From Enemies to Understanding: Healing Division Through Human Connection with Larry Rosen

Welcome to 2026 and all new episodes of Make It a Great One!  Today, Dr. Dan sits down with Larry Rosen, creator of The Enemies Project, to explore why conflict has become so entrenched in our culture—and how genuine listening can begin to heal it.

During his conversation with Dr. Dan, Larry shares his personal journey from law to mediation to ultimately creating a global project that brings people labeled as “enemies” into the same room for honest, day-long conversations. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and decades of experience working with people in deep conflict, Larry Rosen explains why arguments fail, empathy shuts down under threat, and how understanding—not persuasion—is the fastest path to transformation.

Together, Dr. Dan and Larry unpack the mechanisms behind polarization, the role of fear and perceived threat, and how “enemy-making” erodes our ability to cooperate as families, communities, and societies. Through stories from The Enemies Project, they reveal how people with radically opposing views often share the same core motivations: safety, belonging, love, and meaning.

This episode is a compelling exploration of leadership, courage, compassion, and what it truly means to really see the humanity in others—even when it feels impossible. As a new year unfolds, Dr. Dan and Larry encourage listeners to reflect on this episode and these words from The Enemies Project: “We bring people together—not to debate, but to come face-to-face. Not to argue, but to understand. Not to compromise their values—but to reclaim something deeper: the capacity to recognize each other as fellow citizens, fellow humans, insightful, valuable, real.”

For more information www.enemiesproject.org visit @theenemiesproject on Instagram.

Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com.

We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one.

– Dr. Dan

#Purpose #Growth #SelfAwareness #Inspiration #Resilience #Courage #Mindset #Leadership #Compassion #Connection #Authenticity #Empathy #Wellness #ConflictResolution #HumanConnection #TheEnemiesProject #MakeItAGreatOne

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