The Art of Relational Work: What the Research Really Tells Us with David Jay

The Art of Relational Work: What the Research Really Tells Us with David Jay

In this episode of the Relational Podcast, host Rachel Sinha is joined by David Jay, author of 'Relationality: How Moving from Transactional to Transformational Relationships Can Reshape Our Lonely World.' The discussion explores the transformative power of deep listening and meaningful relationships in addressing societal crises. David shares his journey from founding asexuality.org to advocating for relational ecosystems in movements and workplaces. Key concepts discussed include relational invisibility, the impact of personal storytelling, and the importance of creating environments where relationships can thrive. David emphasizes releasing control to allow relationships to evolve naturally and offers insights into how relational approaches can solve complex problems more effectively than top-down strategies. 00:47 Welcoming David Jay 01:56 David Jay's Journey and Work 05:41 Defining Relationality 08:55 Creating Relational Environments 12:32 Relational Systems and Social Movements 16:30 Challenges and Skepticism 21:10 Practical Advice for Building Relationships 24:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together - especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle. We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in! By sharing this episode and letting others know what inspired you, you help expand the community of co-creators building a more compassionate world. Dive deeper into our work at efectocolibri.com and join us in sparking the collective change we all envision. We value your voice—together, we can empower social innovation.Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft [https://www.huddlecraft.com/]. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/ [https://www.wasan-network.org/] Production and dissemination by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/ [https://efectocolibri.com/en/] Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About [https://anjalic.com/About]

The Messy Revolution: Why Imperfection Builds Stronger Communities with Avani Parekh

In this episode of The Relational Podcast, host Meg Busse sits down with Avani Parekh, a community builder and technologist bridging digital and physical spaces to create true connection. Together, they explore the epidemic of loneliness, how trust and humanness are built in anonymous online networks, and why "touching grass"—real-world connection—is essential in our hyper-digital lives. Avani shares her experience building Love Doctor, a confidential platform for young people in South Asia to discuss sexual health and relationships, born from a moment of national grief and activism. She reflects on the role of weavers—trusted connectors who humanize digital spaces—and calls for intentionality in making online spaces lead to offline human connection.The conversation is a rallying cry for all digital builders, community weavers, and humans: show up in your messiness, invite others in, and bring people together face-to-face.Topics We Cover: * The origins and impact of Love Doctor in taboo contexts * Building trust and "weavers" in faceless online worlds * Why every digital community needs a "touch grass" moment * How showing up as your imperfect, real self sparks collective healing and change A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together - especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle. We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in! By sharing this episode and letting others know what inspired you, you help expand the community of co-creators building a more compassionate world. Dive deeper into our work at efectocolibri.com and join us in sparking the collective change we all envision. We value your voice—together, we can empower social innovation. Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft [https://www.huddlecraft.com/]. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/ [https://www.wasan-network.org/] Production and dissemination by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/ [https://efectocolibri.com/en/] Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About [https://anjalic.com/About]

Resourcing Change Relationally and Participatory Grantmaking with Catherine Dempsey

Host Ana Amrein Esnaola talks with Catherine Dempsey about why interdependent relationships—not transactions—drive social change. We explore participatory grantmaking, trust-based funding, and consensus decision-making, plus practical first steps (beginning with deep listening). Learn how centering community and connection builds resilience, improves funding decisions, and powers systemic impact. * 00:59 — Meet Catherine: Collaborative development & social value * 02:31 — Birds, sky, connection: Everyday cues for interdependence * 09:25 — Participatory grantmaking: Community power in funding * 13:09 — Relational approaches at work: From silos to ecosystems * 27:02 — Governance & consensus: What inclusive decisions look like * 30:44 — Why now: Democracy, resilience, and trust-based practice * 31:57 — Start here: Deep listening as a daily discipline A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together - especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle. We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in!By sharing this episode and letting others know what inspired you, you help expand the community of co-creators building a more compassionate world. Dive deeper into our work at efectocolibri.com and join us in sparking the collective change we all envision. We value your voice—together, we can empower social innovation. Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft [https://www.huddlecraft.com/]. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/ [https://www.wasan-network.org/] Production and dissemination by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/ [https://efectocolibri.com/en/] Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About [https://anjalic.com/About]https://anjalic.com/About

The Power of Relational Design in Social Impact with Melanie Kahl

We talk about social impact, but what about relational impact? In this episode, we delve into the radical idea that meaningful conversations and deep relationships drive transformative social change more effectively than policies or technologies alone. Melanie, a designer and facilitator based in  Brooklyn with roots in the Midwest, explores how her work at the intersection of design and social impact centers on relational processes. Born out of her background in studying how people make change in organizations, neighborhoods, and social movements, Melanie explores how relational and appreciative approaches enhance research and design— even in large corporations.Drawing from the wisdom of Corita Kent and Wendell Berry, Melanie shares the spiritual imperative of relational ways of working in this moment of upheaval. At its core, relational ways of working reveal individual potential and tap into collective possibilities—that’s what practitioners must center. By highlighting case studies in education, retail, theater, and crisis response, Melanie illustrates how fostering  human connection creates resilience, amplifies creativity, and creates more durable impact. Join us in exploring how every story and every conversation illuminates the power of relationships.    What you’ll learn: 🔸Snail Mail & New Walks: The power of analog joy in a digital world 🔸Back to Basics: Returning to relational ways of working 🔸Defining Relationality through Possibility: What a creative nun and agrarian poet teach us about relational creativity 🔸Case Study: How creatively engaging with retail employees shifted power, deepened relationships, and shaped creative change for a beloved brand 🔸Rehearsing Trust: What relational practitioners can learn from long-form improv comedy 🔸Crisis as the crucible: Relationships formed in crisis and the power of creative, relational approaches in emergent change 🔸Microcosms of change: What the “Early Relational Health” field demonstrates about the power of relational work in policy and systems change 🔸Action Steps: The power of dinner parties and telling stories of the unexpected 🔸Imaginary Book club: Solnit’s “A Paradise Built in Hell” and Ehrenreich’s” Dancing in the Streets” 🔸Relational lineages: The power of reflecting on understanding your relational roots as a practitioner Dig deeper: * 📚Books recommended: * “A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster [https://bookshop.org/a/80535/9780143118077]” by Rebecca Solnit * “Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy [https://bookshop.org/a/80535/9780805057249]” by Barbara Ehrenreich * 📝 Follow “The Meld” on Substack—forthcoming newsletter on relational alchemy  [https://substack.com/@melaniekahl] * 💬 Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniekahl/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/melanie_kahl/], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@melanie_kahl]  * 🖥 Be in touch! Website [https://www.melaniekahl.com/] * Latest research on kinship and connection [https://www.einhorncollaborative.org/the-need-for-good-adults/] A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together - especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle. We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in! By sharing this episode and letting others know what inspired you, you help expand the community of co-creators building a more compassionate world. Dive deeper into our work at efectocolibri.com and join us in sparking the collective change we all envision. We value your voice—together, we can empower social innovation. Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft [https://www.huddlecraft.com/]. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/ [https://www.wasan-network.org/] Production and dissemination by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/ [https://efectocolibri.com/en/]  Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About [https://anjalic.com/About]

The Magic of Transforming Strangers with Georgie Nightingall

In this episode of The Relational Podcast, Melanie Kahl and Georgie Nightingall engage in an intimate conversation exploring the transformative power of relationships and deep listening. We’ll delve into the unseen forces of connection and reciprocity, discussing how meaningful interactions are pivotal for change. Georgie shares personal experiences, the founding of her company Trigger Conversations, and insights from her PhD research on human connection. You’ll learn practices for being a better relational leader (mapping ripples!) and how to think about the multifaceted value of relationships (from cognitive to social-emotional). Follow Georgie’s journey from her early days in project management to becoming a Sandbox member and from Trigger conversations to a PhD in human connection. The episode emphasizes the importance of building trust, co-creation, and participatory roles in fostering a connected and resilient community. Through storytelling and reflection, the conversation highlights the critical role of relationality in driving social impact and navigating complex challenges. 00:53 Centering and Grounding Ritual 03:48 Introducing Georgie: A Social Entrepreneur 08:39 Trigger Conversations: The Birth of an Idea 11:23 The Power of Relational Work in Organizations 19:23 Relational Leadership in Action 20:53 The Sandbox Community Model 29:30 Mapping Relational Ripples 33:51 Practical Steps for Relational Leadership Links: * Centering and Grounding Ritual: Crown Shyness, Mother Trees, and poem: Clearing – Martha Postlethwaite * Georgie’s organisation Trigger Conversations * Georgie’s TEDx Talk, “Talking to Strangers” * Georgie’s research on five types of interaction structures  * Newsletter: Conversations with Georgie * Personal Website: www.georgienightingall.co.uk  A big shout-out to the Wasan community for bringing us together – especially Meg Busse, Rachel Sinha, Christine Lai and Melanie Kahl, facilitators of the “Making the Case for Relationality” huddle. We appreciate your role in fostering this conversation.Thank you for tuning in! By sharing this episode and letting others know what inspired you, you help expand the community of co-creators building a more compassionate world. Dive deeper into our work at efectocolibri.com and join us in sparking the collective change we all envision.We value your voice—together, we can empower social innovation. Conceived and co-created during a Wasan Network small group in partnership with Huddlecraft [https://www.huddlecraft.com/]. Wasan is a global network of social impact and philanthropy practitioners who believe that relationships sit at the center of social change. Learn more: https://www.wasan-network.org/ [https://www.wasan-network.org/] Production and dissemination by Efecto Colibrí: Efecto Colibrí blends storytelling, social innovation, and the power of relationships to produce and distribute original and partner podcasts that bridge communities and sectors, shift mindsets, and spark action toward a more just, diverse, and regenerative future. Learn more https://efectocolibri.com/en/ [https://efectocolibri.com/en/] Artwork by Anjali Chandrashekar. https://anjalic.com/About [https://anjalic.com/About]