Rethinking Civic Connection: Building Trust & Collaboration Across Difference

Can activism build bridges instead of walls? At a time when half the country sees the other half as immoral, undemocratic, and dangerous — and vice versa -- is real civil discourse even possible? Michelle Sobel and Morgan Lasher say yes — and they're proving it. As leaders at Unify America, they're on a mission to reduce political polarization and rebuild civic trust nationwide. In this episode, we dig into two of their boldest tools for change: Civic Gym programs that train students to engage in deep and meaningful dialogue across differences and find common ground on tough topics, and Democracy Leagues that build lasting local institutions for a less polarized, more functional democracy. The takeaway? Dialogue isn't just possible — it's a skill we can practice. And activism isn't only found on the front lines of protest. It lives in the everyday choices we make to use our own influence, connect across difference, and hold our shared humanity dear. 🔗 Learn more: unifyamerica.org