In this episode of Communicate Great, host Traci Poe sits down with therapist and social worker Ken Hyra, who brings 25 years of experience helping couples and individuals navigate communication breakdowns. Together, they explore why conversations don’t fail because of words alone—but because of how those words are interpreted through past experiences, emotional triggers, and the nervous system.

From dishwasher-loading arguments to facial expressions, interruptions, and unspoken assumptions, this conversation reveals how seemingly minor moments activate old patterns that lead to defensiveness, shutdown, or escalation. Ken explains why communication is a practice, not a talent—and why becoming curious instead of reactive can completely change the direction of a relationship.

Get in touch with Ken:
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/ken-hyra-chatham-on/1068868

Skool: https://www.skool.com/the-cothera-communication-lab-3063

Substack: https://substack.com/@kenrsw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenhyra/

For personal or professional life, we offer tips and tricks to help you Communicate Great, leveling up your communication to connect with and build deeper relationships with all of your important people.

Want to work with us? Want to just check us out? Visit and Bookmark our WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.communicategreat.online⁠

Level up your communication skills in your personal and professional life: subscribe, like, and follow us on our social media links below.

To support this podcast, visit us on Anchor: ⁠⁠Communicate Great⁠⁠

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Want to start your own podcast? Check out the online recording studio Riverside - Riverside affiliate: ⁠⁠⁠Riverside.fm - Record Podcasts And Videos From Anywhere

Healthy relationships aren’t built on better words alone, they’re built on deeper self-awareness.

In this episode of Communicate Great, host Traci Poe welcomes back therapist and relationship coach Sherry McClurkin, M.S. for a powerful conversation that goes beneath surface-level communication skills and into the real drivers of relational breakdown: unexamined needs, hidden assumptions, and unmet expectations.

Sherry shares her personal journey, from growing up in an emotionally silent home to becoming a therapist who now helps people reshape how they show up in relationships. Together, Traci and Sherry explore why people talk past each other, how emotional immaturity shows up in everyday interactions, and why expecting others to “just know” what we need creates disconnection instead of closeness.

Connect with Sherry:
https://www.sherrymcclurkin.com/

https://www.sherrymcclurkin.com/relationship-quiz

https://www.sherrymcclurkin.com/freeebook

Sherry’s Previous Episode on The Communicate Great Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wVpSXR9cPOAysQv4eaZg2?si=-Z9yJ3VyQ1mYTpWK1yuVOg

For personal or professional life, we offer tips and tricks to help you Communicate Great, leveling up your communication to connect with and build deeper relationships with all of your important people.

Want to work with us? Want to just check us out? Visit and Bookmark our WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.communicategreat.online⁠

Level up your communication skills in your personal and professional life: subscribe, like, and follow us on our social media links below.

To support this podcast, visit us on Anchor: ⁠⁠Communicate Great⁠⁠

Follow us on IG: ⁠communicate_great⁠

Like and follow us on FB: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Connect with and follow us on LI: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Subscribe, hit notifications, like, share on YouTube: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Follow up on Pinterest: @‌CommunicateGreat

Connect with us on Alignable: Communicate Great

Want to start your own podcast? Check out the online recording studio Riverside - Riverside affiliate: ⁠⁠⁠Riverside.fm - Record Podcasts And Videos From Anywhere

Have you ever realized you were listening—but not really understanding?

In this episode of Communicate Great, Traci Poe sits down with Maria Gallucci, real estate agent, author, and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), to explore how being raised in silence shaped her approach to communication, presence, and connection. Maria shares what it means to grow up with ASL as her first language, why communication goes far beyond sound, and how intention, body language, and eye contact play a critical role in truly understanding others.

Together, Traci and Maria dive into inclusive communication, the power of listening to understand (not just to respond), and how assumptions can derail relationships. Maria also discusses her bestselling book Raised in Silence and her mission to build awareness, empathy, and stronger human connection through better communication.

Whether you’re looking to improve your listening skills, communicate more intentionally, or understand communication through a new cultural lens, this conversation offers practical insights and meaningful takeaways for every relationship.

Connect with Maria:
Colorado ASL Realtor – Your Luxury Real Estate Expert

Maria Gallucci | Realtor (@galluccihomes) • Instagram profile

Maria Gallucci

Get Maria’s Book - Home - Raised In Silence by Maria Gallucci

For personal or professional life, we offer tips and tricks to help you Communicate Great, leveling up your communication to connect with and build deeper relationships with all of your important people.

Want to work with us? Want to just check us out? Visit and Bookmark our WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.communicategreat.online⁠

Level up your communication skills in your personal and professional life: subscribe, like, and follow us on our social media links below.

To support this podcast, visit us on Anchor: ⁠⁠Communicate Great⁠⁠

Follow us on IG: ⁠communicate_great⁠

Like and follow us on FB: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Connect with and follow us on LI: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Subscribe, hit notifications, like, share on YouTube: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Follow up on Pinterest: @‌CommunicateGreat

Connect with us on Alignable: Communicate Great

Want to start your own podcast? Check out the online recording studio Riverside - Riverside affiliate: ⁠⁠⁠Riverside.fm - Record Podcasts And Videos From Anywhere

Do you listen to respond… or do you listen to truly listen?

In this re-released episode, Traci Poe revisits a powerful and thought-provoking conversation with David Creel, known as The Blind Spot Coach. This episode was too impactful not to share again.

Together, they unpack how blind spots shape the way we communicate, why most conflict escalates automatically, and how learning to respond instead of react can completely change our relationships—at home, at work, and everywhere in between.

David uses a simple but unforgettable example—the hidden arrow in the FedEx logo—to show how once something is pointed out, you can’t unsee it. The same is true for our communication patterns. Once you become aware of them, you gain the power to choose differently.

Connect with David:

https://davidcreel.com/

For personal or professional life, we offer tips and tricks to help you Communicate Great, leveling up your communication to connect with and build deeper relationships with all of your important people.

Want to work with us? Want to just check us out? Visit and Bookmark our WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.communicategreat.online⁠

Level up your communication skills in your personal and professional life: subscribe, like, and follow us on our social media links below.

To support this podcast, visit us on Anchor: ⁠⁠Communicate Great⁠⁠

Follow us on IG: ⁠communicate_great⁠

Like and follow us on FB: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Connect with and follow us on LI: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Subscribe, hit notifications, like, share on YouTube: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Follow up on Pinterest: @‌CommunicateGreat

Connect with us on Alignable: Communicate Great

Want to start your own podcast? Check out the online recording studio Riverside - Riverside affiliate: ⁠⁠⁠Riverside.fm - Record Podcasts And Videos From Anywhere

Today is a re-release of one of our most impactful episodes of The Communicate Great Podcast. We’re bringing this conversation back because the message is timeless and continues to resonate deeply with listeners.

In this episode, host Traci Poe sits down with Barb Pastuszko to explore a powerful and personal topic: do you listen to your inner critic—or your personal power?

Barb shares insight into how our inner dialogue shapes the way we communicate, make decisions, and show up in our relationships and work. Together, they unpack how self-awareness, mindset, and intentional communication can help shift us out of self-doubt and into confidence, clarity, and authenticity.

This conversation serves as an important reminder that effective communication doesn’t just happen outwardly — it begins within. By learning to recognize and challenge the voices that hold us back, we can communicate with greater purpose and impact.

Whether you’re navigating self-doubt, seeking stronger self-trust, or wanting to communicate from a place of confidence and alignment, this episode offers meaningful insight and encouragement — which is exactly why we felt it deserved to be shared again.

Connect with Barb:
On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/barb.pastuszko/ On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bestofbarbwellness/

For personal or professional life, we offer tips and tricks to help you Communicate Great, leveling up your communication to connect with and build deeper relationships with all of your important people.

Want to work with us? Want to just check us out? Visit and Bookmark our WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.communicategreat.online⁠

Level up your communication skills in your personal and professional life: subscribe, like, and follow us on our social media links below.

To support this podcast, visit us on Anchor: ⁠⁠Communicate Great⁠⁠

Follow us on IG: ⁠communicate_great⁠

Like and follow us on FB: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Connect with and follow us on LI: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Subscribe, hit notifications, like, share on YouTube: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Follow up on Pinterest: @‌CommunicateGreat

Connect with us on Alignable: Communicate Great

Want to start your own podcast? Check out the online recording studio Riverside - Riverside affiliate: ⁠⁠⁠Riverside.fm - Record Podcasts And Videos From Anywhere

In this episode of The Communicate Great Podcast, host Traci Poe sits down with retired undercover officer and high-stakes leadership expert Traci Ruiz to uncover what it truly means to communicate under pressure — whether in crisis, challenge, or change.

From navigating life-or-death moments during her 25-year law enforcement career to equipping today’s leaders with the tools to make confident decisions, Traci shares powerful insights on empathy, listening, and staying calm when stakes are high.

Hear how her experiences working undercover — posing as a prostitute, buying drugs, and building trust in dangerous environments — shaped her understanding of communication, connection, and courage.

Whether you’re leading a team through uncertainty or simply trying to handle tough conversations with more grace, this episode offers a masterclass in communicating great when it matters most.

Connect with Traci Ruiz:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciruiz-highstakesleadership/

One Sheet: https://6963744e8dd1df9ac87d-dcf5077395e4ca01a77d25650f333cb6.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/3189/6908ecfd56daa.LEADERS-TR Speaker One Sheet.pdf

For personal or professional life, we offer tips and tricks to help you Communicate Great, leveling up your communication to connect with and build deeper relationships with all of your important people.

Want to work with us? Want to just check us out? Visit and Bookmark our WEBSITE: ⁠https://www.communicategreat.online⁠

Level up your communication skills in your personal and professional life: subscribe, like, and follow us on our social media links below.

To support this podcast, visit us on Anchor: ⁠⁠Communicate Great⁠⁠

Follow us on IG: ⁠communicate_great⁠

Like and follow us on FB: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Connect with and follow us on LI: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Subscribe, hit notifications, like, share on YouTube: ⁠Communicate Great⁠

Follow up on Pinterest: @‌CommunicateGreat

Connect with us on Alignable: Communicate Great

Want to start your own podcast? Check out the online recording studio Riverside - Riverside affiliate: ⁠⁠⁠Riverside.fm - Record Podcasts And Videos From Anywhere