In this episode, host Corey Nathan welcomes Liz Joyner, founder and president of The Village Square, a civic organization dedicated to bridging divides and fostering dialogue across political and cultural lines. Liz shares the story behind founding The Village Square, her passion for preserving democratic values, and her experience navigating political polarization with grace, humor, and tenacity. As dear friends and collaborators, Corey and Liz offer listeners a heartfelt and insightful conversation about the importance of disagreement, empathy, and genuine connection.

What You Will Learn:

How Liz Joyner built The Village Square to combat political divisiveness

The power of human connection and shared experiences in fostering civic trust

Key strategies for having meaningful conversations across ideological divides

Why now is a pivotal moment for preserving democracy and civil discourse

How personal stories and experiences shape our political views and actions

Episode Highlights:

Featured Quotes:

“We just need to do it. Reach out. Make the call. Share a meal. Be human.”

“When we see others up close, we see their good intentions. That’s where empathy begins.”

“Disagreement, done well, is the genius behind our democracy.”

“The genius of our system is that it relies on heterogeneity—on us learning from each other.”

Resources Mentioned:

The Village Square: villagesquare.us

The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan Rauch: www.brookings.edu/books/the-constitution-of-knowledge

Roger Herbert's Substack: https://rogerherbert.substack.com

The National Portrait Gallery: https://npg.si.edu

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