Sometimes we block the flow of information being offered and compromise true listening. Our critical mind may kick in, taking note of what we agree with and what we don’t, or what we like and dislike. We may look for reasons to distrust the speaker or make them wrong. Formulating an opinion is not listening. Neither is preparing a response, or

When civic life is treated like a spectacle, we often find ourselves playing the role of the spectator. Content that supports civic curiosity, shared understanding, or long-term problem-solving loses its foothold in a system calibrated for speed, novelty, and outrage. The good stuff can’t compete – not financially, not algorithmically, not

If we want to be heard, and if we want to create spaces in which other people can be heard, we have to understand how power, identity, privilege, and learned patterns lead us to silence.