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Artwork for A Braver Way

A Braver Way

Monica Guzman
Political Polarization
Braver Angels
Abortion
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Political Divide
Political Division
Covid-19
2024 Election
Democracy
Political Disagreement
Social Blindness
Donald Trump
Persuasion
Pro-Choice
Pro-Life
David Mcraney
Charlie Veach
Public Health Communication
Polarization
Communication Skills

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 everyda... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes47Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsPolitics

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Artwork for A Braver Way

Latest Episodes

How do you get through a midterm season this tense with your integrity intact, whatever the results bring? Moni and April Lawson, your politically red and blue co-hosts, bring a survival guide: practical, evidence-backed tips for the anxiety, distrus... more

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 ... more

YouTube

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 laun... more

YouTube

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... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joy Mayer
Founder and executive director of Trusting News, which researches and trains journalists to earn public trust
Trusting News
Episode: Is the news doing more to you than for you?
Jonathan Stray
Senior scientist at UC Berkeley Center for Human-compatible AI and former investigative data journalist
UC Berkeley Center for Human-compatible AI
Episode: Is the news doing more to you than for you?
Julie Spilsbury
Former Mesa City Council member, cinnamon roll entrepreneur, community volunteer
Mesa City Council, local business owner
Episode: They betrayed you. Now what?
Bob Hathcock
Signature gatherer for recall, community member
Political activist, local resident
Episode: They betrayed you. Now what?
Yuval Levin
Thinker and commentator on American institutions
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Division isn't the danger. Here's the fix. | Yuval Levin LIVE
April Lawson
Friend and guest on the podcast
Episode: Mailbox: Your questions on Trump, ‘privilege’ and compromise
Jaime Settle
Political scientist
College of William & Mary
Episode: How to talk politics when your body says ‘run’
Travis Tripodi
Friend and conversation partner with differing political views; invited guest.
Episode: ‘Explain yourself’: A Trump voter and Trump critic let you in
Axel Bouchon
CEO and co-founder of Matter Neuroscience; neuroscientist
Matter Neuroscience
Episode: Can political disagreement make you happier?

Host

Mónica Guzmán
Host who guides the conversation across the political spectrum, emphasizing curiosity and civil dialogue.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 193 ratings
  • Uplifting…I have hope

    Yes! Moni (and April) once again…give me hope on how to be a more loving human.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    debtheartist
    United States21 days ago
  • Understanding vs Arguing

    I don’t usually leave podcast reviews, but this one felt worth it.

    One thing I really appreciate about A Braver Way is that it reminds me that people who see the world differently aren’t automatically bad people. I’ll be honest. I struggle with that. It’s easy for me to assume people on “the other side” are selfish, mean, ignorant, or just don’t care about others.

    This podcast is helping me realize that, even when I strongly disagree with someone, there’s usually a story behind how they got th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JDVO81
    United States3 months ago
  • Unsure What “Brave” Means Here

    I started listening to A Braver Way hoping to find a thoughtful, constructive space that bridges deep political divides and helps listeners better understand friends & family on the other side. I’ve read Monica’s book and really enjoyed it, and I was hopeful that the podcast would explore more themes relevant to Trump’s second term. Unfortunately, a recent episode left me incredibly disappointed, and I will be unfollowing the show.

    The episode “How to Let People Offend You” featured an attorney... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Midwestern Ginger Snap
    United States4 months ago
  • Uplifting…I have hope

    I have missed you Monica!!! Thank you and Braver Angels…you encourage me to be part of the healing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    debtheartist
    United States5 months ago
  • Just what we need. Now more than ever.

    This series has been heartening over the past year. My only complaint is that I’d like to listen to more new episodes for 2025! ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edward Krigsman
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and host are seen as models of civil discourse that encourage understanding over winning arguments.
Some listeners wish for deeper critique in certain topics, but overall feedback highlights value and impact.
Listeners praise the show's hopeful, empathetic approach to tough conversations.
Episodes are described as thoughtful, practical, and useful for real-life conversations with friends and family.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is the news doing more to you than for you?
Q: How am I supposed to navigate media in a way that does more for me than to me?
The guests recommend noticing emotional reactions, seeking reporting that explores complexity and differing perspectives, prioritizing local news, and offering constructive feedback to journalists.
Is the news doing more to you than for you?
Q: How would you even sum up what the problem is? What sticks in your mind? What feel like the biggest chunks?
The guests point to declining public trust, the burden of choosing among increasingly numerous information sources, nationalized political coverage, and a widening gap between journalists and the communities they serve.
‘Explain yourself’: A Trump voter and Trump critic let you in
Q: Why do you believe this policy could fail, given its goals?
Travis argues that price fixing and a city-run grocery model could undermine private competition and lead to shortages, while the host acknowledges the intention to help the vulnerable but questions long-term feasibility and economic incentives.
‘Explain yourself’: A Trump voter and Trump critic let you in
Q: Kick us off with the first topic, what has been bothering you?
Travis introduces a policy idea in New York City and explains why he views it as problematic due to economic and market dynamics, while the host frames their conversation around learning from differences rather than persuading.
Can political disagreement make you happier?
Q: Tell us about the phone booth experiment and why politics was used as a context.
The project used a call-a-Republican and call-a-Democrat setup to test if positive, curiosity-driven conversations could overcome automatic tribal responses; the data showed most exchanges stayed civil, with many surprising and positive moments.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Braver Way

What is A Braver Way about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on civil, evidence-informed dialogue across political lines, featuring conversations with guests from a wide spectrum. Episodes typically pair an interview to surface a guest's perspective with a red/blue dialogue, personal stories from everyday Americans, and a closing segment or song that underscores practical steps to bridge divides. Listeners are drawn to thoughtful, hopeful takes on civility, empathy, and collaborative problem solving, with a focus on how to navigate heated issues without sacrificing humanity. A standout aspect is the deliberate structure that blends expert insight, lived experience, and actionable techniques to foster understanding in polarized times.

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How many listeners does A Braver Way get?

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Which podcasts are similar to A Braver Way?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Braver Way:

1. The Permanent Questions With David Brooks
2. On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
3. The Interview
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of A Braver Way are there?

A Braver Way launched 3 years ago and published 47 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact A Braver Way?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for A Braver Way?

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What guests have appeared on A Braver Way?

Recent guests on A Braver Way include:

1. Joy Mayer
2. Jonathan Stray
3. Julie Spilsbury
4. Bob Hathcock
5. Yuval Levin
6. April Lawson
7. Jaime Settle
8. Travis Tripodi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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