In this engaging episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Deb Porter, founder of "Hearing Out Life Drama" and an expert in active listening with over 25 years of experience. Deb reveals why active listening—connecting with both content and emotion—is the foundation of all business relationships.

Discover why the number one desire of employees is good communication, and learn practical techniques to become a better listener in your professional and personal life. Deb shares a remarkable success story of how one saleswoman transformed her results by simply mirroring her customers' emotions, and explains why being calm is essential before you can truly hear someone else.

Whether you're in sales, leadership, or any role requiring human connection, this episode offers valuable insights on strengthening relationships through better listening.

You can connect with Deb here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deblhporter/

https://www.facebook.com/HOLDBusinessSolutions

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

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In this episode of The Human Connection podcast, host Karl Pontau chats with René Frojo, a brand storytelling specialist and strategist who helps purpose-led founders craft authentic narratives that connect and convert. René shares how she transformed Off the Grid's marketing approach by shifting from "food porn" content to telling the rich stories of their immigrant and family-owned food vendors, resulting in remarkable engagement improvements in just six months.

She reveals her practical method for finding powerful stories within any organization: first interviewing customer support teams to understand frontline experiences, then sales teams, and only after that talking to leadership and marketing. René explains that the biggest mistake companies make is not telling enough authentic stories, leaving them struggling to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Remember her powerful insight: "You're not trying to get people to buy something; you're trying to get them to buy into something."

Listen in for practical tips on how to uncover and leverage the compelling stories already existing within your organization!

You can connect with Renee here:

www.reneelynnfrojo.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode, host Karl Pontau welcomes Mark Tweddle, co-founder of You Tell Yours, to discuss how storytelling creates authentic human connections. Mark shares insights from his journey through engineering, business, and eventually finding his passion in narrative coaching.

The conversation explores how storytelling differs from mere social media "connections," with Mark emphasizing the power of sharing personal experiences rather than opinions. He reveals fascinating insights from his work coaching former cult members and corporate teams, demonstrating how simple storytelling exercises can transform workplace dynamics, build trust, and reveal hidden communication issues.

Karl and Mark discuss practical applications of storytelling in leadership, team building, and creating psychological safety. They touch on the importance of crafting stories that connect rather than persuade, and how simple prompts like "the story of your name" can reveal our shared humanity while respecting personal boundaries.

The episode concludes with Mark's vision for creating community storytelling groups to combat social fragmentation and rebuild genuine connections in an increasingly divided world.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

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You can connect with Mark Tweddle here:

www.youtellyours.com

www.lynnfergy.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this captivating episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Genevieve Piturro, founder of Pajama Program, which has delivered over 8 million pajamas and books to children in need. Genevieve shares her incredible journey from TV executive to nonprofit founder after a life-changing moment when a child asked her, "What are pajamas?"

Discover how Genevieve's "heart voice" led her to transform her life and create meaningful impact. She reveals the four pillars of becoming "a voice that moves the world" and explains the crucial difference between being a boss and being a leader. Learn why collaboration is essential, why we should focus on "the power of one another" rather than "the power of one," and how authentic human connection is the foundation of successful businesses and fulfilling lives.

Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or someone seeking purpose, Genevieve's wisdom on bringing heart back to business will inspire you to listen more, talk less, and discover the fulfillment that comes from serving others.

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You can connect with Genevieve Piturro here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevievepiturro/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this eye-opening episode, host Karl Pontau connects with Ashley Amber Sava, a senior writer at ManyChat with a background in journalism and content marketing. Ashley shares her wild experiences working at a 15,000-employee company with virtually no internal communication channels.

Learn how Ashley discovered layoffs and leadership changes only when people mysteriously "vanished" from Teams, pushing employees to anonymous platforms like Fishbowl to vent frustrations and share information. She colorfully describes navigating absurd corporate politics—including a heated argument about using an emoji in a LinkedIn post—and the business consequences of micromanagement and restricted communication.

This conversation reveals how companies that don't trust their teams or create spaces for authentic dialogue drive away talent and hamstring their own ability to innovate. Ashley's candid stories and insights offer valuable lessons on building healthier workplace communication and fostering creativity without fear.

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You can connect with Ashley Amber Sava here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyambersava/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this uplifting episode, host Karl Ponto connects with the charismatic Dean Hankey to explore the power of genuine human relationships in business success. Dean shares his VIP approach—add Value that generates Impact before Profit—and explains why truly knowing your team members is essential for organizational growth.

Discover the simple yet transformative practice of creating "My Favorite Things" profiles for employees, allowing leaders to celebrate team members in meaningful, personalized ways. Dean illustrates this with his own example of preferring peanuts over generic gift cards, demonstrating how personal touches build trust and loyalty.

The conversation explores why servant leadership isn't just a trend but a fundamental approach for attracting talent and creating thriving workplace cultures. As Dean puts it, "Care is magic," and making more relational deposits than withdrawals is key to sustainable business success. A valuable listen for leaders looking to strengthen team connections and improve customer experiences through authentic human engagement.

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You can connect with Dean Hankey here:

Free Gifts: http://DeanHankey.com/Gifts

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode, host Karl Pontau connects with marketing expert Courtney Madeira to explore how humanizing your business builds stronger communities and naturally increases sales. Courtney shares her successful strategy of creating employee spotlights that go beyond job descriptions to highlight personal interests and stories. Learn how this simple approach helped increase personal training sales by $20,000 in one year, reduced employee turnover at hotels, and created organic marketing as employees' friends and family shared their spotlights. Courtney offers practical advice for getting started, emphasizing that imperfect action beats perfectionism. Discover how making your employees feel seen and appreciated creates authentic connections with customers who are tired of being bombarded with traditional ads.

You can connect with Courtney here:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/people-first-marketing-human-connection-converted-success-madeira-epldc/?trackingId=7owrVsRZSGuo9zBBpumeSg%3D%3D

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this episode of The Human Connection podcast, host Karl Pontau sits down with Sweha Hazari, an experienced copywriter with over nine years in the industry. Sweha shares actionable insights on creating copy that builds genuine human connections in today's noisy marketplace.

Discover why Sweha's father has remained loyal to a local clothing brand for over three decades (despite average quality and pricing), and learn practical techniques to make your writing stand out:

How to leverage "voice of customer" research to match your audience's vocabulary

Why even B2B marketing needs emotional connection

The powerful "devil's advocate" exercise that helps you address customer objections proactively

Finding the right balance between AI tools and human creativity

Whether you're crafting emails, social media posts, or sales materials, this episode offers valuable tips to shorten sales cycles and create copy that resonates deeply with your audience.

You can connect with Sweha here:

https://sweha.substack.com/

https://linktr.ee/swehahazari

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

In this engaging episode of The Human Connection podcast, host Karl Pontau sits down with Ethan Beute, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and chief evangelist at Follow Up Boss. They dive into how asynchronous video messaging can bridge the gap between faceless digital communication and genuine human connection in our hybrid work world. Ethan shares practical tips for using video messages to build trust, convey emotion, and explain complex ideas—all while being your authentic self (bad hair days and all!). Plus, discover his brilliant "Thank You Thursday" habit that can transform your team's culture with just a few minutes each week. Whether you're leading a team or looking to strengthen your professional relationships, this conversation offers actionable insights for making your digital communications more human.

Karl's internet dropped right at the end of the episode recording, so there's no outro. Sorry!

You can connect with Ethan here:

https://linktr.ee/ethanbeute

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

What’s the secret to building trust and influence? It’s not just about logic or authority—it’s about connection. In this episode of The Human Connection Podcast, host Karl Pontau chats with business coach Eduardo Scoby about the art of persuasion, the power of asking the right questions, and why “Tell me more” might be the most important phrase in leadership. From Aristotle’s timeless wisdom to practical tips for consultants and leaders, this conversation is packed with insights to help you build stronger relationships and drive real impact.

You can connect with Edoardo here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoardosavi/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!