Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Bridge Grades & the Fight Against Toxic Polarization

This week, Wilk is joined by Brad Porteus, founder of BridgeGrades.org, to discuss the pervasive issue of toxic political polarization and identity politics in America.

Brad shares his experience of returning to the U.S. after 14 years abroad, seeing a "stark" difference and feeling "mad" about the decay of the civic fabric. The conversation delves into the dangers of the outrage economy that profits from division, and how our perception of reality is being warped by algorithms.

Brad introduces BridgeGrades.org, a new data-driven system that evaluates every member of Congress on one key dimension:
Are they Bridgers—or Dividers?

This conversation digs into pluralism, loss of agency, legislative dysfunction, and how we can build a healthier civic culture by supporting leaders who collaborate instead of perform.

Topics Include:

• What returning to America after 14 years overseas revealed
• The boiling-frog effect of polarization
• Identity politics and the loss of shared humanity
• How algorithms distort our perceptions
• Legislative health and the importance of cross-party collaboration
• How Bridge Grades identifies genuine “Bridgers”
• Why pluralism—not uniformity—is the American superpower

Learn more in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Episode 289 | Guest: Jim Robb, Vice President of Alliances at Numbers USA

Immigration is one of America’s most polarizing debates—but what happens when lifelong political opponents choose conversation over combat?

 Wilk Wilkinson sits down with Jim Robb of Numbers USA to discuss his organization’s collaboration with Braver Angels on the Citizens Commission on Immigration.

Together they explore:
 ✅ How employer exploitation drives illegal labor markets
 ✅ Why “jobs Americans won’t do” is a myth
 ✅ The bipartisan framework behind the Citizens Commission on Immigration
 ✅ The power of persuasion in rebuilding trust and reform

Listen as two bridge-builders tackle one of America’s toughest issues—showing that common ground is still within reach.

🔗 Learn more about and connect with Jim Robb by checking out the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Lura Forcum: The Pleasure of Outrage vs. The Cost of Division

Outrage is addictive—but understanding it may be our way out. 

Wilk Wilkinson welcomes Lura Forcum, president of The Independent Center and co-host of We Made This Political, for a fascinating conversation about political schadenfreude—the pleasure we feel when our opponents suffer. Drawing from her background in consumer and social psychology, Lura explains how this emotion drives today’s outrage economy, fuels partisanship, and weakens civic trust.

Together they explore how independent voters are reshaping the political landscape and how genuine human connection can heal the divisions outrage creates.

Topics Covered:

• The psychology of schadenfreude in politics
• How outrage is engineered for profit
• Why independent voters hold the key to civic renewal
• Restoring connection and trust in public life
• Moving from political battles to real conversations

Learn more about and connect with Lura Forcum in the full show notes at DerateTheHate.com. 

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙇𝙖 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙒𝙞𝙨𝙚: 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮

Wilk Wilkinson is joined by Phelosha Collaros, Vice President at St. John’s College and founder of DepolarWise.com.

Her family’s story in Colombia’s La Violencia reveals what happens when political conflict becomes personal—and how humanity can still prevail. Together they explore the roots of polarization, how conflict entrepreneurs profit from outrage, and what it takes to rebuild trust and community in divided times.

Key Takeaways:
• Phelosha’s connection to depolarization is hereditary
• Political “mixed marriages” once faced deadly danger in Colombia
• Humanity can survive even amidst violence
• The U.S. and Colombia share warning signs of division
• Conflict entrepreneurs thrive on outrage
• Social trust and engagement build a thriving civil society

❤️ Why This Episode Matters

If you’ve ever felt that politics is tearing America apart, listen to this conversation.
You’ll hear why our greatest hope lies not in political victory, but in re-humanizing each other—starting in our own communities.
The majority of people are not as divided as the extremes would have us believe, and together we can build the trust needed for a thriving civil society.

Learn more about and connect with Phelosha Collaros in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Episode 286 – Michael Sodini | Walk The Talk America

In this episode, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with Michael Sodini, founder of Walk The Talk America (WTTA) — an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between mental health and responsible gun ownership.

They discuss the stigma that keeps people from seeking help, the impact of suicide prevention programs like Cause of Pause, and how the firearms community is stepping up to promote mental health awareness, education, and common-sense solutions that save lives without compromising rights.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Walk The Talk America focuses on reducing negative outcomes from firearms through education and outreach.
✅ Mental health is inseparable from responsible gun ownership.
✅ Programs like Cause of Pause offer reflection moments in crisis without mandating gun removal.
✅ Common ground exists when the conversation starts with understanding, not blame.
✅ The firearms industry is embracing change and responsibility.

Learn more about Michael Sodini and Walk the Talk America in the full show notes at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Faith 250 – A Clergy-Led Celebration of our Shared Civic Story

What if the 250th anniversary of America’s founding became more than fireworks — what if it became a spiritual renewal of our shared civic story?

In this episode, Wilk sits down with Rabbi Michael Holzman and Pastor Becca Messman to explore Faith 250, a multi-faith initiative uniting clergy and congregations across the nation. Through storytelling, vulnerability, and sacred text study, Faith 250 helps communities rediscover American ideals rooted in faith, character, and shared values.

Key Topics:

• Clergy as caretakers of civic health
• The role of listening in bridging divides
• American texts as “sacred scripture” for reflection
• Creating safe spaces for dialogue and hope
• How Faith 250 will celebrate America’s 250th

Connect:
Learn more and get involved at Faith250.org

Learn more about Rabbi Holzman & Pastor Messman in the full show notes at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

"In Defense of Christian Patriotism " – DTH Episode 284 with Daniel Darling

What does it mean to love both God and country without falling into the trap of Christian nationalism? In this episode, Wilk is joined by author Daniel Darling to talk about his new book In Defense of Christian Patriotism. Together they explore:

• The vital difference between Christian patriotism and Christian nationalism
• Why forced religion is dangerous to both church and state
• How America’s founders valued religious freedom and pluralism
• The misconceptions fueled by media and culture about Christianity in the public square
• Why true patriotism is rooted in love, not cynicism

🎧 Tune in for a timely conversation about faith, freedom, and what it means to be a Christian in America today.

👉 Learn more about Daniel’s book here: https://danieldarling.com/books/
👉 Find more episodes at https://deratethehate.com

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Affirming Identity, Building Community, and Cultivating Leadership

In this episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum—renowned psychologist, author, and president emerita of Spelman College—to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in today’s polarized climate.

Dr. Tatum shares insights from her groundbreaking work on race and identity development, her bestselling book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, and her newest release Peril and Promise: Higher Education Leadership in Turbulent Times. Together, we explore:

✅ Why affirming identity matters for students and communities
 ✅ The role of courageous conversations in bridging divides
 ✅ Misperceptions around DEI and how leaders can reframe the conversation
 ✅ Preserving free speech on campus amidst political and cultural conflict
 ✅ How colleges can strengthen democracy through dialogue and leadership

Learn more about Dr. Tatum’s work in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Speaking Out With Courage When It Matters Most

In this episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with Jennifer Sey — author, filmmaker, business executive, athlete, and outspoken advocate for children and women.

Jen’s story spans from the highs of being a national champion gymnast to the lows of enduring — and later exposing — an abusive system in her sport. She courageously told the world in her 2008 memoir Chalked Up and later co-produced Netflix’s Emmy-winning Athlete A, which revealed the crimes of Larry Nassar and the toxic culture inside USA Gymnastics.

But her courage didn’t stop on the mat. As a top executive at Levi’s, she spoke out against prolonged COVID school closures — and paid for it with her career. Her 2022 book Levi’s Unbuttoned chronicles that fight and the price of telling inconvenient truths.

Now, Jen leads XX-XY Athletics, a clothing brand dedicated to defending fairness in women’s sports, and is producing the upcoming documentary Generation Covid to spotlight the long-term impact of school closures on our children.

This conversation is about courage, candor, and the cost of speaking truth in a culture that often punishes it.

👉 Learn more about Jennifer Sey in the full show notes at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Leadership Beyond the Checklist: How “Being” Leaders Create Value and Navigate Complexity

What does it really mean to become better—not just at what we do, but in who we are?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ryan Gottfredson, a best-selling author and leadership professor whose work has transformed the way we think about growth. Ryan explains why most leadership training focuses too much on “doing” and not enough on “being”—and how that shift makes all the difference in navigating complexity, creating value, and leading others in meaningful ways.

We talk about the difference between dependent, independent, and interdependent thinking, why constructive criticism is such a powerful test of our growth, and how true leadership is less about checking boxes and more about becoming someone others genuinely want to follow.

If you’ve ever wondered how to elevate your mindset, strengthen your leadership, or simply become a better version of yourself, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

👉 Find more about Ryan Gottfredson, his books, assessments, and ways to connect with him by visiting the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org

Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!

*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.