Sidewalk Talk Listening Trainings
Listening isn’t just a skill. It’s a devotion.
At Sidewalk Talk, we believe listening is one of the most radical and healing acts we can offer the world. That’s why our trainings aren’t just about techniques—they’re about transformation.
Our programs were co-created with over 40 listeners, scholars, and researchers, led by Sidewalk Talk founder and veteran couples therapist, Traci Ruble. Whether you’re learning to listen without fixing, working across political divides, or wanting to deepen connection in your relationship or workplace—we’ve got you.
All profits from our trainings directly support our global network of volunteers who listen on sidewalks to heal disconnection.
Self-Paced Online Training
How to Listen on the Sidewalk (Free Mini-Training)
17 min to set up + 15 min on crisis support + PDF guide
Want to go listen on the sidewalk with a friend or get a taste of what Sidewalk Talk is all about?
This free mini-training gives you:
17 minutes on how to set up your own sidewalk listening experience
15 minutes on how to respond if someone is in distress
A downloadable PDF summary
Listening Skills 101
(Donate What You Can)
8 bite-sized video modules + Real-life demos + Reflection prompts + Expert insight on crisis support
Self-paced. Suggested donation of $30. 100% supports Sidewalk Talk’s mission.
Even the most compassionate people struggle with truly heart-centered listening. This self-paced foundational training helps you:
Stop judging and fixing
Build confidence in difficult moments
Support people in crisis
Learn how to listen on the sidewalk (and why it works)
“I’ve sent corporate coaching clients through this. It’s that good.”
Wish You Knew Me (By Donation)
Listen across divides—with heart.
This training is a balm for these divided times. Learn to hold space for people whose beliefs and values differ wildly from your own, with grace, curiosity, and love.
You’ll get:
A conversation guide to navigate hot-button topics
Exercises to increase empathy and mutual understanding
Real stories of transformation across political, religious, and social lines
“My mom and I couldn’t talk about politics. This changed everything.”
HEAR: Live Training + Practice Group
5 Weeks | 11 Modules | $275 | 100% of profits support Sidewalk Talk volunteer operations
Grow your presence. Sharpen your listening. Be part of a community changing the world one conversation at a time.
HEAR is a live, immersive training and practice group that helps you sharpen your listening skills and connect more deeply—with others and yourself.
Perfect for therapists, leaders, coaches, and curious humans, this five-week experience helps you:
Listen without fixing, rescuing, or disappearing
Understand the body’s role in reactivity and regulation
Set clear, compassionate boundaries
Stay centered through stress and disagreement
Work with your own bias and blind spots
Be fully present—with difference, with discomfort, with dignity
“HEAR changed how I listen—and how I live. I finally understand what it means to be present with another human without losing myself.”
HEAR for Couples: Live Training + Practice Group
5 Weeks | 11 Modules | $550 per couple | 100% of profits support Sidewalk Talk volunteer operations
Because listening to your partner is often the hardest—and most healing—thing you’ll ever do.
Let’s be real: it’s often easier to listen to a stranger than to the person you love most. That’s not a failure—it’s human. Our closest relationships stir up the oldest patterns.
HEAR for Couples is a five-week, live training and practice group to help you and your partner untangle miscommunication and rebuild trust, one connected moment at a time.
You’ll learn how to:
Stay grounded even when you’re triggered
Use shared language to break painful cycles
Reconnect to your own dreams and desires
Laugh more, repair faster, and relate better
“We were struggling with communication, and thanks to HEAR, we now have tools and shared language that help us through instead of being led by raw emotion. I looked inward, saw where I had put my hopes and dreams aside—and began to reclaim them. Our relationship is stronger and our connection deeper because of this course.”
Bring HEAR To You: Onsite Training Options
Want to bring the power of HEAR into your community or workplace?
If you're in Europe, you can invite our founder, Traci Ruble, to lead a live, in-person training for your organization or group.
If you're in the United States, our certified trainers can deliver a custom HEAR training for your company, team, or community.
Let us help you create a culture of heart-centered leadership, inclusion, and connection.
📩 Email hear@sidewalk-talk.org for more information or to start the conversation.