The art of listening

We do a lot of listening while we go about our technologically connected lives — we listen to music, to podcasts, to the news, to traffic, teachers, politicians and, sometimes, to each other.

But what does it mean to listen and really hear what we are listening to, particularly when it involves our partners, our friends and our adversaries?

On Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis explored the art of listening with three experts — one who facilitates compassionate listening sessions between political foes, another who helps couples hear each other and a third who brokers understanding between divided parties on behalf of the state of Minnesota.

Plus, Dianne Haulcy, host of the Early Risers podcast joins Angela to talk about what she’s learned from listening to children.

Guests: 

• Will Osmun is a facilitator with The Compassionate Listening Project in Muskegon, Mich.

• Mariah Levison is the director of the Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution at the Minnesota Department of Administration

• Emily Jordan Jensen is a resident faculty member in the Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Behavioral Health and the Master of Professional Studies in Addictions Counseling programs at the University of Minnesota

• Dianne Haulcy is the host of the Early Risers podcast