The Braver Angels Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Accidental Anchor | Greta Van Susteren with Ciaran O'Connor & John Wood, Jr. Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

Host of Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren, and former host of Fox New's On The Record, Greta Van Susteren has been one of the most visible anchors in American political media for many years. But how did Greta's media career begin? And what did it have to do with a Toga party in 1976? Hear Greta recap her whipsaw career in broadcast journalism, her time at Fox News, the one time Roger Ailes told her what not to report, and weigh in with her thoughts on media bias and what it's like to interview politicians in this special interview on The Braver Angels Podcast. Help us build a house united. Join the work of Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org Social Media Twitter: @braverangels @greta @JohnRWoodJr @ciaranjoconnor Facebook and Instagram: @braverangels

Feminism, Free Speech & Thinking Freely | Heather Heying with April Lawson Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

Many Americans are deeply concerned about the culture of shaming and silencing that some see as becoming dominant on college campuses and increasingly in major American institutions and cities. No one has more reason to be concerned about this than Heather Heying - former professor of evolutionary biology at Evergreen State College and noted member of the "Intellectual Dark Web."

But in this conversation with April Lawson, a conservative feminist and Braver Angels Director of Debates and Public Discourse, Heather confronts the tension between the need for civil norms in society and the pressure people feel to pursue social justice in ways that lead to quick progress. Heather and April explore issues of free speech, feminism, campus culture and social justice in this dynamic conversation between free thinkers. You'll be wiser by the end of it. Join Braver Angels: www.braverangels.org Follow Twitter: @braverangels @HeatherEHeying @AprilALawson

"No Ballot No Buck": A Trump Supporter's Case for Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Fry with Ciaran O'Connor Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

Bill Fry is retired Military, a Tea Party activist, and an avid Trump supporter. He's also a longtime Braver Angels leader who is co-organizing "No Ballot No Buck," a bipartisan campaign finance reform initiative in Ohio with his liberal counterpart Rob Weidenfeld. Bill talks to host Ciaran O'Connor about Braver Angels, Donald Trump, and working together to find surprising areas of convergence amidst a wider climate of acrimony.

Antiracism, Christianity, Trump & Triumphing over Adversity | Carol Swain with John Wood, Jr. Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

Carol Swain may not reflect the image some people have in mind when they think of an elite university professor. She is an African-American Christian Conservative who grew up in severe rural poverty to achieve success at the top of the academic ladder. Her story of personal accomplishment shines light on the power of perseverance in face of adversity. The values Carol pulls from her experience also lend a foundation to understanding her politics, her Christian faith and even her support of President Donald Trump. Hear Professor Swain tell her personal story and talk antiracism, Christianity and Trump in this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast. With John Wood, Jr. www.braverangels.org Follow on Social Media: @BraverAngels @CarolMSwain @JohnRWoodJr

A Trump-Supporting Braver Angel Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

Carlos Hernandez is a Latino Braver Angels leader from San Francisco who supports President Trump. In this episode, Carlos talks to host Ciaran O'Connor about what it's like to be a conservative in San Francisco, why he supports the President, and how he believes Braver Angels' work can build trust and understanding between those who plan to vote differently in November. This conversation is a part of Braver Angels 2020, a national campaign to help Americans "Fight Right" by debating painfully divisive issues in a constructive way that prizes vigor and virtue over rancor and vitriol.

Bridging Black Perspectives | Dominique DiPrima meets Kira Davis with John Wood, Jr. Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Dominique DiPrima is a former co-host of the Steve Harvey Morning Show and is the host of The Front Page with Dominique DiPrima. A "leading-edge" progressive activist, she has challenged the political status quo from the airwaves of KJLH in Los Angeles as LA's most popular Black morning show host. Kira Davis is the editor at large of Red State, a non-conforming voice who challenges Democratic orthodoxy while championing the values of faith, family and independence.

Dominique and Kira are politically opposite. But they are both willing to challenge Republicans and Democrats while listening to and learning from each other.

Listen to this fascinating back and forth between two passionate Black women dedicated to justice, equality and progress in America. John Wood, Jr. moderates.

Join us at www.braverangels.org

Understanding Nonviolence | Harry Boyte, Damien Conners, April Lawson & John Wood, Jr. Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

The philosophy of Nonviolence guided the moral leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in a struggle for freedom and justice that inspired the world. Dr. King's philosophy birth a vision for American society that still challenges the conscience of the nation. And yet the true substance and practice of Nonviolence is largely forgotten today.

How can we understand Nonviolence? How do we apply it in our current struggle? Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement Professor Harry Boyte of Augsburg University and Damien Conners, former executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, join April Lawson and John Wood, Jr. to talk about the philosophy, history and practice of Nonviolence to shine a light on how it's moral power can be recaptured in the midst of our current challenges in America.

Help us build a house united. Learn more about the work of Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org

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Twitter: @braverangels @HarryBoyte @DameAlexander @AprilALawson @JohnRWoodJr

Depolarizing America | ft. Pearce Godwin, Debilyn Molineaux & Liz Joyner with Ciaran O'Connor & John Wood, Jr. Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

There is a movement underway to depolarize American politics. It is a movement committed to transforming the way we interact with and think about each other as Americans. And guess what? It is bigger than just Braver Angels.

John and Ciaran welcome National Conversations Project and Listen First founder Pearce Godwin, Bridge Alliance founder Debilyn Molineaux and founder of The Village Square Liz Joyner to a conversation on the work of building bridges over the raging floods of American division. Each of these social innovators brings a deep perspective and experience to this vital work. You'll want to know their names and their stories.

Join us at www.braverangels.org

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Twitter: @braverangels @USConvoProject @BrdgAllianceUS @VillageSquareUS @PearceGodwin @debilynm @ciaranjoconnor @JohnRWoodJr

Facebook: @braverangels @NationalConversationProject @bridgealliance @thevillagesquare

"And the Winner Is!" Announcing the Braver Angels Songwriting Contest Winners Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

The Braver Angels Songwriting Contest is over! And we've emerged with three incredible winning songs. In this episode of The Braver Angels Podcast John Wood, Jr. and Sage Snider speak to Jon Baker and Donna Elaine Miller (writers of the "A United States of Humanity," performed by Donna), Thomas Prasada-Rao ("Even You") and Scott Cook ("Say Can You See") to discuss the inspiration behind and to listen to excerpts from their winning songs.

Each of these artists shines a wonderful light upon the spirit of patriotic-empathy that is growing through the work of Braver Angels. And each one was a unique American story to tell. Take a moment to listen and be moved.

www.braverangels.org

Empathy in Black & White from the U.S. to the U.K. | Ayishat Akanbi & John Wood, Jr. Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

Fashion stylist and cultural commentator Ayishat Akanbi is a uniquely refreshing voice in the social discourse of the United Kingdom. Increasingly however Ayishat's following is growing in the United States where people of widely differing background are drawing value from her empathetic and deeply perceptive approach to communicating across ethnic and political differences.

Ayishat joins John Wood, Jr. to talk about the parallels of their owns experiences as people of African descent and strong multicultural experience in majority white countries. Listen as Ayishat and John compare notes on the projects of empathy building across the divides in both Britain and America and the shared idealism that animates the work community builders on each side of the pond.

We are building a house united. Join us at www.braverangels.org.

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Twitter: @Ayishat_Akanbi @JohnRWoodJr @braverangels