Compassionate Speech with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim

A Skeptic's Path to Enlightenment

Dr. Suzanne Wertheim is the author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide. An academic for many years, she now specializes in analyzing and addressing bias at work, helping companies like Google and Reddit promote speech that's more inclusive and more connecting. After I read Suzanne's book, I was struck by the parallels between her work and the Buddhist ethical foundation of right speech.

In our interview, we talk about embarrassing mistakes we both made in our speech, how to both forcefully and compassionately confront harmful speech, and how to recognize and transform the bias in our own language. Suzanne and I spoke for so long that it far outran our normal episode length. So, if you'd like to hear the full unedited hour and a half of our great conversation, including many specific examples of ways to speak inclusively and compassionately, check out the Skeptic's Path YouTube channel.
Episode 150: Compassionate Speech with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim
From August 8-11, I’m leading an in-person three-day retreat at California’s Vajrapani Institute. There, in the heart of California’s redwood forest, we’ll go through all of the analytical meditation topics from How to Train a Happy Mind, one by one. I’ll give lectures and guide meditations on each topic, and we’ll also have plenty of time for questions and group discussions. Learn more here.

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