Introductions and welcome

What's broken in journalism?

Trusting News and the vision for journalism

Can conflict research help rebuild news trust?

Misinformation and the steelman approach

Why hear out people who believe ‘falsehoods’?

Suspicion, trust and benevolence

Incurious immigration coverage cost trust

Can you show all sides and not platform hate?

Is leaving out ‘wrong words’ causing harm too?

Where are bright spots in plural journalism?

The case for viewpoint diversity in newsrooms

How can I best navigate the media landscape?

Closing and credits

Left and right agree on one thing: something’s broken in the news. So what would it take for journalism to serve *everyone* in a divided time? Moni asks two friends and partners in good trouble who’ve spent years on that question: Joy Mayer, founder of Trusting News, and Jonathan Stray, a data journalist turned conflict scholar at UC Berkeley. Together they go where journalists rarely dare. Should newsrooms hire more Trump voters? Can reporters stay curious without platforming hate? And with the midterms closing in, how do the rest of us find news that does more for us than to us?

Guests:
Joy Mayer, Executive Director, Trusting News
Jonathan Stray, Senior Scientist, UC Berkeley Center for Human-compatible AI

Show notes with credits and full transcript can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-31

You can watch this episode on youtube here: https://youtu.be/qGJrM8C8FbU

Left and right agree on one thing: something&rsquo;s broken in the news. So what would it take for journalism to serve *everyone* in a divided time? Moni asks two friends and partners in good trouble who&rsquo;ve spent years on that question: Joy Mayer, founder of Trusting News, and Jonathan Stray, a data journalist turned conflict scholar at UC Berkeley. Together they go where journalists rarely dare. Should newsrooms hire more Trump voters? Can reporters stay curious without platforming hate? And with the midterms closing in, how do the rest of us find news that does more for us than to us?
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Joy Mayer, Executive Director, Trusting News</li>
<li>Jonathan Stray, Senior Scientist, UC Berkeley Center for Human-compatible AI</li>
</ul>
Show notes with credits and full transcript can be found here: <a href="https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-31">https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-31</a>
You can watch this episode on youtube here: <a href="https://youtu.be/qGJrM8C8FbU">https://youtu.be/qGJrM8C8FbU</a>

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

Is the news doing more to you than for you?

Julie and the ups and downs of City Council

Bob Hathcock joins the fight to recall her

Bob and Julie meet face to face

The campaign turns ugly

Election night and the aftermath

From recall to a standing ovation

Bob and Julie put the campaign behind them

Moni and April unpack the lessons

How do you fight hard against someone *and* still care for them?

In Republican Mesa, Arizona, Julie Spilsbury was known for her council seat and her cinnamon rolls. When she endorsed Democrats, friends and neighbors who’d known her for decades launched a historic effort to kick her out of office. The man leading it did what few others would: sit down with her and talk.

In this special episode of A Braver Way, Moni brings you a powerful story from Dispatches from the Divide, a limited podcast series she hosts about ordinary people who make extraordinary choices. Then, she and April Lawson pull out four strategies for anyone navigating pain and conflict this midterm election season — from staying in a community that hurt you to getting close to the people you defeat.

Show notes with credits and full transcript can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-30

Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. You can find the rest of the episodes of this series here: https://www.byuradio.org/dispatches-from-the-divide/episodes

How do you fight hard against someone *and* still care for them?
In Republican Mesa, Arizona, Julie Spilsbury was known for her council seat and her cinnamon rolls. When she endorsed Democrats, friends and neighbors who&rsquo;d known her for decades launched a historic effort to kick her out of office. The man leading it did what few others would: sit down with her and talk.
In this special episode of A Braver Way, Moni brings you a powerful story from Dispatches from the Divide, a limited podcast series she hosts about ordinary people who make extraordinary choices. Then, she and April Lawson pull out four strategies for anyone navigating pain and conflict this midterm election season &mdash; from staying in a community that hurt you to getting close to the people you defeat.
Show notes with credits and full transcript can be found here: <a href="https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-30">https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-30</a>
Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. You can find the rest of the episodes of this series here: https://www.byuradio.org/dispatches-from-the-divide/episodes

They betrayed you. Now what?

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

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

Division isn't the danger. Here's the fix. | Yuval Levin LIVE

Have your parents ever doubted Trump?

Who would be hardest for you to talk to?

Staying curious without being overwhelmed

Was our nation's founding a bridging failure?

How do you help someone see their ‘privilege’?

When she says her views aren't your business

Does compromise make you a moderate?

What keeps Moni up at night?

Why is infighting with allies so hard?

What got Monica into bridgebuilding work?

Talking to neighbors on the other side

Closing thoughts and how to reach us

What do you do when someone on your own side lets you down — or a family member says their politics are “none of your business”? In our second mailbox episode, Mónica and producer Jessica Jones tackle listener questions about whether America’s founding was a failure to bridge, how to recognize our own blind spots, and what Mónica’s parents really think of President Trump. Plus, April Lawson joins in with advice for approaching a firmly closed door. Want to send us your question? Email abraverway@reclaimcuriosity.com!

Show notes with full credits, reference links and transcript can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-28

What do you do when someone on your own side lets you down &mdash; or a family member says their politics are &ldquo;none of your business&rdquo;? In our second mailbox episode, M&oacute;nica and producer Jessica Jones tackle listener questions about whether America&rsquo;s founding was a failure to bridge, how to recognize our own blind spots, and what M&oacute;nica&rsquo;s parents really think of President Trump. Plus, April Lawson joins in with advice for approaching a firmly closed door. Want to send us your question? Email <a href="mailto:abraverway@reclaimcuriosity.com">abraverway@reclaimcuriosity.com</a>!
Show notes with full credits, reference links and transcript can be found here: https://www.reclaimcuriosity.com/post/a-braver-way-episode-28

Mailbox: Your questions on Trump, ‘privilege’ and compromise

Is the news doing more to you than for you?

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