This article explores the overlooked role of emotion in the translation of social work research knowledge, proposing that feelings shape how knowledge is shared, received, and enacted in practice. While the centrality of emotion in social work practice is widely acknowledged, its role in shaping the translation of research knowledge into practice has received little attention. In this article, we revisit empirical work conducted several years ago, intending less to make new empirical claims than to provoke reflection, in light of wider literature, on the emotional and relational qualities which may influence how research knowledge moves into social work practice. We suggest that the impact of these emotional and relational qualities is under-recognized because social work has long wrestled with the tension between its commitment to human connection and the imperative to prove its legitimacy as an evidence-based discipline and profession, grounded on “hard” data, “rational” decision-making, and accountability for its effectiveness and efficiency. We argue that, since knowledge is not just known but felt, translating social work research knowledge into practice requires engaging with human relationships, fostering connection, and attending to the complex emotions these involve.