hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 457: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and guest Simeon Baum P1 on hmTv
Habits of a Whole Heart
Episode 457 (Part 1): Listening Before Solving – The Inner Life of a Mediator
Host: Arnie Herz
Guest: Simeon Baum
Before conflicts can be resolved, something more important has to happen first: someone has to truly listen.
In this first of a two-part conversation, Arnie Herz welcomes renowned mediator and trainer Simeon Baum, president of Resolve Mediation Services, for a deeply reflective discussion about the inner foundations of conflict resolution. Long before legal strategy, negotiation tactics, or settlement agreements, Simeon explains, mediation begins with presence.
Tracing his journey back to adolescence during the Vietnam War era, Simeon shares how discovering the Tao Te Ching, practicing Zen meditation, and studying comparative religion reshaped his understanding of success, shifting him from competition toward collaboration. These spiritual and philosophical influences would later become the backbone of his professional life, helping him guide thousands of disputes toward resolution.
Together, Arnie and Simeon explore the power of stillness, mindfulness, and empathy, and why a mediator’s greatest tool is not persuasion but awareness. They discuss how deep listening reduces defensiveness, restores agency to people in conflict, and allows empathy to emerge naturally. The conversation also connects ancient wisdom traditions with modern psychology, leadership, and even medicine, showing how reflection and presence can transform not only disputes, but daily living.
This episode is less about legal technique and more about how to be human in difficult moments. Whether you are navigating family tension, workplace disagreements, or internal struggles, Simeon offers a simple but profound message: clarity comes when we slow down enough to hear.
Part 1 focuses on the philosophy and life experiences that shaped Simeon’s approach. Part 2 will move into practical tools listeners can use to handle real-world conflict.
Habits of a Whole Heart is part of the Humanity Matters series on hmTv, produced at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, bringing thoughtful conversations that help listeners live with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding.