Join Dr. Tom Wagner as he reflects on his journey through South Africa, sharing encounters with remarkable individuals whose names carry stories of patience, resilience, and quiet courage. In this episode, you’ll hear how listening attentively to another’s story—and allowing yourself to be known—can open the door to deeper connection.
Key Takeaways
- Every name carries a story—taking the time to know it is an act of courage and connection.
- Vulnerability and openness foster authentic relationships.
- Slowing down to connect with others is a countercultural yet essential antidote to loneliness.
- Even quiet courage—simply showing up, paying attention, and being present—can have profound impact.
- Courageous conversations aren’t just about big topics—they can happen in everyday interactions when we engage sincerely.
- Reflection, storytelling, and attentive listening help cultivate deeper connection with self and others.
Reflection Questions
- Do you attempt this form of courage in some way, shape, or form? When you do it, what is your technique? If you don’t do it, would you be willing to experiment with such behavior?
- Who do you know who is particularly good at listening to a story and asking good questions that draw out the storyteller? How do they do that?
- Who do you know that tells a good story? What makes them a good storyteller?
- Have you ever resolved to hang in there with someone who is a miserable storyteller as a way of honoring them despite their skills? What helped you do that?
- When was the last time you connected with someone who has a radically different political orientation from yours? Were you able to get deep enough to make contact with your common humanity?
Resources & Links
- Join us for the next Sunday Morning Cafe Event on 9/21: https://www.tomwagnerspeaker.com/events
Stay Connected with Dr. Tom Wagner & the SMC Community
- Sign up for Dr. Tom’s newsletter: tomwagnerspeaker.com/contact
- Website: tomwagnerspeaker.com
- Blog: tomwagnerspeaker.com/blog
- Facebook: facebook.com/DrTomWagner
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-tom-wagner
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.