CivilTalk

About CivilTalk

Welcome to CivilTalk, the podcast where we delve into the importance of civility and social-emotional learning in today's world. Join us as we explore practical strategies, insightful discussions, and expert interviews that help navigate the complexities of modern social interactions. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or simply passionate about fostering a more empathetic and respectful society, CivilTalk provides valuable tools and perspectives to inspire positive change in your everyday life. Tune in and be part of the conversation on building a more civil and emotionally intelligent world.

Publisher

CivilTalk

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Jun 2024

Latest episode

4 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

52 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Oct 2026

   The Gap Between What You Say and What They Hear: Speaking to Influence with Dr. Laura Sicola

   What makes someone sound credible, confident, and worth listening to? And why can the message we think we’re sending be completely different from the one someone else receives? In this episode of CivilTalk, Dr. Laura Sicola joins us to explore the science behind how we speak, listen, and influence one another. A cognitive linguist, executive communication coach, and author of Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice, Laura has spent more than 20 years studying how our words, voice, delivery, and presence shape the way others experience us. We talk about the gap between intention and impact, why your voice can change the meaning of your words, authenticity versus adaptability, what it really means to “sound like a leader,” and Laura’s Three Cs of executive presence: Command the room, Connect with the audience, and Close the deal. We also revisit ideas from her TEDxPenn talk, Want to Sound Like a Leader? Start by Saying Your Name Right, viewed millions of times, and explore what she’s learned about communication and influence in the decade since. A conversation about how we’re heard, how we build trust, and what it takes to communicate in a way that actually moves people.

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Think Like a Negotiator: Power, Influence & Self-Advocacy w/ Expert Negotiator Susie Tomenchok

   Negotiation isn’t just what happens over a contract or across a boardroom table. It’s happening when you ask for a raise, push back on an idea, navigate workplace politics, set a boundary, advocate for yourself, or simply try to get another person to meet you somewhere. In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, Topacio sits down with expert negotiator, executive coach, speaker, and author Susie Tomenchok to explore what changes when we start recognizing those conversations for what they are. After more than 20 years in telecommunications, Susie managed an $80 million portfolio and negotiated with organizations including ESPN/Disney, Boeing, NBC, Discovery, Viacom, and A&E. Those experiences became the foundation for her Negotiator’s Mindset™ and her book, The Art of Everyday Negotiation Without Manipulation. Susie breaks down how to recognize the leverage you may not realize you have, why silence can be one of the most powerful things you bring into a conversation, and how people unintentionally negotiate against themselves. We also get into her P.A.C.E. and C.L.A.W. frameworks, the hidden influence of workplace politics, what it means to stop being the “path of least resistance,” and the line between influence and manipulation. Most importantly, we explore a question at the heart of Susie’s work and CivilTalk: How do you advocate for what you want without destroying the relationship in the process? A conversation about power, self-advocacy, listening, trust, and what really happens when two people sit down wanting different things.

3. 

   13 Sept 2026

   The Communication Habits That Define Great Leaders with Dr. Alexa Chilcutt

   What makes someone a strong communicator - and how much of leadership comes down to the way we show up in conversation? In this episode of the CivilTalk Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Alexa Chilcutt, an expert in leadership development, executive education, and professional communication, to explore the connection between communication, trust, presence, and effective leadership. Together, we discuss what executive presence actually looks like in practice, the subtle behaviors that shape how others perceive us, and why strong communication is about much more than simply knowing what to say. Alexa also shares insight into building trust, navigating professional relationships, becoming more intentional in the way we communicate, and developing the interpersonal skills that make people want to listen, engage, and work with us. It’s a conversation about the human side of leadership - and how becoming more aware of the way we communicate can change not only how others experience us, but the quality of the relationships and cultures we create.

Who has been a guest on CivilTalk

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Riana Elyse Anderson
• Todd Kashdan
• Dr Marcella Runell

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact CivilTalk

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.