Award-winning journalist and author Monica Guzmán joins the Presidential Speaker Series for a masterclass in the art of bridging divides. Drawing from her celebrated book I Never Thought of It That Way, her work with Braver Angels, and her own experience as the “liberal daughter of conservative parents,” Monica explores how curiosity, courage, and deep listening can bring people back from the edges of political polarization.

In this wide-ranging conversation, she reveals:

• Why curiosity acts like a “cognitive superpower” in tough conversations

• How her immigrant upbringing and early shyness shaped her career

• The difference between “cooking” and “burning” in heated dialogue

• Why depolarization is a practice, not a performance

• How students, families, and communities can build bridges even in overwhelmingly like-minded environments

• When boundaries matter — and how to honor them without shutting down relationships

• The spiritual dimension of seeing the full mystery in every human being

• What she’s learned from conservatives about family, patriotism, and shared values

• A preview of her next book on fear, courage, and emotional capacity

Whether you’re a student, educator, leader, or just someone tired of the national shouting match, this episode gives you practical tools and hopeful energy to create conversations that actually move somewhere. Monica doesn’t promise easy answers… but she shows us how curiosity makes the impossible possible.