The Braver Angels Podcast

What does "defund the police" really mean? How can media outlets balance concerns about social justice and free speech? And how can America come together amidst upheaval? Ciaran O'Connor, John Wood, Jr., April Lawson, and Monica Guzman discuss on the latest edition of the Braver Angels Podcast.

Bridget Phetasy is a writer, actress and comedian whose Twitter feed has emerged as an unlikely refuge for political misfits across the spectrum. Formerly a columnist for Playboy, a contributor to publications including The Federalist and a guest on podcasts including The Joe Rogan Experience and The Rubin Report, Bridget has never gone into depth on the rough and tumble, zig-zagging life journey that brought her to her unusual brand of political celebrity…until now. Monica Guzman and John Wood, Jr. ask the questions in this provocative introspective. Warning: some explicit sexual language. Join Braver Angels: www.braverangels.org Twitter: @BridgetPhetasy @JohnRWoodJr @moniguzman @braverangels Facebook: @BraverAngels

John Wood, Jr. is joined by Braver Angels leaders Sage Snider, Luke Phillips and special guest Phillippa Hughes, founder of the Looking for America project, to talk about the Braver Angels songwriting contest, the cross-cultural artistic and convening work of Looking for America, and the power of music, art, food and culture to transcend the normal divisions of politics. Interested in writing a song for Braver Angels? Learn more at: https://braverangels.org/the-braver-angels-songwriting-contest/ Learn about Look for America at: https://www.lookingforamerica.us/ Follow at Twitter: @BraverAngels @johnrwoodjr @SageSnider @HughesPhillipa IG: @BraverAngels Facebook: @BraverAngels

Like the rest of America, Braver Angels has been touched by the COVID-19 epidemic and the national response. Some of us have been touched in very personal ways. So listen as the Braver Angels crew, including Ciaran, April, Monica and John, share their own experiences related to COVID-19, while exploring the warring attitudes of the American people. Follow us: www.braverangels.org Twitter: @BraverAngels @JohnRWoodJr @ciaranjoconnor @moniguzman

How do we overcome the bitterness of American politics and change the way things are done? This is John Wood, Jr. "Left of Bernie," yet a consistent defender of President Trump; author, commentator and creator of the comic strip "Dilbert" Scott Adams is a fascinating or infuriating voice in the political conversation, depending on who you ask. But Scott is schooled in the art of persuasion. I enjoyed talking to Scott about the practical ways we can repair our politics. Better yet, I got to challenge Scott to sharpen our own understanding of how to bring Americans together. Mr. Adams doesn't disappoint. Join Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org Follow On: Twitter: @BraverAngels @ScottAdamsSays @JohnRWoodJr Facebook: @BraverAngels @TranscendingPolitics Instagram: @BraverAngels

Sam Daley-Harris is a true pioneer in the area of bipartisan political organizing, and he has the track record to prove it. From his beginnings in anti-poverty work in the 70's to climate change today, Sam has built organizations that have set the cutting edge in grassroots coalition building. In this episode of The Braver Angels Podcast, Sam travels through his history as an organizer, recounting lessons and victories, and offers his perspective on how we can come together across the divide during and beyond COVID-19. John Wood, Jr. hosts. Learn about Braver Angels: www.braverangels.org Learn more about Sam and Civic Courage: https://civiccourage.org/ Follow Us Twitter: @braverangels @johnrwoodjr Facebook: @braverangels

Things have changed in the USA. But while ordinary Americans fight extraordinary battles to beat back COVID-19 and keep our economy running, Braver Angels and hopeful Americans across the country look for ways to make our politics worthy of our heroes and the future we want to see. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, guests Chloe Valdary and Ken Bone talk Braver Angels, courage in the face of social judgment, and about the opportunities we have to uplift our society and our politics during lock down and the 2020 election. Co-hosts John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor. Twitter: @cvaldary @kenbone18 @braverangels @johnrwoodjr @ciaranjoconnor Learn more about the work of Chloe Valdary at https://theoryofenchantment.com/ Join the mission at Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/

Everybody seems to hate the media. But is it the problem or the solution? And is it possible that during the COVID-19 pandemic Americans are coming together after all? Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr. are joined by media figures Annafi Wahed (founder of The Flipside), Denise Quinn (talk radio show host on KYKN in Salem, OR) and Monica Guzman (co-founder of The Evergrey in Portland, OR) to analyze how media habits and coverage are changing, not changing, and what it all means in the midst of our current crisis. You'll be surprised at what there is to learn.

It's a new day in America, and many things have changed. This new day requires courage. Better, has become Braver. In this episode Braver Angels national ambassadors John Randolph Wood, Jr. and Ciaran Justice O'Connor talk about Better Angels transformation, the politics of Republicans and Democrats during the Coronavirus crisis, and the challenge of bringing Americans together in the 2020 election. Save the Republic. Learn more at www.braverangels.org Social Media: Twitter: @johnrwoodjr @ciaranjoconnor @braverangels

Recorded 3/12/2020: Peter Boghossian, Co-author of the book How to Have Impossible Conversations, drops by The Better Angels Podcast to talk with John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor about how the techniques in this book prepare us for some of the difficult dialogues the spreading pandemic is confronting us with. Pick up your copy of How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide: https://www.amazon.com/How-Have-Impossible-Conversations-Practical/dp/0738285323 Follow Peter Boghossian Twitter @peterboghossian @JohnRWoodJr @ciaranjoconnor @betterangelsusa