Tough Talks: Strategies for Complex Dialogue
Are you an emerging or aspiring journalist, researcher, or changemaker who relies on conversation to tell compelling stories?
At Tough Talks: Strategies for Complex Dialogue, you'll learn practical tools for conducting better discussions with people with varying viewpoints. Guided by Emmy Award-winning writer Alex Goodson, you’ll
- Learn the difference between good-faith (but potentially difficult) conversations and reductive, antagonistic discourse
- Develop skills for self-regulation and reflexivity
- Understand how to apply this to your current or future work in the field
Who Can Join: Any Barnard or Columbia student can join, though this may be of particular interest to aspiring or emerging journalists, social researchers, policymakers, or narrative/audio storytellers.
The Commitment: Five, 90-minute sessions on the following dates.
- March 26 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 2 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 9 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 16 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 23 - 7:00 - 8:30
The Perks: Guidance from a dedicated facilitator, dinner at every session, networking with peers and field experts, and a $150 stipend once you complete the program.
The application to join this Spring 2025 community of practice is now closed.
Good things are done in collaboration. This community of practice is being produced in partnership with Barnard CEI. Learn about communities of practice and Athena’s complete set of offerings here.
Meet our Guest Expert!
Alexandria Goodson | Guest Expert
Alexandria Goodson (she/her) is a 2-time Emmy-winning writer and producer for Good Morning America, co-founder and co-manager of the GMA Book Club, and a published author. Since joining GMA in 2015, she has produced major events alongside Robin Roberts, written and produced segments with high-profile guests, and helped elevate over 20 books to New York Times Best Sellers. An award-winning poet and fiction writer, her work appears in Atlanta Review, Sonora Review, and more. She lives in Brooklyn with her dog Bucatini and enjoys 50/50 gin martinis, Joni Mitchell, and playing pool.
Read Alexandria's full bio here.
Participants of this program will receive:
- Guidance from a dedicated facilitator
- Dinner at every session
- Networking with peers and field experts
- A $150 stipend once you complete the program
Five, 90-minute sessions on the following dates.
- March 26 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 2 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 9 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 16 - 7:00 - 8:30
- April 23 - 7:00 - 8:30
The application to join this Spring 2025 community of practice is now closed.