The Neuroscience of Storytelling and Connection with Founder of Story & Spirit, Michael Kass
Seeking the Overlap Podcast Episode 10
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When’s the last time you walked away from a conversation feeling more alive, energized, and seen? Not just understood at a surface level, but truly felt, as though something bigger than words had passed between you and the other person?
What if that wasn’t an accident?
In episode 10 of Seeking the Overlap, I sat down with Michael Kass, an international facilitator, healer, and storyteller who believes that every conversation—when approached with presence—holds the potential to tap into something greater than ourselves. He calls it “deep listening to the space itself,” and it completely shifted how I think about connecting with others.
The Power of Presence
We live in a culture obsessed with multitasking, efficiency, and quick wins. But as Michael pointed out, “The simplest thing we can possibly do is to be present, but it’s incredibly hard because our entire culture is designed to pull us away from it.”
And yet, presence is the foundation of meaningful connection. When two people show up fully and listen—not just to the words, but to the energy and essence of what’s unfolding between them—they create a connection that goes far beyond small talk or surface-level interaction.
It’s not about planning your next response or mentally checking out when the other person is speaking. It’s about trusting that something valuable will emerge if you make space for it.
Michael explained it beautifully: “In any conversation, if two beings are deeply present, they’re tapped into a consciousness or intelligence that doesn’t belong to either one of them. There’s something that wants to emerge through the relationship.”
I refer to that experience as, “My This + Your That = Our Magic.”
How often do we allow this kind of magic to happen in our day-to-day interactions?
Why Connection Is a Radical Act
When I think about presence, I can’t help but see it as an act of rebellion. Everything around us—our phones, our inboxes, our endless to-do lists—pulls us toward distraction. But when we slow down, tune in, and truly listen, we’re reclaiming something essential.
Michael describes this as tapping into a collective intelligence that exists in the space between us. It’s a form of connection that goes beyond transactional exchanges and into something transformational.
In a professional setting, this might look like the magic that happens in a mastermind group. When people come together with shared intention and openness, the group’s collective energy often generates ideas and solutions no individual could have created alone.
But you don’t need a formal setting to access this kind of connection. It’s available in every interaction—if we choose to show up for it.
How to Practice Deep Listening
So, how do we do this in practice? It starts with intention.
Here are three simple steps to bring more presence into your conversations:
Slow down and tune in. Before diving into a discussion, take a moment to ground yourself. Ask, “How can I show up fully for this person right now?”
Listen without an agenda. Resist the urge to plan your response or steer the conversation. Instead, focus on truly hearing the other person and letting the moment guide what comes next.
Trust the process. It might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re used to “performing” in conversations. But the more you practice letting go, the more you’ll notice the magic that emerges naturally.
(Btw, if you’d like a handy cheat sheet for cultivating connection with every conversation, I’ve got you.)
Connection as a Survival Tool
Michael didn’t mince words when he said this kind of connection is essential for our survival as a species, and I couldn’t agree more.
We’ve built a world that prizes productivity over relationships, but the truth is, connection is what sustains us. It’s what inspires us to innovate, collaborate, and care for one another.
What if we all chose to approach our interactions with more presence? What if we prioritized listening not just to each other but to the space between us?
I believe we’d see a ripple effect—not just in our personal lives, but in our workplaces, communities, and beyond.
A Challenge for You
Here’s my invitation: In your next conversation, show up fully. Put your phone away, silence your inner monologue, and simply be present.
Notice what shifts. Notice how it feels to let go of control and trust the moment.
And when something surprising, meaningful, or magical emerges, I’d love to hear about it.
Because at the end of the day, connection isn’t just a skill or a strategy. It’s what makes us human. And it’s where the best of life happens.
Until next time, happy connecting!
Baily Hancock is a Connection Strategist, Writer, Keynote Speaker, and Host of the “Seeking the Overlap” Podcast dedicated to helping people build reciprocal relationships and collaborative communities where they feel safe, seen, and supported in both work and life. Head to OverlapCollective.com to learn more, or comment below and say hello!
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