Join us as we discuss the challenges of managing personal and professional lives amid the current chaotic world events. We delve into balancing bureaucracy in education with what's happening nationally, the impact of continuous news cycles, and the 'flood the zone' strategy. We talk about federalism's role in resisting authoritarianism, the importance of maintaining neutral spaces, and the significance of understanding and connecting with people from differing political spectrums. Strategies for fostering civil dialogue and preserving the dignity of all individuals are key themes. Expect optimism, concrete thoughts, and a long-awaited kid bomb!

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:20 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

01:30 Managing Digital Distractions

02:46 Overwhelming News Cycles

03:39 Current Events and PR Strategies

04:36 Flood the Zone Strategy

06:05 Misinformation and Protests

09:06 Accountability and Transparency in Government

17:13 Federalism and Local Governance

20:09 Ingroup and Outgroup Dynamics

22:49 Toxic Polarization and Political Accountability

29:02 The Role of Federal Government Power

30:30 Liberal Institutions and Neutrality

30:59 The Importance of Due Process and Liberal Institutions

31:37 Toxic Polarization and Dehumanization

33:14 Short-Circuiting Dehumanization Through Dialogue

34:46 The Role of Online Spaces in Political Conversations

38:30 Understanding and Engaging with Different Perspectives

46:07 The Power of Neutral Spaces and Institutional Neutrality

53:50 The Radical Concept of Human Dignity

56:54 Optimism and Building a Better Civil Society

Sources Cited

“One story for the public, another for the courts” (The Preamble, by Sharon McMahon)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

Ep. 06: Building Resilient Communities with Seth Kaplan

In this episode of 'We Made This Political,' we talk with Seth Kaplan, an expert on fragile states, social cohesion, and community resilience. We discuss Kaplan's work, including his book 'Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society One Zip Code at a Time.' The conversation covers Kaplan's transition from studying international communities to focusing on American neighborhoods, the importance of strong local institutions, and practical steps for building trust and connectedness in communities. Kaplan emphasizes the need for local engagement, stewardship, and the benefits of a localized approach to creating healthier societies.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:31 Guest Introduction: Seth Kaplan

01:26 Seth Kaplan's Journey and Work

04:03 Community Dynamics and Social Cohesion

10:20 Trust and Social Interaction

17:28 Government Decentralization and Community Empowerment

28:33 Neighborhood Design and Social Innovation

35:15 Gardening as a Metaphor for Community Growth

36:14 The Importance of Relationships in Politics

37:17 Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Politics

38:13 Historical Context: Local vs. National Focus

43:43 Revitalizing Segregated Neighborhoods

49:58 Building Trust and Overcoming Challenges

52:12 Practical Steps for Community Engagement

58:20 Optimism and Future of Local Civil Society

01:06:13 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

Join us as we chat with Shannon Watson, founder of the nonprofit Majority in the Middle. We discuss the challenges of political partisanship, the importance of civic education, and how we can create spaces for constructive political engagement. Shannon shares insights on demographic shifts, the personal impacts of running for office, and the power of positive reinforcement in political discourse.

Tune in to learn about making politics more inclusive and less adversarial.

*There are a couple places where the audio in this episode is not ideal because Shannon was recording from a busy space for unavoidable (and very good!) reasons. Thanks for overlooking the audio imperfections so we can keep getting fantastic guests with busy lives like Shannon.

What You Can Do Today

Send an email or public social media comment to a public servant or politician you think is doing a great job doing bipartisan or bridging work. With so much negativity bias in politics, the folks who are doing the work of reaching across divides don’t hear enough (or any!) positive reinforcement when they’re doing the right thing. Those public messages of encouragement and support matter!

Books and resources we talk about and/or recommend:

What’s the Matter with Kansas (older book on voting behavior)It Takes a Candidate (women and political office)

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:20 Shannon Watson's Background and Majority in the Middle

02:13 Defining the Middle and Civic Education

04:04 Personal Political Journeys

05:47 Family Political Dynamics

10:06 Political Polarization and Social Media

13:42 The Origin of Majority in the Middle

19:21 Challenges in Political Participation

20:40 Structural Partisanship in Legislatures

23:17 Encouraging Collaboration in Politics

26:05 Politics as Relationships vs. Power

27:39 Reflecting on Values and Intentional Storytelling

28:23 The Role of Media and Universities in Shaping Public Perception

29:07 Congress and the Attention Economy

30:01 Activists vs. Jurors in Politics

34:53 Challenges of Political Moderation and Independent Voters

44:09 Local Government and Nonpartisan Roles

48:58 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions

00:36 Meet Austen Campbell: Founder of the Independent National Coalition

01:28 The Appeal of Independent Politics

03:28 Challenges and Litmus Tests for Independent Candidates

07:53 Historical Context and Growth of Independent Movements

12:19 Moderation, Centrism, and Independent Identity

18:07 Problem Solving and the Future of Independent Politics

24:36 Common Sense Immigration Policy

24:56 Challenges of the Two-Party System

25:24 Hope in Local Politics

26:03 Electoral Reforms and Obstacles

27:54 The Role of Morally Aligned Leaders

29:04 Career vs. Celebrity Politicians

34:01 The Value of Citizens Assemblies

35:17 Barriers to Participation

41:34 Experiencing the System Firsthand

43:41 The Impact of Technology on Politics

46:08 Optimism and Community Values

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

We’re still working out the kinks over here, including experimenting a bit with sound quality and some other things. Hopefully each episode will get a bit better.

Send us any and all feedback, including ideas for new episodes! And if you like what you read, please share and subscribe!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

In this introductory episode, Lura and Lauren discuss their goals, backgrounds, and what listeners can expect. The podcast aims to explore the intersections of modern life and politics, drawing on their diverse academic and personal experiences. They touch on parenting, polarization, and the need for better political discourse, setting the stage for future episodes.

Expect candid conversations, tech hiccups, and even some pet and kid interruptions.

00:00 Welcome to Our New Podcast!

00:58 Meet Your Hosts: Lura and Lauren

02:02 Diving into Our Backgrounds

05:24 Parenting and Politics: A Unique Intersection

11:24 The Importance of Constructive Conversations

17:59 Hopeful Moments and Closing Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

In the second episode of 'We Made This Political,' hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall explore the concepts of control versus agency through the lenses of political science, psychology, and parenting.

We discuss Mel Robbins' book 'The Let Them Theory' and its relevance to reducing anxiety by relinquishing control. We delve into psychological theories like illusory control, locus of control, and reactance to explain how people respond to attempts at control. The conversation also touches on the implications of these ideas for public policy, highlighting the necessity of understanding people's behaviors and motivations before attempting to change them.

The episode emphasizes the importance of personal interactions in overcoming polarization and advocates for a bottom-up approach to building community trust.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:10 Exploring Control vs. Agency

01:20 Mel Robbins' 'Let Them Theory'

04:56 Psychological Concepts: Illusory Control and Reactance

10:09 Parenting and Control Dynamics

18:06 Nudge Theory in Policy and Parenting

27:22 The Complexity of Retirement Savings

28:04 The Role of the State in Retirement Planning

29:06 Communicating Policy Effectively

29:57 Understanding Human Behavior in Policy Making

31:46 Polarization and Policy Interventions

34:39 Ingroup and Outgroup Dynamics

43:49 The Importance of Face-to-Face Interactions

49:19 Parenting and Policy Parallels

51:12 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com