"Being Understood Takes Effort from Both Sides" Episode 57

"Hey there, my fur-tastic friends! 🐾 Welcome back to The Monkey the Cat Podcast! I’m Monkey, your favorite talking cat, and today’s episode is about something super important in every friendship, family, or team. It’s not just about talking—it’s about making sure everyone feels understood.

Our lesson today? Being understood takes effort from both sides.

That means if you want someone to get what you’re saying, you have to try to explain it well. And if you’re listening, you have to try to understand it from their side too. I learned this while trying to teach Max the parrot how to play checkers... using cat logic."

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Transcript

Tyler: 0:10

"Hey there, my fur-tastic friends! Welcome back to The Monkey the Cat Podcast! I’m Monkey, your favorite talking cat, and today’s episode is about something super important in every friendship, family, or team. It’s not just about talking—it’s about making sure everyone feels understood. Our lesson today? Being understood takes effort from both sides. That means if you want someone to get what you’re saying, you have to try to explain it well. And if you’re listening, you have to try to understand it from their side too. I learned this while trying to teach Max the parrot how to play checkers... using cat logic.""It all started when I challenged Max to a friendly game of backyard checkers.✅Brooklyn brought the board.✅Teddy made lemonade.✅Olivff took score with a fancy feather pen. But Max? He was confused right from the start.‘Wait,’ he squawked,‘why are the red pieces called“sardines”?’ I said,‘Because cats like sardines! Makes it more fun!’‘And what’s with the purring before every move?’‘Adds suspense,’ I purred dramatically. Max tilted his head.‘Monkey, I don’t understand your rules.’ I huffed.‘But I explained it perfectly!’ Olivff paused her pen and said,‘Monkey, maybe what makes sense to you doesn’t make sense to Max. Try it his way.’""So I tried again.✅I used the regular names for the pieces.✅I showed him each move clearly.✅I let him ask questions, and I really listened. And Max? He tried too.✅He asked for help without squawking in frustration.✅He repeated the rules back to make sure he got them.✅He even said,‘Monkey, this is fun. Thanks for helping me learn.’ That’s when I realized: Being understood isn’t just about talking louder or slower. It’s about meeting in the middle. I made the effort to explain clearly. Max made the effort to listen carefully. And that’s how checkers turned into a checkmate of friendship!" What We Learned Today🔹Communication is a two-way street—it takes sharing and listening.🔹If someone doesn’t understand, try explaining in a new way.🔹If you don’t understand, ask kindly and listen with care.🔹Understanding each other makes every friendship stronger and every game more fun."So here’s my challenge for YOU today: The next time you’re talking or listening—make a little extra effort.✅Think about what the other person needs to hear.✅Ask questions to make sure you understand.✅And remember—it’s not about winning the talk, it’s about connecting. Thanks for tuning in to The Monkey the Cat Podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and remember—every great conversation takes two hearts working together. Until next time, my pawsome pals—speak clearly, listen deeply, and always meet others halfway. Bye for now!"