The Larger Us podcast

1:15:36

In this episode, we welcome back David French, columnist for The New York Times , former constitutional attorney, and author of Divided We Fall . We discuss the current state of American democracy, the challenges of political division, and how we can engage in civil discourse despite deep ideological differences. David also shares a personal update on his family and reflects on the profound trials and growth that come with adversity. 📌 What We Discuss: ✔️ How David and his family navigated the challenges of a serious health crisis. ✔️ The rise of political polarization and the factors driving it. ✔️ Why distinguishing between “unwise, unethical, and unlawful” is crucial in analyzing political actions. ✔️ How consuming different perspectives (even opposing ones) helps in understanding political dynamics. ✔️ The role of Christian values in politics and how they are being redefined. ⏳ Episode Highlights 📍 [00:01:00] – David French’s background and his journey from litigation to journalism. 📍 [00:02:30] – Personal update: David shares his wife Nancy’s battle with cancer and their journey as a family. 📍 [00:06:00] – How to navigate personal trials while maintaining faith and resilience. 📍 [00:10:00] – The danger of political paranoia and the pitfalls of extreme polarization. 📍 [00:18:00] – The "friend-enemy" paradigm in American politics and its influence in Christian fundamentalism. 📍 [00:24:00] – Revisiting Divided We Fall : How America’s divisions have devolved since 2020. 📍 [00:40:00] – The categories and differences of unwise, unethical, and unlawful political actions. 📍 [00:55:00] – The balance between justice, kindness, and humility in political engagement. 📍 [01:00:00] – The After Party initiative: A Christian approach to politics focused on values rather than policy. 💬 Featured Quotes 🔹 "You don't know who you truly are until your values are tested." – David French 🔹 "If we focus on the relational, we can have better conversations even across deep differences." – Corey Nathan 🔹 "Justice, kindness, and humility—if you're missing one, you're doing it wrong." – David French 🔹 "The United States has a history of shifting without repenting. We just move on." – David French 📚 Resources Mentioned David French’s Writing: New York Times David’s Book: Divided We Fall The After Party Initiative – More Info Advisory Opinions Podcast (with Sarah Isgur & David French) – Listen Here 📣 Call to Action If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion 🔗 Connect With Us on Social Media @coreysnathan: Bluesky LinkedIn Instagram Threads Facebook Substack David French: 🔗 Twitter | BlueSky | New York Times Our Sponsors Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com Prolux Autogroup: www.proluxautogroup.com or www.granadahillsairporttransportation.com Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡…

The Larger Us Podcast

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The show that's about how we can become a larger us rather than a them-and-us, by working at the places where our states of mind and the state of the world meet

18 episodes

#Society #Larger Us

The Larger Us Podcast

updated 8 days ago

Series home•Feed

The show that's about how we can become a larger us rather than a them-and-us, by working at the places where our states of mind and the state of the world meet

18 episodes

#Society #Larger Us

All episodes

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to die (and live) well - with Ivor Williams 46:19

8 days ago46:19

46:19

Why do those of us in western societies find it so difficult to face the prospect of our deaths, or to grieve collectively for experiences of shared loss? How does unprocessed collective grief - for instance about the pandemic - show up politically? And might changes in how we think and feel about death make it easier for us to confront existential risks like climate breakdown? Ivor Williams is an old friend of Larger Us’s (he co-wrote This Too Shall Pass , our report on collective grief written at the height of the pandemic), a healthcare designer working at the cutting edge of end-of-life care, and now founder of Mortals, an extraordinary small group journey into our attitudes to both death, and everything that happens before it. Featuring: Alex Evans is founder and director of Larger Us , writer of the Good Apocalypse Guide on Substack, Professor in Practice at Newcastle University , and author of The Myth Gap . Elizabeth Oldfield is chair of Larger Us , host of The Sacred podcast, author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times , and was formerly director of Theos , the UK's leading think tank on religion in public life. Ivor Williams is designer and founder of Mortals , a small group programme that explores questions around dying and living well. He has worked as an end-of-care designer with Imperial College and the NHS, is an end-of-life doula, and was co-creator of Cove , one of the first mental health apps to be recommended by the NHS.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to get a white supremacist to leave the KKK - with Daryl Davis 52:45

20 weeks ago52:45

52:45

What happens when an African American befriends members of the Ku Klux Klan? Our guest for this episode is Daryl Davis - a blues musician who's played with greats like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and BB King, and who's also persuaded more than 200 white supremacists to leave groups like the KKK. We talk to Daryl about how his extraordinary journey began, what drives him to do this work, and what the rest of us can learn from his approach. Please be aware that this episode contains a description of a violent and racist incident and use of offensive racist language in that context. Featuring: Alex Evans is founder and director of Larger Us , writer of the Good Apocalypse Guide on Substack, Professor in Practice at Newcastle University , and author of The Myth Gap . Elizabeth Oldfield is chair of Larger Us , host of The Sacred podcast, author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times , and was formerly director of Theos , the UK's leading think tank on religion in public life. Dr Daryl Davis is an international recording artist and race relations expert. He has received numerous awards for his book Klan-Destine Relationships and his award-winning film documentary Accidental Courtesy . He is the first Black author to write a book on the Ku Klux Klan based upon in-person interviews and personal encounters. Other resources: The Larger Us programme…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to be fully alive - with Elizabeth Oldfield 43:56

24 weeks ago43:56

43:56

What does it mean to be 'fully alive' during turbulent times? Our guest for this episode - who'll also be joining us as one of our rotating cast of co-hosts - is Elizabeth Oldfield , the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times and Chair of Larger Us's board . Liz talks about how connection and belonging are at the heart of what she writes about in her book, what it's like to live in an intentional community, and how we fill the 'religion shaped hole' in modern life. Featuring: Alex Evans is founder and director of Larger Us , writer of the Good Apocalypse Guide on Substack, Professor in Practice at Newcastle University , and author of The Myth Gap . Claire Brown is head of development and impact at Larger Us , oversees the organisation's climate conversations project , and has previously worked on welcoming refugees to the UK and as a local journalist. Elizabeth Oldfield is chair of Larger Us , host of The Sacred podcast, author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times , and was formerly director of Theos , the UK's leading think tank on religion in public life. Other resources: Caleb Meakins TEDx - My 40 days - facing the fear of failure Citizens by Jon Alexander The Larger Us programme Sound Effect by Shagor Miah from Pixabay…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to survive a culture war - with Professor Corinne Fowler 39:30

29 weeks ago39:30

39:30

What do you do when you find yourself at the centre of a culture war? Our guest for this episode is Professor Corinne Fowler who became a target for ‘anti-woke’ journalists and politicians due to her work exploring the colonial histories of National Trust properties . Corinne’s approach - to positively engage with her attackers - yielded some surprising results and she shares what she’s learned about taking on the culture warriors. We also had a wide-ranging discussion about her fascinating new book, Our Island Stories . In it we join Corinne on a series of walks through the countryside during which she delves into the history of slavery, colonialism and empire that has shaped our green and pleasant land. We spoke about everything from her approach to research to the links between oppression and at home and abroad. Our Island Stories is published by Penguin Books .…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
Are the riots Elon Musk's fault? - with Imran Ahmed 43:45

33 weeks ago43:45

43:45

Welcome to a new series of the Larger Us Podcast! This time we’re talking to Imran Ahmed , who is founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate . We spoke to him in the immediate aftermath of the wave of far right riots that swept the UK in July after misinformation about the identity of the perpetrator of a mass stabbing targeting children spread rapidly and widely across social media. Imran is an authority on the social and psychological impacts of digital platforms and the bad actors who exploit them, and he’s been a hugely influential voice in advising politicians around the world on policy and legislation to combat online hate and misinformation – so much so that Elon Musk sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate (and lost). For more about CCDH check out their website here, and you can find a recent Wired interview with Imran here .…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How social media undermines activism - with Hugh Knowles 51:32

2 years ago51:32

51:32

How do we achieve social buy-in for the huge, disruptive and sustained transformation entailed in making our societies sustainable? Why is it such a problem that social media has become the 'public square' where we have big conversations about the future - and how have campaigning and activism become embroiled? Hugh Knowles is Co-Executive Director of Friends of the Earth and was formerly Head of Innovation at Forum For The Future. He's speaking on this episode in a personal capacity.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How dopamine makes the world go round - with Daniel Lieberman 53:55

2 years ago53:55

53:55

How does a single chemical in our brains drive love, sex, consumerism and creativity? Why are some people more 'dopmaninergic' than others, why is that such a big deal for politics, and what does it mean for change-makers? Daniel Lieberman is a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at George Washington University, co-author of the international bestseller The Molecule of More , and author of Spellbound: Modern Science, Ancient Magic, and the Unconscious Mind .…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to build cultures of belonging - with Michelle Barsa 52:40

2 years ago52:40

52:40

How can we build inclusive belonging in conditions of acute polarisation - for example when members of a historically privileged group feel that more power and status for a historically marginalised group means less power and status for them? What do the recent US mid-terms mean for American democratic health, and what lessons do they offer for other countries? Michelle Barsa runs the Omidyar Network 's programme on Building Cultures of Belonging , and is a former program director at Beyond Conflict where she was lead author for their report on Renewing American Democracy . She has also worked at Inclusive Security , where she trained hundreds of women across Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya and Nigeria, and at the US Department of Homeland Security on countering violent extremism.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How the world is making our children mad - with Louis Weinstock 1:04:13

3 years ago1:04:13

1:04:13

How can we raise children in a world that appears to have gone so wrong? How are our children’s minds affected by that world, and how can we as parents and caregivers help them through it in ways that give them agency and the power to make the world better without placing the weight of the world on their shoulders? Louis Weinstock is the author of How the world is making our children mad and what to do about it. He works as a psychotherapist, helping children and grown-ups alike through challenges like loss, trauma, divorce, burnout and breakdowns, and is co-founder of Apart of Me, an award winning charity that helps young people transform their grief into compassion.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to build a larger us - with Alex Evans 46:55

3 years ago46:55

46:55

A special edition of our podcast to talk about Building a larger us , our new guide to how to change the world in ways that bring people together rather than dividing them - not as a them-and-us, but as a larger us. Alex Evans (founder of Larger Us and our usual host) switches sides to be guest this time, and we're delighted that Elizabeth Oldfield - host of The Sacred podcast and a senior adviser to Larger Us - joined us as our guest host for this episode.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to have curious conversations - with Mónica Guzmán 57:19

3 years ago57:19

57:19

What does it take to have conversations across deep divides? What's required of us - and what's required of the person we're talking to? What can happen when we have these kinds of curious conversations, and how can change-makers use them? Mónica Guzmán is the author of the new book I Never Thought Of It That Way - How to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times; an adviser to Braver Angels, one of the most exciting depolarisation organisations working in the US; a journalist in Seattle, an immigrant, a Latina, a dual US-Mexican citizen, and a mom to two bilingual kids. She joined us to talk about her book, her work, what gives her hope, what gives her pause, and lots more besides.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to become citizens not consumers - with Jon Alexander 56:48

3 years ago56:48

56:48

What are we doing to ourselves when we tell ourselves we're Consumers 3,000 times a day? What would it look like to put the same creativity and energy into involving people as Citizens? What would you do in this time, if you truly believed in yourself and those around you? Jon Alexander spent the first decade of his career in the advertising industry, selling some of the world's biggest brands. Then he realised he was caught up in a story he didn't believe in – the Consumer Story. In his new book Citizens , Jon explores what we need to do to step into a bigger idea of ourselves: as collaborative, caring, creative Citizens who can shape our communities, organisations, and nations for the better. He joined us to talk about it.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to build a coalition that transforms - with Nisha Anand 52:09

4 years ago52:09

52:09

How did progressive campaigners in the US manage to win bipartisan legislation ending the 'lock-em-up and throw away the key' era in criminal justice - and persuade 87 out of 100 Senators to vote for it, and Donald Trump to sign it? Answer: by building a hugely diverse coalition that brought together everyone from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Koch Brothers and the religious right, and by foregrounding the personal stories of everyone from victims of crime to former prisoners. Nisha Anand - former punk rock protestor and chief of staff to legendary organiser Van Jones, and now CEO of Dream Corps - was at the heart of this amazing breakthrough, and joined us to talk about how they managed it and what the lessons are for campaigners on other issues.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to be a good ancestor - with Roman Krznaric 1:03:54

4 years ago1:03:54

1:03:54

We live in the age of the tyranny of the now, driven by 24/7 news, the latest tweet, and the buy-now button. With such frenetic short-termism at the root of contemporary crises – from the threats of climate change to the lack of planning for a global pandemic – the call for long-term thinking grows every day. But what is it, has it ever worked, and can we even do it? In this episode, we talk to Roman Krznaric, the author of The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World , which reveals six profound ways in which we can all learn to think long, exploring uniquely human talents like ‘cathedral thinking’ that expand our time horizons and sharpen our foresight. Drawing on radical innovations from around the world, Roman celebrates the time rebels who are reinventing democracy, culture and economics so that we all have the chance to become good ancestors and create a better tomorrow. Roman is a public philosopher who writes about the power of ideas to change society. He's been named by The Observer as one of Britain’s leading popular philosophers, and his writings have been influential amongst political and ecological campaigners, education reformers, social entrepreneurs and designers.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to put our societies back together again - with Jon Yates 1:00:38

4 years ago1:00:38

1:00:38

Jon Yates is the author of "Fractured: Why our societies are coming apart and how to put them back together again". He's uniquely well placed to explore these issues, having both served as a government adviser and co-founded a series of charities that are designed to bring people together. For years, our societies have been becoming more disconnected, so that most of us spend less and less time with people who are different - whether in terms of age, race, class, earning power, or education. In "Fractured", Jon Yates argues that the more time we spend with people unlike ourselves, the more understanding and tolerant we become. We now need to forge a new "Common Life": a set of shared practices and institutions that can strengthen the glue that bonds our societies, in all their diversity.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to change people's minds - with Dave Fleischer 1:09:09

4 years ago1:09:09

1:09:09

Dave Fleischer runs the team at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Leadership Lab that created deep canvassing - a groundbreaking approach to political campaigning that uses doorstep conversations to change people's minds about potentially polarising issues and which helped to win the US equal marriage campaign. Deep canvassing avoids pelting voters with arguments or facts; instead "we find surprising common ground by sharing our real, lived experience — vulnerable stories about ourselves and people we love— and invite voters to share in return." We spoke with Dave about how deep canvassing works, the psychology of what makes it so effective, and how it potentially points the way towards new approaches to campaigning where success is about bridging divides rather than deepening them. *Show notes* Dave's TED talk, which includes the video of the deep canvassing conversation that we discuss in the episode: https://youtu.be/xN6O5LTaGyg NY Times profile of Dave and his work: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/magazine/how-do-you-change-voters-minds-have-a-conversation.html…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
Why some people are primed to be authoritarians - with Karen Stenner 1:02:15

4 years ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Karen Stenner has spent years researching why some people seem to have a psychological predisposition towards authoritarianism in the right conditions. With her co-author Jonathan Haidt, Karen has explored how about a third of people across dozens of liberal democracies share this trait to some degree - a key factor in understanding why, for instance, so many Americans continued to support Donald Trump even as he lurched steadily further towards authoritarianism, and which has led Karen to argue that "liberal democracy has now exceeded many people's capacity to tolerate it." We spoke to Karen about why support for authoritarianism is so widespread, what we can do about it, and what's next in countries like the US where right wing populism has been surging.…

The Larger Us Podcast

1
How to challenge hate - with Hadiya Masieh 22:04

4 years ago22:04