The Contagious Power of Compassion

The Science of Happiness

PRX and Greater Good Science Center

Science, Social Sciences

4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2024

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Compassionate dialogue isn’t just about talking and listening—it's a meaningful way to bridge divides, cultivate belonging, and reimagine education as a space for connection.

Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore the role of compassion in education and connecting across differences. We explore the bravery it takes to have tough conversations, how to create spaces where everyone feels they belong, and the profound impact of addressing marginalization in the classroom. Plus, we uncover practical ways to turn these classroom lessons into meaningful, real-world connections and community building.

This episode is sponsored by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Today’s Guests:

JACKIE JUSTICE, M.A.E.T., is an English and humanities professor at Mid Michigan College, where she teaches courses in writing, literature, culture, and compassion studies.

Read Justice’s article about how learning to bridge differences can help students succeed: https://tinyurl.com/mw7r845h

Learn about our Bridging Differences online course at GGSC: https://tinyurl.com/2wk5h72z

JAMIL ZAKI is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab.

Follow Zaki on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamil-zaki-b0b4a9192
Follow Zaki on X: https://x.com/zakijam
Read Zaki’s Book Hope for Cynics: https://tinyurl.com/mrxtzhmw

More episodes like this one:

How to Talk to People You Disagree With: https://tinyurl.com/4cpm8m3a
When It’s Hard to Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/bde6wyu7
Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/yxw4uhpf

More Happiness Breaks like this one:

Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5
Radical Acceptance, with Tara Brach: https://tinyurl.com/ycec7jwt

Tell us about your experiences and struggles with compassionate listening. Email us at [email protected] or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod.

Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3x7w2s5s

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Science of Happiness is sponsored by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
0:09.0	I was visiting my niece in La Jolla, and there was a man sitting on the beach with a sign saying,
0:15.0	compassionate listening for free, sit down, and he was there three days a week. You could come and just talk to him and he would
0:23.3	practice listening. And I asked him if I could borrow his idea. I brought that idea back and
0:30.0	pitched to the college and they said that sounds great. I met some people who actually are training
0:35.5	our faculty through their organization to help
0:38.7	our faculty become compassionate listeners. So they go through compassionate listening training.
0:43.9	And then we just have a little booth set up with a sign that says come and be heard.
0:50.5	But we're an area divided. we're a state divided, politically.
0:55.0	We think each other walking down the street potentially could be an enemy.
0:59.0	And dang it, that's scary.
1:02.0	Just opening these dialogues with each other, looking each other in the eye,
1:07.0	making connection, it just snowballs in a good way.
1:11.6	Bridging doesn't have to be miserable.
1:15.6	Sitting at a table with someone who's the polar opposite from us can be an enjoyable experience
1:21.6	and teaching students that on top of that is just a gift.
1:34.2	Welcome to the Science of Happiness.
1:39.1	I'm Alison Briscoe Smith, psychologist and senior fellow at the Greater Good Science Center,
1:41.1	filling in for Dacker-Keltner this week.
1:44.0	Today, we're exploring how to connect. Learning how to connect
1:46.0	across differences is one of the most crucial skills we can develop in today's world. It's
1:51.1	something that touches every part of our lives, our politics, friendships, families, and yet
	...

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