Episode 255

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Published on:

10th Jul 2025

Mastering the Art of Listening: Christine Miles on Empathy, Influence & The Listening Path (Pt 2)

In this episode of Life Equals Choices, Choices Equal Life, Kim Olver continues her enlightening conversation with Christine Miles, founder of The Listening Path, about the transformative power of listening to understand. Christine busts common myths around listening—like the idea that understanding means agreement—and explains why real listening is not about offering advice, but about guiding people to tell their full stories.

She shares powerful strategies from her framework, including the “Listening Compass”—six simple but effective questions to deepen connection and foster trust in any conversation. From corporate boardrooms to classrooms to family dinner tables, Christine explains how building this muscle improves emotional intelligence, enhances communication, and leads to greater influence.

This episode is a must for parents, educators, therapists, and leaders who want to foster stronger relationships and create environments of genuine understanding. Christine also discusses the challenges technology poses to human interaction and reveals how we can reverse the trend with early and intentional listening education.

You can watch part 1 of this interview with Christine here.

Learn more about Christine’s work at www.thelisteningpath.com

Contact Christine directly at: cmiles@thelisteningpath.com

Explore her author site: www.christinemileslistens.com

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About the Podcast

Life = Choices; Choices = Life
Making better choices for a better life
Life = Choices; Choices = Life is about learning to replace external control psychology with radical responsibility and appreciation so you can make better choices to create the life you want to have. Kim Olver is a leading expert in Choice Theory™ psychology and will share what she has gleaned from the legendary work of Dr. William Glasser, as well as sharing her unique perspective based on over 30 years of study and research.

About your host

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Kim Olver

Kim Olver's mission is to help people make better choices for a better life. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a nationally certified counselor and a board certified coach. She is a world renowned expert in Choice Theory™ , a highly sought after international speaker and an award-winning author. Her books include: Leveraging Diversity at Work with Sylvester Baugh (2006), Secrets of Happy Couples (2010), Choosing Me Now (2019) and A Choice Theory Guide to Relationships (2019). Kim is currently working on the forthcoming books, The Definitive Guide to Coaching and Radical Responsibility and Appreciation. Kim is the author of The Relationship Center blog; creator of Empowerment Parenting, a 25-hour parenting curriculum for court-mandated parents; and owner of Academy of Choice, a BCC (Board Certified Coach) Coaching Program. Kim worked five years as a counselor for schizophrenics in a community-based residential program, 17 years holding various positions with a specialized foster care agency, was Executive Director of Glasser Institute for Choice Theory for nine years and the Executive Director for William Glasser International for eight; and began her own company, Coaching for Excellence, in 2005. She is a model of what she teaches about taking responsibility for the things she can influence and control and finding appreciation for those things she can't. Kim believes radical responsibility and appreciation are the keys to a happy, peaceful, satisfying life.