Embedded Files
AGENDA
( ) Turn on AI
( ) Turn on recording
Edwin
Researched Rogers Active Listening Videos
Doing an Empathy Circle practice on going deeper.
Susan
new approach
To Do
Susan
edit
Edwin
check Millers Models
review the slide show, add Edwin's part
copy clips
Executive Meeting Summary
Executive Meeting Summary
Meeting Overview
Meeting Overview
Edwin Rutsch and Susan met to collaboratively review, refine, and structure the curriculum slides for Session 5 of their empathy training program ("Listening and Speaking More Deeply"). The discussion focused on establishing a visual conceptual framework for speaker-listener dynamics, refining specific terminology, designing interactive participant exercises, and integrating video demonstrations from Carl Rogers.
Key Decisions Made
Key Decisions Made
Session Title & Naming: Agreed on titling Session 5 "Listening and Speaking Deeper" (or "Listening and Speaking More Deeply") and updated the organization branding to The Empathy Center.
Framing: Formally selected Empathic Listening (rather than standard active listening) as the primary framing concept.
Terminology Standardization:
Replaced the term "compassion" with "self-empathy" and "self-care" to avoid conceptual overlap with other frameworks.
Replaced the term "felt sense" with "felt experience" to avoid conflict with Eugene Gendlin’s specific therapeutic definition.
Participant Practice Rules: Agreed that practice exercises should allow participants to speak at least three times in sequence, as three turns allow participants to drop initial anxiety and sink into an empathic space.
File Management & Collaboration: Adopted Google Drive / shared project folders as the primary method for co-editing presentations rather than emailing standalone PowerPoint attachments.
Open Questions / Next Steps
Open Questions / Next Steps
Visual Metaphors: Further refine whether to use the "iceberg" or "creamy nougat center" metaphor (or combine them) to illustrate the hidden inner experience of a speaker.
Future Model Extensions: Explored the possibility of developing AI-driven software or dynamic visuals in the future to map felt experience, mirror neurons, and 4-person Empathy Circle dynamics.
Logo Design: Acknowledged the need to eventually redesign the Empathy Center logo for a more unique visual identity.
Step-by-Step Chronological Discussion Outline
Step-by-Step Chronological Discussion Outline
1. Technical Setup & Screen Sharing
1. Technical Setup & Screen Sharing
Timecode: [00:00]
Core Discussion Points: Susan and Edwin troubleshoot Zoom permissions, co-host tools, and display settings so Susan can share her PowerPoint presentation on screen.
Outcome: Edwin reclaims host privileges and adjusts permissions, allowing Susan to successfully display her deck.
2. Titling, Branding, and Audience Definition
2. Titling, Branding, and Audience Definition
Timecode: [05:00]
Core Discussion Points: Reviewing initial slides to select the official session title, confirm logo placement, and clarify the organizational identity ("The Empathy Center").
Outcome: Settled on the title "Listening and Speaking Deeper" and updated organizational references to "The Empathy Center".
3. Session Framing & Agenda Structure
3. Session Framing & Agenda Structure
Timecode: [08:13]
Core Discussion Points: Reviewing introductory slides, establishing participant check-in prompts (Name, Role, Experience with Empathy Circles), and framing generalizations with a caveat slide that generalizations are starting points rather than absolute truths.
Outcome: Approved the kick-off sequence and introductory prompts.
4. Refining Terminology: Self-Empathy & Felt Experience
4. Refining Terminology: Self-Empathy & Felt Experience
Timecode: [10:35]
Core Discussion Points: Analyzing slide text regarding "Listen to Self." Edwin expresses concern that "compassion" creates confusion with external compassion movements, preferring "self-care" and "self-empathy." They also adjust definitions to encompass both body and mind experience.
Outcome: Removed "compassion," added "self-empathy," and updated definitions to reflect holistic body/mind awareness.
5. Visual Models of Inner Experience
5. Visual Models of Inner Experience
Timecode: [16:11]
Core Discussion Points: Susan introduces a visual diagram mapping the communication flow between a speaker and a listener. Edwin compares it to William Miller's communication model. They discuss metaphors for inner experience versus outer presentation, comparing the "creamy nougat center" to the "iceberg."
Outcome: Validated the use of a graphic model to anchor the session; agreed to refine the visual metaphor.
6. Interactive Exercise Design: Expressing Inner States
6. Interactive Exercise Design: Expressing Inner States
Timecode: [22:49]
Core Discussion Points: Susan introduces an exercise where participants reflect on their inner experience from 10 minutes prior to the session and attempt to express it in 1–2 sentences. Edwin provides a live sample response demonstrating how surface words fall short of complex inner feelings.
Outcome: Finalized the exercise structure for demonstrating the limitations of verbal expression without deeper listening.
7. Listener Support & Deeper Expression
7. Listener Support & Deeper Expression
Timecode: [28:40]
Core Discussion Points: Examining how an empathic listener enables a speaker to move from cognitive/intellectual storytelling into deeper feeling states. Edwin notes that "felt sense" is Gendlin-specific terminology and suggests using "felt experience."
Outcome: Adopted the term "felt experience" and structured how the listener's presence supports deeper speaker articulation.
8. Introvert/Extrovert Dynamics & The 3-Turn Principle
8. Introvert/Extrovert Dynamics & The 3-Turn Principle
Timecode: [37:22]
Core Discussion Points: Discussing how introverts and extroverts process thoughts differently. Edwin notes that having participants interact back-and-forth at least three times is crucial for helping them drop surface anxiety and sink into an empathic space.
Outcome: Reinforced the 3-turn practice structure in the exercise guidelines.
9. Future Visualizations, Mirror Neurons & AI Concepts
9. Future Visualizations, Mirror Neurons & AI Concepts
Timecode: [43:42]
Core Discussion Points: Brainstorming potential future expansions of the model, including mirror neuron activity, animal empathy studies, and developing AI software to visually map dynamic emotional resonance between people.
Outcome: Agreed to keep current curriculum slides focused while saving expanded conceptual models for future iterations.
10. Carl Rogers Video Demonstrations
10. Carl Rogers Video Demonstrations
Timecode: [50:32]
Core Discussion Points: Edwin presents progress on analyzing historical Carl Rogers counseling videos using AI transcripts, identifying 10 key timestamps where Rogers demonstrates deep active listening.
Outcome: Agreed that Edwin will clip and edit these short video examples to demonstrate listening skills during the session.
11. Google Drive Workflow & File Sharing
11. Google Drive Workflow & File Sharing
Timecode: [53:28]
Core Discussion Points: Edwin guides Susan through uploading presentation files directly into a shared Google Drive project folder rather than sending email attachments, allowing concurrent editing.
Outcome: Successfully uploaded the working draft into the shared Session 5 folder.
12. Next Steps & Meeting Scheduling
12. Next Steps & Meeting Scheduling
Timecode: [01:00:32]
Core Discussion Points: Coordinating upcoming schedules around Susan’s upcoming presentation at Stanford and setting the date for the next curriculum development meeting.
Outcome: Confirmed the next meeting for August 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM PST.
Zoom Meeting summary
Quick recap
The meeting focused on co-creating a program on empathic listening for the Empathy Center community. Susan presented a draft PowerPoint, including a listening model inspired by Bill Miller, and proposed content on empathy, inner experience, and exercises to engage participants. They discussed metaphors like the “creamy nougat center” and the iceberg to illustrate inner experience, and decided to use “felt experience” instead of “felt sense.” Edwin and Susan reviewed slide wording, audience framing, and the use of visuals to map the speaker-listener relationship, including possible references to mirror neurons and animal empathy. They also discussed logistics for sharing and editing slides via a shared Google folder and reviewed sample Carl Rogers videos for modeling empathic listening.
Next steps
Edwin
Susan
Collaboration
Summary
Empathic Listening Program Planning
Susan presented a tentative PowerPoint agenda for teaching empathic listening to the Empathy Center Community, inspired by her meditation on the topic. They discussed technical issues with screen sharing before successfully displaying the presentation, which included conversation notes in blue and a new logo for the Empathy Center. The discussion focused on determining an appropriate title for their program, with "Deeper Listening and Speaking" being considered, and they identified their target audience as the Empathy Center Community.
Empathy Circle Program Planning
Susan and Edwin discussed plans for an empathy circle program, focusing on how to structure the opening and introduce key concepts. They reviewed slides about program objectives and considered ways to engage participants through introductions and discussions about empathy definitions. The conversation included refining language around listening and self-empathy, with Edwin suggesting "exploring" as an alternative to "thinking" to better capture the felt experience aspect.
Inner Experience Listening Models Discussion
Susan and Edwin discussed models for understanding and listening to people's inner experiences, including concepts from William Miller's book and metaphors like creamy nougat center and the iceberg model. They explored how to effectively pay attention to subtle cues like anxiety, nervousness, and confusion while recognizing that listening is influenced by one's own past experiences and traumas. The conversation concluded with Susan preparing to lead an exercise where participants would reflect on their inner experiences from 10 minutes before the Zoom meeting began.
Empathy Pilot Program Planning
Susan and Edwin discussed a pilot program involving empathy and inner experience exercises. They planned to have participants share brief reflections on their inner experiences, with Susan suggesting they would gather 3-4 different examples. Edwin agreed to focus on "felt experience" rather than "felt sense" to avoid confusion with existing terminology. They also discussed incorporating a voice mirror activity during the pilot program's final portion.
Page Redesign and Model Review
Susan and Edwin discussed redesigning a page that includes Edwin's logo, with Edwin indicating the current logo is acceptable for now despite needing future redesign. They reviewed Susan's addition of a two-person model to explain empathy, which Edwin recognized as similar to Bill Miller's model. They agreed the model focuses more on listening than speaking, and Susan noted they would address felt experience later in the program rather than introducing it at this early stage.
Deeper Listening and Speaking Model
Susan and Edwin discussed a model for deeper listening and speaking in empathy circles. They explored how speakers can go deeper by sharing more of their inner experience and feelings, and how listeners can support this process. They also discussed the importance of allowing speakers to continue talking multiple times to fully express themselves. Edwin expressed enthusiasm for the model's potential as a foundation for further development and training.
Visual Models for Emotional Communication
Edwin and Susan discussed creating visual models to represent communication and emotional experiences between people, particularly focusing on how speakers and listeners interact and how emotions are shared through phenomena like mirror neurons. They explored various ways to visually represent these concepts, including using images of people and metaphors like an iceberg to depict inner experiences. The discussion included ideas about potentially developing a software program using AI to visually demonstrate how emotions transfer between people while maintaining connection, though they agreed to keep the initial presentation simple without overwhelming details.
Empathic Listening Video Analysis Progress
Edwin and Susan discussed the progress of their project involving video examples of Roger's empathic listening techniques. Edwin had analyzed the videos using AI and prepared time codes for creating clips to model the listening process. They agreed to use a shared Google Drive folder for collaboration on PowerPoint slides, with Susan planning to prepare and upload updated slides for review. They scheduled their next meeting for August 29th at 11 AM, and Edwin shared his phone number for further communication regarding Miller's model, which they plan to incorporate into their presentation.
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