Professor John Sibley Butler (University of Texas in Austin), described as America's leading black business historian, is "straight outta the black bourgeoisie." Yes African-American history is riddled with tragedy and oppression. But this Black History Month, and every other month for that matter, Butler wishes to remind people of the long history of black self-sufficiency, community building, and prosperity in the face of oppression that he believes any accounting of black history is woefully incomplete without. Professor Butler joins John Wood Jr. to give a history lesson in this first of three podcast series on Black history. Twitter: @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr @JohnSibButler @1776Unites Websites: woodsoncenter.org braverangels.org 

Braver Angels has never been shy about engaging our nation's most sensitive political issues. Last year, we held a public debate on the 2020 election exploring themes of voter fraud, voter suppression, and disagreements about the outcome. Recently, we hosted a podcast with a guest who claimed that the January 6th riots were incited by liberal activists working in collusion with the FBI.  After initially taking down the podcast for violating its terms on misinformation, YouTube reinstated the episode after reviewing it in the context of our larger mission. On this episode of the podcast, Ciaran O'Connor hosts David Blankenhorn, president of Braver Angels, and Jonathan Rauch, author of The Constitution of Knowledge, for a wide-ranging discussion on depolarization in the age of misinformation, bridge-building across the epistemological divide, and the Braver Angels approach to controversial content. Check out Jonathan’s book: https://amzn.to/33wqcNu  Twitter: @braverangels, @jon_rauch, @blankenhorn3, @ciaranjoconnor

Plagued by pandemics of fear and distrust, many of us have come to hold some scary ideas about different people and places across our country. But what’s the reality?  Daniel Seddiqui has seen more of America than almost anyone. After working 50 jobs in 50 states in 50 weeks in 2009—from coal miner in West Virginia to bartender in Louisiana—he has since completed three more treks across the country in an attempt to better understand our nation and its people, stitching our country together in his own experience at a time when so much seems to be pulling us apart.  Just this week, he completed a year-long trip to America’s 65 most populous cities to craft mementos that represent their cultures. Curiosity fueled him, but as he shares with Mónica, fear of the unfamiliar constantly challenged him. What has he seen that can help the rest of us see ourselves better? Tune is as he shares stories from his adventures and lessons that have changed his life. Learn more about Daniel's cross-country adventures: www.livingthemap.com  Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @DanielSeddiqui 

Esther Cash is a liberal college student at Biola, a conservative Christian university in California. As a program associate for Braver Angels, she helps coordinate our debates program in communities and colleges across the country.  Today, she joins the podcast to discuss her own political evolution, the nature of polarization on college campuses, and how young people can lead the generational effort to rehabilitate our political conversation at a time of rancor, uncertainty, and alienation. Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor

Peter Wood is an anthropologist and president of the National Association of Scholars. He believes—like many Americans on the right—that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and the January 6th riots were incited by the left in collusion with the FBI. He's also the author of a new book called Wrath: America Enraged, which wrestles with our politics of anger and counsels conservatives on how to respond to perceived aggression.  Where does America go from here? In this episode, Peter joins Ciaran O'Connor for a frank conversation about the role of anger in our politics as well as the nature of truth, trust, and conspiracy theories. Check out Peter’s book: https://amzn.to/3rs2Al8  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @NASorg 

In the first Braver Angels Podcast episode of the new year, John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor share a deep and heartfelt conversation about the state of American politics on the one-year anniversary of January 6th, 2021. Happy 2022! Ready to become a Braver Angels member and build a house united together? Join us: https://braverangels.org/get-involved/#become-member  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr

In the 1950's and 60's the reverend Martin Luther King Jr. inspired a nation with a message of hope, aimed against the forces of racism, inspired by the philosophy of nonviolence and what he believed to be the moral and spiritual teachings of the gospel. Is that philosophy relevant to today's fights against injustice and our struggle against polarization? Reverend Adam Taylor of Sojourners (author of the book A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community) has dedicated his career to pursuing social justice and democratic reform through principles of Kingian Nonviolence and what he considers the moral teachings of Jesus. Hear him and Braver Angels national ambassador John Wood Jr. talk about race, divides within the church, the legacy of King and the challenges of nonviolence in 2021. Twitter: @revadamtaylor @braverangels @JohnRWoodJr  Websites: www.sojo.net www.braverangels.org  Get the book!  More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community https://www.amazon.com/More-Perfect-Union-Building-Beloved-Community/dp/150646453X

On the weekend of December 9, 2016, a small group of citizens—half Donald Trump voters, half Hillary Clinton voters—gathered in South Lebanon, Ohio, for an experiment. Could we talk with each other rather than at each other?  Five years later, the co-founders of Braver Angels (David Blankenhorn, Bill Doherty, and David Lapp) reflect on that inaugural event and how it led to the birth of Braver Angels as we now know it. Learn more and support our mission: braverangels.org/support-us Twitter: @braverangels, @blankenhorn3, @davidlappoh

In a special all-women roundtable edition of our podcast, two Red and two Blue Braver Angels leaders get passionate, personal, and curious about what led them to hold opposing views on one of the toughest political dilemmas in America: abortion.  How do voices on the left and right strengthen or weaken our country’s grasp of what’s at stake? And how do these women respond to the heartfelt, challenging questions they ask each other across the divide about legality, morality, freedom, and even murder? Featuring April Kornfield (director of debates), Sage Snider (director emeritus of cultural engagement), Alma Cook (co-chair of the music team), and Mónica Guzmán (director of digital and storytelling). Also in this episode: the women share tributes to mothers, a mother-in-law, and—in a surprising twist—their undying love for Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.  Join Braver Angels on December 2 for our national debate on abortion: www.eventbrite.com/e/national-debate-abortion-registration-207434170187  What tough topic should we tackle next month? Email media@braverangels.org to share your thoughts. Twitter: @braverangels, @moniguzman, @AprilALawson, @HearAlma, @SageSnider 

What are the historical roots of political polarization in America? Why do Americans hold such dissonant perspectives on the meaning of our core ideals? How might we understand our history to create a more perfect future union?  Ciaran O'Connor hosts Seth David Radwell, author of American Schism, for a wide-ranging conversation on the political, cultural, and epistemological dimensions of our political divide from the Enlightenment to the present moment. Check out American Schism on Radwell’s website: sethdavidradwell.com/american-schism  Twitter: @braverangels, @ciaranjoconnor, @SRadwell