The Connection Effect with Bill Groner

Bill Groner
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In an era of extraordinary division, we often focus on winning arguments rather than building understanding. But what if the key to our future as a society isn't about who is right, but about how we best connect with one another. How despite our differences, we each matter and feel we belong. Hosted by Bill Groner, a former trial lawyer who spent a decade representing over 10,000 9/11 responders in their fight for justice, The Connection Effect explores the profound impact of being truly heard. Drawing from a career witnessing the costs of silence and the power of resilience, Bill sits down with researchers, thinkers, and practitioners to discuss their life's work, lived experiences, and how they relate to the science, soul, and practice of connection. Join us as we explore how to bridge differences, listen deeply, and reconnect with ourselves and one another—especially when it feels most out of reach. Add your voice to the conversation by following us and chiming in at: connection.net/substack

  1. 2D AGO

    You Are Not the Emotion (with Lawrence Edwards)

    What if the thoughts and feelings flooding your mind aren't actually who you are? In this episode of The Connection Effect, Bill Groner sits down with Dr. Lawrence Edwards — clinical psychologist, Jungian depth psychologist, neurofeedback practitioner, and founder of Anam Cara Meditation — who has practiced and taught meditation for over 50 years. Drawing from both Western science and Eastern contemplative tradition, Edwards explains the critical difference between mindfulness and meditation, and why that distinction changes everything about how we practice. Connect with Lawrence Edwards Website: thesoulsjourney.com Anam Cara Meditation on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnamCaraMeditation Anam Cara Meditation: anamcara-ny.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-edwards-meditationdoctor/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACMeditation/  Books (The Soul's Journey, Gently Falls Her Rain Of Light Collected by Kalidas, and more): https://www.thesoulsjourney.com/publications-old-too/  Resources From The Episode How to Connect by Thich Nhat Hanh (Book) Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net  Topics of Discussion: 00:00 Welcome and Big Idea 01:35 Meet Dr Lawrence Edwards 03:32 Meditation vs Mindfulness 05:14 Mindfulness Basics 13:07 How Often to Practice 14:47 Benefits and Relaxation Response 19:13 Stress Triggers and Awareness 24:07 Preparing for Difficult People 29:43 Stress Floor and Resilience 33:25 Defining the Meditative State 37:58 Prison Meditation Transformation 41:34 Science Meets Spirituality 44:38 Hope and Accessibility 48:19 End of Show 50:31 Bonus Conversation Begins

    1h 1m

  2. APR 21

    Reflections: How We Show Up For Each Other

    The inner work doesn't end with us. It shapes how we show up for everyone around us. In this second reflection episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner and co-host Sahar Emambakhsh revisit moments from their early conversations with Mónica Guzmán, Scott Barry Kaufman, Todd Kashdan, and Andrew Sether — exploring what it actually takes to connect across difference, disagreement, and the assumptions we carry into every conversation. This is the second of two reflection episodes. The first explored the inner conditions for flourishing. This one turns outward. Voices featured in this episode: Mónica Guzmán — journalist and bridge-builder Scott Barry Kaufman — psychologist, researcher, and author Todd Kashdan — curiosity researcher and professor Andrew Sether — peak performance expert Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:25 Assumptions Before Talk 05:05 Not Enough Nuance 08:03 Cross Aisle Friendship Story 10:35 Set Conversation Intentions 14:27 Acknowledge Pain Not Agree 19:05 Friendships Beyond Ideology 25:41 Regulate Stressful States 29:24 Takeaways 31:04 Closing and Next Steps Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack: connection.net/substack Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    32 min

  3. APR 8

    Reflections: Building a Better Relationship With Yourself

    Before we can connect well with others, we have to build a better relationship with ourselves. In this first reflection episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner and co-host Sahar Emambakhsh revisit the most resonant moments from the show's early conversations — with Andrew Sether, Scott Barry Kaufman, Todd Kashdan, Fred Luskin, and Mónica Guzmán — and trace a thread that runs through all of them: a progression, almost like a map, of what it takes to truly connect to ourselves. This episode is the first of two reflection episodes. Next time, we turn outward — to the relational conditions for connection. Voices featured in this episode: Andrew Sether — peak performance expert Scott Barry Kaufman — psychologist, researcher, and author Todd Kashdan — curiosity researcher and professor Fred Luskin — founder of the Stanford Forgiveness Project Mónica Guzmán — journalist and bridge-builder Resources:  Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman  Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Connection Effect 02:06 What is Flourishing? 02:34 Andrew Sether - Breathwork 10:46 Scott Barry Kaufman - North Star 19:19 Todd Kashdan - Curiosity 27:53 Fred Luskin - Adversity 38:49 Monica Guzman / One Last Reflection Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack: connection.net/substack Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    43 min
  4. The Aftershow: Connection to Self Is Peak Performance (with Andrew Sether)

    MAR 30 ·  BONUS

    The Aftershow: Connection to Self Is Peak Performance (with Andrew Sether)

    In this aftershow episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner reflects on his recent conversation with peak performance expert Andrew Sether. Bill is joined by three of his classmates from the University of Pennsylvania Master of Applied Positive Psychology program: Harry Hofer (Executive Coach),  Gaia Uman Borrero (Operations Manager), and Niels Gott, Leadership Transformation Architect). While the main episode explored the science of stress and performance through elite athletics, this conversation brings it home — to the everyday moments where we all need to show up at our best, and what gets in the way. Together, we explore the real challenges: The quiet accumulation of stress throughout the day, and how it shapes our decisions and interactions The gap between knowing these tools and actually remembering to use them in the moment What it means to truly resource yourself, and why that question changes everything In this aftershow, we reflect on: How breathwork and mindfulness complement each other — and why they're not the same thing What HRV actually means, in plain language, and why it matters for everyday wellbeing The difference between a threat response and a challenge response — and how a simple mindset shift can change your performance Why stress leaves imprints on the body, and what we can do about it The personal mantras each of us can reach for when the mental chatter gets too loud This conversation is a reminder that peak performance isn't reserved for athletes. It begins with awareness — of your body, your breath, and the thoughts you choose to follow. Topics of discussion: 00:00 After Show Setup 00:48 How Bill Met Andrew 01:48 Peak Performance Takeaways 03:11 Everyday Performances 08:15 Stress Awareness Tools 09:00 Resourcing and Mindful Leadership 13:12 Mindfulness Versus Breathwork 16:03 Breathwork Skeptics 19:52 Why Deep Breaths Work 22:21 Introducing HRV Basics 23:08 Wearables and HRV Basics 23:35 HRV Flexibility Explained 25:19 Alcohol and HRV Resilience 26:43 Professional Testing and Benchmarks 30:14 Physiology Before Decisions 32:42 Stress Imprints and Sleep 35:21 Stopping Negative Self Talk 36:58 Challenge Response and Performance 38:54 One Thought Forward Mantras 42:37 Closing Thanks and Community Resources Mentioned stress.org  The Yerkes-Dodson Law of Arousal and Performance Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack  Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    44 min

  5. MAR 23

    Connection to Self Is Peak Performance (with Andrew Sether)

    What if peak performance wasn't just for elite athletes, but for all of us, every day? In this episode of The Connection Effect, Bill Groner sits down with Andrew Sether, a peak performance expert whose clients include professional athletes across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and PGA Tour. But this conversation moves quickly beyond sports. Andrew's core insight is both humbling and hopeful: what separates athletes who perform under pressure from those who fall apart is almost entirely mental — and that mental performance is rooted in physiology. Stress and "busy brain" accumulate quietly through the day, and if we don't know how to reset, that buildup shapes everything that follows, including our ability to think clearly, connect with others, and show up at our best. The good news is that we have a brake pedal. Through breathwork, nervous system awareness, and practical tools for managing negative self-talk, Andrew shows how anyone can learn to regulate their internal state at work, in difficult conversations, and in everyday life. Because performance starts with connection to self. And sometimes, it begins with just one breath. Topics of Discussion: 00:00 Connection Effect Intro 03:45 Meet Andrew Sether 04:01 Defining Peak Performance 05:44 Everyone Is Performing 10:38 Physiology Drives Thoughts 12:28 Golf Example Under Pressure 16:26 HRV And Resilience Explained 18:49 Parasympathetic Brake Pedal 19:50 Breathwork Technique Walkthrough 22:09 Diaphragm Breathing Reset 22:53 One Breath Technique 24:10 Stopping Negative Self Talk 26:29 Postgame Recovery Sleep 28:24 Everyday Stress Examples 29:18 Speech Nerves Mantras 33:33 Daily Breathwork Habit 35:30 Handling Heated Disagreements 38:02 Track HRV With Wearables 40:20 Stories Real World Results 42:18 Final Takeaways And Next Steps Connect with Andrew Sether LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsether/  Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack  Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    46 min
  6. The Aftershow: Curiosity is More Than a Question (with Todd Kashdan)

    MAR 9 ·  BONUS

    The Aftershow: Curiosity is More Than a Question (with Todd Kashdan)

    Curiosity isn't just a conversation skill. It's a way of orienting your life. In this aftershow of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner reunites with MAPP classmates Harry Hofer (Executive Coach), Noah Adams (Strategy & Operations Manager at McMaster-Carr), and Sonya Looney (World Champion Athlete and Performance Coach) to reflect on his conversation with Todd Kashdan — and what it actually means to live curiously.  What started as a discussion about dialogue and connection quickly expands into something bigger: how curiosity generates energy, dissolves judgment, sustains relationships, and can serve as a North Star for how we move through the world. The conversation is warm, personal, and grounded — each participant bringing their own story to the themes Todd raised, from Argentine tango to powerlifting to pickleball to shower singing.   In this aftershow, we explore: Why curiosity is more than asking questions — and what joyous exploration actually looks like in practice How uncertainty anxiety keeps us from leaning in, and tools for moving through it The relationship between curiosity and energy: why a curious brain may actually renew itself Why judgment and curiosity can't coexist — and what changes when you remove evaluation from the equation When not to push curiosity in a difficult conversation — and why the relationship itself is sometimes the point How clarifying your intention before a hard conversation changes everything that follows   Bill closes with the same question he posed to Todd: Where are you leaning away from something unfamiliar — and what might happen if you leaned in?   Topics of discussion: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:02 Why Todd and Curiosity 03:44 Curiosity Beyond Questions 05:45 Joyous Exploration Stories 08:41 Uncertainty and Anxiety 14:24 Curiosity as a North Star 16:52 Energy and Brain Vitality 20:12 Judgment Free Curiosity 27:07 Curiosity in Conflict 33:17 Lean In Challenge 38:03 Closing and Community Invite   Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack  Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    40 min

  7. MAR 2

    Curiosity is More Than a Question (with Todd Kashdan)

    Curiosity isn't just about asking questions or exploring novel experiences. It's about what happens when you do. In this episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner sits down with psychologist, researcher, and author Todd Kashdan — one of the world's leading experts on curiosity — to explore what curiosity really is and why it's far more powerful, more complex, and more trainable than most of us realize. Drawing from 25 years of research, Todd unpacks curiosity as a five-dimensional strength: not just a feeling of wonder, but a system that involves tolerating uncertainty, navigating the tension between what excites us and what scares us, and finding the motivation to step toward the unfamiliar rather than away from it. Bill and Todd explore why curiosity is so underestimated, and what the science actually shows about its benefits: from slowing cognitive decline and generating vitality, to building agency, easing loneliness, and helping us connect across deep political and personal divides. This is curiosity not as a personality trait, but as a way of being — and a skill anyone can build. Topics of Discussion: 00:00 Introduction: The Curiosity Expert 02:11 Meet Todd Kashdan: From Panic Attacks to Curiosity Science 03:15 Residual Unsatisfied Curiosity: The Insight That Changed Everything 03:49 The Five Dimensions of Curiosity 05:59 Approach-Avoidance Conflict and Anxiety 06:54 Curiosity as a Dormant Strength 10:12 Is Curiosity Nature or Nurture? (Baseline + Coaching Model) 23:33 Curiosity and Cognitive Decline 27:38 Curiosity as an Agentic Superpower 30:00 Control, Hope, and Our Inner Lives 33:19 Bridging Political and Personal Divides with Curiosity 39:04 Teaching Curiosity: From Classrooms to Workshops 42:05 Hope for the Future 45:14 Final Reflections and Invitations Connect with Todd Kashdan Website: https://toddkashdan.com/  Substack: https://toddkashdan.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/toddkashdan  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddkashdan/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toddkashdan  Books (The Art of Insubordination, The Upside of your Darkside, Curious): https://toddkashdan.com/books/  Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack  Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    47 min
  8. The Aftershow: How We Stop Co-Creating Our Own Misery (with Fred Luskin)

    FEB 24 ·  BONUS

    The Aftershow: How We Stop Co-Creating Our Own Misery (with Fred Luskin)

    In this aftershow episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner discusses his conversation with Fred Luskin on forgiveness, grief, and letting go. Bill is joined by Harry Hofer (Executive Coach), Ava Shahi (Talent Development at ALO), and Gaia Uman Borrero (Operations Manager). While Fred's work on forgiveness is profound and often deeply personal, the group discusses that this isn't just about forgiving others—it's about how we respond to adversity, where we place our attention, and whether we're willing to do something different when what we're doing isn't working. Together, we explore the real challenges: The pull of negativity bias and the constant onslaught of difficult news Getting stuck in rumination, anger, or grief that becomes grievance The tension between acknowledging hard emotions and not letting them consume us The question of what we're holding onto that no longer serves us And we ground those challenges in something actionable and human. In this aftershow, we reflect on: Why grief becomes grievance when we get stuck—and how to recognize when that's happening The power of asking "How's that working for you?" as a catalyst for change Why getting to "optimal" matters before we can make an impact on bigger problems Existential forgiveness: forgiving yourself for doing the best you can Practicing gratitude and kindness throughout the day, not just in isolated moments The freedom that comes from accepting reality and doing something different This conversation isn't about toxic positivity or bypassing pain. It's about agency—recognizing where you have power to shift your attention, change your response, and move forward even when life is hard. Topics of discussion: 00:00 Introduction and Reflections on Fred's Episode  01:17 What Drew Bill to Fred Luskin  04:16 Redirecting Attention: Examples from Daily Life  7:34 The Pull of Negativity Bias  14:04 Grief Becomes Grievance  25:29 How's That Working For You? 29:32 Call Me When That Works For You  34:16 Power In Kindness  37:50 Reflections of Kindness 40:00 Gratitude Throughout the Day  43:37 Conclusion Connect with The Connection Effect Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack  Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

    44 min
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In an era of extraordinary division, we often focus on winning arguments rather than building understanding. But what if the key to our future as a society isn't about who is right, but about how we best connect with one another. How despite our differences, we each matter and feel we belong. Hosted by Bill Groner, a former trial lawyer who spent a decade representing over 10,000 9/11 responders in their fight for justice, The Connection Effect explores the profound impact of being truly heard. Drawing from a career witnessing the costs of silence and the power of resilience, Bill sits down with researchers, thinkers, and practitioners to discuss their life's work, lived experiences, and how they relate to the science, soul, and practice of connection. Join us as we explore how to bridge differences, listen deeply, and reconnect with ourselves and one another—especially when it feels most out of reach. Add your voice to the conversation by following us and chiming in at: connection.net/substack

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