On the Other Hand

#25 Ray Hanley, AR government and private sector leader, 12-1-22, Part 2: OTOH Episode 25

In Episode 25, Ray Hanley defends his efforts to support government programs that help kids and families with healthcare access as being consistent with a conservative, pro-family and pro-business approach.  He also talks in some depth about how he was able to persuade many persons on the value of such programs to their community. As someone who has spent much of his career as a conservative but who sometimes takes positions not usually associated with a Republican philosophy, he describes lessons he has learned about how to successfully negotiate or talk with persons generally in opposition to his ideas. He ends with his analysis of the likely future of Arkansas politics in coming years.

#24 Ray Hanley, AR government and private sector leader, 12-1-22, Part 1: OTOH Episode 24

In Episode 24, we feature Part 1 of an interview with Ray Hanley, a long time figure in Arkansas politics and in the private sector.  He served, for example, for 7 years as an executive in EDS, the technology company headed by Ross Perot.  Ray also has had extensive service in Arkansas government, including his time in the Huckabee administration when he played a key role in getting Medicaid expansion for children passed (ARKIDS First). He also helped spearhead the effort for Arkansas to adopt Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act years later. Despite his generally conservative views politically, Ray has faced criticism from some Republican quarters for these and other stances. He explains how he views his positions as very consistent with a conservative, pro-family and pro-business approach.  

#23 Sherry Simon, vice-president of Pax Christi AR, 10-13-22 Part 2: OTOH Episode 23

In part 2 of their conversation with Dr. Sherry Simon, psychologist and leader in Pax Christi AR, April and Glen explore with Sherry strategies for handling difficult moments in the work she does. In addition to approaches derived from her profession as a psychologist, Sherry also discusses ways that mindfulness-based approaches help her deal with the blowback she and others in Pax Christi sometimes experience from those who may not agree with their work.  Glen and April also weigh in with insights from their professional and personal experiences in dealing with difficult conversations. 

#22 Sherry Simon, vice-president of Pax Christi AR, 10-13-22 Part 1: OTOH Episode 22

April and Glen talk with vice-president and board member of Pax Christi, Arkansas, psychologist Dr. Sherry Simon. Pax Christi is a Catholic organization devoted to the pursuit of peace. Sherry talks about the work Pax Christi does, how persons of various political views work together for the cause of peace, and how her knowledge and skills as a psychologist help her in this work.  She discusses the active approach required in a pursuit of peace. 

#21 David Childs, Red co-coordinator for Braver Angels in Arkansas, 8-5-22 Part 2: Episode 21

In part 2 of this conversation, April and Glen speak with David Childs, Red co-coordinator for Braver Angels in Arkansas, about why he joined Braver Angels. David describes his past experiences with serving in public office and as a government employee, and how his time in Braver Angels has led to an evolution in how he interacts with others during political conversations. 

#20 David Childs, Red co-coordinator for Braver Angels in Arkansas, 8-5-22 Part 1: Episode 20

In this first part of a conversation that April and Glen have with David Childs, Red co-coordinator for Braver Angels in Arkansas, David talks about why he joined Braver Angels. David describes his past experiences with serving in public office and as a government employee, and he offers his views on the pros and cons of government being run as a business vs a public endeavor. He also talks about his book that addresses issues in management of organizations. 

#19 Part 3 of 3 Red Blue conversations between Glen and April about potentially controversial excerpts about research into political polarization, 10-11-22: OTOH Episode 19

This is the final of 3 parts of a sort of "Red-Blue" discussion, in which Glen White and April Chatham-Carpenter (co-hosts of this podcast) talk out issues related to a recent series of podcasts on polarization research.  In several previous episodes, Glen and Jerry Henderson had an extended conversation in which they explored various aspects of the research and scientific theories regarding political polarization. A few brief excerpts from those conversations were explored by Glen and April, who discuss those excerpts in some detail, describing initial reactions to the points raised in the initial discussions by Glen and Jerry, as well as getting into a broader exploration of the rationale and implications for the excerpted points.  We conclude our discussion with comments on the politicization of the science regarding the COVID pandemic, how context can determine whether certain personality or brain differences between liberals and conservatives are advantages or disadvantages, and we assess how our initial experiment in a Red/Blue conversation turned out. 

#18 Part 2 of 3 Red Blue conversations between Glen and April about potentially controversial excerpts about research into political polarization, 10-11-22: OTOH Episode 18

In this second of a 3 part  "Red-Blue" discussion, Glen White and April Chatham-Carpenter (co-hosts of this podcast) exchange views on issues related to a recent series of podcasts on polarization research.  In several previous episodes, Glen and Jerry Henderson had an extended conversation in which they explored various aspects of the research and scientific theories regarding political polarization. A few brief excerpts from those conversations were explored by Glen and April, who discuss those excerpts in some detail, describing initial reactions to the points raised in the initial discussions by Glen and Jerry, as well as getting into a broader exploration of the rationale and implications for the excerpted points.  

#17 Part 1 of 3 Red Blue conversations between Glen and April about potentially controversial excerpts about research into political polarization, 10-11-22: OTOH Episode 17

This is part 1 of 3 parts of a sort of "Red-Blue" discussion, in which Glen White and April Chatham-Carpenter (co-hosts of this podcast) talk out issues related to a recent series of podcasts on polarization research.  In several previous episodes, Glen and Jerry Henderson had an extended conversation in which they explored various aspects of the research and scientific theories regarding political polarization. A few brief excerpts from those conversations were explored by Glen and April, who discuss those excerpts in some detail, describing initial reactions to the points raised in the initial discussions by Glen and Jerry, as well as getting into a broader exploration of the rationale and implications for the excerpted points.  

#16 Final (5 of 5) episode of an extended conversation between Jerry Henderson & Glen White, as they discuss political polarization research, and how to reduce polarization, 6-30-22: OTOH Episode 16

This fifth and final part of the conversation between Jerry Henderson and Glen White concludes their review of a number of key understandings of political polarization from social sciences research and opinion leaders. This episode reviews key cognitive errors in our thinking that contribute to polarization, and we offer several evidence-based solutions that may help reduce polarization in ourselves and our society. Check out the other episodes on this topic as we cover the many complications of dealing with political polarization, especially at the toxic level seen in today's society.   Learn why political beliefs are so hard to change, and what can help us do better at depolarizing our personal and national conversations.