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On the Other Hand
On the Other Hand is a podcast that explores politics and other issues of importance to Arkansans through conversations with community leaders in Arkansas. Co-hosts are Glen White and April Chatham-Carpenter, both of whom are active leaders in Braver Angels here in Arkansas. In this podcast, our goal is to serve as a venue for honest but civil conversations about a variety of topics with community leaders of diverse perspectives, especially those who work with others whose views or politics differ from their own beliefs. On the Other Hand is based on the premise that progress in our community and country happens when we listen respectfully to each other and are willing to work with each other when needed, so that problem-solving can occur and our citizens have hope of a more functional government. Ultimately, we want to help reduce political polarization in Arkansas. For questions, suggestions or feedback, contact us at: otherhandar@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
Bios for our On the Other Hand podcast staff
J. Glen White (PhD in Clinical Psychology) is a founding member of the Arkansas alliance of Braver Angels, a national organization devoted to ending extreme political polarization in America, with a mission of promoting mutual respect, civil dialog, and seeking of common ground among persons of differing political philosophies. Glen currently serves as state co-coordinator and provides workshops and presentations to support the mission of Braver Angels.
Prior to his retirement in 2021, Glen worked as a psychologist in the local Veterans Healthcare System, as clinical faculty in the University of Arkansas Medical Center, as clinical staff at a local mental health center, and as instructor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He continues to enjoy public speaking and serving his community.
As creator and co-host of the podcast On the Other Hand, Glen uses his past experiences and skills (including two years as a college DJ) to respectfully engage in conversations with podcast guests, especially community leaders in Arkansas and beyond who in various ways reach across political and other divisions to serve their community.
April Chatham-Carpenter (PhD, University of Oklahoma) is a Professor of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she serves as Department Chair of the Department of Applied Communication. She is skilled in interpersonal communication, instructional design, group facilitation, strategic planning, relationship-based change management, and public speaking. She researches issues such as innovation and change, use of communication to manage difficult dialogues, and transformations in online teaching. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes in support of the Department of Applied Communication’s mission “to foster the co-creation of better social worlds through positive communication.”
Dr. Chatham-Carpenter is an active volunteer with the national Braver Angels organization, serving in leadership roles such as Director of Field Communications for the Office of Field Operations and Regional Co-Lead for the West South Central Region. She also has been active in local efforts in the Braver Angels Arkansas Alliance, serving in the past as state co-coordinator and alliance co-chair. She also regularly serves as a workshop moderator and zoom event manager for local and national Braver Angels workshops, and is a co-host of the On the Other Hand podcast.
John P. O’Brien serves as producer and editor for the podcast, On The Other Hand. John combines 33 years as a senior corporate human resources and training executive and thirteen years in public education and his decades of technical know-how with video and audio editing. John brings to the table experiences with community volunteering work as a member and an officer with Rotary International, Kiwanis International, Optimist International, Literacy Council, The United Way, Junior Achievement, and AmeriCorps.
Episodes
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
This fourth of five parts features the conversation between Jerry Henderson and Glen White as they continue their review of a number of key understandings of political polarization from social sciences research and opinion leaders. This episode discusses influences that contribute to polarization, evolutionary factors that have led humans to be susceptible to polarization (including parasite stress leading to development of social and group factors), and moral influences that relate to our political belief development. 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 then in our final episode, part 5, learn what can help us do better at depolarizing our personal and national conversations.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
This third part of the conversation between Jerry Henderson and Glen White continues their review of a number of key understandings of political polarization from social sciences research and opinion leaders. This episode includes how behavior of leaders and other public figures can have serious impacts on the responses of citizens to political battles, how that impact can spread almost like a pandemic, and the impact of media, including the spread of inaccurate information in society. The impact of emotions and how they can override rational considerations is explored. This primacy of heart over head helps to drive tribal decision-making for all of us to some degree. Check out the other episodes on this topic as we help you better appreciate the 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.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
In part two of their conversation, Jerry Henderson and Glen White discuss key understandings of political polarization from social sciences research and opinion leaders. In this second part of their conversation, we discuss several negative impacts of extreme political polarization, with reference to how current and long-standing psychological processes suggest mechanisms for how societal stress and behavior are impacted by the strong emotional discord that politics currently evokes in our society. Be sure to check out the other episodes on this topic as we cover other important considerations for our societal and governmental well-being when we allow extreme polarization to persist. We hope this information will help you better appreciate why political beliefs are so hard to change, and what can help us do better at depolarizing our personal and national conversations.
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Jerry Henderson and Glen White discuss key understandings of political polarization from social sciences research and opinion leaders in this first episode of their conversation. This complex area of political polarization requires exploration of many well-established psychological principles as well as more recent research and the ideas experts in the field. Numerous factors, including neurological, social, cultural, and evolutionary forces (many of which are emotional and largely unconscious) influence our political beliefs and behavior and how we respond to differing opinions of others. Be sure to look for later episodes on this topic that we hope will help you better appreciate how complicated humans are when politics are concerned.
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
In this second part of Glen and April's interview with Daniel Reimer, a member of the Baha'i faith, an organizer of the online event Meaningful Conversations, and a patient advocate at UAMS, Dan describes how he views values and concepts found in most faith communities as helpful in being able to reach across divides with others.
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Glen and April interview Daniel Reimer, a member of the Baha'i faith, an organizer of the online event Meaningful Conversations, and a patient advocate at UAMS. Dan describes how he views values and concepts found in most faith communities as helpful in being able to reach across divides with others.
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
On the Other Hand co-hosts Glen White and April Chatham-Carpenter interview Gwen Faulkenberry, a teacher and author who has a blend of political views but ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the state legislature in her rural district. Learn more about Gwen's political views and her involvement with a new organization, Arkansas Strong. This is part 2 of our interview with Gwen.
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
On the Other Hand co-hosts Glen White and April Chatham-Carpenter interview Gwen Faulkenberry, a teacher and author who has a blend of political views but ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the state legislature in her rural district. Learn how her faith and family inform her political views and her community activities, as well as some disturbing responses she got when she chose to run as a Democrat. This is part 1 of our interview with Gwen.
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
April and Glen interview Ryan in the second part of this series, finding out more about how he works as director of Americans for Prosperity in Arkansas, and he describes helping coordinate efforts to reach across the partisan divide in the state legislature to pass some legislation in the most recent session.
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Glen and April interview Ryan Norris, Arkansas director of Americans for Prosperity. AFP has a long reputation for advocating free-market based and other conservative positions and policies around the country. Despite a history of enmity with progressive positions and politicians, AFP has indicated recently their desire to move toward a more collaborative and civil relationship with those who have differing views. Ryan explains current activities and philosophy of AFP, focusing on efforts in Arkansas in recent years.
Braver Angels Arkansas
On the Other Hand is sponsored by Braver Angels in Arkansas, part of a national organization that aims to reduce political polarization, to help people discover common ground, and to promote a more respectful and productive exchange of perspectives among participants in our democracy. Music heard during the On the Other Hand podcast was composed by Randall Standridge of Jonesboro, AR and was performed by the University of Northern Colorado Symphonic Band, Dr. Richard Mayne, conductor.
Listeners of On the Other Hand – we want to hear from you!
We’d love to hear from our listeners about feedback on what you like about our podcast, suggestions for improvement, ideas for speakers or topics, or whatever you want to share with us. Email us at: otherhandar@gmail.com
Learn more about us on our web site or visit our Facebook page.