Stretching Our Thinking — From Idea to Real Dialogue

In this solo episode, Leah Mermelstein builds on insights from Stella Villalba (Episode 9) and Angela Stockman (Episode 10) to explore a question that feels simple but is profoundly complex:What does it actually look like to learn from people who think differently than we do?Leah dives into the “how” of meaningful dialogue, offering practical, human-centered strategies for educators and leaders alike, including:Suspending judgment as a deliberate, actionable protocolEmbracing humility and courage in professional conversationsMoving from parallel talk to mutual influenceCreating classrooms and workplaces where both teachers and students expect to be changed through dialogueFor questions and thoughts about the podcast: [email protected] to get in touch with Angela:WebsiteFacebookLinkedInInstagramSubstackWays to get in touch with Leah:FacebookLinkedInInstagramSubstackNext Up:Episode 12 — Leah and Angela return together to continue exploring the gray spaces of learning and dialogue.Research and References:Dr. Katy Anthes’ Forward Framework: strategies for turning polarization into productive disagreementResearch from More in Common on reducing division and fostering understandingAdditional podcast about this topic by the amazing Olivia WahlLeah's Substack article