Why Listening Might Be the Most Radical Skill of Our Time with Jenni Lippold

In this powerful episode of the Masculine Wilderness podcast, Tom Perez sits down with Jenni Lippold, a people technologist, StoryCorp enthusiast, and a relentless believer in the power of human connection. Together, they explore how storytelling can soften political divides, dissolve concepts of the “other,” and transform our understanding of trauma, fear, and one another.Drawing from over 12,000 recorded Storycore conversations, Jenni brings rare insight into what people are really longing for: to be heard, to be seen, and to matter. She breaks down why empathy isn’t just a virtue, it’s a skill, a practice, and a survival tool in a polarized world.They dig into StoryCorps’ groundbreaking One Small Step initiative, which pairs Americans on opposite sides of the political spectrum for deeply human, surprisingly tender conversations. Through these stories, Jenni reveals the vulnerability, courage, and hope that emerge when we dare to listen past the noise.This is an episode about connection, compassion, and the radical possibilities that open when we stop asking, “What do you believe?” and start asking, “What’s your story?”Chapters:00:00 — Introduction to the Masculine Wilderness Podcast01:37 — Jenni Lippold: A People Technologist’s Journey04:20 — StoryCorps: Archiving Humanity’s Stories06:08 — One Small Step: Bridging Political Divides11:48 — Digital Conversations: The Evolution of Engagement15:10 — Insights from 12,000 Conversations21:24 — Empathy: The Key to Understanding27:49 — The Power of Shared Stories33:54 — The Role of Empathy in Change34:23 — The Power of Data in Empathy-Building39:22 — Storytelling’s Impact on Understanding45:21 — Children and the Magic of Storytelling49:33 — Trauma & Connection Through Shared Stories51:10 — Fear, Human Behavior, and the “Other”53:18 — The Future of Empathy Initiatives01:02:43 — Masculine Wilderness ThemeLet's Connect:www.epikproject.orghttps://storycorps.org/