Depth versus aliveness

What defines a deep conversation, and how can one recognize or evaluate its depth?

Is the depth of a conversation defined by content or the experience?

"I feel like it only can be deep if it if it was deep for both of us. Like can you have a conversation— I guess anything's possible. [But,] does it seem realistic to have a conversation where one person thought it was deep? Because I'm saying to myself, yeah, obviously it's possible. But what happens if both people thought it was deep versus [only] one person thought it was deep?" ~ Craig Constantine (4:18)

Craig Constantine and Jesse Danger explore the nature of deep conversations, focusing on the distinction between superficial and meaningful exchanges. Jesse begins by considering what makes a conversation real, emphasizing the unique contributions of each participant and the specific moment. Craig reflects on the term "deep" and questions whether it might sometimes be the wrong word, as some people avoid deep conversations due to discomfort. They both ponder if a deep conversation is characterized by newness or if it can occur without discussing novel topics.

Episode notes and resources: Depth versus aliveness

(This episode is part of Season 2 of Open + Curious. Early in 2024, Jesse Danger and I tried to explore conversation by creating a series of 7 episodes called Bringing Conversation Alive.)

--- Hello👋 I'm Craig Constantine.

You talk with others every day, but how often do you intentionally practice the art of conversation? By sharing my thoughts here, I hope to ignite your passion for creating great conversations.

Open + Curious is about discovering what better means for your conversations. You can read, listen and discuss at, https://openandcurious.org/

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--- Thank you!

My mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And Movers Mindset is one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by https://craigconstantine.com/ for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more.

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