Derate The Hate

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Most people have spent their entire lives being measured — by achievement, status, approval, income, influence. It feels normal because it's constant. But Regi Wilson, founder of Equal Universe and creator of the Value Identity framework, argues that this is exactly the problem. We've been running on a broken definition of human worth, and the damage shows up everywhere: in how we treat ourselves, how we treat each other, and in the pain that underlies nearly every societal divide we can't seem to close. Value Identity is the paradigm shift. It starts with a single reframe: your worth isn't assigned by what you've done or what others think of you. It's built into your design. It was already there. The degrees, the titles, the likes — those things don't create your value. They acknowledge what already existed. In this episode, Regi and Wilk trace what happens when people live inside the old story — the pain it creates, the way it spreads, and why no law or policy can fix something that lives at the level of individual belief. They also explore what the human body can teach us about a society that actually works: one where differences aren't threats, they're the point. The shift Regi is describing isn't motivational. It's structural. And this conversation lays out exactly what it looks like. Learn more about and connect with Regi Wilson in the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Doug Teschner and Beth Malow return to Derate the Hate for a catch-up conversation following the release of their book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times. The book has sold over a thousand copies, earned a Literary Titan Award, and is drawing audiences from across the political spectrum — including some surprising reception from high-profile conservative media. In this episode, Doug and Beth dig into the "black pill" mindset — the growing sense that division is too far gone to fix — and push back on it with both evidence and personal stories. They talk about "conflict entrepreneurs," the people and forces that profit from keeping us at each other's throats, and why most of us have far more in common than the news cycle suggests. Beth shares a candid story about a series of conversations with a Christian conservative friend in Nashville — one that started over guns and eventually moved into abortion — that shows what courageous listening actually looks like in practice. And both guests make the case that protesting and bridge building aren't opposites. You can hold strong convictions and still make room to understand someone else's. Learn more about and connect with Beth & Doug by getting the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Monica Harris returns to Derate the Hate — this time in person — to talk about FAIR's newly renamed curriculum, Many Stories, One Nation. It's a high school social studies elective that takes a different approach to teaching American history: broad, honest, chronological, and built around civil discourse. Monica breaks down what separates this curriculum from liberated ethnic studies — and why the oppressor/oppressed framework, even when well-intentioned, ends up hurting the very students it's trying to help. The damage, she argues, runs in both directions. They also dig into the "competing goods" framework, the reticular activating system and confirmation bias, what it means to teach kids how to think instead of what to think — and what Monica sees as realistic success in a state like Minnesota. If you care about what's happening in classrooms and why it matters beyond the classroom, this is the conversation for you. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) You've heard the Golden Rule your whole life. Jennifer Furlong says it's a great start — but it's not enough. In this episode, Wilk welcomes back communications strategist and coach Jennifer Furlong (Communication TwentyFourSeven) for a conversation that's equal parts practical and eye-opening. They dig into the Platinum Rule — the idea that truly effective communication means treating people the way they want to be treated, not the way you do. That shift sounds simple. It isn't. Jen and Wilk explore the four core communication styles, why acknowledgment and agreement are two very different things, and what it actually takes — courage, intention, and a willingness to put your ego in the back seat — to have a real conversation with someone who sees the world completely differently than you do. If you've ever walked away from a hard conversation feeling like nothing got through, this one's for you. Topics Covered: • The Platinum Rule vs. the Golden Rule • The four communication styles and your default setting • Why listening IS the skill (not just a nice-to-have) • Acknowledgment ≠ agreement • Communicating across ideological differences • Creating shared meaning — even when you can't find common ground • The Three Gates: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Learn more about and connect with Jennifer Furlong by getting the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) What do you do when the world stares at you everywhere you go? Brandon Farbstein was born with metatropic dysplasia — one of only 84 documented cases in human history. Growing up at 3’9" in a world that pointed, stared, and laughed, he reached a breaking point at 11 years old where he just wanted to disappear. Then something shifted. Therapy. A chance encounter in an airport. A TEDx stage at 15. And a realization that his pain wasn’t his prison — it was his purpose. Today, Brandon Farbstein is a Gen Z powerhouse speaker, author of Ten Feet Tall and A Kids Book About Self-Love, a champion of two Virginia anti-bullying laws, and a newly appointed member of the ProHuman Foundation Board of Advisors. In this episode, Wilk and Brandon talk about: • What it’s really like to grow up with a condition most doctors have never seen • The moment at 11 that became a turning point — and how therapy changed everything • The airport encounter that launched his speaking career at 14 • Why self-love isn’t a buzzword — it’s a survival skill • Why your circle of influence doesn’t have to be the size of LA to matter • The ProHuman Foundation’s mission and how YOU can be part of it Your story matters. Your platform doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be real. Learn more about and connect with Brandon Farbstein in the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) What does it take to walk away from an ideology you were raised inside of — and then spend your career pulling others out of the same darkness? Allizandra Herberhold grew up in a racially segregated community where white supremacist ideology was woven into the fabric of everyday life. She didn't choose it. It was handed to her by trusted adults who knew no other way. It wasn't until college — when her first roommate turned out to be a Black woman who showed her nothing but patience and kindness — that the fear she'd been carrying started to crack. Today, Allizandra is a full-time Exit Interventionist with Parents for Peace, working directly with radicalized individuals across the ideological spectrum: neo-Nazis, ISIS supporters, incels, would-be school shooters, and more. Her approach treats radicalization like an addiction — and replaces shame with connection. In this conversation with host Wilk Wilkinson, we get into the real mechanics of how hate takes root, why confronting ideology head-on almost never works, and how curiosity and compassion — paired with lived experience — become the most powerful tools in the room. In This Episode: • How Allizandra was exposed to white supremacist ideology growing up — and what began to change it • What an Exit Interventionist actually does, and how long the process really takes • Why Allizandra views radicalization through the lens of addiction • The role of self-disclosure and lived experience in building trust with radicalized individuals • Why you can't hate the hate out of someone — and what works instead • The silencing of dissenting voices in higher education and what it costs us • A final message: be curious, not condemning Learn more about and connect with Allizandra Herberhold in the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Can a divided nation actually agree on what children need? That's the question at the heart of this conversation. Wilk sits down with Lauren Farrow — former public school teacher, founder of SchoolingAmerica.org, and education reform advocate — for an honest, nonpartisan look at what's really happening inside the American education system. Lauren shares what she witnessed as a classroom teacher in the post-pandemic years: behavior struggles, academic decline, burnt-out teachers spending their own money on supplies, and a bureaucratic structure that strips educators of the very autonomy they need to actually help kids. She breaks down why the system isn't broken — it's functioning exactly as designed — and why that distinction matters for anyone who wants to fix it. Together, Wilk and Lauren explore school choice and voucher programs, the reality of Title I school funding, the role of teachers unions, and most importantly: what parents and community members can actually do about it. The answer? Courageous citizenship. Show up. Get involved. Act instead of react. Whether you have kids in school or not — you have skin in the game. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders. Learn more about and connect with Lauren Farrow in the complete show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) In Episode 304 of Derate The Hate, Wilk sits down with Mubin Shaikh — a former extremist who deradicalized after 9/11 and went on to work undercover against terrorism. Born and raised in Toronto, Mubin experienced an identity crisis that led him toward violent Islamist extremism as a young man. But marriage, fatherhood, and the events of 9/11 forced him to confront hard questions about ideology, violence, and truth. After studying Arabic and Islamic theology in Syria, he returned to Canada and became an undercover operative for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. His work helped dismantle terror networks, including the infamous Toronto 18 case. Today, Mubin works with Parents for Peace, helping families intervene before radicalization turns violent. This episode explores: • The psychology of radicalization • Identity crisis and youth vulnerability • Moral dilemmas of undercover work • The online pipeline to extremism • Parenting in the digital age • Courageous citizenship and reclaiming agency Radicalization isn’t “over there.” It can happen anywhere the ingredients are present. Learn more about and connect with Mubin Shaikh by getting the full show notes at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) In Episode 303 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with poet and author April Ossmann to explore how poetry can become a powerful tool for bridging America’s political divide. April is the author of We: Poems (Red Hen Press, 2025), a collection devoted to healing polarization through empathy, metaphor, and shared humanity. A recent member of Braver Angels, she brings a unique voice to the civic renewal movement — one grounded not in rhetoric, but in soul. In this episode, they discuss: If you care about democracy, dialogue, and restoring decency in public life, this conversation will challenge and inspire you. Learn more about April Ossmann in the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) In this episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with award-winning filmmaker Michael Premo to discuss Homegrown, his powerful documentary exploring the motivations behind individuals drawn into the Proud Boys movement in the years leading up to January 6. Rather than reducing people to stereotypes, Homegrown examines how community, belonging, grievance, and identity often drive political radicalization. Wilk and Michael unpack the role of outrage entrepreneurs, the public planning behind January 6, and why America’s deepest problem isn’t left vs. right—but toxic polarization itself. This conversation challenges listeners to look beyond headlines and ask harder questions about how we got here—and where we go next. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In this episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk sits down with Bill Woodson, founder of Conversations Across The Aisle, to explore what local bridge building looks like in a deeply polarized moment. Bill shares the story behind launching the CATA Project, a community-based effort focused on respectful dialogue, shared humanity, and restoring civic trust—starting locally, with aspirations to grow nationally. Together, Wilk and Bill discuss: This is a conversation about choosing courage over outrage—and building something better, one table at a time. 🔗 Learn more and connect with Bill Woodson by getting the full show notes at: www.DerateTheHate.com The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In this milestone 300th episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by Maury Giles, CEO of Braver Angels, for a wide-ranging conversation on toxic polarization, trust, and the responsibility of citizens in a divided America. Maury shares his journey from a 35-year corporate career into full-time civic engagement, and why he believes courageous citizenship—not outrage or withdrawal—is the antidote to our current crisis. Together, Wilk and Maury explore: This episode marks not just a podcast milestone—but a call to action for citizens who still believe this country is worth the work. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In Episode 299 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with peacebuilder, author, and professor Chip Hauss to explore what it really takes to bridge divides in a polarized world. Chip shares insights from his decades of work in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, including why addressing root causes matters more than fighting symptoms, and why meaningful change starts locally — not federally. Together, Wilk and Chip unpack common myths about political polarization, discuss the importance of personal agency and courageous citizenship, and explain how curiosity can transform conversations across difference. This episode is grounded, hopeful, and deeply practical — a reminder that peacebuilding isn’t the work of elites, but something each of us can practice every day. Topics Covered Peace Building Starts at HomeLearn more about and connect with Chip Hauss in the full show notes at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In a culture shaped by outrage, many people choose silence—not because they agree, but because speaking feels too risky. In this episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by journalist and author Katherine Brodsky to discuss cancel culture, self-censorship, and the growing consequences of letting loud, unreasonable voices dominate public discourse. Katherine is the author of No Apologies: How to Find and Free Your Voice in the Age of Outrage. Drawing from personal experience and historical perspective, she explains why courage is often rooted in moral clarity, not bravado—and why authenticity matters for both individual well-being and societal progress. Together, Wilk and Katherine explore: A thoughtful, grounded conversation about free speech, responsibility, and the quiet power of finding your voice. Learn more about and connect with Katherine Brodsky by visiting the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In Episode 297 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with Tom Fishman—media executive, bridge-builder, and advisor to the ProHuman Foundation—for a wide-ranging conversation on how depolarization can scale. From the failures of outrage-driven media to the need for a powerful “air game” in the bridging movement, this episode explores how storytelling, shared identity, and citizen-led solutions can rebuild trust and belonging in American life. Key Topics Covered The Great Boys BookGuest Tom Fishman is a founding partner of the Builders Movement, an advisor to the ProHuman Foundation, and a former media executive at MTV and Facebook. Learn more about and connect with Tom Fishman in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In Episode 296 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by Malka Kopell and Palma Joy Strand, co-founders of Civity, for a deeply human conversation about rebuilding trust, strengthening communities, and rediscovering our civic muscle. At a time when institutional trust is declining and polarization feels overwhelming, Malka and Palma share why relationships — not arguments — are the true foundation of social change. Together, they explore: This episode is a reminder that small human moments — when multiplied — can change the culture around us. Learn more about Civity and connect with Malka & Palma by checking out the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Why does outrage feel powerful — yet leave conversations broken in its wake? In Episode 295 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by world-class speaking coach and author Robert Begley to explore why empathy-rooted rhetoric is far more effective than outrage-driven communication. Together, they unpack how conversations escalate, why persuasion works better than force, and how curiosity and listening can disarm hostility before it turns into conflict. This episode offers practical tools for navigating difficult conversations — without sacrificing conviction or humanity. Guest: Robert Begley Book: Voices of Reason (Amazon Bestseller) Key Topics Learn more and connect with Robert Begley in the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In Episode 294 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by author and speaker, Julie Lavender Le Doux for a powerful conversation about performance anxiety, childhood experiences, fear, shame, and personal growth. Julie shares how early experiences shaped her fear of being seen, how anxiety spread into multiple areas of her life, and how confronting fear became the path toward healing and courage. Together, Wilk and Julie explore how avoidance temporarily feels safe—but ultimately deepens fear—and why courage is a learnable skill. They also discuss Julie’s imaginative Amazings book series, which uses metaphor and storytelling to help children and families process trauma, propaganda, conformity, and fear—while cultivating wonder, critical thinking, and resilience. Key Topics Learn more and connect with Julie Lavender Le Doux in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Episode 293 with guest Nathan Stock In this episode, Wilk sits down with international conflict-resolution specialist Nathan Stock, a man with more than 20 years of experience working to reduce violence and strengthen democracy around the world. Nathan shares how his journey began as an English teacher in Gaza during the Al-Aqsa Intifada — an experience that taught him how quickly societies can shift from tension to full-scale conflict. Nathan explains the unsettling parallels he now sees in American political polarization: declining trust in institutions, tribal media bubbles, and the growing tendency to view political opponents as evil rather than human. But he also emphasizes the hopeful part: we still have agency, and personal relationships across difference remain one of the strongest antidotes to toxic polarization. Topics include: • Lessons from living through violent conflict • Why good people can be driven to do bad things • The role of media consumption in shaping our “reality” • Declining trust in institutions • How everyday citizens can help reduce political hostility • Building cross-partisan relationships that humanize, not demonize Learn more about and connect with Nathan Stock by getting the full show notes at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Episode 292 — Correcting Misperceptions with James Coan of More Like Us Misunderstanding each other is fueling a level of toxic polarization that’s tearing at our civic and social fabric. In this episode, Wilk is joined by James Coan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of More Like Us, an organization that helps Americans see each other more accurately—especially on college campuses. They unpack: • Why we think our political “opponents” are more extreme than they really are • How false stereotypes lead to fear, outrage, and hostility • The perception gap: what it is and how it warps our values • Why data can calm what misinformation inflames • The CAST & RECAST framework for seeing people as complex, admirable, similar, and worthy of togetherness • How to interrupt the “race to the bottom” in our politics This conversation is full of clarity, humanity, and real-world solutions. Learn more about James and his work by visiting the full show notes for this episode on DeratetheHate.com or MoreLikeUs.org The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.