Stuart Chittenden is a highly interesting character. A lawyer by trade, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska from England after marrying his wife and grew fascinated by the inherent power of conversation. That fascination led him to start Squish Talks—the organization he has leveraged to unlock human potential in all areas of society simply through conversation.
On this episode of The Sidewalk Talk podcast, Traci laughs, learns, and grows from her conversation with Stuart as they converse about all things politics, crying, crying about politics, the movie “Inside Out,” and their plans for a COVID coming out party. As many questions as Traci asks him, Stuart asks them right back to her, and what results is an engaging back and forth about Squish Talks and Sidewalk Talk and how these two individuals are using their platforms to create a world built on connection.
Episode Milestones
[00:07] Intro
[02:34] Meet Stuart
[07:02] Stuart asks Traci why she started Sidewalk Talk
[07:58] The heart behind Squish Talks and Sidewalk Talk
[12:40] Stuart’s travels around Nebraska and what it taught him
[14:53] Crying after the last presidential election and Stuart’s feelings now
[18:03] How Stuart recovered from the election and regained his belief in conversation
[23:34] Practices and experiences to carry forward post-COVID
[26:48] Coming out of COVID party
[30:27] How Stuart finds ways to engage in dialogue politically
[36:22] Listening, silence, and humor as components of dialogue
[41:11] What’s next for Stuart
[44:17] Outro
Resources Mentioned
Squish Talks
Standout Quotes from the Episode
“Conversation does have the power to connect people, but it also affirmed my sense that people have a desperate, and deep, and profound yearning to be seen by other people.”
—Stuart Chittenden
“A conversation is never meant to share a truth with someone else. It’s meant to share your truth and to help someone else, too. It’s not about correcting something; it’s about connecting something.”
—Stuart Chittenden
“I don’t need to know at this point which way did you vote, I just need to know that as a human being you’re awed by the majesty of this.”
—Stuart Chittenden
“Unless I’m in-person with someone, I’ve found it’s pointless to engage in politics with someone.”
—Stuart Chittenden
“I’m struggling to let my own beliefs go or stop them getting in the way of listening to someone else. And that’s work that I need to keep doing.”
—Stuart Chittenden
“I don’t think we ask enough genuine, authentic, I-want-to-hear-your-answer kinds of questions of other people, of the world, of ourselves.”
—Stuart Chittenden
Connect:
Find | Sidewalk Talk Podcast
At sidewalk-talk.org
On Instagram: @sidewalktalkorg
On Twitter: @sidewalktalkorg
Find | Traci Ruble
At Traciruble.com
On Instagram: @TraciRubleMFT
On Twitter: @TraciRubleMFT
On Facebook: @TraciRubleMFT
Find | Stuart Chittenden
At SquishTalks.com
On LinkedIn: @StuartChittenden
On Instagram: @squishtalks
On Twitter: @SquishTalks
On Facebook: @SquishTalks
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST
On Apple Podcasts
On Google Podcasts
On Spotify
Exploring Male Sexuality, Consent, and Tender Heartedness with Dr. Eric Fitzmedrud
Reinventing Masculinity Will Allow Men to Live Longer Happier Lives | Ed Frauenheim
How to Break our Addiction To Othering with Dawn Menken
Normalize Loving Conflict Everywhere with Rosa Zubizaretta
Being A Sacredly Powerful Human with Julio Maria Muhorro
What this crisis manager learned from indigenous wisdom | Thomas Lahnthaler
Going to Work is an Important Source of Happiness Despite Its Bad Press with Dr. Tracy Brower
Body-shame, Hunger and Redemption: Beyond Sexism and Diet Culture with David Bedrick
Seeking Wonder with Andrea Scher
Why I don’t want to die anymore with Johnny Crowder
High Conflict (and how we get out) with Amanda Ripley
Rule Makers and Rule Breakers with Michele Gelfand
Sensitive Striving with Melody Wilding
Black Feminism and Sensuous Knowledge with Minna Salami
Being seen, just as you are with Natalie Koussa
The 3 Flows of Compassion with Dr. Stan Steindl
Living and breathing the archetypal realm with Kristina Dryza
Getting weird and vulnerable with Aziph Mustapha | Aziph Mustapha
Anna Katharina Schaffner on the timeless truths of self-improvement | Anna Katharina Schaffner
Street Wisdom’s David Pearl on finding magic in the everyday | David Pearl
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL