Best Braver Angels Podcasts (2024)

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#94-The Essence of Critical Thinking and Demonstrations of How to Have Civil Dialogues 56:57

3h ago56:57

56:57

Thinking Clearly hosts Bob and Julia review their definition of critical thinking, discuss how doing a show about critical thinking has changed them, and do several demonstrations of best practices (using the LAP-EFI method) for having productive, civil dialogues with people who have different views than yours.…

1
Kelly Corrigan Wonders: Daring to disagree on abortion 55:32

1h ago55:32

55:32

In this special guest episode, we’re going to pass the mic to a wonderful podcast, “Kelly Corrigan Wonders,” that recently invited our very own April Lawson to disagree openly and honestly with host Kelly Corrigan about one of the toughest issues out there — abortion. Their conversation is in-depth, illuminating, and believe it or not — productive.…

1
Beat | What if election years were wonderful? 10:11

1h ago10:11

10:11

We’re back! To kick off our second season, we’re bringing you a totally radical — and totally possible — vision of what election years could look like if we approached them a little differently. First we hear from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox about how election campaigns could leave our communities better off, regardless of the results. Then Mónica reflec…

1
#93-Critical Thinking Fundamentals and how to find truth in all the noise-with guest Dr. Seema Yasmin 59:18

25d ago59:18

59:18

Dr. Seema Yasmin, professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, discusses: information disorder and its treatment, common techniques used for pushing lies, the use of narrative in communicating, the history and current state of journalism in America, how to best consume the news and mitigate the …

1
#92-Election 2024 Preparation 4-Teaching Critical Thinking to American Military Future Leaders-with Guest Stephen Gerras 59:01

1M ago59:01

59:01

In this fourth in a series of Thinking Clearly episodes—offered in the hope of fostering critical thinking and civil dialogue as we approach our 2024 Presidential Election in America—we are replaying core episodes with those themes. In this edition, you’ll hear a previous episode that we recorded with Colonel (retired) Steve Gerras, who teaches cri…

1
#91-How artificial intelligence can help us understand human cognition-with guest Leslie Valiant 58:50

3M ago58:50

58:50

The development of artificial intelligence naturally leads us to deeply explore what intelligence, reasoning and knowledge are; the processes required to achieve them; and the implications that has for human thought, belief and decision making—all topics that have been deeply thought about by our guest, Leslie Valiant, Harvard University Professor …

1
Ask me anything 1:15:58

4M ago1:15:58

1:15:58

Mónica is joined by four friends in bridge building to answer your toughest questions about our shared mission of connecting across the political divide. Angel Eduardo, April Lawson, Manu Meel and Wilk Wilkinson get real about the challenges, opportunities, and misconceptions about our movement - are we all just a bunch of squishy centrists that br…

1
#90-Election 2024 Preparation 3-Hidden Tribes and the Perception Gap-with guest Stephen Hawkins 59:18

4M ago59:18

59:18

In this third in a series of Thinking Clearly episodes—offered in the hope of fostering critical thinking and civil dialogue as we approach our 2024 presidential election in America—we are replaying core episodes with those themes. In this edition, you’ll hear an episode that we recorded with Stephen Hawkins, director of research at More in Common—…

1
Interview with Nazi Holocaust Expert, Doug Huneke 45:44

4M ago45:44

45:44

Doug Huneke is a rare person. He is a pastor, friend, mentor and an expert on the Nazi Holocaust. Doug's primary focus is on the rescuers - those who risked their lives to rescue Jews from the German concentration camps. His book, The Moses of Rovno, recounts the life of Herman Graebe. Mr Graebe saved over a thousand Jews. Doug's first hand intervi…

1
Can we fix what COVID broke? (Part 2) 1:13:21

5M ago1:13:21

1:13:21

In Part two of this two-part story, Dr. Francis Collins, former head of the National Institutes of Health during COVID, and Travis Tripodi, a strong conservative critic of the US COVID response Dr. Collins helped shape, attempt the impossible — sparring on everything from vaccine mandates to natural immunity freely, fully, and without losing it. Wh…

1
Can we fix what COVID broke? (Part 1) 1:04:30

5M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

How do you talk about a monster of an issue when the two sides are so far apart? Mónica brings together two unlikely guests to find out: Dr. Francis Collins, a man who helped shape the U.S. COVID response (and was Dr. Fauci’s boss!), and Travis Tripodi, a New Hampshire resident who believes that response was deeply wrong and misguided. In Part one …

1
Steve Hester and Malcus and Me 39:22

4M ago39:22

39:22

In this episode I interview the author Steve Hester. Steve has written one of the best stories of the life of Jesus that I've ever read. The book is funny, serious, poignant and compelling. Malcus and Me had me laughing and wanting to pray all in the same chapter. Listen to Steve share the story of Jesus from the character of Malcus, one of the ear…

1
#89-Election 2024 Preparation 2-Political Depolarization and the Work of Braver Angels-with guest Ciaran O'Connor 58:51

5M ago58:51

58:51

As we head into the US 2024 Presidential Election with the knowledge that America is now as polarized as it has been since the civil war and that this amount of polarization drastically impairs our democratic process, we revisit the organization Braver Angels, which was founded "to bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strength…

1
Bringing Back Intellectual Humility 56:36

6M ago56:36

56:36

How does intellectual humility matter in journalism, conversations about race, religion and politics? In this special episode of the Braver Angels Podcast sponsored by the Greater Good Science Center John Wood Jr. leads a conversation with founder of the Flipside Annafi Wahed, former CIA intelligence analyst Jessie Mannisto, and Braver Angels CMO C…

1
How can we cure our social blindness? 1:23:26

6M ago1:23:26

1:23:26

Mónica welcomes David Brooks, author and New York Times columnist, to break down an essential and endangered skill for talking politics - hearing deeply and being deeply heard. David shares a bounty of tips and stories from throughout his career, including a public discussion where he says he failed both at understanding another person and at makin…

1
Vanessa Johnston, Death Doula 31:11

5M ago31:11

31:11

You've heard of Birth Doula's, what about a Death Doula? In this episode I interview Vanessa Johnston who is a professional Death Doula. This is a fascinating episode as she shares with us the different ways she coaches people in the process of dying. Please listen and share with someone who might need someone to help them in the final transition o…

1
How do we bridge the class divide? 1:09:19

6M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Mónica asks author Chris Arnade how he’s bridged one of the trickiest divides in America by going to parts of the country that others dismiss. Chris shares what he sees differently now and what both our big political “sides” are missing when they claim to fight for the working class. Then we hear from Corrie, a wife and mother who shares what the c…

1
Braver Angels and John Schwenkler 35:32

5M ago35:32

35:32

Do you fear for the Union? Do you wonder if Republicans and Democrats will ever be able to talk to each other? If so, then you need to listen to this episode. I interview John Schwenkler from Braver Angels. Braver Angels is an organization dedicated to bringing Red and Blue people to the table to listen and talk with each other. John has a great me…

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#88-What’s new in teaching critical thinking and advances in the mental immunity approach for combating misinformation with guest Melanie Trecek-King 58:50

6M ago58:50

58:50

Second time guest, Professor Melanie Trecek-King, updates us on what’s new in teaching critical thinking and new on her website resources at: Thinking Is Power. She also discusses Inoculation Theory as a foundation for recent work being done to combat mis- and disinformation by the Mental Immunity Project…

1
How can you handle being ‘triggered’? 1:15:19

7M ago1:15:19

1:15:19

Mónica talks to Luis Mojica, a therapist who’s learned loads from his patients about how we physically react to intense political disagreement… and what we can do about it. Luis sheds light on what happens to us when we feel “triggered” by something someone says, and the two share tips and bold ideas on everything from how you can feel more secure …

1
How can we disagree better? 55:44

7M ago55:44

55:44

Spencer Cox, the Republican governor of Utah, and Troy Williams, the activist at the head of Utah’s most active LGBTQ rights organization, don’t buy the notion that a good way to stand for the ideas on your side is to attack the people on the other. Reflecting on their sometimes contentious relationship, the two talk with Mónica about how they’ve b…

1
#87-Election 2024 Preparation—The Importance of Critical Thinking to Democracy, with guest Timothy Redmond 59:23

7M ago59:23

59:23

In the spirit of promoting citizenship in our democracy, during this time as the 2024 presidential election begins to ramp up, every once in a while Julia and I will replay one of our previous episodes—an episode that reminds us of how important critical thinking is to our democracy. So, here’s the first of those: Thinking Clearly episode #79: How …

1
How can you talk politics in a divided family? 1:08:20

7M ago1:08:20

1:08:20

In this special episode, Mónica — a liberal — joins the two people she’s argued with most — her conservative parents — for a candid conversation about one family’s struggles with a political divide that cuts right through their own home. Looking back on the biggest disagreements that tested their relationships, like Moni’s pro-choice stance on abor…

1
How do you bridge a legacy of pain? 1:15:55

7M ago1:15:55

1:15:55

Mónica talks to two friends whose lives changed in profound ways when they discovered that the family of one had owned the family of the other as slaves. Exploring our racial and religious divides as well as our political ones, their conversation takes on tough questions about how we honor past and future in our shared story, and the role repentanc…

1
How did Lincoln do it? 58:09

7M ago58:09

58:09

Mónica talks to historian Ron C. White to find out how our nation’s most renowned bridge builder disagreed fully and freely with those around him while leading the nation through the Civil War. Taking a closer look at private notes Lincoln wrote to himself, the two explore everything from how to approach deep moral disagreements to what to do with …

1
Damian Mulvany, Film Screenwriter 33:09

8M ago33:09

33:09

In this episode I interview Damian Mulvaney. Damian and I have known each other for over twenty years. Damian is a skilled screenwriter. He has won many awards for his scripts. His scripts are compelling and tell a great story. The death of his brother is a feature in some of his screenplays. I invite you to listen to Damian share his joy of writin…

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Introducing “A Braver Way” | Mónica Guzmán with April Lawson 32:35

8M ago32:35

32:35

Braver Angels has a new podcast – “A Braver Way” hosted by Braver Angels Senior Fellow for Public Practice Mónica Guzmán. Monica explains how the podcast came to be, and why there is such a need for a podcast like this to help show everyday Americans HOW they can bridge divides in their own lives. Whether you’re Red, Blue, or something entirely dif…

1
Cowboy Jesus and Medical Assist In Dying 36:33

8M ago36:33

36:33

In this episode I interview Linda Veres. Together we share the story of her husband's death. Jeff, Linda's husband, and I knew each other for forty years. After a debilitating stroke, and advancing MS, which left him confined to a wheel chair, he made the decision to end his life with MAID, Medical Assist In Dying. Before his death, Jeff gave me th…

1
A Braver Way - Trailer 2:06

8M ago2:06

2:06

Done with the divisiveness in our politics and ready to do something about it? Host Monica Guzman is joined by guests from across the political spectrum to unearth tools, insights, and messy real life stories that can guide you over the divide in your everyday life. So whether you’re Red, Blue, or something entirely different, “A Braver Way” will h…

1
#86-Disinformation-its creators, amplifiers and believers-and how to fight for truth and protect democracy with guest Lee McIntyre 59:10

7M ago59:10

59:10

Disinformation and its danger to our social fabric and democracy are the focus of this discussion with philosopher, educator and author, Lee McIntyre. Lee holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and is currently a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University. His latest book: Disinformation-How to fight for Truth and…

1
What are you supposed to be doing? 20:09

9M ago20:09

20:09

I'm back from my sabbatical starting a new season of Cowboy Jesus. In this episode I talk about Jesus discovering his purpose and the reason for why he has been sent by God. Jesus discovers, much to the dismay of his followers and the crowd, what he is supposed to be doing. It begs the question, are you doing what you're supposed to be doing?…

1
#85-Critical thinking in health and medicine and the importance of critical thinking in pandemics and other national and international health crises 59:15

9M ago59:15

59:15

Jonathan Howard, MD joins hosts Bob and Julia to discuss the role of critical thinking in health and medicine and how critical thinking is especially important in crisis management such as the COVID pandemic. Dr. Howard is currently an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at New York University, Langone Health and the Chief of Neurology …

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# 84-Top pick episode after seven years-Johnathan Rauch and the Constitution of Knowledge 59:18

10M ago59:18

59:18

On this the 84th episode of Thinking Clearly, hosts Bob and Julia got the seven year itch to look back and pick one episode that they thought deserved replay in its entirety. Their pick encapsulates one of the main themes of Thinking Clearly and focuses on the importance of having a universal process, accessible by all, for reliably assessing reali…

1
#83-Bob and Julia discuss Artificial Intelligence 58:30

11M ago58:30

58:30

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been impacting our lives in a variety of ways including our web searches, social medial experiences and even our telephone conversations with customer service representatives, and that impact will likely be accelerating at an exponential rate. This episode invites listeners to begin preparing for this changing envir…

1
#82-Teaching and Learning Critical Thinking and Recognizing Unsubstantiated Claims-with guest Alan Bensley 59:13

1y ago59:13

59:13

Alan Bensley, Psychology Professor and author of two textbooks on critical thinking: “Critical Thinking in Psychology: a unified skills approach” and “Critical Thinking in Psychology and Everyday Life”—from Frostburg State University—joins Bob and Julia to discuss: the most effective ways to teach critical thinking and the biggest challenges studen…

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