Courageous Conversations

In this episode Symone Barnes and Jonathan Mahan have an open, vulnerable conversation about race. They compare their upbringings, relive cringe worthy moments involving racism from their past, discuss hot button issues like reparations and white privilege, and generally have the type of honest open interaction most of us will never have with someone of another race.

if you'd like to watch this conversation in video format you can find that here: https://youtu.be/Z67Qco7lbPQ

Jeremy is a white man who supports both Donald Trump and the Black Lives Matter movement. In this episode he and I will be discussing how he came to recognize the reality of the nature and scope of racism and what the process of changing his mind on such a big issue was like. We'll also spend some time discussing what you can do to help open the eyes of white people in your life who don't see racism for what it is.

If you want to watch the video version of this conversation you can find that here: https://youtu.be/WOj1a8OoAvk

When we see someone expressing views that make us angry we typically either just ignore them (and block them) or verbally tear into them in a comment. While those are understandable reactions they both have a very harmful impact on the world. In fact this type of behavior plays an significant role in the spread of extremism, hate, and violence in our society and if unchecked I believe things will get even uglier than they have been these last few years. The best remedy for the tense situation we're in is to have difficult conversations with people's whose views make you angry and to do so in a way that centers curiosity, empathy, and patience in the conversation. Today I'll be explaining thoroughly why I see this as being so important and what harm is done when we avoid these conversations or have them in a destructive manner.

If you want to watch the video version of this episode you can find it here: https://youtu.be/vhSkN_AMeI8

Race is one of those topics most of us have been trained to avoid talking about altogether, and especially with people we disagree with. However, if we don't talk about race in a healthy way, things are unlikely to ever change. 

In this conversation Chuck and Jon (who do not see eye to eye on the topic of racism) will be discussing topics such as "what does the word 'racism' mean to you? ", "is racism still an issue today?" "what is the cause of continued racism?" "how do you explain racial disparities that exist today?", and much more.. 

 Let's clarify though, they are the furthest thing from experts on the topic so don't come to learn about racism itself (you can better learn that from Black people who are choosing to speak up on the topic). However, if you want to learn how to have a respectful conversation with someone whose views on the topic make you angry then this is the perfect conversation for you.

If you want to watch the video version of this conversation you can find that here: https://youtu.be/gI450jP30uk

Everyone has some forms of privileges in life and we should not be afraid or ashamed to recognize that. In this episode Jon and Maja discuss the various ways their lives have been less challenges for them than they would have been if they had not been able bodied, neurotypical, cis, straight, white people.  

You'll hear them cover experiences with getting hired and promoted, interacting with the police, moving across the country, managing their mental health, and more.

If you'd like to watch the video version of this interview you can do so here: https://youtu.be/PqX3vT-GuBA

In this episode Jared Karol and I discuss how to keep your cool and converse effectively with people who piss you off. Regardless of your views there are people online that make you want to reach through the computer screen and throttle them when you read their comments and posts. We'll be discussing ways to manage your own internal state in the face of such infuriating people as well as ways to craft your responses to maximize the chance that they have some sort of impact on the recipient. Let's face it... Every one of us needs help with this right now.

If you'd prefer to watch the video version of this conversation you can find that here: https://youtu.be/acASiNr1I9c

David Fite is a staunch libertarian and I am a progressive liberal and to be honest, I've always seen libertarians as naive and out of touch so this seemed like a perfect opportunity to sit down and have a difficult conversation.  

However the type of conversation that happens on this show is very different from what most people see and experience. In this conversation neither party was attempting to persuade the other, rather we are attempting to better understand one another by letting curiosity and empathy lead the conversation.  

I won't spoil anything for you but I will say that I was blown away by how many values we shared and how many principles we agreed on. Our differences in opinion boiled down to some relatively minor factors, which I definitely did not expect.

If you'd like to watch the video recording of this conversation you can find that here: https://youtu.be/kGGj9BnJrTg 

This was a very difficult conversation between Jonathan Mahan and Jeremy Notchick since they have very different views about Trump and it was recorded the week after the election. This is a conversation where both parties are focused on understanding, not convincing, each other.  

As a nation our inability/ unwillingness to engage in difficult conversations is standing in the way of growth and progress. This video is for liberals and conservatives alike and will be great for you to watch if you: 

A.) Want to get better at engaging in courageous conversations with people you disagree with 

B.) Want to honestly understand how people on the other side can think the way they do, or 

C.) Get your kicks from watching other people getting reaaallllly uncomfortable.