Choose to be Curious Ep. #311: Civity: Engaging Others with Respect, Empathy & Curiosity, with Malka Ranjana Kopell & Palma Joy Strand
Jan 22, 2026
Malka Ranjana Kopell, CEO and trainer who teaches leaders to engage across differences, and Palma Joy Strand, research director who studies bridging relationships, explore intentional practices of respect, empathy, and curiosity. They discuss authentic storytelling, deep listening, creating safe spaces to practice curiosity, and how one-on-one connections can ripple into broader community trust.
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Naming Sparks Intentional Connection
- Civity names the practice of intentionally creating respectful, empathetic relationships across differences to strengthen communities.
- Palma Joy Strand says naming the practice creates intentionality and gives people strategies to act on it.
Treat Every Interaction As Relationship
- Be intentional: treat every interaction as a relationship and notice micro interactions as opportunities to connect.
- Share authentically, use brief personal stories, and put differences on the table to foster understanding.
Lead With A Small Personal Offer
- Offer a bit of your own story first to signal shared humanity and invite reciprocal openness.
- Avoid extractive curiosity; show you're genuinely interested in a two-way human exchange.