Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia!
Thank you for listening in on Episode 22 of the Tea Toast & Trivia podcast conversation. I am joined by my sister, Sarah, and my mother, Frances, as we discuss the power of listening. How do we engage our sense of hearing to influence communities, both local and global? So put the kettle on and join in the conversation. I am your host Rebecca Budd and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.
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Thank you to all those who have joined the podcast conversation and blog, Tea Toast & Trivia!
When I first started to blog, and now podcast, I thought it was all about writing and commenting. Over the months, I have come understand that it is more about listening to the voices in the community. Listening is dynamic, not static. It is a powerful activity that can influence outcomes and institute radical change. Speaking and writing can only take us part of the way. Listening is the dimension where next steps are formulated.
Each voice is extraordinary, but when combined in a choir, there is a symphony of elegant and beautiful possibilities. A last thought come from Ernest Hemingway:
“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”
Ernest Hemingway
Tea Toast & Trivia 
8 replies on “Episode 22: The Power of Listening”
…and I love listening to Sara & Frances!
Thanks for the podcast, Rebecca!
My Follows fall away here and there. I may have mentioned it before, but if I re-follow, that’s why!
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Your comments are always so encouraging. I decided to podcast to capture our time, our story. I am learning a lot about how to use a mic. Did you know that we have “mouth clicks” that come when we talk. Generally, we don’t hear it when we are in a conversation, but the mic picks it up if you are not projecting – something that I am in the process of learning. As well, when we talk, we slur our words, which we don’t recognize when we are in a conversation. I have several podcasts with Frances ready to publish, except the audio needs to be increased, so I’m learning that process. It really is exciting. Poetry is the most difficult to recite as interpretations relay on inflection, voice modulation, tone etc. I continue to learn. Thank you so much for your support! Very very much appreciated.
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Isn’t it so often the case that people seem to listen only with the intention of knowing when to start talking again, rather with any idea of purposeful understanding. My work as a befriender has helped me to understand deeply the value of listening – indeed I have come to realise that one of the most important things we can do for someone else is to give them the gift of our undivided attention.
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You must tell me more about being a “befriender!” This is the first time I have heard that term. I love how you become involved within a community endeavour. Listening is a transformative experience, once we come to understand the process (and I confess that I have much to learn in this area). Wouldn’t it be interesting if there were courses on how to listen simply for the sake of listening. There are many courses on listening, to be sure, but there is always an anticipated outcome, a resolution, a reason for listening. Does that make sense? Hmmm – another thought to pursue….
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We have a huge problem in the UK with high levels of loneliness, particularly among older people. As a befriender, I visit my befriendees regularly and we spend time together talking, laughing, going out to a cafe – whatever the person wants to do. I am working with four different people at the moment and it is wonderful to be able to provide a small amount of contact for them.
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What a wonderful and life-affirming idea, Liz! I was just speaking with a neighbour who belongs to a service club that is dwindling because young people are not joining, mostly because they are focused on their jobs and families. We live in times where the commitment to work has increased – some people are on call 24/7 with their phones, which leaves little time to build support systems.
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The stats on loneliness are truly shocking. Technology can potentially isolate us from fellow humans, although it can also be a life-line of course. We have things like the ‘Silver Line’ where folks can have a regular phone call with someone. Sad that such a thing is needed, but an important tool in trying to address the problem.
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Indeed it is!
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