Professor Christian van Nieuwberg on Radical Listening

Is listening a hidden superpower we’ve overlooked? You've heard of Active Listening, but what is Radical Listening and why does it matter?

Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined by Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh, an academic who also describes himself as 'Coach on a Motorcycle'. He's on the show to help me explore what he calls 'Radical Listening'.

Christian is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at the University of East London and the co-author, with Dr Robert Biswas-Diener, of 'Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection'.

The book offers a research-backed but deeply human exploration of what it means to really hear someone — and how that act alone can change lives. In the book and in his work, Christian blends academic rigour with road-tested coaching insights, drawing from both the lecture hall and long rides through open landscapes. He invites us to look at listening not just as a skill, but as a way of being.

With a background in positive psychology and a passion for connection, Christian brings a perspective that’s as practical as it is profound. We talk about how listening — when done with presence and intention — becomes far more than a communication technique. It becomes a way of affirming identity, offering empathy, and shaping culture. Christian shares why well-meaning advice often misses the mark, the difference between social and cognitive listening, and what it takes to be with someone, rather than just hearing them.

This isn’t just for leaders or coaches; it’s for anyone who wants to have better conversations, create stronger relationships, and be more human in how they engage with others. Listening, as we discuss, isn’t neutral. It’s powerful, personal, and radically transformative.

Guest Biography
Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh is a globally recognised executive coach, academic, and author, holding the title of Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at the University of East London.

As Managing Director of the International Centre for Coaching Psychology and Executive Director at Growth Coaching International, he bridges rigorous research with practice.

He co-authored Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection (with Dr Robert Biswas‑Diener), which reorients listening from a background skill to a central act of human connection.

Famously known as the “Coach on a Motorcycle,” Christian combines his love for the open road with his dedication to how we hear and are heard. Learn more at:

Links
Radical Listening - https://www.bkconnection.com/books/title/Radical-Listening
Radical Listening Audiobook - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Radical-Listening-Audiobook/B0F2B3TKXV


Christian's faculty page at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) - https://people.rcsi.com/chrisvn
Christian's faculty page at Henley Business School - https://www.henley.ac.uk/people/christian-j-van-nieuwerburgh

Coach on a Motorcycle - coachonamotorcycle.com

AI-Generated Timestamped Summary

• [00:01:45] — The roots of Radical Listening
• [00:06:30] — How coaching principles intersect with everyday conversations
• [00:11:55] — When advice becomes unhelpful
• [00:17:40] — Listening as identity-affirming behaviour
• [00:22:00] — When a good question stops you in your tracks
• [00:27:30] — Social vs cognitive listening
• [00:33:10] — Why you don’t need to understand the topic to be a great listener
• [00:38:45] — The unspoken costs of poor listening in organisations
• [00:44:50] — How Radical Listening links to psychological safety
• [00:49:20] — Motorcycles, mindfulness, and being in flow
• [00:56:00] — The AI comparison: why listening is a human art
• [01:01:00] — Practical takeaways for everyday listeners