Best Uncommon Ground Podcasts (2024)

1
Border Security with Arizona Sheriff & Senate Candidate Mark Lamb 34:29

5M ago34:29

34:29

In this episode we talk with Arizona Sheriff & United States Senate Candidate Mark Lamb about the current conditions on the United States Border, and discuss common sense solutions that All Americans can agree on. Sheriff Lamb's campaign website is: https://sherifflambforsenate.com/By UncommonGround

1
Uncommon Ground Intro Episode 22:33

5M ago22:33

22:33

Welcome to the new "UnCommon Ground" podcast, where one Socialist and one Conservative discuss current issues, interview political figures & try to find common ground on issues facing our country.By UncommonGround

1
Uncommon Ground Trailer 2:43

5M ago2:43

2:43

Listen to our trailer to hear the kinds of discussions you can expect on UnCommon Ground.By UncommonGround

1
32: Wildlife Research & Zookeeping with the Founder of Women in Wildlife Eliza Stott 1:03:08

1+ y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Hey all! 2022 was a crazy year and I got behind on the podcast. I’m so excited to be getting episodes out that are long overdue, however some of the information may be a bit out of date. I recommend giving our guest, Eliza Stott, a follow and checking out the amazing things she and Women in Wildlife has done since this program was recorded! This in…

1
A Thank You from Van 3:47

1+ y ago3:47

3:47

In this final installment of the podcast, Van thanks the Uncommon Ground community for joining him on this journey. Some doubted that anyone could do a successful podcast based solely on finding positive solutions, deepening understanding and bringing people together across lines of difference. But we're happy to report: measured by downloads, Unco…

1
Hope for the Democratic Party with Rep. Ritchie Torres 47:08

1+ y ago47:08

47:08

“Yes, the system is broken. But the solution lies not in dismantling it or burning it down, but in finding solutions that have been shown to work. We should focus on the bread-and-butter issues. Most rank-and-file Democrats are practical and not ideological. Most of them have no Twitter accounts. They worry about the cost of housing, healthcare, an…

1
Bonus Episode: The Future of Climate Leadership 36:42

1+ y ago36:42

36:42

In this season’s final bonus episode, we wanted to make sure you got a chance to hear from some incredible young people who are trying to save the Earth. Last year, Van went to COP26 (the UN Climate Change Conference) held in Glasgow, Scotland. There he met with Jerome Foster, Kevin Patel, Chante Harris, Alexandria Villaseñor, Kevin Mtai, and other…

1
How Do Conservatives Really Feel? with Matt Schlapp 52:26

1+ y ago52:26

52:26

It is exceedingly rare these days for two national voices on opposite sides of the political spectrum to come together and have an honest, respectful exchange of views. Many on the right believe that progressives want to abuse government power to punish them for their views. Many on the left feel under constant assault from the right. It is increas…

1
Bonus Episode: Van’s Take on Race and Privilege with Chelsea Handler 37:03

1+ y ago37:03

37:03

In this special bonus episode, Van moves into the guest seat for an interview with comedian and author Chelsea Handler. The conversation took place in 2018 while Chelsea was filming her Netflix documentary: Hello, Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea. Chelsea’s goal was to explore the impacts of ‘white privilege’ on American culture. In the intervening year…

1
Republican Pollster Tackles Voter Concerns with Kristen Soltis Anderson 37:02

1+ y ago37:02

37:02

“So many people in politics, they've all got opinions. My job is not to be about my opinions. My job is to go out and listen to other people's opinions.” What shot does Donald Trump have at re-election? What do Republicans really think about Ron DeSantis? How are people feeling about the Biden Presidency? What issues are really keeping Americans up…

1
From Actor to Authentic Self with Adrian Grenier 41:31

1+ y ago41:31

41:31

"There's that quote: ‘First I was smart, and I tried to change the world. Then I got wise, and I tried to change myself.’ What I've leaned into now is: let me stop soap-boxing and telling everyone else what to do. And let me start looking at myself. I was a fraud in many ways because I felt that I had to represent the thing, but I didn't have to be…

1
How to Avoid Civil War in the US with William Ury 43:17

1+ y ago43:17

43:17

“I've seen situations, which are far worse than our situation, where the impossible became possible. I saw the Berlin wall come down. I was in South Africa in 1989 when Mandela was still in prison. And within six years there was an astonishing political transformation in South Africa. Even in the Middle East, Israel and Egypt forged a peace that en…

1
How to Thrive in a Changing World with Arianna Huffington 38:43

2y ago38:43

38:43

“Failure is not the opposite of success. It's a stepping stone to success. If we're lucky, we get 30,000 days to play the game of life. How we spend those 30,000 days depends on what we value. And if we are disconnected from our spiritual essence, it is so much easier to value things that will never really fulfill us.” This week, Van is joined by A…

1
Speak Truth to Power Like an Artivist with Aloe Blacc 40:42

2y ago40:42

40:42

“What am I going to do to create lasting positive transformation? Everyone has that opportunity. And I think everyone should recognize that you should not ever quit or doubt your ability to make something positive happen.” You might know Aloe Blacc as a famous musician. But did you know that he’s also an activist, a non-profit founder, and a biotec…

1
Will This Republican Be the Next Black President? with Senator Tim Scott 39:19

2y ago39:19

39:19

“What's being sold today is that one side is good, and the other side is bad. That one side is racist, and the other side is not. There's just nothing further from the truth.” Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina is up for reelection this fall. Many speculate that he will run for president one day soon. Scott is one of only three Black United States…

1
How to Combat Anti-Asian Hate with Lisa Ling 41:53

2y ago41:53

41:53

“Because there were so few people who looked like me in my business throughout my career, I've been so cautious about drawing attention to my ethnicity, to my gender. To bring these issues to the fore has been very uncomfortable, but necessary. I hope that I've inspired people in my own community to no longer be content to sit on the sidelines. It'…

1
31: Importation and Uncommon Species with Ashley Dezan 1:15:57

2y ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Growing up falling in ponds looking for critters and observing frogs in vernal pools on her dad’s property, Ashley Dezan has been a reptile and amphibian lover for life. Passionate about advancing the keeping of rarer animals, Ashley is the owner and operator of Northern Lights Reptile Imports. This was an awesome conversation learning about the in…

1
The Next Gen TikTok Star Reinventing the News with A.B. Burns-Tucker 36:18

2y ago36:18

36:18

“You have a bold generation now that you can tap into. Younger people. They are ready to go toe-to-toe with whomever on an idea that they feel passionate about. And a lot of the ideas could help us be the America that we claim to be.” TikTok is becoming the social media home of a new generation of activists, while older folks debate politics on Fac…

1
Can We Find Hope in the Face of Crisis? with Ian Bremmer 42:28

2y ago42:28

42:28

“It is very clear that we are on the precipice – two years, three years, ten years max – that some of these disruptive technologies will fundamentally threaten the way we presently exist on the planet, in the way that nuclear weapons did when you and I were growing up. That transformation is scary, but it's also ripe with opportunity.” This week Va…

1
Unapologetic Joy with Billy Porter 31:58

2y ago31:58

31:58

“To be queer and come out in 1985 when I'm 16 years-old, and be thrust into the AIDS crisis and fighting for our lives on the front lines…Silence does equal death...I don't know anything else, but to fight. I do understand that as a queer Black man in this space who has been unapologetic from the beginning, there is a responsibility for me to conti…

1
A Christian and an Atheist Search for Common Ground with Sam Harris 35:04

2y ago35:04

35:04

“While people are occasionally motivated to do wonderful things on the basis of their faith, faith generally speaking provides bad reasons to do good things when good reasons are actually available.” Can a Christian and an Atheist have a civil and constructive dialogue about the future? For the past 20 years, neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harr…

1
Why Does This California Congressman Care about Jobs in Kentucky? with Rep. Ro Khanna 39:51

2y ago39:51

39:51

“You have this phenomenal wealth-generation going on. Yet you still have so much of the country totally left out – half the country, if not more, thinking the American dream isn't gonna be available for their kids.” U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna is an uncommon Congressperson. He represents California’s 17th district – a district with one of the highest conce…

1
Can You Turn Pain into Real Change? with Brittany K. Barnett 43:30

2y ago43:30

43:30

“I do not have the privilege to be partisan.” Get ready for a strong dose of inspiration from Van’s guest this week - Brittany K. Barnett. When Brittany was 17 years old, her mother went to prison for drugs. Although Brittany may not have known it at the time, this awful breakdown would lead her to a powerful breakthrough. Hear about Brittany’s jou…

1
Abortion: What Can the Left & Right Agree On? with S.E. Cupp 35:39

2y ago35:39

35:39

“I am pro-life. But Roe is a 40-year-old legal precedent. Respecting the rule of law, means I accept the decision. I don't want to celebrate abortion, but I don't want to demonize it, either. I'm the majority. It has never felt so lonely to be in a majority.” S.E. Cupp is back – this time to discuss abortion. Van is a pro-choice progressive. S.E. i…

1
Can We Unite Americans through Universal Basic Income? with Michael Tubbs 39:48

2y ago39:48

39:48

“Cash can’t solve everything. But it can solve everything that has to do with cash.” Michael Tubbs became the youngest mayor of any major city in US history – at the age of 26. He immediately made poverty his number one issue. In 2017, as the newly elected mayor of Stockton, California, he recognized that lack of money was the root cause of most of…

1
Should We Give Land Back to Native Americans? with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez 37:59

2y ago37:59

37:59

“If we want to address the climate crisis, we have to heal our relationship with the land. And part of that looks like returning lands to indigenous people.” Within the movement to solve the climate crisis, there is a generational divide. Established leaders are doggedly working within the system. But younger activists want FASTER progress — and de…

1
Black Activist from a White Trump Family Drops Gems! with Shaun King 35:27

2y ago35:27

35:27

“People asked me hard questions. They asked, if Trump wants to do a press conference with you about Rodney Reed’s case, would you appear with him – if it meant stopping the execution of Rodney Reed?” If you know Shaun King, you know him as one of America’s staunchest advocates for racial justice in the digital age. One of the most controversial as …

1
Carjackings? Tent Cities? Can One Woman Fix LA? with Karen Bass 45:36

2y ago45:36

45:36

"[Homelessness] has become a humanitarian crisis. It has become an emergency that I believe needs to be addressed with the same mentality that you would address a natural disaster. I mean, this is Los Angeles. We have the skills, the knowledge and the resources." Karen Bass is going back to where it all began: Los Angeles, California. After an exte…

1
How a Black Man Gets KKK Members to Quit with Daryl Davis 36:13

2y ago36:13

36:13

“How can you hate me if you don’t even know me?” This is the question that Daryl Davis has spent much of his life trying to answer. Daryl is a Black musician who spends a surprising amount of time with members of the Ku Klux Klan. How and why does he do this?! Over the last 30 years, Daryl has interviewed senior Klan members, attended Klan rallies …

1
Crime & Police Abuse Are BOTH Out of Control: Now What? with Bill Bratton 38:53

2y ago38:53

38:53

Violent crime is on the rise across the country; relationships between community members and police remain strained and fractured. While we can all agree that something needs to be done about this, the question is - WHAT? Should we defund the police – or give them more money? Should we abolish the police – or increase police presence? Are there oth…

1
Will Fed-Up Black Voters Abandon Democrats? with Charlamagne Tha God & Tezlyn Figaro 42:59

2y ago42:59

42:59

This episode might deserve a warning label: “SHOCKING TRUTHS—SERVED EXCEEDINGLY HOT.” Van is joined this week by Charlamagne Tha God and Tezlyn Figaro, two influential voices in media and in the Black community. His guests expose a white-hot level of frustration in the Black community—one that could upend the next two elections. Democrats hold the …

1
The Maxine Waters Nobody Knows: How She REALLY Makes Change 30:40

2y ago30:40

30:40

Maxine Waters has been serving in Congress for more than 30 years. In that time, she’s built a reputation as someone who calls it like she sees it. But she doesn’t shy away from reaching across the aisle and working with Republicans, when it means she can pass bills that will improve the lives of all Americans. In this episode, Rep. Waters gives an…

1
Can Environmentalists & Coal Miners Help Each Other? with Cecil Roberts 45:36

2y ago45:36

45:36

It’s an unlikely friendship: Van, a climate advocate, and Cecil Roberts, the president of the United Mine Workers of America. Many assume that coal miners and climate activists must be at odds. But in this episode, Van and Cecil challenge that assumption. As climate activists push for more reforms and a move to cleaner energy, can coal be part of a…

1
Wondery Presents: Will Be Wild 6:05

2y ago6:05

6:05

Will Be Wild is a new 8-part series about the forces that led to the January 6th insurrection and what comes next. Through in-depth stories from a wide range of characters – from people who tried to stop the attack to those who took part – hosts Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz explore the ongoing effort to bring autocracy to America, the lasting …

1
A Bipartisan Solution to the Climate Crisis? with Benji Backer & Michelle Romero 23:40

2y ago23:40

23:40

“I started to realize the political discourse nationally is not representative of the American people at all. It's what's best for TV or social media. It's good for a headline, but it's not good for actual people.” Two unlikely allies in the environmental movement – Michelle Romero, a liberal leader at Green For All, and Benji Backer, a conservativ…

1
Can Left & Right Unite to Save Democracy? with Newt Gingrich 39:15

2y ago39:15

39:15

“I worry some about the pure polarization – the Left versus the Right…But I worry equally about a lack of faith in the future.” Newt Gingrich might be best known for his strong opinions and fierce partisanship. But he’s also a deeply patriotic thinker who is open to finding common ground where it counts. Can blockchain technology increase trust in …

1
30: Blood Suckers & “Milk Flies” with Nicole Tam! 1:31:35

2y ago1:31:35

1:31:35

Nicole Tam is an entomologist and herp enthusiast. Growing up with a love for arthropods, Nicole went on to conduct research on vector-borne diseases, mosquitos, and the reproductive cycle of tsetse flies. In addition to her work, Nicole talks about her experience with entomological museums and caring for and breeding beaked snakes!Tsetse fly image…

1
Kim Kardashian’s Fight for Justice 49:20

2y ago49:20

49:20

“My whole life has been so much about me. And I'm at a place in my life where I don't care for that, the way that I used to. Now it's time to help other people. We shouldn't stop fighting for people that no one wants to fight for.” Van sits down with one of his closest allies in the fight for criminal justice reform: Kim Kardashian. Kim gives a beh…

1
Can a Movie Mogul Fix the Prison System? with Scott Budnick 38:56

2y ago38:56

38:56

“I'm sitting on a mountaintop in Vegas. I should be super happy, with all the movie stars, shooting Hangover 3. But instead I wish I had been there for that kid.” How does someone go from producing comedy blockbusters, like The Hangover, to helping to pass landmark criminal justice reform? For Scott Budnick, it was all about taking that first step:…

1
How to Handle the Effect of the Pandemic on Your Child with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris 35:11

2y ago35:11

35:11

“The thing that is most important for us as parents and caregivers is this: to be able to be there for our kids, we gotta take care of ourselves.” Former California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, joins Van to answer listener questions about how to handle the adverse effects of the pandemic on children. What do you do if your child is neu…

1
“Nice Racism” and the Truth about Critical Race Theory with Dr. Robin DiAngelo 44:35

2+ y ago44:35

44:35

“This is a terrifying moment in our country – it's literally illegal to teach that racism exists. But most white people live segregated lives. And I think the most powerful message of white supremacy is that I could live, love, work, play, die in racial segregation with no sense whatsoever that anything of value has been lost.” There’s been a lot o…

1
“Should We Abolish Prisons?” with Phillip Agnew 49:13

2+ y ago49:13

49:13

“The freedom of Black people is a big American question – can those two things coexist? Can the United States of America, as we know it, coexist with true Black freedom? It's a constant fight, and I don't think many people in this country are very free.” – Phillip Agnew It’s easy to complain about people and policies on the other side of the politi…

1
29: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer with Shannon Wild 1:29:41

2+ y ago1:29:41

1:29:41

Shannon Wild is a world-renowned wildlife photographer and cinematographer. Her work has taken her all over the world coming face to face with some of the most amazing animals many of us will only see on TV (because Shannon got the footage for us!). In this episode, we talk in depth about how Shannon got her start in photography, her adventures tra…

1
Grace and Mercy in the Age of “Cancel Culture” with Malkia Devich-Cyril 29:46

2+ y ago29:46

29:46

“We have to be more transparent, more honest, more vulnerable, more willing to confront our mistakes than ever before, because we're in this context where lies can become truth with great ease.” What is the role of mercy, grace and redemption within movements for freedom? Malkia Cyril - activist, writer, and founding director of the non-profit Medi…

1
“Should Vaccines be Mandated?” with Sean Penn 33:12

2+ y ago33:12

33:12

“Freedom has never been free, and it shouldn’t be. We get independence through recognition of our interdependency.” Van sits down with Sean Penn to discuss questions of freedom and responsibility, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people know Sean Penn as an award-winning actor with a rebellious spirit, but his life work extends far beyon…

1
Fighting Racism by Building Black Wealth with John Hope Bryant 31:30

2+ y ago31:30

31:30

"To live in a system of free enterprise, and to not understand the rules of free enterprise, must be the very definition of slavery." The racial wealth divide in America is a huge problem. So what do two Black men, both of whom have access to enough capital to actually make a difference, think we should do about it? In this week’s episode, Van Jone…

1
28: Talking All Things Isopod with Laura Mae Riepl! 1:35:45

2+ y ago1:35:45

1:35:45

This week I sat down with Laura Mae Riepl and we learn all about isopods! Not only is Laura at the forefront of bringing isopods to the layperson through her partnership providing clean up crews to Petsmart but we also talk about how she manages and maintains over 500 isopod cultures! We learn all about her tips for feeding and housing isopods, tal…

1
A Stranger in My Own Party with S.E. Cupp 34:13

2+ y ago34:13

34:13

“The media, and the nature of our politics right now, relies on binary division. And you're defined more by your enemies than you are by your friends.” What happens when you no longer feel at home in your own political party? How do you handle it at a personal, emotional level? And how do you vote? In this episode, Van Jones and S.E. Cupp grapple w…

1
The Other Side of the South with Trae Crowder 40:53

2+ y ago40:53

40:53

“I'm not saying the South doesn't have problems with race. It does. But it allows the rest of the country to point at one place and be like, that right there–that's the racist part. When racism is very much an American problem.” You may have a particular image of a white southern male. They sound a certain way — therefore they must think and vote a…

1
27: 2022 Updates & Honoring Betty White 30:59

2+ y ago30:59

30:59

This week I took some time to answer questions about me, give an update on the podcast, and honor animal advocate and enthusiast Betty White. If you want to buy merch to support the Betty White Challenge, look here: https://difalco-reptiles.creator-spring.com/Follow the Pod: www.instagram.com/modernmedusapodcast/Follow the Host: www.instagram.com/d…

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