Listener from Los Angeles, CA
I talk about: Community Building, Youth
Orly Israel was a TV producer in Los Angeles dreaming up fictional characters with fictional relationships. Yet he felt isolated and lonely, so he volunteered at a prison to help incarcerated people develop their social skills through conversation. Many there opened their hearts when they felt someone was really listening. One woman shared it was the first time she had ever trusted a man in her life.
Orly decided he wanted to hone his listening skills, so every week he set up a folding table in a different place - a beach, street corner, park, farmer's market - with a sign that said, "Here to listen. No judgment. No advice. No charge." 1500 conversations and three years later, he began sharing what he learned from his Listening Table experiment.
When the 2025 Los Angeles fire destroyed his home, Orly found his years of listening had prepared him for the challenge of helping rebuild community bonds among displaced neighbors. He now creates gathering spaces where people can come together to maintain their traditions and connections.
He helps others learn to use listening to break down barriers, transform relationships in a community, and weather times of crisis. He tells powerful stories of creating healing environments in settings from homeless shelters to prisons, of youth finding their voice, and of strangers becoming friends. He teaches listening workshops at corporations, schools, clubs, and to millions of people through online videos.
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