We’re living through a time when expectations shift quickly—and publicly. Norms that once felt stable are being questioned or disappearing altogether. In this environment, organizations are now asking, “What do we say?” Not because they’re looking to play it safe, but because they’re trying to stay grounded in values while navigating real risk.
This edition of The Real Good Newsletter is about finding your voice in this moment. You’ll get science-backed strategies to cut through confusion, rebuild shared language, and speak with clarity—even when the ground is shifting.
Let’s be clear. This isn’t about crisis comms or compliance. It’s about showing up with intention. Leading with values. And keeping your message connected to the change you’re trying to make.
For the work ahead,
The Center Team
IN THIS ISSUE…
Our guide to communicating in the moment
Register for our live webinar on communicating in high-stakes moments
What a telomere biologist can teach us about voice, empathy and leadership
Now available: the textbook on public interest communications
Courses, discounts and new ways to sharpen your comms skills.
frank Rewind: two talks worth your time
On Our Radar: United by Nature kept the work going when support was pulled.
One of the most frequent questions we get these days: ‘What can we say?’ We’ve put together some principles to help guide you. They’re quick to read, easy to share and can help you navigate a moment when it’s hard to say the right thing.
You’ll get two common mistakes to avoid and eight things to start doing now. It’s packed with clear, research-backed advice to help you navigate high-pressure moments—when words matter most. This is a tool for getting unstuck.
Use it to guide your next team conversation. Share it with leaders who need a better plan.You’ll also find a quick worksheet at the end to help you apply what you’ve learned and make it your own.
WEBINAR Communicating in the Moment: 8 Things to Start and 2 to Stop Join us live on Wednesday, May 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET for a fast, practical session on what to say when the pressure’s on. We’ll walk through 8 things to start doing—and 2 to stop—so your message lands with clarity, intention, and impact.
Out now!Public Interest Communications: Strategy for Changemakersby Ann Searight Christiano and Angela Bradbery is the first textbook to offer the field science-backed approaches to strategy rooted in systems thinking and human-centered design. Get 20% off with code 25ESA2 through September 20.
Prefer to learn at your own pace?Check out our self-paced courses on strategy, thought leadership, presentations, and the Science of What Makes People Care. Use code SP2025for $100 off. Valid through December 31.
As a postdoctoral researcher in neuroepigenetics at the University of Pennsylvania and a longtime science writer, Audrey Goldfarb is trained in precision. But through leading Natural Selections and taking the Center’s Science Communication course, she’s learned that empathy, clarity and voice are what truly move people. Now, she’s working to build a culture of communication in academia—showing that writing with emotion isn’t a liability, it’s leadership.
Meeting the moment means reconnecting with parts of ourselves we’ve set aside. In this frank2017 talk, Bridgit Antoinette Evans shares how returning to her creative roots sparked a personal reckoning—and a new vision for culture change. Strategy isn’t enough, she argues. Real change takes imagination, emotional disruption and the courage to get messy.
Meeting the moment means knowing how to talk—even when you deeply disagree. In this frank2022 talk, Harvard’s Julia Minson walks us through her research on how small shifts in language can lower defenses and build connections. If you're navigating hard conversations, this is a must-watch.
When science hit a wall, they built a new path.
When support for the National Nature Assessment was cut, environmental scientist Phillip Levin and his team didn’t walk away. They launched United by Nature, an independent effort to assess how nature supports our health, economy, and future. A powerful example of meeting the moment with focus, creativity, and resolve.
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