The Athrú Communications Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Sarah Black returns for series 2 of The Athrú Communications Podcast, exploring how we can transform how we communicate across cultures and differences.

In this first episode, she introduces Cultural Intelligence CQ) and explores how it can help us understand and connect with individuals from different backgrounds. She shares some of her personal experiences with the challenges and joys of navigating different cultures around the world and closer to home.

Over the next nine episodes, Sarah talks to experts from the fields of communication, workplace culture, intercultural relations, organisational psychology and Cultural Intelligence (CQ) about we communicate more effectively across cultures and differences

David Livermore

Athrú Communications

Trisha Carter

A Quick Dip into Effective Briefing with Petra Trudell

This week we’re dipping into the art of briefing with copywriter Petra Trudell. Petra explains what a ‘good’ brief and a great working relationship looks like and how to better brief our partners.

Petra Canan Trudell is an American copywriter and journalist whose work has appeared in print and web publications throughout the US, UK and Japan. She’s created and managed marketing, editorial and advertising content for a range of clients in the tech, wellness, hospitality and music industries, working with small businesses, public figures, nonprofits, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies to refine their brand voice and improve their international reach through dynamic, accessible copy. She lives in London with her husband and their Shih Tzu, sharing her shopping tips and finds in her weekly Substack, MIDDI.

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• Why lining your ducks up before you contact a freelancer is key to success 
• Why there’s no such thing as too much information
• Why being  brutal and detailed in your feedback to a copywriter is good for you, and them
• About setting clear expectations upfront 
• Why sharing the dynamics of the team counts as much as brand voice

Connect with Petra: You can follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram and read more about her work on her website. You can also subscribe to MIDDI on Substack.

Thank you for listening! 

A Quick Dip is about starting conversations. If you’d like to share your thoughts, keep the conversation going, and ask questions you can connect to Sarah on LinkedIn.

A Quick Dip into Allyship with Cath Brew

Allyship is one of those words that we hear a lot, but isn’t always fully understood.  In this Quick Dip we talk to Cath Brew about what it really means to be an LGBTQ plus ally, and why it matters. 

Cath is an LGBTQ+ inclusion consultant, mentor and artist who supports allies looking to step into confident active allyship. She works with international schools on whole-school LGBTQ+ inclusion and helps global companies to navigate the inclusion of diverse genders and sexualities cross culturally. 

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• Why we should support marginalised groups
• The problem with rainbow washing 
• How understanding personal triggers and biases supports being an ally
• Why not making assumptions is key 

Connect with Cath: You can follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and read more about her work on her website or join the LGBTQIA+ Allyship in Action Facebook Group.

Thank you for listening! 

A Quick Dip is about starting conversations. If you’d like to share your thoughts, keep the conversation going, and ask questions you can connect to Sarah on LinkedIn.

A Quick Dip into Plain Language with Ema Naito

Are we sure that when we communicate our message isn’t lost in opaque statements, and clouded by complex language that speaks to no one?   In this Quick Dip we talk to Ema Naito about the importance of clear and concise written English. 

Ema Naito is The Clarity Editor. A bilingual scholarly editor who loves clear, plain English and its power to promote an inclusive world. Based in Bangkok, Ema helps multilingual authors around the world write effectively for international development and in the social sciences. She holds a master's degree from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, sings classically, and practices Hawaiian hula dance.

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• The power of plain language as a bridge between cultures 
• Why clear language is a human rights issue 
• The importance of centering your reading in communications  
• How plain language can help you to communicate your message to a more diverse audience 
• The visual design of text so all readers can navigate your message

Connect with Ema: you can follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook and read more about her work on her Website.

Thank you for listening! 

A Quick Dip is about starting conversations. If you’d like to share your thoughts, keep the conversation going, and ask questions you can connect to Sarah on LinkedIn.

A Quick Dip into Intercultural Communication with Mariana Barros

In this episode of A Quick Dip, we take a look at intercultural communication with our guest Mariana Barros as we explore the importance of understanding how cultural differences intersect with organizational and business culture.

Mariana Barros holds a Masters degree in International Relations from the San Tiago Dantas Program (PUC/SP, UNESP and UNICAMP) and a Bachelors degree in International Relations from PUC/SP. She has lived, worked and studied in France , the United States, Equatorial Guinea  and Thailand. She is a founding partner of Differänce Intercultural, and has 20 years of experience in the field of cultural intelligence and DEI. She was a TEDX São Paulo speaker in 2016

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• What refusing French food can teach us about cross cultural communication
• The importance of self awareness in relation to intercultural awareness
• Why not making assumptions will help you to understand difference 
• How history and context helps us to understand culture.

Connect with Mariana: You can follow her on LinkedIn, and read more about her work on her website. 

Thank you for listening! 

A Quick Dip is about starting conversations. If you’d like to share your thoughts, keep the conversation going, and ask questions you can connect to Sarah on LinkedIn.

A Quick Dip into Tone of Voice with Janine Christie. 

For this episode of A Quick Dip, we delve into tone of voice. What does it mean when we talk about an organization or a brand’s tone of voice and why is it important?

To guide us through this topic is Janine Christie, copywriter and creator of True Voice Kickstart. Her mission is to get solo entrepreneurs to unleash a truer and bolder voice in their copy. She works one-to-one with clients to stop second guessing what and how they say everything and say bye-bye to the rules of writing.

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• The difference between tone of voice and voice 
• Why brand guidelines will help you avoid getting it ‘wrong’ 
• How hitting the right tone will resonate with the right people
• The importance of jargon free copy. 

Connect with Janine: You can follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram and read more about her work on her website. 

Thank you for listening! 

A Quick Dip is about starting conversations. If you’d like to share your thoughts, keep the conversation going, and ask questions you can connect to Sarah on LinkedIn.

A Quick Dip into Inclusive Communication with Sara Thornhurst

How often do we, as communicators, really consider the breadth and diversity of the people we’re communicating with?  In this Quick Dip we talk to Sara Thornhurst about how inclusive communication can help organisations to reach and include more diverse audiences.

Sara Thornhurst is a disabled PR practitioner and trainer who ran her own agency for several years. She has been speaking out about disability in PR since 2016 and has run workshops on disability inclusion, accessibility and diversity issues at multiple industry events and is an experienced public speaker and activist. 

She offers PR consultancy with an EDI focus and runs regular training sessions and workshops for agencies and PR events to help them overcome issues around ableism, and employing and retaining disabled talent. 

She is also the Chair of the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire CIPR Committee and a member of the CIPR’s Diversity Inclusion Network.

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• How pervasive ableism is in our language
• Why people with disabilities should not be treated as inspirational heroes
• How organisation wide reasonable adjustments benefit everyone 
• How the Social Model of disability can help to change entrenched ways of thinking about disability.

Connect with Sara: You can follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter and read more about her work on her website. 

Thank you for listening! 

A Quick Dip is about starting conversations. If you’d like to share your thoughts, keep the conversation going, and ask questions you can connect to Sarah on LinkedIn. 

Resources:

The Social Model of Disability - Scope

Chartered Institute of Public Relations - EDI Basics

Disability News Service

The Unwritten

Disability Visibility Project and books

“I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much.” - TED Talk by Stella Young

A Quick Dip into Cultural Intelligence with Trisha Carter. 

Cultural Intelligence: one of the terms we hear in relation to leadership and communications competencies but what is cultural intelligence?  To answer this question, we asked an expert. 

Trisha Carter is an Organisational Psychologist, specializing in Intercultural Psychology who works in global mobility and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a Certified Facilitator in Cultural Intelligence (Adv) and has been helping clients to grow and develop their cultural intelligence for over 20 years through her training and coaching business Trans Cultural Careers. Through her work with The Kaleidoscope Group she has consulted to global organisations, assessing, advising and facilitating DEI interventions.

Trisha has lived and worked in New Zealand, China and Australia. She has delivered training and presentations around the world including Papau New Guinea, USA, UK, The Netherlands, Malaysia, Thailand, China and New Zealand and numerous virtual global training programs for participants located throughout the world. She is currently based in Sydney, Australia.

In this podcast you’ll find out: 

• What cultural intelligence is 
• Why it’s important
• How a culturally competent person shows up 
• The four areas you can focus on to develop cultural intelligence. 

If you’d like to connect to Trisha you can follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter and read more about her work on her website. 

Thank you for listening! 

Let’s keep the conversation going, ask questions and share your thoughts by connecting with Sarah on LinkedIn. 

In the final episode of this series, Sarah talks with Cultural Intelligence expert, Dr David Livermore. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of communication across cultures, the future of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), its relevance beyond nationality, the importance of understanding organisational culture and how to navigate CQ as a marginalised person. David shares insights from his extensive research and experience, offering a thought-provoking perspective on CQ, especially in the context of a multifaceted and ever evolving social and political landscape. 

About David:

Dr David Livermore, PhD (Michigan State University) is a social scientist devoted to the topics of cultural intelligence (CQ) and global leadership and the author of several award-winning books, including Leading with Cultural Intelligence, Digital, Diverse & Divided, Driven by Difference, and Serving with Eyes Wide Open. His newest book, the third edition of Leading with Cultural Intelligence, is the bestselling book on cultural intelligence and is filled with the latest research, case studies, and strategies for anyone who has to lead someone who is different from them.  

David is a founder of the Cultural Intelligence Centre, Director of the Society of CQ Fellows, and the Ahmass Fakahany Visiting Professor in Global Leadership at Questrom’s School of Business at Boston University. He consults with global organizations around the world, including Harvard, Google, Coca-Cola, the US Department of Defence, BMW, Qatar Airways, the United Nations, and dozens more. He has travelled to more than one hundred countries and is a frequent speaker at conferences. He also serves on several boards and is a Fellow with the Society of Leadership Fellows, Windsor Castle, a select leadership community that meets to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing us globally.

David loves to make social science accessible to practitioners. He has been interviewed and referenced by myriad news sources, including The Atlantic, CBS News, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist, Forbes, NBC, the New York Times, USA Today, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the South China Post. 

David and his wife, Linda, have two adult daughters, Emily and Grace. Emily is a litigation lawyer, and Grace is a graphic designer. Some of their favourite family activities are travelling (fortunately!) and discovering new foods together.

LinkedIn

www.davidlivermore.com

Mentions:

Book: Tribal - Michael Morris

Sarah Black welcomes cultural intelligence expert Lucy Butters to discuss the transformative power of listening for effective communication across cultures. Lucy shares her journey into cultural intelligence, the importance of listening, and how our cultural backgrounds shape our perceptions and interactions. Tune in as they explore practical strategies for improving listening skills and fostering inclusivity in diverse environments. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills in an increasingly globalised world!

About Lucy:

Lucy founded Elembee in 2010 to provide training and coaching which supports and enhances the capability of leaders and teams to be inclusive and internationally effective.

Lucy is a Master Facilitator in Cultural Intelligence (CQ) with the Cultural Intelligence Centre, (Michigan, USA).

She started her career in research and teaching roles at the universities of Aberdeen, then Hertfordshire, before working in various management & leadership roles for the British Council supporting international ambitions of UK universities and leading a transformational leadership programme across nine Arab countries and the UK.

On a personal level, Lucy is a mother of triplet boys who have taught her the true meaning of hard work; and are a constant reminder of the need to adjust thinking, actions and expectations.

LinkedIn

Elembee

Mentions:

Book: Driven by Difference - David Livermore

Book:  Seven Habits of Successful People - Stephen Covey

Book: Hysterical: Exploding the Myth of Gendered Emotions - Pragya Agarwal