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How To Feel Less Enraged And Hopeless When You Consume The News | Sharon McMahon

Oct 21, 2024

Sharon McMahon, a former high school government teacher and the voice behind "Here's Where It Gets Interesting," shares insightful strategies for navigating today's chaotic news landscape. She emphasizes the importance of a diverse media diet and how to avoid becoming ‘confidently wrong’ in discussions. McMahon advocates for compassion towards differing opinions and highlights that history can provide hope when times feel bleak. Finally, she inspires listeners with stories of everyday individuals sparking meaningful change through small actions.

01:19:09

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Sharon McMahon

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Quick takeaways

Sharon McMahon emphasizes the necessity of maintaining a diverse media diet to build a comprehensive perspective on political issues.

The concept of 'confidently wrong' highlights the challenges of misinformation and the importance of intellectual humility in reshaping our views.

McMahon advocates for hope as an intentional choice, encouraging individuals to engage in positive actions that inspire societal change.

Deep dives

Navigating Hopelessness with Practical Wisdom

The discussion emphasizes the overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and confusion that many individuals experience when consuming news and following current events. Sharon McMahon, dubbed America’s government teacher, provides practical wisdom for engaging with American politics in a rational and effective manner. She highlights the importance of having a diverse media diet, allowing individuals to consume news from various perspectives, which can help them form a more rounded understanding of political issues. By encouraging the exploration of different viewpoints, she aims to equip people with clearer insights, fostering a sense of agency amidst political chaos.

Intro

5min

From Aspiring Doctor to Passionate Educator

2min

A Journey of Resilience and Altruism During a Pandemic

4min

The Power of Intellectual Humility

23min

Cultivating a Diverse Media Diet

8min

Navigating News Anxiety

21min

Finding Hope and Agency Through History

3min

The Power of Ordinary Actions

18min

Exploring New Literary and Podcast Ventures

4min

“America's Government Teacher” has smart tips for staying calm in turbulent times.

After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon McMahon took her passion for education to Instagram, where more than a million people (who affectionately call themselves “Governerds”) rely on her for non-partisan, fact-based information.

Sharon is also the host of the award-winning podcast, Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, where, each week, she provides entertaining yet factual accounts of America’s most fascinating moments and people. In addition, she is the author of The Preamble, a Substack newsletter about politics and history.

In this episode we talk about:

How to avoid being ‘confidently wrong’
How we often get confused between our opinions and our identity—which makes it very hard to change our opinions
The importance of having a diverse media diet
Tips for consuming the news without driving yourself nuts
How to have compassion for people who we completely disagree with
How history can be a balm for hopelessness—an antidote for when we’re tempted to conclude that things have never been worse
How everyday people have way more power than we think
And why hope is a choice.

Related Episodes:

Eight Things I’m Doing To Stay Sane During Election Season | Dan Harris

#405. How You Help End Polarization and Inequality – and Get Happier, Too | Robert Putnam & Shaylyn Romney Garrett

3 Buddhist Strategies for When the News is Overwhelming | Kaira Jewel Lingo

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