Empathy in Action: David B. Lindsey's Approach to Harnessing Media to Connect Communities

The world is overflowing with information and digital connections, but even amid this ease of access, genuine understanding between people can often remain elusive. The amalgamation of conflicts, political polarization, and the isolating effects of social media has paved the way for a paradox: access to technology has never been greater, yet human connection is increasingly fragmented. Within that shift, empathy has emerged as a critical mechanism pivotal for meaningful engagement, yet it's lacking now more than ever in social systems.

"The impact of social media and the way we interact online has contributed excessively to the rising scales of anti-empathy," says David B. Lindsey, a veteran public speaker, pastor, and author. "With this encroaching crisis, it's imperative for us as a society to leverage whatever we can to increase empathy and counterbalance the harm caused by technology."

Lindsey believes that entertainment, one of humanity's oldest tools for storytelling and shared experience, continues to serve as a powerful catalyst for cultivating understanding and empathy. He has dedicated his career to amplifying empathy through media, leadership, and storytelling. A public speaker for more than three decades, he has addressed diverse audiences. As the founder of OBORO Publishing, Lindsey expands his views through books, coaching, and teaching. These views lie in translating empathy from an abstract concept into actionable strategies across industries and creative spaces.

"Storytelling and music are two of the oldest arts humans have relied on," Lindsey explains, emphasizing how any form of storytelling, whether through music, literature, or performance, can allow people to inhabit perspectives far beyond their own. A 2024 Stanford report reflects this narrative, wherein a film about incarceration fostered more empathy among viewers toward formerly incarcerated individuals and swayed mindsets on justice reforms. Another study reveals that musical interaction can promote empathy. These forms of media, Lindsey believes, allow audiences to step into experiences and emotions beyond their immediate context, which can help foster empathy across social and cultural boundaries.

Lindsey also notes that empathy, which is cultivated in the act of creation, is equally significant. Entertainment production relies on collaboration, bringing together individuals with diverse skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. Lindsey has focused on creating environments where empathy guides both creative and organizational processes.

"Flattening hierarchies and creating collaborative relationships allow every perspective to be heard. The best idea might come from a camera operator, not just the director. The solution might emerge from someone at craft services rather than a lead role," he explains. "In such settings, every participant's insight is valued, which can increase both innovation and the human impact of the final work."

Lindsey's upcoming book aims to encapsulate these very views about storytelling and how its impact can cascade across leaders of movements, nonprofits, and businesses. "You can throw as much data at people as you want, but ultimately, if you want to move forward with something, you've got to tell a more compelling story than the next person," says Lindsey, who previously authored Master Public Speaking.

His consultancy work further demonstrates Lindsey's approach in practice. Projects are framed from the outset with empathy as a strategic priority. "Success is not just about the bottom line," Lindsey notes. "It is about how much empathy this work generates, how people are treating each other differently as a result." This philosophy, he believes, can extend to how teams function collaboratively, how communities engage, and how audiences process and internalize external perspectives.

"The arts will always remain one of the ways that we build bridges of connection with people," Lindsey says. "Creating art is one thing, but experiencing the art is another. The way that people see a film, the way that people read a book, hear a piece of music, and can put themselves in someone else's shoes for a while, that's what ultimately cultivates empathy."

Lindsey's career, beyond OBORO Publishing, highlights the practical impact of media in cultivating empathy. From his years of fostering integrated youth theater programs to music performance that bridges cultural and socioeconomic divides, his work shows that empathy can be intentionally cultivated across diverse contexts.

"We need to approach entertainment and storytelling not just by the opening box office numbers or how many streams earned, but also by asking the pertinent question: Did it foster empathy? Will people treat each other more empathetically as a result of this?" Lindsey explains. "And once leaders develop that mindset, I want them to practice that across their own business environments. Leading with empathy at every step."

Through storytelling, collaborative creation, and strategic guidance, Lindsey suggests that entertainment can become more than a reflection of society, but rather the very vehicle for understanding it. By integrating empathy into both creation and consumption, he aims to foster a culture where connection, collaboration, and compassion are central to human experience.