This year, I’ll be focusing more than usual on the podcast on how we can have better conversations, especially with people we disagree with. I’m honored to kick things off with someone whose new book I really love. Ilana Redstone is the author of The Certainty Trap: Why We Need to Question Ourselves More―and How We Can Judge Others Less, published in September 2024. With a joint Ph.D. in demography and sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, she’s a sociology professor at the University of Illinois, where her course about the sociology of political polarization is called “Bigots and Snowflakes.”'

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. To learn more about Ilana Redstone and her work, visit her website.

I mentioned The National SEED Project during today’s show as an exemplary DEI program. Learn more about their work in my SEED Folk episode from 2019.

More about FALLACIES. I shared with Dr. Redstone that I liked to teach kids about fallacies as common liabilities in constructing arguments that humans are prone to commit. Here’s my blog post about that.

MUSIC. In addition to standard intro (“Weight of the World”) and outro (“Villainous Thing”) music from Shayfer James’ 2011 album Counterfeit Arcade, underscore from this episode features an instrumental version of “Devils and Rebels” from Shipwreck (2023). (You betcha I was the one playing that fiddle doubling that theremin.) To find the latest tour and new release information for Shayfer James, visit his website.

Many people support this podcast in one way or another. Some are able to contribute financially, which sustains this passion project to share great ideas about what and how and why we learn. To make an episode that sounds like this takes me and my staff of zero other people about 40 hours. Be like Jake Brown in today’s patron break and consider a recurring donation, which helps with everything from recording equipment batteries to buying my copy of The Certainty Trap: Why We Need to Question Ourselves More―and How We Can Judge Others Less. There are two easy ways to donate!

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