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2 episodes with it that way how
2 episodes with it that way how
2 episodes with it that way how
2 episodes with it that way how
2 episodes with it that way how
In this episode, host Corey Nathan welcomes back Monica Guzmán, Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, host of A Braver Way podcast, CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, and author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Monica's mission is to help bridge America's political divides through fearless curiosity. With deep reflections on the 2024 election, evolving friendships across ideological lines, and her renewed commitment to bridge building, Monica shares how we can stay grounded and connected—especially when it feels impossible. What We Discuss: How Moni processes political polarization and stays grounded—even when the world feels divided Practical strategies for engaging with people across ideological lines without compromising your values Why shared outrage across political lines can be a gateway to unity The role of empathy, humility, and curiosity in depolarizing conversations How journalists and moderators can better navigate falsehoods without censoring legitimate concerns Episode Highlights: [00:03:00] – Mónica explains how her emotional radar helps her know when to seek out conversations with people who see politics differently. [00:08:00] – Unexpected agreement: conservatives and liberals are both frustrated with Congressional dysfunction and executive overreach. [00:14:00] – Moni shares how talking with people who had different experiences during COVID reshaped her understanding and empathy. [00:21:00] – Corey and Mónica discuss boundaries in bridge building—when is it time to walk away from a relationship? [00:29:00] – Moderating contentious conversations: “police the structure, not the content.” [00:36:00] – The relationship between activism and dialogue—and why one without the other can be reckless or ineffective. [00:46:00] – Tips for recognizing quality journalism and avoiding emotionally manipulative content. [00:56:00] – Mónica's closing advice: engagement is not endorsement. Curiosity and conversation don't mean you're compromising your values. Featured Quotes: “I've been persuaded over and over again that positions against mine are not ludicrous.” – Mónica Guzmán “Engagement is not endorsement. Having a conversation doesn't mean you're capitulating.” – Mónica Guzmán “Find your edge—and push it. That's all you need to do to build a bridge.” – Mónica Guzmán “I don't want a decision or a position to get in the way of our relationship. I want to understand it better.” – Corey Nathan Resources Mentioned: I Never Thought of It That Way by Monica Guzmán - moniguzman.com/book Braver Angels - braverangels.org
In this episode, host Corey Nathan welcomes back Monica Guzmán, Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, host of A Braver Way podcast, CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, and author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Monica's mission is to help bridge America's political divides through fearless curiosity. With deep reflections on the 2024 election, evolving friendships across ideological lines, and her renewed commitment to bridge building, Monica shares how we can stay grounded and connected—especially when it feels impossible. What We Discuss: How Moni processes political polarization and stays grounded—even when the world feels divided Practical strategies for engaging with people across ideological lines without compromising your values Why shared outrage across political lines can be a gateway to unity The role of empathy, humility, and curiosity in depolarizing conversations How journalists and moderators can better navigate falsehoods without censoring legitimate concerns Episode Highlights: [00:03:00] – Mónica explains how her emotional radar helps her know when to seek out conversations with people who see politics differently. [00:08:00] – Unexpected agreement: conservatives and liberals are both frustrated with Congressional dysfunction and executive overreach. [00:14:00] – Moni shares how talking with people who had different experiences during COVID reshaped her understanding and empathy. [00:21:00] – Corey and Mónica discuss boundaries in bridge building—when is it time to walk away from a relationship? [00:29:00] – Moderating contentious conversations: “police the structure, not the content.” [00:36:00] – The relationship between activism and dialogue—and why one without the other can be reckless or ineffective. [00:46:00] – Tips for recognizing quality journalism and avoiding emotionally manipulative content. [00:56:00] – Mónica's closing advice: engagement is not endorsement. Curiosity and conversation don't mean you're compromising your values. Featured Quotes: “I've been persuaded over and over again that positions against mine are not ludicrous.” – Mónica Guzmán “Engagement is not endorsement. Having a conversation doesn't mean you're capitulating.” – Mónica Guzmán “Find your edge—and push it. That's all you need to do to build a bridge.” – Mónica Guzmán “I don't want a decision or a position to get in the way of our relationship. I want to understand it better.” – Corey Nathan Resources Mentioned: I Never Thought of It That Way by Monica Guzmán - moniguzman.com/book Braver Angels - braverangels.org
In this thought-provoking episode of This is My Silver Lining, I sit down with Dan Kowalski, founder of Plan A Thinking and author of W.I.S.E. Choices at Work: Go From Doubting to DECISIVE When the Clock is Ticking.Dan's mission is to empower individuals and teams to make better decisions through deliberate and disciplined thinking. From his humble beginnings to navigating career transitions and founding his own consulting firm, Dan shares how curiosity, resilience, and a framework for decision-making have shaped his journey.We explore the importance of creating space for reflection, asking the right questions, and understanding the downside of every choice. Dan also shares his insights on the evolving role of technology—especially AI—in decision-making and how to strike a balance between speed and thoughtful consideration in a fast-paced world.Whether you're a leader, a professional facing tough decisions, or simply someone striving to think more effectively, Dan's wise and practical approach will leave you inspired.Episode Links and ResourcesPlan A ThinkingW.I.S.E. Choices at Work: Go From Doubting to DECISIVE When the Clock is TickingDialogue Mapping: Building Shared Understanding of Wicked Problems, Jeff ConklinVisual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions, Temple GrandinThink Again, Adam GrantI Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, Mónica GuzmánSupport this podcast by subscribing and reviewing. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2025 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Ditch the drama and rebuild connection where it counts. Feeling overwhelmed by workplace polarization, the loneliness epidemic, and the constant whirl of change? You're not alone—and neither are your teams. On this episode of Radical Candor, Kim and Amy bring in Heather McGowan, future-of-work strategist, to dig into why we're so divided and distracted at work—and what leaders can actually do about it. Heather gets real about the deeper roots of these challenges, from shifting demographics to technology's relentless pace, and shares her signature brand of practical, no-nonsense advice for fostering respect, empathy, and collaboration. It's not about ignoring differences or plastering on a quick fix—it's about creating the kind of human connections that help teams thrive. Learn how to lead with intention, listen to what's not being said, and ditch the divide in favor of working better together. Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast. Episode Links: Transcript Heather E. McGowan - ImpactEleven | LinkedIn Heather McGowan Navigating the once a century shifts: cultural, social, demographic, technical, and economic Loneliness Epidemic is Leaving Us Distracted and Divided Managing Post-Election 2024 Tension At Work 6 | 43 I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times Bowling Alone: Revised and Updated: The Collapse and Revival of American Community The Adaptation Advantage: Let Go, Learn Fast, and Thrive in the Future of Work The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries Braver Angels The No Asshole Rule Connect: Website Instagram TikTok LinkedIn YouTube Chapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionKim and Amy introduce the episode's focus on workplace polarization with guest Heather McGowan.(00:02:12) Why We're DividedThe societal and workplace factors fueling polarization.(00:06:42) Balancing Rights and Income InequalityThe interplay between workplace equity and broader societal trends.(00:09:02) Short-Term Thinking in LeadershipHow short-term decisions undermine long-term organizational health.(00:12:03) Intentional Conversations Across DividesPractical tips for engaging with diverse perspectives meaningfully.(00:16:21) Finding Common Ground at WorkBuilding relationships through shared experiences and lighthearted topics.(00:22:12) Drawing Ethical BoundariesKnowing when to disengage while maintaining openness elsewhere.(00:26:32) The Future of Work and LearningWhy adaptability and continuous learning matter more than ever.(00:33:46) Loneliness in the WorkplaceCombating workplace isolation with intentional connection and empathy.(00:41:27) Embracing Discomfort and CuriosityWhy great leaders lean into questions, not answers.(00:45:53) Radical Candor TipsStart conversations, focus on humanity, and take small steps to connect.(00:49:10) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The FBI is still searching for a motive in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Republican and Democratic leaders have urged Americans to turn down the temperature of rhetoric that demonizes and dehumanizes political opposition to try to take the edge off the anger and division that's come to be standard in public discourse. But it's not clear everybody's listening to that hopeful message. We had reports that former President Trump had moderated his speech for the GOP convention in Milwaukee this week to focus on a message of unity. But this morning, Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate the dismissal of the classified documents case in Florida. He decried what he calls a “weaponization of our Justice system.” And he claimed without evidence that the numerous legal cases against him a “conspiracy” coordinated by the “Democrat Justice Department” to hurt “Joe Biden's Political Opponent, ME.” So - are we back where we started? Are the events of the past 48 hours going to lead to any change in the tone and tenor of mistrust and polarization that defines our politics in 2024? And if so, how might that change be realized? Soundside host Libby Denkmann spends the hour exploring these questions with a variety of experts. Guests: KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan Jacob Ware - a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and the author of "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America." Ronald Feinman - a professor at Florida Atlantic University, and the author of “Assassinations, Threats and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama.” Monica Guzman - host of the podcast “A Braver Way”, and a senior fellow at “Braver Angels” - a cross-partisan organization dedicated to political depolarization. She's also the author of the book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How can we overcome the adversity of our divided times without losing a radical love for those on the other side? On the third Sunday after Pentecost, Christopher Mack notices parallels between anxieties about political leadership in the time of Samuel and our own. He offers practical tools for how to co-create understanding and connect across differences. [1 Samuel 8:4-9, 19-22 ]. Reflection Where might you acknowledge your own understanding as partial and incomplete? Have you experienced co-creating understanding with someone? What might it look like for you to take one step closer to someone important to you, who you disagree with this week? Resources Book: I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica Guzmán Video: Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shqgkOTeS6U Video: How to Understand and Be Understood by Dr. Ruchi Sinha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU7Dg8VP3dA
Immediately after she delivered an electrifying keynote speech at Pacific Lutheran University's Wang Symposium on March 7, 2024, ACTA's Doug Sprei interviewed Monica Guzman, the best-selling author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Ms. Guzman's influential work in the civil discourse movement has expanded through her leadership at Braver Angels for the past several years. More recently, she became the inaugural McGurn Fellow at the University of Florida, working with researchers at UF's College of Journalism and Communications to explore ways to employ the techniques described in her book to boost understanding and intellectual humility.
While it may seem that life moves at a faster pace, we are the ones who set that pace. Many of us like to do things quickly but that doesn't mean we have to. This episode begins by exploring what good things might happen if we just slow down a bit. Source, Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress (https://amzn.to/3v9JpzD). It seems almost impossible to have a civil political debate. Why is that? Why must things get so nasty? Is there a way to discuss our differences and still be kind to one another and not accuse the other person of being ignorant and uninformed? The answer is yes according to Monica Guzman. She is a journalist who wants to show people how to depolarize a conversation so people can talk in a way that fosters understanding without offending those who disagree. Monica is author of the book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (https://amzn.to/3LcQK7i) Anxiety abounds. People just seem more anxious and worried than ever before. Of course, not all anxiety is bad. We have to worry about some things. Yet we often find that many of the things we worry about are never as horrible as we anticipate. So, how do we control our own anxiety so it doesn't control us? Here with some insight is Ellen Vora. She is a psychiatrist and author of the book The Anatomy of Anxiety (https://amzn.to/3863pKp) If you want to sharpen up your memory a bit, you might try stepping outside. Listen as I reveal how nature can improve memory. https://www.spring.org.uk/2009/01/memory-improved-20-by-nature-walk.php PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Indeed is offering SYSK listeners a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING We love the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast! https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast NerdWallet lets you compare top travel credit cards side-by-side to maximize your spending! Compare & find smarter credit cards, savings accounts, & more https://NerdWallet.com TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow eBay Motors has 122 million parts for your #1 ride-or-die, to make sure it stays running smoothly. Keep your ride alive at https://eBayMotors.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Meme(s): "Italians be like we'll put out a few snacks.""So it is a dining room in a house and basically the entire picture is filled with a table that has like mountains and mountains of food on it. It looks like it could be a holiday or it could just be a regular Sunday." - Matt KwiatkowskiFollow us on Instagram @memesmetaphorsandmagic to view the meme(s) for this episode.Metaphors:Some examples of metaphors from the conversation include:LIFE IS AN ITALIAN FAMILY GATHERED AROUND A TABLE AND A MEAL."LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET." - Mrs. Gump in Forrest GumpUnderlying, or primary, metaphors:IMPORTANCE IS SIZE.PURPOSES ARE DESTINATIONSTIME IS A CONTAINER. Magic5 Lifepath Number (Numerology)Connectedness (Gallup CliftonStrengths)Context (Gallup CliftonStrengths)Pop Culture:American BeautyCast AwayEverybody Loves RaymondForrest GumpMoonstruckResources:4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanI Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Monica GuzmanFoundations of Meaning: Primary Metaphors and Primary Scenes by Joseph GradyRestorative Practices
Mónica Guzmán wants us to have better conversation with the people we disagree with. She's the Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, and in 2022, she released her book, "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." This year, she launched a brand new podcast called "A Braver Way," which is about how we can disagree about politics without losing heart. We talk about how to have curious conversations, why we would want to do so, and how we can learn from other peoples' example. For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.
In April of 2023, Alex speaks with Monica Guzman about the need for curiosity as a remedy for the increasing polarization in American discourse and her recent book on the subject "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" Monica's book: https://a.co/d/j6xKME7
Kristyn Komarnicki started Oriented to Love 13 years ago, almost accidentally, in an effort to include the voices of gay people who weren't present in Christian spaces that she was involved in. Since then, this program, under the aegis of the Christians for Social Action, has become deeper, broader, and more intentional about engaging Christians who have different stances on LGBT topics and bringing them into dialogue with each other. We talked with Kristyn about how she facilitates dialogues between people with very different convictions. We appreciate her work: in helping us ask better questions. In practicing care. In becoming oriented toward love. We hope you'll join us! About Our Guest: Kristyn Komarnicki is director of dialogue and convening at Christians for Social Action (CSA). The creator of CSA's Oriented to Love dialogues about sexual/gender diversity in the church, Kristyn gathers Christians of different sexual orientations, gender identities, and theological convictions together so they can begin to know, understand, and love each other, in search of a unity that is deeper than agreement. Fascinated and encouraged by what happens when we approach our “other” in the posture of a learner—with vulnerability, bravery, curiosity and humility—Kristyn enjoys helping people have more generative conversations, reframing conflict not as something to be feared or avoided but as an opportunity for maturing in Christ. A xenophile who loves to travel and swap stories with people from around the world, Kristyn has studied and worked on three continents, having made a home in Paris, Toronto, and Hong Kong. Today she lives in Philadelphia with her husband of over 30 years. — Note: This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you're new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out Communion & Shalom episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: #3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality __________ Timestamps (00:23) A transformative journey of privilege (08:16) What if everyone takes the posture of a learner? (16:56) How do you/OTL navigate tensions in this (LGBT) conversation? (20:34) Postures of the heart that help this conversation (29:17) Dialoguing with truth, love, and the slippery slope (39:52) Being a straight ally (44:15) Resources for getting involved in OTL (45:25) How has OTL affected participants' lives? (48:13) Resources for better question-asking __________ Links and References Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations That Matter by Will Wise and Chad Littlefield I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Monica Guzman High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How to Get Out of It by Amanda Ripley The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Oriented to Love program: christiansforsocialaction.org/programs/oriented-to-love/ Tip Sheet: “Crafting Dialogue-Nurturing Questions” from OTL Workshop: “Transforming Conflict through Curiosity” __________ If you like this podcast, please consider… → Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact → Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom → Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom — Credits Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com) Podcast Manager: Elena
"I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" is as encouraging a book as I can imagine. It is a curiosity guidebook par excellence, chock full of tips and tricks and a lovely reminder that, as author Monicá Guzmán puts it, “understanding the people who confound us is always, always worth it.” Monicá Guzmán, founder of Reclaim Curiosity, is senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels. She dedicates her days -- and, as best I can tell, most of her nights and weekends as well -- to helping the rest of us build our curiosity muscle so we can, together, build trust and save our democracy. You're going to want to get to know Monicá Guzmán: https://www.moniguzman.com Check out Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org Theme music by Sean Balick. “Shift of Currents” by Aeronaut, via Blue Dot Sessions.
Dangerously Divided Times I'd like you to think of some examples of where there are divides in your life. It could be with a friend or relative that has radically different beliefs about politics or social causes. Or it could be someone at work that you just strongly disagree with. The differences have created a divide. The reason I want you to think about them is because we're having an important discussion today about how to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times. Actually that's the subtitle of Mónica Guzmán's book. Mónica joins us to talk about her deeply insightful book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Time. If you feel the polarization in culture and in the workplace is just too daunting to do anything about, Mónica's book is packed with practical ideas that you can start implementing right away. This remarkable woman is on a mission to help us address the divides in our life--and she's been making a difference. I consider this a must-read book and can't wait to introduce some of the ideas in today's discussion. Learn more about Mónica and her work at BraverAngels.org/. Project Management for Students If you've listened for a while, you've heard me talk about our e-learning program entitled Getting Stuff Done: Project Management for Students. The feedback from the program has been fantastic but here's what I want you to know. We radically reduced the price to just $49 US. We want to make it available to as many people as possible. If you have a high school or college-age student in your life and want to invest in their ability to lead and deliver, you can do that now for an even better price. Give them a head start to more confidently lead and deliver. Learn more and get a copy for them at PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/GettingStuffDone. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: The Gigantic Epic Day After Tomorrow by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/413-the-gigantic-epic-day-after-tomorrow License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fantastic World by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7042-fantastic-world License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Mónica Guzmán is Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, a nonprofit working to depolarize America. She's also founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, an organization working to build a more curious world, and author of "I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times."moniguzman.comI Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, by Mónica Guzmán38: Curiosity Is a Skill We Can Learn, with Mónica Guzmán - Where We Go Next66: Embracing Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing, with Pete Davis - Where We Go NextBraver AngelsMónica Guzmán - I Never Thought of It That Way - with Jonathan Rauch - YouTubeHeineken: Worlds Apart Campaign - YouTubeWhy Would a Lefty Talk to Glenn Beck? | Monica Guzman | The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 138 - YouTubeSelf-Reliance, by Ralph Waldo Emerson1: How to Bridge Political Divides, with John Wood, Jr. - Where We Go NextMónica's Twitter: @moniguzmanMónica's Instagram: @moniguzman----------Are you a fan of Where We Go Next? I'd love to hear from you. Listen to the very end of this episode for details.Email: wherewegopod@gmail.comInstagram: @wwgnpodcast
Alex speaks with Monica Guzman about the need for curiosity as a remedy for the increasing polarization in American discourse and her recent book on the subject "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" Monica's book: https://a.co/d/j6xKME7
All good things must come to an end. It's our last day with Mónica Guzmán, journalist, political de-polarizer, and author of "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." This week, she's been our anti-debate coach, teaching us how to have tough talks about thorny topics that don't end in fisticuffs. In her final chat with Michael, she says that once you've built a bridge that connects you to someone on the other side of the ideological divide, you should do everything you can not to burn it. • Have you heard about The Next Big Idea app? It has hundreds of non-fiction book summaries (written and read by the authors themselves), dozens of e-courses (with folks like Dan Pink and Susan Cain), ad-free episodes of this show, and invitations to live author Q&As. Download it today!
This week, award-winning journalist Mónica Guzmán stops by to teach us how to cross the political divide, find common ground, and learn from people whose worldviews radically differ from our own. Mónica's new book is "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." (Have you checked out our app? It's loaded up with hundreds of book summaries read by the authors themselves. Download it here!)
One of the central themes of this show is the importance of the stories we tell about ourselves. But in focusing on the egocentric stakes of storytelling, one of the things we overlook—I certainly do—is the importance of the stories we tell about others.We make sense of life in the terms of our own experience. We conceptualize the world in a way that corresponds to what we've seen and what we understand. This allows us to tell our own story in a pretty nuanced way. But it limits us in the kind of stories we can tell about others—particularly others who, for political or cultural or social reasons, might be very different from us. We put other people into a box: and not the box that would best fit them, but rather one of the ones we have lying around which we've previously used to make sense of our own world.This is a topic I've thought about a lot in my writing, my previous choice of podcast guests, and in my academic research—but what I love about my guest today is that she, more than anyone else I know, has actually lived it. Mónica Guzmán is a journalist and Director of Storytelling at Braver Angels, America's largest grassroots organization dedicated to political depolarization. Her new book is I Never Thought of It That Way, in which she explores her own experience trying to connect people across political and social divides.In this conversation, Mónica and I cover so much: from the importance of stories in movies and TV, to our relationships with our families, to Mónica's specific tactics for understanding others. But one of the things that stood out to me is this great line she gives later in the conversation about modern life being “tired, scared, and busy.” It reminded me of the famous characterization of pre-modern life by Thomas Hobbes: nasty, brutish, and short.I think it speaks to something, it's so easy to forget: Each of us is living out our own complicated human experience. There is no one who has everything figured out, no one who has reached the point of quiescence. It's easy to see other people—particularly those with different beliefs from our own—as emblematic of some nefarious other way of life. But, when it comes down to it, there's no simple way through existence. Everyone is dealing with their own struggle. We're better off as human beings the more we can come to appreciate the process of that struggle, rather than judge its results.Mónica's book is I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. It's out now.Monica's choices for three books that have most influenced her:* The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho* Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson* Midnight in Paris (the movie) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit codykommers.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode, Luis is joined by Monica Guzman, author of “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" and the director of digital storytelling at Braver Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the partisan divide.Monica and Luis engage in a very interesting conversation about navigating politics when it seems almost impossible to do so. Monica explores the polarity between judgment and curiosity as well as why we have come to equate disagreement with threat and how that dynamic has resulted in spaces where we judge each other more and engage with each other less. Luis and Monica also share common experiences that have nurtured their capacity for curiosity even regarding politics: 1) having dual identities and 2)their parents voted for Donald Trump but they did not. For more information on Monica's work, visit: https://braverangels.org/ For more information on Luis' work, visit: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/
When was the last time you really connected with someone who disagrees with you? Or saw a post on social media that challenged your views? Or listened to a newscast from across the political aisle? Modern life places us in all kinds of echo chambers – so what happens when these divides stop us from actually seeing and understanding one another? Today's guest, journalist Mónica Guzmán, is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted –twice– for Donald Trump. Now the chief storyteller for “Braver Angels”, an organization dedicated to political depolarization, Monica shares the tools she uses to find common ground with her loved ones. She talks about why interacting with (and listening to) different points of view is critical work – and how through curiosity we can achieve the seemingly impossible task of understanding those we tend to think of as our enemy. Her book, “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times” is out now.
There's a lot of talk today amongst millennials about cutting ties with the people who hurt you, bring you down, disagree with you - our show wades into that territory quite often as well. And while that route might be the wiser one at times, the fact is that we will have disagreements at some point with almost everyone in our lives and we can't cut ties with all of them. Not only will that hurt us and our families, but arguably it has contributed significantly to the deep political dysfunction we see in the US today. We talk to our guest Mónica Guzmán who is a mom, journalist, author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, and a Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels which is the largest nonprofit in the US tackling political polarization at the grassroots level.
The weeks leading up to Election Day have been full of campaign attack ads and an onslaught of divisive political messages. Many people have been left feeling anxious and increasingly mistrustful of people who hold different political views. So, how do we talk to each other now that the voting is over? How do we begin to heal from polarization? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how divisive and contested elections stress communities and how we can reconnect through fearless and curious conversations with people with different political views. Guests: Joi Lewis is a coach, consultant and community healer. “Dr. Joi,” as she's known to many, is founder of The Healing Justice Foundation and CEO of Joi Unlimited. She's also the author of the book “Healing: The Act of Radical Self-Care.” Mónica Guzmán is a senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels, a nonprofit working to depolarize America. She's also author of the book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times.” Ryan Pérez is a political campaign manager for COPAL, a grassroots statewide organization whose mission is to unite Latinos in Minnesota. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
How often do you challenge your assumptions about others and get curious - especially about those in your workplace or your family who have different views than you, political or otherwise? In our increasingly polarized society, my guest today, Mónica Guzmán, believes that we can't count on institutions to bridge those divides for us - we have to do it one conversation, one person, at a time. Today, we discussed how she got involved in the work of helping people understand each other better and what role her journalism career played in that mission. We dived into how to bring emotion back into conversations rather than trying to win arguments with data, and a magic question you can ask people who disagree with you to better understand them. We talked about how to have more curious conversations and how to navigate roadblocks. Some great tips for those of you going into election season or tense family dinners over the holidays!Key Takeaways:You can't have a negotiation if there is no talking. We are judging more while talking less and that only leads further to divide, and not to empathy and understanding.The level we think change doesn't matter, one-on-one conversations, is where change happens the most.You often believe that the people that you love and care about who disagree with you are not the majority but an exception to the rule. However, if you talk with others who disagree with you, you will find out that they are not the exception, but the rule"If we don't engage across disagreement, we risk not seeing variables that are really important to other people, and make for a far more honest accounting of everything that's at play when people make decisions." — Mónica GuzmánAbout Mónica Guzmán, Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels:Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and entrepreneur who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. She's the director of digital and storytelling at Braver Angels, the nation's largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America; host of live interview series at Crosscut; and cofounder of the award-winning Seattle newsletter The Evergrey. Monica's new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times has been praised by the media, readers and influencers alike. She was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, where she researched how journalists can rethink their roles to better meet the needs of a participatory public. She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Seattle, served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, and plays a barbarian named Shadrack in her besties' Dungeons & Dragons campaign. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents.Resources Mentioned:The Empathy Edge: Interview with Edwin Rutsch, How Empathy Circles Can Change the WorldCenter for Building a Culture of Empathyhttp://cultureofempathy.com Empathy Circle Websitehttp://www.empathycircle.com Check out Edwin and an Empathy Circle in action in the documentary Trumphobia: What Both Sides Fear: trumphobiamovie.com/watchConnect with Mónica Guzmán:Braver Angels Website: https://braverangels.org/Monica's Website and info about her book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times: https://reclaimcuriosity.comWebsite: https://moniguzman.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/moniguzmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniguzman/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reclaimcuriosityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniguzman/ Don't forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice
How often do you challenge your assumptions about others and get curious - especially about those in your workplace or your family who have different views than you, political or otherwise? In our increasingly polarized society, my guest today, Mónica Guzmán, believes that we can't count on institutions to bridge those divides for us - we have to do it one conversation, one person, at a time. Today, we discussed how she got involved in the work of helping people understand each other better and what role her journalism career played in that mission. We dived into how to bring emotion back into conversations rather than trying to win arguments with data, and a magic question you can ask people who disagree with you to better understand them. We talked about how to have more curious conversations and how to navigate roadblocks. Some great tips for those of you going into election season or tense family dinners over the holidays!Key Takeaways:You can't have a negotiation if there is no talking. We are judging more while talking less and that only leads further to divide, and not to empathy and understanding.The level we think change doesn't matter, one-on-one conversations, is where change happens the most.You often believe that the people that you love and care about who disagree with you are not the majority but an exception to the rule. However, if you talk with others who disagree with you, you will find out that they are not the exception, but the rule"If we don't engage across disagreement, we risk not seeing variables that are really important to other people, and make for a far more honest accounting of everything that's at play when people make decisions." — Mónica GuzmánAbout Mónica Guzmán, Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels:Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and entrepreneur who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. She's the director of digital and storytelling at Braver Angels, the nation's largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America; host of live interview series at Crosscut; and cofounder of the award-winning Seattle newsletter The Evergrey. Monica's new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times has been praised by the media, readers and influencers alike. She was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, where she researched how journalists can rethink their roles to better meet the needs of a participatory public. She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Seattle, served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, and plays a barbarian named Shadrack in her besties' Dungeons & Dragons campaign. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents.Resources Mentioned:The Empathy Edge: Interview with Edwin Rutsch, How Empathy Circles Can Change the WorldCenter for Building a Culture of Empathyhttp://cultureofempathy.com Empathy Circle Websitehttp://www.empathycircle.com Check out Edwin and an Empathy Circle in action in the documentary Trumphobia: What Both Sides Fear: trumphobiamovie.com/watchConnect with Mónica Guzmán:Braver Angels Website: https://braverangels.org/Monica's Website and info about her book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times: https://reclaimcuriosity.comWebsite: https://moniguzman.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/moniguzmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniguzman/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reclaimcuriosityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniguzman/ Don't forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice
Polarization in today's discourse is a problem. Some find it impossible to even relate to friends and family members who hold different political opinions than them. This is especially concerning as we consider the effects increased polarization could have on our democracy. Mónica Guzmán, author of “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times,” and Senior Fellow at Braver Angels, a nonprofit working to depolarize America, joins the show to discuss why having conversations with those we disagree with important, while sharing strategies on how to do so effectively.
Monica Guzman is Braver Angels' Senior Fellow for Public Practice and the author of the best-selling book "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." Over the past few months, Monica's been traveling the country to lead curious conversations inspired by the themes of her book. Here she joins Braver Angels CMO Ciaran O'Connor to discuss what she's learned about the state of our nation's divisions, how different audiences engage bridge-building depending on their ideologies and identities, and how we can get more curious, together, as a nation in crisis.
Chad Jackson and Justin Malone discuss their new film, Uncle Tom II, a sequel to Uncle Tom, unveiling the ways that radical, centrist ideologies clothe themselves with a thin civil rights façade and in the process erase the achievements of minority communities in history. Even efforts to centralize government power and redistribute wealth to supposedly battle climate change has become a “racial” issue. - - - - - Collister Johnson of CFACT reveals the new plan to save the Right Whale of the eastern seaboard which has very narrowly avoided extinction. - - - - - Liberal Seattle journalist Monica Guzman shares insights from her book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times that you can use to have difficult conversations with those who do not share your views on controversial issues. Friends and family relationships can be saved without compromising principle. Understanding can be achieved.
“I get so upset during conversations about politics with certain family members, I feel like my body's on the verge of explosion, with body parts flying off and blood splattering all over walls.” Do you ever feel like Julie does when you're trying to have a meaningful discussion with someone with whom you vehemently disagree? Then you're going to love this episode with journalist Mónica Guzmán, author of the book I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. As the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted twice for Donald Trump, Mónica knows from personal experience how hard these conversations can be. Now she joins Julie and Eve to explain why we're so polarized, how–whether you're red or blue–your perceptions of the other side of the political divide are grossly overblown, and how you can talk to people whose worldviews are different from yours in a way that feels productive (or at least in a way that keeps the walls clean and everybody's limbs intact). “We've got facts,” Mónica says, “too many facts. What we need is trust.” Mónica Guzmán is the Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels, a nonprofit working to depolarize America, and host of the Crosscut interview series, Northwest Newsmakers. She was a 2019 Fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and a 2016 Fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, where she studied how journalists can better meet the needs of a participatory public. Before committing to the project of helping people understand each other across the political divide, Mónica co-founded the award-winning Seattle newsletter, The Evergrey. She was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Seattle and served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. She is the author of the recent book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Find us on Twitter (@bookdreamspod) and Instagram (@bookdreamspodcast), or email us at contact@bookdreamspodcast.com. We encourage you to visit our website and sign up for our newsletter for information about our episodes, guests, and more. Book Dreams is a part of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy. Since you're listening to Book Dreams, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about literature, writing, and storytelling like Storybound and The History of Literature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with journalist & author, Monica Guzman about her new book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. They discussed barriers that get in the way of effective communication, how judgment is the opposite of curiosity, how social media poisons political discourse, why it's harmful to close your mind to the views of others, and how to use conversation to build bridges of understanding. For more on Monica, visit her personal website or visit www.braverangels.org to learn more about her nonprofit organization. Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work. Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Mónica Guzmán is on a mission to help us see that questions should not be used as weapons to establish superiority, but rather as tools in our curiosity toolbox. Mónica is the Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels, a non-profit working to depolarize America, as well as the author of the book "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." In this conversation, you'll hear about the many push-pull moments and circumstances of Mónica's life that have led her to seek out more instances when she has the chance to say "I never thought of it that way." And during such deeply divided and polarized times, Mónica believes one of the most critical questions to ask is "What am I missing?" Watch Mónica's remarkable TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSL0zNREHAE Check out Mónica's work, including her book, at https://reclaimcuriosity.com, and connect with her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/moniguzman.
In this episode, Sharon talks with Mónica Guzmán, whose new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times helps us learn how to get more comfortable with the uncomfortable. Monica argues that we need to chase “I never thought of it that way” moments we have in order to grow in curiosity. When we manufacture certainty, we tend to see people and the world around us as one-dimensional. It's important to understand the views of others because we're not always happy in our echo chambers; we lose relationships, we feel anxiety about the future, and we pin the blame wherever we can. Once we begin to get curious and shine a light on what we perceive as a threat, that threat feels less insurmountable. It's through curiosity that we can begin to see people from multiple dimensions–they aren't monsters, they are people, just like us. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mónica Guzmán has some difficult conversations with her parents. She's a liberal Democrat, while her mom and dad voted enthusiastically for Trump both times. So, how does she bridge the political divide and maintain a loving relationship with her parents, despite their differences of opinion? And what can you and I do to develop intellectual curiosity and see difficult issues from different points of view? Mónica is the Digital Director at Braver Angels , the nation's largest nonprofit working to depolarize America. She is also the author of the new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Mónica joins Ross to discuss how she navigates the relationship with her conservative Republican parents, describing why it's important to maintain connections with friends and family who don't see things the way you do. Mónica explains how condescension and curiosity are mutually exclusive, challenging us to begin conversations by believing that the other person's perspective is valid and asking questions around how they came to their beliefs. Listen in to understand how the more facets of an issue you see, the closer you are to the truth, and learn how to be open to influence or new information that might change your opinion. Connect with Nori Purchase Nori Carbon Removals Nori's website Nori on Twitter Check out our other podcast, Carbon Removal Newsroom Resources I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Monica Guzman Braver Angels Monica on Braver Angels Monica's Website --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/reversingclimatechange/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/reversingclimatechange/support
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/language
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/journalism
Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own built-in curiosity. Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we're right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society. In I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (BenBella Books, 2022), Mónica takes us to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. This podcast episode is a recording of a live event co-hosted by Gather, an initiative of the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon that focuses on community-centered journalism. Jenna Spinelle is a journalism instructor at Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She's also the communications specialist for the university's McCourtney Institute for Democracy, where she hosts and produces the Democracy Works podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's no way around it — it's a challenging time in America. Societies have lived through pandemics and political strife before, but never with powerful tools like social media and the Internet. It makes for a special brand of division that most of us have experienced in some way, from dinner table arguments with relatives to heated interactions at the grocery store. Have we forgotten how to interact and connect, despite our differences? Journalist Mónica Guzmán knows the struggle all too well. She's the liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted — twice — for Donald Trump. She's also the chief storyteller for the national cross-partisan depolarization organization Braver Angels, which works to bring Americans together and strengthen our democratic republic. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Guzmán set out to cut through the fog and discovered the most eye-opening tool we're not using: our own curiosity. In her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way, Guzmán drew from conversations she's had, organized, or witnessed everywhere, from the echo chambers on social media to the raw, unfiltered fights with her family on election night. Guzmán shared how to put a natural sense of wonder to work by talking with people — rather than about them — and asking tough, meaningful questions across divides while maintaining openness and curiosity. Together with political cartoonist David Horsey, Guzmán discussed how to overcome fear, labels, and assumptions and have human conversations with people whose identities and values are different from, or even opposed to, our own. Mónica Guzmán is a journalist and entrepreneur who lives for good conversation sparked by challenging questions. She's the cofounder of The Evergrey, an award-winning newsletter and community in Seattle, and serves as an adviser to Braver Angels, a national organization out to depolarize America, and Together Washington, an organization building collaborative local relationships among leaders in Washington state. Mónica is a former columnist at The Seattle Times, GeekWire, and the Columbia Journalism Review. She studied social and political division as a 2019 Henry M. Jackson leadership fellow, and spent the 2015-2016 academic year studying how journalists can evolve to better meet the needs of a participatory public as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. She is an immigrant, a Latina, a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen, and the mom of two bilingual kids. David Horsey is a two-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for political cartooning. Syndicated by Tribune Content Agency, David's work has appeared in hundreds of media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Politico, and MSNBC.com. After a long career at Seattle Post-Intelligencer and six years as a political commentator for The Los Angeles Times, Horsey is now based at The Seattle Times. Buy the Book: I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (Hardcover) from Elliott Bay Books Presented by Town Hall Seattle, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and the Western Washington Braver Angels Alliance.
How many times have you heard that - “We live in a fast-paced world?” Yet, in many ways we set that pace for ourselves. We like to do things quickly. So, this episode begins with a look at things that would go a lot better for all of us if we just slowed down a little. Source, Debbie Mandel, author of “Addicted to Stress” https://amzn.to/3v9JpzD Politics has gotten downright nasty. It seems people on opposite sides of a political issue can't have a civil discussion about their differences anymore. Why is that? More importantly, how do we fix this so we can discuss our differences without accusing the other person of being stupid, uninformed or crazy for holding the beliefs they do? Here to help is Monica Guzman a journalist who is on a crusade to depolarize the conversation and get people talking in way that helps us understand why people have the opinions they do and how to express our own opinions without offending those who disagree. Monica is author of the book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (https://amzn.to/3LcQK7i) It would appear that anxiety is rampant. People just seem a lot more anxious than they used to. Of course not all anxiety is bad. We need to worry about some things. Yet many of the things we worry about happening are never as horrible as we anticipate. So how do we control our anxiety, so it doesn't control us? That's what Ellen Vora is here to discuss. Ellen is a psychiatrist and author of the book The Anatomy of Anxiety (https://amzn.to/3863pKp) If you want to sharpen your memory it may be as simple as going outside. Listen as I explain how nature can improve memory. https://www.spring.org.uk/2009/01/memory-improved-20-by-nature-walk.php PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! We really like The Jordan Harbinger Show! Check out https://jordanharbinger.com/start OR search for it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen! Helix Sleep is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at https://helixsleep.com/sysk. Go to https://Indeed.com/Something to claim your $75 credit through April 30th! Go to https://Shopify.com/sysk, for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features! With Avast One, https://avast.com you can confidently take control of your online world without worrying about viruses, phishing attacks, ransomware, hacking attempts, & other cybercrimes! With prices soaring at the pump, Discover has your back with cash back! Use the Discover Card & earn 5% cash back at Gas Stations and Target, now through June, when you activate. Get up to $75 cash back this quarter with Discover it® card. Learn more at https:discover.com/rewards. Download Best Fiends FREE today on the App Store or Google Play! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How'd you hear about The Purple Principle? Click here to answer our one question survey: https://fluentknowledge.com/tpp-survey Our TPP guest this episode, Mónica Guzmán of Braver Angels, is a fascinating conversationalist who knows how to stop a conversation, particularly among blue-leaning Seattle friends discussing politics. Guzmán merely mentions that her Mexican immigrant parents avidly supported Donald Trump and the room goes silent. We kick off Episode 8 of Season 3, “Like Family, Like Nation,” with Guzmán's retelling of that conversation stopper also featured in her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way. Part personal memoir, part communication guide, the book is informed by her work at Braver Angels, one of the nation's most successful facilitators of cross-partisan dialogue. “The opinion…. is just above the surface,” observes Guzmán. “Underneath is everything that backs it up, all their experiences.” As a result, she cautions that, “you're not going to change someone's mind in the course of conversation unless they were already at the cusp of changing it on their own.” Important points from a uniquely qualified voice. Tune in for an entertaining and informative episode on the challenges and rewards of communication across the great American divides. Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney SHOW NOTES Our Guests Mónica Guzmán: Director of Digital & Storytelling at Braver Angels, Host of Civic Cocktail, and Author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Mónica Guzmán's website, Twitter Visit our website for a list of additional resources related to today's episode: fluentknowledge.com/shows/the-purple-principle/monica-guzman Join Us for Premium Content: Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/PurpleApple Patreon: patreon.com/purpleprinciplepodcast Find us online! Twitter: @purpleprincipl Facebook: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Instagram: @thepurpleprinciplepodcast Our website: https://bit.ly/2ZCpFaQ Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2UfFSja
CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Sangita Shresthova, research director at Civic Paths Group, and Monica Guzman, journalist and author, to discuss her latest book and share insights on how to better understand and connect with those whose opinions and beliefs vastly differ. Featuring: Kamy Akhavan - Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Mónica Guzmán - Author, "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times," Digital Director, Braver Angels Sangita Shresthova - Director of Research, Civic Paths Group at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Mónica Guzmán, author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, is the Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels which is a cross-partisan nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging America's widening political divide. Mónica's background in journalism and her own life experiences brought her to Braver Angels as a person interested in conversation without judgment. As a daughter of Mexican immigrants who considered themselves Republicans and a journalist, Mónica understands political party differences on a personal and professional level. In the episode she describes her journey to Braver Angels and details how the organization creates spaces, through workshops, where citizens across party lines can have difficult conversations. As she and Henry explore divides within family structure she notes how family ties put more at stake in these political conversations but how that can be extremely powerful even though it is uncomfortable. Trust and listening are more important than people may think when trying to have these conversations and Braver Angels helps people develop those skills. The end of the episode also addresses some of the controversy the organization has had recently surrounding the conservative opinions related to the January 6th Capitol attack and Henry and Colin discuss how Braver Angels transparently discussed their podcasting practices in relation to misinformation and conspiracies. A full transcript of this episode will be available soon!Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:Mónica GuzmánBook: I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided TimesBraver AngelsMónica's earlier journalism for The Evergrey (Seattle)Interview with The Daily Kos (“you don't have to talk to a Nazi tomorrow”)Braver Angels' list of roles we play in family conversations about politicsUSC Norman Lear Center research on media consumption among liberals, moderates and conservativesJonathan Haidt: The moral roots of liberals and conservativesAnd more about his book, The Righteous MindBraver Angels podcast and controversy:Depolarization in the Age of Misinformation | Jonathan Rauch with David Blankenhorn & Ciaran O'Connor (our clip starts around min 7)A Conservative Perspective on January 6th & the 2020 Election | Peter Wood with Ciaran O'Connor (our clip starts around min 17:00)Braver Angels national debate to open up the larger question—"Should we draw lines?"—to hundreds of people. President David Blankenhorn chimes in toward the end of the videoBraver Angels Podcast host Ciaran O'Connor's op-ed in the Deseret News with more of the product of Braver Angels' reflection on what happened, and also YouTube's roleMónica's own reflection on the issue in an interview with the American Press Institute asking "what might journalism learn from 'bridging'?."Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com.Music:“In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmetSpaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeatsCreative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumentalFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceshipMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Sangita Shresthova, research director at Civic Paths Group, and Monica Guzman, journalist and author, to discuss her latest book and share insights on how to better understand and connect with those whose opinions and beliefs vastly differ. Featuring: Kamy Akhavan - Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Mónica Guzmán - Author, "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times," Digital Director, Braver Angels Sangita Shresthova - Director of Research, Civic Paths Group at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Monica Guzmán, the author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and entrepreneur who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. She's director of digital and storytelling at Braver Angels, the nation's largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America; host of live interview series at Crosscut; and cofounder of the award-winning Seattle newsletter The Evergrey. She was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, where she researched how journalists can rethink their roles to better meet the needs of a participatory public. She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Seattle, served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, and plays a barbarian named Shadrack in her besties' Dungeons & Dragons campaign. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents. Visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gZNKTyc7 Email Andrew: a.keen@me.com Watch the show live on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajkeen Watch the show live on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gatW6J8v Watch the show live on Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gjzVnTkY Watch the show on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gDwPgesS Subscribe to Andrew's newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gzwFsxPV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We think we have the answers. But what happens when we start asking more questions? In her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, Braver Angels' director of storytelling Mónica Guzmán explains how and why we should get more curious—and how it might just hold the key to bridging our political divide. To learn more about Mónica's work and buy her new book, visit www.moniguzman.com. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @moniguzman
This week, Alice and Kim talk about trans women authors. Follow For Real using RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. For more nonfiction recommendations, sign up for our True Story newsletter, edited by Alice Burton. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Nonfiction in the News Netflix Orders White House Mystery Drama ‘The Residence' From Shondaland, ‘For the People' Creator [Variety] New Nonfiction Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation by Erika Krouse Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times by Azar Nafisi I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica Guzmán Lady Icarus: Balloonmania and the Brief, Bold Life of Sophie Blanchard by Deborah Haynes Weekly Theme: Books by Trans Women Fairest by Meredith Talusan How to Fail as a Pop Star: A Play by Vivek Shraya To My Trans Sisters by Charlie Craggs Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride Reading Now KIM: From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow ALICE: The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President—and Why It Failed by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch CONCLUSION You can find us on SOCIAL MEDIA – @itsalicetime and @kimthedork. Amazing Audio Editing for this episode was done by Jen Zink. RATE AND REVIEW on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so people can find us more easily, and follow us there so you can get our new episodes the minute they come out.
Mónica Guzmán stops in to discuss her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times . She and Bridget discuss how whenever there are lots of people who stand on opposite sides of an issue that division has a reason for being there and we should strive to understand it, why belonging is the number one concern for most people, the tension between understanding and judgment, and why we should all just start with the baseline assumption of, "I'm probably wrong." They also cover finding common ground with people on a personal level, how severing ties amongst family members has a societal cost, how changing our mind about something big is almost like a death, therefore it can take a long time for our opinions to change about something big, learning how to be wrong, and small steps that people can take in their everyday lives to start having their own fearlessly curious conversations.
What would happen to the divisions in our country if we set aside our phones, and our assumptions, and truly tried to understand people who are different from us? Mónica Guzmán did this in her own family, and she's convinced that the country could do it, too. The Seattle-based journalist, entrepreneur and self-described liberal starts her new bookwith the personal story of coming to terms with her own parents, Mexican immigrants who voted twice for Donald Trump for president. The rest of the book is a guide for the rest of us: I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Longtime readers will remember Guzmán as a technology columnist who wrote regularly for GeekWirein the early years of the site. We also worked together previously at the Seattle P-I newspaper, where she started the Big Blog for SeattlePI.com. She wrote for the Seattle Times and went on to co-found The Evergreynewsletter in Seattle. She's currently digital director of the non-profit Braver Angels, whose mission of bringing together people of different political beliefs matches the premise of her recent work. She's also the host of Crosscut's Northwest Newsmakers. We talk about her new book, and the role of technology in all of this, on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast. Hosted by GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The world has gone mad. In recent weeks, many people have reached out to say they feel overwhelmed by how divided we are. Many feel like the mainstream media is not doing a good enough job at digging into the complexity of the issues we're facing, and that it is failing to reflect the full spectrum of views and experiences out there. Today's guest has thought deeply about the challenges facing the media. Mónica Guzmán is a Seattle journalist. She's also a director at Braver Angles, a grassroots organization that works to address polarization -- and a former fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Mónica is the author of a new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. She joins Tara today on the podcast to talk about the book, and the overlooked superpower that she says we all need to rediscover – the magic of a good conversation.
In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Monica Guzman on the power of curiosity. They discuss the main theses of her book on seeing the humanity of others by using curiosity. They talk about the three challenges of human nature (sorting, othering, & siloing). They mention the challenge of scaling individual interactions to the group level, us vs. them, and whether people change their opinions. They discuss the assumptions of other groups, the intoit model, filling the knowledge gaps, and how not to make assumptions. Monica Guzman is a journalist, writer, and Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels. She was a 2019 at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and co-founder of The Evergrey. She is the author of her first book, I never Though of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. You can find her main website here and other work here. Twitter: @moniguzman
Drew Perkins talks with Mónica Guzmán about her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, and her work with Braver Angels and the applications to great teaching and learning. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Order I Never Thought of It That Way moniguzman.com Mónica's LinkTree @moniguzman Braver Angels The TeachThought Podcast Ep. 210 Polarization, Racism, And Education The TeachThought Podcast Ep. 154 Depolarizing America Through Inquiry And Critical Thinking Visit wegrowteachers.com for info on our workshops and services.
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