Talkin‘ Politics &amp; Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community:

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best of 2024 | Renovating Democracy with Danielle Allen: Democracy Advocate, Harvard Professor and Nonprofit Leader Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

(Given that yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, an attempted violent disruption of the peaceful transfer of power, one of our nation's most cherished traditions, we thought it would be a good time to refresh our conversation with Prof. Danielle Allen who has been ensconced in the work of renovating our democratic institutions.)

Our democracy is brittle. Many would say our Constitutional Republic is in trouble. So what kind of work can we do on "actually renovating our institutions"?

We were fortunate to be joined by Dr. Danielle Allen, a democracy advocate, Harvard professor and nonprofit leader who's doing something about it. We talked about how to maintain a loving spirit when faced with "a lot of bleeps"; Danielle's fascinating family legacy and her "obsession" with democracy; what the heck a eudaemonist democratic pragmatist is; the ways the 5 freedoms articulated in the 1st Amendment are under threat; the merits of ranked choice voting, expanding the House of Representatives and other democratic renovations; the imperative of developing a civic portfolio; and how to "not let our differences take our humanity hostage."

Prof. Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy and director of the Democratic Knowledge Project and of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation. Outside the University, she is a co-chair for the Our Common Purpose Commission and Founder and President for Partners In Democracy, where she advocates for democracy reform to create greater voice and access in our democracy, and to drive progress towards a new social contract that serves and includes us all.

We're on YouTube!

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community:

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/31/danielle-allen-american-democracy-renovation-series/

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

Be sure to read Danielle's series in the Washington Post on How to Renovate American Democracy:

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best of 2024 | Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian on AUTOCRACY, INC.: THE DICTATORS WHO WANT TO RUN THE WORLD Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

(Getting to speak with Anne Applebaum was such an honor. She's not only one of the world's most prominent historians and writers, Anne's focus on the fragility of democracy and emerging autocracies couldn't be more timely.)

In the 20th Century, we had Cold War adversaries. In the early 2000s, George W. Bush talked about the Axis of Evil. But are those frameworks the most accurate way to understand the forces attempting to undermine not just democratic nations but democratic ideas? And to what degree have these antagonists - those that are fundamentally opposed to our core principles such as the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and basic human rights - pervaded U.S. politics?

In this episode we welcome Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian, staff writer at The Atlantic and senior fellow at the Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. After discussing her motivations, experiences, and insights into the autocratic regimes and their impacts on global democracy, we dive into Anne’s new book Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. We explore how autocracies collaborate, ways the rest of the world is complicit in autocratic behaviors, and strategies to combat these influences. The conversation also touches on Anne's personal history and initial fascination with the history, literature, culture and politics of the “Borderlands,” a region that includes Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and beyond.

01:53 Anne's Early Career and Inspirations

16:29 The Concept of Autocracy, Inc.

29:44 Global Complicity in Autocracy

34:39 Hamas and Global Destabilization

37:05 Trump's Influence and Dictator Admiration

39:17 Russian Propaganda and Dark Money in US Politics

42:37 Autocracy, Inc. and Democratic Values

52:43 Engaging in Local Politics and Understanding the Big Picture

anneapplebaum.substack.com

www.anneapplebaum.com/book/autocracy

AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA podcast - www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2024/08/introducing-autocracy-in-america/679474/

We're on YouTube!

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community:

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best of 2024 | Nancy French: NY Times best selling author, investigative journalist, storyteller... yet still gloriously feral! Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

(Speaking with Nancy was such a highlight of this year. In addition to all we discussed in this raw, beautiful, candid, downright funny conversation, I'm glad to report that subsequent to when we spoke, Nancy was able to "ring the bell" as a cancer survivor!)

We’re joined by author, essayist, investigative journalist and the gloriously feral Nancy French. We discuss Nancy's new memoir, GHOSTED: AN AMERICAN STORY, which involves deeply personal topics such as her experiences with sexual abuse, faith struggles, being a ghostwriter for politicians, and increasing political turmoil. Nancy also talks about navigating her long-standing personal and professional relationships amid the Trumpification of the Republican party; how the party has drifted away from folks like her even though Nancy’s positions and philosophy haven’t changed; and how her Christian faith has played a significant role in the journey. We also candidly explore the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, the complexities in religious institutions, and being resilient in troubled times.

Nancy French is a five-time New York Times bestselling author, essayist, investigative journalist, and storyteller at the Moth. She’s published op-eds and articles in the Washington Post, USA Today, Time and many other publications. Her investigative journalism into abuse at Kanakuk Kamps appeared on the front page of USA Today. Nancy is also the co-author of The After Party with friend of the pod Curtis Chang and she’s the author of the new memoir GHOSTED: AN AMERICAN STORY.

01:20 Nancy French: A Brief Introduction;

05:14 The Art of Ghostwriting;

09:53 The Journey of Discovery and Art;

13:45 The Struggles of Writing Your Own Story;

19:38 The Challenges of Confronting Past Abuse;

31:10 The Power of Love and Relationships;

37:47 The Struggle with Faith and the Church;

40:25 Reflections on Christian Faith and History;

41:16 Experiences of Divine Intervention;

42:07 Discussing Faith with Non-Believers;

46:19 Political Writing and Its Consequences;

50:12 The Shift in Political Identity (Despite Not Having Changed);

52:11 The Impact of Political Polarization;

55:34 The Power of Human Connection Across Differences

We're on YouTube!

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community:

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

bsky.app/profile/coreysnathan.bsky.social

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

www.nancyfrench.com

GHOSTED on Amazon - https://amzn.to/49tSNzO

www.threads.net/@nancyjanefrench

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best of 2024 | Bill Kristol: Director of Defending Democracy Together and Editor at Large at The Bulwark Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

Yeah, this ages well. Seriously... This conversation with Bill Kristol was from April of this year. Some of the discussion applied to that moment in time (eg. bemoaning the Mets tepid start to the 2024 season); but much of it still applies even given the outcome of the latest election. With that, here are the notes from one of our "Best of 2024" conversations...

Are REPUBLICAN VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP our greatest BULWARK against authoritarianism and the most significant constituency in DEFENDING DEMOCRACY TOGETHER? (Dad jokes about the future of our Constitutional Republic aside...) Bill Kristol shares his thoughts on the state of our democracy and how this year's consequential election is shaping up.

We're on YouTube!

So glad to be joined again by Bill Kristol, Editor at Large of The Bulwark; Director of Defending Democracy Together; and Host of Conversations with Bill Kristol. We took time to reflect on Bill’s early political experiences, including his roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, his academic career, and his work with the Project for the Republican Future. We also touch on our shared passion for baseball, particularly for the New York Mets! We then delve into Bill’s critical views on the Trump presidency, the rise of authoritarianism, and the importance of defending liberal democracy. He shares insights into his efforts with the Republican Voters Against Trump initiative and the importance of bipartisan engagement in preserving democratic norms. We then discuss the impact of social and political polarization, the significance of grassroots activism, and the need for open, exploratory dialogue across ideological divides. We wind down with Bill emphasizing the resilience of the American political system and the potential for positive change through collective action and constructive discourse.

00:52 Meet Bill Kristol: A Storied Career in Politics;

01:58 Baseball and Politics: A Personal Connection;

04:09 Navigating Political Ideologies: From Youth to Present;

05:41 The Evolution of Political Beliefs and the Impact of External Changes;

10:18 The Threat of Illiberalism and the Defense of Liberal Democracy;

15:21 Exploring the Dangers of Trumpism and Authoritarian Tendencies;

26:56 The Role of Intellectuals and Voters in Shaping Political Futures;

33:59 The Impact of Testimonials from Former Trump Voters;

34:53 The Strategy Behind Targeting Swing Voters;

35:54 Challenges and Strategies in Political Advertising;

36:55 Building a Broad Coalition Against Trump;

42:09 The Role of Money in Politics and Campaign Strategies;

44:34 Fostering Careers and Nurturing Talent in Politics;

50:43 The Evolution of Political Discourse and Outreach;

54:36 Final Thoughts on Political Engagement and Hope

We're on Patreon! Join the community:

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

bsky.app/profile/coreysnathan.bsky.social and www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Please support our sponsor Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as

www.thebulwark.com

www.defendingdemocracytogether.org

bsky.app/profile/billkristolbulwark.bsky.social

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best of 2024 | Dr. Francis S. Collins: Are science and faith at odds? Or two different ways of understanding God's creation? Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

Are science and belief in God incompatible? Dr. Francis S. Collins, renowned for having led the Human Genome Project and the former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), says science and faith are two different ways of understanding God's creation.

We dove right in and had so much to explore!

His father's folk music collection that is a true national treasure;
Connecting music with the mysteries of the universe both as a scientist and a person of faith;
An encounter with a heart patient that led Dr. Collins to his faith in Christ;
How he got the job to lead the Human Genome Project (no, it wasn't an answer to an ad on Craigslist);
Leading the NIH during a worldwide pandemic;
The ongoing harrassment and even death threats he and his colleagues at NIH have had to endure;
Struggling to understand the emergence of the anti-vax movement;
Nurturing relationships with folks who hold very different views such as the late Christopher Hitchens;
The BioLogos Foundation;
And the most interesting book club in the world!

Dr. Francis Collins is the former director of the National Institutes of Health. And was the longest serving director of NIH — spanning 12 years and three (very different) presidencies. Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. Dr. Collins' research laboratory has discovered a number of important genes, including those responsible for cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, a familial endocrine cancer syndrome and, most recently, genes for type 2 diabetes among others. Dr. Collins was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2007 and the National Medal of Science in 2009.

We're on YouTube!

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

We're on Patreon! Join the community:

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review: