In this episode we explore how to have hard conversations without burning bridges amid rising social and political division. We offers three practical tools - curiosity questions, separating a person from their position, and setting conversation guardrails - to help people listen without turning disagreement into a fight.

Chapters

• 00:00 Why hard conversations feel harder now
• 03:29 Listen without needing to win
• 04:46 Use discernment before engaging
• 05:19 Why debate can block understanding
• 08:27 Check your emotional safety and timing
• 10:30 Try a curiosity statement
• 12:21 Separate the person from their position
• 13:10 Set guardrails for difficult conversations
• 15:29 The one-question listening challenge

Learn more Eddy at: www.eddypaulthomas.com

Discover the transformative power of empathy in both our personal lives and the workplace with the following resources:

• Ok…On Second Thought Life & Leadership Coaching at www.onsecondthoughtstudio.com

• Read the Things I’m Rethinking newsletter.

• Read the Before You React blog for helpful articles on relationships.

• Read the Ok…On Second Thought blog for insightful articles on leadership.

Brought to you by Elevate 1 Consulting.

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios.

Music: "Show Your Hand,” “Reclaimed, “ and “Vibrant Life" by Kesta from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this episode, Eddy Paul Thomas discusses how to set boundaries in a digital outrage-driven world to promote mental health and well-being. He shares practical strategies for managing social media consumption, building somatic awareness, and reducing digital distress.

Takeaways

• Create asynchronous, slow news habits to reduce outrage fatigue.
• Build somatic awareness to recognize physiological cues of stress.
• Set fixed times for news and social media to prevent micro dosing.
• Studies say deactivating Facebook for four weeks can significantly improve well-being.
• Focus on issues where you have direct agency and set strict intake limits.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and recent global events
• 03:17 Living in an outrage-driven digital world
• 05:01 Cultivating slow news habits and curating feeds
• 07:43 Building somatic awareness for digital distress
• 10:55 Post-consumption states and emotional responses
• 11:42 Measuring digital impact through intake-output ratio
• 12:41 Research on social media deactivation and mental health
• 13:52 Strategies for managing social media use and setting limits
• 14:54 Practicing somatic offloading and physical movement
• 15:36 Challenge: Delete one social media app for 48 hours

Connect with Eddy:

• Learn More about Eddy's Life and Leadership Coaching: www.eddypaulthomas.com

• For consulting inquiries learn more at www.elevate1consulting.com

• Learn more about the Unbroken Place Podcast at: www.eddypaulthomas.com/unbrokenplace

For speaking or workshop inquiries, click here.

For guest inquiries, reach us at hello@eddypaulthomas.com

Discover the transformative power of empathy in both our personal lives and the workplace with the following resources:

• Ok...On Second Thought newsletter on Linkedin.

• Ok...On Second Thought articles.

• Ok...On Second Thought Resources for the Workplace.

Brought to you by Elevate 1 Consulting.

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios.

Music: "Blood" by Anthem of Rain, “Holizna” by HoliznaRAPS, “Too Fly” & "Tide Turns" by Kesta, and "Basurera" by Blue Dot Sessions from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this episode Eddy Paul Thomas explores the importance of men's role in protecting women, addressing societal issues like sexual assault, and fostering respect and accountability within communities.

Takeaways

• One in four women report experiencing sexual assault, highlighting the need for cultural change.
• Men often hesitate to confront misconduct in their social circles, which perpetuates problems.
• Evolving from protection to cultivating respect is crucial for meaningful change.
• Men should actively educate their sons and peers about respect and boundaries.
• Addressing men's mental health and masculinity standards is essential for societal progress.
• Locker room talk is a reflection of individual attitudes, not culture, and must be challenged.
• Men have influence within their circles to set standards and intervene in misconduct.

Connect with Eddy:

• Learn More about Eddy's Life and Leadership Coaching: www.eddypaulthomas.com

• For consulting inquiries learn more at www.elevate1consulting.com

• Give to The Black Missions Museum: www.theblackmissionsmuseum.org

• Learn more about the Unbroken Place Podcast at: www.eddypaulthomas.com/unbrokenplace

For speaking or workshop inquiries, click here.

For guest inquiries, reach us at hello@eddypaulthomas.com

Discover the transformative power of empathy in both our personal lives and the workplace with the following resources:

• Ok...On Second Thought newsletter on Linkedin.

• Ok...On Second Thought articles.

• Ok...On Second Thought Resources for the Workplace.

Brought to you by Elevate 1 Consulting.

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios.

Music: "Blood" by Anthem of Rain, “Holizna” by HoliznaRAPS, “Too Fly” & "Tide Turns" by Kesta, and "Basurera" by Blue Dot Sessions from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.