The Braver Angels Podcast

How does intellectual humility matter in journalism, conversations about race, religion and politics? In this special episode of the Braver Angels Podcast sponsored by the Greater Good Science Center John Wood Jr. leads a conversation with founder of the Flipside Annafi Wahed, former CIA intelligence analyst Jessie Mannisto, and Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor.    Read “The Incorrigible Questioner and the Search for Spiritual Belonging” by Jessie Mannisto:   https://www.thirdfactor.org/questioner-and-spiritual-belonging/ Check out The Flipside:   https://www.theflipside.io/

Braver Angels has a new podcast – “A Braver Way” hosted by Braver Angels Senior Fellow for Public Practice Mónica Guzmán. Monica explains how the podcast came to be, and why there is such a need for a podcast like this to help show everyday Americans HOW they can bridge divides in their own lives. Whether you're Red, Blue, or something entirely different, “A Braver Way” will help you hear and be heard by people who confound you.  Subscribe to A Braver Way wherever you get your podcasts.   Learn More – braverangels.org/abraverway

Braver Angels national ambassador John Wood Jr. has launched a new podcast with the goal of uniting Americans. But episode one hit a splash of controversy after remarks from guest Sam Harris spread across the internet, provoking criticism from Elon Musk, Ben Shapiro and others. John explains the controversy and shares the mission of Uniting America with John Wood Jr. Subscribe on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube link:  https://youtube.com/@unitingamericawithjohnwoodjr Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @JohnRWoodJr

Aziz Abu Sarah started Mejdi Tours to create a new kind of experience for travelers within conflict zones. Their trips, through places like Israel and the Palestinian territories, Northern Ireland, Colombia and the Baltics, present multiple perspectives on each site they visit, building ties with local communities and creating lasting friendships. Aziz joins Braver Angels leader Randy Lioz for a conversation about his work and his life story that brought him to the world of peace building, as they take on tough questions about power dynamics, victimhood, and what the U.S. can learn from conflicts in other places. For a look at the first chapter of Aziz's book, Crossing Boundaries, click here!

Seriously: what's going on with Elon Musk? And what happens when "free speech absolutism" runs up against the realities of running the nation's defacto digital public square? How has Joe Biden performed in his first two years in office? And what can Americans expect from Braver Angels in 2023? In the final episode of the year, Ciaran O'Connor convenes fellow Braver Angels leaders John Wood, Jr., Monica Guzman, April Kornfield, and Gabbi Timmis for a freewheeling roundtable discussion. See you in 2023!

“The struggle between ‘for' and ‘against' is the mind's worst disease.” In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, we brought some of the big, hairy questions that challenge political bridge building to one of the most outspoken voices in social psychology — NYU professor and best-selling author Jonathan Haidt. Can we ever really claw our way out of tribalism? What would it take to fix the structures that warp our thinking? And what does this leading scholar of morality make of the popular notion that you can't engage some ideas across the political divide and still be good? Listen in as Haidt — author of The Righteous Mind, The Coddling of the American Mind, and the upcoming Life After Babel: Adapting To A World We Can No Longer Share — joins Braver Angels' Mónica Guzmán for a conversation that explores everything from Haidt's favorite bit of ancient wisdom to the problem with kids these days (especially girls on the Left) and what it might ultimately mean to be loyal to truth.

Paul Norris, who helps lead Braver Angels' Red Caucus, convenes an all-red panel to discuss what liberals, academia, and the mainstream media miss about conservatives. Featuring Mark Reinecke, Elizabeth Doll, and Barbara Farmer.

Monica Guzman is Braver Angels' Senior Fellow for Public Practice and the author of the best-selling book "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." Over the past few months, Monica's been traveling the country to lead curious conversations inspired by the themes of her book. Here she joins Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor to discuss what she's learned about the state of our nation's divisions, how different audiences engage bridge-building depending on their ideologies and identities, and how we can get more curious, together, as a nation in crisis. 

Braver Angels leaders John Wood, Jr. (red) and Ciaran O'Connor (blue) come together for a wide-ranging debate on the most critical issues animating the 2022 midterm elections, including the economy, abortion, and the future of American democracy. Throughout the discussion, John and Ciaran demonstrate how to embrace humility in the pursuit of deeper truth.

Barbara Walter is a political scientist and professor at the University of California San Diego who specializes in studying civil wars. Here she joins Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of political violence in the United States, what America can learn from civil conflicts in other countries, and how we, together as citizens, can take a stand for peace.

This week we put a Biden supporter in the hot seat. Wilk Wilkinson, a conservative Republican, interviews Jordan Carmon, a staunch Biden supporter, on everything from Hunter Biden to January 6th — showing us what's possible when we bring good faith to our richest, most passionate disagreements. Send us your feedback at media@braverangels.org.

From Braver Seders to the Catholic belief that we need not fear the truth, three Braver Angels leaders talk about how their respective religious traditions inspire their bridge-building work. They explore the spiritual side of Braver Angels, and how we can learn from the insights of each particular tradition. FB (@randy.lioz) and Twitter (@randylioz)

Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor is a progressive Democrat who previously worked for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Wilk Wilkinson is a Trump supporter who helps lead Braver Angels' efforts to engage working class Americans. In this episode of the podcast, Ciaran and Wilk come together to discuss the investigations into former President Trump's conduct, why conservatives are so angry about the FBI's raid of his residence at Mar-a-Lago, and what the "rule of law" means in a country this polarized.

April Kornfield interviews Annette Ritter about what it means to be working class in America, how she sees regular people engaging politics, and how her own journey through trauma and addiction led her to become an addiction recovery counselor. Annette shares openly and with great insight about what it will take to bring people—all people—together to bridge the divide. Annette is an addictions counselor trainee, a graduate of Maryland's Allegheny College, and a We the People's Project leader at Braver Angels. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a red slider turtle in beautiful western Maryland. Twitter: @braverangels, @AprilALawson

At a time of deepening polarization and social division, it's easy to become discouraged, disillusioned, and depressed. In this special roundtable episode, Braver Angels leaders Ciaran O'Connor, John Wood Jr., April Lawson Kornfield, and Monica Guzman come together to discuss how they keep the faith in our work and in each other. The group also discusses the recent abortion decision by the Supreme Court and what it means for Braver Angels' efforts to bridge the divide. Help us build a house united by supporting our work: www.braverangels.org/support-us  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @AprilALawson, @JohnRWoodJr, @moniguzman 

As the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court weigh in on gun rights and gun safety, Americans remain bitterly divided on the right to bear arms. Is it possible to bridge this divide on the level of shared values? What can we learn from one another's lived experiences that influence our thoughts and feelings about deadly weapons? What are the tradeoffs between gun rights and public health, and how do we navigate them as fellow Americans?   Ciaran O'Connor convenes Mark Beckwith, a longtime gun safety activist, and Wilk Wilkerson, a strong gun rights proponent, for a passionate, emotional conversation. Mark and Wilk don't see eye to eye, but they do see each others' hearts. This discussion is a testament to what's possible when we speak fully, freely, and without fear—with charity for all and malice toward none.   Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor

Monica Guzmán and Daniel Acosta-Rivas share intimate stories about growing up in their respective Hispanic contexts and the diversity of the Hispanic world. They offer riveting insights on why the Hispanic community is underrepresented in organizations like Braver Angels and why Venezuela's population may, shockingly, be less divided than America's, illustrating the unique power of its approach to bridge-building.  Daniel, originally from Venezuela, currently lives in Washington, D.C. and works for Stand Together. He is a recent graduate of American University, where he founded the Students for Free Expression chapter. Mónica Guzmán is the director of digital & storytelling at Braver Angels and the author of the bestseller I Never Thought of It That Way. Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @AprilALawson  

Manu Meel and the students of the cross-partisan campus group BridgeUSA are the vanguard of the civic bridge-building movement nationwide.  What characterizes the 20-year-olds who are working across the divide to save American democracy, and what is the theory of change that defines the bridging/depolarization movement writ large? Does this work imply a centrism in defense of the status quo? Or is it an effort to establish a new type of political "center" that's not about political ideology at all? BridgeUSA co-founder and CEO Manu Meel tackles all of this and more with Braver Angels national ambassador John Wood Jr.  Learn more about BridgeUSA's work at www.bridgeusa.org, and follow them on Instagram at @BridgeUSA_. Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr, @manumeel1, @BridgeUSA_ 

In the year that followed the first Braver Angels workshop in December 2016, Braver Angels went from an experiment with a handful of citizens in small-town Ohio to a growing national movement.  In this second part of “How Braver Angels Began,” the co-founders of Braver Angels (David Blankenhorn, Bill Doherty, and David Lapp) narrate how Braver Angels found itself on a three-week bus tour, navigating flag controversies, and following the lead of citizens everywhere in building what is now the nation's largest grassroots organization working for depolarization.  Watch part 1 of this conversation here: https://youtu.be/dzNDUowRedw  Learn more and support our mission: braverangels.org/support-us Twitter: @braverangels, @blankenhorn3, @davidlappoh

April Lawson Kornfield hosts two thoughtful young people—Zoomers, as they're sometimes called—for a conversation about depolarization, campus culture, and what it would take to bring more youth into the bridge-building movement. Isaac Humrich is a rising sophomore at Arizona State University and the incoming president of the Arizona State College Republicans. Ope Tukuru, a recent graduate of the University at Albany, just finished his internship with the media team at Braver Angels. The guests offer surprising insights about friendship, which stereotypes about their generation are unfair and which ones hit the mark, and how it feels to be coming into adulthood amidst a pandemic, intense social justice movements, and a political world that feels increasingly unstable. Twitter: @braverangels, @AprilALawson, @IsaacHumrich

Will Donald Trump run again in 2024? How will the recent leak of a Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade affect the 2022 midterm elections? How can Democrats and Republicans address the divides within their own parties? Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Lincoln Project Co-Founder Rick Wilson join Ciaran O'Connor for a wide-ranging discussion—previously recorded as part of the Crosscut Festival—on the state of the national political landscape. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @TheRickWilson, @Robt_Gibbs 

U.S. Senate candidate Steven Olikara has already had an impact on American democracy. He's the founder of the Millennial Action Project, a nonprofit that works with young policymakers on both a national and state level to bridge the partisan divide and spur collaborative legislation. But is that the type of attitude that can get you elected to Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat in today's divided America? In this first-ever candidate interview on The Braver Angels Podcast, Steven Olikara gives us the backstory of his relationship to democracy through his love of jazz, his work in the field of depolarization, and his experiences on the campaign trail. Learn more about Steven's campaign: www.stevenolikara.com  Twitter: @braverangels, @StevenOlikara, @JohnRWoodJr

Braver Politics is here to fix our broken politics. In this episode, Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor introduces our new initiative to engage politicians across the United States and transform the incentives that drive division.  Then, Ciaran chats with Mark Beckwith, a Braver Angels leader and the former bishop of Newark, New Jersey, about his new book—Seeing the Unseen—and what religion can teach us about bridging the political divide. Learn more about Mark's book: https://amzn.to/3Lw1GwZ  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor

Four Reds with different views of President Trump debate how conservatives should think about the former president, his legacy, his current behavior (including on January 6), and his possible run in 2024. The conversation expands into the future of conservatism, Ukraine, and what it means to be a Red in the 21st century, highlighting both the alignments and the divergences in contemporary Red thought. Steve Saltwick, co-founder of Braver Angels of Central Texas, is a bio-psychologist who studies the guiding principles of the mammalian brain especially as it relates to artificial intelligence. Marc Ang is a conservative activist, entrepreneur, and freelance journalist based in Southern California whose work has been featured in Newsweek, The Washington Examiner, Redstate, and more. Finally, Paul N., a founding leader of Braver Angels' Red Caucus, worked in technology prior to enjoying a post-retirement career as a psychotherapist in California. Twitter: @braverangels, @AprilALawson, @MarquesAngus, @SteveSaltwick 

Rep. Becky Carney is a Democrat representing Mecklenburg County in the highly polarized North Carolina General Assembly. Rep. John Torbett is a Republican representing Gaston County. Together, they lead the House Transportation Committee.  In this episode of the podcast, the legislators join Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor to discuss what's possible when two politicians who disagree on policy find ways to work together in a spirit of trust, citizenship, and goodwill. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @repbeckycarney, @JohnTorbett 

Coleman Hughes has made a name for himself as a public commentator. A contributor at City Journal, Quillette, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times among others, he's been celebrated for his sober analysis of American race relations. He's also… a rapper. Today, he joins Braver Angels music ambassador Alma Cook to talk about his artistic past, present, and future. Learn where the inspiration for his new “Blasphemy” music video came from, how a youth drum corps eventually led him to Julliard, and whether it's stressful to split his time between music and writing. Find Coleman's music under the artist name COLDXMAN on Spotify, Apple Music, and more. Watch the new “Straight As” video here: https://youtu.be/OGuvJkV02GY  Twitter: @braverangels, @coldxman, @HearAlma

Since the advent of film, the racial dynamics of American life have been reflected, or perhaps distorted, by a movie and entertainment industry whose impact on racial issues has been more complex than many realize.  Joy Donnell, cofounder of the Center for Intersectional Media and Entertainment (CIME), joins BA National Ambassador John Wood Jr. to explore Hollywood's legacy—a legacy she believes is fraught with troubling implications for racism and black America, both historically and in the present day. Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr, @doitinpublic 

We think we have the answers. But what happens when we start asking more questions? In her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, Braver Angels' director of storytelling Mónica Guzmán explains how and why we should get more curious—and how it might just hold the key to bridging our political divide. To learn more about Mónica's work and buy her new book, visit www.moniguzman.com.  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @moniguzman

From the mid 1980's to the early 1990's, the United States of America was ravaged by the violence and destruction associated with the crack cocaine trade and epidemic. But more than anyone, inner-city African American communities felt the pain, setting the stage for mass incarceration and the social conflicts that rest in the background of our modern controversies over race and policing. In this episode, once drug dealer and contemporary community advocate Lorenzo Murphy takes us into his former life as right hand man to Los Angeles' most notorious drug dealer, Freeway Rick Ross, to give us a lens through which to see this pivotal, if tragic, period of Black American history. With Braver Angels national ambassador John Wood Jr. Twitter: @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr  Instagram: murphy_law74 Websites: braverangels.org 

Annette Ritter is a school-of-hard-knocks grandma and community college student from rural Little Orleans, Maryland. Len Breslow is a retired cognitive psychologist from suburban Chevy Chase, Maryland. Annette used to couch-hop on the poor side of Berkeley, California; Len got a graduate degree there.  In this We the People's Forum, a Braver Angels event where everyday Americans get time at the podium, Annette and Len tackle the thorny issue of class. They address their experiences of social class and explore whether the class divide might be even more significant than the partisan divide.  Lear more about We the People's Project at Braver Angels: braverangels.org/wpp  Twitter: @braverangels, @davidlappoh

Professor John Sibley Butler (University of Texas in Austin), described as America's leading black business historian, is "straight outta the black bourgeoisie." Yes African-American history is riddled with tragedy and oppression. But this Black History Month, and every other month for that matter, Butler wishes to remind people of the long history of black self-sufficiency, community building, and prosperity in the face of oppression that he believes any accounting of black history is woefully incomplete without. Professor Butler joins John Wood Jr. to give a history lesson in this first of three podcast series on Black history. Twitter: @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr @JohnSibButler @1776Unites Websites: woodsoncenter.org braverangels.org 

Braver Angels has never been shy about engaging our nation's most sensitive political issues. Last year, we held a public debate on the 2020 election exploring themes of voter fraud, voter suppression, and disagreements about the outcome. Recently, we hosted a podcast with a guest who claimed that the January 6th riots were incited by liberal activists working in collusion with the FBI.  After initially taking down the podcast for violating its terms on misinformation, YouTube reinstated the episode after reviewing it in the context of our larger mission. On this episode of the podcast, Ciaran O'Connor hosts David Blankenhorn, president of Braver Angels, and Jonathan Rauch, author of The Constitution of Knowledge, for a wide-ranging discussion on depolarization in the age of misinformation, bridge-building across the epistemological divide, and the Braver Angels approach to controversial content. Check out Jonathan's book: https://amzn.to/33wqcNu  Twitter: @braverangels, @jon_rauch, @blankenhorn3, @ciaranjoconnor

Plagued by pandemics of fear and distrust, many of us have come to hold some scary ideas about different people and places across our country. But what's the reality?  Daniel Seddiqui has seen more of America than almost anyone. After working 50 jobs in 50 states in 50 weeks in 2009—from coal miner in West Virginia to bartender in Louisiana—he has since completed three more treks across the country in an attempt to better understand our nation and its people, stitching our country together in his own experience at a time when so much seems to be pulling us apart.  Just this week, he completed a year-long trip to America's 65 most populous cities to craft mementos that represent their cultures. Curiosity fueled him, but as he shares with Mónica, fear of the unfamiliar constantly challenged him. What has he seen that can help the rest of us see ourselves better? Tune is as he shares stories from his adventures and lessons that have changed his life. Learn more about Daniel's cross-country adventures: www.livingthemap.com  Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @DanielSeddiqui 

Esther Cash is a liberal college student at Biola, a conservative Christian university in California. As a program associate for Braver Angels, she helps coordinate our debates program in communities and colleges across the country.  Today, she joins the podcast to discuss her own political evolution, the nature of polarization on college campuses, and how young people can lead the generational effort to rehabilitate our political conversation at a time of rancor, uncertainty, and alienation. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor

Peter Wood is an anthropologist and president of the National Association of Scholars. He believes—like many Americans on the right—that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and the January 6th riots were incited by the left in collusion with the FBI. He's also the author of a new book called Wrath: America Enraged, which wrestles with our politics of anger and counsels conservatives on how to respond to perceived aggression.  Where does America go from here? In this episode, Peter joins Ciaran O'Connor for a frank conversation about the role of anger in our politics as well as the nature of truth, trust, and conspiracy theories. Check out Peter's book: https://amzn.to/3rs2Al8  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @NASorg 

In the first Braver Angels Podcast episode of the new year, John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor share a deep and heartfelt conversation about the state of American politics on the one-year anniversary of January 6th, 2021. Happy 2022! Ready to become a Braver Angels member and build a house united together? Join us: https://braverangels.org/get-involved/#become-member  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr

In the 1950's and 60's the reverend Martin Luther King Jr. inspired a nation with a message of hope, aimed against the forces of racism, inspired by the philosophy of nonviolence and what he believed to be the moral and spiritual teachings of the gospel. Is that philosophy relevant to today's fights against injustice and our struggle against polarization? Reverend Adam Taylor of Sojourners (author of the book A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community) has dedicated his career to pursuing social justice and democratic reform through principles of Kingian Nonviolence and what he considers the moral teachings of Jesus. Hear him and Braver Angels national ambassador John Wood Jr. talk about race, divides within the church, the legacy of King and the challenges of nonviolence in 2021. Twitter: @revadamtaylor @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr  Websites: www.sojo.net www.braverangels.org  Get the book!  More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community https://www.amazon.com/More-Perfect-Union-Building-Beloved-Community/dp/150646453X

On the weekend of December 9, 2016, a small group of citizens—half Donald Trump voters, half Hillary Clinton voters—gathered in South Lebanon, Ohio, for an experiment. Could we talk with each other rather than at each other?  Five years later, the co-founders of Braver Angels (David Blankenhorn, Bill Doherty, and David Lapp) reflect on that inaugural event and how it led to the birth of Braver Angels as we now know it. Learn more and support our mission: braverangels.org/support-us Twitter: @braverangels, @blankenhorn3, @davidlappoh

In a special all-women roundtable edition of our podcast, two Red and two Blue Braver Angels leaders get passionate, personal, and curious about what led them to hold opposing views on one of the toughest political dilemmas in America: abortion.  How do voices on the left and right strengthen or weaken our country's grasp of what's at stake? And how do these women respond to the heartfelt, challenging questions they ask each other across the divide about legality, morality, freedom, and even murder? Featuring April Kornfield (director of debates), Sage Snider (director emeritus of cultural engagement), Alma Cook (co-chair of the music team), and Mónica Guzmán (director of digital and storytelling). Also in this episode: the women share tributes to mothers, a mother-in-law, and—in a surprising twist—their undying love for Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.  Join Braver Angels on December 2 for our national debate on abortion: www.eventbrite.com/e/national-debate-abortion-registration-207434170187  What tough topic should we tackle next month? Email media@braverangels.org to share your thoughts. Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @AprilALawson, @HearAlma, @SageSnider 

What are the historical roots of political polarization in America? Why do Americans hold such dissonant perspectives on the meaning of our core ideals? How might we understand our history to create a more perfect future union?  Ciaran O'Connor hosts Seth David Radwell, author of American Schism, for a wide-ranging conversation on the political, cultural, and epistemological dimensions of our political divide from the Enlightenment to the present moment. Check out American Schism on Radwell's website: sethdavidradwell.com/american-schism  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @SRadwell

Toxic levels of ungrace are tearing us apart. That's the diagnosis from Kirsten Powers, senior political analyst at CNN and former political analyst at Fox News. But is grace really possible across divides this huge and seemingly threatening? In a candid interview with host Mónica Guzmán, Kirsten draws on her Catholic faith, her years of cross-partisan debates in the spotlight, her experience with anger and contempt after the 2016 election to unpack a virtue she argues is deeply misunderstood and critically needed.  Check out Kirsten's book, Saving Grace, out November 2: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/653308/saving-grace-by-kirsten-powers/  Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @KirstenPowers 

Andrew Yang isn't done challenging the way Americans look at politics. The former presidential candidate and entrepreneur is launching the Forward Party: a third-party effort to depolarize our politics through election reform. Can it work? And what does Yang have to say about the sensitive issues of race that divide Americans? Silas Kulkarni and John Wood, Jr. ask probing questions from a red and blue perspective in this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, diving into electoral reform tactics, polarization, and navigating race and identity in political discourse. Learn more about the Forward Party at www.forwardparty.com, and connect with Yang or purchase his new book at www.andrewyang.com.  Become a member of Braver Angels: www.braverangels.org Twitter: @braverangels, @AndrewYang, @SilasKulkarni, @JohnRWoodJr

Ciaran O'Connor convenes Hawk Newsome, co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York; David Iwinski, a Trump supporter who helps lead Braver Angels Debates; and Dr. Tess Russell, an anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist at Columbia New York Presbyterian Hospital for a raw and wide-ranging discussion on trust, science, and the COVID vaccine. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @IamHawkNewsome, @davidiwinski, @CortessaRussell 

Barbara Thomas is a lifelong liberal. Rick Hotchner is a committed conservative. As a couple, they are one of a dwindling number of politically mixed marriages between Democrats and Republicans in America. They made a life-changing decision last summer to leave a diplomatic post abroad to depolarize America—one divided relationship at a time. How do they stand each other when they can't stand each other's politics? What tips and tricks have they learned to always disagree but rarely argue? And what did they do when, during the run-up to the 2020 election, they didn't speak to each other for days? Tune in as host Mónica Guzmán leads a frank and open conversation with a fascinating couple whose enduring relationship is a model for our country. Hear more of Rick and Barbara's story on these additional podcasts:   Derate the Hate, “Episode 48: Bridging the Divide” Traumatic States of America, “23. US Diplomat returns home to focus on America” Somali Link Radio, “Somali Link Radio 2021-04-13 interview” Liberty Roundtable “Radio Show Hour 2 – 08/03/2021” Knuckleheads of Liberty, “Knuckleheads Of Liberty 128: Interview with Braver Angels” Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman

Social media has become a prism that distorts our identities, empowers status-seeking extremists, and renders moderates all but invisible. In his new book, Breaking the Social Media Prism, Duke professor Christopher Bail challenges common myths about echo chambers, foreign misinformation campaigns, and radicalizing algorithms, revealing that the solution to political tribalism lies deep inside ourselves.  In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Bail joins Ciaran O'Connor for a wide-ranging discussion on how we might redesign social media platforms to change incentives—and how we can combat online polarization without deleting our accounts. Learn more about Bail's work and purchase his book here: www.chrisbail.net  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @chris_bail

Ready to take on the COVID-19 divide? In this special roundtable edition of our podcast, two red and two blue Braver Angels leaders tackle big questions about vaccines and vaccine mandates. How do the left and right help and hurt America's struggle against the pandemic? Are President Joe Biden's vaccine mandates tough love or bad medicine? Featuring John Wood, Jr. (national ambassador), Alma Cook (music ambassador), Ciaran O'Connor (CMO), and Mónica Guzmán (director of digital and storytelling). Also in this episode: John Wood, Jr. lays out his vision for the upcoming launch of the John Wood, Jr. Show, Alma explains the “Lindy Effect,” Mónica dishes on why her cooking no longer sucks, and Ciaran shares a message for Nikki Minaj.  What tough topic should we tackle next month? Email media@braverangels.org to share your thoughts! Ready for the launch of the John Wood Jr. Show? Subscribe on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy2NKTrKM_MY_WbY8ISSq2g   Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr, @HearAlma

Joy Mayer just launched a bold effort to help conservatives trust journalists. What will it take for America's local journalists to tell stories responsibly—not just for liberals, whose views most journalists identify with, but also for conservatives, whose views are easier for most journalists to misunderstand, neglect, or dismiss?  Joy, director of the Trusting News Project, joins host and fellow journalist Mónica Guzmán to break open a fraught conversation that, for the most part, the journalism industry has not been having. Together, they count down six things right-leaning news consumers wish journalists would do better—and some things all news readers can do to support the American promise of journalism as a critical public service.  Learn more about the Trusting News Project's #RoadToPluralism project: www.trustingnews.org/pluralism  Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @mayerjoy 

After enduring significant childhood trauma, Morgan Brown spent much of his adult life homeless. Now an advocate for housing and mental health, Morgan shares his perspectives on trust, dignity, and how "going the extra gracious mile and beyond" can make all the difference—both on the streets and in politics.  Morgan resides in Montpelier, Vermont, where he previously served on the Montpelier Homelessness Task Force. We first met Morgan through The Working People's Project at Braver Angels. Learn more about WPP here: www.braverangels.org/wpp    Twitter: @braverangels, @davidlappoh

Is it worth striking up a conversation with the stranger in the checkout line? What's on the other side of that silence, and how do we bridge it? Journalist Joe Keohane is out with a new book, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World, which explores the lost art of connecting with unfamiliar people. Ciaran O'Connor talks with Joe about why and how we should talk to strangers—starting with your local barista—and what these experiences can do to improve our daily lives and our politics. Twitter: @braverangels, @JoeKeohane, @ciaranjoconnor

Ever wonder just how expansive the American national service system is and how those involved in it see their work? Luke Nathan Phillips interviews AmeriCorps' chief of external affairs, Sri Preston Kulkarni, about the work and mission of the organization. They discuss how AmeriCorps aims to promote service and national unity in troubling times, also exploring the history of national service programs in bringing the best out of Americans.  Learn more about AmeriCorps: www.americorps.gov On August 19th, Braver Angels will be debating whether we have a moral obligation to serve America. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3jIXU6A  Twitter: @braverangels, @SriPKulkarni, @AmeriCorps 

Extra! Extra! In this special roundtable edition of our podcast, two red and two blue Braver Angels leaders square off about the media. Where do the left and right step up or fall short in their approach to the Fourth Estate? Is all the partisan messaging out of line, or do the ends justify the memes? Featuring John Wood, Jr. (national ambassador), April Lawson (director of debates), Ciaran O'Connor (CMO), and Mónica Guzmán (director of digital and storytelling). Also in this episode: Ciaran gets real about the tension between his work to depolarize America and his frustration with politicians who are really not helping, and you'll learn which New York Times columnist has an office April can only describe as "an explosion of cool, interesting, and sexy," which Fox News star Mónica would love to spend a day with, and why you don't want to be caught in the ring with John. What tough topic should we tackle next month? Email media@braverangels.org to share your thoughts! Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @AprilALawson, @JohnRWoodJr, @moniguzman