Civity is a culture of deliberately engaging in relationships of respect and empathy with others who are different. Our world today is one of haves and have-nots, insiders and outsiders, people who belong and people who are marginalized because they are other. By reaching out person-to-person to others who are different, all of us together create the relational infrastructure to build solidarity, justice, and resilience in our communities. Our differences are our strengths. This is ‘civity.’ Our podcast showcases interviews with people bridging power-based divides to move communities forward on issues grounded in inequities.
For the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the U.S., Baha’i has crafted a narrative of unity with difference. It’s called A Common Endeavor: Realizing the Promise of America , and the goal is to help people connect across and celebrate our differences as we build community together. Learn more at ACommonEndeavor.org .
In this episode, we talk with Beth Malow and Doug Teschner, authors of Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times . Doug is a new England regional leader for Braver Angels, and Beth is a volunteer moderator and debate chair with Braver Angels. Their book focuses on how to find hope and build a culture of kindness and respect in the face of polarization, misinformation, and negativity. To learn more, go to BeyondthePoliticsofContempt.com , and check out their Substack, Together Across Differences, at TogetherNow.substack.com .
In this episode, we talk with Nick Beaulieu, writer & director of the documentary film, My Omaha , about his personal journey to reach across divides in his community – and his family – to make connections and build relationships across differences. To learn more, go to MyOmahaFilm.com .
In this episode, we talk with Roman Williams, a visual sociologist, and founder of Interfaith Photovoice , which uses photos to allow people to share stories through visuals and hear and see the stories of others. Find out more at InterfaithPhotovoice.org .
In this episode, we talk with Laurie Patton, President of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and scholar of early Indian religions and religion in the public square. Our discussion explores the recognition that civic culture is democracy's foundation, and to have a strong civic culture, we need to engage in a way that recognizes each other’s humanity. To learn more, go to amacad.org .
In this episode, we talk with Linda Tropp, professor of social psychology at the University of Massachusetts and expert in how people experience engagement across lines of difference. She has worked in the U.S. and around the world to foster equity and inclusion by intentionally building relationships across power and status differentials. To learn more, go to LindaTropp.com .
In this episode, we talk with Kelsey Blahnik, LCSW-S, author of The AND Way: Assertive Peacemaking in a Divided World . Blahnik explores both the interior and exterior work we all need to do to stay grounded, choose kindness and compassion, and recognize each other’s humanity, even when we feel at odds or don’t agree. This book helps us learn to develop skills of tolerance, empathy, and emotional resilience necessary for authentic peacemaking. To learn more, go to TheAndWayTherapy.com .
In this episode, we talk with Tania Israel, professor emeritus at UC Santa Barbara, and author of the books Facing the Fracture and Beyond your Bubble . Israel’s focus is on navigating political division – both engaging with others and managing toxic, polarizing messaging, which can lead to distressing thoughts and feelings. This can help us re-engage with our community to move our society forward. To learn more, go to TaniaIsrael.com .
My guest is Nathan Smolensky, Independent strategist and Author of the book Common Ground from the Ground Up: How rethinking politics can help us feel heard, heal relationships, and fix our democracy . This book offers mindsets and tools we can use to engage in more productive conversations and lay the foundation for positive societal change.
In this episode, we talk with April Ossmann, poet and independent editor, and author of WE … a collection of poems focused on bridging divides by exploring unconscious prejudices. In We, Ossmann hopes to change our perceptions to heal our families and friendships.
In this episode, we talk with Seth Pinsky…CEO of the 92nd St. Y in New York, a cultural stalwart in the city focused on convening people across difference, with the goal of helping everyone connect and be in community with each other. For more, go to 92ny.org .
In this episode, we talk with James Coan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of More Like US , a national organization that seeks to correct political misperceptions – helping people see that we’re not really as different as we sometimes think we are. Coan says the goal of More Like US is to help increase the scale of bridging efforts. For more information and to check out the lesson plans and other resources, go to MoreLikeUS.org .
In this episode, we talk with John Paul Lederach – professor emeritus at the University of Notre Dame, focused on international peacebuilding. Lederach spent much of his career helping build peace in conflict areas around the world, and has written extensively on his experiences. Together, we explore the importance of building relationships across divides and differences to achieve meaningful foundations for building lasting peace. We also discuss how we might apply these lessons here in the U.S. before polarization becomes sustained violence. Of particular relevance to our current situation in the U.S. is Lederach’s Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War: Surprising ideas from everyday people who shifted the cycles of violence . To learn more about John Paul Lederach and peruse his writings, go to JohnPaulLederach.com .
In this episode, we talk with Angela Bradbery – Frank Karel Chair in Public Interest Communications at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism & Communications. Bradbery spearheads the annual Public Interest Communications Summer Institute — bringing educators, researchers, practitioners and others together to explore how to best communicate in the public interest. Bradbery’s work in Public Interest Communications focuses on communicating and building relationships across divides to advance campaigns that help communities.
In this episode, we talk with Jennifer Leshnower, Bridging & Democracy Advisor at AmeriCorps . Jennifer and I discuss the importance of bringing people together… and how relationship building through service, and looking outward from ourselves to see others, can help build meaningful relationships to tackle sticky problems and strengthen communities. To learn more, go to americorps.gov .
In this episode, we talk with Ben Bain, volunteer Brick Yard leader for the Washington, D.C. area for the organization More Perfect Union . More Perfect Union seeks to strengthen communities through social connection, service, and civic engagement. Ben is a veteran – and a dog lover – who wanted to find ways to weave connective tissue in his community. More Perfect Union allows him do this by working toward building relationships among people around him. To check out MPU – and take the Coffee & Courage Challenge – go to MPU.US . (Photo depicts MPU gathering)
In this episode, we talk with Michael McRay, experiential story coach, and founder of Becoming Restoried . Michael helps others find and share their own stories, toward healing, reconciling, and connection. The stories we create have the power to connect or divide – and when someone does not have control of their story, it can be dehumanizing. Michael helps people see both themselves – and each other – as human, which in turn connects us across divides, differences, and unknowns. For more, go to BecomingRestoried.com .
In this episode, we talk with Mónica Guzmán, Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels , and author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times . Mónica at first dedicated her career to connecting people across differences through journalism… but then moved into the bridging space to find a more effective way to bring people together in relationship. Through it all, she has been driven by a deep curiosity about others and the stories that shape our lives and perspectives.
In this episode, we talk with David Brooks, New York Times Columnist , and author of How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen . We explore David’s journey to find ways to know other people better and learn how to share his own stories and experiences as part of the knowing process. He shares the lessons and strategies he’s learned to cultivate relationships, big and small, as a way to weave community.
In this episode, we chat with Alexandra Hudson about her new book - The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves . Hudson explores the difference between politeness and what Hudson calls civility – and we call CIVITY – truly seeing an OTHER and recognizing their humanity and dignity. Alexandra is also founder of Civic Renaissance , an online space dedicated to elevating our public discourse.
