Touchy Subjects Workshop- November 25, 2026

Today more than ever, in the face of a changing climate (in both temperature and geo-politically), knowing how to handle sensitive topics and polarizing questions can vastly improve your experience as a guide, and the experience of your guests.

Date: November 25th, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Mountain Standard Time)
Location: Virtual over Zoom Meetings
PD Hours: 4 hours
Professional Interpreter Elective: Eligible
Instructor: Kristin Robinson
Member Price: $79; Non-Member Price: $105
PI Coupon Code: If you have a coupon code for the PICP program, make sure to apply it during the registration process to bring the fee down to $0.

About This Session:

When guides ask how they should talk about polarizing topics, the conventional wisdom is - DON’T. After all, people on vacation don’t want a downer!  And yet when guests ask, it can get uncomfortable to skirt around a question. Whether you want to get into a subject that will likely split the room, or you get asked a question you worry is a can-of-worms waiting to blow up, the truth remains that the toughest subjects are often the ones people most want help navigating.

By the end of the training, participants should be able to:

1)     Discover how to break out of polarizing structures that create un-winnable conversations.
2)     Create useful complexity that in turn can spark empathy.
3)     Learn to recognize ‘invisible’ polarizing language and develop frameworks that keep more people in more conversations.

To get the most out of this workshop, please come with an idea of a touchy subject you would like to introduce pro-actively into your work.

About Kristin Robinson

Kristin is the owner of Stage Naked, an interpretive coaching company that empowers guides, tour directors, and presenters with the tools to craft meaningful, memorable stories. With over two decades of experience, she has worked as a local guide, international tour director, and tour director manager at Tauck. She has trained interpreters at organizations like the Audubon Society, National Parks, Smithsonian, Nature Conservancy, and Killbear Provincial Park. She is a founding partner of Message Mindset, offering interpretive training across continents. She holds an M.A. in Performance Anthropology and a B.A. in Theatre Arts. Kristin is passionate about helping storytellers create ‘sticky’ stories that captivate, challenge, and inspire audiences.

Refund Policy: Refunds will not be issued for any reason (including illness and injury) if cancelling less than 2 weeks prior to the course start date. Fees are not transferrable between courses/events. Full refunds, less an administration and handbook fee, are available if requested 3 weeks (or more) prior to the course start date. For more information, please consult the IGA refund policy.

Please note that our events and workshops are not recorded. Please make sure you are available on the event date or are comfortable having your registration fee donated to our not-for-profit.