Disagreements among people are a natural part of the human experience. But when we lose sight of what we are arguing for or who we are arguing with, disagreements can have larger, longer-lasting effects. Media, leadership, and bias all influence our perception of issues and those who disagree with us, a concern which can lead to critical rifts in society, as well as emotional and physical effects on our individual health. A focus on character virtues will help us mend the crisis and keep us—as a society and as individuals—healthy despite our differences.

Featuring Josh Thomas, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at the University of Dubuque

Interviewer, Annalee R. Ward, Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque

The content in this episode comes from Josh Thomas’s article, "Healing a Fractured World," from Character and . . . Crisis, volume 8 of the Wendt Center for Character Education’s annual journal, Character and . . . .

Find other character resources and Wendt Center publications here or learn more about the Wendt Character Initiative here.