You Are Not So Smart

306 - I Never Thought of it That Way - Mónica Guzmán (rebroadcast)

Feb 3, 2025

Mónica Guzmán, author of "I Never Thought of It That Way" and a senior fellow at Braver Angels, shares her insights on fostering productive conversations in today's polarized world. She highlights the dangers of shaming and encourages curiosity to bridge divides. Personal narratives play a crucial role in understanding differing ideologies, and Guzmán discusses how storytelling can transform dialogue. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing our knowledge limits and the impact of social media on human interaction.

52:11

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Episode guests

Mónica Guzmán

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Quick takeaways

Emphasizing curiosity over judgment in conversations can bridge divides and promote understanding in a polarized political climate.

Braver Angels employs workshops and dialogues to facilitate cross-partisan conversations, fostering empathy and collaboration between opposing political beliefs.

Sharing personal narratives can illuminate differing viewpoints, dismantle preconceptions, and highlight our shared human experiences beyond political differences.

Deep dives

Understanding Political Polarization

Political polarization has significant impacts on communication and relationships, especially evident in how people default to shaming or distancing themselves from those with differing views. Such tactics often backfire, reinforcing division rather than fostering understanding. Instead of bringing people closer, these behaviors can alienate individuals who may already feel marginalized. Emphasizing curiosity over judgment can create opportunities for dialogue and understanding, which are essential in today's divisive atmosphere.

Intro

2min

Bridging Divides Through Dialogue

21min

Exploring Creativity and Critical Thinking

5min

The Power of Personal Narratives

18min

Exploring the Limits of Knowledge: Beyond Your Ken

4min

Exploring Social Media and Human Behavior

4min

This episode’s guest is Mónica Guzmán, the author of I Never Thought of It That Way – a book with very practical advice on how to have productive conversations in a polarized political environment via authentic curiosity about where people’s beliefs, opinions, attitudes, and values come from. It's also about how to learn from those with whom we disagree by establishing the sort of dynamic in which they will eagerly learn from us as well.

- How Minds Change

- Show Notes

- Newsletter

- David McRaney's BlueSky

- David McRaney’s Twitter

- YANSS Twitter

- Mónica Guzmán’s Website

- Mónica Guzmán’s Twitter

- I Never Thought of it That Way

- Braver Angels

- My Article on Intellectual Humility