Tide Talk: Practice Active Listening — How Presence Builds Trust, Connection, and Change

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Welcome to Tide Talk, a short-form podcast from Ride The Wave Foundation hosted by Jeff Fisher and Javon Blue — where each episode brings powerful insight from the Wave Maker book into real-life conversations.

🎙️ Today’s topic: Active Listening.
In a world of noise, distraction, and constant response culture, the ability to truly listen has become one of the most valuable — and rare — human skills.

In this episode, Jeff and Javon explore:
 • Why active listening creates deeper relationships and earns trust
 • The connection between listening and emotional intelligence
 • How technology, multitasking, and ego interrupt real communication
 • Why being fully present is an act of love
• How to become the kind of leader or mentor people feel safe opening up to

🧠 What the research says:
According to the Journal of Listening, people typically listen at just 25% of their capacity. But studies show that active listening increases empathy, problem-solving, and connection — and can reduce misunderstandings by over 50%.

📌 Practical ways to practice active listening:
• Make eye contact (or focus your gaze gently)
• Pause your own thoughts and stop mentally scripting your next reply
• Ask follow-up questions that invite stories, not just facts
• Minimize distractions — silence your phone, and be in the moment
• Reflect back what you heard: “What I hear you saying is…”
• Be aware of body language — yours and theirs

This episode isn’t just a message — it’s a movement toward mindful connection.

📘 Dive deeper with the Wave Maker book by Jeff Fisher →
https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Maker-Jeff-Fisher/dp/B0D4KKKBWD

🌊 Learn more: www.ridethewave.org
📲 Follow us @RideTheWaveFoundation on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Threads
🎧 Stream more episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music

🙏 If this episode helped you, please rate, review, and share.
 When we listen with presence, we lead with purpose.

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