The Power of Empathy: A Path to Personal Growth and Social Change (feat. Michael Tennant)
The capacity to establish empathic connections with others—to feel with them, showing concern for their welfare, and demonstrating compassion—is critical in our lives.
Yet several studies show that there’s less empathy in the world than previous decades.
But, my guest, Michael Tennant, believes that learning to care more about each other is a skill that all of us can learn and master. Today, he’ll share more about the power of empathy to inspire personal growth and social change.
Michael Tennant, is an award-winning media, advertising, and nonprofit veteran for companies like MTV, VICE Media, P&G, Coca-Cola, and Google. In the 2000s, he sat front seat to the rise of VICE, today’s leading voice in millennial media, and brought with him a dedicated approach to long-term authentic community building. He is also the Founder, and CEO of Curiosity Lab, a purpose driven venture studio and consultancy that builds products and experiences that teach empathy.
During our conversation, Michael describes what it means to be an empathetic person and how we can infuse compassion into everything that we do, both in our personal and professional life. He shares some techniques and actionable frameworks that will transform these values into a consistent day-to-day practice.
Interview timestamps:
04:00 ︳Why is empathy important in today’s world?
06:30 ︳What’s causing people to be disconnected from their emotions, and what can we do about it
13:36 ︳Which life events inspired Michael to write “The Power of Empathy”
21:45 ︳What is empathy, and how is it different from sympathy?
27:00 ︳The role of familiarity and curiosity in understanding other people’s perspective
30:40 ︳The three types of empathy
32:40 ︳The key to managing our ego when we’re trying to be empathetic toward someone
34:09 ︳How empathy can be helpful when connecting with people from other cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds from us
38:00 ︳How can we express more empathy towards people, community, and causes that are important to us
Learn more about Michael Tennant and his book, “The Power of Empathy: A Thirty-Day Path to Personal Growth and Social Change” and services at his website.
