The Contagious Power of Compassion

10 snips

Dec 19, 2024

Guest

Jamil Zaki

Guest

Jackie Justice

Jackie Justice, a professor at Mid Michigan College, and Jamil Zaki, a Stanford psychology professor, dive into the contagious power of compassion. They discuss how compassionate dialogue can bridge divides and foster belonging, even in a polarized environment. Justice shares her journey of teaching compassion amidst personal challenges, while Zaki highlights the neuroscience behind empathy. Together, they unpack practical ways to create safe spaces for discussion, encouraging listeners to embrace tough conversations and build community connections.

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ANECDOTE

Compassionate Listening on the Beach

Jackie Justice's niece encountered a man offering free compassionate listening on a beach.
Inspired, Justice implemented this at her college, fostering connections in a divided community.

INSIGHT

Contagious Compassion

Compassion is biologically contagious, influencing those around us.
Jackie Justice integrates compassion into her teaching, fostering connection and understanding.

ANECDOTE

Inspired by Care

Witnessing compassionate care for her dying mother inspired Jackie Justice to give back.
She created a Compassion Studies course and a space for students to be heard, fostering connection.

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Compassionate dialogue isn’t just about talking and listening—it's a meaningful way to bridge divides, cultivate belonging, and reimagine education as a space for connection.

Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore the role of compassion in education and connecting across differences. We explore the bravery it takes to have tough conversations, how to create spaces where everyone feels they belong, and the profound impact of addressing marginalization in the classroom. Plus, we uncover practical ways to turn these classroom lessons into meaningful, real-world connections and community building.

This episode is sponsored by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Today’s Guests:

JACKIE JUSTICE, M.A.E.T., is an English and humanities professor at Mid Michigan College, where she teaches courses in writing, literature, culture, and compassion studies.

Read Justice’s article about how learning to bridge differences can help students succeed: https://tinyurl.com/mw7r845h

Learn about our Bridging Differences online course at GGSC: https://tinyurl.com/2wk5h72z

JAMIL ZAKI is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab.

Follow Zaki on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamil-zaki-b0b4a9192
Follow Zaki on X: https://x.com/zakijam
Read Zaki’s Book Hope for Cynics: https://tinyurl.com/mrxtzhmw

More episodes like this one:

How to Talk to People You Disagree With: https://tinyurl.com/4cpm8m3a
When It’s Hard to Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/bde6wyu7
Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/yxw4uhpf

More Happiness Breaks like this one:

Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5
Radical Acceptance, with Tara Brach: https://tinyurl.com/ycec7jwt

Tell us about your experiences and struggles with compassionate listening. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @ScienceOfHappinessPod.

Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3x7w2s5s