You hear more when you stop preparing to prove that you have understood already.

Half of listening is often spent assembling evidence of comprehension. While the other person is still talking, you are lining up the nod, the me too, the summary that shows you got there ahead of them, and every bit of that attention is taken from the thing being said. Understanding performed early tends to be understanding stopped early.

For one conversation, drop the goal of appearing to follow. Let a pause sit before you answer, and ask a question whose answer you cannot predict. You will notice how much was arriving that you were previously too busy to receive.