John McWhorter is a professor of linguistics at Columbia University, the author of many books, a witty and passionately independent voice on the subject of American race relations.  Hear him join John Wood, Jr. of Braver Angels to compare perspectives on the traditional narratives that shape our racial conversation, the post Civil Rights era Black experience, and the ways in which the varieties of experiences in the Black community impact the dialogue on race in the United States.  (The book on the history of the Crack cocaine epidemic referenced in this conversation is called "Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and the Decade of Greed" by David Farber) Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr

For 20 years, Nick Gillespie has been the "intellectual godfather" of Reason Magazine and one of the leading minds of the libertarian movement in America. Yet while libertarianism has a notable place in American culture and has proven influential in our political conversation, it hasn’t yet proven itself to be a strong force in electoral politics.  What are the challenges facing political libertarianism in America? Where does libertarianism come from in American history? Nick joins John Wood, Jr. to talk about all this and more in this special interview on the Braver Angels Podcast. Twitter: @braverangels, @JohnRWoodJr, @nickgillespie 

Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist, has been heralded as "the conscience of Silicon Valley." He most recently starred in The Social Dilemma on Netflix, one of the most popular documentaries of 2020. Tristan has been steering the conversation about how social media interacts with democracy and the human mind in American and global society. In the second of Tristan's conversations with John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor (who were recently guests on Tristan’s Your Undivided Attention podcast), the focus turns to social media's influence on our relationship to time, Tristan's philosophical journey in understanding the nature of truth, and what Tristan would do if he were to become the next president of Facebook.  Learn more about Tristan’s work on his website (www.tristanharris.com), and check out John and Ciaran’s last appearance on Tristan’s show (link). Twitter: @braverangels, @tristanharris, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr

Jason is a black stay-at-home father from South Lebanon, Ohio. Believing that Biden is too conservative, he voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries. A few towns over, Lance is a white father and utility locator who enthusiastically voted for Trump. Though miles apart in their politics, they both believe working-class Americans like them are getting cheated and that most politicians are in the pockets of corporations. Is a multiracial working-class revolution in the future—and if so, would it serve to depolarize America or to exacerbate existing tensions? Join us for this raw and surprising conversation.  Twitter: @braverangels, @davidlappoh

Cooperation feels good. Human society is built on it. So why do we clash so destructively—in our marriages, at work, and especially when talking about politics?  Julia Minson is a social psychologist who studies the psychology of disagreement, aiming to tease out ways we can make fraught conversations more enjoyable and productive. Her current research is inspired by Braver Angels' workshops, and her studies may have revealed  the "secret sauce" that makes them so effective. The answer...probably won't be what you expect! Along the way, Julia touches on simple behaviors that can improve our day-to-day in-person and online interactions, what makes social media both better and worse than you think, and how her work is received by students and faculty in academia. Learn more about Julia’s research on her website: www.juliaminson.com  Twitter: @braverangels, @juliaminson, @gregsteinbreche

In her latest book, High Conflict, Amanda Ripley explores how good people get captured by devastating conflict and how they can break free. Amanda combines storytelling with data—drawing lessons from examples like the FARC militants of Colombia and the violent gangs of Chicago—to develop a theory of successful conflict resolution. In this edition of the Braver Angels Podcast, Amanda joins hosts Ciaran O'Connor and April Lawson to dive deep into her book and illuminate lessons we can apply to tribal politics in the U.S. Learn more about Amanda’s book: www.amandaripley.com  Twitter: @braverangels, @amandaripley, @ciaranjoconnor, @AprilALawson

Collaboraction Theatre Company is a Chicago nonprofit exploring theatre's role in social change. Through its year-round programming, the group invites its crew and audience members alike to listen and learn from one another, bringing their disagreements and questions in tow. In this episode, Collaboraction's artistic director Anthony Moseley and executive director Dr. Marcus Robinson share their experiences in the organization. With hosts Ciaran O'Connor and Alma Cook, they discuss how theatre can open people up to more constructive political conversations, how the troubles of 2020 affected their work, how conservatives can be made to feel more welcome in artistic spaces, and more.  Twitter: @braverangels, @Collaboraction, @AnthonyMoseley, @4MarcusRobinson, @ciaranjoconnor, @HearAlma

Michael Patrick F. Smith is a musician, playwright, former oilfield hand, and author of a new memoir documenting his experience in the North Dakota oil patch. He and Braver Angels host Alma Cook—a fellow musician with experience in the same oil patch Michael writes about in his book—traded stories about life in North Dakota and chatted about the global petroleum dependency, the dignity of blue collar trades, and music's role in the political space.  Read Michael's front-page New York Times feature, "The First Step is Admitting You Have a Problem,” here. Learn more about Michael's music, writing, and more: www.thegoodhand.org Twitter: @braverangels, @MPFSmith, @HearAlma

Are calls to unity too weak, too generic, or too "blue" to move Americans? What are the hard truths that stand in the way of unity? Educator, activist, and author Tim Shriver joins the Braver Angels Podcast to talk about his new book, The Call to Unite, and the budding nationwide movement to unite America. Joined by April Lawson and John Wood, Jr., Tim reflects on the history of nonviolent movements, shares his own methods for building connection and empathy, and responds to criticisms of the idea of unity in modern America.  Learn more about Tim’s new book: www.unite.us/book Twitter: @braverangels, @TimShriver, @thecalltounite, @JohnRWoodJr, @AprilALawson

Sarah Anderson is the author of forthcoming book The Space Between Us: How Jesus Teaches Us to Live Together When Politics and Religion Pull Us Apart. Host April Lawson and Sarah discuss her background being raised in a very political family, her journey of learning that people of faith can differ politically, and how she engages—and teaches others to engage—faith and politics in our key relationships. Sarah has a degree in Christian thought from Grove City College. Currently, she works as a writer and editor for the Rethink Group student curriculum. She also maintains a popular blog covering topics like faith, culture, parenting, and marriage: www.sarahbanderson.com Twitter: @braverangels, @SarahB_Anderson, @AprilALawson