When Lia Howard, the director of the Political Empathy Lab at Penn, took seven undergrads across 2,500 miles of Pennsylvania during the 2024 election season, she wasn’t looking for votes—she was looking for understanding. In this episode, Leah shares what happens when students practice democratic listening in politically divided towns, where truth itself can come from different sources. From tense conversations about George Soros to unexpected moments of warmth and connection, she explores the delicate balance between curiosity and complicity—and how to stay open without surrendering your values. It’s a masterclass in listening across America’s political fault lines.

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