With so much dividing us right now, what if conflict could actually deepen our connections rather than tear us apart? I sit down with conflict facilitator and transformative justice practitioner Nicole Bauman to explore how empathy is not a weakness but a revolutionary tool for liberation.

Nicole shares their journey from conflict avoidance to seeing conflict as an opportunity for growth, revealing how self-empathy becomes the foundation for navigating even the most challenging conversations. Together, we explore why empathy has been "stolen from us" by systems of domination, how we can reclaim our capacity to feel as an act of decolonization, and practical ways to stay grounded in our humanity even when the world feels overwhelming.

My conversation with Nicole brought up both tender vulnerability and fierce wisdom if you are seeking to transform your relationship with conflict, in your community, workplace, or in movements for justice.

We discuss:

• Self-empathy as the starting point for all conflict navigation
• The weaponization of empathy and why disconnection serves power structures
• Somatic practices for building safety and capacity in difficult conversations
• Moving beyond binary thinking in a polarized world
• Practical tools for staying embodied during conflict
• The connection between personal healing and collective liberation

About Nicole Bauman:

Nicole is a facilitator working at the intersections of transformative justice, somatics, and nonviolent communication. They see building conflict resiliency as essential for the world to come and are passionate about creating spaces where personal and collective liberation feel possible.

Links from Nicole:

• Learn more about their work at https://www.nicolebauman.com
• Free Assessments for Queer Folks during the month of June
• Learn more about Nicole’s one-on-one work here
• Navigating Conflict: Building Resilience for Your Working Relationships
• Navigating Feedback: Deepening Collaboration in the Conversations We Need
• Unraveling Whiteness: An Introduction to Embodied Antiracist Practices
• Weaving New Ritual

Timestamps:

• [00:00 ] Introduction and Nicole's current work
• [02:00 ] How Nicole uses their voice and shows up in the world
• [06:00 ] Defining empathy and its role in conflict
• [10:00 ] Rethinking conflict as opportunity rather than threat
• [14:00 ] Cultivating safety in unsafe situations
• [18:00 ] Is empathy learned or stolen from us?
• [22:00 ] Empathy in corporate and dominating environments
• [26:00 ] Nicole's offerings and upcoming programs
• [31:00 ] Self-care and community care practices