Heal our Division

What retaliation should Russia face for their Ukraine invasion? One online hacking collective is taking matters into their own hands. My guest today is Userware, a member of the Ghost Security (GhostSec) hacking collective fighting against Russia. In this interview with Userware we discuss GhostSec’s background, motivations, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on Russian retaliation measures.Ghost SecurityMedium: https://ghostsec420.medium.com/Telegram: https://t.me/GhostSecc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvKgOPDxt6n09B-OVF9xLAg Twitter: https://twitter.com/GS_M4F14Twitter (Co-Founder) : https://twitter.com/SebastianDAlex

How should foreign nations respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine? It’s March 2022 and Americans are divided. My guest today is Oleksandra Matviichuk, a human rights lawyer and civil society leader living in Kyiv, Ukraine. She serves as head of the Ukraine Center for Civil Liberties. Last year, Oleksandra was nominated by Ukraine for the United Nations Committee against Torture. In this episode we discuss current civilian life and military preparations in Kyiv, the ongoing debate over foreign supplies and troops, evidence of war crimes, Putin’s approval rating in Russia, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Євромайдан SOSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvromaidanSOSTwitter: https://twitter.com/sosmaydan

Is the People’s Convoy justified? It’s March 2022 and Americans are divided. My guest today is Taylor Barker, an American trucker currently participating in the People’s Convoy. In this episode we discuss the convoy’s goals, public reception while traveling across the country, if it’s a partisan movement, media reactions, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on the People’s Convoy.The People’s Convoy: https://thepeoplesconvoy.org/

Have the Olympic Games been corrupted? It’s February 2022, the Beijing Olympics just concluded, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Noah Hoffman, a former two-time Winter Olympian with Team USA who recently made headlines for speaking out against the Beijing Olympics and International Olympic Committee (IOC). Noah has recently helped launch Global Athlete, an Olympic athlete movement dedicated to addressing the balance of power between athletes and Olympic administrators. In this episode we discuss his criticism of how the IOC operates, his interactions with current Team USA olympians, when protests are appropriate, the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on future Olympic Games.Global Athlete: https://globalathlete.org/Noah Hoffman: https://twitter.com/hoffnoahman

What are transgender rights in America today? It’s February 2022, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Alex Petrovnia, a binary transgender man. He’s the founder of the Trans Formations Project, a nonprofit dedicated to tracking and educating transgender legislation in the United States. In this episode we discuss if transgender athletes have an unfair advantage, if there’s only two genders, controversy from Dave Chappelle’s comedy special, age limits for transitioning, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on today’s transgender rights.Trans Formations Project:https://www.transformationsproject.org/

Should Congressional stock trading be banned? It’s January 2022, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Dave Levinthal, the deputy Washington Bureau chief for Insider. His team published the "Conflicted Congress" reporting project, helping to reveal financial conflicts of interest and hypocrisy among the US House and Senate. More than 9000 financial-disclosure reports were reviewed to inform Americans of the many moments when lawmakers' personal finances clash with their public duties. In this episode we discuss how researching Congressional stock trading is intentionally made difficult by the government, the most eye-opening findings from the report, how members of Congress reacted to this negative publicity, Nancy Pelosi’s response defending this trading, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join me with an open mind as we work to heal the division on Congressional stock trading.Conflicted Congress Report:https://www.businessinsider.com/conflicted-congress-key-findings-stock-act-finances-investing-2021-12

Is critical race theory being taught in American schools? It’s January 2022, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Jennifer Ho. The daughter of a refugee father from China and an immigrant mother from Jamaica, whose parents themselves were immigrants from Hong Kong, Professor Ho is the director of the Center for Humanities & the Arts and Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. She teaches courses on Critical Race Theory and Asian American culture. In this episode we define what Critical Race Theory is, how transparent schools should be with parents about the curriculum they teach, whether school board protest meetings are justified, if college campuses and academia have a left-leaning bias, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on Critical Race Theory concerns in American education.Opinion Piece from Professor Ho:https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2021/06/dont-be-afraid-critical-race-theory-wont-bite-but-it-may-make-you-think/37640/

Did the United States make the right decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan last August? It’s January 2022, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Hussain Rezai, a native Afghani who evacuated the country in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021. In July 2017, his fiancee, Najiba Bahar, was killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in the same city of Kabul. Najiba had returned to Afghanistan after acquiring a Masters Degree in Computer Science abroad. Her hope was to provide young Afghan women and those from deprived communities with inspiration to pursue higher education. Hussain started the Najiba Foundation in her honor. At first just a library, the foundation expanded to also include a solar-powered computer lab and girl’s volleyball team. In October 2021 after their takeover, the Taliban destroyed the library, ransacked the computer lab, and the volleyball players went into hiding for fear of retribution. In this episode we discuss the Najiba Foundation’s interactions with the Taliban, whether accusations of the Afghan people not fighting for themselves are accurate, the future of women’s and human rights under the new Taliban rule, if foreign intervention is preferred, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.GUEST INFORMATIONHussain Rezai: https://twitter.com/Husain_rezaiNajiba Foundation: https://twitter.com/Najiba_FDN

How should we treat the unhoused population in our country? It’s January 2022, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Theo Henderson, who lives in Los Angeles, California and is a member of the unhoused community. Born in Chicago, Theo earned a scholarship to a local private college and received his undergraduate degree in education. During the 2008 recession, he was working as a schoolteacher in South Los Angeles until his own financial crisis hit: He lost his job, and health issues from diabetes saddled him with medical debt. After being evicted from his apartment in 2013, he first moved into his car until he could no longer afford to keep it. He’s been unhoused ever since. As a result, he started “We the Unhoused”, a podcast that interviews, lifts the voices, and highlights the struggles of the unhoused community in Los Angeles and beyond. His work has been featured in media outlets like the BBC, Los Angeles Times, Vice, Curbed, and more. In this episode we discuss why Theo advocates to use the term “unhoused” instead of homeless, if there’s a correlation between being unhoused and abusing drugs, whether unhoused street sweeps across American cities are justified, the recommended approach to help an unhoused member you may encounter, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on the unhoused crisis in America.GUEST INFORMATIONWe the Unhoused Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wetheunhousedWe the Unhoused Website: https://www.wetheunhoused.com/Teodore Henderson: https://www.instagram.com/thhheohenderson/

America is deeply divided, largely driven by our declining distrust in government, institutions, and media outlets. This decline of American media isn’t hard to see. Turn on the tv, and you’ll often struggle to distinguish what qualifies as journalism vs entertainment. Provocative commentary has taken precedence over asking questions and collecting facts. News anchors posing as neutral moderators often make themselves the star of the show. They’re only willing to interview guests who reflect similar opinions and political identities. When they do, the result is often a surface level conversation lasting mere minutes. My name is Kevin MacPherson, and I feel that there must be a better way forward. Our media distrust can’t continue if we want to maintain the social fabric of our country. As a result, I started the Heal our Division Podcast. Each week, I host a long form conversation with someone directly involved and impacted by today's most pressing issues. Guests share their story without interruptions, provide commentary, and answer the questions that often go unaddressed. They’re also challenged to address opposing views and criticism, even if uncomfortable. The goal of the podcast is always the same. Speak with those directly involved in today’s issues, identify solutions, and demonstrate that we can heal our division as people despite our differences. Left, right, center, or independent - I invite you to join me with an open mind as we work to heal the division in our country, one interview at a time.

How can Americans go beyond their bubble and connect across the political divide? It’s April 2021, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Tania Israel, a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In August 2020, Tania released her book Beyond Your Bubble, a practical, politically neutral book that offers concrete skills for holding meaningful conversations that cut across today's intense political divide, showing readers how to connect to the people in their lives. The book was featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Ted Talks, and NBC’s The Today Show among other media outlets. In this episode we discuss how to improve active listening during contentious conversations, why face-to-face dialogue is so important, the key takeaways from the political workshops Tania hosts, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on going beyond your political bubble.

How does dark money influence US politics? It’s March 2021, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Karl Evers-Hillstrom, a money-in-politics reporter for OpenSecrets.org, an organization describing themselves as the most comprehensive, nonpartisan money-in-politics resource around. Karl has been part of the team since October 2018 with a specific focus in the area of dark money. In this episode we discuss how dark swayed our 2020 elections, why the amount of dark money donations is exponentially growing, reasons for some billionaires and corporations to disguise their political donations, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join us with an open mind as we work to heal the division on dark money influence in US politics.

Should the public trust COVID-19 vaccines? It’s March 2021, and Americans are divided. The voice you just heard is Dr. Nishant Joshi, an Accident and Emergency doctor. Both him and his wife, also a doctor, have made British national headlines stating that, for healthcare workers, “everyone is scared to speak up publicly” and highlighting the government’s “chaotic” guidelines for healthcare workers on the front line of the crisis. He’s since become an outspoken advocate for trusting and receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. In this episode we discuss whether vaccinations were rushed, if employees can be forced to get vaccinated, we evaluate the response of government officials, identify what herd immunity means, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on COVID vaccination public trust.

Were hedge funds at fault for the Gamestop short squeeze? It’s February 2021, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Joel Block, a 25 year veteran of the venture capital, private equity, and hedge fund worlds who addresses audiences from Silicon Valley venture firms to Wall Street bankers on matters of capital formation. In 2012, Joel formed the Bullseye Capital Fund, a real estate hedge fund. In this episode we discuss the role of hedge funds, the sincerity of the Robinhood CEO’s response, whether Reddit Wall Street Bets is guilty of market manipulation, if the stock market is an uneven playing field, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on the Gamestop short squeeze.

How is political division directly contributing to the climate change crisis? It’s February 2021, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Bill Shireman, a social entrepreneur, environmental policy innovator, and rare San Francisco Republican. He brings together people from all sides of the political spectrum. His latest book is ‘In This Together: How Republicans, Democrats, Capitalists, and Activists are Uniting to Tackle Climate Change and More’. In this episode we discuss how Republicans and Democrats unknowingly align with one another, tips for avoiding partisan echo chambers, his recommended politically neutral news sources, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on climate change.

Should school districts be opened across America for in-person learning? It’s February 2021, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Stephanie Edmonds. She’s a public school teacher in New York City and co-founder of the #Teachers4OpenSchools movement, which advocates for safe in-person learning for all students and teachers. Not everyone feels the same; teachers from school districts across the nation are protesting returns back to the classroom. In this episode we discuss whether these protests have merit, who should be setting the return criteria, we evaluate virtual vs. in-person learning, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on whether to reopen school districts for in-person learning.

How do we treat the symptoms of America’s political hatred today? It’s January 2021, and Americans are divided. My recurring guest today is Dr. René Levy, the primary influence for me launching this podcast. He’s received the highest award given by the American Epilepsy Society in recognition of contributions to the field. After the 2016 election, Dr. Levy applied his knowledge towards writing ‘Mending America’s Political Divide: What Science Tells Us About Solving The Political Hatred Between The Left and The Right’. In the second of our two-part series, Dr. Levy will treat the symptoms of America’s political divide as he would for a medical patient after first providing the diagnosis. We discuss whether political affiliations are genetic, if the bipartisan system is still effective, how to successfully engage with someone of opposing political views, and more. So whether you agree or disagree with today’s guest, I invite you to join me with an open mind as we heal the division by treating the political hatred in America today.

Are masks effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19? It’s January 2021, and Americans are divided. My first guest today is Rod Eccles, the outspoken host of the conservative radio talkshow “The Rod Eccles Show”. It’s become a favorite for military members around the world. My second guest is Panagis Galatsatos, a critical care medicine physician for Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He also serves as the Co-Chair of Health Equity and Co-Director of Medicine for the Greater Good at Johns Hopkins. In this episode we discuss inconsistent mask-wearing policies, if lockdowns should continue, how hospitals are operating, and more. Whether you agree or disagree with today’s guests, I invite you to join with an open mind as we work to heal the division on COVID-19 masks.

How do we diagnose America’s political hatred today? It’s January 2021, and Americans are divided. My guest today is Dr. René Levy, the primary influence for me launching this podcast. Not a psychologist or political scientist, Dr. Levy serves as the Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington in Seattle where he served as chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics for 26 years. His interest in neuroscience results from his work in the field of epilepsy, where he’s received the highest award given by the American Epilepsy Society in recognition of lifetime accomplishment and contributions to the field. After the 2016 election, Dr. Levy wrote ‘Mending America’s Political Divide: What Science Tells Us About Solving The Political Hatred Between The Left and The Right’. This was to provide the reader not trained in science with an understanding of the new tribalism-hatred condition that leads to a practical solution. After becoming one of those readers last summer, I took the first steps to start Heal our Division. In the first of two episodes, Dr. Levy will diagnose the symptoms of America’s political divide as he would for a medical patient. In the second he’ll provide the treatment. So with no further ado, I invite you to join me as we heal the division by diagnosing the political hatred in America today.

Are 5G networks dangerous to human health? It’s January 2021, and some Americans are divided. My first guest today is Patrick, a former science teacher and resident in Northern Sweden who argues that 5G is indeed dangerous. Of the opposing view is my second guest, David Robert Grimes. David is a physicist, cancer researcher, and science writer for outlets including the Guardian, the Irish Times, and the BBC. He was joint winner of the 2014 Nature & Sense About Science Maddox Prize for standing up for science. His book ‘The Irrational Ape’ is available wherever books are sold. In this episode we discuss the Nashville Christmas bomber, attacks on 5G towers, transhumanism and more. So with no further ado, I invite you to join me as we heal the division on whether 5G networks are dangerous.