Marni welcomes Michael Tennant, the Founder of the conversation card game, Actually Curious, into the Den to discuss how to create connection and conversation through empathy and curiosity. Michael is an advocate for diversity, mental well-being, and empathy. His workshops and the card game have been featured in the New York Times, Goop, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, and others. 

 

Key takeaways from this episode: 

• Create connection through empathy
• Sample questions to ask a date
• Tips for preparing for a date
• How to shift the energy of a conversation

 

How Actually Curious Creates Connection Through Empathy [1:39] 

Michael describes his previous life when coming from the ‘get’ energy. He says he didn't know much about himself. He went out seeking his self-confidence and self-worth through dating. Then after discovering his empathy energy he realized what was missing within himself and learned how to love himself fully.

With Actually Curious, Michael knew he had created a game that enhanced trust-building. The card game helps people ask thoughtful questions to other people to understand where they are coming from. In dating, people can decide if they want to start dating casually or get into the topics that matter in long-term relationships and use the knowledge to bridge gaps. 

When playing Actually Curious, it starts light and levels up as trust is created.

 

Understanding Ourselves Helps Us Understand Others [15:40]

Fear can close us off energetically. The nervous system holds on to trauma and can create a physical response when we are confronted by a trigger. The Actually Curious cards offer people tools to practice responding to certain stimuli. They can also be used to build muscle memory around the physical aspects of trauma. It can be used when prepping for a date to help us understand why we feel the way we do. 

You have to be connected to yourself before you can connect to someone else. 

 

Creating Harmony from Conflict [23:33]

Michael says when people are aware and use a more evolved language with each other empathy and understanding can be products of conflict. Learning how to resolve conflict can create a deeper connection between couples and family members.  

Michael asks Marni some of the questions from the game. As soon as they start talking about what they are passionate about the energy of the conversation shifts and they create a deeper connection to each other. 

 

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