The Empathy Edge

What if everything you believe about advocacy is incomplete? What if the real work of changing the world isn’t just about fixing problems, but about transforming ourselves in the process?

That’s the heart of the work of Sam Daley-Harris, Founder and Principal of Civic Courage, and author of Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy.

This conversation reframes what it means to participate in democracy. It’s not just about agonizing or protesting or turning off the news. It’s about awakening to our own power and using empathy to bridge divides and build the kind of future we actually want. It’s about sharing personal stories, engaging in deep listening and conversation, and making bold asks of leaders and volunteers.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…
Why sharing your “story of self” matters and how knowing your why becomes your anchor in meaningful leadership and advocacy.
What transformational advocacy truly is, and why it has the power to change both the issues and the advocates themselves.
The essential role of empathy in advocacy and the three questions volunteers ask when meeting with an opposing elected official that can turn conflict into connection.
Why leaders and organizations must move past their fear of asking volunteers to do big, bold things, because that’s where transformation happens.

"Transformational advocacy is where you're trained, encouraged, and succeed at doing things as an advocate that you never thought you could do. When you do those kinds of things, you see yourself differently." — Sam Daley-Harris

Episode References:
Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness by Jamil Zaki
Citizens Climate Lobby
Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill McKibben

About Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, Civic Courage, and Author, Reclaiming Our Democracy:
Sam Daley-Harris started as a symphony musician and then founded the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS in 1980, co-founded the Microcredit Summit Campaign in 1995, and founded Civic Courage in 2012. The paperback edition of his book Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy was named an editor’s pick by Publishers’ Weekly BookLife. Daley-Harris has been interviewed on NPR’s Here and Now and on PBS’s Laura Flanders and Friends.

From Our Sponsor:
Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Connect with Sam:
Civic Courage: reclaimingourdemocracy.com
X: x.com/samdaleyharris
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sam-daley-harris-b8bb796
Facebook: facebook.com/sam.daleyharris
Instagram: instagram.com/samdaleyharris

Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice

Sign up for Optionality now! Go to opt

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross
Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

What if empathy wasn’t something we talked about, but something we actually trained, practiced, and scaled?

My guest today, Ed Kirwan, is doing exactly that. Ed is the CEO and Founder of Empathy Studios, a creative education organization using the power of film to develop empathy as a real, learnable skill. He’s also the founder of Empathy Week, now the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, reaching more than 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020.

In this conversation, we explore why film is such a powerful catalyst for empathy, what Ed has learned from years of working with students around the world, why empathy is becoming a critical skill in the age of AI, and how developing empathy can boost well-being and help create a better world.

This is a hopeful, practical, and deeply human conversation about what empathy looks like when we stop treating it like a soft skill and start treating it like a core capability.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…
The emotional power of film to supercharge feeling and connection.
Why empathy and related skills are necessary to reap the benefits of AI.
How humans are adapting, seeking things that are real and authentic, and why making something look worse may actually be better.

"That's the power of film. It can really supercharge emotions; it can supercharge feeling; it can supercharge connection." — Ed Kirwan

Episode References:
Ed Kirwan: Empathy Week: Using the Power of Film to Build Empathy

About Ed Kirwan, CEO and Founder, Empathy Studios
Previously a science teacher in London, Ed founded Empathy Studios, an education and creative organisation using the power of film to develop the skill of empathy in all. A director, filmmaker, and educator for 10+ years, Ed also started Empathy Week, the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, which has reached 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. Their framework for empathy development is backed by the University of Cambridge, and Ed’s team now works across teams and leaders in the business world to help develop and embed the skill of empathy - foundational to high-performing and thriving teams.

From Our Sponsor:
Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Connect with Ed Kirwan:
Empathy Studios: empathystudios.com
Empathy Week: empathyweek.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ed-kirwan
Instagram: instagram.com/edkirwan
YouTube: youtube.com/@Empathy-Studios

Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice

Sign up for Optionality now! Go to opt

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross
Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Did you know that 53% of Gen Z, the rising workforce, identifies as neurodivergent? If that’s the future of work, what does it mean for how we lead, collaborate, and connect? It means if we don't learn how to lead for the needs of neurodiverse employees, we could be facing a huge hiring and unemployment gap.

Julia Armet, people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader, is on a mission to humanize work.

Julia shares her own powerful personal journey navigating her own neurodivergence, and we discuss why relationship-building is the heartbeat of modern work. She debunks myths around autism and empathy, and introduces the concept of the “double-empathy problem” - reframing how we see inclusion and communication across differences.

You’ll also hear why listening to neurodivergent voices elevates everyone, why the outlier is often the source of innovation, not friction, and how empathy can activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…
Different ways people exhibit and experience empathy.
Approaches to unmasking neurodiversity and empowering neuroinclusion.
What you may be missing/misunderstanding about your autistic coworker’s social differences.
The importance of planting new seeds and redefining modern leadership through empathy.
How to integrate your team’s outliers to unlock greater levels of empathy.

"Solving for empathy for the most marginalized populations is what's going to actually benefit all populations." — Julia Armet

Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast:
Molly McGrath: Fix My Employee! No, Fix My Boss!
Parissa Behnia: How Badass Leaders Convert Raw Power into Real Influence

About Julia Armet, Founder of Higher Playbook
Julia Armet, PCC, ELI-MP, is a people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader on a mission to humanize work. As Founder of Higher Playbook, she partners with visionary leaders and progressive organizations to design workplace cultures where all people — and all minds — can thrive.

With a career spanning media, technology, and professional services, Julia brings deep expertise at the intersection of relationship-building, leadership development, and culture transformation. From scaling a mission-driven tech company to leading global leadership programs, she empowers organizations to foster psychological safety, unlock talent potential, and drive culture change.

Through experiential keynotes, leadership retreats, and high-impact workshops, Julia equips leaders with socially innovative approaches and relational strategies to cultivate inclusion and conscious leadership. Her signature programs — Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion — harness the power of empathy to activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

Connect with Julia:
Higher Playbook: higherplaybook.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaarmet
Facebook: facebook.com/julia.armet
Instagram: @higherplaybook
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/higherplaybook

Check out her signature neurodiversity programming: Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion: higherplaybook.com/leadership-programs

Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice

Sign up for Optionality now! Go to opt

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Managing up is one of the most powerful career accelerators you can master—and it all starts with empathy. Not just empathy flowing downward from leaders to teams, but empathy for your leaders: understanding their pressures, challenges, and decision-making context so you can build trust, influence outcomes, and create mutual success.

Given multiple generations in the workforce, we need empathy flowing up for leaders dealing with added pressures and mental health issues right now. Today’s guest, Catherine Ducharme—Founder of Fluency Leadership, award-winning communicator, certified coach, and TEDx speaker—has spent over 30 years helping leaders and teams lead with heart, curiosity, and inspiration. She shares her own story of learning to manage up, the mindset shifts that change everything, and practical ways to anticipate needs, respond more effectively, and position yourself as a strategic leader.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…
How to shift your own perspective, rather than trying to change others.
Ways to hold your boundaries, while still meeting people where they are.
The team building skills you cultivate when you engage in everyday activities with coworkers.
Why is there nothing small about small talk or soft about soft skills?

"A little vulnerability goes a long way. And it doesn't mean you're pouring your heart out, your woes and everything to your team, but giving them insight to what you're juggling or what's on your mind will tip the balance toward compassion." — Catherine Ducharme

Episode References:
Fluency's Trust Breakout exercise: http://bit.ly/4lqTBun
Book: Seen: The Untapped Power of Appreciation - coming in 2026 - Find out more here
TEDx Talk: The Untapped Power of Appreciation

About Catherine Ducharme, Founder, Fluency Leadership
Founder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, a leadership + team development and coaching practice, Catherine is a certified coach and facilitator with 30+ years of professional communications and leadership experience. She works with leaders and teams to build relational skills, empowering them to lead and influence with heart, empathy, curiosity, and inspiration. She’s been recognized as Regional Leader of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators. She’s passionate about the need for more appreciation in the workplace and did a TEDx talk on that topic.

From Our Sponsor:
Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Connect with Catherine:
Fluency Leadership: fluencyleadership.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherineducharme

Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross
Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Managing up is one of the most powerful career accelerators you can master—and it all starts with empathy. Not just empathy flowing downward from leaders to teams, but empathy for your leaders: understanding their pressures, challenges, and decision-making context so you can build trust, influence outcomes, and create mutual success.

Given multiple generations in the workforce, we need empathy flowing up for leaders dealing with added pressures and mental health issues right now. Today’s guest, Catherine Ducharme—Founder of Fluency Leadership, award-winning communicator, certified coach, and TEDx speaker—has spent over 30 years helping leaders and teams lead with heart, curiosity, and inspiration. She shares her own story of learning to manage up, the mindset shifts that change everything, and practical ways to anticipate needs, respond more effectively, and position yourself as a strategic leader.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…
How to shift your own perspective, rather than trying to change others.
Ways to hold your boundaries, while still meeting people where they are.
The team building skills you cultivate when you engage in everyday activities with coworkers.
Why is there nothing small about small talk or soft about soft skills?

"A little vulnerability goes a long way. And it doesn't mean you're pouring your heart out, your woes and everything to your team, but giving them insight to what you're juggling or what's on your mind will tip the balance toward compassion." — Catherine Ducharme

Episode References:
Catherine’s article on managing up: www.fluencyleadership.com/2024/07/17/the-crucial-art-of-managing-up
Fluency's Trust Breakout exercise: http://bit.ly/4lqTBun
Book: Seen: The Untapped Power of Appreciation - coming in 2026 - Find out more here
TEDx Talk: The Untapped Power of Appreciation

About Catherine Ducharme, Founder, Fluency Leadership
Founder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, a leadership + team development and coaching practice, Catherine is a certified coach and facilitator with 30+ years of professional communications and leadership experience. She works with leaders and teams to build relational skills, empowering them to lead and influence with heart, empathy, curiosity, and inspiration. She’s been recognized as Regional Leader of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators. She’s passionate about the need for more appreciation in the workplace and did a TEDx talk on that topic.

From Our Sponsor:
Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Connect with Catherine:
Fluency Leadership: fluencyleadership.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catherineducharme

Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice

Sign up for Optionality now! Go to opt

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross