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
Are You With Me or Against Me? | Dr. Laura Delizonna, Stanford University | Google Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI)
Race, Inequity & Mental Health | Dr. Jennifer Mullan, Decolonizing Therapy
Outing Your Discomfort | Dr. Vinny Chulani
Conscious Co-Working | Susan Madsen
NYC Street Connect | Janille Hill
Productivity and Connection | Yamini Naidu
Shadows and Light | Atiaf Alwazir
Wholly Human | Omar Davis
That which is Ungrieved | Marty Cooper
Living Room Conversations Is Creating Effective Action | Joan Blade
Better Angels is Putting Out the Political Polarization Fire | John Wood
A Golden Civilization | George Kinder
The Sixth Stage of Grief | David Kessler
Parker Palmer On Navigating White Priviledge
The First Step In Becoming Racially Literate | Dr. Howard C. Stevenson
Dr. Christian Conte is moving Inmates beyond their Anger
Cultivating a Fierce Heart | Spring Washam
Addiction, Art & Recovery | Adriana Marchione
Storytelling for Connection | Antonio Sacre, UCLA Lab School
Culture Changes Through Open Dialogue | Dr. Nadja Rossman, Cultural Anthropologist and Evolve Magazine Editor
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
Dairyland Frights
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL