Every Story Begins with Listening: Joshua Lazerson and the Heart of Advocacy

The core belief behind For Her, By Us is simple: before we can support single mothers, we must first listen to them. 

For that reason, every story on this platform begins with a conversation. Not statistics or data. Not assumptions. Not someone speaking on a mother's behalf. Just a woman (or man) sharing their experiences, challenges, and hopes in their own words.

That is why my conversation with Joshua Lazerson, founder of The Listening Project, resonated with me so deeply. Joshua's work is built around something that sounds remarkably simple in today's fast-paced world: sitting down with strangers and listening. No agenda. No interruptions. No judgement.

For the past four years, he has placed two chairs in public spaces and invited anyone who wishes to sit down and talk. The concept is simple. And fascinating. What follows are conversations that can last minutes or hours, often touching on grief, loneliness, hope, purpose, and the everyday realities of being human.

His work is featured in the documentary An Act of Love: The Listening Project and explored further through the podcast Someone to Tell It To. Both examine a question that feels increasingly urgent in modern society: what happens when people are truly heard?

For Joshua, the answer began decades ago. As a teenager, he became aware of something many people overlook. People rarely listened to one another. Conversations were often rushed. "It seemed we often would not let each other finish a sentence," he told me. "Not to speak of allowing someone the time and space to get out a complete thought."

That observation stayed with him. By his mid-twenties, Joshua made a conscious decision to treat listening as a lifelong practice. Just as someone might dedicate themselves to mastering a craft or training for a sport, he committed himself to becoming a better listener.

For more than forty years, he has worked to enter conversations with curiosity rather than judgment, focusing not on what he will say next, but on understanding what the person on the other side is trying to share.

Eventually, that personal practice evolved into The Listening Project.

Armed with little more than a handmade sign and a pair of inexpensive folding chairs, Joshua stepped into public spaces and began offering something increasingly rare: undivided attention.

What struck me most during our conversation was that Joshua does not describe his work as interviewing people. He describes it as creating space.

"It's really just kind of space, time, compassion, and empathy," he explained.

That distinction matters. The mothers I interview often tell me that sharing their stories feels different from simply answering questions. As they speak, layers begin to unfold. Memories surface. Emotions become easier to name. Sometimes they discover things about themselves in the process of telling their story.

Joshua has witnessed similar moments. While he is quick to say he is not a therapist, he recognizes the power of being heard. When someone is given the freedom to speak without interruption or judgment, something meaningful can happen.

"The ability to be heard by someone else can be transformative," he said.

In many ways, that idea sits at the heart of For Her, By Us. Single mothers are often discussed, analyzed, and represented by others. Yet many rarely have opportunities to tell their own stories in their own voices. Their experiences are frequently reduced to stereotypes or statistics, leaving little room for the complexity, resilience, and humanity that define their lives.

Listening changes that. Listening reminds people that their experiences matter. It creates understanding and builds community.

During our conversation, I asked Joshua whether he believes listening can be a form of social change. His answer surprised me.

Before discussing advocacy, he challenged the premise itself. "I don't see how you can really begin to meaningfully advocate before you listen," he told me.

That statement has stayed with me since (and is reflected in the title of this blog). So much of modern advocacy begins with solutions. Joshua's perspective suggests that real change begins earlier - with understanding.

When we listen, we learn. When we learn, we understand. And only then can we begin to advocate effectively.

In a world increasingly shaped by social media, AI algorithms, and shortened attention spans, Joshua worries that genuine human connection is becoming harder to find. Yet his project offers a powerful reminder that meaningful relationships are built on the foundation of one conversation at a time.

For the community we are building at For Her, By Us, that lesson feels especially important. The goal is not simply to tell stories about single mothers. It is to create a space where mothers feel seen, heard, and valued. 

Because sometimes the most meaningful act of support is not offering advice or solutions. Sometimes it is simply sitting down, making time and space for someone's story. 

Joshua’s work is a powerful reminder that this simple act may be one of the greatest acts of love we can offer another human being.