There are moments in history when a few words capture the fragile heartbeat of a nation. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln stood before a crowd in Springfield, Illinois, and said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Simple words. Unassuming. Yet within them lies a warning, a moral call, and a challenge to every citizen who hears them. Lincoln was not speaking of architecture or brick and mortar; he was speaking of a nation, young yet fragile, fractured over the question of slavery, morality, and the very meaning of freedom.

Lincoln’s words were not only a warning—they were a call to action. He was not a firebrand who sought to inflame anger or deepen division. He was a man who understood that leadership requires both courage and wisdom. Moral clarity, he believed, must guide action. Empathy, he knew, must guide method. He saw the human cost of conflict and understood the importance of listening, understanding, and reasoning.

In the grand, often tumultuous story of the United States, there has always been a tension between our right to speak freely and our responsibility to live together peacefully. Our nation was born from a protest, and our history is filled with moments where passionate citizens stood up, spoke out, and demanded change.

We have a constitutional right to assemble. We have a constitutional right to disagree. But in recent years, something has shifted. The debates we have with our neighbors and fellow citizens—the disagreements that once felt like a healthy, if heated, part of our democracy—have started to feel… different. They have moved from the halls of Congress and the public square, and at times, have spilled into our homes, our families, and our streets.

We’re seeing a new and disturbing trend: the rise of political violence. We've seen it in the attack on Paul Pelosi, the attempted kidnapping of a sitting governor, the shooting of a congressman at a baseball practice, and the recent attacks on political figures and institutions across the country.

But this is not who we are. Our foundational documents—the Constitution and the Federalist Papers—were not just blueprints for a government; they were a roadmap for how to avoid the very chaos we are now facing. They were written by men who were terrified of civil war and mob rule, and they designed a system specifically to channel our disagreements into dialogue, debate, and the ballot box, not into violence and bloodshed.

Today, we’re going to step back from the headlines and the noise. We're going to explore what our core principles actually say about this moment, and why a belief in free speech and peaceful protest is not just an ideal, but a moral and a constitutional necessity. We’ll talk about why just because we disagree with one another politically, it does not mean we can take another person’s life.

This is a conversation about the line we must not cross, and how we can all work to pull our nation back from the brink and toward the peaceful ideals that truly define us.

Discover the profound importance of civic education, which is far more than just memorizing facts. It's presented as the "lifeblood of democracy" and the "scaffolding that holds up our house of self-government," fundamentally shaping who we are as citizens and our duty to the republic.

Alarmingly, many Americans lack basic civic knowledge, with surveys showing only one in three can name all three branches of government. This civic ignorance is likened to "erosion," quietly wearing away the "soil of freedom" and leading to polarization and vulnerability to misinformation.

Our nation's Founders, deeply inspired by figures like Cato the Younger and Cicero, understood this crucial link. They believed that "freedom without virtue is chaos" and that a republic without civic education "will not last," emphasizing the need for "virtuous citizens" who grasp duty and sacrifice.

However, civic education has largely faded from schools, replaced by a focus on career preparation and data, resulting in citizens who know their rights but not their responsibilities, and how to shout but not how to listen.

Yet, "decline is not destiny". The podcast advocates for reviving civic learning, reimagined to teach the practical "skills of democracy"—such as listening, debating without hatred, and disagreeing without dividing—through activities like mock trials and town halls. This fosters "becoming citizens" who can think critically and work for the common good, seeing politics as a workshop, not a battlefield.

Ultimately, civic education is a vital "common project" and the "heartbeat of democracy," essential for the future of our republic. It is the "map, the compass, and the bridge between ignorance and unity". We must actively learn, teach, and fight for it to keep this "fragile experiment alive"

It is easy to prioritize work over our friends and families, telling ourselves that “they would understand.” But we never say to ourselves to prioritize our friends because “work would understand.” This is a topic that I will further discuss on a later date.

Over time, we have eliminated our third spaces and limited our available spaces for leisure and emotional release. We have created a society in which people believe work is primary, yet simultaneously feel that something is missing from their lives. This is why the concept of purpose has been on my mind lately.

For years, I have struggled with understanding my purpose in life. Or in the words of Simon Sinek: our why. Our “why” is the north star that guides us toward what delivers fulfillment to our lives. To clarify: our 'why' does not have to be our work. It would be ideal if our primary sources of income and time were dedicated to serving our purpose.

From the fields of Gettysburg to the marches in Selma… from breadlines in the Great Depression to the fires of 9/11… Americans have always faced moments that felt like the end of something. But time and again, those moments became beginnings. So today, when faith in leadership is low, when the world feels fractured and our future seems unclear—we don’t need to despair.

We need to remember. Because history isn’t just a story—it’s a map. It shows us that protest can lead to progress. That division can give way to unity. That even in our darkest hours, we find light—not because we are perfect—but because we choose to keep going.

This episode is about why we look back. Not to romanticize the past, but to learn from it. To find in our shared story a reason to keep believing, keep working, and keep building a country worthy of its promise. Because America is not finished. And neither are we.

Welcome to Unity in Identity, today we will explore the concept and action of blocking noise. "Noise" is the phenomenon that has infiltrated society, affecting how we interpret information and reaction with other people. It is important to remove "noise" from our lives to have a more holistic perspective on information and events. By removing "noise," we can better prepare ourselves for improving society and bringing people together.

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re diving into the idea of the “third space”—a concept that may change how we think about community and relationships. The term was first introduced by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, who identified the first space as your home and the second as your workplace. But what about that neutral space in between? The third space is where we gather outside of the pressures of home and work.

I want us to explore why third spaces are vital for building relationships and creating a sense of belonging. These informal, welcoming environments are more than just places to pass the time—they’re where we connect with others, foster creativity, and build the communities we need to thrive. As we move through today’s discussion, we’ll uncover how third spaces strengthen our social fabric and help us form relationships beyond our immediate circles.

Unity in Identity is a podcast dedicated to healing division and rediscovering what binds us together. At a time when political extremism and social fragmentation threaten to pull us apart, this show creates space for thoughtful reflection, honest storytelling, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Each episode explores the roots of today’s challenges—drawing lessons from history, examining our political and social norms, and reflecting on the values that can guide us toward unity. Along the way, we look at ideas like “third spaces,” shared purpose, and the power of civic education to help us better understand not just where we are, but how we got here.

The tone is motivational and educational, designed to spark curiosity while inspiring hope. While the show often features personal reflection and storytelling, future episodes will also bring in diverse voices through interviews, offering new perspectives on how communities can bridge divides and work together.

This podcast is for anyone who wants to see America move beyond polarization—citizens eager to learn, leaders seeking perspective, and everyday people who believe politics should be a space for community, teamwork, and progress. After each episode, listeners will walk away with both a deeper understanding of “why” unity matters and practical ways to begin building it.

Unity in Identity isn’t just a conversation—it’s an invitation to transform division into dialogue, and dialogue into collective action.