Why Listening Changes Everything: A Conversation with The Listener, Colin Smith
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Blind Spots, host Gail McDonald sits down with Colin Smith, known as The Listener, to explore what it truly means to listen — not just with our ears, but with our whole being.
Colin, a specialist in listening skills and psychological safety, shares his insights on why hearing and listening are not the same thing, how being fully present can transform relationships, and why learning to “be with” someone is the key to connection in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
Through personal stories, simple practices, and reflections from his work with leaders, teams, and individuals, Colin invites us to slow down, put aside distractions, and rediscover the power of attention. Together, they explore:
The difference between hearing and listening — and why most of us mistake one for the other.
How listening builds trust and emotional safety in families, partnerships, and teams.
What children and adults alike teach us about being heard.
How leaders can shift from transactional to relational cultures.
The neuroscience and compassion behind “whole-hearted listening.”
Practical steps to start becoming a better listener today.
If you’ve ever wished to feel more connected, understood, or seen — or to offer that gift to others — this conversation will change how you think about listening forever.
Colin Smith: Listening Skills Specialist and Founder of Listening Matters
colin.smith@dexteritysolutions.co.uk
Referenced works & mentions:
Time to Think by Nancy Kline
The Promise That Changes Everything by Nancy Kline
Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
Humankind by Rutger Bregman
Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman
Friendship Bench initiative
Joe Berry’s story of peace and reconciliation
Simon Sinek’s insights on leadership
