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Hello,We are back with Ep 89 Maintaining Civility. We give you brief synopsis into the movies " The Assessment and Eternal". The Assessment we felt was very prevalent with everything going on now in society. Eternal is for the ever after. This mini-sode also captures the brutal murder of Cynthia Garcia on October 25th of 2001 at the hands of the motorcycle gang The Hells Angels.The Label 1976 Music Spotlight; Nina Simone's song "Sinnerman" Tru Straub"Its good to be loved, but its profound to be understood"We stream on ALL Platforms!Remember to follow the podcast on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts, so that you're notified of new episodes as they are released! Also follow for us on social media;Instagram; @ tru_straubFacebook; Tru StraubFacebook; Label 1976 Productions LLC Tik Tok; Tru StraubEmail; labelninesevensix@gmail.comwww.label1976.com
Cindy Bullens Sang With Elton, But Cidny Bullens Got The Moves Like Jagger There are more facets to Cidney Bullens than there are to the Hope Diamond… and they're all fascinating! The two-time Grammy nominee, who sang with Elton John and Bob Dylan, tells how and why he chose to tour with Elton and pass on Dylan. What a choice for a young rocker from Massachusetts to have to make. How he met Sir Elton, and how a momentary encounter led to the gig and friendship of a lifetime, and how youth, and addiction cost him said gig two plus years later. The friendship has endured all these decades. Sobering up in his early 20s, having already had extraordinary success, and then singing with Rod Stewart, long-time pal, Bonnie Raitt, and Don Everly, to name but a few, singing lead on three songs on the 8x platinum-selling Grease soundtrack, earning his first Grammy nod, and his second for Survivor off his first solo album, Desire Wire. He left the biz for a decade to raise a family, then returned with more solo work and formed The Reugees with Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland. Soon after, Cindy became Cidny. That's a story… woven throughout his whole story. Cid told the story in his one-man show, Somewhere Between: Not An Ordinary Life, and in his sensational memoir, Transelectric. Cid's currently resurrecting Somewhere Between and will be touring with it, starting this summer. Has it ever been more relevant and important? Cid told us of always feeling male and how that translated to being a sister, daughter, wife, mother, grandfather, and husband. This is not a simple story, and a far more complex life, made more so by parental tragedy. Cid did not always live with grace, but lessons were learned, and the man who sat before us is wiser, stronger, and… softer. A friend for the last many years, I've had the good fortune to bear witness to Cid's many talents, as an actor in the brilliant new musical, The Civility of Albert Cashier, where Cid portrayed a true-life character whose life in some ways mirrored his own, in concert with The Refugees, and I was honored to be asked to blurb his memoir, Transelectric. Cid is a treasured friend with a story that screams to be heard, especially today. For all things Cid… his show dates, signed copies of his book, and all of his music, visit www.cidnybullens.com - what a life! Cidny Bullens Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wed, June 10, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn
Higher ed professionals have more conference options than ever before—but with limited budgets, packed calendars, and countless acronyms to navigate, how do you know which events are actually worth your time? On this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager, host Jenny Li Fowler welcomes back Dr. Josie Ahlquist, higher education consultant, researcher, and longtime conference enthusiast, for a practical conversation about making the most of professional conferences. Together, they unpack the differences between major higher ed gatherings like AMA, NASPA, CASE, NACAC, and emerging niche events, while sharing strategies for maximizing learning, networking, and career growth. From choosing the right conference for your goals to defining your own "Return on Conference Attendance" (ROCCA), this episode offers actionable advice for both first-time attendees and seasoned conference veterans. Guest Name: Dr. Josie Ahlquist, CEO and principal of Dr. Josie Ahlquist Inc. Guest Social: LinkedIn Guest Bio: Dr. Josie Ahlquist guides educational leaders, organizations, and students to practice purposeful digital leadership through speaking, coaching, and consulting. Her practical, evidence-based frameworks empower clients to build and implement a digital engagement strategy that fits their life, audience, and purpose. Josie's work is grounded in the grant-funded and award-winning research that has allowed her to train thousands around the globe as a speaker; provide consulting services to institutions and companies; and coach professionals in branding, voice, and positioning. Josie 's work has appeared in The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration, The Journal of Leadership Studies, NASPA Leadership Exchange, Technology and Higher Education, and Contested Issues in Troubled Times: Student Affairs Dialogues on Equity, Civility, and Safety (Stylus Publishing, 2019). She also served as co-editor and author of the New Directions in Student Services volume Engaging the Digital Generation and the New Directions in Student Leadership volume Going Digital in Student Leadership. In 2023, Dr. Ahlquist was selected as a NASPA Pillar of the Profession, one of the highest honors for the field of student affairs. Josie is a three-time LinkedIn Top Voice in Education has been recognized by Ed Tech Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Must-Read Higher Education Technology Blogs” for five years. Her podcast, Josie and The Podcast, has been featured by The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. Her new book, Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World was listed as an Amazon #1 new release for college and university student life. Josie received her EdD in higher education leadership from California Lutheran University, an MEd in counseling from Northern Arizona University, and a BA in sociology and human development and family studies from South Dakota State University. Prior to her independent path, Josie spent nearly 15 years on college campuses in areas of student leadership, student activities, residence life, and student affairs communications and marketing. She previous served as a research associate and instructor at Florida State University Leadership Learning Research Center, where her curriculum builds digital literacy and leadership skills for undergraduates to doctoral students. For more information about Josie Ahlquist's research, speaking, coaching, and consulting, visit www.josieahlquist.com . - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jenny Li Fowlerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylifowler/https://twitter.com/TheJennyLiAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Finding Civility In Political Conflict.Dave hosts a guest from the left, to find possible agreement in current political stresses.Chance Tinker, a son of a Tulsa county civic leader; lends a reasonable perspective from his progressive position.We find many areas of consensus on criminal justice reform, Economic freedom, and how to adopt to a changing culture brought on by AI, Federal reforms, and generational transition.AUDIOVIDEOCatch all our shows at www.FreshBlack.CoffeeConnect with us at www.facebook.com/freshblackcoffeeOur audio podcast is at https://feeds.feedburner.com/thefreshblackcoffeepodcastOur video podcast is at https://feeds.feedburner.com/freshblackcoffee/videocastWatch the video on our YouTube channel, Facebook, website, or with your podcasting app. We record the show every Saturday and release it later the same day.Jeff Davis commentary appears courtesy of www.theThoughtZone.comClick here to watch this episode »
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Will Moreland.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Will Moreland.
The Human Equation with Joe Pangaro – Public standards of honesty, civility, and accountability continue to weaken as leaders, institutions, and citizens excuse behavior once considered disqualifying. Shared moral norms fracture, trust erodes, and division deepens. Restoring integrity requires renewed commitment to truth, fairness, responsibility, and respect across American and Western society before cultural decline takes root..
Fox News' Special Report host Bret Baier joins Mixed Signals to talk about what it's like to sit at the center of American political media. Max and Ben ask Bret how he navigates tough questions while maintaining access to President Trump, what he actually learned from the Fox News Dominion discovery process, and why he doesn't vote. They also get into his new book, his 2028 predictions, and whether CBS News has any shot at replicating what he's built. Sign up for Semafor Media's Sunday newsletter: https://www.semafor.com/newsletters/media For more from Think with Google, check out ThinkwithGoogle.com. Find us on X: @semaforben, @maxwelltani If you have a tip or a comment, please email us mixedsignals@semafor.com
The Wikipedia co-founder has developed seven rules for building trust to create a better world, both on the internet and IRL.Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, Jimmy was enamoured with his family's Encyclopaedia Britannica.The city was home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre, and the energy of the place gave a young Jimmy a robust enthusiasm for technology and the future.As a young man, Jimmy developed the idea to start a free, online encyclopaedia, built by strangers and shared across languages.In 2001, Wikipedia was born, and for a time it was derided.Now, the website is a mainstay of the internet and a resource trusted by many.Jimmy says Wikipedia is all about strangers working together on the internet, in pursuit of a common goal, powered by their shared enthusiasm, and that is something to celebrate.Further informationThe Seven Rules of Trust: Why It Is Today's Most Essential Superpower is published by Bloomsbury.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Eliza Kirsch.It covers Twitter, X, trolls, vandalism, respect, civility, not-for-profit, tech bros, volunteers, social media ban, nupedia, servers, bots, AI, meconium aspiration syndrome, authenticity, empathy, logic, abortion, internet traffic, shouting online and civil discussion.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
After the past couple of episodes referring to the book, "Return to Civility," A Speed of Laughter Project, Tim actually finds his book and Amy and him take turns discussing some of the content. Does Amy share some of her entries into her list of "Unhinged Things My Friends Say?" GD3 told Amy that she has a rich-person car because she has so many cupholders. The duo also reminisces over some old commercials and find that our memory is not as good as we thought. "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a ...?" What is the product this line references? We could really use your help to freshen up our joke and bits. If you have a worn out bit that doesn't work for yourself anymore, let us use and perhaps we can work it for a bit. Thank you to our listeners! We really appreciate your support. Please continue sharing, liking, subscribing, listening, criticizing, discussing, repeating our jokes, talking to your grandmother and commenting wherever you listen to this podcast.
TalkErie.com - The Joel Natalie Show - Erie Pennsylvania Daily Podcast
Our Friday guest was former Pennsylvania state representative Jeff Coleman. Jeff is the founder of Churchill Strategies, a communications firm based in Harrisburg. He is also co-host of Morning Light, a new television show that takes a faith-filled perspective on the daily news, which is seen locally on Lighthouse TV, channel 32.1, as well multiple streaming services. He is working with Common Ground USA to recognize local pillars of civil discourse with the The Spirit of Civility awards, one of which was awarded to our host, Joel Natalie here in Erie in April.
Over the last few years, there's been an undeniable uptick in threats against American judges and their families: they've been doxxed, swatted, even killed. Many jurists are not all that comfortable having conversations around these threats. This reluctance to respond publicly is understandable, but it's also depriving us of a critical perspective from the very people this affects. This week on Amicus, that changes: Two judges sat down with us to talk openly about what often goes unsaid. Host Dahlia Lithwick speaks with sitting U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington Judge Robert S. Lasnik, and Judge Jeremy Fogel, a former U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California and current Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. They acknowledge that there's a long history of judges being threatened, but point out that it's usually not coming from the President and his Department of Justice. We're in uncharted territory, and Judges Lasnik and Fogel are bravely opening up about what this volatility means for an independent judiciary, and what we should do about it. Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Over the last few years, there's been an undeniable uptick in threats against American judges and their families: they've been doxxed, swatted, even killed. Many jurists are not all that comfortable having conversations around these threats. This reluctance to respond publicly is understandable, but it's also depriving us of a critical perspective from the very people this affects. This week on Amicus, that changes: Two judges sat down with us to talk openly about what often goes unsaid. Host Dahlia Lithwick speaks with sitting U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington Judge Robert S. Lasnik, and Judge Jeremy Fogel, a former U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California and current Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. They acknowledge that there's a long history of judges being threatened, but point out that it's usually not coming from the President and his Department of Justice. We're in uncharted territory, and Judges Lasnik and Fogel are bravely opening up about what this volatility means for an independent judiciary, and what we should do about it. Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Over the last few years, there's been an undeniable uptick in threats against American judges and their families: they've been doxxed, swatted, even killed. Many jurists are not all that comfortable having conversations around these threats. This reluctance to respond publicly is understandable, but it's also depriving us of a critical perspective from the very people this affects. This week on Amicus, that changes: Two judges sat down with us to talk openly about what often goes unsaid. Host Dahlia Lithwick speaks with sitting U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington Judge Robert S. Lasnik, and Judge Jeremy Fogel, a former U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California and current Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. They acknowledge that there's a long history of judges being threatened, but point out that it's usually not coming from the President and his Department of Justice. We're in uncharted territory, and Judges Lasnik and Fogel are bravely opening up about what this volatility means for an independent judiciary, and what we should do about it. Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and Attorney Eric Bland pull no punches as a brutal week looms. With Mandy's May 15 contempt hearing approaching and Eric facing his own all-day ODC deposition Wednesday, the trio breaks down what they call a coordinated campaign of harassment dressed up as litigation. Mandy responds — emotionally and on the record — to a paltry excuse for journalism, including the reputationally damaging and wildly defamatory suggestion she might have information about the leaked Mallory Beach photos. Liz lays out the timeline: Gregg Roman, the actual custodian of those photos, has dodged two depositions while Mandy gets ambushed in court. Eric explains how the ODC has been weaponized against lawyers who do good work, with grievances quietly bundled for years. Plus Premium Members hear our analysis on rumors of Alex Murdaugh's new trial, who will re-prosecute if Alan Wilson doesn't….? ☕ Cups Up! ⚖️ Episode References How can you support Mandy? Crowd the Courthouse
What does it say about a country when people openly celebrate someone else’s suffering? Mike digs into the backlash surrounding Rudy Giuliani’s health scare and the disturbing reactions online, using it to question how far basic empathy has eroded in today’s culture. As social media fuels outrage and dehumanization, he pushes back on the instinct to mock or dismiss those we disagree with—warning that it only deepens the divide. From political tribalism to the growing influence of alternative voices on younger audiences, the conversation highlights a nation drifting further apart. The bigger question lingers: is there still a way back to common ground, or are we watching civility slip away for good?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
"Convicted Civility" 5-3-26 The Sacred Overlap Part 13
Last week I started my editorial with: ‘Well, it was a rather chaotic, eventful week in politics wasn't it', and went on to speak about how I thought it was a mistake that the Prime Minister has decided to decline appearing in a weekly spot on TVNZ's Breakfast. But it appears that ‘chaotic' and ‘eventful' is likely to be how we're going to describe the next 27 weeks until the election, if the coalition can hold itself together through to November. The nonsense and the scheming this week included what could quite possibly have been a leaked story about embattled TVNZ reporter Maiki Sherman, lawyers letters flying between media companies keen to report the juicy details, Winston Peters releasing emails under an OIA request revealing the Prime Minister's potentially damaging views on the US war against Iran, and a feisty retaliation by the National Party on NZ First. All I could think at the end of this week was - surely both the media and politicians can do better. I get it - everyone is coming out firing on all cylinders - that's what you've got to do in election year. National has a new campaign leader and communications adviser, and I am sure many National voters like the new fighting spirit being shown by the Nats. After all, the Foreign Affairs Minister was out of line this week. But with Winston Peters stating, 'No, we won't do a deal with Labour or their Marxist and separatist mates', then you'd think that having ruled out being part of an opposing coalition there would be some shared effort to sell this one to voters. The number of people who this week said to me, 'I don't want to vote for any of them' was a bit of a surprise. Civility is often put aside during an election year, and yet I think it's what most of us are craving right now. We'd like the people we have entrusted to run the country to act like grown-ups and get on with the job without the backstabbing. Budget month is going to be tough, and yet all National and the coalition have to do to sell this budget is deliver it straight-up. We all know the story - whatever economic recovery and confidence we were gaining heading into 2026 has been wiped out by decisions made elsewhere in the world. It's not just our story - it's happening everywhere. This week, the Bank of England warned inflation could hit 6.2 percent in the UK by early 2027, and food prices could rise by 6-7 percent by the end of this year. In Australia inflation rose to 4.6 percent in March, with an expectation it will peak higher with consumer prices now growing at their fastest pace in two and a half years. No. It's not the economic recovery story National was hoping to campaign on, but with little policy or innovation coming from the Labour Party there is an opportunity to double down on their fiscally responsible approach to managing the economy. The revelation of Christopher Luxon's support for the war wrecking our economy - isn't helpful for him. But what would be more damaging is having coalition party leaders calling out each other for poor judgement over the coming months. Luxon has done a good job keeping the coalition together, but if they're going to spend the next 6 months sabotaging each other rather than continuing to work on how they can come together on policy, selling the budget will be the least of National's problems. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Will Moreland.
-The tone swings from heartfelt outrage to philosophical reflection, as the show pivots from condemning extreme rhetoric to a full-on sermon about karma, good vs. evil, and why bad behavior eventually “comes back to bite you.” -COVID-era policies get revisited with a vengeance, as new claims about vaccine side effects are discussed alongside a reminder that questioning anything back then would've gotten you labeled public enemy number one. Today's podcast is sponsored by : CHAPTER - If you're turning 65 or already on Medicare, call Chapter at 27-MEDICARE for the plan that suits you best. RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com GHOSTBED - I used to think a mattress was just furniture, until I got my GhostBed! GhostBed is offering my audience their lowest prices of the season, plus an extra 10% off. Go to http://GhostBed.com/CARSON and use promo code CARSON BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday… Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) You can now WATCH and chat with The Rob Carson Show LIVE on Newsmax's social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Rumble) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Going back ten years to 2016, Sarah and Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide) dive into the annual Bookish Time Capsule episode and revisit the book world from that year. They cover big bookish highlights — from the buzziest books of the year to the award winners — along with what was happening in the wider world at the time. They also look back at their own reading from 2016, including their favorite releases, and share a quick round-up of listener-submitted favorites. This episode is overflowing with great backlist titles to add to your TBR! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights The big news that was going on outside the book world Book stories and trends that dominated 2016 The 2016 books that have had staying power Big books and award winners for the year Reading in the blog years before the Rock Your Reading Tracker Sarah's and Catherine's personal 2016 reading stats Listener-submitted favorites from 2016 2016 Bookish Time Capsule [1:45] The World Beyond Books Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:09] To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:59] My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:11] Ferrante's true identity has never been confirmed, despite multiple attempts by journalists and various theories pointing to different people. Book Industry Sales and Trends Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:02] The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:10] Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:21] A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:36] Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:40] To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:45] All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:57] The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:12] Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:16] StrengthsFinder 2.0 from Gallup (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:20] When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:30] The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:33] After You by Jojo Moyes (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:49] The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:52] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:59] Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (2016)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:36] Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:49] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:04] Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:05] The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (English Translation, 2015) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [13:32] My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman (English Translation, 2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:39] In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:51] Big Books of 2016 It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:47] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 2) by Sarah J. Maas (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:28] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:25] Pines (Wayward Pines, 1) by Blake Crouch (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:57] Recursion by Blake Crouch (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:17] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[18:34] Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:58] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:29] James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:42] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:51] Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:10] When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:28] Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:46] Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:19] Award Winners of 2016 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:54] The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:06] Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:35] The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:51] Let Me Die In His Footsteps by Lori Roy (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:50] Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:56] All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:05] Catherine's Top Books Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:46] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:11] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:35] The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (June 2, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:03] Before the Wind by Jim Lynch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:57] Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:57] Miss Jane by Brad Watson (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:48] Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:57] Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:08] Adnan's Story by Rabia Chaudry (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:40] Sarah's Top Books Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:45] Shelter by Jung Yun (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:58] All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:06] The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:16] My Name Is Lucy Barton (Amgash, 1) by Elizabeth Strout (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:22] Oh William! (Amgash, 3) by Elizabeth Strout (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:38] Tell Me Everything (Amgash, 5) by Elizabeth Strout (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:47] Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:05] Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:30] Tender by Belinda McKeon (US Release, 2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:44] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:03] When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:05] The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31] Listeners' Top Books A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[44:14] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:19] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 2) by Sarah J. Maas (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:35] Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:47] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:01] Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:24] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:30] Beartown by Fredrik Backman (English Translation, 2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:32] Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:40] The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:45] Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:58] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:00] The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:16]
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Welcome to the Art, Life, Faith Podcast, and I’m your host, Roger Lowther. Let me take a moment to invite you to our upcoming conference, May 22-27, 2026, just one month away, here in downtown Tokyo with easy access to all the beautiful art and culture of our city. During our time together, we will offer many short presentations, talks, and performances to lead us in worship through the heart art languages of Japan, all around the theme of “The Beauty of Japan, The Beauty of Heaven.” Every session will include discussion times to get to know the people around you, to encourage networking, and to inspire and encourage one another. We will also have an art gallery with plenty of space to display and distribute materials. We will also host unique activities we are calling “Worship in the City,” enabling people to worship God outside the walls of our building and through the art and culture of Tokyo. This gathering has space for up to 200 people. This is not just a conference, it is an experience. You have to come to know what I'm talking about. I know it's going to change your life. God has already blessed tremendously through the preparations for this event, and we can’t wait to see what he already has in store. We are hosting this event specifically over Pentecost weekend to celebrate the things to come, when all the nations will be united across their different languages and different cultures and different arts in worshiping God together. Hear me on this. We will not be speaking one language or sharing one culture, but God delights in the diversity of the cultures and calling us to worship together. So, come spend Pentecost weekend with us here in Tokyo! We look forward to having you. Well, this episode I had the privilege of having a conversation with Alexandra Hudson, or Lexi, the author of “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” A number of weeks ago, she was passing through Tokyo on vacation with her family when she was gracious enough to sit down with me and talk about the various themes in her book and then lead an Art Life Faith event right afterward. One of the things that came up during our conversation was about “porching.” Porch is not usually used as a verb, but Lexi talks about it in her book. She and I share a mutual friend, Joanna Taft, director of the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, who invites people onto her porch every week to just share their lives with one another. And through this Art Life Faith event, we realized that that is exactly what these gatherings are. We gather around a table, have a meal together, and get to know each other. This time, three visitors came who I had never met before. And then they came again to gatherings we had in the weeks that followed. This porching was a wonderful opportunity to invite people into our community, and it was wonderful to have Lexi and her family spend that time with us as well. I’m glad I get to share this conversation with all of you. Roger Welcome to the Art Life Faith podcast, and I’m your host, Roger Lowther. Well, tonight we have the privilege of talking with Alexandra Hudson, who was passing through with her family on vacation, and so we got to arrange an Art Life Faith event happening right after our conversation. So I wanted to introduce her to all of you. So thank you, Alexandra, for being on the show. Lexi Thanks for your hospitality. Great to be with you and Abi tonight and excited for the conversation. Roger We just met, so I’m not quite sure how to introduce you. Can you introduce yourself? Lexi Yeah, I am passionate about ideas and storytelling and how they can make our lives richer and better. I love history and philosophy, and I wrote a book called “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” It’s about how to flourish across deep differences, which is the most urgent question of our day in our era of hyper-partisanship, of extremism, of despair, of loneliness. But it’s also a timeless fundamental human question: How do we peacefully coexist amidst competing visions of the good? That’s what I explore my book. Roger Well, it’s an interesting book title because civility, when I try to translate it into Japanese in my head, I’m not quite sure which word to use. Lexi Oh, interesting. What are the options? Roger Well, the one I want to use is politeness, but it’s not politeness, is it? Lexi No, it is not. It’s interesting that you said that. Roger How is it different? Lexi You’re setting me up really nicely. A core argument of my book is that there is an essential distinction between civility and politeness, and in English we have these two words. We have civility and politeness, but people often today use them interchangeably, whether or not they want more of it or less of it. And in America, in the West, we have two vocal groups right now. One group says, “Oh, we are so divided. We’re so broken. Democracy is in peril. We need more civility and politeness in order to save democracy.” So they use this one phrase, “civility and politeness.” And there’s another contingent as well that says, no, civility and politeness are part of the problem. They’re the tools of the powerful, the patriarchy. They oppress the powerless, and we need to burn it all down, throw the baby out with the bathwater. Less civility and politeness in order to achieve greater justice and equity in the world. But both these contingents use these phrases interchangeably, and I argue that they’re different. I love etymology. I love studying language, and I love the origin of language. I’ve loved learning about Japanese and Japanese characters and the stories. So the etymology of civility and politeness is illuminating, and it’s, it’s actually honoring the original etymology to separate these words. So the etymology of, well, let me tell you what the difference is first, then I’ll go. Roger I'm thinking like civilization… Lexi So politeness, I argue, is manners. It’s etiquette. It’s technique. I know there’s a lot of influence in Japan on Confucius philosophy, but so is this concept of li. I don’t know if that is a concept here at all, but it’s like ritual. It’s propriety. Roger Japan is certainly known for its politeness. Lexi That’s correct. What we do is what we say, whereas civility isn’t external, it’s internal. It’s an inner disposition of the heart. It’s a way of seeing others fundamentally as our moral equals, worthy of respect just by virtue of our shared dignity, our equal moral worth as human beings, by virtue of the imago dei, that we are, we are created with it. We have the divine imprint, and that means that every single one of us without exception bear an irreducible moral worth and are worthy of respect. We owe to others that bare minimum of respect by virtue of imago dei. Roger I think I read on the back of your book that it’s not just about your actions and words but about the attitude of your heart, right? Lexi Right. The disposition of the heart is what civility is, and that sometimes actually respecting someone, actually loving someone, requires being impolite. It requires telling a hard truth, having an uncomfortable conversation, even especially in a democracy, engaging in robust debate. I mean, think of a marriage, you know, sweeping differences under the rug is not sustainable for an authentic true relationship. It’s going to get messy. It’s going to get hard. You have to have uncomfortable conversations. But, and in fact, having difficult conversations can be a tool of strengthening a relationship. It’s not about whether you disagree, it’s how you do it and whether you are… Roger If you’re uncivil, does that mean that you are fighting these? What kind of interaction is uncivil? You guys are being uncivil. You know, something I may say to my boys something, right? Lexi Civility requires action sometimes, but it also takes certain action off the table. I’ll give you an example. In chapter 7 of my book, I talk about civil disobedience. And let me just go to the etymology to illuminate the distinction a little bit more. So politeness, our word in English, comes from the Latin polire, which means to smooth or polish. And that’s what politeness does—it papers over difference, it sweeps it under the rug, as opposed to giving us tools to grapple with difference head-on. The etymology of civility is civitas, which is our etymological root for citizen, citizenship, civilization, city. And that’s what civility is— it’s the, the duty, duties, the conduct, the mores, that the disposition, the habits befitting a citizen in a city, and especially in a democracy that requires truth-telling, that requires honest, robust debate that is the lifeblood of a democracy. Roger Okay, so, you know, living here in Japan, we’re often taught to be polite because that’s such a big part of society. And I have seen a lot of relationships broken when they don’t know how to be polite. They say, well, let’s just not talk to that person, and then I don’t have to be fake. I just won’t see that person. And there doesn’t seem to be a kind of a way through for building community. There’s a lot of brokenness in relationships in Japan. So what you’re talking about is a way through that. Lexi That’s so interesting. I’m not saying don’t be polite. I’m not condemning Japan as a polite society. I’m saying that’s not enough, that the form the words, the rituals, the actions, without the inner disposition that sees you as my fellow human being worthy of respect, that it’s not going to be enough. And in the West as well, we too often settle for politeness. We, we settle for just people doing and saying the perfectly correct thing, but we’re missing civility, that inner disposition of the heart that helps us actually know when to depart from politeness, when to have those uncomfortable conversations. Roger Okay, so let me ask you now, because this is the Art Life Faith Podcast, what is the role of beauty and art in creating this soul of civility? Lexi I did a kintsugi class while I was here in Japan, and I love that as a metaphor for life and the human condition, this ancient practice of taking broken pottery that some might cast away but taking it, piecing it back together, and making it more beautiful on the other side of this process, illuminating our brokenness. I think that’s really powerful. Roger So the brokenness of society is something that you as an artist of society are trying to speak into? Lexi I’ve been going back and forth about what I am because I’m not just a writer, I’m not just a speaker. In fact, like this season of my work, I’m a practitioner. Like I am both trying to live this and build initiatives and institutions in my community and helping dozens of other people across the country right now, including Congress, including state legislatures, including Ivy League universities, build initiatives around my work as well. So, civic architect is one idea. I don’t know. Listeners, write to me with your ideas for how to characterize what I’m doing. I wrote this book. It’s both descriptive and normative, but now I’m doing it, and so I don’t have there’s no category really for that that I know of. So if you know of one, if you can help me think of one, I welcome it. Roger Yeah, well, I’ll keep thinking about it. I mean, one reason I asked you to come and speak tonight for this event is we were connected by a mutual friend who runs the Harrison Center for the Arts. I looked at some of the pictures. I saw you were doing events there. You were connected to this art gallery. Can you tell us a little bit more about that connection? Lexi To really do justice to that story, let’s back up a little bit about why I wrote this book. I love history. I love philosophy. I love ideas. I was raised by two very curious human beings. My mom and dad are intellectually omnivorous, and our home life growing up was just very stimulating. And my parents taught me wonder was a way of life. I went to a combination of public, private, and charter schools growing up, but I loved all school because I had this really intellectually robust home life that promoted the life of the mind. Then I went to grad school at the London School of Economics, because I wanted to put ideas into practice. I feel like my education kind of stopped at the Italian Renaissance, and I wanted to know more about the world that I was about to live in. Then I got my first big break in DC. I served in federal government, and it felt like the honor of a lifetime. I couldn’t wait to serve my country, and I chose to serve at the United States Department of Education, the single largest institution in the history of mankind dedicated to student instruction. And I was devastated to discover they didn’t really care about education, at least not how I had been educated, about soul craft and ordering our passions and beauty and goodness and truth. And on top of that, it was so dehumanizing, my experience in Washington. My experience was kind of a microcosm of our dysfunction and division as a whole. I saw two extremes that are equally as dehumanizing. One was the hostile contingent in government, people who were willing to step on anyone to get ahead, overtly belligerent. And the other contingent were polished and poised and polite, but ruthless and cruel. Roger Yeah, I believe it. Lexi I saw people who would smile at me and others one moment and then stab us in the back the next. And that really disillusioned me. And I realized upon reflection that these two extremes they seem like polar opposites. And in fact, people often tack in one direction as an antidote to the other. People who are just exhausted by the hostility are trying to be uber polite to try and compensate, but they’re actually equally as dehumanizing. Both insufficiently appreciate the profound gift of being human in ourselves and in others. The hostile contingent sees others as pawns to be bludgeoned into submission, silenced. Roger That's certainly the image of government. Lexi And the polite contingent sees others as pawns to be manipulated and then discarded, but neither see human beings as they really are— beings with dignity, worthy of respect. So I fled Washington. I served one year. I remember the day very clearly. I came home from work one day. It was a very dispiriting day, and I said to my husband, I’m done with DC. I’m done with the swamp. I’m done with government. Let’s move to Indiana. And he said, okay, sounds good, we’ll move to Indiana. Roger So why Indiana? Lexi Because he’s from there originally. He’s from northern Indiana, and I wanted anywhere but Washington. I just wanted something different. I had in my mind like rolling pastures and farmland, like just peace and tranquility. So he smiled and said, okay, sounds good, we’ll move to Indiana. No takebacks. And a few months later, we were out there, and one of my first friends came up to me after church one day and she said, “Hi, I’m Joanna Taft. Would you like to porch with us sometime?” And I never heard the word porch used that way. Roger I’m not sure what that is. Lexi But I was curious, and again, we didn’t know many people in town. And so we went to her beautiful historic great big front veranda on her porch that Sunday afternoon, and I realized that she was staging a quiet revolution against our polarized, divided, isolated status quo from her front porch. She had curated people that day, much like what you’re doing here tonight, you know, not to have a structured dialog across difference, but just to say You know, what does it mean to engage one another as human beings first? And it was a beautiful oasis from the divisions that I had been just so immersed in in government, where, you know, the world wants us to assign value to our race, our wealth, our political persuasion, where we live, all these different identities. And it was an oasis from that. It was just a chance to be present with other human beings and I’ve been on book tour the last several years. I’ve been in like 145 cities and 5 countries. And I saw people like Joanna doing the same independently. People who said, this is the power in Joanna’s work and her life being an argument for this work. Lexi She was saying, I can’t control others. I can’t control who’s president. I can’t control what’s happening down at city hall. I can only control myself, and I’m going to choose to double down and make my community better and more beautiful. And I tell her story in my book, The Soul of Civility, because the porch is the metaphor that I use, one of the metaphors I used for this, this theory of social change, that we can’t change others. We can’t. It’s the world wants to disempower us and blame. Roger Yeah, I love it. Especially here in Japan, community is so much more important than ideas. And my sense is that America is getting more and more interested in, this is my idea, this is where I stand, are you with me or are you an enemy? Lexi Is there “porching” in Japan? Roger There’s a lot of cafes. People are always going out to izakaya, which is kind of Japanese bar restaurant type of thing. That is a meeting ground. Country Chicken is a fried chicken, izakaya-type place that’s just down there. We can see it out the living room window here. I do karate with my dojo, and we meet there like every couple months. It’s just a fun place to gather and talk. And I’m the only Christian in the group, I’m the only foreigner in the group, and they’ve invited me into their community through the sport of doing karate together. It feels like porching, I guess, because we’re always sharing various ideas. They sometimes ask me provocative questions about politics in the States, and I usually try to avoid those topics. But yeah, that could be porching, I guess. Lexi It absolutely is porching because it’s not even about the porch. You got that right away. It’s a way of engaging others in the world with civility, seeing them as a human being first. You know, you’re not American or Japanese first. You’re not a Republican or Democrat first. You’re my fellow human being and I want to know you. I want to see you. I want to know you and maybe even love you. That is what Joanna fostered on her porch that day that felt so powerful, to have people be seen and known and loved in the fullness of who they are. And that’s refreshing in a world that wants to essentialize us. Roger Yeah, that definitely is what we’re trying to create tonight. We open our home to people. It’s why we are where we are. It’s kind of easy to get to. You came from Tokyo Station. How far are we from there? Lexi Like 10 minutes. Roger Not too far, right? Lexi I know, it was wonderful. Roger Yeah, so we’re trying to be centrally located for that reason. And our church too isn’t far from here. We’re trying to create that kind of community. So going back to the art gallery, or just arts in general…For artists who are listening, what would you say to them about their role in this? How can they help be an architect of civility in their cities, in their communities? What does that look like? Lexi Well, Pope Francis has this great phrase. He called us all to be artisans of the common good. And I love that. I do a lot of work with civic leaders, with elected officials, with CEOs, with educators, people who might not consider themselves artists. I think we’re all artists. We are all creators because we are made in God’s image, and our God is the Creator. Roger Yes. Lexi And I think that we are closest to being who we really are and who God created us to be and most like him when we are creating. So that’s a core message I have for people in my community that might not think of themselves as creative. They’re not part of the creative economy. And it’s like, no, you are. And it’s about finding that still quiet voice that you have a calling to, and to innovate, to see a need, something that doesn’t exist, and to build something that meets that need. So this season of my work, I’m not just talking about the book. I call myself a co-creator with these dozens of local leaders. I call them Civic Renaissance Ambassadors. They’re congresspersons. They’re state representatives. They’re local mayors. They’re city councilors. They’re school teachers. They’re people from all walks of life who have read my book, found it useful, and said, “Okay, I’ve read it, I love it, but how do I live it?” And when I was getting that question all throughout book tour, I said, “I don’t know, I just wrote a book.” But now I’ve learned a lot and I’m co-creating. That’s what I call myself, a co-creator with these people who are doing this, who see loneliness, they see brokenness, they see life as it ought not be because people are cutting friends off, cutting family members off over politics. I don’t know if that’s a problem here. I’d be curious to know if it is, but that’s a big problem in the US where you’re ending friendships, lifelong friendships, family, no contact with parents. Over politics, your view on the vaccine, your view on Donald Trump. And that is like self-sabotage. That is disordered loves. We are making the most important things the not important. And so people see those needs and they want to be part of the solution. So, I’m calling them to co-create with me. Roger I think a lot of artists have this image that they make work and they hope somebody is going to buy their painting or hope that someone’s going to hire them to come in and play for this event but don’t know how it fits into the bigger picture. But you’re saying that everyone has a role to play in building the kind of community to build the kind of city that we want to see. It’s so easy for us to get practical. Like, this is what I have to do to make a living. And this is my narrow pathway here. But it’s a much bigger vision, how it all fits together. Is that right? Lexi Yes. And I think that the message I would share with my co-creators, these civic leaders that I work with is also a message for artists as well, is that no effort to create beauty is ever wasted. It can be really easy to feel like it if the piece doesn’t sell, or if, you know, no one notices— I feel that sometimes. I feel like I work so hard and I’m like, does anyone even care? Is this working? Is this doing anything? And then I have to remind myself, no, the process is the point. Just the act of creation, the act of bringing goodness and beauty and truth into the world, that is its own reward. Roger You were talking about keeping the conversation going by continuing to meet with these people working in government and other business leaders and people like that. I can see how the arts can play a role in that as well. There’s tremendous power in the arts to bring people together over certain topics from a third-party perspective. It’s a safe way to create a platform for people to engage one another, I think. So we’re almost out of time. People are going to start ringing the doorbell and coming in here. Is there anything you’d like to share before we end? Lexi The final chapter on my book argues—it’s on misplaced meaning and forgiveness—and it argues that we have made a religion out of politics, and that’s bad for democracy, bad for religion, bad for Christianity, bad for our souls. And I argue that we need to do things that give us life, that it’s not enough just to say love politics less. We have to do things to actively displace and replace a harmful affection. I’m getting this idea from Thomas Chalmers. He’s a Scottish theologian. He has an essay called “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.” He says it’s not enough just to say, soul, love sin less. You have to cultivate love of God. That is what will permanently displace the love of the sin. Nature abhors a vacuum, he says. It’s not enough just to diagnose that we have an unhealthy attachment to politics and to toxicity that is poisoning our soul. What are some things we can proactively pursue that are more noble and life-giving? I talk about intellectual curiosity. I talk about friendship, especially friendship across difference. I talk about beauty and the sublime. Beauty is something that delights us. The sublime fills us with awe. It’s like, you know, a thunderstorm, waves crashing on the shore. It’s like staring up space at night and being humbled by this concept of infinity and giving us a sense of smallness. That is good for our souls. I’m on holiday here in Japan with my 3 children, and it’s hard to travel with 3 kids under 6, and it’s tiring. But I want them to know that the world is big and vast, and how we live every day is not the way that most of the world lives. That is humbling. It’s so beautiful. And I’m just so grateful to be here with you. Roger Yeah, that’s great. Well, how can people learn more about you? Lexi I host a newsletter intellectual community called Civic Renaissance. It’s about beauty, goodness, and truth, and reviving the wisdom of the past to help us lead better lives in the present. Please do consider joining me over at Civic Renaissance. It’s about taking ideas out of the ether and living them, like putting this work into practice now, and how can we live richer, more fulfilled lives and relationships now. And, of course, read my book, “The Soul of Civility.” I hope it’s an encouragement. If you are in Japan, and whether you’re Japanese or American or from the West, I want to hear your observations about how this distinction between civility and politeness applies here. I came here with a kind of working hypothesis. I’ve been all over the world talking about this distinction. I was like, what’s it going to be like going to the most polite society in the world? I hope that this does meet a need in some way here, because we need human dignity first. Just manners alone are not enough. Roger Well, thank you. I’m really looking forward to tonight and seeing the kind of discussions that we’re going to have. So thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Lexi My pleasure. Thanks for having us. Roger You’ve been listening to the Art, Life, Faith Podcast. Don't forget to pick up your own copy of The Soul of Civility, wherever you buy your books. As we say in Japan, “Ja, mata ne!” We’ll see you next time.
What's the current status of the conflict with Iran and the ongoing peace talks? Glenn speaks on what is driving this conflict, how Iran's economy is crashing due to the ongoing conflict, and how America's actions are forcing Iran to make tough decisions. Glenn also lays out how Kharg Island fits into all this. Glenn takes calls from his listeners to discuss topics such as the current conflict in the Middle East. How much influence does Israel have on America's decisions to act in Iran? Glenn and a listener named Linda have a back-and-forth on whether this Iran conflict is America First, the role of American oil dependence, and what President Trump's mindset may be. Glenn tells the shocking story of a stolen identity, which nearly cost a man his entire life, as it took decades for the truth to be revealed. Glenn goes through multiple stories that show America is at a morally and ethically dangerous point, which will only lead to America's inevitable downfall. Glenn and Jason discuss the story of the U.S. soldier who made money off the raid on Maduro, as he was part of the planning and execution of the operation. Billy Hallowell, host of “Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles,” joins to further his discussion on how Christians should approach aliens and demons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Saving civilization well may begin with eye contact, a tucked shirt, a sincere apology, or a held door. For the dispositions we have toward the little things truly train our sense of human dignity. In his new book, The Apostolate of Courtesy, middle school Latin and language arts teacher Rob Greving follows in the footsteps of St. Francis de Sales. His book offers a defense of civility for the sake of the soul, followed by a practical guide to many of life's social situations. From table manners to small talk to handling interruptions, our manner affects the temper of the world. And "when I have courtesy," Mr. Greving writes, "I am not lowering myself but raising myself to the dignity of Christ." Chapters: 2:10 Mr. Greving's influences 5:46 Courtesy and civilization 10:53 The medium of apologetics: us! 13:56 St. Francis de Sales: the gentleman saint 19:09 Manners at home 26:05 Handling interruptions well 31:24 Parents and teachers as the example 39:28 The art of apology 42:37 Courtesy in the classroom Links: The Apostolate of Courtesy: How to Save Souls and Change the World through the Power of Manners by Robert Greving Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C. S. Lewis Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior by George Washington Also on the Forum: Manners: The Art of Happiness by Robert Greving On Manners: The "ABCs" of Virtue featuring Colin Gleason Enjoying Our Children and Why It's Important featuring Alvaro de Vicente Featured Opportunities: Parents' Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026) Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026)
We are Traci and Ellie, two bookish friends who read in any spare minute that we have. This week we are blending two worlds… Taylor Swift and reading! To shop the books listed in this episode, visit our shop at bookshop.org. Care to join us on Patreon with even more content? We would love to have you join us at From the Bookstacks of Literally Reading! Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Shumacher Betting on You by Lynn Painter Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Rules of Civility by Amor Towles Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han Good Material by Dolly Alderton I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Will Moreland.
Tarabuster Tuesdays with Tara Devlin. April 16, 2026
Lanny Davis joins the show! Together, Lanny and Joe break down how presidential politics have changed throughout the years. What is Lanny's third way to reignite a political party? Is there a way to reframe compromise between the Republicans and Democrats? Lanny shares what inspired him to write “Finding the Third Way: Lessons in the Politics of Civility from My Journey through History” and what it means to compromise. How does Bill Clinton's State of the Union address on border security land today? Joe shares his admiration for Lanny's ability to engage in civil discourse, and they discuss how to talk to a Trump voter in today's climate. Find Lanny's book “Finding the Third Way” here: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Third-Way-Politics-Civility/dp/B0G318P334 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael Smerconish sits down with longtime political insider Lanny Davis to discuss his book "Finding the Third Way: Lessons in the Politics of Civility from My Journey through History." Through candid, often humorous stories—from Yale days alongside future presidents to moments inside the Clinton White House—Davis reflects on a lifetime in politics and the lessons he's learned about civility, empathy, and bridging divides. It's a wide-ranging conversation that blends history, personal anecdotes, and a call for a more respectful, “third way” approach to today's polarized climate. Original air date 15 April 2026. The book was published on 14 April 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It's not left v right, it's us v them. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:27 AI Lawsuit and the Return of “Technology Panics” 01:04 The “Werther Effect” and Historical Media Fears 04:47 Does AI Cause Harm or Reflect the User? 07:46 Should AI Come With Warnings? 12:05 Hungary Politics and Viktor Orbán's Defeat 15:29 Foolishness of the Week: Conspiracy Theories and Flat Earthers 18:14 Artemis II and the Persistence of Irrational Beliefs 20:28 Partisanship, Audience Reactions, and Perceived Bias 24:10 Why Both Parties Drift Toward Authoritarianism 28:55 Are Democrats and Republicans Actually Different? 32:37 “Them vs Us”: The Political Illusion 36:24 The Feedback Loop of Polarization 40:35 Debate Culture, Civility, and Online Discourse 43:23 How to Argue Without Attacking People 47:38 Final Thoughts: Be Skeptical, Be Civil, Be Kind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's not left v right, it's us v them. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:27 AI Lawsuit and the Return of “Technology Panics” 01:04 The “Werther Effect” and Historical Media Fears 04:47 Does AI Cause Harm or Reflect the User? 07:46 Should AI Come With Warnings? 12:05 Hungary Politics and Viktor Orbán's Defeat 15:29 Foolishness of the Week: Conspiracy Theories and Flat Earthers 18:14 Artemis II and the Persistence of Irrational Beliefs 20:28 Partisanship, Audience Reactions, and Perceived Bias 24:10 Why Both Parties Drift Toward Authoritarianism 28:55 Are Democrats and Republicans Actually Different? 32:37 “Them vs Us”: The Political Illusion 36:24 The Feedback Loop of Polarization 40:35 Debate Culture, Civility, and Online Discourse 43:23 How to Argue Without Attacking People 47:38 Final Thoughts: Be Skeptical, Be Civil, Be Kind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bill talks with lawyer and former Clinton special counsel Lanny Davis about his book, Finding the Third Way, and the need to restore civility and “disagree agreeably” in U.S. politics. Davis recalls a Yale campus culture shaped by President Kingman Brewster that encouraged civil discourse and public service, even amid 1960s turmoil. He defines the “Third Way” as Bill Clinton's principled blend of social liberalism, fiscal conservatism (balanced budgets and responsibility), and cultural moderation, offering a positive alternative to Trumpism. Davis argues most Americans want civil politics, but extremes dominate, and Democrats must stand for affordability, fiscal discipline, and tolerance—especially within their own party—while rejecting lies, racism, and attacks on the Constitution. He predicts a potential realignment with disenchanted Trump voters and says Democrats need younger leadership after Biden's decision to run again. You can get a copy of Lanny's new book, coming our today, Finding the Third Way: Lessons in the Politics of Civility from My Journey through History here.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The legal profession tends to breed a type of disposition more akin to something in Homer than The Wonder Years. A rooted posture towards adversity rather than compromise or even common ground. Much of this is taught in law school, even if indirectly, with a ruthless employment competition cycle the second 1Ls start their fall semester and that infamous curve that pins students against one another and judged over the smallest of differences. My guest today is David A. Grenardo and our topic is an antidote to this madness, which is civility. We discuss not only what it is, but more importantly, how it tends to improve the quality of the legal profession and those inside. His latest paper in the Toledo Law Review is called Why Civility?, but his record on this goes back 15 years. David is a professor of law and associate director of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions. He joined St. Thomas Law in 2022. He was previously a professor at St. Mary's University School of Law (Texas) where he taught Professional Responsibility, Contracts, Sports Law, Business Associations, Civil Procedure, and International Sports Law. Full bio. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.
Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein #TheManilaTimes #KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss Vice President JD Vance's role as chief negotiator in this weekend's talks to end the Iran War, and President Donald Trump's social media post attacking Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson and other podcasters who have criticized U.S. and Israeli strategy in Iran. Then, Democratic political strategist Lanny Davis joins the guys to discuss his new book "Finding the Third Way: Lessons in the Politics of Civility from My Journey Through History". Next, they discuss tonight's splashdown of NASA's Artemis space capsule and the significance of the 10-day mission around the moon. And of course, they each give up their “You Cannot Be Serious” stories of the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
On Easter Sunday, President Donald Trump threatened Iran on social media. He used profanity, mocked Iranian leadership and threatened to bring harm to Iranian civilians. By most accounts, the tone was shocking. Whatever happened to civility and diplomacy? Is there such a thing anymore as "polite conversation"? Are we becoming a society bereft of manners? Our Another View Round Table pundits discuss these questions and more.
Are we living through one of the most dangerous moments in modern history?In this powerful and deeply confronting episode of A Life of Greatness, Sarah Grynberg sits down with returning guest Marianne Williamson for her fourth appearance on the show. Together, they unpack the current state of the world from rising political tension and misinformation, to the erosion of truth, the influence of big tech, and the growing divide across societies.Marianne speaks candidly about her experience running for the US presidency, the emotional toll of having her campaign suppressed, and what she believes is really happening behind the scenes in American politics.In this conversation, Marianne explores a range of powerful themes, including: • Charlie Kirk Assassination and The Epstein Files • Free speech and the responsibility we each carry • Spirituality and the shift from fear into love • The role we all play in shaping what comes nextAt its core, it's a conversation about courage, truth, and what it means to choose love in a time where hate feels louder than ever.Because as Marianne says, when hate is screaming, love cannot afford to whisper.00:00 Introduction02:12 Marianne Williamson Returns02:56 What's Really Happening in the World Right Now05:30 How America Looks From the Outside05:36 America's Political Crisis Explained06:48 The Epstein Files and Government Corruption07:41 Running for President and What Went Wrong10:14 The Suppression of Democracy13:25 What People Actually Want15:53 The Death of Civility in Politics16:07 The Charlie Kirk Assassination17:14 Bondi, Anti Semitism and Rising Hate20:37 Israel, Palestine and the Truth We Avoid23:05 Can Peace Ever Exist?26:07 Free Speech vs Hate Speech27:22 The Rise of Dangerous Voices Online29:57 Why Hate Is Winning Attention31:23 When Hate Is Loud, Love Must Be Louder31:36 The Cost of Speaking Out (Especially for Women)34:25 Recovering From Public Failure36:37 The Emotional Toll of Politics38:42 Rebuilding After Breakdown41:00 What This Moment Demands of UsListen to the full episode of A Life Of Greatness: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-life-of-greatness/id1457268944Purchase Sarah's book: https://bit.ly/sarahgrynberg-bookPurchase Sarah's Kid's Meditation: https://bit.ly/3kfVJMhFollow Sarah for more wisdom and inspiration:Website https://sarahgrynberg.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahgrynbergTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahgrynbergFacebook https://facebook.com/sarahgrynbergTwitter https://twitter.com/sarahgrynberg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of History of the Papacy, Steve Guerra welcomes Josh Cohen, host of Eyewitness History and author of William F. Buckley Jr.'s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era. The conversation explores Buckley’s Catholic faith, his attachment to tradition, his response to the changes surrounding Vatican II, and his unusual ability to maintain friendships and civil dialogue across deep political divides. Get the book here: https://a.co/d/0bhHL6Kf #HistoryOfThePapacy #CatholicHistory #WilliamFBuckleyJr #AmericanCatholicHistory #ChurchHistory #CatholicPodcast #PoliticalHistory #USHistory #IntellectualHistory #FiringLine Support the show:Buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthepapacyPatreon: http://patreon.com/historyofthepapacyBuy me a book: http://bit.ly/40ckJ8EHave questions, comments or feedback? Here are ways to contact me:Email Us: steve@atozhistorypage.comHow to listen: https://www.atozhistorypage.com/podcastMusic Provided by:"Sonatina in C Minor" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"Funeral March for Brass" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"Crusade Heavy Perfect Loop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Agnus Dei X - Bitter Suite Kevin MacLeaod (incomptech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Bill Lampton: Hi there! Welcome to the Business Communication Show. I’m your host, Bill Lampton, the Biz Communication Guy, bringing you tips and strategies that are certain to boost your business and mine. And I don’t bring you these tips and strategies solo; I bring them through a conversation with a lively, highly qualified guest. And today, we certainly have that guest coming to us from Montana: Diana Damron. Diana Damron has one goal: help individuals, teams, and organizations build trust from the inside out. She enlists what she calls the 3 Cs: Civility, Communication, and Character, to perform that transformation. Diana is a former television anchor who works with organizations to create, grow, and maintain cultures of trust. Described by her clients as “The Human Whisperer,” Diana has made it her mission to take on the toxic workplace and replace it with a culture of trust. Diana’s latest book, Civility Unleashed: Second Edition, is a “how-to” book for those who want to foster and work in an environment where talented people can thrive. Additionally, Diana provides readers with a transformative 5-step civility tool. And I want to say, a couple of months ago, I read that book, benefited from it greatly, gave it a five-star review on Amazon, and I encourage you to get Civility Unleashed: Second Edition. Along with Diana’s TEDx talk, she’s been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Southwest Airlines’ LUV Lines, and national television and radio interviews. She’s a former television anchor, co-host, and reporter who studied with nationally and internationally renowned speech experts. Recognized as a mental fitness coach, Diana is certified by the International Board of Certified Trainers and is a certified partner of Everything DiSC. Now, as for her sense of humor, Diana stopped taking herself too seriously the day that she walked off the runway at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel during a national modeling competition and fell right into the laps of shocked audience members. While Diana didn’t take home the Runway Model of the Year award that year, she did leave as National Model of the Year for Television. So, I know you will join me now in welcoming Diana Damron. Hello, Diana! Diana Damron: Hey Bill! It’s so great to be here. I’m laughing because I always think back about walking off the runway. It was a packed house, too. It was absolutely jam-packed. Now, the good thing was, there—the guys who caught me were these two really good-looking gentlemen who were kind of spotters. They were great, but yes, my—I was walking in air for a while. Dr. Bill Lampton: Up in the air, right? Diana Damron: Pop—yeah, up in the air, exactly. Dr. Bill Lampton: Well, I’ve had my “chivi-chays” moments, I call them. I—I think the one that I talk about most often is when I was MCing a college event with about 500 people in the audience, and they were honoring their alumni, giving four alums what they call the Medallion Award. And I had gotten the bios to read about them to introduce them, and I’d read them over very carefully, as you would do as a TV anchor. And when I was in the middle of reading one of the bios, the audience just erupted in laughter, and I couldn’t figure out why. Did I say something profane? So, I sat down, and the person next to me explained that I was supposed to have said that the lady who was being honored had written a play about the college in 1956, but unfortunately, Diana, I said she wrote the play in 1856. Diana Damron: (Laughs) Oh, I gotta tell you, when you do anything live, anything can happen. Absolutely anything can happen. Yep, yep. Dr. Bill Lampton: Yes, and— Diana Damron: She looked great for her age, right? Dr. Bill Lampton: (Laughs) Oh right, I mean she wasn’t that ancient, but—fortunately, we met afterwards and she had a great sense of humor, so it worked out okay. And you and I know, as longtime presenters, whether it’s on radio, TV, a seminar, a keynote speech, we know that we’re going to goof. In fact, one of the things I do when I’m coaching a client about speaking, on the handout I give them, I put “Don’t try to be perfect,” and I misspell “perfect.” I say “P-R-F-F-C-T,” and they say, “Hey, you misspelled that!” I said, “Yes, but you got the point, didn’t you?” And we have to learn from our mistakes, laugh at them, and just move forward, don’t we? Diana Damron: Yes, and it makes us so much more human when we’re not perfect. Dr. Bill Lampton: Yes, I don’t want to hear a mannequin with a mouth, you know? Diana Damron: Right. Dr. Bill Lampton: An absolute robot. We’re getting to your theme of civility. Diana Damron: Mhm, mhm. Dr. Bill Lampton: Was there something in your own work experience that drove you to delve into this topic, to become an expert in it, to write a book about it now in its second edition, to speak on the topic of civility, hold seminars, talk about it in interviews? Take us back to how this started for you. Diana Damron: Two things happened, Bill. First of all, I had gone through something—it’s entitled a modeling school, but it was really a finishing school where you learn, yes, you learn to walk on a runway and you learn to take photographs—or be photographed. But you also learn a lot about manners and speech. And it was so interesting, after I went through the course itself, then—I believe it was during my college years, I came back and during the summer I started teaching. And one of the courses I taught was all about manners and etiquette. I was, I don’t know, 17, 18, 19 years old, and I was teaching women who were about twice my age, who were coming back into the workforce after staying home and raising kids. And they came in and they kind of, you know, you could see they weren’t comfortable, they weren’t confident, they kind of sat back in their chair. Interestingly enough, I noticed as they learned more about manners and more about etiquette, you could see just them sit up, take notice, and there was a confidence. And I always found that was fascinating. What is it about this power of manners, courtesy, etiquette that made these women who, as I say, I was this little kid teaching them, to take notice and to really make this big difference? So, that was always in the back of my mind and I always wanted to do something with that, but at the same time, what I didn’t want to do is teach about knives, forks, and spoons. I—it wasn’t about the—like dining etiquette. So, that was—that was roaming around. And then I ended up in a situation where I was the target in a toxic environment. When I say target, I certainly didn’t know what that word meant in terms of business, but if you imagine having a bullseye on you at—at business, at work, that’s how I felt. And there was no question that I was the target, and it’d been made very obvious to—by the leader. What was interesting to me is I’m a confident woman. I’d been raised by the most amazing parents, so I didn’t have any of that baggage from a childhood. I went home to a supportive family, so I wasn’t going home to some kind of negativity. And yet, Bill, that situation affected me so strongly that I—I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I didn’t know what end was up. And I thought it was a one-off. I—I really thought, oh, this has been unique. And interestingly enough, because I was confident when people talked about toxic environments and all of this before, I actually thought, oh, they must be pretty thin-skinned. I can’t believe it’s that bad. Well, it is. And what I found, Bill, was that increasingly, when I looked at the research, it’s more often you find a toxic work environment than not. Civility was needed. Dr. Bill Lampton: Well, I—I can relate to that in a couple of ways. One is that I’ve been a professional speaker, speech coach, and consultant now for three decades. But prior to that, I was in management positions. And as I read your book and read your illustrations about the lack of civility, one of my bosses came to mind. And I’ll have to say that I really thought Hitler missed a good man. Diana Damron: (Gasps) Oh no! Dr. Bill Lampton: And I endured that for—for five years. And you know yourself, having endured a situation like that, it’s very demoralizing, it saps your strength, it—it takes away your—your desire to serve to your ultimate ability. It—it’s very difficult. And so, your going through that gave you a mission. So, let’s—let’s move next to define civility. Uh, I—I know you’ve been asked this many times, how can you tell when an organization is operating with civility? Diana Damron: So, let me go back one step, Bill, and explain also, and I’m sure this happened to you: one of the lethal aspects of incivility or a toxic work environment is—is when you leave at the end of the day, it doesn’t stay there. You drag all of those emotions home. Dr. Bill Lampton: Yes. Diana Damron: Which—which means the importance of getting this right is invaluable. I mean, because you’re not affecting—you’re not just lonesome and it’s isolated to you, you are just sending out those vibes no matter what. So, to your question: how do you define civility? I think this is—this is where we really have an issue today. I define it—my definition for civility is the consistent communication of respect. What makes that definition hard? The “consistent” piece, right? So, it’s consistently being respectful. Now, we live in a world of conditional civility. In other words, as long as you look like me, maybe you’re the same color as me, or the same age as me, or you live like I do, or you think like I do, or in today’s world, you vote like I do, then I will be civil to you. I will respect you. But if you don’t check off all those “same-as,” you don’t deserve my respect. And that’s what we see over and over and over again. So, my whole point is, number one, you gotta focus on that “consistent.” Whether or not you feel good, whether or not you’re in a bad mood and you just had an argument with your spouse, or with a kid of yours, or whatever, or it’s just one of those days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, it’s required of you to put it together, get disciplined, get stronger, and be consistent with the civility. Dr. Bill Lampton: Yes, and—and as you say, it’s a—and I look at the society as you were describing it, and I think the word “toxic” fits a lot of places. Let’s think for a minute about social media. My gosh, people who post on social media on “hot topics,” we could call them, controversial current topics, they do it almost, from my judgment, they do it almost as though they’re anonymous, as though—as though they’re hiding behind the internet and therefore they can say anything that they want to. So that there’s no open-mindedness, there’s no consideration of what might—what might drive that other person to think that way. And this brings me to the three Cs that you talk about, the letter C, the 3 Cs. What—what are those? Diana Damron: When I thought about my experience in the work environment, and then I thought, you know, what’s really at play here? These things kept popping up: civility, which, as I say, I define as the consistent communication of respect; communication, how we send and how we receive messages—and I don’t mean just the words, there’s the tone of voice, there’s our body language, there’s how quickly we respond; and character. And I think of character as who you are when you think that no one is watching, because more often than not, somebody is watching. So, if you think about it, those three Cs are actually interdependent, they look like a Venn diagram. So, if you ignore one—for instance, we are ignoring our civility right now. I mean, and I can give you lots of reasons for that, but we are ignoring our civility. That doesn’t just stay in that little circle of civility, that affects our communication. As you pointed out, social media, the way we communicate on social media shows no respect for the other person at all. Well, you carry that to the next C, the character, it—it reflects on who we are. And if we ignore our civility, we ignore our communication long enough, it changes our character. So I tie them together by saying you communicate your character by how you exercise your civility. In other words, you tell everyone who you are, what you are, what you stand for, by how you treat others. Dr. Bill Lampton: We’re going to come back in just a minute, and we’re going to talk about something that is certainly the central part of your expertise, and that’s communication skills. You’re a former television anchor, reporter, you’re a keynote speaker, this is the Biz Communication Show, so in a minute, we’re going to get your tips on how to make effective presentations. Dr. Bill Lampton: Okay Diana, here we are with Diana Damron on the Biz Communication Show talking about civility and related topics. And just before that short break, I mentioned that we want to explore your take, your advice on presentation skills because this is something you have done at the top levels as a TV anchor and reporter and as a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker. So, many of us have to give presentations who are not professional speakers. We have to give annual reports, we may have to speak at our business and social gatherings, we possibly have to give an outline of a plan—there are many ways that we have to speak even though we’re not professional speakers. What are—or what are keys that you would pass along to us, Diana? Diana Damron: Well, first of all, Bill, I—I think it’s so important to know your subject. Right? Because you might have a memorized speech and all of a sudden that your memory kind of goes one place else and you forget it, but if you know your subject, you can keep talking about it and you can keep ad-libbing about it and continue the conversation—the speech. So, really know your subject matter well would be my first—my first tip. The second tip is we tend to focus on ourselves, and I would say that’s at the hub of so many of our issues today. But when you focus on yourself as a speaker and you worry so much about how you’re coming across or how I’m coming across, it makes—we set ourselves up for failure, right? We set ourselves up to be really concerned about us. And I would say pivot that and think about your audience. How can I make my audience feel more comfortable? How can I get my message across to my audience? How can I connect to my audience? And so often, that comes with a smile. I mean, it—it seems so small, but just connecting with somebody and smiling, or at least softening the expression. If you’re talking about something very serious or dramatic that happened, you’re not going to be smiling through the entire thing—entire speech. But at the same time, you want warmth to be connecting—you want to be connecting with warmth, so you want to be sure that you’re smiling. And I think the whole thing is to really be thinking about the audience. Really be thinking about that person on the other side of the stage, on the other side of the microphone, but think about what do they need? What—what’s one thing that will leave them in a better place when they walk out of either virtual or walk out of the room? What—what’s a takeaway that will change their life for the better? Dr. Bill Lampton: I—I applaud everything you’re saying. And—and let’s start with your bit about let’s not just come in there with a—with a memorized text. Uh, traditionally, and I’ve been a—a speech coach for a long time and I’ve been a professional speaker for a long time, and traditionally the instruction has been write out the speech word for word, memorize it, uh, don’t vary from it. And as you just indicated, the focus is in the wrong place. The focus is on you. But when we turn the focus to the audience, one of the things we discover quickly is that audiences are not our critics; audiences are our cheerleaders. Because you’ve been in situations, certainly not with yourself speaking, but you have been in situations where the speaker visibly and audibly flops, and that’s a very uncomfortable situation for the audience. The audience is not your critic; the audience is your cheerleader. They want you to succeed. Plus, they are not looking for perfection because perfection is not the way that we communicate. So, I—I applaud your—your focus there. I’ve often thought that there—there are three things that we can concentrate on when we’re giving a presentation. One is ourselves, as you said, the impression we’re making; the second is the audience; and the third is the message. If we focus on anything except the message and the audience, we’ve got a real problem, don’t we? Diana Damron: Yes, exactly. And sometimes, you know, you talk about flopping in a speech, sometimes you can think you’re flopping because you misread the audience. I remember one time I was speaking to a—and it was a fairly small group and it was a nonprofit, and there was a woman, Bill, she was right in front of me. I mean, it’s not like I could look away from her, and she appeared to be asleep. Just—oh my gosh, and that is not something to build you up when you’re trying to speak to someone sleeping. Well, this woman, apparently that was the way she listened. She listened—and I—and I’ve had a dear friend who listens the same way. He was kicked off of jury panels because when he listened, he closed his eyes, and everybody thought he was asleep. Well, this woman who I thought was sleeping through my speech came up afterwards and she said, “That was great! May I hire you to help our organization?” So, sometimes we get so caught up with the way that the audience looks at us that we begin to start doubting ourselves and then we can really begin to start plummet. Dr. Bill Lampton: Well, what I’ve found effective—and I’m sure you have too—is my mother often said “Don’t talk to strangers,” but she’s right when it comes to audiences, too. We—we shouldn’t be talking to people we haven’t had—you know, if they’ve got a reception ahead of time, get there and—and get involved, and—and all of a sudden talk with three or four people, and you’ve got—you’ve got some support right there. And then too, I—I agree with what you said also, that we’re not quite sure of our impression, and that’s one of the things your illustration of this person hiring you afterwards—but additionally, Diana, that’s the great value of video. In many of the presentations that we make, we can see a video afterwards, and the parts where we thought we paused too long or we looked too confused or we repeated ourselves—I mean, after all, that’s just a part of normal conversation. And you and I, I believe, both accept that let’s leave delivery to FedEx and the post office. Diana Damron: (Laughs) Dr. Bill Lampton: Everybody else who’s in that business, and let’s just have a conversation with our audience. And I know I’ve found it helpful, and I’m sure you do too, let’s say you meet those two or three people ahead of time, or even if you don’t, you can nearly always when you’re giving a presentation, you can look out there and you can see the—those three or four wonderful people who are attentive, they’re receptive, they’re awaiting your every word, and you—you draw from them, don’t you? Diana Damron: You do, and I think one of the important things is to remember you—and you mentioned this before, Bill, don’t worry about being perfect. Don’t make yourself the hero of every story. Don’t talk about how you fixed this, that, and the other. And don’t be afraid to explain how you messed up. I mean, it makes people much more—you much more relatable to other people. Dr. Bill Lampton: Yes, uh—who was it? Some famous person was going to have his picture painted and he told the artist, “Paint me warts and all.” Diana Damron: Mhm. Dr. Bill Lampton: And that’s where we’re at—warts and all. And—and in fact, if—if I come across as everything went as planned down to the last letter, I have—I have flopped because we don’t do that in conversation, we don’t do that in small meetings, why would we do that before a crowd? We’ve got time for a closing question, and that is: how is it you are called the “Human Whisperer”? That—that’s an interesting—interesting tag there. What—what is the “Human Whisperer” all about? Diana Damron: Well, you know Bill, you—your whole focus is on communication. And you know communication is so much more than just words, and or even messaging. When you are helping somebody to communicate, you become something of a therapist. You find out what is holding them back in communicating openly. You—you spend time with them and see what kind of makes them light up. And so I was working with a manufacturing company and I would be in-house for about a week at a time, so I would get to know all of the leaders and all the support staff really, really well. And I learned more and more about what was getting in their way, and those were personal stories. And so you become something of a therapist but it was in the workplace. And I’m not giving therapy advice, but the point is you can use those ex—those stories to begin to connect with people and to begin to help them understand what’s getting in the way of their communication. Dr. Bill Lampton: Very well said, very well said. Diana, hosting you I knew would be a privilege, I knew it would be highly informative, and I was right on both. And we’re—we’re fighting that old clock on the wall, that proverbial clock. So I know there are people who want to get in touch with you, please give us your contact information that you’d like to share. Diana Damron: You bet. My website is dianadamron.com, so you certainly can connect with me over there. I’m also on Facebook and I’m on LinkedIn. And I try to be on Instagram, but I’m not as reputa—or not as consistent there. So Facebook, LinkedIn, and my website, dianadamron.com. Dr. Bill Lampton: Hard to be everywhere, I agree. Well, thank you, and I—I encourage everyone to get in touch with her, get more familiar with her work. And Diana, I hope this is not your only appearance with me on the Biz Communication Show because I and our listeners and viewers will benefit so much. Diana Damron: Well, thank you so much, Bill. This has been just such a treat to be with you. Dr. Bill Lampton: Ah, well it’s—it’s so easy to communicate with a top communication pro, it’s as though we’ve had many coffee chit-chats before, isn’t it? Diana Damron: Yes, yes. Dr. Bill Lampton: And now that you’ve given your information, I’m happy to share mine. As—my YouTube channel is listed under Bill Lampton, PhD. I’ve been recording videos on YouTube since 2007—now don’t look in any of those I recorded then—but since then there have been—I’m several hundred instructional videos about communication. And hey, it revolves around our favorite word: free. So, invite you to go there, and also while you’re there, subscribe to the YouTube channel. And then my website, since my tagline is Biz Communication Guy, my website quite logically is bizcommunicationguy.com. And on my website, you can subscribe to the podcast, which I hope you do. Also, I want to mention the co-producer of this show, Mike Stewart, based in Nashville. Mike and I first met at the Georgia Speakers Association in 1998, and things were just really getting underway technically in the speaking business, and he came up to me and he said, “Do you have a website?” and I said, “Yes.” He said, “Do you have sound on it?” Wow, how provocative was that? So, Mike has been my mentor and strategist and technical advisor ever since. So, I—I encourage you to go there. And then I welcome phone calls to 678-316-4300. And Diana, I—I again thank you for the wonderful ideas and guidelines that you’ve given us. Diana Damron: Thank you for the invitation and thank you for such great questions! Dr. Bill Lampton: Ah, well it’s easy to come up with questions for an expert, and you are that. I would love for you to, and I know our—our viewers and listeners would love for you to, in 30 seconds or a minute, what would be some gems that you would really like to leave with us? Diana Damron: I think number one: remember what we’re trying to do all the time is to build trust. Build trust with even strangers. Number two: work on leaving people in a better place than where you found them. That does not mean you have to be a doormat, but in today’s world, people are going through things, leave them in a better place. Um, think about who you are, and think about how you can communicate to other people. Don’t—don’t think about their civility towards you, think about how are you unleashing civility towards them? Dr. Bill Lampton: Excellent, excellent. Thank you again, Diana Damron, for being our guest. Thanks to those who joined us on video or on the podcast, and we invite you to be with us again next week for another edition of the Biz Communication Show. I’m your host, Bill Lampton, the Biz Communication Guy.
On today's Daily Puck Drop, Jason “Puck” Puckett and Jim Moore chat about the huge contract for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Mariners opening day on Thursday, NBA expansion news, Randy and Cal beef squashed, betting on women's college basketball and they hurl insults at one another as Jim sits in a Safeway parking lot in Sandy, Oregon. Bill Krueger, “Old School Baseball” is back again this year talking Mariners and Bill is very bullish on this years team and feels like they are primmed to represent the American League in the World Series. They cover Brendan Donovan's impact, full year of Josh Naylor, Cal's encore, Julio starting faster and what makes them so good heading into the year. “On This Day…” A great on the track and the court celebrate birthdays! Puck wraps up with, “Hey, what the Puck!?” Civility has been lost in society (1:00) Puck and Jim (34:08) Bill Krueger (1:08:18) “On this Day…” (1:13:33) “Hey, What the Puck!?”
Send a textConflict prevention coach, TEDx speaker on curing chronic niceness, adviser to inmates, and stress management consultant Joe Weston talks about applying the same taijiquan form that Fairfax criminal defense lawyer Jon Katz practices daily, Fierce Civility and Respectful Confrontation to court and beyond. Check out Joe's books, Global Heart Gathering and TedTalk. Jon Katz has known Joe Weston for years, and recommends his writings, talks and services. This podcast is also available on YouTube and Apple podcasts. This podcast with Fairfax, Virginia criminal / DUI lawyer Jon Katz is playable on all devices at podcast.BeatTheProsecution.com. For more information, visit https://KatzJustice.com or contact us at info@KatzJustice.com, 703-383-1100 (calling), or 571-406-7268 (text). If you like what you hear on our Beat the Prosecution podcast, please take a moment to post a review at our Apple podcasts page (with stars only, or else also with a comment) at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beat-the-prosecution/id1721413675
Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button. You can find Books with Betsy at https://www.bookswithbetsy.com/ and on IG at @books_with_betsy This week, we chat with Chicago resident Betsy Tomszak who by day is a kindergarten teacher who reads lots and lots of picture books. After school hours, though, she is a reader of all kinds of other genres and the host of the podcast Books with Betsy. She was kind enough to invite us to be guests last summer, and we're finally able to return the favor so she can tell our listeners all about her show. We get the nitty gritty about why she started the podcast and why she wanted to talk to regular readers. Our book recommendation segment of the show this week is about characters in disguise. Sometimes a disguise is just to mask one's appearance, but in other situations it is not only a physical disguise but an assumption of an entirely different personality and back story. We offer you historical fiction novels set in Napoleonic France and Nazi Germany, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, a novel based on a medieval legend, a National Book Award winner, and a memoir. Books Mentioned in this Episode: 1- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 2- My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for his Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar 3- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 4- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb 5- Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet 6- So You Wanna Be On Top? by Sarah Hartshorne 7- Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica 8- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman 9- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles 10- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 11- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 12- Summerdale by David Jay Collins 13- The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai 14- The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy 15- The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley 16- Sundial by Catriona Ward 17- A Five Start Read recommended by Fellow Book Lover Jeanine Neale @jeans_stacked_shelf - Nobody Knows You are Here by Bryn Greenwood 18- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 19- Master Slave, Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyoon Woo 20- Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear 21- Pope Joan: A Novel by Donna Woolfolk Cross 22- Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl 23- The Good Lord Bird by James McBride Media mentioned: 1- Wuthering Heights (2026) 2- Shrinking (Apple +, 2023 - present) 3- The Good Lord Bird (2020) 4- Jateska Cultural Center - https://jasteka.org 5- Artwork by Vian Sora - -https://jasteka.org/abcs-events 6- Run and Read Chicago - https://www.readandrunchicago.com
Leslie Jackson Chihuly is an arts executive, philanthropist, and cultural leader dedicated to expanding access to the arts and supporting creative communities. As President and CEO of Chihuly Studio, she oversees the global operations of artist Dale Chihuly, guiding a body of work that spans museums, exhibitions, public installations, and cultural partnerships worldwide. She is also the co-founder of The Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation, which advances access, equity, and innovation in the arts.In this conversation, Leslie reflects on how art can build community, cultivate civility, and strengthen public life. She discusses sustaining a major artist's studio, aligning philanthropy with impact, and creating cultural experiences that invite participation rather than intimidation. Leslie also shares insights into leadership, legacy, and the role of art in fostering connection across generations and perspectives.This episode explores how creativity can shape more thoughtful communities — and why supporting the arts remains essential to a vibrant and humane society.
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
Divorce doesn't just end a marriage—it can shatter a man's identity, confidence, and sense of direction. In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with my close friend Ryan Michler, founder of Order of Man, to talk openly about what it really looks like to navigate divorce as a man—and come out stronger on the other side. Ryan shares his personal experience of being divorced for nearly three years, including the identity loss men feel when they're no longer husbands or full-time dads, the mistakes many men make by orienting their lives around their ex, and why healing starts when you make yourself the project. We also dive into rebuilding relationships with kids, handling co-parenting with integrity, resisting isolation, and why brotherhood is non-negotiable in seasons of separation. If you're divorced, separated, or supporting a man who is—this episode is required listening. Timeline Summary [0:00] Why this episode is for divorced and separated dads [2:35] Introducing Ryan Michler and his journey through divorce [3:37] Losing identity as a husband and father after divorce [4:59] Feeling like "less of a man" after separation [6:02] Why orienting your life around your ex is a mistake [7:21] Making yourself the project after divorce [9:01] Isolation, vices, and the danger of being alone too much [10:45] Why brotherhood accelerates healing [12:15] Journaling, self-regulation, and daily discipline [14:06] Rebuilding physical health and confidence [15:32] Redefining masculinity and self-worth [17:15] Being honest—but appropriate—with kids about divorce [19:02] Staying present in your kids' lives beyond "your time" [21:11] Customizing connection with each child [23:23] Never giving up on estranged relationships [25:08] Civility, boundaries, and co-parenting with integrity [29:02] Why consistency matters more than outcomes [31:22] Divorce Not Death program overview [34:40] The Men's Forge experience and why it's different [38:15] Bringing sons to Men's Forge and legacy building [41:41] What boys learn by watching their fathers lead [45:54] Final encouragement for men navigating divorce Five Key Takeaways Divorce shakes a man's identity, but it doesn't have to define his future. Healing begins when men stop orienting around their ex and start orienting around growth. Isolation amplifies pain, while brotherhood shortens the recovery curve. Consistency and integrity rebuild trust with kids, even when relationships feel strained. Men who make themselves the project come out stronger, healthier, and more grounded. Links & Resources Men's Forge Event: https://themensforge.com Dad Edge Alliance: https://thedadedge.com/alliance Dad Edge Alliance Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/preview 1st Phorm Dad Edge Challenge: https://1stphorm.com/dadedge Divorce Not Death Program: https://divorcenotdeath.com Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1433 Closing Remark If this episode spoke to where you're at—or where you've been—please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Divorce is not the end of your story. With discipline, brotherhood, and intention, it can be the beginning of a stronger chapter. Go out and live legendary.
Civility can help a society overcome tribal loyalties and cooperate for the common good--and when political and religious factions threaten to break a society apart, as in Shakespeare's England, understanding the need for civility becomes more important than ever. In this episode, Jacke talks to Shakespeare scholar Indira Ghose about her book A Defence of Pretence: Civility and the Theatre in Early Modern England about the use of theatre as a laboratory where the era's conflicts played out. PLUS in response to a listener request, Jacke explores the life of Robert W. Service and his most famous work, "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Join Jacke on a trip through literary England! Join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with John Shors Travel in May 2026! Scheduled stops include The Charles Dickens Museum, Dr. Johnson's house, Jane Austen's Bath, Tolkien's Oxford, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, and more. Learn more by emailing jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or masahiko@johnshorstravel.com, or by contacting us through our website historyofliterature.com. Act soon - there are limited spots available! The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at gabrielruizbernal.com. Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate . The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Newt talks with Fred Ryan, Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute and director of the new Center on Civility and Democracy. They discuss the importance of President Reagan's legacy of principled civility in today's divided political climate. Ryan reflects on Reagan's ability to maintain firm views while finding common ground, emphasizing the importance of everyone leaving the room with dignity and achieving incremental progress. Their conversation highlights Reagan's personal traits and principles, shaped by his upbringing and experiences, which contributed to his effective communication and leadership style. They also discuss the current political climate, noting a decline in trust in institutions and the role of media and social media in exacerbating divisions. Ryan outlines the Center's initiatives, including the Civil Discourse Project for K-12 students, the Civility Handbook, and forums to find common ground among diverse groups. The Center’s goal is to promote civil discourse and find common ground to advance democracy through informed patriotism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week Nick appears on The Middle, with Jeremy Hobson. The topic is civility in politics, and they're joined by former New Hampshire State Legislator Doug Teschner and Citizens Count Executive Director Anna Brown. This episode was recorded live at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord, NH and features audience questions and comments. Write to us at civics101@nhpr.org to tell us what you think: is there a political middle? CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro.Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast, Outside/In - we think you'll love it! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.