Introductions and welcome

Becoming American: We the people

Centering the good and our civic duty

Small r republicanism and dangers of passivity

Acting together when we don’t think alike

Why tone matters and it’s not to be nice

Is foreboding doom an American constant?

Lightning Round

If the founders saw America today

Closing and credits

What do we owe each other when we can’t stand each other?

Recorded live at the Braver Angels Convention 2026 — in front of 1,000 people split evenly between red and blue — this episode brings that key question to a renowned civic scholar whose work gives Moni the most hope. Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute has a surprising answer to what's really threatening the country — and it isn't division. It’s passivity: treating ourselves as spectators instead of citizens. Together, he and Mónica dig into why conflict is our solution rather than our problem, what it actually means to be "responsible" for a country, and — because Levin can't resist a good historical tangent — which founding father would love America today, and which one would be horrified.

Guest: Yuval Levin, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute

Show notes with credits and full transcript can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-29

What do we owe each other when we can&rsquo;t stand each other?
Recorded live at the Braver Angels Convention 2026 &mdash; in front of 1,000 people split evenly between red and blue &mdash; this episode brings that key question to a renowned civic scholar whose work gives Moni the most hope. Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute has a surprising answer to what's really threatening the country &mdash; and it isn't division. It&rsquo;s passivity: treating ourselves as spectators instead of citizens. Together, he and M&oacute;nica dig into why conflict is our solution rather than our problem, what it actually means to be "responsible" for a country, and &mdash; because Levin can't resist a good historical tangent &mdash; which founding father would love America today, and which one would be horrified.
Guest: Yuval Levin, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute
Show notes with credits and full transcript can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-29

With political tensions at a new peak, it can be tough — and exhausting — to find a way forward. So what does it take to stay strong, engaged, and grounded in dangerously divided times?

In each episode, host Mónica Guzmán joins guests from across the political spectrum. Together they’ll share tools, insights, and messy real-life stories to help you navigate the challenging divides in your everyday life without losing heart.

With political tensions at a new peak, it can be tough &mdash; and exhausting &mdash; to find a way forward. So what does it take to stay strong, engaged, and grounded in dangerously divided times?
In each episode, host M&oacute;nica Guzm&aacute;n joins guests from across the political spectrum. Together they&rsquo;ll share tools, insights, and messy real-life stories to help you navigate the challenging divides in your everyday life without losing heart.