Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

ERP 427: How to Construct Questions That Cultivate Deeper Connection — An Interview with Topaz Adizes

Jun 4, 2024

In this engaging conversation, Topaz Adizes, an Emmy award-winning writer and director, shares insights on cultivating deeper connections through the art of questioning. He discusses the importance of crafting thoughtful, open-ended questions that foster genuine dialogue. Topaz highlights how discomfort in relationships can lead to growth, emphasizing the need for safe spaces where meaningful discussions can flourish. He also explores playful conversation techniques, such as using card games, to strengthen intimacy and trust. Tune in for transformative strategies to enhance your interactions!

51:00

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Episode guests

Topaz Adizes

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Strategically framing open-ended questions encourages expansive discussions, fostering deeper understanding and connection between individuals in relationships.

Creating a safe and supportive environment enhances meaningful dialogue, allowing participants to explore sensitive topics without defensiveness, promoting mutual respect.

Deep dives

Cultivating Intimacy Through Constructive Inquiry

Constructing well-formed questions is essential for fostering deeper relationships and intimacy. For effective communication, individuals should focus on asking open-ended questions rather than binary ones, allowing for expansive and nuanced discussions. This shift invites partners or friends to share their thoughts comprehensively rather than simply providing yes or no answers. Engaging in intimate conversations requires a grounding space, where each participant can reflect on the inquiries and respond thoughtfully, thereby enhancing connection and understanding.

Intro

5min

The Power of Questions in Connections

18min

Exploring Depth in Relationships: The Balance of Comfort and Discomfort

2min

Creating Safe Spaces for Deeper Conversations in Relationships

2min

The Art of Meaningful Questions

11min

Creating Space for Connection Through Playful Conversation

2min

The Power of Intentional Questions

10min

Fostering genuine connections can feel daunting in a world filled with distractions and surface-level interactions. Many individuals struggle to find the right way to communicate, leading to misunderstandings and emotional distance in relationships.

In this episode, we explore the art of refining communication through strategic question construction. While you can’t control the answers you receive, you can shape them by framing your questions thoughtfully.

Discover practical insights and strategies to cultivate meaningful dialogue and forge authentic bonds with others. Join us on a journey to harness the potential of curiosity and intentionality in your conversations, paving the way for richer, more fulfilling relationships.

Topaz Adizes is an Emmy award-winning writer, director, and experienced design architect. He is an Edmund Hillary fellow and Sundance/Skoll Stories of Change fellow. His works have been selected to Cannes, Sundance, IDFA, and SXSW, featured in New Yorker magazine, Vanity Fair, and the NewYork Times; and have garnered an Emmy for new approaches to documentary and Two World Press photo awards for immersive storytelling and interactive documentary. He is the founder and executive director of the experience design studio The Skin Deep. Topaz studied philosophy at UC Berkeley and Oxford University.

Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode

05:51 Topaz’s journey from filmmaking to experience design.

10:36 Harnessing the power of intimate questions for better relationships.

14:06 How the quality and nature of questions significantly influence our experiences and outcomes.

17:56 Five key traits of effective questions.

32:28 Cultivating authentic connections through curious inquiry.

38:20 The importance of creating space for meaningful connection.

Mentioned

12 Questions for Love (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

{The And} (videos)

The Skin Deep - Creating The Space To Explore (card decks & shop) Enter in “DRJESSICA” for 15% off (*Affiliate link)

Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love