Dr. Jade Singleton is a strategic consultant, educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to culture transformation and the well-being of Black women professionals. She is the founder of Johnson Squared Consulting and IKONI Collective, creator of the Sarah Jane Academy™, and producer of the documentary Ninety-Two: The Rest Rebellion No One Saw Coming. With experience as a senior consultant at NASA and advisor to major organizations like Amazon and Uber, she brings deep expertise in strategic DEI work, workplace wellness, and the radical practice of rest as resistance.

On this episode of the listening SUPERPOWER podcast, Jade and host Raquel Ark explore the transformative power of listening. Jade emphasizes what it means to "listen to believe." She shares how vulnerability can dissolve barriers in the business context, how common ground can shift conflicts into collaboration, and how organizations carry a "corporate soul" that shapes behavior and culture. Jade also highlights listening to self care and the emerging rest rebellion among Black women and the healing power of community care and storytelling. This episode is a powerful reflection on empathy, resilience, and creating spaces where truth and connection can thrive.

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On taking action: "Listening to believe means coming in with the understanding that the person talking to you is telling the truth about their experience." — Jade Singleton

SUPERPOWER Notes:

• 00:01:37 – Active vs Passive Listening: Jade explains that active listening requires full engagement, focusing on understanding and responding thoughtfully, unlike passive listening, which is more about merely hearing words without deeper connection.

• 00:04:06 – Listening to Believe: The key to authentic empathy is suspending judgment and truly believing others' experiences as their truth, creating a grounded foundation for communication.

• 00:09:37 – Building Community through Vulnerability: Jade shares how vulnerability exercises create shared experiences that dissolve barriers and foster genuine connection in factions with opposing views.

• 00:12:14 – Common Ground in Conflict Resolution: Conflict can be transformed when teams find tangible shared goals or narratives, helping to shift perspectives from opposition to collaboration.

• 00:16:06 – Corporate Soul and Shared Identity: Organizations hold narratives that influence individual behavior; understanding this soul or identity helps navigate conflicts and build stronger teams.

• 00:19:23 – Rest Rebellion Among Black Women: An emerging quiet movement where Black women consent to prioritize rest, healing, and self-care as resistance against systemic exhaustion.

• 00:22:38 – Community Healing and Self-Focus: Emphasizes the importance of co-regulation and community care as collective coping mechanisms during sociopolitical and personal stress.

• 00:27:21 – Leaving for Mental Well-Being: Stories of women choosing to leave toxic environments or geographic locations to preserve identity and mental health.

• 00:30:16 – Encouragement Through Community Voice: How sharing stories within communities fosters empowerment, encouragement, and collective strength.

Key Takeaways:

• On the power of listening: "Listening is not just about hearing words; it's about understanding the truth behind them." — Jade Singleton

• On community building: "When we listen deeply, we create spaces for healing and connection." — Jade Singleton

• On self-care: "It's okay to prioritize your well-being; it's essential for personal and collective growth." — Jade Singleton

Notes/Mentions:

• Documentary: "92: The Rest Rebellion No One Saw Coming" focusing on the experiences of Black women reclaiming their time and energy.

Connect with Jade Singleton:

• Website: www.ikoni.org

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jade-singleton-8b2830110

Connect with Raquel Ark:

• www.listeningalchemy.com

• Mobile: + 491732340722

• [email protected]

• LinkedIn

• Substack listening ALCHEMY newsletter

• Podcast email: [email protected]