Village SquareCast
Village SquareCast is the podcast your mother warned you about. We talk politics, religion and race — across color, creed and ideology — and we do it like the partners in democracy that we really ought to be. At The Village Square, we've had hundreds of conversations with tens of thousands of people — and now we bring you our favorites of these conversations via podcast. We talk in bars, we talk in churches, we talk across a hundred continuous tables in the middle of a street downtown. And through all this talking, we've discovered something truly remarkable — people are hard to hate close up. Oh, and we really think civics ought not to be boring. We hope you'll join us.
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Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation
04/25/2024
Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation
We were honored to hang out with our intellectual hero, Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a few weeks before the release of his recent book Unsurprisingly, since its release, it became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. If you have kids, if you know kids — heck, if you've ever seen a kid — you're just going to have to read this book. It gives us no less than a chance to rescue the coming generations from the devastating effects of an accidental social experiment run amok. Haidt argues we're overprotecting children in the real world — where they need to play, be exposed to challenge and freedom in order to learn to self-govern — and severely underprotect them in the digital world. He gives us concrete specific steps we can all take now to roll back the psychologically dangerous phone-based childhood. Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the foremost thought leaders of our time — one who has generously given his counsel to The Village Square, and countless efforts like ours — on this existential challenge of our time. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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UNUM Series: The Soul of Civility
04/11/2024
UNUM Series: The Soul of Civility
Find the program online here: https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/soul-of-civility/ While our special guest Alexandra O. Hudson, author of “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves,” finds the challenges to civility today dire, she thinks they’re not new — and they’re most definitely not about being more polite. Lexi brings a deep and fresh appreciation for the wisdom of the ages to the moment we’re in, from Socrates and Confucius to more contemporary thinkers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Henry David Thoreau. She joins forces with these heavyweights, along with a practically encyclopedic knowledge of our understanding of civility through the ages. We hope you’ll join us for this inspiringly heartfelt and beautifully pitched argument that civility is not a luxury: it’s necessary for the survival and flourishing of our species. ALEXANDRA O. HUDSON is a writer, popular speaker, and the founder of Civic Renaissance, a publication and intellectual community dedicated to beauty, goodness and truth. She contributes to Fox News, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, TIME Magazine, POLITICO Magazine, and Newsweek. She earned a master’s degree in public policy at the London School of Economics and is an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy. Her first book, was published in October 2023. She lives in Indianapolis, IN with her husband and children. ______________ The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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Fragile Neighborhoods with Dr. Seth Kaplan
03/28/2024
Fragile Neighborhoods with Dr. Seth Kaplan
“Fragile Neighborhoods is an essential and engaging read for everyone who wants to better understand the challenges facing our cities, towns and our nation at large.” Richard Florida – Bestselling Author of “The Rise of the Creative Class” Find the full program online here — https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/fragile-neighborhoods/ As we continue our “Join or Die” year—exploring how we build lives of connection and belonging inside a polarized America—we’d be remiss if we didn’t turn our attention to the neighborhoods and the city where we live our lives. Too many of us live in neighborhoods plagued by rising crime, school violence, family disintegration, addiction, alienation, and despair. Even the wealthiest neighborhoods are not immune; while poverty exacerbates these challenges, they exist in zip codes rich and poor, rural and urban, and everything in between. Our special guest Seth D. Kaplan is an expert on fragile states across the world, consulting for the World Bank, U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as developing country governments and NGOs. His new book “” brings Seth’s experience overseas to our social decline in America—and Tallahassee— to revitalize our local institutions and the social ties that knit them together. Pick up a copy of Fragile Neighborhoods by swinging by Midtown Reader (or you can click ) Seth D. Kaplan is a leading expert on fragile states. He is a Professorial Lecturer in the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, Senior Adviser for the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), and consultant to multilateral organizations around the world. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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God Squad: Everyone is Canceled!
03/14/2024
God Squad: Everyone is Canceled!
Find the full program online here — and meet The God Squad: . We’re living in a time when a bad choice of words (much less a deeply held countercultural opinion) can tank your career, in a media environment where some are doing a near-professional job of elevating being offensive to an art form—almost begging to be “canceled” by those who care about maintaining at least a kindergarten-level decorum. Our culture wars have blinded us—gone are the deepest underpinnings of pluralism, where legitimately held beliefs are respected, even when they clash fiercely with our own. Never mind being canceled, this environment has many of us self-editing—choosing simply to not express ourselves so as to avoid risk altogether. So how’s a person to live free in a culture that’s this hostile and toxic to diverse opinion? We’re going to call on the better angels of our nature — and The God Squad — to see if we can get back to a generosity of spirit where we support each other’s right to live free by our conscience and beliefs — no matter how profoundly we disagree. Joining us for this God Squad are Father Tim Holeda of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral, Latricia Scriven of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, Betsy Ouellette Zierden former Pastor at Good Samaritan UMC, Gary Shultz of First Baptist Church, and Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky of Temple Israel. Facilitated by Stefanie Posner of Temple Israel. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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Dr. Jonathan Haidt | After Babel: "The Fragmentation of Everything"
02/29/2024
Dr. Jonathan Haidt | After Babel: "The Fragmentation of Everything"
We wanted you wonderful SquareCast listeners to know that we didn't plan for this episode to drop on Leap Day and we didn't plan on it being (we kid you not) Episode 100. But both things just happened. At the very least, we think that's a sign that you really ought to listen. Were we "the universe has a plan" maximalists, though, we'd say it means you need to quit your day job and follow bridge builders like Jon Haidt and The Village Square around like Jack Kerouac groupies. You pick. Here's our blurb to help inform your imminent life choice: What if, at a pinnacle of our civilization’s technological achievement, everything just broke — the institutions we’ve come to rely upon in navigating a modern complex world, the shared stories that hold a large and diverse democratic republic together, and even a common language through which to navigate the rising tide of crisis. According to renowned social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt, this describes our current reality, one that he calls “After Babel.” In this new normal, we are scattered by a digital environment into feuding tribes that are governed by mob dynamics and driven by a minority of ideological outliers, made stupid at warp speed by group think, and — thanks to social media — armed with billions of metaphorical “dart guns” with which to immediately wound “the enemy” in ways that are hardly only metaphorical. What could go wrong? Our very special guest, Dr. Jonathan Haidt, will delve into the profound impact of social media on democratic societies, dissecting the intricate web of challenges it poses to civic trust and civil discourse. Don’t miss this chance to hear from one of the foremost thought leaders of our time — one who has generously given his counsel to The Village Square, and countless efforts like ours — on this existential challenge of our time. Read in The Atlantic and learn more about Dr. Haidt by clicking the MORE button, below. The program includes a preview of Haidt’s highly anticipated upcoming book available at the end of March. You’re not going to want to miss it. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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The Big Sort with Bill Bishop
02/16/2024
The Big Sort with Bill Bishop
Pulitzer Prize finalist journalist Bill Bishop joins The Village Square for Dinner at the Square. (See photos from the event .) Turns out Americans have been sorting ourselves in every aspect of our lives – in the news we watch, the books we read, the churches we attend, even the neighborhoods we live in. Our special guest Pulitzer Prize finalist journalist Bill Bishop stumbled on this worrisome trend when he was doing research on an unrelated topic. That means that we’re increasingly finding ourselves in the company of people who think just like we do. Inside these likeminded tribes, we find our views amplified and no counterbalance to help us understand what our “side” might be failing to see. The result? Likeminded groups grow more extreme in the direction of the majority view. Uh oh. Faciliating the conversation is Steve Seibert, formerly of Collins Center and Florida Humanities. Joining the conversation is Governor Jeb Bush's former Chief of Staff Sally Bradshaw, and former Florida Representative Loranne Ausley. Find The Village Square online . The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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Being Human in Divided Times: A fireside chat with Village Square founder Liz Joyner
02/02/2024
Being Human in Divided Times: A fireside chat with Village Square founder Liz Joyner
In this episode of SquareCast Village Square Founder & CEO Liz Joyner let Village SquareCast Corey Nathan talk her into being the guest in an episode. It’s hard to get away from the doom scroll that typifies our life and times right now — we’re clobbered with toxic sludge when we turn on the news, catch up with friends on social media or just try to live life without someone forcing us to choose whether we’re one of “us” or one of “them.” The signs of our difficulties are all around us and it’s hard to underestimate its weight on our being. In this episode of Village SquareCast we’ll chat with founder Liz Joyner about the unique journey of two decades seeking to (in the words of one of Liz’s heroes, Patricia Nelson Limerick) “let friendship redeem the republic.” We’ll travel from Washington, D.C. to Tallahassee, Florida in this epic tale of tilting at some serious windmills — while endeavoring to keep laughing. Find The Village Square online . The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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Rachel Brown: The Roots of Belonging & The Risks of Othering
01/18/2024
Rachel Brown: The Roots of Belonging & The Risks of Othering
In this episode of SquareCast we're joined by the extraordinary Rachel Brown, the Founder of —named in reference to the “zero sum game” that exists in sporting events, but becomes dangerous when it overtakes a society, as it has ours. Over Zero was founded to prevent identity-based violence and other forms of group-targeted harm around the world—and here at home. Rachel is one of the wisest, steadiest voices of our time in guiding us away from dangerous (but human) reactions, and toward calmer times. The program is facilitated by Dr. Theodore R. Johnson, and author of the book “When The Stars Begin to Fall.” Find the program online at The Village Square . The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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Stephen P. Kiernan: Authentic Patriotism
01/04/2024
Stephen P. Kiernan: Authentic Patriotism
In this age of deep and growing civic divisions, perhaps it's time to revise the comic strip Pogo's iteration of U.S. Navy Master Commandant Oliver Perry's quote from the War of 1812: "We have met the enemy and it is us." From our special Dinner at the Square guest Stephen Kiernan's masterpiece book : “The problems America faces are not going to be solved by either political party, nor are they exclusively the fault of any political party. I am reminded of the line in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet: “A plague on both your houses.” In a democracy politics are merely the manifestation of the people’s will; if Congress is weak, it is because the public’s leadership of politicians has been insufficient.” This throwback episode is part of The Village Square's return to some of the most basic, inspiring and effective ideas we've heard through our years about how to actually fix what ails us, leading up to the launch of our , where we'll teach our model of returning to civic health. Stay tuned. We think it will inspire you. (You can also watch this program .) The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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God Squad: Ending the Cycle of Mean
12/07/2023
God Squad: Ending the Cycle of Mean
Americans are sad and lonely, and we don’t feel like we belong. With depression and “deaths of despair” on the rise, over half of us say that no one knows us well—a truly alarming statistic that doesn’t bode well for our future. As if matters weren’t bad enough, we’re not just sad and alone—we’re becoming more mean to each other, and it’s likely part of the same cycle of pain. With fewer human connections in our lives, more of us seek belonging in our venally angry civic life, so this crisis of belonging also fuels extremism for which violence is increasingly a downstream outcome. What if, at its core, the loneliness, bitterness, and anger is a failure of our society’s moral compass? We asked The God Squad to read David Brooks' Atlantic piece “” before this conversation, but whether you've had a chance to read it or not, you're going to be inspired by this conversation. Meet the God Squad, the brains behind our series “God Squad: Improbable conversations for people of faith and no faith at all (because talking politics wasn’t hard enough). Joining us for this edition of God Squad: Joining us for this God Squad are Father Tim Holeda of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral, Dr. Gary Shultz of First Baptist Church, Rev. Betsy Ouellette-Zierden, Joseph Davis Jr. of Truth Gatherers Community Church, Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky of Temple Israel. The Reverend Dr. Latricia Scriven of facilitates the conversation. Find bios for our participants and a . The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is part of a larger project "Healing Starts Here" funded by New Pluralists. Learn more about our project, and other inspiring grantees .
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God Squad: Shut Up and (Don't) Sing
11/09/2023
God Squad: Shut Up and (Don't) Sing
With our culture wars at a full rolling boil, apparently all it takes to send our enmity over the edge is…a good old-fashioned country song?? The furor over Jason Aldean’s “” (and then there’s Oliver Anthony’s “”) is reminiscent of the old furor over The Dixie Chicks—only the “sides” have switched up. As The Village Square embarks on a pluralism project to build a hometown where everyone belongs, it’s possible that “round here we take care of our own” is a value we should all seek to restore to American civic life, but does it really need to come with all the guns? We’ll bring The God Squad into this musical fracas (they dove right into this one in our planning meeting), so that they can do their usual thing and go high instead of the usual low. Can we find a place where perhaps we can tolerate each other and just SING? (Dolly Parton has on that front…) Check out the “Try That In A Small Town” . And the lyrics to “Rich Men North of Richmond” are . Joining us for this God Squad are Father Tim Holeda of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral, Josh Hall of First Baptist Church, Joseph Davis Jr. of Truth Gatherers Community Church, and Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky of Temple Israel. Stefanie Posner of Temple Israel will be facilitating. Meet the God Squad, the brains behind our series “God Squad: Improbable conversations for people of faith and no faith at all (because talking politics wasn’t hard enough). Joining us for this edition of God Squad: Find bios for our participants and a . The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Dr. Todd Rose | Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions
10/26/2023
Dr. Todd Rose | Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions
At the core of the deep societal divisions we navigate every day is an assumption that we share little with “those people” with whom we share a country—a belief that leaves us on dangerous ground as a nation. But author and entrepreneur Dr. Todd Rose says we’ve got that all wrong. According to Dr. Rose, not only do we agree more often than we think but we’re making terrible assumptions about what the people on our own side of the aisle think—then acting on those incorrect assumptions in a way that accelerates the divisions. Born of our highly social nature and hardwiring in our DNA, we so desperately want to protect our status and reputation inside our groups so we conform with what we think our group thinks—finding ourselves inside a “collective illusion” that is not only destabilizing society, it’s making us personally miserable. Dr. Rose offers his compelling and revelatory insights about human forces that are far too easily ignored in : “Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions.” We think his work is just so important that we’re delighted to bring him to Tallahassee to meet you (and we’ll be hosting book clubs to dive into “Collective Illusions” through the year). We don’t think you’ll ever see the world quite the same way again (trust us, that’ll be a good thing). Learn more about Dr. Rose below. Pick up a copy of Collective Illusions (you'll thank us) at (wherever you live). — The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Robert Putnam & Shaylyn Romney Garrett | Join or Die: Why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it
10/12/2023
Robert Putnam & Shaylyn Romney Garrett | Join or Die: Why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it
“Our national myths often exaggerate the role of the individual heroes and understate the importance of collective effort. —Robert Putnam This is when you meet a living legend and get the benefit of his thinking on the topic he’s been brilliantly, prophetically right about for more than three decades: the deterioration of our connectedness with each other across almost every demographic and every aspect of our lives—our loss of social capital. And yet here we are, painfully and tragically paying the price for our failure to put our shoulders to this wheel when it was (almost eerily) knowable when Dr. Robert Putnam first articulated the societal trend in his iconic book “” (we’ve just re-read it, and we’re still not sure he’s not secretly a time-traveler). Joined by Shaylyn Romney Garrett, his co-author on “” they’re beseeching us to do it now (and , until the end of 2024). Bonus: they’re showing us that what we need to do is actually fun, fills our souls—and might just save our country. Learn more about Dr. Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett in the . Pick up a copy of and (you'll thank us) at our partner bookseller Midtown (wherever you live). Please also take a moment to of "Join or Die: A film about why you should join a club - and why the fate of America depends on it," produced and directed by Rebecca Davis and Pete Davis. Note that in the discussion Dr. Putnam references a chart in the discussion - you can (the first is the imaginary picture we have in our minds about how race in America changed and is not correct; the second is correct). — The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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The Way Out: Overcoming Toxic Polarization, with Dr. Peter T. Coleman
09/28/2023
The Way Out: Overcoming Toxic Polarization, with Dr. Peter T. Coleman
“A remarkable combination of scientific insight, practical guidance, and grounded hope.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN Toxic polarization and conflict is exhausting. Whether it’s in your family, at work or in our perpetually acrimonious civic life, it’s like a suitcase full of big ole rocks we lug around while we try to get the usual tasks of life-y-ness done. Our UNUM journey has brought us thinkers and leaders from sea to shining sea, but now we’re turning intentionally to see THE WAY OUT — and it turns out that really being able to see it is a key first step in being able to do it. Columbia University’s Peter T. Coleman brings us deep wisdom informed by a life in scholarship that leaves us more hopeful than the usual fare. Know that when we listen to Peter, we do cartwheels of joy — and who doesn’t need joy right about now? Facilitated by BridgeUSA's Manu Meel, this is a must-listen if you're looking for The Way Out. Learn more about Dr. Coleman and read a . Pick up a copy of The Way Out (you'll thank us) at our partner bookseller (wherever you live). Peter T. Coleman is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University where he holds a joint-appointment at Teachers College and The Earth Institute. Dr. the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution. — The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Funding for this podcast was provided through a grant from with funds from the . Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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TP&R Feed Drop | Tim Keller and Michael Gerson, A Tribute with Pete Wehner and Jonathan Rauch
08/31/2023
TP&R Feed Drop | Tim Keller and Michael Gerson, A Tribute with Pete Wehner and Jonathan Rauch
The Village Square is truly delighted to offer you a feed drop episode of —a podcast we loved so much, we convinced its host to also be our host (that's fandom). Along with Village SquareCast, TP&R is also a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. This episode, is the most beautiful hour in the history of podcasting, in our highly informed opinion (culled from zero statistics and study... we just know). Please, whatever you do, listen—and share. Along with host Corey Nathan, Jon and Pete (both former Village Square in-person guests) zero in on the generosity of spirit that could—and should—transform everything about the world today. If we can only let it. Here's Pete, toward the end, about Tim and Michael, the gentlemen they give tribute to: "it's whether in discourse and conversations we can together refine each others' views, calibrate each others' views... and come closer to the true reality of things than we would without each other." We beseech you, please listen, and then subscribe to Corey's beautiful podcast, . You're going to thank yourself for doing something so very smart. Village SquareCast will be back with brand new episodes of Village SquareCast this fall. Like crazy soon.
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When the People Decide Feed Drop | Libraries as civic spaces
08/17/2023
When the People Decide Feed Drop | Libraries as civic spaces
The Village Square is truly delighted to offer you a feed drop episode of a podcast about how everyday people are shaping democracy. Along with Village SquareCast, they're a member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. This episode, is thoroughly enchanting to us—featuring special guests Shamichael Hallman and Nancy Kranich: Librarians have spoken for years about “library faith,” the belief that public libraries are central to democracy because they contribute to an informed citizenry. Today, the idea is gaining even more traction, and even conservative crackdowns on what’s permitted in libraries reinforce the idea that they’re more than just “book warehouses” but centers for community engagement and representativeness. And meet the host of When the People Decide, (one of our favorite podcast hosts, don't tell the others). Be sure to catch while you're there—an eight-episode series explores the promise — and sometimes peril — that ballot initiatives have brought to American democracy by telling the stories of people who have organized initiative campaigns across the country. Village SquareCast will be back with brand new episodes of Village SquareCast this fall.
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How Do We Fix It Feed Drop | The Middle 70%. In This Together: Bill Shireman
07/20/2023
How Do We Fix It Feed Drop | The Middle 70%. In This Together: Bill Shireman
The Village Square is truly delighted to offer you a feed drop episode of the , from the coolest podcast hosting dynamic duo we know and love, and . These two have real fun together and with their guests—and we all get to listen. This episode of How Do We Fix It? "" , host of the podcast " Bill Shireman Disrupts the Dividers". President of , where he invites Greenpeace, ExxonMobil, Rainforest Action Network, Mitsubishi and other corporate and environmental leaders to work together. We hope you'll take a moment to ? right now to listen to more interviews with people like Jonathan Haidt, David Bornstein, Lenore Skenazy, Mike Rowe—and so many more () on "positive ideas for challenging times. Village SquareCast and How Do We Fix It? are both proud members of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Village SquareCast will be back with brand new episodes of Village SquareCast this fall.
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Let's Find Common Ground Feed Drop | Patriotism: Pride, Race and Reckoning
07/06/2023
Let's Find Common Ground Feed Drop | Patriotism: Pride, Race and Reckoning
The Village Square is truly delighted to offer you a feed drop episode of the , from the extraordinary national leader in bridging divides . (Shout out to the co-founders Bruce Bond and Erik Olsen. We're groupie fans.) Meet them: With polarization dominating public discourse, can we find a path back to the common good? Tune in as journalists and explore diverse solutions to today’s most urgent issues with top thought leaders, journalists and others committed to bipartisan action. Tell us what you think! Rank recent episodes and issues that matter to you, and leave us a note or voice message. This episode of Let's Find Common Ground , someone who has also been . Dr. Johnson wrote the book "When the Stars Begin to Fall" about his unique journey to love of country—and the imperative that we seek racial healing together. We hope you'll take a moment to jump over to to listen to more great content (and subscribe). Village SquareCast and Let's Find Common Ground are both proud members of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Village SquareCast will be back with brand new episodes of Village SquareCast this fall.
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Democracy Works Feed Drop: Separating News From Noise
06/22/2023
Democracy Works Feed Drop: Separating News From Noise
The Village Square is truly delighted to offer you an episode of one of the best podcasts in the democracy space—. Meet them: The Democracy Works podcast seeks to answer that question by examining a different aspect of democratic life each week — from voting to criminal justice to the free press and everything in between. We interview experts who study democracy, as well as people who are out there doing the hard work of democracy day in and day out. This episode of Democracy Works is examining the very real dynamic of news avoidance. How much news is too much? Or not enough? News Over Noise, the new podcast from Penn State's News Literacy Initiative explores that question and offers guidance on how to consume news that enhances your participation in our democracy without becoming overwhelmed by all the noise on social media and the 24/7 news cycle. If your first reaction is to demonize people who don't want to read the news, hold up. Read "I stopped reading the news—is the problem me or the product." The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Both The Democracy Group and Democracy Works are projects led by the of the . If you don't know them already you should. Village SquareCast will be back with brand new episodes of Village SquareCast this fall.
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TP&R Feed Drop: Bob Cusack, Editor in Chief at THE HILL
06/08/2023
TP&R Feed Drop: Bob Cusack, Editor in Chief at THE HILL
The Village Square is truly delighted to offer our very favorite listeners (you) this feed drop of one of our very favorite podcasts (that isn't Village SquareCast)—Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other—with its host the one and only Corey Nathan. (Corey just happens to also be our co-host too we like him so much.) In this episode of TP&R Corey interviews Bob Cusack of THE HILL. We hope if you love Corey as much as we do you'll hop on over to listen to more and subscribe. Find them online or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's the TP&R description: Journalistic integrity. How can individual reporters and news outlets uphold their professional ethics? Is it possible in today's environment? How can a journalist get a coveted interview, yet be fair without it becoming a hit job or a puff piece? Is it any different now than 5 or 10 or 25+ years ago, when our guest of THE HILL first entered the business? What is it like interviewing Donald Trump (which Bob has done 4 times)? How can reporters be equipped to deal with attacks from a subject like Trump who repeatedly refers to the press as "the enemy of the people"? What about situations when correspondents are in harm's way due to such attacks? What lessons can be learned from the demise of companies such as BuzzFeed and Vice Media? Oh, and of course we do a little political prognostication! Bob Cusack serves as Editor-in-Chief of , a media platform that provides nonpartisan reporting on the inner workings of Government and the nexus of politics and business. Bob has been reporting on policy and politics in Washington, D.C. since 1995 and has interviewed top newsmakers such as former President Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He regularly appears on news networks as a non-partisan political analyst and has won six awards from the National Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists. Bob is also an accomplished tennis player and has appeared in numerous movies and tv shows such as WONDER WOMAN and VEEP. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
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A Braver Story: The Braver Angels Story of American Citizenship
05/25/2023
A Braver Story: The Braver Angels Story of American Citizenship
The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. —Abraham Lincoln. This episodes tells the story of one group of people who have risen. Built by patriotic volunteers, Braver Angels is a national movement to bridge the partisan divide, equally balanced between conservatives and progressives at every level of leadership. They work in communities, on college campuses, in the media, and in the halls of political power. We’ll offer up a behind the scenes view of this extraordinary group of Americans—how they formed, what they’ve learned and what’s next. Find bios for our participants and a . We hope you’ll join us as we explore what happens when people of goodwill who might not agree cross each others’ thresholds and break a little bread together. Whoever you are, whatever your beliefs, bring an open mind, an open heart (and an empty stomach) for a continuing conversation on the two topics your mother taught you to never broach in polite company: politics and religion. We can’t wait. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
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God Squad: Political Football, Inc.
05/11/2023
God Squad: Political Football, Inc.
Is political branding of everything really good for anyone? These days politicians aren’t the only ones who have to state their opinion on every single political disagreement du jour. It seems like practically every religious, nonprofit and for-profit company has to do the same, with everyone from mom-and-pop operations to Fortune 500 companies forced to run the gauntlet through our cold civil war. Are you “us” or are you “them”? We’ll talk about just how advisable this situation is and if there might be a better way. The God Squad concludes 13 years of talking about the challenging issues where faith intersects with the public square. Meet the God Squad, the brains behind our series “God Squad: Improbable conversations for people of faith and no faith at all (because talking politics wasn’t hard enough). Joining us for God Squad are Father Tim Holeda of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral, Dr. Gary Shultz of First Baptist Church Tallahassee, Stefanie Posner of Temple Israel, and Jermaine White of JPMorgan Chase. Find bios for our participants and a . We hope you’ll join us as we explore what happens when people of goodwill who might not agree cross each others’ thresholds and break a little bread together. Whoever you are, whatever your beliefs, bring an open mind, an open heart (and an empty stomach) for a continuing conversation on the two topics your mother taught you to never broach in polite company: politics and religion. We can’t wait. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
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Created Equal | Walking Up Hill Both Ways: Black Women & The Fight for Equality
04/27/2023
Created Equal | Walking Up Hill Both Ways: Black Women & The Fight for Equality
Throughout American history, Black women have been expected to serve and support others. Now, what should be done to support Black women? Despite Black women being the anchor for their families, networks, and community, they continue to be disregarded for economic opportunities, dismissed in health care, and deprioritized in society. Black women in America have historically faced an intersectional disadvantage due to both race and gender discrimination, and these challenges continue to persist today. A panel discussion, featuring academic experts, industry professionals, and community members, will encourage residents to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and understand the experiences of Black women. Table talks will provide an opportunity for attendees to share their own experiences and perspectives on the issues discussed by the panelists. These conversations will be facilitated to encourage attendees to engage in meaningful dialogue and share their thoughts and ideas in a small group setting. This program was presented by The Village Square and Leon County Government. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Find the full program description with guest bios .
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Broken News with Chris Stirewalt
04/13/2023
Broken News with Chris Stirewalt
Don’t miss this warm, funny professional’s guided tour of an industry that is failing us—the "Broken News." You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll know a thing or two to do to fix it. Our very special guest, Chris Stirewalt—a former Fox News political editor— gives us an inside view of the rage-driven political environment we’ve found ourselves plunged into: “Rage revenue-addicted news companies are plagued by shoddy reporting, sensationalism, groupthink, and brain-dead partisan tribalism. Newsrooms rely on emotion-driven blabber to entrance conflict-addled super users.” We think that just about nails it. Chris Stirewalt is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on American politics, voting trends, public opinion, and the media. He is concurrently a contributing editor and weekly columnist for The Dispatch. Before joining AEI, he was political editor of Fox News Channel, where he helped coordinate political coverage across the network and specialized in on-air analysis of polls and voting trends. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
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God Squad: Love Thy Neighbor. No Exceptions?
03/30/2023
God Squad: Love Thy Neighbor. No Exceptions?
Love Thy Neighbor. No Exceptions? Does the admonition to love one’s neighbor really come without exceptions? Must churches welcome white nationalists? Gay couples? January 6 sympathizers? BLM activists? Is everyone my neighbor? And what does love really mean? Joining us for God Squad are Father Tim Holeda of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral, Pastor Joe Davis, Jr. of Truth Gatherers Community Church, Scott Martin of Element 3 Church, Pastor Latricia Scriven of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, and Stefanie Posner of Temple Israel. ___________________ Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
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Peter Kageyama: For the Love of Cities
03/16/2023
Peter Kageyama: For the Love of Cities
Why do we connect emotionally with some places and not others? And why does that matter? Author and speaker Peter Kageyama loves cities. Big cities, small cities, villages and small towns. Our special podcast guest is Peter Kageyama on his extraordinary book. Wherever you live, this program is for you. In fact, wherever you live, we think you ought to begin a love affair with your city. So what does loving the city you live in have to do with healing the partisan divide? Turns out the answer is “almost everything.” Tune in to find out why. Whatever you do, watch the when you get to that place in the podcast. Really, you’re going to thank us. And while Peter doesn’t mention the in this talk, we learned about it from him in an earlier talk. The video inspires us to see the plight of cities in the Rust Belt like Braddock, Pennsylvania as a frontier. Like us, you’re never going to forget meeting Peter Kageyama. ___________________ Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. “For the Love of Cities,” in a throwback event offered in partnership with Leon County Government, City of Tallahassee and KCCI Tallahassee.
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Local Patriotism: The "David" of local community vs the "Goliath" of national dysfunction
03/02/2023
Local Patriotism: The "David" of local community vs the "Goliath" of national dysfunction
The forces that divide us are big, strong, viral, international in scope and have seemingly infected every system of our body politic. It’s the degree of that rot that has led us back this year to where it all began — to people we’ve come to know over these years — to this place, these people. Through this tumultuous time, we have come to believe that if we’re going to care about the American idea — if we’re going to truly live it out (and maybe save it) — it will be in hometowns like this one between neighbors like us. And it will ultimately be about who we are to each other, which Washington D.C. doesn’t get to decide for us. (And there is a growing body of academic work that supports our contention.) We say if we love our country, democracy is lived out here — as we love our city and we at least try to love our neighbor. Italians call a deep love for the village you call home “campanilismo” — all that lies within view of the local campanile or bell tower, the tallest building in town — but we’re calling this idea “local patriotism,” and think it could catch on if we can forge a trail for other hometowns. Ultimately, we think it’s possible that the only thing powerful enough to truly conquer the “Goliath” of this deepening national dysfunction is the “David” of local community. “True patriotism serves,” says Stephen Kiernan, our old friend and author of . Since bringing Stephen to town after the publication of his book, he’s become so disturbed by our political dysfunction that he’s advocating this same bottom-up approach in his project “Vermont to the Tenth Power.” Joining Stephen is Sally Bradshaw, Governor Bush’s former Chief of Staff, who got off the presidential campaign trail and jumped right into being a local bookseller when she opened , in her pursuit of lived democracy in our hometown. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Village Square is a proud member of , a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
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Hate, Undone. With Daryl Davis.
02/16/2023
Hate, Undone. With Daryl Davis.
"WHEN TWO ENEMIES ARE TALKING, THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING." When Daryl Davis was ten, he didn’t understand hate yet. But then he was the only black scout in a parade to honor Paul Revere’s ride to Concord, when he began getting hit by bottles. It was then that he formed a question in his mind that he’s spent much of a lifetime answering: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” Failing to find his answer in books and history, as an adult and an accomplished musician, he realized who better to ask than a member of an organization formed around the premise—the KKK. So began our guest’s extraordinary story, in which a black man befriended over 200 KKK members, starting with a grand wizard. We’ll learn how his improbable, impossible, openhearted journey can light our way. Musician and Race Reconciliator Daryl Davis, has single-handedly been the impetus for over two hundred White supremacists to renounce their ideology and turn their lives around. As a Black man, Daryl has attended more Ku Klux Klan rallies than most White people and certainly most Blacks — short of being on the wrong end of a rope. His true-life encounters with Grand Dragons, Imperial Wizards, neo-Nazi Commanders are detailed in his documentary Accidental Courtesy, and his riveting first book Klan-Destine Relationships. Daryl tours around the country and around the world performing musical concerts and giving lectures on race reconciliation, inspiring both racists and non-racists to redirect their positions toward working together to truly make America the greatest country it can be. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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God Squad: Let Friendship Redeem the Republic
02/02/2023
God Squad: Let Friendship Redeem the Republic
In our year-long celebration of the superpower of healthy friendships across differences, you’ll meet God Squad’s friends who they don’t quite agree with. Then we’ll let friendly disagreement rip (and live to tell). Join us for this chat about how to tackle difficult topics within the relationships that matter to us the most… and how to keep friendships healthy even when conflict arises. Joining the God Squad are Pastor Betsy Ouelette Zierden of the United Methodist Church, Father Tim Holeda of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral, Pastor Latricia Scriven of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, and Retired Rabbi Jack Romberg. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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God Squad: Holy Misconceptions, Batman!!
01/19/2023
God Squad: Holy Misconceptions, Batman!!
Isn't Hanukkah the most important holiday to Jews? Don't Catholics object to sex unless reproduction is the goal? Don't all religions worship the same God and (more or less) teach the same things? Doesn't the Bible say that God helps those who help themselves? The God Squad will consider many of the myths, truths, and misunderstandings that everyday people have about religion in America. Joining us for God Squad are Dr. Gary Shultz of First Baptist Church Tallahassee, Father Tom Dillion of St. John Paul II Chapel, Dr. Judy Mandrell of Life Changer Church of God in Christ, Adil Attari, and Retired Rabbi Jack Romberg. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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