The Braver Angels Podcast

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

Sheba Williams is the founder of Nolef Turns and an advocate with deeply personal experience surviving life after incarceration. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Sheba chats with John Wood, Jr. and Silas Kulkarni about her recent appearance in the Braver Angels Coliseum Debate on Voting Rights and the efforts underway to bring together a cross-partisan, cross-cultural coalition to reintegrate the formerly incarcerated into society. Learn more about Nolef Turns on the group's website: www.nolefturns.org Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr, @SilasKulkarni, @nolefturnsinc

Later this month, thousands of Americans—including several Braver Angels—will gather near Mount Rushmore for FreedomFest, a three-day conference dedicated to furthering libertarianism in America. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Ciaran O'Connor sits down with Valerie Durham, the executive director of FreedomFest, for a wide-ranging conversation on the meaning of liberty, the influence of Donald Trump on the conservative movement, and how libertarians could help bring Americans together across the ideological spectrum. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @valerieldurham

Boom! In this special roundtable edition of our podcast, two red and two blue Braver Angels leaders share their takes on critical race theory and the recent out-of-this-world UFO stories fascinating both right and left. Also in this episode: some real talk about the hard work of building a house united—plus some stories about how thrilling (or terrifying!) everyone found Fourth of July fireworks as kids. Featuring John Wood, Jr. (national ambassador), April Lawson (director of debates), Ciaran O'Connor (CMO), Mónica Guzmán (director of digital and storytelling). Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @AprilALawson, @JohnRWoodJr, @moniguzman

In an era in which politics have become a religion, what role do religious people have to play? And how can people look to their faith as an inspiration for coming together rather than breaking apart? Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam joins the Braver Angels Podcast to discuss the role of faith in the public square and how Christians can become a force for reconciliation in our politics. Bill's new book on this topic, Faithful Presence, can be found on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Twitter: @braverangels, @BillHaslam, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr

Sho Baraka is a hip-hop artist known for bringing a deep lyrical and philosophical treatment to Christian rap. But he's also a cultural commentator who takes a nuanced perspective on issues of race and politics—and has a front row seat for seeing these controversies play out in the church. Sho joins John Wood, Jr. to talk music, the culture of hip-hop, the challenge of race relations, Kanye West, and more in this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast. Learn more about Sho's music and book on his website: www.barakaology.com. Twitter: @braverangels, @AmIshoBaraka, @JohnRWoodJr

Author Jonathan Rauch is a long respected voice in American journalism on matters ranging from marriage equality to freedom of speech. In his upcoming book, The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, Rauch explains the social infrastructure by which truth is protected, breaking down assaults on truth from the right and the left and exploring what we can do about it. April Lawson and John Wood, Jr. join Rauch for this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, chatting about cancel culture, the Trump administration, the idea of a "constitution of knowledge," and the importance of speaking across the divide. Pick up your copy of The Constitution of Knowledge wherever books are sold (https://amzn.to/2TTz5M0), and learn more about Jon Rauch on this website (www.jonathanrauch.com). Twitter: @braverangels, @jon_rauch, @JohnRWoodJr, @AprilALawson

Not only does political polarization breed fear, anger, and mistrust—it also breeds a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. How can we take action? Not only to make our voices heard but to work together with our political opponents to improve our communities and perfect our union? Braver Angels alliances are where the meat of our work takes place—where ordinary reds and blues across the country come together to actually do the work of democracy, find common values, transcend our egos, and drive change on the ground. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, host Ciaran O'Connor hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Steve Saltwick and Lynn Heady, the red and blue co-directors of Braver Angels' national field operations, explaining the nature and structure of alliances, how to get involved, and some inspiring examples of alliances in action. Join an alliance: www.braverangels.org/what-we-do/alliances Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor

Professor Steven Pinker is on a mission to spread the good news of human progress. He asserts that human life, for all its problems, has overwhelmingly improved in recent generations. But how is the progress of humanity threatened by our inability to appreciate it? And how is that progress threatened by our inability to communicate respectfully with one another? Professor Pinker (Enlightenment Now, The Better Angels of Our Nature) joins John Wood, Jr. to discuss polarization, cancel culture in the academy, his friendships with Noam Chomsky and Thomas Sowell, and how we can reason together toward a better future. Twitter: @braverangels, @sapinker, @JohnRWoodJr

America is more than half a year removed from the 2020 election. Most Trump voters still suspect voter fraud determined the outcome. The vast majority of Biden voters think such ideas are off the wall. Many Americans, meanwhile, believe that media bias and the practices of Big Tech are the real corruptors of American elections. Can left, right and center reason together about the 2020 election? Can we come together to discover why we believe what we believe? Braver Angels national ambassador John Wood, Jr. brings together political scientist Wilfred Reilly (Taboo and Hate Crime Hoax), digital entrepreneur Shouvik Banerjee (AverPoint), and podcaster Chris Paul (Be Reasonable) to find out in this special edition of the Braver Angels Podcast. With arguments for and against voter fraud from across the political spectrum, we prove that even the hardest conversations can be had in the Braver Angels way. Want to join the conversation? Register here for Braver Angels' May 25 public debate on HR1 and voter suppression. Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr, @wil_da_beast630, @shouvik44

John McWhorter is a professor of linguistics at Columbia University, the author of many books, a witty and passionately independent voice on the subject of American race relations. Hear him join John Wood, Jr. of Braver Angels to compare perspectives on the traditional narratives that shape our racial conversation, the post Civil Rights era Black experience, and the ways in which the varieties of experiences in the Black community impact the dialogue on race in the United States. (The book on the history of the Crack cocaine epidemic referenced in this conversation is called "Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and the Decade of Greed" by David Farber) Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr

For 20 years, Nick Gillespie has been the "intellectual godfather" of Reason Magazine and one of the leading minds of the libertarian movement in America. Yet while libertarianism has a notable place in American culture and has proven influential in our political conversation, it hasn't yet proven itself to be a strong force in electoral politics. What are the challenges facing political libertarianism in America? Where does libertarianism come from in American history? Nick joins John Wood, Jr. to talk about all this and more in this special interview on the Braver Angels Podcast. Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr, @nickgillespie

Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist, has been heralded as "the conscience of Silicon Valley." He most recently starred in The Social Dilemma on Netflix, one of the most popular documentaries of 2020. Tristan has been steering the conversation about how social media interacts with democracy and the human mind in American and global society. In the second of Tristan's conversations with John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor (who were recently guests on Tristan's Your Undivided Attention podcast), the focus turns to social media's influence on our relationship to time, Tristan's philosophical journey in understanding the nature of truth, and what Tristan would do if he were to become the next president of Facebook. Learn more about Tristan's work on his website (www.tristanharris.com), and check out John and Ciaran's last appearance on Tristan's show (link). Twitter: @braverangels, @tristanharris, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr

Jason is a black stay-at-home father from South Lebanon, Ohio. Believing that Biden is too conservative, he voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries. A few towns over, Lance is a white father and utility locator who enthusiastically voted for Trump. Though miles apart in their politics, they both believe working-class Americans like them are getting cheated and that most politicians are in the pockets of corporations. Is a multiracial working-class revolution in the future—and if so, would it serve to depolarize America or to exacerbate existing tensions? Join us for this raw and surprising conversation. Twitter: @braverangels, @davidlappoh

Cooperation feels good. Human society is built on it. So why do we clash so destructively—in our marriages, at work, and especially when talking about politics? Julia Minson is a social psychologist who studies the psychology of disagreement, aiming to tease out ways we can make fraught conversations more enjoyable and productive. Her current research is inspired by Braver Angels' workshops, and her studies may have revealed the "secret sauce" that makes them so effective. The answer...probably won't be what you expect! Along the way, Julia touches on simple behaviors that can improve our day-to-day in-person and online interactions, what makes social media both better and worse than you think, and how her work is received by students and faculty in academia. Learn more about Julia's research on her website: www.juliaminson.com Twitter: @braverangels, @juliaminson, @gregsteinbreche

In her latest book, High Conflict, Amanda Ripley explores how good people get captured by devastating conflict and how they can break free. Amanda combines storytelling with data—drawing lessons from examples like the FARC militants of Colombia and the violent gangs of Chicago—to develop a theory of successful conflict resolution. In this edition of the Braver Angels Podcast, Amanda joins hosts Ciaran O'Connor and April Lawson to dive deep into her book and illuminate lessons we can apply to tribal politics in the U.S. Learn more about Amanda's book: www.amandaripley.com Twitter: @braverangels, @amandaripley, @ciaranjoconnor, @AprilALawson

Collaboraction Theatre Company is a Chicago nonprofit exploring theatre's role in social change. Through its year-round programming, the group invites its crew and audience members alike to listen and learn from one another, bringing their disagreements and questions in tow. In this episode, Collaboraction's artistic director Anthony Moseley and executive director Dr. Marcus Robinson share their experiences in the organization. With hosts Ciaran O'Connor and Alma Cook, they discuss how theatre can open people up to more constructive political conversations, how the troubles of 2020 affected their work, how conservatives can be made to feel more welcome in artistic spaces, and more. Twitter: @braverangels, @Collaboraction, @AnthonyMoseley, @4MarcusRobinson, @ciaranjoconnor, @HearAlma

Michael Patrick F. Smith is a musician, playwright, former oilfield hand, and author of a new memoir documenting his experience in the North Dakota oil patch. He and Braver Angels host Alma Cook—a fellow musician with experience in the same oil patch Michael writes about in his book—traded stories about life in North Dakota and chatted about the global petroleum dependency, the dignity of blue collar trades, and music's role in the political space. Read Michael's front-page New York Times feature, "The First Step is Admitting You Have a Problem," here. Learn more about Michael's music, writing, and more: www.thegoodhand.org Twitter: @braverangels, @MPFSmith, @HearAlma

Are calls to unity too weak, too generic, or too "blue" to move Americans? What are the hard truths that stand in the way of unity? Educator, activist, and author Tim Shriver joins the Braver Angels Podcast to talk about his new book, The Call to Unite, and the budding nationwide movement to unite America. Joined by April Lawson and John Wood, Jr., Tim reflects on the history of nonviolent movements, shares his own methods for building connection and empathy, and responds to criticisms of the idea of unity in modern America. Learn more about Tim's new book: www.unite.us/book Twitter: @braverangels, @TimShriver, @thecalltounite, @JohnRWoodJr, @AprilALawson

Sarah Anderson is the author of forthcoming book The Space Between Us: How Jesus Teaches Us to Live Together When Politics and Religion Pull Us Apart. Host April Lawson and Sarah discuss her background being raised in a very political family, her journey of learning that people of faith can differ politically, and how she engages—and teaches others to engage—faith and politics in our key relationships. Sarah has a degree in Christian thought from Grove City College. Currently, she works as a writer and editor for the Rethink Group student curriculum. She also maintains a popular blog covering topics like faith, culture, parenting, and marriage: www.sarahbanderson.com Twitter: @braverangels, @SarahB_Anderson, @AprilALawson

Photographers Roben Bellomo and Jim Hamel created Behn Gallery to explore the different ways people might experience their work. Randy Lioz chats with them about how—through their own very distinct views of the world, often experienced side-by-side—they've come to a much more complete understanding of perspective and meaning. Roben and Jim are co-owners of Behn Gallery (www.behngallery.com and @behngallery on Instagram). On their blog, you can learn more info about their philosophy and perspectives. You can also go behind the scenes of their gallery on their YouTube channel (link). Jim's website: www.jimhamelphotography.com Roben's website: www.bellomostudios.com Twitter: @braverangels, @randylioz

"America's politics diet is broken," says Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News. "And Tangle is here to fix it." Isaac Saul, a former reporter, has quickly grown his newsletter, Tangle, into one of the most original, informative political newsletters in the country, combining a left/right breakdown of the news of the day with Isaac's raw personal perspective. Whatever the issue, Isaac's goal is to represent the best arguments from both sides of the aisle. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Isaac joins host Ciaran O'Connor for a deep dive on the future of political news, the power of storytelling, and what happened when he decided to open up about past transgressions—and what he learned from the experience. Read and subscribe to Tangle News here: www.readtangle.com Twitter: @braverangels, @Ike_Saul, @tanglenews, @ciaranjoconnor

Author and journalist Bari Weiss stops by the Braver Angels Podcast to talk about her upbringing in Pittsburgh, how the Tree of Life massacre and her Jewish roots informed her journalistic mission, the ideological capturing of mainstream media, and the reasons she resigned from The New York Times. Hosts Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr. chat with Bari about the need for diversity in the editorial room, The 1619 Project, the role of conservative media in polarization, and more in this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast. Visit Bari's website (www.bariweiss.com) to find a hub of her past articles and learn more about her book, How to Fight Anti-Semitism. Or subscribe to her Substack to receive newsletter updates in your inbox (bariweiss.substack.com). Twitter: @braverangels, @bariweiss, @JohnRWoodJr, @ciaranjoconnor

James Lindsay is a leading critic of antiracism in the digital space. But he is a lightning rod for criticism and condemnation, with a style that many believe makes him a damaging influence on the public discourse. For others, he is a champion of truth telling and an independent intellectual voice that needs to be heard. John Wood, Jr., national ambassador for Braver Angels and a public voice on matters of race and society, plumbs the depths of antiracism in its substance, cultural origins, and arguments in this far-reaching conversation on one of the most important intellectual movements of our time. Lindsay is founder of the media website New Discourses (www.newdiscourses.com), and co-author of Cynical Theories (www.cynicaltheories.com), a book on critical race and gender studies written in collaboration with Helen Pluckrose. Twitter: @braverangels, @ConceptualJames, @JohnRWoodJr

Should the outcome of the 2020 election be up for debate? Braver Angels exists to connect Americans in dialogue over their differences. That's why Braver Angels decided to hold a debate about the 2020 election—though some BA leaders think the decision was a bridge too far. Braver Angels leaders Ciaran O'Connor, John Wood, Jr., David Blankenhorn (BA president) April Lawson, and Silas Kulkarni talk it through in real time in this special episode of the Braver Angels podcast. Register for our upcoming debate: https://braverangels.org/event/debate-national-coliseum-debate-on-voter-fraud/ Further reading: Deep Divisions in Views of the Election Process – and Whether It Will Be Clear Who Won (Pew Research) Voters' reflections on the 2020 election (Pew Research) Republicans who relied on Trump for news more concerned than other Republicans about election fraud (Pew Research) 1965 The James Baldwin And William F. Buckley Debate (Aeon) A fight over Halloween costumes at Yale has devolved into an effort to censor dissenting views. (Atlantic) Twitter: @braverangel, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr, @AprilALawson, @SilasKulkarni, @blankenhorn3

Rakim Brooks of the American Civil Liberties Union joins John Wood, Jr. to clear the air on the ACLU's commitment to free speech and to highlight the organization's work in the area of social justice. But before all of that, Rakim takes us back to his upbringing in the public housing projects of East Harlem and his unlikely journey to success as a public interest attorney. Learn more about the ACLU's campaign for systemic equality: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-launches-new-systemic-equality-racial-justice-agenda Twitter: @braverangels, @BrooksRakim

The U.S. Senate must decide whether to convict Donald Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors in the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Two intellectual heavyweights on opposite sides of the aisle join host Ciaran O'Connor for a penetrating exchange. The conversation begins with the merits and constitutionality of Trump's second impeachment and ends with a deeper discussion of the role of cultural and racial grievance in political polarization—and how we might move forward together. Lawrence Mead is a conservative political scientist, an author, and a professor of politics and public policy at New York University. William Galston is a former professor at the University of Maryland, a former policy advisor to President Bill Clinton, and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute who writes a column for The Wall Street Journal. Twitter: @BillGalston, @braverangels

Matt Taibbi is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone Magazine and the author of numerous books including Hate Inc. and Insane Clown President. Matt joins John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor to talk about the history of media and how it became so polarized, the dangers of big technology companies regulating the public square, lessons learned as a journalist in Russia, Donald Trump being booted off Twitter, and more. More by Matt Taibbi: TK News (Substack newsletter); Useful Idiots (podcast), Hate Inc. (book), The Divide (book), Insane Clown President (book) Twitter: @mtaibbi, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr, @braverangels

Greg Smith, a blue-collar Ohioan and Trump voter, and Sage Snider, a Nashville musician and Biden voter, became friends through Braver Angels. Greg is deeply worried for America after President Biden's inauguration; Sage is hopeful. In this candid and heartfelt conversation, they join Braver Angels cofounder David Lapp to discuss their thoughts on unity and what it will take for reds and blues to save the Union. (Be sure to listen all the way to the end to find out how they really feel about each other!) About the guests: Greg is a former police chief and the founding co-chair of the first-ever Braver Angels Alliance. Sage is a fiddler (check out her music here) and the founding director of cultural engagement for Braver Angels. Twitter: @sagesnider, @braverangels

The Reunited States is a groundbreaking documentary film by filmmaker Ben Rekhi, executive produced by Van Jones and Meghan McCain. The documentary follows the journeys of 5 Americans from across the political spectrum as they challenge themselves and the people around them to rediscover the shared humanity and imagine a path towards a healed nation.Ben Rekhi alongside Erin Leaverton, one of the subjects of the documentary, join John and Ciaran to talk about the mission of the film, the stories behind it, and the challenges facing the bridgebuilding movement in a polarized world.Watch the virtual premier of The Reunited States. Sign up below: https://watch.eventive.org/reunitedstates/play/60085cf2d2162a0029830b45 Follow on Social Media:Twitter: @the_reunited @ErinLeaverton @BraverAngels @JohnRWoodJr @ciaranjoconnor Facebook: @BraverAngels

Braver Angels members Chrissy Koach and Tom Cook are Trump voters who were at the January 6 protests on Capitol Hill. They join Braver Angels co-founder David Lapp to share their first-hand accounts of that day, and their thoughts on how we can move forward together.

Loretta Ross is an author, academic, and radical Black feminist who currently teaches courses on human rights and white supremacy at Smith College. She believes deeply in the value of empathetic conversation -- "calling in" -- versus shaming, humiliating, or publicly "calling out" those with whom we disagree (or indeed those whose views we may find appalling). But she also believes there's a limit. Professor Ross joins Ciaran O'Connor for a wide-ranging discussion on racial politics, right wing media, and when to draw a line in the sand.

2020 was a year of pain, isolation, and deep uncertainty. But it was also a year of hope, perseverance, and a reminder that -- for better or worse -- we're all in this together. In the final episode of 2020, Ciaran O'Connor joins April Lawson, Randy Lioz, and Alma Cook to reflect on a year that broke our hearts, tested our mettle, and ultimately reaffirmed our commitment to the work of Braver Angels.

What is most challenging about getting people of color to participate in Braver Angels? What impact does member diversity have on our activities and mission? In this episode of the Braver Angels podcast, Carlos Hernandez interviews four Angels of Color about these questions and more. The guests share thoughts and stories about crime, social justice, reparations, trauma, and the dimensions of who "owns" one's problems. Featured are Dr. Prof. Marilyn Hosea (member), Lisa Forbes (CO state coordinator), Peter Bell (member and retired regent of the University of MN), and Thomas Reeves Jr. (retired IT professional and blue chair of Angels of Color). Moderator Carlos Hernandez is the Angels of Color red chair. Learn more about the Angels of Color Advisory Council and task forces: BraverAngels.org Twitter: @braverangels

Lee Drutman, senior fellow in governance studies at New America, is a careful analyst of American political institutions. In his latest book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America, he arrives at the startling conclusion that America's two-party system is problematic not because it constrains voters' choices but because it creates incentives that drive Americans apart, polarizing them beyond reason. On this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Ciaran O'Connor and Luke Nathan Phillips interview Drutman about his book and the current state of the American political parties in the aftermath of Election Day 2020. They discuss how party factions in American history once provided leavening for our two-party system—and why they don't work quite as well as they used to. They also discuss the vast array of incentives elected officials and party leaders have to attack each other instead of working together, whether future presidencies and congresses will be subject to the same forces the last few have been, and the unique capacity of the American system to reform itself through trial and error. Learn more about Drutman's work: Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop (book), LeeDrutman.org Twitter: @leedrutman, @ciaranjoconnor, @braverangels

In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Alma Cook invites activist Susan Bro and singer-songwriter Becca Stevens to reflect on the 2017 Charlottesville rally. The women are connected through the death of Heather Heyer, Susan's daughter, who was killed while counter-protesting the Unite the Right demonstration. The event sparked something new in both women: in Susan, a new charitable foundation, and in Becca, a song from her last record called "Heather's Letters to Her Mother." Learn about Susan's work: www.heatherheyerfoundation.com Learn about Becca's work: www.beccastevens.com Twitter: @beccastevensbsb, @hearalma, @braverangels

Bill Ottman is the founder of Minds.com, a new community-owned, "open source" social media network that prizes privacy, transparency, and open exchange. Unlike Facebook, which mines your data to target you with ads, Minds does not monetize its users' data and offers people financial credits based on the content they share. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Ciaran and Bill discuss how the structure of major social networks like Facebook has fueled political polarization, toxified our public discourse, and stripped away our privacy -- and how Minds.com seeks to become a more vibrant, democratic alternative that opens the door to a less radicalized user base and a healthier form of debate.

Shelby Steele has been one of America's most important Black conservative voices for more than a generation. His recent documentary film "What Killed Michael Brown?" critiques the mainstream narrative surrounding the death of Brown, a tragedy which spark protests for social justice across America. But does Steele see any legitimacy in the new antiracist movement? And what does it mean to be Black in America? John Wood, Jr. puts forward the questions in this deep diving conversation on politics, culture and race in America. www.braverangels.org Twitter: @JohnRWoodJr @braverangels Facebook: @braverangels Instagram: @braverangels

Cheyenne Donaghy, a junior at Detroit International Academy for Women, Autumn Brown, an Oklahoma State University aspiring Ph.D. candidate, and Keyshawn King, a Stanford University Class of 2022 member) tackle questions-of-curiosity. Which ones? Their vision, influencers, and cancel culture. They even probe the adult Angels' musings about celebrities' influence. Interviewing them are Braver Angels' Donna Lee, David Joseph, and Carlos Hernandez.

"It's been an emotional rollercoaster." Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr., the original hosts of the Braver Angels Podcast, come together to discuss the 2020 election, its aftermath, and how we can begin to heal the nation, confront multiple crises at once, and build a House United in 2021 and beyond.

Artist and entrepreneur Alma Cooker, actor and Braver Angels social media manager Greg Steinbrecher, and Stacia Wilson of the Unity 2020 Movement join John Wood, Jr. to talk about the shifts in American political life on the eve of the election, and to survey the growing movement towards unity and political depolarization in American political life. Get ready for a forward looking conversation on the most important and most undercovered social phenomena in America. www.braverangels.org Twitter: @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr @HearAlma @OriginalStacia @gregsteinbreche

Braver Angels' holds as its ethos the ability to be opposite colors, emphasizing one's values, vocalizing beliefs and opinions, and be more than civil. Meet and hear Ms. Julie Boler, Braver Angels' Partnership Specialist, and a Blue. Hear Mr. Jim Allen, Red, also a specialist of a different sort - a retired US Special Forces warrior, Christian Pastor, and Guard1 Leadership Coach. #Hold AmericaTogether

Stand-up comedian and entrepreneur Mike Casentini and Chris Paul, (host of Be Reasonable: with Your Moderator, Chris Paul), join John Wood, Jr. to have a real conversation about the 2020 election. Is President Trump corrupt? Can we trust the outcome of the vote? And can we get along regardless of the outcome? Mike and Chris trade fascinating personal stories in taking their stands for and against Trump and Biden in this episode of The Braver Angels Podcast. Join Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org Follow: Twitter: @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr Instagram: @imyourmoderator @braverangels @johnrwoodjr

Think swing voters don't exist? These two lifelong conservatives have decided to vote Biden this year. Join us to find out why. Braver Angels member Peggy Wardlaw is a former TX Republican congressional candidate, a mother, and an entrepreneur from a ranching family. Across the country member Andrew Stegmaier is a millennial, libertarian software developer living in Seattle, WA. Their stories are very different, but both they've both landed in the unexpected place of changing their vote in this historic election. Silas Kulkarni, Braver Angels Senior Fellow for Public Discourse hosts a discussion of conservatism, civic virtue, national unity, and political homelessness in this special election month episode. Learn more about Braver Angels at www.BraverAngels.org Follow Twitter: @peggy_wardlaw @AndrewStegmaier @SilasKulkarni Facebook: @BraverAngels IG: @BraverAngels

Author Thomas Chatterton Williams is a unique and insightful voice out in the American cultural landscape. Contributor at New York Magazine and author of Losing My Cool Williams racial commentary emphasizes the need to transcend racial categories to help depolarize American racial life. In this conversation he and John Wood, Jr. discuss their biracial upbringings, talk about the meaning of "Blackness," chat about antiracism as an ideology, the writings of Ibram Kendi and more. Learn about Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org Follow Twitter: @thomaschattwill @JohnRWoodJr @BraverAngels Facebook: @BraverAngels IG: @BraverAngels

Rick Gates is a former aide to the Trump campaign who is best known for being charged with money laundering as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the campaign and Russia. In 2018, Gates pled guilty to lying to investigators and became a cooperator by helping the investigation that led to the convictions of Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign manager, and Roger Stone, his longtime advisor. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Ciaran presses Rick on his role in Manafort's criminal financial schemes, his turn as star witness, and how he feels about President Trump now. They also discuss Rick's lessons learned -- and how the country might come together in the wake of the upcoming election.

David French, Senior Editor of The Dispatch, has a new book called "Divided We Fall" about why America is so polarized, how it could tilt into civil war, and ways we can stop that from happening. On this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, he talks to Ciaran O'Connor and Greg Steinbrecher about his book, how and why polarization has gotten so bad, and what our government and we the people can do to make things better. He also explains why everyone is too quick to blame the media for our problems, and touches on some current events like the Amy Coney Barrett nomination. David French has direct experience with both the culture war and actual war. He defended free speech and religious freedom on college campuses as president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) before serving the United States in Iraq as a judge advocate general officer in the army. Before his current position at The Dispatch, he was a staff writer for National Review.

Lydia Cornell is an actress, producer and writer known for her work on shows ranging from Love Boat and Full House to Curb Your Enthusiasm. She is the author of the book How to Talk to Ann Coulter, If You Must. You may know Roxanne Beckford-Hoge from shows like A Different World and films including Father of the Bride II and Something's Gotta Give. More recently, Roxanne was the Republican nominee for State Assembly in the 46th district of California. These two wonderfully talented women are full of passion and perspective in their politics. Sit back and buckle up as they pull back the curtain on Hollywood culture, challenge each other on their politics and share a lot of laughs and stories in this special episode of the Braver Angels Podcast. With John Wood, Jr. Learn more about Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org Follow on Twitter: @RoxanneForAD46 @LydiaCornell @JohnRWoodJr Follow Braver Angels @BraverAngels on all social media

Daniel McCarthy, editor of the venerable journal of conservative cultural commentary Modern Age, has been observing and commenting on Republican politics and intellectual trends in conservatism for decades now. How does someone who once deeply supported Ron Paul go on to deeply supporting Donald Trump? In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, co-hosts Luke Nathan Phillips and Silas Kulkarni press McCarthy on the shifting currents inside conservatism in the Age of Trump-- among libertarians, neoconservatives, traditionalists, paleoconservatives, nationalists, and so many other tribes-- to understand the ongoing and sometimes compelling dynamics of thought on the American cultural right. Help us build a house united, and bring our work to more Americans of all persuasions. Join us at wwww.braverangels.org. social media- Twitter: Braver Angels- @braverangels Daniel McCarthy- @toryanarchist

"Why do you support Trump, and what reservations do you have about him?" Five conservative-leaning Braver Angels members join co-hosts Ciaran O'Connor and Carlos Hernandez for a lively discussion on President Trump, Joe Biden, and the Supreme Court vacancy. Featuring guests Iris Diaz, Larry Gutman, Joe D'Aura, Mark A Reinecke, and Ruth Littmann-Ashkenazi.