On the Other Hand

# 75, John Davis, author and director of Pryor center for oral history, 6-19-24, part 2, OTOH

In this second part of our interview with Dr. John Davis, April and Glen delve into details from John's new book, “From Blue to Red: The Rise of the GOP in Arkansas.” In his book, John identifies 3 generations of the modern Republican Party in Arkansas, featuring highlights of Republican politicians from each generation. For example, the desire for political diversity by William Rockefeller helped inspire his entrance into the Republican Party. The 3rd and current generation of Republicans he sees as not yet knowing what it's like to lose. John also mentions Asa Hutchinson's current status in the Republican Party and from there talks about how to get back to bipartisanship in Arkansas. He also recounts an interesting story about Dr. Janine Parry, who is Founding Director of the Arkansas Poll and an expert in Arkansas Politics.

#74, John Davis, author and director of Pryor center for oral history, 6-19-24, part 1

Glen and April spoke with Dr. John C. Davis, a political scientist, researcher, and public servant and currently the executive director of the David & Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History. In this first part of our interview, John discusses his work with the Pryor Center's Arkansas Oral History project, which features stories by and about Arkansans and Arkansas traditions. He traces some of the early influences of his family and values that led him to his life's work and views. Other details about his multi-faceted work are explored, including the influence on John of Bill Clinton's impeachment story, and his interest in working across political divides.

#73, Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas governor and congressman, 7 10 2024

Glen and April had the chance to chat with Asa Hutchinson, an attorney and the previous 2-term Republican governor of Arkansas. Asa has a long history of public service, including serving as a US Congressman, one of the House managers for Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial in the Senate, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and chair of the National Governors Association. In the interview, Asa tells us about his current work, which includes working with a security firm, being a conservative teaching at a largely liberal major university, and his other new endeavors. We find out what he views as highlights of his career, including a successful, non-violent arrest and prosecution of a domestic terrorist group in Arkansas. His approach as governor is discussed, including how he handled the COVID pandemic by getting a variety of experts and weighing various views to help him find a way to manage Arkansas's approach to COVID that adhered to his conservative philosophy. While he outlines his strong conservative credentials, he also expresses concerns about several recent developments nationally, including issues he highlighted during his recent unsuccessful run for nominee of the Republican Party as President. We also hear his criticisms of how he sees his party as having moved away from traditional conservative values. He highlights his conviction that civility and compromise remain critical for the success of our government and explains how he remains hopeful that things will get better in the future, despite his several worries about what the immediate future may hold for us. He finishes with a story of an Iowa farmer's interesting reaction to him during a campaign related conversation. 

#72, Jay McDaniel, author & theologian, 5 29 24, Part 2

In part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jay McDaniel, April and Glen talk with Jay about his view of how a "virtuous life" was important to our nation's founders and is important in our current community, including those not just like ourselves. Jay explains the concept of process theology, and he suggests that a healthy religious life should have both "roots" and "wings." We also find out what gives him hope and helps him reach across divides, which includes beauty and the Bee Gees. We explore Jay's work in China to explore spirituality in that culture, and we hear about the importance of "moral humility" in reaching across divisions. 

#71, Jay McDaniel, theologian, author & philosopher, 5 29 24, part 1

April and Glen chat with Dr. Jay McDaniel, a theologian, author & philosopher who specializes in Buddhism, process theology,  interfaith dialogue, and spirituality in an age of consumerism. Jay has published many books and articles, and he has a blog called "Open Horizons" [www.openhorizons.org], which he previously titled "Jesus, Jazz, and Buddhism." Our conversation with Jay includes his perspective of politics having taken on many of the roles typically associated with religion, and how he seeks to "find shared Joys" as a means of reaching across differences with others. We also explore Jay's work with interfaith dialog, and how, as a Christian, he values Buddhist philosophy in his spiritual journey. 

#70 Jay Barth, director of Clinton Presidential Library, 5-24-24, part 2

In part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jay Barth,  we cover a number of ideas, including the problems associated with an emphasis on "identity issues," the value in Arkansas of our ability to engage in "direct democracy" via citizen initiatives, and the Clinton Center's involvement (Braver Angels Arkansas is also a partner) in the Rockefeller Institute's "Civic Arkansas" project to improve citizen engagement in Arkansas. As a gay man, Jay understands and emphasizes the moral importance of people increasing their respect across various lines of identity in order to improve relationships and decrease conflict.  Finally, Jay talks about two Arkansas politicians for whom he has great respect - Asa Hutchinson and David Pryor - due in part because of their pragmatic approach to dealing with differences and the examples they offer of respect across the political aisle.  

#69 Jay Barth, director of Clinton Presidential Library, 5-24-24, part 1

Glen and April talk with Dr. Jay Barth, a native of Arkansas, who is the Emeritus Professor of Politics at Hendrix College, where he taught for 26 years. Jay currently serves as Director of the Clinton Presidential Library, and he has earned numerous awards for his work in education and politics over the years. In this first part of our conversation with Jay, he provides a brief biographical outline of his early life, born into a largely progressive family from which he developed many of his values. Jay also explains the three entities that make up the Clinton Presidential Center, with an emphasis on being non-partisan in its functions and outreach.  While emphasizing the strong need for Americans to reach across political and other differences, he acknowledges the "Grand Canyon" divide our country presently is experiencing. To deal with this division, he speaks of values such as egalitarianism and resilience in helping us to continue our growth despite the obstacles. 

#68 Mike Starr, author and life coach, 4-12-24, part 2

In the second part of our interview with author and life coach Mike Starr, April and Glen hear several of his specific concepts about how important it is to use language carefully in managing one's life and relationships. Some words he considers dangerous or tyrannical and he offers alternative words and phrases that he suggests can improve how one approaches problems in one's life. Rather than address politics directly, he prefers to focus on relationships. Interestingly, he advocates shaming in some cases, given his concerns about current trends of what he sees as decreased personal responsibility and increased blaming of external factors among many people. He ends with a personal story about how he and his canoe partner managed difficulties in their relationship during the long float from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.

#67 Mike Starr, author and life coach, 4-12-24, part 1

Mike Starr, life coach and author, speaks with April and Glen in this first part of our interview with him about his new book entitled, “Journey into Peace: A language for peace, progress, and healing,” in which he advocates that the everyday language we use causes much of the tension and suffering we have in our relationships. An entrepreneur who has managed a successful $100 million dollar a year manufacturing business, Mike is also a former nuclear submarine officer. He has also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and has canoed from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. He now lives in Arkansas.  His upbringing in a family who experienced first-hand the effects of the holocaust helped inform his values and approach to life. In his conversation with us, Mike emphasizes the importance of respect and empathy in dealing with others, including as a means to limit negative reactions to problematic behavior on the part of others. He shares some of his key thoughts from his book about how to have a better life and relationships. 

#66 Janet Harris, CEO of the Rockefeller Institute in Arkansas, 4-2-24, part 2: OTOH Episode 66

In part two, April and Glen gain ideas from Janet Harris, Executive Director & CEO of the Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain, for helping various groups of Arkansans facing difficult differences to join together in finding common ground for problem-solving. Other topics covered include the importance of relationships in improving working relationships during this process, which prompted this quote from Janet:  "the beauty of humanity is in that wrestling...". We review some of the initial efforts now underway with the institute and other groups (including our Braver Angels alliance) in helping promote civic engagement, which some data suggests is a particular problem in Arkansas. Other topics include addressing misinformation in our current media environment, Governor Rockefeller's initial motivation for running for office as a Republican (it's not what you might think), and a general description of how groups coming to the mountain for this process come to "wrestle with complexity" and how out of that process, she finds hope. Finally, Janet shares a remarkable story that started with her witnessing an aerial combat between two bald eagles while driving to work on top of Petit Jean mountain. The story serves as a fitting metaphor for the work of the Rockefeller Institute.