

How My View Grew
Amiel Handelsman
If you’re weary of political polarization, nothing is more refreshing than nuanced thinking: ideas that reveal the complexity of what’s wrong in the world and how to make it better. But where does such thinking come from? Often, it’s from someone changing their mind—letting go of an old perspective and growing into a new one. Join executive coach Amiel Handelsman as he interviews nuanced thinkers about the origin stories of their big ideas. Each story offers a window into one of humanity’s greatest challenges like climate change, democracy, the culture wars, the wealth gap, Ukraine, and Israel. In weeks between interviews, Amiel offers tips for training your mind to navigate complex topics and difficult conversations.
Episodes
Mentioned books

14 snips
Jul 16, 2025 • 27min
David Storey (Part 2): Alpha Energy Plus Economic Populism Plus Christianity Equals?
In a thought-provoking discussion, David Storey, an associate professor of philosophy at Boston College and host of the Wisdom@Work podcast, delves into the complexities of expertise and masculinity in today’s society. He examines the ironic rise of the manosphere and connects it to the film 'Fight Club.' The conversation also tackles the relationship between economic populism and Christianity, suggesting a political path forward for Democrats. Join them as they explore identity, tech dominance, and the nuances of political dialogue in the digital age.

Jul 2, 2025 • 28min
David Storey (Part 1): Raw Egg Nationalists and the Rise of the Manosphere
Part one of a fascinating and just plain fun conversation about the manosphere with David Storey, associate professor of philosophy at Boston College. Our first experiment in doing a "high-brow brocast." Big ideas with a casual vibe.**Key takeaways**4:00 Beards, mustaches, and the aesthetics of Trumpism7:15 When my mask threatens your identity12:10 Why this philosophy professor competes in Spartan races17:00 The laptop class manipulates bits, not its19:00 The economics behind the rise of the manosphere 24:00 The impact on young men of #metoo and the rise of girl-boss culture26:00 When the male body feels stuck, where does testosterone go?**Resources**David's web site, including his podcast, Wisdom@Work**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jun 18, 2025 • 5min
No Kings Protest—Kudos and Disappointment
This past Saturday, I attended the No Kings protest in a Midwestern college town. I walked in with a spring in my step, yet left early with a frown on my face. In this 5-minute episode of How My View Grew, I explain why. It's a good-news, bad-news tale. **Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 28, 2025 • 27min
Greg Thomas: Can Injustice Catalyze a Hero's Journey?
In this episode of How My View Grew, Greg Thomas describes how jazz saved him from hating so-called "white people" and how he learned to see the Black American experience as a hero's journey that is central to American history and culture.**Key takeaways**3:00 Early-life learning about rabid southern racists9:00 "I gotta pick up an instrument"13:30 The pathologizing of Black Americans by "white" liberals16:00 The depth and wisdom of Albert Murray, Ralph Ellison, and Stanley Crouch19:00 "This history has got my back" and the artificiality of "whiteness"22:00 The hero's journey23:30 Amiel's reflections**Resources**Jazz Leadership ProjectOmni-American Future Project“King of Cats,” Henry Louis Gates Jr’s long profile of Murray in The New YorkerThe Omni-Americans: Some Alternatives to the Folklore of White Supremacy by Albert Murray**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 16, 2025 • 24min
Two Audacious Ideas for a Post-Trump America (Really)
When right-wingers in the United States were in the wilderness for decades, they didn't just sit on their hands. They envisioned bold ways to change the country. When they came to power, they were ready to act.Setting aside whether you like those ideas, ask yourself this: if Republicans could do this, why can't Democrats? Are liberals and progressives incapable of imagining what they'll do when back in power? Or have they simply not yet grown this potential?Maybe it's time for all of us to not just play defense against the current mayhem but also to envision a better offense. If your party were to regain power, what would you want it to do?In this episode, I invite you to think audaciously and notice not only what you come up with, but also how this improves your mood for dealing with the current presidency and its agents of sycophancy.Imagine tomorrow so you have more power to act today.To get you started, I propose two audacious ideas for a post-Trump America.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 8, 2025 • 9min
Seven Causes of Trump Mafia State Fatigue
Let's admit it. The Trump presidency isn't just creating chaos and destruction with sadistic glee. It's also exhausting.What's exhausting isn't only the President, but also the mafia state he has built, many journalists who cover him, and progressives who frame the situation ideologically.In this 9-minute episode, I describe seven causes of Trump Mafia State Fatigue:The Bullshit Asymmetry PrincipleThe Gaslighting EffectFly in the EarAffirmative action for mediocrityThe double-edged corruption swordSanewashingProgressive ideological framing**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 2, 2025 • 4min
Ten Bright Spots in the First 100 Days
The first 100 days of the Trump presidency have brought destruction and chaos at astonishing speeds.Yet we've also seen demonstrations of courage, strength, and grace.In this 4-minute episode, I describe ten such bright spots. **Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apr 16, 2025 • 15min
Nine Suggestions For Facing An American Warlord
In this episode of How My View Grew, I offer nine ways that leaders of key American institutions—Congressional Democrats, the Supreme Court, universities, and law firms—can act differently when facing a warlord Administration. How do you act toward people whose primary modes are force and intimidation and who honor no laws, constitutions, or norms?**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Mar 26, 2025 • 18min
"They Would Never Do That"
Why have so many liberals and progressives felt shocked by the first two months of the second Trump Administration? Why, instead, did so many assume that "they would never do that?"In this short solo episode, I offer a possible answer. Liberals and progressives have a massive blind spot. They don't know who and what they are dealing with—namely, a worldview that is deeply entrenched in human culture yet widely misunderstood: the warlord or warrior. Once they see it, they—and conservatives committed to prudence, humility, and order—can abandon failed strategies and craft new ones.**Resources**What I saw at a MAGA conference: A Day at CPACTwo days with former Republicans who won't bend the knee for Trump: The Principles First conferenceWhy Trump and Vance looked weak and Zelensky looked strong**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Mar 19, 2025 • 51min
Ari Weinzweig: Can Workplace Dignity Prevent Political Tyranny?
The first two months of the new Administration in Washington DC have brought shocking degrees of chaos and disruption. Many people who didn't vote for the current President feel like they've been punched in the face and knocked to the ground. How in a situation like this do you get back up? What actions can you take to lift your mood and make things in the world better?This week's guest on How My View Grew, which launches season three of the podcast, is no stranger to this dilemma. Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of the Zingerman's Community of Businesses in Ann Arbor, Michigan, knows something about getting crushed by a global shock and then finding a way to get back up. In his case, the event was Russia's brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. How he got back up was by learning about Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and then using this as inspiration to bring dignity into the workplace. Ari's story offers a lesson about how to respond to disturbing and horrific events. It also raises a startling question: if millions of people felt a sense of dignity in the workplace, would they vote for demagogues claiming "you've been screwed" and promising to "fix it" for them? Or might they instead say, "No thanks. I'm good. If you want to be an autocrat, move to Russia?"**Key takeaways**5:00 When Ari was unconsciously competent at dignity10:00 "Putin isn't going to call me for advice"14:00 Inspiration from Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity25:00 Honoring dignity doesn't take more time27:00 Being authentic without dumping on others32:00 Showing employees the financial numbers36:00 "Maybe it's not because they're lazy." 43:00 Slipping daily and then gamefilming45:30 Amiel's reflections**Resources**A Revolution of Dignity in the Twenty-first Century Workplace, a pamphlet by AriZingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, MichiganUkrainian civic activist Valerii Pekar on Ukraine's stunning resilience (How My View Grew)Historian Marci Shore on how to improve the world amidst evil (How My View Grew)Depolarize politics by escaping the drama triangle (How My View Grew)**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.