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.
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Short Bridges
- Start bridging divides with short bridges by talking to people with minor disagreements, not the most extreme.
- Avoid starting with people whose views you perceive as extremely harmful, advises Mónica Guzmán.
The Man and His Home
- David McRaney shares a story about interviewing an elderly man refusing to sell his house for a highway project.
- Through patient conversation, he discovered the man's deep emotional connection to his home, formed by his life experiences.
The Power of Story
- Mónica Guzmán highlights the power of listening to someone's story to understand their reasoning, even without a direct answer.
- She notes that this approach, essential in journalism, is becoming increasingly endangered.
