In this special episode, Mónica — a liberal — joins the two people she’s argued with most — her conservative parents — for a candid conversation about one family’s struggles with a political divide that cuts right through their own home. Looking back on the biggest disagreements that tested their relationships, like Moni’s pro-choice stance on abortion and her parents’ votes for Donald Trump, they open up about the strategies that keep them talking.  *** A Braver Way is produced with financial support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Reclaim Curiosity.

In this special episode, Mónica — a liberal — joins the two people she’s argued with most — her conservative parents — for a candid conversation about one family’s struggles with a political divide that cuts right through their own home. Looking back on the biggest disagreements that tested their relationships, like Moni’s pro-choice stance on abortion and her parents’ votes for Donald Trump, they open up about the strategies that keep them talking. *** A Braver Way is produced with financial support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Reclaim Curiosity.

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.

A Braver Way

A Braver Way with Mónica Guzmán

In this special episode, Mónica — a liberal — joins the two people she’s argued with most — her conservative parents — for a candid conversation about one family’s struggles with a political divide that cuts right through their own home....

How can you talk politics in a divided family?

The brain science behind human connection

The viral phone booth experiment

The need to study happiness

Axel's personal journey through depression

What is the biomarker for happiness?

Science behind conversations with strangers

Primitive emotions and the human brain

The science of happiness

Emotions are more contagious than viruses

Social interactions and diversity of emotions

Can emotions prevent us from seeing the truth?

Practical habits for a healthier mind

Why spreading surprise positivity is a win-win

Axel’s current research and experiments

Final reflections and goodbye

“Happiness” is the last thing many of us expect to find on a call with a stranger from the opposite political side. But when Axel Bouchon and his team placed one very unusual phone booth in deeply liberal San Francisco, California, and another in deeply conservative Abilene, Texas, that was exactly what they were hoping to spark. 

Bouchon, a neuroscientist driven to understand our strongest emotions, joins Moni to expose their power in our politics and beyond. Together they explore how emotions are far more infectious than viruses, how we humans can avoid reacting from the most primitive parts of our brains, and how disagreeing can be better for us than we think.

Show notes with full credits, links and other information can be found here: https://www.moniguzman.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-24

&ldquo;Happiness&rdquo; is the last thing many of us expect to find on a call with a stranger from the opposite political side. But when Axel Bouchon and his team placed one very unusual phone booth in deeply liberal San Francisco, California, and another in deeply conservative Abilene, Texas, that was exactly what they were hoping to spark.&nbsp;
Bouchon, a neuroscientist driven to understand our strongest emotions, joins Moni to expose their power in our politics and beyond. Together they explore how emotions are far more infectious than viruses, how we humans can avoid reacting from the most primitive parts of our brains, and how disagreeing can be better for us than we think.
Show notes with full credits, links and other information can be found here: https://www.moniguzman.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-24

Can political disagreement make you happier?

Intro: A story of love across deep divides

Why Sharon & Anne Marie are sharing

Growing up in an unusual family

How faith and life experiences shaped them

A family in crisis

“I never once questioned whether they love me”

Breakfast conversations to cross the divide

Learning another level of love

Accepting a gift while rejecting a worldview

Building the capacity to talk about anything

Reflections and lessons that offer hope

Conclusion: Thank you and good bye

Anne Marie Denman was the “angel” of the family: obedient, attentive, with plans to become a nun. When she came out as gay to her conservative Catholic parents, a deep rupture drove them apart.

How do you stay close to people who won’t share your worldview? Can love exist while someone feels rejected? And can you invest in the relationship without condoning the other’s convictions? These are some of the questions Anne Marie and her mother, Sharon, wrestled with over the years, as they fought to protect a connection that was threatened by their differences.

Mother and daughter join Mónica for an intimate and vulnerable conversation about the ups and downs of that journey — and what it takes to stay connected without demanding agreement.

Show notes with full credits, links and other information can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-23

Anne Marie Denman was the &ldquo;angel&rdquo; of the family: obedient, attentive, with plans to become a nun. When she came out as gay to her conservative Catholic parents, a deep rupture drove them apart.
How do you stay close to people who won&rsquo;t share your worldview? Can love exist while someone feels rejected? And can you invest in the relationship without condoning the other&rsquo;s convictions? These are some of the questions Anne Marie and her mother, Sharon, wrestled with over the years, as they fought to protect a connection that was threatened by their differences.
Mother and daughter join M&oacute;nica for an intimate and vulnerable conversation about the ups and downs of that journey &mdash; and what it takes to stay connected without demanding agreement.
Show notes with full credits, links and other information can be found here: <a href="https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-24">https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-23</a>

‘Can you love me if you don't accept who I love?’

For most of human history, offensive speech was equal to violence, and saying the wrong thing could get your tongue chopped off. Today, we aim to use words instead of violence. But what do you do when those words really hurt?

This week on A Braver Way, Moni sits down with Greg Lukianoff, who she fondly calls “the free speech guy.” Greg is an attorney, author and president of the mighty Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Together, they explore the complicated relationship between speech and safety, and how what we let ourselves say determines how we let ourselves live.

For most of human history, offensive speech was equal to violence, and saying the wrong thing could get your tongue chopped off. Today, we aim to use words instead of violence. But what do you do when those words really hurt?
This week on&nbsp;A Braver Way, Moni sits down with Greg Lukianoff, who she fondly calls &ldquo;the free speech guy.&rdquo; Greg is an attorney, author and president of the mighty Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Together, they explore the complicated relationship between speech and safety, and how what we let ourselves say determines how we let ourselves live.

How can you talk politics in a divided family?

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