The Impact of Partisanship in Politics

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A lot of politicians are taking what happens in the sports world as their playbook for getting attention. Partisanship is that an all time high and it's not based on policy preferences or values, but on picking a team and being against the other side no matter what. I started to notice this covering the 2016 election when I'd often hear voters talk about our team and the other team when they're talking about Republicans or Democrats. It's only gotten worse in the years since.

From risky snowboard halfpipe runs, to 400m sprints where every second counts, to high-stakes archery tournaments, performing well in sports requires mental toughness as much as physical toughness. How do athletes get “in the zone”? And what can we all learn about focus, flow, and mental resilience from athletes?

Good Sport is a podcast from the TED Audio Collective about the fascinating psychology behind athletic competition. Each week, host Jody Avirgan guides you through an array of stadiums, pitches, pools, and slopes–all the ways that sports can shed a light on the ups and downs of being human. Follow Good Sport wherever you get your podcasts.