Work Nation (2022), The Purpose Field Guide (2019), and Planet on Purpose (2018), and co-author of Purpose Rising (2017) and The Purpose Blueprint (2015). His work has been featured by news organizations such as USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, the US Business Journal, and Forbes.

Connect with Brandon:

Brandon Peele: nationalpilgrimage.us

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bpeele

Instagram: instagram.com/natnlpilgrimage

The National Pilgrimage and Assembly: chuffed.org/project/nationalpilgrimage

Synanim (platform enabling the Assembly’s virtual collaboration): synanim.com

Connect with Maria:

Books: Red-Slice.com/books

Speaking: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

The power of being seen can change everything. We see it in the workplace and in our world. 

And one way to strengthen empathy and build that connection is through photography.  A single photograph—placed in someone’s hands—can affirm dignity, spark connection, and grow empathy on both sides of the lens. That’s the heartbeat of Print the Love, the nonprofit founded 15 years ago by today’s guest, Ceallaigh Smart. 

We explore how photography creates empathy, how international travel to under-resourced communities expands perspective, why giving back in any capacity is healing, and how ethical photography and storytelling train our empathy muscle—through permission, protection, and honoring people’s stories. 

Ceallaigh also shares a vulnerable personal journey of healing that led to her love of global travel and a desire to serve. That’s the power of being seen. 

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The transformation that comes when people see a photo of themselves for the first time.
• The power of being seen.
• The ethics of taking photos of strangers.
• Creating empathy through photography, especially in underserved communities.
• The power of celebrating life’s moments, as they are, right now.

"I want to live in a world where a stranger says, ‘You are beautiful today, no matter what, and here's a memory for you and your family to keep for a long time to bring you joy."  —  Ceallaigh Smart

Episode References: 

• Join an international trip with Print the Love:  printthelove.org/trips
• Humans of New York - Instagram
• Fuji
• Ultrapro

The Empathy Edge podcast episodes:

• Woodson Martin: Balancing Corporate Success with Humanitarian Work
• Teri Schmidt: Empathy-Infused Team Building for Lasting Impact
• Ashley Jones: How to Courageously Lead and Support Through Grief

About Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director, Print the Love:

Ceallaigh (pronounced Kelly) founded Print the Love in 2015 and has worked in nonprofits for over 20 years. In addition to her work at Print the Love, Ceallaigh is the Executive Director of Haiti Outreach. With a background and education in Arts Administration (MA), Experiential/Adventure Education and Art Therapy (BA), and Colorado Outward Bound Alum, Ceallaigh brings a unique depth of leadership experiences and knowledge to the international NGO space. She is passionate about humanitarianism, international travel, narcissistic abuse recovery, Jesus, peace activism, running, the arts, self-care, the outdoors, social justice, fighting for the oppressed, crushing the patriarchy, and finding an awesome new keto dessert or mocktail recipe. She currently lives in Minneapolis with her husband, rescue pup, and two amazing teens.

Connect with Ceallaigh:

Print the Love: printthelove.org 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ceallaighsmart 

Facebook: facebook.com/printthelove 

Instagram: instagram.com/printtheloveorg 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

What are the hidden, unconscious forces that shape how we lead—why we react the way we do, why some situations knock us off center, and how we can build the internal security to lead with more empathy, clarity, and connection?

My guest, Dr. Jaime Goff, is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of The Empathic Leader, where she now works full-time helping leaders “lead from security, not fear.”

With a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy and two decades in organizational leadership, Jaime translates attachment theory, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into practical tools leaders can use immediately. Her new book, The Secure Leader, helps readers uncover the narratives shaping their leadership, regulate under pressure, and create environments where their teams can thrive.

We dig into why our brains love stories, and how those stories can limit us, what to do when leaders can’t see their own unhelpful narratives, why adaptive challenges can’t be solved with technical solutions, and the essential first step to emotionally regulate in today’s turbulent world.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The connection between parenting leadership and team leadership. 
• How early experiences influence leadership behavior. 
• How insecurity blocks empathy and team flourishing.
• What leaders can do to build internal security and lead with more calm and clarity.
• Strategies and daily habits for emotional regulation and stress tolerance to be a better leader.

"You end up stifling the growth and development of your team because you're holding on to so much control that you don't let go of the reins and you don't empower them. You don't let them experiment, innovate, learn, and grow.” —  Dr. Jaime Goff

Episode References: 

• Dr. Jaime Goff's Secure Leader Style Scan: https://drjaimegoff.com/secure-leader-style-scan

About Jaime Goff, PhD, Founder, The Empathic Leader, and Author of The Secure Leader:

Dr. Jaime Goff is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of The Empathic Leader, where she now works full-time helping leaders “lead from security, not fear.” She previously served as Director of Leadership Development at CHRISTUS Health, designing programs for more than 45,000 associates, and she brings a powerful blend of research and real-world experience to her work.

With a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy and two decades in organizational leadership, Jaime translates attachment theory, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into practical tools leaders can use immediately. Her new book, The Secure Leader, helps readers rewrite unhelpful narratives shaping their leadership, regulate under pressure, and create environments where their teams can thrive.

Whether delivering a keynote, facilitating workshops, or engaging in one-on-one coaching, Jaime is known for weaving research with relatable stories to spark insight and lasting behavior change.

Connect with Jaime:

The Empathic Leader, LLC: drjaimegoff.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjaimegoff

Instagram: instagram.com/dr_jaimegoff

Book: The Secure Leader by Dr. Jaime Goff

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Do you know that customers who are highly emotionally connected to your brand are 53% more loyal than those who are merely satisfied with your products and services?

Today I’m talking with Kevin Perlmutter. We explore why traditional brand strategies often miss the mark, how branding has evolved beyond surface-level connections, and Kevin’s concept of Limbic Sparks—those moments when emotional motivation meets brand desire. You’ll learn the three steps to spark brand desire and how even B2B brands can connect emotionally. Kevin shares why talking directly to customers beats cold data alone and staying in the thick of the details will make you more successful than just relying on AI. And we chat about marketing ethics and the crucial difference between being a customer habit versus gaining their loyalty.

Finally, Kevin shares the one big lesson he wants every leader to take away from his book. We could have talked forever about one of my favorite topics, so enjoy the insights and take a listen!

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Maintaining ethical behavior when deploying and evolving the brand.
• How to spark customer interest using emotional insights.
• Why the difference between habits and loyalty is important to understand.
• How to balance AI and humans to better serve your customers.
• The three steps for embracing a limbic spark mindset.

"Limbic sparks are what you feel when emotional motivation meets brand desire. It's that moment when you encounter a brand, and it feels like it was designed with you in mind." —  Kevin Perlmutter

Episode References: 

• The Empathy Edge podcast: 
• Kevin Perlmutter: When Emotional Motivation Meets Brand Desire
• Melina Palmer: What Your Employees Need But Can’t Tell You
• Melina Palmer: Why Your Customers Can’t Tell You What They Want
• MIT Article on human skills that complement AI shortcomings: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/these-human-capabilities-complement-ais-shortcomings 

About Kevin Perlmutter, Chief Strategist & Founder, Limbic Brand Evolution:

Kevin Perlmutter is Chief Strategist and Founder of Limbic Brand Evolution, a brand strategy and neuromarketing consultancy that puts emotional insight at the center of how brands attract and retain customers. He is also the Author of BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights. Based near New York City, he works with business and brand leaders to create stronger connections between their brand and the people they want to reach – as a consultant, speaker, and workshop facilitator – to guide the development of more effective methods for brand evolution and customer engagement.

Connect with Kevin Perlmutter:

Limbic Brand Evolution: https://www.limbicbrandevolution.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinperlmutter/ 

Book: BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights www.BrandDesireBook.com 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

How do you actually practice empathy? How do you prove you have it — to employers, to clients, to the people you lead? And if you're building a team, how do you hire for it?

Because here's the uncomfortable truth: most of us can't answer any of those questions well. And in the age of AI, that gap is getting more expensive by the minute.

In this episode, Maria answers these questions as she discusses the importance of empathy in the age of AI, citing data from studies showing its impact on loyalty, efficiency, and job satisfaction. She dives into actionable steps you can take to hire empathetic leaders, gives practical tips for practicing empathy (and stresses the importance of practicing empathy under real pressure, in real-time situations), and discusses the need for better tools to develop, measure, and verify empathy as AI is accelerating. 

Finally, she invites everyone to learn more about and register for the upcoming Synanim FlexEmpathy event at flexempathy.com. 

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why empathy proof matters more than ever.
• The AI factor.
• How to practice and prove empathy.
• How to hire for empathy.

"Empathy is not soft. It's not optional, and in the age of AI, where human connection is simultaneously more scarce and more valuable than ever. It's your most important competitive advantage." —  Maria Ross

Episode References: 

• Maria’s email list at: red-slice.com/newsletter/ 
• FlexEmpathy, coming up April 25, 2025 www.flexempathy.com
• Synanim: https://www.synanim.com/
• EY's 2023 Empathy in Business Survey 
• 2024 Businessolver State of Workplace Empathy Report
• McKinsey, It's Cool to Be Kind Research Report

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Teams today are more diverse than ever—and within that diversity lies the potential to unlock innovation, performance, and belonging. But only if leaders practice cultural humility. It’s not just about competence or checking boxes; it’s about fostering safety, trust, and transformation.

Dr. Joel Pérez equips leaders to navigate today’s instability with empathy and authenticity. He has partnered for decades with national nonprofits, corporations, and higher education institutions to deliver keynotes, workshops, and strategic consulting that inspire action and lasting change.

In this conversation, we unpack what cultural humility really means, how leaders can move beyond cultural competence, how cultural humility can help you navigate the instability of today's market and world, why he wrote Dear White Leader, and how organizations can leverage diversity to create lasting impact and stronger results.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• How to develop a posture of cultural humility, no matter your background. 
• Understanding the difference between cultural competency and cultural humility. 
• Raising the bar as a leader from effective to exceptional.
• Curiosity is the key to achieving your goals.
• The three things that are necessary to move from cultural competency to cultural humility are.

"Cultural humility allows you to navigate the complexity that comes with developing organizations with a strong sense of belonging and psychological safety." —  Dr. Joel Pérez

Episode References: 

• Book: Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility: dearwhiteleader.com
• Terry Cross Cultural Competence Research
• Janet Helms
• Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World by Scott Shigeoka
• EEP Episode: Amer Kaissi: Humbitious Leadership Equals Success

About Dr. Joel Pérez, Executive Coach and Author of Dear White Leader:

Dr. Joel Pérez is an executive and leadership coach, speaker, and consultant who helps leaders and organizations create inclusive cultures through the practice of cultural humility. As founder of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), he specializes in identity-conscious leadership, career transitions, and DEIB strategy. A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, Joel draws on more than 20+ years of leadership experience in higher education to guide clients through meaningful transformation.

He is the author of Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility, which received the Silver Medal for Best New Voice – Nonfiction from the Independent Book Publishers Association. Joel has partnered with national nonprofits, corporations, and higher education institutions to deliver keynotes, workshops, and strategic consulting that inspire action and lasting change. His work moves organizations toward creating a sense of belonging and the psychological safety to meet their goals.  

Joel holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Claremont Graduate University. Outside of work, he enjoys life with his wife of over 28 years, their four children, cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers, and watching movies.

Connect with Dr. Joel Pérez:  

Apoyo Coaching and Consulting: apoyocoaching.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelperezphd 

Instagram: apoyocoaching01

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Some conversations linger long after the recording stops; the conversations that deepen your humanity and reshape how you think about leadership. This episode is one of those conversations.

Ashley Jones knows grief in its most devastating form. When her daughter Skylar died from a terminal illness just before her second birthday, Ashley was thrust into a darkness no parent should ever face. But through that unimaginable loss, she discovered a calling: helping people heal in grief.

Today, Ashley shares her personal story and what her healing journey revealed about grace, resilience, and the power of community. We discuss the four survival reactions to trauma - fight, flight, freeze, and fawn - and how these can manifest. We also dive into the relationship between trauma and grief and how leaders can support those around them during these times.

Trigger warning: In this episode, we both talk about experiences with sexual assault.

Ashley shared incredibly valuable tips and resources to help you become a more trauma-informed leader and support your team to their fullest potential.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Ashley’s personal story and what her healing journey revealed about grace, resilience, and the power of community.
• How leadership is evolving to become more deeply human—and the distance we still need to travel.
• Why grief is a universal leadership issue, and what it asks of us.
• The two fundamental needs people have after experiencing grief or trauma, and how to meet them.
• The four survival reactions to trauma that leaders need to understand.
• Why not all grief is traumatic, but all trauma includes grief, and what that means for how we support people.

"It's really about choosing love regardless of the situation, regardless of the people involved. To show up and say, ‘What is the best way I can love myself and others right now in this moment?’" —  Ashley Jones

Episode References:

• How Can I Love You Better: howcaniloveyoubetter.com

The Empathy Edge:

• Stephanie Sarazin: What Is Ambiguous Grief and How To Show Up
• Ron Gura: How Technology Helps People Navigate Grief and Loss
• Katharine Manning: How Trauma Impacts Performance – and What Smart Leaders Can Do

About Ashley Jones, Founder, Momento Foundation:

Ashley was thrust into the depths of grief when her daughter, Skylar, died from a terminal illness just before her 2nd birthday. Her unique experience through darkness and healing led her to create the Momento Foundation (formerly Love Not Lost), a nonprofit on a mission to help people heal in grief. Known for creating innovative tools, new resources, and meaningful solutions for navigating grief, Ashley provides individuals and organizations with tangible help to better support themselves and each other through trauma and loss. She’s a sought-after TEDx & keynote speaker, author, and passionate plant mom.

Connect with Ashley:

Momento Foundation: momentofoundation.org

Author Site: www.ashleynicolejones.com

Book: When You Can't See the Light

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleynicolejones

Facebook: facebook.com/momentofoundation

Instagram: instagram.com/momentofoundation

Momento Community: momento. impact.app

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

For years, empathy was treated as a business nice-to-have—important, but secondary to speed, scale, and efficiency. The data now tells a very different story.

In this conversation, Maria and Conny, the Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group, dive into Zurich’s new global study, Addressing the Empathy Gap, which surveyed more than 11,000 consumers across 11 markets. The findings are striking: 79% of consumers say empathy matters more than any other factor, and 43% have left a brand due to a lack of empathy. This isn’t theoretical; it’s revenue walking out the door.

Conny shares how Zurich is closing that gap by treating empathy as a learnable skill. She shares practical first steps organizations can take, starting right where they are. We also explore Zurich’s philosophy of AI with a human touch - using technology to augment human connection, not replace it.

This is a conversation about moving from transactional payer to trusted partner—and why, in an industry ripe for disruption, empathy is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why customers are leaving brands due to a lack of connection and empathy.
• How to make AI work for your organization, without trying to replace human connections.
• How to create trusted relationships and partnerships and maintain them for long-term success. 
• The power of the NRR - Net Revenue Retention - metric.

"We started out with the starting point that empathy can be taught, and if people get the right tools, they will also do the right thing. So we can de-learn practices you've had over the years, and you can bring new aspects into them." —  Conny Kalcher

Episode References: 

• Zurich's 2025 Report: Addressing the Empathy Gap: https://www.zurich.com/sustainability/customers/empathy-report

• The Empathy Edge podcast: Anna Liotta: Understanding Generational Codes

About Conny Kalcher: Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group:

Conny Kalcher is Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group and a global leader in customer experience with a reputation for embedding empathy into business strategy to drive long-term business success. She is a founding partner of the Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Loyalty Forum with more than three decades of experience from senior roles at LEGO and consultancy work at Mindfolio.

Connect with Conny:

Zurich Insurance Group: zurich.com 

LinkedIn: ch.linkedin.com/in/conny-kalcher-198ba5 

Company LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/zurich-insurance-company-ltd 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Too many leaders are still trying to succeed by becoming someone they think they’re supposed to be—quieter, tougher, more polished, less human. And in the process, they’re leaving their greatest strengths at the door.

My guest believes that’s exactly backward. Today, we welcome back Claude Silver to discuss her latest book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. 

We explore what authentic presence really looks like at work, and why pretending to be a different kind of leader rarely gets better results. Claude and I unpack why many leaders have accountability backwards, why the more power you gain, the less truth you often hear, and how being open and emotionally present doesn’t weaken communication but rather prevents under-communicating with your team. Finally, Claude offers us a simple, actionable practice you can use right away to take a small step and rebuild trust and connection where it matters most.

This is a conversation with one of my favorite humans on the planet about stopping the performance of leadership—and starting to lead from the strengths that made you worth hiring in the first place.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The importance of bringing your unique perspective, talents, and humanity to your team.
• What authentic presence looks like at work.
• Protecting healthy boundaries with courage and kindness while still connecting with others.
• Signs your culture is thriving and how to get there. 
• Why is the room with everyone in it smarter than any one person in that room?
• The reason actions say more than words ever will.
• The dangerous byproduct of silence.

"When a person is real, they are not carrying the burden or the weight of any other facade." —  Claude Silver

About Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer, VaynerX, and Author of Be Yourself at Work:

Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, partnering with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. Silver has earned Campaign US's Female Frontier Award and AdWeek's Changing the Game Award, and she electrifies audiences at national and international conferences, as well as at organizations including Meta, Google, US Government agencies, and the US Armed Forces. She has been interviewed on dozens of podcasts and featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. Silver lives in New Jersey with her wife and two young children. She is the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart.

Connect with Claude:  

Website: claudesilver.com 

VaynerX: beyourselfbook.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/casilver 

Instagram: instagram.com/claudesilver 

Book: Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

It’s easy right now to believe that the divisions we see are simply too deep to repair. That empathy has become a liability. That listening has been replaced by winning.

And yet, I still believe, perhaps more than ever, that empathy remains our greatest tool for healing even the most jagged fractures in our world, not as a naïve ideal, but as a courageous, strategic choice. And that choice has the power to transform entire systems.

My guest today, Dr. Claire Yorke, has devoted her career to studying exactly that possibility.

We explore what empathy in politics actually looks like, why empathy is essential for effective leadership, the challenges empathetic leaders face in polarized environments, and why we can’t simply wait for more empathetic political leaders to emerge.

We also talk about hope. Not passive hope, but participatory hope. The kind that invites each of us - as citizens, leaders, and humans - to model empathy, practice deeper listening, and engage in shaping healthier political cultures, whether through community dialogue, civic participation, or simply choosing curiosity over certainty.

This is a conversation about what’s possible when we choose empathy, not as an escape from reality, but as a path forward through it.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The relationship military leaders have with empathy and their job.
• What it can look like to have empathy in our politics, regardless of country.
• The impact of citizen assemblies and civic engagement.
• Why do we need to change political culture so that it attracts and rewards politicians who embrace empathy and can stop battling?
• Maintaining an ideal vision of what’s possible and what to do to make it a reality.
• Steps that can be taken at the local and national levels to make changes.

"We need to change our politics. So it's much more about building relationships, building that sense of connectedness, both between politicians and the public, between citizens and their communities, and seeing this as an ecosystem." —  Dr. Claire Yorke

References:

• Book: Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us by Jon Alexander and Ariane Conrad
• Democracy Next

The Empathy Edge:

• Sam Daley-Harris: Reclaiming Our Democracy
• Mónica Guzmán: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Divided Political Times
• Dr. Gina Baleria: Empathy in Journalism and Today’s Media Landscape
• Elisa Camahort Page: The Art of Empathy in Politics, Activism, and Media BS
• James Coan: Closing the Perception Gap that Tears Us Apart

About Dr. Claire Yorke, Senior Lecturer at Deakin University, Author of Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming our World:

Dr. Claire Yorke is an author and academic. Her work focuses on the role of empathy and emotions in international affairs, politics, leadership, and society.  She is a Senior Lecturer at the Australian War College, Deakin University, Canberra, where her research and teaching focus on these topics. In 2025, she published Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming Our World with Yale University Press. She is writing two more.

Claire received her PhD in International Relations from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. She has a Master's in Middle East Politics from the University of Exeter, and a BA in Politics, International Relations and French from Lancaster University.

Connect with Claire:  

Website: claireyorke.me

LinkedIn: Dr Claire Yorke

Instagram: @theempathydoctor

BlueSky: @claireyorke.bsky.social

Book: Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming our World

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