What if the fastest way to deepen every relationship—at home, at work, with friends—wasn’t talking better, but listening differently? Best-selling author and leadership coach Becky Harling joins us to reframe listening as a true superpower. With warmth, humor, and hard-won wisdom, Becky shows how focused attention, empathy (not fixing), and unhurried presence can turn everyday conversations into connection—especially in a lonely, distracted world.

You’ll hear:

• What real listening is: helping someone feel heard, valued, and understood—not just “I caught your words.”

• Why we rush to fix—and how to stop: simple scripts that validate feelings without taking over.

• Practical rituals to slow down: from “walk slowly through the room” to the three-question coffee card.

• Leader takeaways: create space so your team feels heard without over-functioning.

• Friendship in the wild: Becky’s beach-walk story and the power of “Tell me more” and “Are you complete?”

🎧 If you’ve ever wondered why your best intentions don’t land—or how to be the friend/leader people open up to—this episode is your playbook.

Becky Harling

Certified Coach with The John Maxwell Team

Host of The Connected Mom Podcast

Becky Harling is a positive and passionate key note speaker, author, and coach. She loves to inspire audiences to grow their influence by learning to listen more effectively. She’s had the opportunity to speak both nationally and internationally and has found traveling to be one great adventure. Becky is a people person, who loves to meet people and help them thrive. She coaches those looking to improve their communication skills and personal relationships. She is the author of 16 books, including topics on listening and friendship. Her newest book, Friend-Wise, will be released in February. Becky loves hanging out with her husband, kids, and grandkids. She firmly believes that a good cup of strong coffee can be life-changing!

You can connect with Becky at https://beckyharling.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-harling-31605212/.

©Friendship Institute 2025

Friendship Matters™ is intended to help improve our Friendship IQ. While this generally signals an improvement in our overall wellbeing, this podcast is not intended in any way to offer specific counseling or medical advice. Please seek help from a trained professional.

What if the single greatest predictor of your health, resilience, and career satisfaction isn’t a biohack, but your friendships? In this energizing conversation, Professor Emeritus and physician-wellbeing pioneer Dr. Dael Waxman joins Lisa, and Dr. Russ to unpack how authentic connection fuels longevity, lowers burnout, and makes work (and life) a whole lot better.

From simple micro-moves—like a 10-second “thinking of you” text—to culture-shaping leadership practices, Dr. Waxman shows how to build trust across power dynamics, sustain relationships in busy seasons, and create workplaces where meaningful connection can actually happen. You’ll leave with practical, human steps you can do today, no extra time required.

Why listen

• Learn the micro-skills that strengthen friendships in seconds (and why they work).

• Navigate friendship across hierarchies without blurring boundaries.

• Connection-positive ideas you can pilot at work (yes, even if you’re “lonely at the top”).

• Reboot your post-pandemic social muscle with low-risk, high-impact actions.

One powerful prompt to try today
Who just popped into your mind? Send them a one-line text: “You came to mind—cheering you on today.” Notice how you feel—and what comes back.

About Our Guest:
Dael Waxman, MD, PCC is a professionally certified coach who works with individuals, groups, and teams to support leadership, life, and professional well-being. He is also a faculty member at the Healthcare Coaching Institute.

Previously, he served as Professor and Vice Chair of Family Medicine at Atrium Health – Wake Forest School of Medicine, where he also created the role of Medical Director of Physician Well-being for Medical Education.

Drawing on decades of experience in medicine and coaching, Dael helps people strengthen relationships, foster resilience, and build more supportive workplace cultures.

Outside of work, he enjoys travel, kayaking, hiking, cooking, and—most recently—learning barista skills.

You can connect with Dael at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dael-waxman-md-pcc-18917322/

©Friendship Institute 2025

Friendship Matters™ is intended to help improve our Friendship IQ. While this generally signals an improvement in our overall wellbeing, this podcast is not intended in any way to offer specific counseling or medical advice. Please seek help from a trained professional.

Are the people closest to you energizing your life, or quietly exhausting it?

Not all friendships fuel us, some quietly deplete our energy, joy, and even our confidence. In this eye-opening episode, Donna, Lisa, and Dr. Russ unpack the different types of “energy-draining” relationships, from constant complainers and drama magnets to takers, critics, and insecure friends who always have a bigger story. Through real-life stories, research, and practical tools, they reveal how to set boundaries, prune unhealthy connections, and reinvest in friendships that energize and enrich your life. You’ll also learn the simple “3E Filter” (energize, exhaust, enrich) to help you evaluate your relationships and free up space for the people who truly light you up.

Listen in to better understand:

• Why setting boundaries isn’t selfish but essential for sustaining healthy, life-giving friendships.
• How to reinvest your time and energy into relationships that truly enrich and support you.

©Friendship Institute 2025

Friendship Matters™ is intended to help improve our Friendship IQ. While this generally signals an improvement in our overall wellbeing, this podcast is not intended in any way to offer specific counseling or medical advice. Please seek help from a trained professional.