The Greg McKeown Podcast

336. Why Polarization is a Bigger Threat than You Think with Tim Shriver (Part 1)


Listen Later

Tim Shriver is an acclaimed advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities, serving as the chairman of the Special Olympics. He has an extensive family legacy, being the son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver, and a nephew to President John F. Kennedy. Tim has committed his life to numerous social causes, particularly emphasizing social-emotional learning through the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. He holds degrees from Yale University, Catholic University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut. Furthermore, Tim Shriver is also a film producer and New York Times bestselling author.

Episode Summary:

Greg engages in a thought-provoking discourse with Tim Shriver. Tim reflects on personal stories, such as the profound loss of his cousin Maeve Kennedy McKean, underscoring the importance of empathy and dignity in healing societal divides. They discuss the structural issues behind today's political landscape, the role of media, and the influence of faith-based institutions. Furthermore, the episode explores actionable steps individuals can take to foster respect and understanding in their communities, with Tim providing insights from his new initiatives and upcoming podcast, "Need A Lift?".

Key Takeaways:
  • Treating Others with Dignity: Tim emphasizes that building relationships through respect is fundamental to mitigating societal polarization.
  • Actionable Steps for Change: Listeners are encouraged to actively reject contemptuous behavior in their political engagements and media consumption.
  • Cultural Shifts: The conversation highlights the shift in today's cultural and political landscape and the importance of developing resilience and empathy.
  • Impact of Individual Actions: The discussion underscores how small personal changes can collectively lead to significant societal transformations.
  • Faith-Based Institutions: Insights are provided into how faith-based institutions can evolve to better meet the needs of modern society.
    Notable Quotes:
    • "Treating people with dignity doesn't mean you don't believe strongly. It just means that you also see, at the deepest level, that the other person also has dignity." - Tim Shriver
    • "We face a serious understanding paradox in our times, that as information has exploded, understanding has imploded." - Greg McKeown
    • "It's not how you treat your side, it's how you treat the other side that will bring them back." - Tim Shriver
    • Resources:
      • Tim Shriver on Twitter


      Join my weekly newsletter.

      Learn more about my books and courses.

      Join The Essentialism Academy.

      Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Greg McKeown PodcastBy Greg McKeown

      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9

      4.9

      918 ratings


      More shows like The Greg McKeown Podcast

      View all
      Getting Things Done by GTD®

      Getting Things Done

      458 Listeners

      The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

      The Knowledge Project

      2,682 Listeners

      The Art of Manliness by The Art of Manliness

      The Art of Manliness

      14,267 Listeners

      Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life by Erik Fisher

      Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

      838 Listeners

      The Rich Roll Podcast by Rich Roll

      The Rich Roll Podcast

      11,902 Listeners

      The Productivity Show by Asian Efficiency

      The Productivity Show

      514 Listeners

      Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais by Dr. Michael Gervais

      Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

      1,651 Listeners

      Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

      Masters of Scale

      3,981 Listeners

      Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

      Worklife with Adam Grant

      9,148 Listeners

      The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

      The Peter Attia Drive

      8,756 Listeners

      The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

      The Daily Stoic

      4,899 Listeners

      A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

      A Bit of Optimism

      2,197 Listeners

      Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

      Deep Questions with Cal Newport

      1,328 Listeners

      Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

      Huberman Lab

      29,156 Listeners

      ReThinking by TED

      ReThinking

      626 Listeners