If you want to push for change in politics, it can feel like you have to choose either activism or dialogue. But what if that’s a false choice? Following up on last week’s conversation with Shira Hoffer, a Jewish rising senior building bridges at Harvard, we hear from Jadd Hashem, a student leading Arab-Israeli dialogue at the University of Texas at Austin who is also a proud Palestinian-American peace activist. 

If you want to push for change in politics, it can feel like you have to choose either activism or dialogue. But what if that’s a false choice? Following up on last week’s conversation with Shira Hoffer, a Jewish rising senior building bridges at Harvard, we hear from Jadd Hashem, a student leading Arab-Israeli dialogue at the University of Texas at Austin who is also a proud Palestinian-American peace activist.

Done with the divisiveness in our politics and ready to do something about it? Host Monica Guzman is joined by guests from across the political spectrum to unearth tools, insights, and messy real life stories that can guide you over the divide in your everyday life. So whether you’re Red, Blue, or something entirely different, “A Braver Way” will help you hear and be heard by people who confound you.

A Braver Way

Beat | If these protests could talk

If you’re strongly on one side of a high-stakes issue — like the conflict in Israel and Gaza — why should you listen to the other? And if you don’t know where you fall, or even what to think, how do you begin to learn without inviting attack? As a Harvard undergrad, our guest Shira Hoffer started an anonymous text hotline after October 7 that gives people of all perspectives a non-judgmental place to bring their questions. After hearing her story, Moni and April dig in, exploring how the strategies Shira’s learned map to the political Left and Right, and why the tension between staying informed, staying involved, and staying humble animates more of our politics than we realize.

If you’re strongly on one side of a high-stakes issue — like the conflict in Israel and Gaza — why should you listen to the other? And if you don’t know where you fall, or even what to think, how do you begin to learn without inviting attack? As a Harvard undergrad, our guest Shira Hoffer started an anonymous text hotline after October 7 that gives people of all perspectives a non-judgmental place to bring their questions. After hearing her story, Moni and April dig in, exploring how the strategies Shira’s learned map to the political Left and Right, and why the tension between staying informed, staying involved, and staying humble animates more of our politics than we realize.

Israel. Gaza. Any questions?

“You could be wrong.” It’s a phrase that greets students in Bill Jordan’s high school classroom, and poses a challenge to everyone with a political opinion these days: Since no one is right about everything, how do you stay open to shifting your own beliefs? Bill opens up about his own journey, then we hear from listeners who tell us how they’ve changed their minds on some tough issues, like gay marriage, abortion, and more.

“You could be wrong.” It’s a phrase that greets students in Bill Jordan’s high school classroom, and poses a challenge to everyone with a political opinion these days: Since no one is right about everything, how do you stay open to shifting your own beliefs? Bill opens up about his own journey, then we hear from listeners who tell us how they’ve changed their minds on some tough issues, like gay marriage, abortion, and more.

Beat | A horrible, terrible, no good everyday truth

Whether it was about foreign policy, the economy, or the best route to the grocery store, chances are you have changed your mind about something. What happens in your brain when you do, and what does that teach us about how we can change someone else’s mind on a political issue? Mónica talks with David McRaney, a leading voice on the science of persuasion, about how minds change — or don’t! — and why. Then Mónica and April open up about some times they’ve changed their minds — and challenge each other on how all this stuff does or doesn't apply when we encounter people with the darkest ideas.

Whether it was about foreign policy, the economy, or the best route to the grocery store, chances are you have changed your mind about something. What happens in your brain when you do, and what does that teach us about how we can change someone else’s mind on a political issue? Mónica talks with David McRaney, a leading voice on the science of persuasion, about how minds change — or don’t! — and why. Then Mónica and April open up about some times they’ve changed their minds — and challenge each other on how all this stuff does or doesn't apply when we encounter people with the darkest ideas.

Beat | If these protests could talk

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