Ep. 46 - How to Truly Connect With Anyone, According to Stanford Expert Dr. Carole Robin
What separates the relationships that simply work from the ones
that become truly exceptional?
In this episode of CivilTalk, we sit down with Dr. Carole Robin, renowned interpersonal dynamics and leadership expert, former Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer, co-founder of Leaders in Tech, and co-author of Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues. During nearly two decades at Stanford, Carole taught the legendary Interpersonal Dynamics course—better known as “Touchy Feely”—helping generations of leaders better understand how they show up, how others experience them, and what it takes to build meaningful relationships.
We talk with Carole about the real work behind human connection: why exceptional relationships are built rather than simply found, the role vulnerability and interpersonal risk play in creating trust, why our intentions and our impact can be so different, and what decades of working with leaders have taught her about feedback, conflict, and self-awareness.
We also explore what happens when AI enters the conversation. As the creator of CaroleRobinAI, Carole brings a unique perspective to whether technology can help us recognize our conversational blind spots, strengthen our relationships, and ultimately become better at connecting with one another—without losing what makes connection fundamentally human.
Explore Carole’s Work
Carole’s book, Connect
Leaders in Tech
CaroleRobinAI
Dr. Carole Robin on LinkedIn
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About CivilTalk & Clarion CI:
CivilTalk is a conversational intelligence company focused on helping people and organizations better understand the conversations that shape relationships, decisions, and outcomes.
Our AI-powered conversational intelligence agent, Clarion CI, observes and analyzes real conversations to surface insights that are often difficult to see in the moment—including areas of consensus and disagreement, participant positions, emotional intelligence behaviors, and opportunities to reframe. Clarion gives leaders and teams a clearer view into how their conversations are actually unfolding, so they can communicate with greater awareness and turn insight into action.
See what Clarion can reveal in your conversations:
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