The Power of Speech and Language

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I wonder if you can set the scene for me when you realized how empowering it was to hear your voice heard. So the first debate was on the topic that we should ban all zoos. And I remember going up on stage and looking at this audience of about 50 kids seated in these snaking rows on the floor. That moment carried the realization, it made me think that I could change something about the world through the power of speech and language. Yeah, that was an amazing thing.

World champion debater Bo Seo knows how to win an argument. He’s made it his mission to teach everyone to disagree better. Bo walks us through how to apply the most effective strategies from competitive debate to improve our disagreements at the dinner table. Bo and Maya also discuss how to determine whether an argument is worth having in the first place.

For more on Bo’s work, check out his book, “Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard.”

If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: "A Black Musician Takes on the KKK."

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