The Braver Angels Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Studying Abroad ... In Your Own Country Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

As American society becomes increasingly polarized and sorted by geography, ideology, and capital, our children are growing up in bubbles — isolated from kids who come from different backgrounds.

But what if there were a way for kids to study abroad ... right here in America?

Ciaran O'Connor talks to David McCullough III about his vision for the American Exchange Project, and what we can learn from students bridging the divide.

James Comey Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

What's your reaction when you hear the name James Comey? If you're a Democrat, maybe you blame him for the election of Donald Trump. If you're a Republican, maybe you see him as the embodiment of a sinister deep state. Or maybe you see him as a faithful public servant who's been unfairly maligned by both sides.

Either way, the former FBI Director has been at the center of some of the most polarizing moments in recent American history. James Comey joins Better Angels' Ciaran O'Connor and April Lawson to discuss his most controversial decisions — from investigating Hillary Clinton's emails to being fired by President Trump — and to reflect on some deeper questions around moral philosophy, ethical leadership, humility, overconfidence, and personal tragedy.

A Democrat, A Republican, and The Open Road Nov 25, 2019

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What happens when a liberal and a conservative decide to jump into an old Volvo and drive across the country? Jordan Blashek and Christopher Haugh share the story of their friendship, their travels, and how their journey changed their understanding of America and each other. Their new book is entitled Union: A Democrat, A Republican, and a Search for Common Ground.

Should Donald Trump Be Impeached? Oct 03, 2019

Show notes

Ciaran and John tackle the impeachment question, in addition to discussing polarization at the municipal level, John's forthcoming solo podcast, and how a President should smell.

Rusty Reno on Politics and Religion in the Age of Donald Trump Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

Rusty Reno is the editor of First Things Magazine, an influential conservative journal on politics, religion, and public life. Rusty joins the Better Angels podcast to talk about how and why the religious community has responded to — and in many cases rallied around — President Trump amidst the populism surging through modern conservatism.

The Limits of Empathy with Julie Koler Aug 15, 2019

Show notes

Julie Kohler, author of the Washington Post article "How Calls to 'Love Your Enemies' Enforce the Status-Quo," joins Ciaran and John for a back and forth about her own past critiques of Better Angels, the proper place of empathy in political life, and the importance of depolarization to preserving the possibility for political progress in the long run.

Julie is a senior advisor for the Democracy Alliance, a progressive donor network. She has a Ph.D. in family social science and writes frequently on women and politics. You can find her on Twitter @juliekkohler1.

Follow the BAP at:

John Wood, Jr.

Twitter: @johnrwoodjr Facebook: @transcendingpolitics

Ciaran O'Connor

Twitter: @ciaranjustice

Music by Josh Lim:

www.joshjameslim.com/

Identity and Conversation with Monica Guzman Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

John Wood, Jr. and guest co-host Greg Steinbrecher talk to, Monica Guzman journalist and founder of Seattle based publication The Evergrey, about the influence of identity on our culture of conversation in the United States, and how to have difficult conversations across racial and political divides.

Check out the Evergrey at https://theevergrey.com/

Monica Guzman

Twitter @moniguzman

John Wood, Jr.

Twitter @johnrwoodjr Facebook @transcendingpolitics

Greg Steinbrecher

Twitter @gregsteinbrecher

Politics, Polarization and President Trump: The Bill Kristol Interview Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

Editor, political analyst and veteran of previous Republican presidential administrations, Bill Kristol brings a critical take on President Trump and a long range overview of political polarization to this episode of The Better Angels Podcast. Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr co-host.

Join us at www.better-angels.org and help us depolarize America!

Bill Kristol:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillKristol

John Wood, Jr.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnRWoodJr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TranscendingPolitics/

Ciaran O'Connor

https://twitter.com/ciaranjoconnor

Music by Josh Lim:

www.joshjameslim.com/

The Craft of Self Governance: Lexi Hudson interviews David Blankenhorn Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

In this special episode of the Better Angels Podcast, writer and philosopher Lexi Hudson interviews David Blankenhorn, founder and president of Better Angels, about the state of polarization in the United States, what makes a strong civil society and his own personal journey through the heat of American division.

Recapping the Better Angels Convention Jul 17, 2019

Show notes

Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr. fill us in on the uplifting triumph that was the Better Angels National Convention in St. Louis, June 19th to 22nd.

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