In the first episode of Talking to Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan introduce themselves and explore the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing. They discuss the relational foundation of MI and how the way practitioners work with people is as important as the skills and strategies they use.

At the time this episode was recorded in 2018, MI Spirit was described through four interrelated elements: Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion and Evocation. The conversation considers how these principles support respectful, collaborative conversations about change, with the practitioner working alongside the person rather than taking an expert-led or directive position.

Understanding MI Spirit helps put the practical skills of Motivational Interviewing into context. Open questions, reflections and other MI skills are not simply techniques. They are used within a relationship characterised by curiosity, respect for autonomy and genuine interest in the person’s own perspectives, values and reasons for change.

Update: This episode was recorded in 2018 and reflects the terminology used in Motivational Interviewing at that time. In the fourth edition of Motivational Interviewing, the fourth element of MI Spirit is described as Empowerment. Read the current guide to the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing, including Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion and Empowerment.

For questions or suggestions about Talking to Change, contact Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan at the podcast email below.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

For all previous episodes CLICK HERE

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Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan return for the second episode of Talking to Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast to explore the core skills of Motivational Interviewing. Often remembered through the acronym OARS, these communication skills help practitioners listen carefully, understand the person’s perspective and encourage conversations about change.

The four traditional OARS skills are Open Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening and Summaries. Used skilfully, they do more than provide a structure for a conversation. They help practitioners communicate empathy, recognise strengths, deepen understanding and create space for people to hear and develop their own thoughts about change.

The episode considers the purpose of each skill and how they work together. In Motivational Interviewing, OARS are not techniques to persuade someone to change. They are used within the collaborative spirit of MI to support engagement, exploration and the person’s autonomy.

Update: This 2018 episode focuses on the traditional OARS framework. Our current OARS + I guide also includes Information Exchange as an important part of skilful Motivational Interviewing practice.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

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In the third episode of Talking to Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan explore the four processes of Motivational Interviewing: Engaging, Focusing, Evoking and Planning. Together, these describe how an MI conversation can develop from establishing a helpful working relationship through to strengthening motivation and, when appropriate, planning for change.

Engaging involves developing a collaborative relationship and understanding the person’s perspective. Focusing helps practitioner and client develop clarity about the direction of the conversation. Evoking draws out the person’s own motivations, values and arguments for change. Planning becomes relevant when there is sufficient readiness to consider how change might happen.

Glenn and Sebastian also demonstrate these processes through an MI conversation about smoking. The demonstration illustrates that the processes are not rigid stages. Practitioners may move between them as the conversation develops, returning to engagement or focus whenever this is helpful.

Update: This episode was recorded in 2018 and uses the Four Processes terminology current at the time. In the fourth edition of Motivational Interviewing, these are described as the Four Tasks of Motivational Interviewing: Engaging, Focusing, Evoking and Planning.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

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In the fourth episode of Talking to Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan welcome psychologist Stan Steindl, PhD, to explore compassion in Motivational Interviewing and its relationship with MI practice.

Compassion is one of the four elements of the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing. It involves actively promoting the other person’s welfare and giving their needs priority within the helping conversation. This distinguishes compassion from simply feeling sympathy or concern. Within MI, compassion sits alongside partnership, acceptance and empowerment as part of the relational foundation for conversations about change.

Stan discusses the relationship between compassion and MI in both directions. A compassionate stance can shape how practitioners listen and respond, while an MI-style conversation may also help people develop a more compassionate understanding of themselves and others. The discussion considers self-compassion, wellbeing and how the quality of the helping relationship can influence conversations about change.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

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How did Carl Rogers and person-centred helping influence Motivational Interviewing? In Episode 5 of Talking to Change, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan talk with Dr Christopher C. Wagner about Carl Rogers and Motivational Interviewing, and the person-centred foundations that continue to shape MI practice.

The discussion considers Rogers’ radical departure from an expert model of helping. Rather than positioning the practitioner as the person who diagnoses the problem and supplies the answer, person-centred practice emphasises understanding the client’s experience and creating conditions that support growth and change. These ideas can be seen in the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing, particularly acceptance and partnership.

Chris explores Rogers’ core conditions, incongruence, acceptance, growth and emotional emancipation. The conversation also considers where Motivational Interviewing builds on its person-centred foundations by intentionally attending to language, direction and conversations about change.

Chris is an associate professor, licensed clinical psychologist and certified rehabilitation counsellor. His scholarship focuses on Motivational Interviewing and interpersonal processes in mental health and substance use treatment. He has helped expand MI theory and practice, including the development of MI group psychotherapy, and is lead author of the Guilford Press book on Motivational Interviewing in groups.

• 0:00 – Opening and introduction
• 8:00 – Rogers’ radical departure from the expert model of helping
• 14:00 – The spirit of person-centred interactions
• 19:00 – Rogers’ six core conditions
• 28:00 – “Inside the bubble”: incongruence and acceptance
• 36:00 – Rogers’ core conditions: necessary and sufficient, but efficient?
• 41:00 – A growth perspective
• 49:00 – Emotional emancipation
• 56:00 – Positive discrepancy
• 1:00:00 – MI in groups, proactive orientation and beyond discrete behaviour change
• 1:10:00 – MI in dentistry, updating the MI groups model and organic MI training

Email: ccwagner@vcu.edu

For questions or suggestions about Talking to Change, contact Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

GBP

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In the sixth episode of Talking to Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan welcome Theresa Moyers, PhD, to explore change talk in Motivational Interviewing and why client language matters in conversations about change. Terri draws on her extensive experience as a clinician and researcher in the treatment of addictive behaviours.

Change talk refers to a person’s own language in favour of change. Rather than supplying arguments for change, an MI practitioner listens for and responds to the person’s own motivations, values, concerns and intentions. The episode explores why this language matters, how it may develop during a conversation and the practitioner’s role in creating conditions in which it can emerge.

The discussion also examines sustain talk, the language that favours maintaining the status quo. Terri considers the relationship between change talk, sustain talk and behaviour, as well as the importance of empathy and reflective listening when responding to client language.

The following episode index highlights the main topics discussed:

0:00 – Opening/introduction
2:00 – What is change talk and why does it matter?
14:30 – Desire talk
16:30 – Sustain talk
19:00 – Other elements of change talking
23:30 – Is change talking all about behaviour?
27:00 – Change talking: Smoke or fire?
34:00 – Talking one’s self into change
37:00 – The clinician as influencer: “The waitress test”
45:00 – Client language within an empathic relationship and reflective listening
55:00 – Learning and developing Motivational Interviewing
59:00 – What’s on your mind lately? Dog training
1:06:00 – Closing

For questions or suggestions about Talking to Change, contact Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

GBP

All Episodes

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How has Motivational Interviewing developed, and what matters most in its practice? In Episode 7 of Talking to Change, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan talk with Professor Steve Rollnick, co-founder of Motivational Interviewing, about the development, practice and future of MI.

Steve reflects on the development of MI with William R. Miller and its journey from specialist addiction treatment towards everyday conversations across health, social care and other helping settings.

The discussion explores what sits at the heart of effective Motivational Interviewing practice. Steve considers the attitudes and skills practitioners bring to conversations, the effects of stress on helping relationships and the importance of noticing our own state before and during an interaction. These themes connect closely with the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing and the collaborative way practitioners seek to work with people.

Steve also discusses practical aspects of MI, including affirmations, evoking, giving advice and working within time-limited encounters. He reflects on common mistakes, questions practitioners can use when reviewing their own practice, and possible future directions for Motivational Interviewing.

• 0:00 – Introduction and Steve Rollnick’s background
• 2:30 – The development of Motivational Interviewing
• 10:10 – Fundamental elements of effective MI practice
• 15:14 – Stress in helping environments and its impact on practitioners
• 18:55 – Recognising the practitioner’s state and its influence on helping encounters
• 22:40 – Attitudes and skills
• 29:40 – Affirmations
• 36:19 – Evoking
• 45:55 – Giving advice
• 50:45 – Questions for reflecting on MI attitude and practice
• 56:00 – Time-limited interventions
• 1:03:20 – What not to do in MI
• 1:06:20 – Future directions for Motivational Interviewing
• 1:13:08 – Contact details, resources and links
• 1:17:18 – End

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

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In Episode 8 of Talking to Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan welcome clinician, trainer and author Dee-Dee Stout to explore the intersection between Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Trauma Informed Practice (TIP). The conversation considers how practitioners can move beyond a narrow focus on symptoms and place greater emphasis on safety, engagement, collaboration and the person’s experience.

Trauma informed practice recognises that experiences of trauma can influence how people understand services, relationships and attempts to help. Dee-Dee discusses how an MI approach can support engagement without requiring practitioners to become experts on another person’s experience. This includes working collaboratively, supporting autonomy and avoiding interactions that unnecessarily reproduce experiences of powerlessness or control.

These themes connect closely with the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing, particularly partnership, acceptance and respect for autonomy. The episode also explores engagement in clinical settings, trauma informed work with families and ways that MI and TIP can complement one another in everyday practice.

0:00 – Opening/Introduction

4:30 – What is Trauma Informed Practice? (TIP)

8:00 – Transforming the System: Application of TIP in a Domestic Violence Shelter

21:00 – Collaboration and Engagement

23:45 – Autonomy Support

27:45 – More on Engagement and the MI Spirit

39:45 – Moving Beyond Symptoms in Clinical Settings

44:45 – Recent Interests: MI and TIP with Families – Families for Sensible Drug Policy

49:10 – Closing

For questions or suggestions about Talking to Change, contact Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan.

Email: podcast@glennhinds.com
glenn@glennhinds.com
sebkaplan34@gmail.com

BlueSky:
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
@talkingtochange.bsky.social

For all previous episodes CLICK HERE

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