Teaching Talk: Why Conversation Belongs at the Center of Learning
Liza Garonzik featured on Millions of Conversations television show and podcast
What happens when we teach young people to truly listen, speak with courage, and connect face-to-face?
In Episode 8 of Millions of Conversations, hosted by Samar S. Ali and produced by NewsChannel 5 Network, Liza Garonzik joins the show to explore that big, deceptively simple question.
At a time when disconnection is everywhere—amplified by disconnection, polarization, and increased pressure on young people—Liza shares how R.E.A.L. Discussion® equips students and teachers with tools to reclaim conversation as a powerful, academic, and decidedly human practice.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- Why face-to-face conversation is more than a soft skill; it’s a survival skill
- How R.E.A.L. turns listening and speaking into teachable, assessable practices
- What changes when students lead their own classroom discussions
- How communication tools ripple outward to kitchen tables, checkout lines, and future workplaces
- A hopeful, practical vision for education in a polarized, tech-saturated world
Why It Matters
We live in a moment defined by noise and an aching need for connection. And that need shows up everywhere: in classrooms, homes, neighborhoods, and institutions. This episode reminds us that the skills we need to rebuild trust and relationships aren’t automatic; they can be taught—and they often start with a single conversation.
If we want our kids to connect with others and lead with integrity, we have to teach them how. Face-to-face. In real time.”
Liza Garonzik, R.E.A.L. Discussion® Founder & CEO
Listen Now
Listen to the full conversation now on the Millions of Conversations podcast.
Prefer to watch?
Let’s Have a R.E.A.L. Discussion® with Liza Garonzik – Episode 8
Explore More
- Check out what teachers are saying about R.E.A.L.® in their classrooms
- Learn more about R.E.A.L. Discussion® and our approach
- Read about what we’re calling “The Other AI”
- Join our Community on LinkedIn where we love to discuss discussion
Stay connected
Want updates—or ready to talk?
And if you want updates about the movement to teach, celebrate, and measure conversation skills or if you’re ready to have a conversation about bringing the science of conversation to your classroom, school, or organization, start here.
