In this episode of the Evolving Leader podcast, we’re pleased to welcome back our occasional host and friend of the podcast, Emma Sinclair. This week Emma is in conversation with consultant neuroscientist and researcher Oscar Hutton. Oscar is also part of the Greater Human community, with whom in 2022 he explored (and made sense of) the neuroscience research designed to answer the question “Does listening to your body help you become more empathetic?”. Part of the findings from this research paint a picture that challenge our understanding around how we understand others and how we build empathy as human beings.
This is an important listen.

0.00 Introduction

4.04 Introducing Oscar and his research.

5.21 Let’s think about the concept of empathy.

10.56 Why do we need empathy? 

13.02 What evolutionary benefits has empathy brought us as human beings?

19.04 Where do we start with this, in terms of how we build empathy?

21.10 How does interoception help us to more empathetic? 

23.08 So this is literally raising our awareness of what’s going on inside?

26.42 Is this a part of what helps us identify what we’re feeling?  

28.12 So rather than trying to ignore what the body is telling us, we should all learn to identify how we’re feeling and then work with it?

29.00 How new is interoception as an area of study and what have you started to find during your research?

32.49 Where have you started to go with your findings?

35.49 So when we are around people who we are very close to, you’re saying that there is a good chance that we could be experiencing what they are experiencing if we raise our awareness to it. 

37.33 Is this suggesting that the more we know someone, the greater the likelihood is that our bodies will feel the same as a result of an external stimulus?

40.32 Is it possible for anyone to switch on interoception accuracy?

41.52 Is it also something that can get lost if you don’t keep using it?

42.34 So where is the connection between interoception and empathy?

45.48 So how can we can begin to start to use this awareness?

52.37 Considering the amount of time we all spend interacting with others on the screen, is there anything that could be built to help us in that environment with those social cues? 

55.06 Is there anything else related to teamwork that you are starting to draw connections on?

57.53 How can someone who might not have heard of interoception before today begin to work on this new super skill?

64.09 So what have you done in this area for yourself?

67.30 So if more people were aware of this, could we avoid those difficult encounters?

69.48 Is there more that you can share from your research?

79.09 What can we leave the listener with? 

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 The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

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