Masterful Listening

Svetlana Saitsky

Welcome to Masterful Listening, the world's first super rad listening school. I'm Svetlana, your host.  Isn't it wild that we're taught how to read, write, and speak, but nobody ever teaches us how to listen? When was the last time you went to listening school? Exactly.  Well, when is now. This is it! Every episode of Masterful Listening is part story, part lesson, part listening practice. I teach by doing what I do best: telling stories, asking great questions, and helping you hear what you've been missing all along.  I'm an executive coach, facilitator, writer, and artist and I've designed this show to be an interactive experience, not just something you have on in the background. Expect guest appearances, meditations, coaching lessons, daily mantras and comedy specials because who doesn't like to laugh and have some fun? I believe that the quality of our listening determines the quality of your life and that masterful listening is the ultimate love affair with life.  When we learn to truly listen to ourselves, to others, and to the world, life gets a lot more interesting.  See you in class!

  1. 4d ago

    The Freedom of Being Misunderstood

    Being misunderstood sucks. Seriously. It sucks when someone completely misses your heart, questions your intentions, or decides who you are without ever getting curious enough to actually know you. I spent way too much of my life trying to explain myself. Trying to be understood. Trying to convince people that what they heard wasn't actually what I meant. You know what I've discovered? That sucks a whole lot more than being misunderstood. Because here's the truth: most of the time, it isn't even about you. People aren't listening to you. They're listening through their own experiences, assumptions, confirmation bias, fears, and stories. They're responding to a version of you they've created in their own mind. And once I really understood that... I stopped feeling like I had to convince everyone to understand me. In this first episode back after more than a year away, I'm sharing a story that happened here in Guatemala that completely shifted the way I think about being misunderstood, boundaries, "wise restraint," responding versus reacting, and why learning to listen to yourself might be the most important listening skill of all. Because maybe freedom isn't finally being understood. Maybe freedom is realizing you don't need to be. Welcome back to Season 6 of Masterful Listening. I'm really glad you're here. ps.  If this episode made you laugh, think, cry, or text someone, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who's tired of explaining themselves. See you in Episode 2. We're talking about something I think matters even more than loving yourself: Actually liking yourself MORE RAD STUFF BELOW:  Whether you're looking for coaching, practical tools, a good story, or even a ridiculously rad hat or t-shirt, you'll find it below. 🧠 Coaching & Facilitation 🎙️ Masterful Listening Podcast 📖 Free Masterful Listening Guide (PDF) 📚 Masterful Listening eBook 🧢 Rad Hats for Rad Humans ✨ The Svet Shop 📖 My Memoir, Crying In Beautiful Places (Coming Soon)

    The Freedom of Being Misunderstood
  2. 04/01/2025

    We Are Human Beings, Not Human Doings: Leading from the Inside Out with Special Guest Patrick Tam

    We are human beings, not human doings. And sometimes, the doing doesn’t happen. That doesn’t mean the being isn’t exactly, perfectly on time. This episode of Masterful Listening is a powerful invitation to slow down and remember who you are beneath the noise. I’m joined by Patrick Tam, Vice President of Operational Excellence at ServiceNow, professor, father, and one of the most heart-centered humans I know. Patrick and I first met years ago when he was a student in one of my classes. I later became his coach, and working with him has been one of the greatest honors of my career. He reminds me, consistently, what it means to lead with integrity, humility, and humanity—all while navigating high-level success. This conversation isn’t about titles or performance. It’s about presence.  It’s about creating a life that feels real, not just impressive.  It’s about slowing down enough to actually listen—to yourself, to others, to what matters. Tune in for powerful reflections, unexpected wisdom, and a glimpse into what leadership looks like when it’s rooted in being. The audio isn’t perfect. Life isn’t either.  But the frequency of this one? It’s undeniable. 📚 Patrick’s LinkedIn & children’s book on happiness 🎓 His course at San Jose State University MORE RAD STUFF BELOW:  Whether you're looking for coaching, practical tools, a good story, or even a ridiculously rad hat or t-shirt, you'll find it below. 🧠 Coaching & Facilitation 🎙️ Masterful Listening Podcast 📖 Free Masterful Listening Guide (PDF) 📚 Masterful Listening eBook 🧢 Rad Hats for Rad Humans ✨ The Svet Shop 📖 My Memoir, Crying In Beautiful Places (Coming Soon)

    We Are Human Beings, Not Human Doings: Leading from the Inside Out with Special Guest Patrick Tam
  3. 03/11/2025

    Here’s Your Permission Slip to Feel Like Sh*t (and Why It’s the Healthiest Thing You Can Do)

    Listen. I spent decades chasing happiness as a researcher, a coach, and a seeker of light. My freaking name means “light.” But guess what? The real secret isn’t in pretending to be happy—it’s in giving yourself permission to feel like absolute crap sometimes. This episode is that permission slip. You don’t have to hold it together. You don’t have to slap a smile on your face. You don’t have to “self-care” your way out of feeling low. Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is to sit in the dark for a bit, let yourself feel it, and stop fighting the waves. I’ve spent a lifetime studying happiness, only to realize that true peace comes from embracing both the light and the dark. This is the episode I wish I had when I was too busy trying to “fix” my bad days instead of honoring them. So if you’re feeling off today—good. That means you’re human. Let’s talk about why that’s actually a superpower. Oh, and if you’re curious about the wildest healing technology I’ve ever discovered, I’ll share a bit about Solex, a frequency healing tool that’s been blowing my mind. No fluff, no gimmicks—just science, energy, and results. 📖 Radically Poetic—My book is coming soon. Stay tuned. 💡 Links Mentioned in This Episode: Learn More About Solex Purchase Solex Here The Untethered Soul The Body Keeps the Score When The Body Says No MORE RAD STUFF BELOW:  Whether you're looking for coaching, practical tools, a good story, or even a ridiculously rad hat or t-shirt, you'll find it below. 🧠 Coaching & Facilitation 🎙️ Masterful Listening Podcast 📖 Free Masterful Listening Guide (PDF) 📚 Masterful Listening eBook 🧢 Rad Hats for Rad Humans ✨ The Svet Shop 📖 My Memoir, Crying In Beautiful Places (Coming Soon)

    Here’s Your Permission Slip to Feel Like Sh*t (and Why It’s the Healthiest Thing You Can Do)
  4. 01/31/2025

    What If Everything Is Happening Perfectly? A Radical Wake-Up Call to Own Your Life

    I’ve been asking myself this radical question for years: What if everything is happening perfectly?  Today, I’m inviting you to sit with this idea and reflect on what it could mean for your life.  I’m not here to preach toxic positivity or ignore the pain that life throws at us. I’ve had my fair share of breakdowns—times when I thought everything was falling apart. But now I see that those moments weren’t setbacks; they were stepping stones. In this episode, I share how slowing down, waking up to my inner truth, and taking radical responsibility shifted everything. If you’ve been blaming the world for your struggles, consider this your invitation to reframe that story.  I’m here to remind you that if you’re the problem, you’re also the solution. And maybe, just maybe, everything that’s happening right now is exactly what you need. Let's explore how life’s messiest moments could be the most meaningful ones. It’s not about avoiding pain—it’s about taking responsibility and seeing the gift inside the chaos. Trust me, you’re exactly perfectly on time.  MORE RAD STUFF BELOW:  Whether you're looking for coaching, practical tools, a good story, or even a ridiculously rad hat or t-shirt, you'll find it below. 🧠 Coaching & Facilitation 🎙️ Masterful Listening Podcast 📖 Free Masterful Listening Guide (PDF) 📚 Masterful Listening eBook 🧢 Rad Hats for Rad Humans ✨ The Svet Shop 📖 My Memoir, Crying In Beautiful Places (Coming Soon)

    What If Everything Is Happening Perfectly? A Radical Wake-Up Call to Own Your Life
  5. 11/16/2024

    A Rad and Mellow Reunion: Connecting with My Beloved Soul Dog Rad and Deepening My Bond with Mellow, Featuring Animal Communicator Julie Hirt

    In this deeply emotional episode, I’m joined by my friend and animal communicator Julie Hirt, whose gift helped me connect with my beloved soul dog Rad during his illness and after he passed. Rad was the first true, unconditional love I experienced, and even though he’s no longer with me in body, our relationship continues to grow. Today, I have the chance to reconnect with Rad and seek his guidance. This episode is also about my next soul dog, Mellow. Mellow is so different from Rad—he’s loud, youthful, and full of energy—but I’m convinced Rad sent him to me for a reason. This is a chance to better understand Mellow’s unique spirit, deepen my bond with him, and learn how their spirits are connected. With Julie’s guidance, we’ll explore how animals continue to teach us through love, loss, and presence, and how pain can become a portal to power. We’ll reflect on the playful irony of Rad being mellow in spirit while Mellow is truly rad (though not always mellow). Whether you’re grieving a pet, caring for one, or simply want to deepen your connection with them, this episode is a hopeful, heartfelt journey of love and healing. Julie is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. Her Substack column, Trust the Animals, shares coaching messages from animals and a special series on grief. She is also a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School and the co-host of The Animal Communication Podcast on Mind, Body, Spirit.fm. Julie celebrates the partnership we all have with our pets and believes our pets are our life coaches. Her own “dog-pack,” made up of both alive and in-spirit members, has guided her through trauma and physical injury. These experiences led her to co-create a life she never imagined for herself, and now, she helps others do the same with their beloved pets. Connect with Julie here: juliehirt-intuitive.com Substack  The Animal Communication Podcast   Learn how to be an animal communicator with Danielle MacKinnon Social Media Links: https://www.facebook.com/juliehirtintuitive https://www.instagram.com/juliehirt_intuitive/ MORE RAD STUFF BELOW:  Whether you're looking for coaching, practical tools, a good story, or even a ridiculously rad hat or t-shirt, you'll find it below. 🧠 Coaching & Facilitation 🎙️ Masterful Listening Podcast 📖 Free Masterful Listening Guide (PDF) 📚 Masterful Listening eBook 🧢 Rad Hats for Rad Humans ✨ The Svet Shop 📖 My Memoir, Crying In Beautiful Places (Coming Soon)

    A Rad and Mellow Reunion: Connecting with My Beloved Soul Dog Rad and Deepening My Bond with Mellow, Featuring Animal Communicator Julie Hirt
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to Masterful Listening, the world's first super rad listening school. I'm Svetlana, your host.  Isn't it wild that we're taught how to read, write, and speak, but nobody ever teaches us how to listen? When was the last time you went to listening school? Exactly.  Well, when is now. This is it! Every episode of Masterful Listening is part story, part lesson, part listening practice. I teach by doing what I do best: telling stories, asking great questions, and helping you hear what you've been missing all along.  I'm an executive coach, facilitator, writer, and artist and I've designed this show to be an interactive experience, not just something you have on in the background. Expect guest appearances, meditations, coaching lessons, daily mantras and comedy specials because who doesn't like to laugh and have some fun? I believe that the quality of our listening determines the quality of your life and that masterful listening is the ultimate love affair with life.  When we learn to truly listen to ourselves, to others, and to the world, life gets a lot more interesting.  See you in class!