The Power of Human Connection, Curiosity & Better Leadership with Riaz Meghji

What if one conversation could transform the way you lead, build relationships, and connect with others?

In this episode of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, host Julien LeBlanc sits down with Riaz Meghji, human connection expert, keynote speaker, broadcaster, and author of Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships, for a powerful conversation about human connection, curiosity, emotional intelligence, and building meaningful relationships in business and life.

Drawing from more than 10,000 conversations and 17 years in television, Riaz shares why genuine human connection starts with curiosity rather than assumptions and how leaders can create trust, psychological safety, and a stronger sense of belonging in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

Together, they explore the art of meaningful conversations, the power of storytelling, active listening, vulnerability, and the importance of making people feel not just heard, but truly known. Riaz also shares practical strategies for creating memorable presentations, building stronger remote teams, improving workplace communication, and turning everyday interactions into opportunities for deeper connection.

Through personal stories and lessons from improv, parenting, and professional experiences, Riaz challenges leaders to embrace difficult conversations, replace certainty with curiosity, and recognize that meaningful breakthroughs often begin with a single question.

Whether you’re leading a team, building customer relationships, working in foodservice distribution, or looking to strengthen your personal and professional connections, this conversation offers actionable insights to help you communicate more effectively, lead with empathy, and build relationships that last.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• 00:00 – Why Curiosity Is the Foundation of Human Connection
• 01:36 – Introduction to Riaz Meghji and the Power of Meaningful Conversation
• 03:17 – The Cost of Disconnection at Work
• 04:06 – How to Create Real Connection With a Large Audience
• 05:21 – Meet Your Audience Before You Meet Them
• 06:27 – Simple Frameworks, Storytelling and Value Added Vulnerability
• 08:16 – Turning Presentations Into Memorable Experiences
• 09:27 – Creating Connection in Remote Teams and Everyday Meetings
• 10:08 – The Five Before and Five After Rule for Better Meetings
• 11:53 – Why Great Presenters Stay Present Before and After the Stage
• 13:32 – Psychological Safety and the Power of Being a Witnes
• 14:58 – Pressure, Privilege and the Gift of One to One Connection
• 16:10 – Heart Matching Versus Content Matching
• 17:49 – The Difference Between Feeling Heard and Feeling Known
• 19:17 – Building Genuine Connection in Business
• 20:35 – Purpose, Love and Anticipation: Three Pathways to Positive Emotion
• 21:19 – Better Questions for Conferences and First Conversations
• 23:28 – Why Human Skills Matter Even More in the Age of AI
• 24:42 – Learning Human Connection Through Improv
• 26:03 – Accepting the Offer: A Lesson From Improv and Parenting
• 27:02 – A Personal Story About Curiosity, Ego and Emotional Safety
• 29:32 – Why We Need to Make and Accept More Offers for Connection
• 30:18 – Improv, Yes And, and Adapting in Business
• 31:19 – Storytelling That Creates Human Connection
• 33:00 – Overprepare to Improvise and Be Interested, Not Interesting
• 34:36 – Why Stories of Failure Connect More Than Stories of Success
• 36:03 – Meaningful Progress, Hiring and Attitude Over Skill
• 37:35 – Adapting Communication Without Making Assumptions
• 38:47 – Connection Begins When Curiosity Replaces Assumption
• 39:56 – Listen for the Signal, the Feeling and the Need
• 41:14 – Why Certainty Can Be the Enemy of Connection
• 42:08 – The Power of Yet and a Growth Mindset
• 43:24 – The Conversation You Have Been Meaning to Have
• 44:08 – We Are One Conversation Away
• 45:15 – Courageous Conversations and the Clarity They Create
• 46:07 – Clarity as a Compass for Relationships and Leadership
• 47:51 – Final Reflection: What Conversation Have You Been Meaning to Have?

More About Our Guest

Riaz Meghji

Riaz Meghji is a human connection expert and author of the book Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships.

His insights have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review and Financial Post. After one conversation led him to take a dramatically different career path that changed his life for the better, he became dedicated to exploring the ways that authentic human connection can change lives and organizations.

In addition to being a respected thought leader and author on the topic of human connection, Riaz is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience; he has interviewed experts on current affairs, sports, entertainment, politics, and business.

Riaz has hosted for Cityt v’s Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, TEDx Vancouver, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

He a natural storyteller With a proven ability to Conduct engaging, in-depth Conversations across various disciplines.

Off-camera, Riaz dedicates himself to philanthropy and causes he cares about including Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. He holds a degree in business from Simon Fraser University and studied leadership communication at Harvard Extension School and the Canadian Management Centre.