627. Healing Through Conversation: Building Trust in Polarizing Times - Katie Hyten, Essential Partners

Meet Katie 🤝,  the Co-Executive Director of Essential Partners. She’s helping communities navigate tough conversations and build trust across divides. With a background in international negotiation and conflict resolution from Tufts University’s Fletcher School, Katie brings deep expertise in dialogue, identity, and civic action.

In this episode, we’re talking about what it really takes to hold space in polarized times—and why dialogue might just be our most powerful tool for healing and change. Katie shares practical tools for listening, building understanding (even across disagreement), and creating space for connection when it feels hardest.

If you’re craving deeper, more human conversations in your life and work—this one’s for you. 💙

Learn 💡

• Dialogue isn’t about winning—it’s about understanding
• Creating space for real conversation means rethinking how we engage
• Listening well can be even more powerful than speaking
• You don’t have to agree to make progress together
• Small shifts in communication can lead to big breakthroughs

Episode Highlights: 

• Essential Partners: Building Trust Across Divides (06:41)
• Creating Conditions for Authentic Dialogue (09:11)
• Real-World Imapct: Stories of Transformation (12:46)
• Integrating Dialogue into Culture (16:58)
• Overcoming Barriers to Effective Dialogue (19:19)
• Navigating Difficult Conversations in Nonprofits (22:56)
• Moments of Generosity and Community Support (27:47)
• Katie's One Good Thing: The Power of Silence in Conversations (31:04)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/627

Resources Mentioned:

• (YouTube) Katie’s Stand Talk

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