Episode 11: Part 1 — The Power of Listening in Divided Worlds: Narrative, Trust, and Conflict

In a world where everyone is talking, why does it feel like no one is truly being heard? In Part 1 of this two-part series, host Matt Levinger sits down with Merissa Khurma, Founder and President of the AMENA Foundation and a strategic communications expert, to explore a critical question: why do people stop listening in the first place? Drawing on experiences from global diplomacy to deeply personal moments, Khurma unpacks how emotion, identity, and narrative can distort understanding, fuel division, and even dehumanize those on the other side. From high-stakes geopolitical conflicts to everyday conversations, this episode reveals the hidden barriers that prevent us from truly hearing one another, and sets the stage for what it might take to overcome them.Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.Guest: Merissa Khurma – Founder and President of AMENA Foundation.Explore more of Merissa Khurma’s work at AMENA Strategies:https://www.amenastrategies.com/Follow AMENA Foundation and AMENA Strategies for more insights and updates:https://www.linkedin.com/company/amena-foundation-inc/posts/?feedView=allhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/amena-strategies/posts/?feedView=allVisit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.comListen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon MusicThe views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University.