How Toxic Polarization Turns Deadly–What Columbia's Past Can Teach America's Future - DTH Episode 287 with Phelosha Collaros

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𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙇𝙖 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙒𝙞𝙨𝙚: 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮

Wilk Wilkinson is joined by Phelosha Collaros, Vice President at St. John’s College and founder of DepolarWise.com.

Her family’s story in Colombia’s La Violencia reveals what happens when political conflict becomes personal—and how humanity can still prevail. Together they explore the roots of polarization, how conflict entrepreneurs profit from outrage, and what it takes to rebuild trust and community in divided times.

Key Takeaways:
• Phelosha’s connection to depolarization is hereditary
• Political “mixed marriages” once faced deadly danger in Colombia
• Humanity can survive even amidst violence
• The U.S. and Colombia share warning signs of division
• Conflict entrepreneurs thrive on outrage
• Social trust and engagement build a thriving civil society

❤️ Why This Episode Matters

If you’ve ever felt that politics is tearing America apart, listen to this conversation.
You’ll hear why our greatest hope lies not in political victory, but in re-humanizing each other—starting in our own communities.
The majority of people are not as divided as the extremes would have us believe, and together we can build the trust needed for a thriving civil society.

Learn more about and connect with Phelosha Collaros in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com.

The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!

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*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.