In this episode, I speak with Carolyn Siegel, founder and executive director of If You Heard What I Heard, about the extraordinary power of storytelling to foster empathy, preserve history, and bridge divides. Inspired by her family's legacy as descendants of Holocaust survivors, Carolyn shares how personal stories have become the foundation of a movement dedicated to cultivating deeper human understanding.

Carolyn reflects on her unexpected journey from fashion marketing to nonprofit leadership, explaining how storytelling has remained the common thread throughout her career. She shares how the experiences and wisdom of her grandparents inspired her mission to ensure that future generations not only remember history, but also develop the empathy needed to prevent history from repeating itself.

Our conversation explores the transformative role of listening, the importance of preserving first-hand narratives, and how authentic human connection can challenge prejudice, dismantle assumptions, and inspire meaningful change. Carolyn offers a hopeful vision for creating a more compassionate world, one conversation and one story at a time.

You’ll also hear about:

(01:40) Carolyn's journey from fashion marketing to nonprofit leadership

(07:58) Growing up with the stories of Holocaust survivors

(15:43) The inspiration behind If You Heard What I Heard

(24:17) Why storytelling creates empathy more effectively than facts alone

(33:48) Preserving first-hand accounts for future generations

(43:21) Listening across differences with curiosity and compassion

(52:56) How personal stories challenge bias and build human connection

(01:02:14) Carolyn's hope for the future through shared understanding

Don't miss Carolyn's inspiring perspective on how listening deeply to another person's story can transform not only our understanding of history, but also our capacity for empathy and connection.

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