In this episode, Nichole and Scott explore how philanthropy is getting behind work to connect and collaborate across differences at the local level with Kristen Scott Kennedy of the Council on Foundations. They then highlight a scalable example of this work: The Needham Resilience Network (NRN) brings town officials, diverse residents, and key stakeholders together to build relationships, anchor in the concept of belonging, learn skills in communicating across differences, and co-create solutions to local problems.

This episode opens with Kristen Scott Kennedy discussing how philanthropy can play a critical role in place-based work to connect across differences by acting as norm-shapers, modeling collaborative strategies, and supporting nonprofits.

Then, Needham Resilience Network members Bala Venkat, John Schlittler, Rabbi Jay Perlman, Marcus Nelson, Dan Gutekanst, and Beth Pinals talk about how the NRN has influenced their lives and transformed their community. The NRN was founded in response to significant challenges faced by the Needham community in Massachusetts, including demographic shifts, increased hate incidents, and distrust between groups. 

For Individuals, Nonprofits, and Municipal Officials:

For Philanthropic Organizations:

Resources:

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Executive Director of TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

In this episode, Nichole and Scott talk about how individual and group efforts to revitalize connection in communities are necessary---but may not be sufficient for sustained change. Once we have the mindset and skills of pluralism, we need spaces and institutions that enable us to practice them. We need local governments and community stakeholders to invest in policies that foster “civic infrastructure.” Special guests Sam Pressler and Layla Zaidane help us explore the role of policy and institutions in fostering this kind of connection.

In order to thrive, Sam Pressler argues that local governments and community leaders should refocus on building civic life, prioritizing relationships and belonging as part of their policies and initiatives. Sam introduces the Connective Tissue Framework, which identifies over 150 policy opportunities to strengthen community connections, and highlights examples of this work, like Boston's Office of Civic Organizing (which fosters neighborhood interactions through block party grants and cleanup events) and citizen-government partnerships to create welcoming materials for newcomers, or “Old Home Weeks” to bring former residents back for community-building activities.

Layla Zaidane, the President and CEO of Future Caucus, describes how organizations focused on relationship building can promote collaboration across differences, just as Future Caucus does with young elected officials, regardless of political affiliation—by leveraging a shared, third identity (for Future Caucus, generation). While receiving training in leadership, communication, negotiation and bridge-building, young lawmakers build personal relationships, allowing them to see beyond polarization and find common ground across the aisle. Layla emphasizes the importance of “institutionalizing relationships across differences” in order to ensure continued contact and support.

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Executive Director of TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

Imagine that four experts on bridging divides came together to advise you on how to handle your next challenging conversation…Voila! Meet the “Be The Change” tool chest! On this episode of Reimagining Us, hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson ask questions such as:

John Sarrouf, Melissa Weintraub, Monica Guzman, and Scott Shigeoka share actionable tools and strategies for fostering curiosity, connection and understanding that can help listeners engage effectively in conversations across differences. 

Use this tool chest as a foundation that you can return to again and again as you connect across differences! 

Actionable Takeaways:

Prepare for Conversations

During Engagement

After Engagement

Resources

For more information or to share your stories and feedback, email [email protected], or comment on YouTube and Social Media @togetherupinstitute

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Executive Director of TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

In Part I, Nichole and Scott invite three top thought leaders to share foundational insights that can help listeners connect across differences. 

Curiosity is a bridge to connection, an essential tool allowing us to explore the stories, values, and perspectives of others, says Scott Shigeoka, author of SEEK. It strengthens personal, work and civic relationships…“People who feel seen, stay.” Activating curiosity also generates dopamine, a feel-good neurochemical, and is tied to creativity, problem-solving and innovation, and better health. Like any muscle, our ability to be curious grows stronger with practice..and it’s contagious! 

Dialogue is different from well-intended conversations, according to John Sarrouf, co-Executive Director at Essential Partners, because it focuses on mutual understanding rather than persuasion or debate, seeks the complexity in different perspectives, and is designed to avoid defensive patterns (e.g., attack, defend, or withdraw). Every one of us can learn these skills.

Avoiding differences to focus solely on common ground can be counterproductive, says Melissa Weintraub, co-Executive Director at Resetting the Table. People feel seen and valued when their perspectives are acknowledged, which is why engaging with differences builds trust and can serve as a springboard for collaboration (or repair amidst challenges). 

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Build the Curiosity Muscle:

1. Adopt Dialogue Skills:

• In challenging discussions, listen to understand rather than persuade. Focus on understanding the other person’s beliefs, the stories behind them, and the complexity of their views.

1. Engage Differences with Openness:

• When faced with divisive topics, lean into the discomfort rather than avoiding it. Use differences as an opportunity to build deeper relationships and mutual respect.

1. Create New Patterns for Collaboration:

• Establish norms of deep listening, respectful inquiry, and reflection in group settings. Use these patterns to foster trust and resilience during joint projects or coalition-building.

1. Apply Multivocality:

• Explore opposing views by seeking out their most reasonable and eloquent explanations. This doesn’t require agreement but promotes a nuanced understanding of where differences truly lie.

1. Revisit Dialogue in Tough Moments:

• When action-oriented efforts hit roadblocks, return to dialogue to rebuild trust, clarify misunderstandings, and reignite progress.

Resources

For more information or to share your stories and feedback, email [email protected], or comment on YouTube and Social Media @togetherupinstitute

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Executive Director of TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

In this episode, Nichole and Scott are joined by john a. powell, who leads them in an exploration of belonging while contrasting it with the damaging effects of othering.  By understanding and addressing the dynamics of belonging and othering, communities can create spaces where everyone thrives.

Belonging is a fundamental human need that reflects feeling seen, heard, and valued in a community. Othering is when we fail to see others' humanity or treat differences as threats to belonging. It is not differences alone that cause othering, but the socially constructed significance that is given to them. Belonging and othering are relationship with one another in part because othering is often a misguided tool used to create belonging, when groups bond by excluding or vilifying others. 

john describes bridging---recognizing the humanity in others through compassionate listening and valuing their perspectives, even without agreement---as the antidote to 'othering.' Bridging is not about persuasion or conflict resolution --- it is about compassionate listening, to create trust and understanding. He talks about how small, intentional acts of bridging can feed a collective vision of connection and belonging. But boundaries are essential. For example, one may refuse to bridge with those who condone violence.

In addition to bridging, shifts in collective identity can be driven by storytelling that enables larger "we" groups to form (e.g., via religion, national identity, and other forms of common values, interests, or humanity).

Actionable Steps for Individuals:

Actionable Steps for Leaders & Communities:

Resources

For more information or to share your stories and feedback, email [email protected], or comment on YouTube and Social Media @togetherupinstitute

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Executive Director of TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

In this episode, Nichole and Scott begin with a startling figure from Amanda Ripley’s book, Unthinkable: 90 percent of counties in the U. S. were declared federal disaster zones over a 10 year period from 2011 to 2021. These disasters, which largely represented extreme weather, are here to stay – how can our local communities become resilient? International research says the most important factor is strong, pre-existing relationships across differences. So what state are our communities in today, and how can we strengthen them?  

Nichole and Scott first welcome Dr. Seth Kaplan, author of Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society One Zip Code at a Time. Seth discusses how local relationships and institutions—once the backbone of communities—have eroded over the past 50 years. The resulting disconnection has left many neighborhoods without the trust, engagement, and collaboration needed to thrive, much less tackle modern challenges. To rebuild, Seth emphasizes how hyper-local efforts can collectively lead to broader societal change. He says, “Every journey starts with the first step—take it.”

In the second half of the episode, Nichole and Scott are joined by Dr. John Paul Lederach, a renowned peacebuilding expert. They ask a question that has come up more frequently in recent years: Is the country heading towards civil war, e.g., are our communities more susceptible to political violence? John Paul suggests that while the United States is not likely heading toward a traditional civil war, localized violence fueled by fear and survivalist mindsets could escalate. To counter this, John Paul emphasizes the need to address community divides through relationships.

Both Seth and John Paul believe we can turn the tide by starting small and local, focusing on rebuilding trust through interpersonal relationships and collaborative action. They emphasize the importance of intentionality, courage, and persistence, encouraging individuals to take incremental yet impactful steps toward creating resilient and inclusive communities. Whether it’s hosting a block party or engaging in sustained dialogue, the overarching goal is to create relational connections that can withstand challenges and foster unity amidst diversity.

CALL TO ACTION:

Individuals can: 

Municipalities and Community Foundations can:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

In this episode of Reimagining Us, co-hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson delve deeper into the pervasive dynamics of toxic polarization, exploring how societal divisions manifest as "us versus them" thinking in our own lives and communities, and how awareness and intentionality enables us to counter it.

They are joined by Dr. Peter Coleman, author of The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization and a renowned expert in conflict resolution. Peter opens with a Cherokee parable that highlights the agency each of us has in choosing to feed positivity or negativity within ourselves and our society. He notes, however, that our brains are wired to react to perceived threats, and this mechanism can be manipulated by actors employing zero-sum frames and extreme political rhetoric on social media and mainstream national news sources. But tribalism is not the only game in town! Peter highlights the growing movement of bridge-building initiatives across the U.S. and emphasizes that positive societal change will come from individual and community efforts to foster connection and mutual respect. He offers five actionable strategies for bridging differences in our own challenged relationships: (1) Reset; (2) Look for positives; (3) Complicate the narrative; (4) Move together; and (5) Adapt.

Next, Stephen Hawkins, the Director of Research at More in Common, describes how two-thirds of Americans, the exhausted majority feel alienated by today’s polarization. While diverse politically, ideologically, and demographically, this group shares a desire for compromise and less adversarial politics. Stephen then introduces the perception gap—how Americans often misjudge the views of those across the political aisle, exaggerating their extremity. Politically engaged and highly educated individuals tend to have the most distorted perceptions— in part because they are more exposed to ideologically charged news and have limited cross-partisan relationships. Stephen notes that awareness of the perception gap can reduce polarization and build warmth across divides. He calls on listeners to take small but impactful steps, like: (1) consuming more diverse media, and intentionally seeking news from sources that challenge their own views, (2) sharing corrected perceptions of the “other team” within their trusted networks to break echo chambers, (3) starting curious conversations across differences, and (4) serving as bridge-builders in their communities.

For more information or to share your stories and feedback, email [email protected], or comment on YouTube and Social Media @togetherupinstitute 

In your own challenged relationships: 

• (1) Reset; (2) Look for positives; (3) Complicate the narrative; (4) Move together; (5) Adapt (listen to the interview for more detail)

More broadly:

For more information: 

On this episode of Reimagining Us, co hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson have a conversation with Daniel Stid focused on toxic polarization and the importance of pluralism in countering it. In contrast to ideological polarization, where people disagree with each other but can still work together, toxic polarization refers to when people dislike and even dehumanize their political opponents, seeing each other as a threat not just to ideas but to their values, identities, and social groups. However, perceptions of the opponents and their views are often inaccurate. Toxic polarization leads to a breakdown of relationships and the contamination of various, non-political domains of life. Pluralism, on the other hand, involves recognizing and valuing the diversity of perspectives and working towards mutual understanding and accommodation. It requires virtues such as tolerance and reciprocity. Pluralism at the local level can be fostered through individual commitment, building relationships across differences, and investing in civic spaces and institutions.

Daniel Stid is the Executive Director of Lyceum Labs, a nonprofit dedicated to reimagining the roles of political leaders and parties in the 21st century. He is a visiting fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and his blog, the Art of Association explores the interplay between civil society and democracy in America. He is the author of The President As Statesman: Woodrow Wilson And The Constitution.

In this episode, we also hear briefly from Peter Coleman and Stephen Hawkins, our primary guests in Episode 3.

For more information or to share your stories and feedback, email [email protected], or comment on YouTube and Social Media @togetherupinstitute

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Executive Director of TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

On the debut episode of Reimagining Us, Nichole and Scott share their personal stories, explain how they came together to cohost the show and relay their vision and the purpose for the series answering the question: 'Why this podcast, now?'

Reimagining Us is not just another conversation series—it’s a vital tool for healing divisions, designing our lives and communities for belonging, and empowering a movement of “builders.” Hosted by two distinguished leaders from the fields of psychology and equity-building, the show takes a nuanced look at the forces that fuel division and highlights actionable paths toward reconnection. As the nation navigates a post-election landscape rife with challenges, Reimagining Us offers a timely and necessary space for discovery, dialogue, and change.

Together, Nichole and Scott create a dynamic, solutions-oriented conversation that engages listeners with authenticity, curiosity, and expertise.

For more information or to share your stories and feedback, email [email protected], or comment on YouTube and Social Media @togetherupinstitute

Reimagining Us is produced by Next Chapter Podcasts

Reimagining Us is a podcast series that "lifts the hood" to uncover what's behind our feelings of division today, identify how we can rebuild connection and collaboration across differences in communities. The show is hosted by behavioral scientist Nichole Argo, the Founder and Executive Director of the TogetherUp Institute & Scott Hutcheson, Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum.

HOSTS:

Nichole Argo is the Founder and Director of Research at TogetherUp Institute

Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum

Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts