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!

Ask episode

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 5min

The Power of Questions in Connections

04:48 • 18min

Exploring Depth in Relationships: The Balance of Comfort and Discomfort

22:57 • 2min

Creating Safe Spaces for Deeper Conversations in Relationships

25:08 • 2min

The Art of Meaningful Questions

27:32 • 11min

Creating Space for Connection Through Playful Conversation

38:22 • 2min

The Power of Intentional Questions

40:51 • 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