Behavioral Grooves Podcast

How Can We Revive Our Democracy? | AJ Jacobs

Oct 28, 2024

AJ Jacobs, a bestselling author and serial experimenter known for immersive projects like 'The Year of Living Biblically,' shares his latest venture about living according to the U.S. Constitution. He revives the festive spirit of Democracy by reintroducing Election Cakes, connecting civic pride with joyous communal baking. The conversation also emphasizes 'epistemic humility,' urging listeners to embrace openness and curiosity in a world filled with misinformation. With a mix of humor and historical reflection, AJ inspires a deeper engagement in democracy.

01:11:40

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Episode guests

AJ Jacobs

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

AJ Jacobs promotes the revival of Election Cakes, emphasizing the importance of celebrating democracy as a community event filled with joy.

Jacobs views the U.S. Constitution as a living document that necessitates ongoing amendments to remain relevant and reflective of contemporary society.

The concept of epistemic humility is highlighted, advocating for open-mindedness and constructive dialogue to foster personal growth and societal improvement.

Deep dives

Reviving Election Day Celebrations

The concept of making Election Day a festive occasion is emphasized, reminiscent of historical practices where communities celebrated their voting rights. A.J. Jacobs encourages people to bake and share election cakes or pies at polling places to enhance the communal spirit of democracy. This practice is meant to bring joy back to the voting process, transforming it from a mundane task into a celebratory event. By invoking traditions of the past, Jacobs hopes to remind voters of the significance and excitement of participating in a democratic society.

Intro

1min

Exploring Democracy and Epistemic Humility

23min

Navigating Misinformation Mindfully

7min

Engagement and Constitutional Conversations

14min

Embracing the 18th Century: Music, Dance, and Democracy

15min

Embracing Epistemic Humility

7min

Celebrating Democracy with Election Cakes

2min

Exploring Experimental Mindsets and Future Conversations

2min

Ahead of the 2024 US Election, Kurt and Tim sit down with bestselling author and serial experimenter AJ Jacobs to discuss his latest project, The Year of Living Constitutionally. AJ spent a year living life according to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, adopting 18th-century customs along the way. From wearing tricorn hats and writing with quill pens to exploring the deeper philosophical underpinnings of democracy, AJ brings history to life while reflecting on the balance between rights and responsibilities, a concept that feels more urgent than ever today.

AJ also shares his mission to revive one of America’s sweetest (and largely forgotten) traditions—Election Cakes! In the 1700s, Election Day was a festival of civic pride, complete with parades, music, and community-baked cakes shared at the polls. In true AJ fashion, he’s on a quest to bring this tradition back, reminding us that democracy can be both a serious and joyful act.

Throughout the episode, AJ, Kurt, and Tim dive into the importance of ‘epistemic humility’ - aka, the acknowledgment that we don’t have all the answers and must remain open to learning. From Benjamin Franklin’s introspection to modern-day challenges of misinformation, AJ challenges listeners to approach life and democracy with curiosity, gratitude, and a willingness to improve both ourselves and our society. So grab a slice of election cake (or pie!) and join us for this thought-provoking, timely conversation on what it means to live constitutionally.

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Topics

[0:00] Election day traditions

[4:25] Speed round with AJ Jacobs

[9:44] Living Colonially: What I learned

[18:56] Epistemic humility and political perspectives

[23:52] Constitutional originalism

[36:29] How do we frame the constitution?

[40:40] Election cakes and celebrating democracy

[48:52] Embracing experimentation in everyday life

[52:56] Grooving session: open-mindedness, civic duty, and cake recipes

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