Practicing Connection
Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.
Jessica Beckendorf and Erin Carlson Rivera host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.
Episodes
116 episodes
What the Room is Telling You: How to Read the Room
You've walked into a meeting and felt it immediately - something's off. The energy is flat, or there's a tension nobody's naming. What do you do with that? In this practicast, we share a simple, repeatab...
Burnout, and Resilience, in Service Providers
What if the key to resilience is practicing together?This episode fom the Practicing Connection archives features a conversation about burnout and resilience with guests Dr. Charles (Chip) Benight and Nicole Weis from the Lyda Hil...
Prevent Burnout with "Unfocusing"
What if the key to getting more done is doing less focusing? In this episode, Erin introduces the concept of unfocusing - not slacking off, but intentionally giving your brain a chance to rest and re...
How to Get the Most out of Practicing Connection Podcast (Listener Q&A)
Have you ever asked, “So what do I do with this?” after listening to a Practicing Connection episode? Put the pieces together with us on our first Q&A episode! Join Erin and Jessica as we answer listene...
Why Unspoken Expectations Erode Trust (and How to Fix It)
You're frustrated with someone you’re collaborating with, but you can't quite explain why. Chances are, the problem isn't their performance - it's the unspoken expectations neither of you knew the other had.Most...
Encouragement That Works: How to Give a Real Pep Talk
A good pep talk isn’t just about saying “you got this.” When done right, it can reignite purpose, build trust, and help others find strength when things get tough.Everyone needs encouragement - but great encoura...
How to Grow Your Courage for Collaboration
Collaboration takes more than skills and schedules—it takes the courage to step outside your comfort zone with other people.Bravery isn’t just about big, dramatic moments—it also shows up in everyday choices, like meeting someone ...
Humble on Purpose: A Practice for Better Decisions
What if the strongest person in the room is the one willing to say, “I don’t know yet - what am I missing?” In this episode, we practice exactly that.In this week's episode, Erin and Jessica discuss intellectual...
Everyday Practices for Organizational Resilience
Resilience at work isn’t only about how much each of us can handle. It’s also about how our systems anticipate challenges, respond to them, and make space to recover and learn. What changes when we start asking, “How resil...
Collaboration in Action: Serving Military Families through Strengthening Communities
How does a small North Carolina city become a national example of collaboration between military and community? Mayor Will Lewis says it starts with relationships - and a willingness to show up for one another.I...
Turning Conflict Into Collaboration
It’s easy to collaborate when everyone agrees. The real test of teamwork is what happens when we don’t.In this episode of Practicing Connection, Jessica and Erin explore how to stay grounded and connected when collaboration gets t...
How We Work Together: A Simple Practice for Better Collaboration
Are you really collaborating - or just coordinating? This episode offers a short reflection to help you notice where you are on the spectrum and make one small shift toward true collaboration.In this episode of ...
Reframing Feedback: A Practice for Receiving Criticism Well
Negative feedback can feel like a punch in the gut - but what if you could shift your mindset to see it as useful data instead of personal failure?Most of us cringe when we hear “I have some feedback for you.” But learning to rece...
From One Season to the Next: A New Chapter for Practicing Connection
Change is part of every journey - even the ones we love most. In this episode, Jessica Beckendorf welcomes new co-host Erin Carlson Rivera, and shares parting reflections from longtime co-host Coral Owen. Together, they ex...
Meaningful Growth: How to Make the Most Out of Every Learning Opportunity
Are you tired of leaving conferences or trainings feeling overloaded - like you missed what mattered most? This was one of our most popular episodes of 2025, and it's as relevant as ever as we dig into the new year, with m...
Do You Ever Struggle to Stick to Your Goals?
Do you ever struggle to stick to your goals? Discover the WOOP method, a powerful tool that uses obstacles as stepping stones to success.In this replay episode, one of our most popular from 2025, discover WOOP: a science-backed go...
2026 Reset: Creating Space, Choosing Direction
Before you set new goals for 2026, take a pause. This episode guides you through a gentle two‑part reset - honoring what you’re completing and choosing one honest intention for how you want to move through the year, withou...
Beyond Sleep: Four Kinds of Rest We All Need
If you’re exhausted but time off hasn’t really helped, the problem might not be how much you rest, but what kind of rest you’re getting. This episode explores four different kinds of rest - physical,...
Flamingos and Focus Days: One Simple Practice for a More Intentional Year
Before rushing into big resolutions, what if you paused to ask: "What needs to stop, what deserves to stay, and what small experiment could actually support the life and work I want?" In this reflections episode, Coral and...
Leading Through Uncertainty: Navigating Ambiguity as an Adaptive Practice
Leading in uncertainty is not about having all the answers; it’s about how you show up when you don’t. In this episode, explore two simple practices that help you anchor in what matters and keep moving, even when the path ...
Letting Go to Move Forward: Creating Space for Your Next Self
Feeling between versions of yourself - no longer who you were, not yet who you’re becoming? In this episode, learn two simple practices to release what no longer fits and take aligned, micro‑actions that move you forward w...
7 Small Practices for Better Conversations
In this episode of Practicing Connection, Coral and Jessica explore empathetic listening: what it is, why it matters, and how a few simple shifts in how you listen can deepen your relationships and improve how you work with others.
3 Simple Ways to Find Gratitude in Tough Moments
Ever find yourself juggling tough projects or caring for others while your own energy dips?In this episode, discover three practical gratitude habits you can use to find steadiness and clarity - no matter what your day brings.<...
Fuel your Day with Savoring: The “Catching Joy” Practice
If you feel like your emotional 'gas tank' is running empty, this episode is for you. We're diving into savoring - an intentional, evidence-based skill for actively amplifying the joy and positive feelings that are already there.