How to Be a Better Listener

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Listen is a collaborative, conversational process that helps you better understand where the other side is coming from. "I don't think listening is silent," she says of her advice on how to become more effective listeners. She suggests asking questions and drawing out the argument from the other side. The best debate exercises are called 'side switching' which involve poking holes in your own case.

World champion debater Bo Seo knows how to win an argument. He’s made it his mission to teach everyone to disagree better. Bo walks us through how to apply the most effective strategies from competitive debate to improve our disagreements at the dinner table. Bo and Maya also discuss how to determine whether an argument is worth having in the first place.

For more on Bo’s work, check out his book, “Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard.”

If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: "A Black Musician Takes on the KKK."

For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.

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