In this episode, Dan and Eamonn chat with James Lawlor and Rachel Gleeson from Narrative 4 Ireland, a movement using storytelling and deep listening to build empathy, connection, and understanding across communities.
Narrative 4's Story Exchange invites participants to share personal stories before retelling the story of another person in the first person. The result is a powerful exercise in empathy that challenges assumptions, breaks down barriers, and creates meaningful human connections.
Whether you're an educator, student, youth worker, or simply interested in understanding others more deeply, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the most innovative approaches to empathy-building in education today.
Some of the studies discussed in this episode:
Gill, J., & McMahon, J. (2025). An Evaluation of a Story Exchange Teacher Training Intervention to Promote Empathy.
https://narrative4.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/Yale-Emotion-Revolution-Study.pdf
Kubin, E. et al. (2025). Promoting Empathy, Connection, and Pro-Sociality Through Storytelling in American High Schools: A Collaboration Between Academic and Practitioners.
Questions or comments?
Have you tried story exchange before?
📩 Let us know in the comments below or,
Email us: edonthemargins@gmail.com
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