Intergenerational communication is not always an easy thing. Add in politics and an increasingly polarized country and it can become even more difficult. As college students come home for the holidays, it could be easy to prepare to clash with Gen Z and worry about having more conflict than connection.    

Dr. Jennifer Thompson sat down with Dr. Lindsay Hoffman, associate professor of communication and political science at the University of Delaware, to talk her experience working with students to have respectful conversation about their political values. She shares a refreshing optimism about this generation of students, their openness and curiosity, and gives us some concrete tips for engaging in civil discourse with them.  

Show Notes

In the world we live in, compromise and moderation can be dirty words. However, in business, compromise and moderation are necessary parts of the culture. Can business help us bring greater compromise and moderation to our increasingly polarized world? Dr. Jennifer Thompson sat down with Bob Feldman, founder of the Dialogue Project and vice chair of IFC Next, to talk about what his project has taught him about how companies can help to bring greater respectful discussions, not just to the workplace, but to the rest of our lives.  

Show Notes

After over 700 episodes of the podcast EconTalk, it’s fair to say that Russ Roberts specializes in curiosity and conversation. We spoke to him about both in our recent live Zoom event and asked him how he prepares for those conversations to make them respectful and educational. We also chatted with Russ about the state of polarization in the country right now, how we got here, and what individuals can do to make a difference in our dialogue and how we relate to our political opposites. 

Show Notes

It’s election season, and everyone seems to be extra motivated to get out, vote, and do their civic duty. And one reason may be that we feel overwhelmed by the state of our country and political polarization. We see people everywhere dehumanizing the “other side” and we ourselves are often guilty of the same. Is it possible that our relationship to politics is unhealthy? Dr. Chris Freiman thinks so and we sat down with him to understand why. Chris’s Book Why It’s OK to Ignore Politics suggests that we have a moral duty to ignore politics and put our energy into other ways to make society better. Is he right or is there something he’s missing? Listen and decide for yourself.

Show Notes

Many people see the need for more civil conversations about our political values, but in many contexts, that’s easier said than done. Especially in the year 2020, during a contentious presidential election and a global pandemic, respectful discourse is hard to find. Is it possible to have dialogue with people we disagree with? If so, how?  Dr. Jennifer Thompson sat down with Dr. Tania Israel, Professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and author of Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work (APA, 2020) to discuss how practically we can accomplish these conversations. 

Show Notes

What defines a conservative? Are Republicans and conservatives the same thing?  Is it a commitment to principles like limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and traditional values? Or is it something else? Dr. Jennifer Thompson sat down with Stephanie Slade, the managing editor of Reason magazine to discuss recent shifts she’s seeing in what it means to be a conservative for a growing section of those who claim the label. They discuss several of her recent pieces on the topic and what this trend may mean for those who call themselves conservative.  

Show Notes

It’s been a contentious year so far, to say the least. Our political differences have never seemed more stark and common ground is hard to find. How do we work towards that common ground with our political opposites? Is the country hopelessly divided, or is there reason to hope? Dr. Jennifer K. Thompson is joined by Jordan Balshek this week, co-author of the new book Union: A Democrat, a Republican and a Search for Common Ground, to discuss his road trip across the country to find common ground. Jordan and his co-author Chris are on opposite sides of the political spectrum and they traveled together through 44 states, meeting people from all walks of life, to discover the state of our union.

Show Notes

Dr. Jennifer K. Thompson is joined by Mike McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice, to talk about what it looks like for students to go back to school this fall, given the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic. What kind of decisions must be made by schools? How do we make sure that kids get the best shot at the kind of education they deserve?  

Show Notes

Dr. Jennifer K. Thompson is joined by Pamela Paresky, Visiting Lecturer at the University of Chicago and Senior Scholar in Human Development and Psychology at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, to talk about what she calls the “habits of a free mind,” what they are, how to cultivate them, and how they can help us manage our difficult conversations with others about the COVID-19 crisis, racial justice, and more.  

Show Notes