I had the privilege of sitting down with Mónica Guzmán for this episode of Storylinking. Mónica is the Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, the author of "I Never Thought of It That Way," and the host of the podcast "A Braver Way." She's someone I deeply admire for her ability to lean into curiosity and use it as a tool for building trust and understanding across political and cultural divides.

In our conversation, we explored how curiosity can help us navigate tough conversations, whether we're engaging with colleagues, family members, or entire communities. Mónica shares powerful insights from her personal journey and professional work, showing us how curiosity isn't just about asking questions, it's about seeing others in their full complexity and finding ways to connect (even and especially when it feels difficult!) If you've been thinking about how to bridge divides in your own community or create a stronger sense of connection in your work, this episode is full of great context and practical advice.

Connect with Mónica Guzmán and Braver Angels:

• Her website, https://www.moniguzman.com/
• On instagram, @MoniGuzman
• Braver Angels, https://braverangels.org/
• Her podcast "A Braver Way," wherever you listen or at https://braverangels.org/abraverway/
• Her book, "I Never Thought of it That Way," https://www.moniguzman.com/book'

Check out more from Storylinking:

• https://storylinking.com/blog/ep10 (go behind the scenes of this episode)
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode

01:50 Personal experiences and family debates 03:41 The power of curiosity in journalism 06:51 Human nature and the SOS of sorting, othering, and siloing 09:19 The cost of misplaced beliefs and polarization 13:30 Creating space for curiosity in challenging conversations 13:48 Braver Angels and their mission of depolarization 17:16 Five characteristics of effective conversations 20:56 The structure of bridging conversations 25:00 Withholding judgment and embracing empathy 27:52 The tension between safety and visibility in identity and engagement 28:50 Engaging across divides with intentional dialogue 29:39 Techniques for better conversations and curiosity-driven questions 31:44 The benefits of bridging work in relationships and communities 33:59 Practical advice for leaders: fostering bridging conversations 34:23 Rupture and repair cycles in dialogue 34:56 Using containment to manage difficult conversations 37:13 Bridging for collective impact: engaging new communities 48:19 The importance of honest friction in communities