Dispatches from the Divide

Two days earlier, Laryssa Bishop had no idea this trip existed. Now she's climbing into an RV with seven strangers to spend a day talking about one of the most divisive issues in America.

After becoming afraid to speak openly about politics, Laryssa sees the trip as a chance to try again. But the topic is immigration – deeply personal for a Brazilian international student waiting for her green card – and she'll be discussing it with Republicans and Democrats whose views she doesn't know.

What if the conversation gets ugly? What if she isn't prepared? What if this isn't actually a place where she can speak freely?

By the time Laryssa finally pulls her chair into the circle, her heart is racing.

This is the final episode of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.

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Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

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CHAPTERS
(0:00) Laryssa Joins RV Trip
(2:03) A Campus Killing Shakes Her
(3:21) Why She Stopped Speaking
(5:45) Braver Angels Explained
(7:40) Common Ground Workshop Setup
(9:28) Ground Rules And Fishbowl
(12:02) Immigrant Stories In The Circle
(16:14) Tension and Searching For Policy
(18:01) Laryssa Sparks A Breakthrough
(22:09) Courageous Citizenship Lessons
(23:170 Finding Her Voice Again
(24:21) Final Reflections And Farewell

#DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #BraverAngels #Immigration #BridgingDivides #CommonGround #CivilDiscourse #PoliticalPolarization #Courage

Helene Biandudi Hofer walked away from the kind of journalism she feared was making people more divided. Now she has to find out whether her alternative actually works.

In Episode 6 of Dispatches from the Divide, Helene takes on a local election story in her own small town—and deliberately ignores some of the instincts that shaped her decades in journalism. Instead of chasing the obvious political conflict, she follows the parts of the story that don’t fit.

Then election night throws the whole thing into doubt.

Can she report the news differently—and still make people want to listen?
—--
Subscribe to Dispatches from the Divide for more true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.
—-----
Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway
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CHAPTERS
(0:00) Mom Tips Off Mystery
(3:02) Dispatches Theme Setup
(4:24) Spotting The Misfit Story
(5:28) Trust First Reporting
(8:05) Election Clock Ticking
(9:41) Loss Then Breakthrough
(11:20) Bert Interview Begins
(13:43) Final Story Playback
(14:13) Williamson Sets The Scene
(16:26) Why Republicans Back Joe
(20:30) Results snd Ripple Effects
(23:28) Monica Reflects On News
(26:00) Closing And Next Episode

Watch the video of Helene’s story about Joe and Bert on the Good Conflict YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvgy9a3CVeQ

#Journalism #PoliticalPolarization #LocalNews #LocalPolitics #SolutionsJournalism #BridgingDivides #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #B

Laryssa Bishop left Brazil for college in America believing she'd finally found a place where she could speak her mind. Instead, she slowly became afraid to say what she really thought.

As an international student in Salt Lake City, Laryssa wants to talk openly about politics, immigration, the Israel-Gaza war, and the issues dividing America. But conversations turn hostile, people on both sides unfollow her, and worries about her green card make speaking up feel increasingly risky

Then an act of political violence close to home seems to confirm her worst fears.

This is Episode 7 of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.
—-----
Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

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CHAPTERS
(0:00) Leaving Rio Behind
(1:09) First Steps in America
(3:28) Free Speech Expectations
(5:03) Silenced Back Home
(6:37) Campus Labels and Pushback
(7:50) Social Media Backlash
(8:32) Marriage and Green Card Fears
(10:00) A New Hope Emerges
(10:43) Birth of Peacemaker Project
(13:18) The Big Immigration Debate
(15:16) Peacemaking at Home
(17:00) National Conference in Mountains
(18:30) Larissa Gets Invited
(19:32) Finding Her Voice Again
(20:47) Campus Assassination Shock
(22:26) RV Trip and Cliffhanger
(24:37) Credits and Wrap Up

#DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #BraverAngels #FreeSpeech #PoliticalPolarization #InternationalStudents #Immigration #PoliticalDivision #CivilDiscourse

Bob Hathcock helped launch a campaign to remove Julie Spilsbury from office. Now he's walking into her home—and neither of them knows how this conversation will end.
In Episode 4 of Dispatches from the Divide, a bitter Mesa, Arizona, recall election fueled by political polarization, the 2024 election, and deep disagreements over local politics becomes intensely personal.
Julie believes she followed her conscience. Bob believes she betrayed the conservative district that elected her. Now, with election day approaching, they finally sit down face to face.
What happens when the person on the other side is suddenly sitting on your couch?
—-------
Subscribe to Dispatches from the Divide for more true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.
—-----
Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

—-------

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Intro
(0:15) Recall Rivals Face Off
(1:33) Couch Talk And Tears
(2:29) Why Bob Felt Betrayed
(5:18) Campaign Turns Ugly
(7:06) Small Gestures Of Humanity
(8:19) Election Night Fallout
(9:49) Staying In Church Community
(13:55) Love Over Civility Talk
(18:07) Lunch With Former Opponent
(19:50) Politically Homeless After Recall
(22:29) Return Day And Closing

#DispatchesFromTheDivide #BraverAngels #DisagreeBetter #BYUradio
#JulieSpilsbury #ArizonaPolitics #RecallElection #LocalPolitics #PoliticalPolarization #BridgingDivides

Veteran journalist Helene Biandudi Hofer is sitting at home scripting her weekly news show when she suddenly puts down her laptop and starts to cry. She became a reporter because she wanted to help people understand each other. But after decades in the new business, she can't shake a troubling question: What if the way she's been telling stories is making our divisions worse?

Just when she thinks she’s out of options, something lands in her inbox.

This is Episode 5 of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.

—-----
Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

—-----

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Crisis By The Fireplace
(1:39) The Story She Regrets
(5:12) Why News Feels Broken
(6:42) A Childhood Calling
(9:15) Solutions Journalism Spark
(11:12) Complicating The Narrative
(13:59) Teaching Looping Skills
(15:44) Good Conflict Begins
(18:44) What Audiences Want
(23:50) Testing Nuanced Local Stories
(25:47) Next Episode Tease
(26:05) Credits And Wrap

#Journalism #TrustInMedia #PoliticalPolarization #NewsMedia #SolutionsJournalism #MediaLiteracy #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #BraverAngels

A tweet on a quiet Sunday morning stops Dave Butler cold: a shooting at a Latter-day Saint church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. He doesn't know a single victim — but he’s a member of the same faith, so the attack feels personal. As the news spreads and fear turns to anger online, Dave makes a choice that no one sees coming, one that will pull him into the national spotlight and put him directly in the path of backlash he never expected.

Dispatches from the Divide features true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.

—-----

Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

—-----

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Breaking News Shock
(1:09) Fear Spreads Online
(2:03) Welcome to Dispatches from the Divide
(3:40) Attack Details Emerge
(5:25) Personal Vulnerability
(6:30) A Radical Idea Appears
(9:05) Walkies And Motives
(11:18) Faith And Compassion
(13:04) Launching The Fundraiser
(14:39) Glitches And A Pivot
(16:25) Viral Donations Roll In
(17:54) Media Attention And Trolls
(18:25) Next Episode Tease

#DispatchesFromTheDivide #BraverAngels #GrandBlancShooting #Forgiveness #DisagreeBetter #TrueStoryPodcast #ActsOfCompassion #FaithInAction #PodcastEpisode #BYUradio

The fundraiser exploded overnight — and so did the backlash. As Dave Butler's small act of compassion turns into a national story, a nagging doubt creeps in: what if he's making things worse for the people he's trying to help?

In Episode 2 of Dispatches from the Divide, Dave finally makes contact with the family at the center of it all, in a pair of raw, emotional phone calls that neither side saw coming. What happens next puts his decision — and its consequences — into a whole new light.

—-----

Subscribe to Dispatches from the Divide for more true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.

—-----

Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

CHAPTERS
(0:00) A Risky Fundraiser
(0:45) Viral Attention Hits
(2:18) Backlash and Doubt
(3:57) Mistaken Identity Trouble
(4:55) Trying to Reach the Family
(6:45) Sister Reaches Out
(7:43) A Tearful Drive Call
(11:32) Talking to the Widow
(14:04) Trust and Ongoing Support
(14:42) Nearly 400K Raised
(16:05) The Pebble and the Avalanche
(18:29) Monica's Takeaway
(19:47) Next Time and Credits

#GrandBlancShooting #PoliticalPolarization #BridgingDivides #MoralCourage
#LatterDaySaints #FaithAndForgiveness #Compassion #BraverAngels #DisagreeBetter #BYUradio

Julie Spilsbury was known around Mesa, Arizona, for two things: her city council seat and her cinnamon rolls. Then one public decision turned people she'd known for twenty years — church members, fellow moms, neighbors down the street — into the architects of an unprecedented recall campaign. And the man leading the charge against her was about to make a move nobody saw coming, including him.

This is Episode 3 of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman.

—-----

Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels.

Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide

If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited

More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/
More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/
More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/
Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Recall Petition Shock
(2:00) Why Politics Feels Like War
(3:03) Cinnamon Roll Diplomacy
(5:13) First Big Council Vote
(7:13) Governing by Conscience
(9:19) Endorsing Democrats Publicly
(11:31) Bob Sparks the Recall
(17:01) Signatures and Obsession
(19:26) Community Fallout and Hurt
(21:48) An Unexpected Meeting Setup
(22:41) Next Time and Credits

#JulieSpilsbury #MesaArizona #PoliticalPolarization #LocalPolitics #RecallElection #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BraverAngels #DisagreeBetter #BYUradio

Four stories. Four ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances . . . that take some surprising turns.

In this limited series, Monica Guzman follows individuals into moments of extreme conflict. Stakes are high—relationships, careers, and communities on the line. But just when you think you know how the story ends, one person does something to turn the whole plot on its head.

These are gripping looks at courage, compassion, forgiveness, and the surprising ways people respond when tension is at its peak.

Welcome to Dispatches from the Divide.

From the team behind Top of Mind with Julie Rose, Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Braver Angels, and Disagree Better.

A personal note from Julie with a bittersweet announcement and some exciting changes coming to the Top of Mind feed in the coming weeks. Watch for Dispatches from the Divide to debut right here on September 28th. A new podcast from the Top of Mind team, Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Braver Angels and Disagree Better. It's hosted by Monica Guzman and follows four ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn.

What does it mean to be lonely, and what can we do about it?

On this episode of Top of Mind, psychiatrist Dr. Frank Clark explains why loneliness is a public health issue and why it doesn’t always look the way we expect. Charlotte Donlon, author of The Great Belonging, explores loneliness as a longing for belonging, while game designer Matt Fantastic shares how his board-game shop is creating a “third space” where strangers can connect. Together, they ask whether loneliness is something to solve, something to listen to, or both.

GUESTS
Dr. Frank Clark, psychiatrist at Prisma-Health Upstate, clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville (https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/authors/frank-clark-md).
Matt Fantastic, co-owner of Elm City Games in New Haven, Connecticut (https://www.elmcitygames.com/).
Charlotte Donlon, spiritual director and author of The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (https://charlottedonlon.com/the-great-belonging-book).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(2:30) Loneliness as Epidemic
(8:17) Defining Loneliness
(10:40) Health Risks Explained
(16:54) Meaning Purpose Prescription
(20:34) Finding Third Spaces
(25:41) Matt Fantastic Origins
(26:21) Opening Elm City Games
(28:55) Third Space Magic
(34:43) Loneliness as Signal
(36:30) Meet Charlotte Donlon
(37:30) Belonging Defines Loneliness
(40:03) Art as Belonging
(43:57) Spiritual Loneliness
(47:24) Living with Loneliness
(49:35) Talking About It
(51:11) Conclusion

What does it take to create a new American tradition?

For years, Jay Winuk and David Paine have been fighting to transform September 11th into a National Day of Service. Now, just when their effort seems stuck, help arrives from an unexpected place.

But getting Washington on board is only the beginning. How do you turn an idea into something millions of Americans will actually do year after year? And as more Americans grow up with no firsthand memory of 9/11, can service preserve something important about the way the country responded in its aftermath?

In Part 2, host Julie Rose follows the surprising final chapters of an effort to change what 9/11 means on the American calendar and explores what it takes to keep the memory of that day alive for generations who weren't there to experience it.

GUESTS
Jay Winuk, co-founder of 9/11 Day
David Paine, co-founder of 9/11 Day
Cindy McGinty, 9/11 widow who played a pivotal role in the effort
Fred Dombo, attorney and lobbyist
Andrea Sorkin, 9/11 Day event leader

Learn more and find opportunities to serve at https://www.911day.org/

Other resources for volunteer and service opportunities:
https://www.americorps.gov/serve/volunteer/911-day
https://createthegood.aarp.org/
https://www.justserve.org/

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Part Two Setup
(2:30) 2008 Political Opening
(3:25) Serve America Act Push
(6:02) Cindy McGinty Story
(15:52) Bill Signed into Law
(16:33) Ad Break
(17:09) Making Service Catch On
(19:07) Signature Meal Packing Events
(21:26) Scaling for 25th Anniversary
(23:45) Teaching the Next Generation
(25:33) How to Get Involved
(26:19) Closing Credits

Every September 11th, millions of Americans honor the victims of 9/11 by volunteering and doing good in their communities. But how did the anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil become a National Day of Service?

In Part 1 of “The Untold Story of How America Remembers 9/11,” host Julie Rose traces the idea back to the aftermath of the attacks, when Americans responded to tragedy with an extraordinary outpouring of service and unity.

After losing his brother Glenn—a volunteer firefighter and EMT who rushed to the World Trade Center to help—Jay Winuk joined his longtime colleague David Paine with an ambitious idea: What if Americans could recapture that spirit of unity every September 11th through service?

They had no staff, no budget and no roadmap for navigating Washington. And turning their idea into a national tradition would prove much harder than they imagined.

GUESTS
Jay Winuk, co-founder of 9/11 Day
David Paine, co-founder of 9/11 Day
Terry Sears, nonprofit leader and former executive director of Tuesday’s Children
Fred Dombo, attorney and lobbyist who helped lead the effort in Washington

Learn more and find opportunities to serve at https://www.911day.org/

Other resources for volunteer and service opportunities:
https://www.americorps.gov/serve/volunteer/911-day
https://createthegood.aarp.org/
https://www.justserve.org/

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(2:04) Glenn Winuk Story
(4:04) Grief and Unity
(9:18) David Paine Idea
(12:39) Nonprofit Aftermath
(16:06) No Holiday Just Action
(17:13) Enter Fred Dombo
(19:52) Roadblocks on Capitol Hill
(22:46) Breakthrough Resolution
(24:44) Not Done Yet
(25:35) Part Two Tease

Artificial intelligence can write poems, compose music, create works of art, and even help produce podcasts. But if AI can create almost anything, what makes human creativity special?

In this episode, we explore one of today's biggest questions with philosopher Lindsay Brainard, illustrator Jon Cockley, musician Kate Brunotts, and pioneering AI artist Claire Silver. Together, they wrestle with whether AI is replacing creativity, expanding it, or simply changing what it means to create.

GUESTS
Kate Brunotts, freelance music producer (https://www.breakingsound.com/kate-brunotts)
John Cockley, co-founder of the illustration agency, Handsome Frank (https://www.handsomefrank.com/)
Lindsay Brainard, professor of philosophy at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (https://www.lindsaybrainard.com/home)
Claire Silver, AI collaborative artist (https://www.clairesilver.com/selected-work)

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:17) Kids Love DALL-E
(2:51) AI Everywhere Now
(4:14) Musicians and AI
(7:16) Ownership and Credit
(9:40) Illustrators Push Back
(17:28) Cheese Sonnet Test
(25:19) Protecting Creativity and Connection
(28:05) Offloading Drudgery to AI
(29:38) AI as Creative Enabler
(30:19) Claire Silver AI Collaborator
(34:08) Promptcraft and Taste
(39:14) Authorship Influence and Rights
(43:19) Ghost in the Machine Finale

Family estrangement is more common than most people realize and far more complicated than people often assume.

In this episode, we explore why parents and adult children become estranged, what makes reconciliation so difficult, and why some families can reconnect after years—or even decades—apart.

You'll hear the remarkable story of author Charlotte Gill, who reunited with her father after 20 years apart, alongside insights from psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, author of “Rules of Estrangement,” and researcher Sheri McGregor, who has spent years studying the experience of estranged parents.

GUESTS
Charlotte Gill, author of “Almost Brown: A Memoir” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705633/almost-brown-by-charlotte-gill/).
Sheri McGregor, author of “Done with the Crying: Help and Healing for Mothers of Estranged Adult Children” (https://a.co/d/93JwJ4C).
Joshua Coleman, clinical psychologist and author of “The Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622584/rules-of-estrangement-by-joshua-coleman-phd/).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:07) Charlotte’s Break
(2:58) Why Families Split
(9:37) Reunion in Bogota
(16:28) No Apology Needed
(17:58) Life with Dad Today
(21:26) Parents Left Behind
(29:10) Choosing Joy Again
(31:58) Reconciliation Is Possible
(33:29) Culture Fuels Estrangement
(38:24) Coleman’s Family Story
(42:24) Letter of Amends
(45:19) Boundaries and Common Mistakes
(49:18) What Reconciliation Looks Like
(53:32) Conclusion

Can you joke about anything, or are some topics simply off limits?

In this episode, we explore what makes something funny, why people disagree so deeply about what's offensive, and whether comedy has ethical limits. Through conversations with a stand-up comedian and two philosophers, we examine race, satire, intent, workplace humor, and the surprising ways laughter can strengthen or strain our relationships.

GUESTS
Isak Allen, stand-up comedian (https://www.drybarcomedy.com/isaka).
Luvell Anderson, Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; scholar of the ethics of racial humor (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/josp.12384).
Mike Cundall, Professor of Philosophy, North Carolina A&T State University; founder of Mirth Management Consulting and author of “The Humor Hack” (https://www.mirthmanagement.co/).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:09) Meet Comic Isak Allen
(2:01) Race Jokes and Family History
(5:59) Why Humor Matters
(7:02) Comedy as Catharsis
(8:39) Avoiding Hacky Stereotypes
(9:18) Anything Off Limits
(11:09) “Blaccent” and Obama Bit
(16:37) Philosophers on Laughter
(20:41) Race Satire and Colbert
(25:03) Racially Insensitive Humor
(31:31) Offense and Power
(36:34) Workplace Humor Debate
(49:09) Humor as Kindness

Why do some difficult conversations leave us feeling understood while others leave us frustrated and further apart?

In this episode, we explore a surprisingly powerful tool that can make even the hardest conversations easier: storytelling.

You'll hear about groundbreaking research from BYU showing how personal stories can increase empathy between autistic and neurotypical individuals. You'll learn why vulnerability helps people connect across differences, how stories create understanding where facts and arguments often fail, and why some of the world's leading dialogue facilitators begin difficult conversations by asking people to share a personal story.

GUESTS
Garrett Cardon, cognitive neuroscientist, audiologist, and Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University (https://education.byu.edu/directory/view/garrett-cardon).
Kennedy Kleinman, storytelling researcher, workshop facilitator, and master’s student in English at Brigham Young University (https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub_uht/480/).
John Sarrouf, Co-Executive Director of Essential Partners (https://whatisessential.org/).

Story Slam participants – Zanza, Julie, Benjamin, Emma, and Natalie

Top of Mind episode featuring the Abortion Talks - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-how-to-talk-about-abortion

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:44) The Double Empathy Problem
(4:30) Storytelling Experiment Setup
(9:52) Five Stories on Stage
(15:52) Results Brain Sync and Takeaways
(25:55) Transformative Story Framework
(29:18) Workshop Steps
(32:18) Storytelling Beyond Campus
(35:09) Stories in Deep Divides
(46:54) Asking for Stories
(53:11) Conclusion

Every year, millions of Americans receive a jury summons, but how many of us truly understand the responsibility that comes with deciding another person's fate?

In this episode, we explore one of the foundations of American democracy: trial by jury. We’ll hear from a juror who struggled with the weight of a guilty verdict, a man who was wrongfully convicted and sent to death row, and a former felon who argues that America's jury system excludes crucial voices.

GUESTS
Kristin Campbell, Senior Fellow, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) (https://www.pacefunders.org/).
Herman Lindsey, Executive Director of Witness to Innocence and a former death row prisoner (https://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/).
James Binnall, attorney, professor at California State University Long Beach, and author of “Twenty Million Angry Men: The Case for Including Convicted Felons in Our Jury System” (https://www.ucpress.edu/books/twenty-million-angry-men/paper).
Valerie Hans, Professor of Law at Cornell University and one of the nation's leading jury researchers (https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/valerie-hans/).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:05) Kristin Campbell Jury Shock
(3:55) Who Counts as a Peer
(5:42) Deliberating the Gun Charge
(7:32) Verdict Weight and Aftermath
(10:35) Defendant Perspective Herman Lindsey
(16:57) How Juries Get Skewed
(20:27) Felons Banned from Juries
(25:32) Binnall Research on Inclusion
(34:43) Host Jury Story and Fixes
(49:47) Rebuilding Trust in Juries

Why does it feel like everyone is asking for a tip now? From coffee shops and takeout counters to self-checkout screens, tipping culture in America has changed fast, and many of us feel confused, pressured, or even guilty about it.

In this episode of Top of Mind, we explore the hidden psychology of tipping, the history behind it, and what our tipping habits reveal about power, status, fairness, and human connection. Hear from customers who feel overwhelmed by “tip creep,” workers who rely on gratuities to survive, restaurant owners struggling to pay staff fairly, and one of the nation’s leading experts on tipping behavior.

GUESTS
Matt Johnson, Top of Mind listener from Texas
Jaime Wilson, behind-the-counter worker, food blogger and self-employed baker (https://www.jaime-wilson.com/about).
Mike Fadem, owner and founder of Ops and Leo, pizzerias in Brooklyn, New York and drummer for The Jealous Girlfriends (https://www.opsbk.com/).
Michael Lynn, professor of consumer behavior and services marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (http://www.tippingresearch.com/).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(1:04) Why Tipping Feels Weird
(6:24) Workers’ Side of the Counter
(10:44) Tipping’s Dark History
(17:04) Going Tip Free
(19:44) Why Tip Free Failed
(22:22) Pandemic Tip Shifts
(25:51) Pooling Tips
(28:03) Tip Creep Meets Tipflation
(34:26) Digital Screens Pressure Us
(39:36) Discrimination/Inequity
(43:35) Why Ending Tipping Fails
(46:44) A Better System
(48:00) What Tipping Says About Us
(52:17) Conclusion

Who owns culture, and who gets to tell its stories?

We explore the complex and often uncomfortable debate around cultural ownership, appropriation, and representation. You’ll hear how a hidden figure in a centuries-old painting forced museums to rethink history, why some argue artifacts should be returned to their communities, and how others worry that limiting who can tell cultural stories may actually close doors to understanding. We also explore stories of repatriation and healing, alongside questions about cultural appreciation vs. appropriation.

GUESTS
Marenka Thompson-Odlum, PhD, Research Curator, Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford (https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/labelling-matters).

Tiffany Jenkins, journalist and author of “Keeping Their Marbles: How the Treasures of the Past Ended Up in Museums and Why They Should Stay There” (https://tiffanyjenkinsinfo.com/).

Ann E. Meilus Esq., President of the Barre Museum Association

Manny Iron Hawk, member of the Lakota Nation; Spokesperson for HAWK (Heartbeat at Wounded Knee) 1890 Survivor Descendants society

Renee Iron Hawk, member of the Lakota Nation; Secretary for HAWK 1890 Survivor Descendants society (https://nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/we-re-going-to-make-a-way-wounded-knee-survivors-and-relatives-travel-to-new-england-to-ask-for-their-artifacts-back).

Mia Moody-Ramirez, PhD Chair of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media, Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences (https://www.miamoody.org/).

CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:57) Glasgow Portrait Revealed
(2:58) Scotland and Slavery Links
(4:48) Reframing Museum Labels
(7:02) Inside Pitt Rivers Museum
(9:57) Three Curator Questions
(13:51) Shrunken Heads Removed
(16:28) Who Owns the Past
(21:17) Case Study Elgin Marbles
(28:33) Wounded Knee Repatriation
(39:02) Appreciation vs Appropriation
(47:49) Navigating Gray Areas