Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

Why We Disagree About What Matters We often assume political polarization is about beliefs or party loyalty—but what if it’s about which issues we think are worth caring about ? In this episode, behavioral scientists Adrienne Kafka (Duke University) and Troy Campbell (On Your Feet, formerly Disney Imagineering and Netflix) unpack their research on issue salience polarization —how our sense of an i...

Digital Overwhelm: Talking Across Generations In a world that never stops pinging, how do we stay human—and stay connected across generations? Host David Beckemeyer talks with communication scholar Craig Mattson , author of Digital Overwhelm , about what happens when Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all try to navigate the same flood of digital noise. From “data vs story” to “sender vs liste...

Why People Stop Trusting Science Why do so many people reject science—even when the facts are clear? We are joined by  Hillary Shulman , a communication scholar at Ohio State University, to learn about  science populism —the growing belief that science is an elite enterprise disconnected from everyday life. They explore how distrust of experts , polarization and science , and skepticism and belief...

When the Center Becomes the Rebel Once, being radical meant picking a side—Rush Limbaugh on the right, Keith Olbermann on the left. But today, that kind of partisanship isn’t radical anymore—it’s predictable. In this episode, we explore a surprising idea: maybe the true radicals now are the independent thinkers—the bridge-builders—who refuse to be boxed into red or blue. Our guest, Lura Forcum , P...

We take a closer look at the online world known as the manosphere —a loose network of communities including incels , Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) , men’s rights activists (MRAs) , and pick-up artists (PUAs) . These groups may look different on the surface, but they share a common core: resentment toward feminism, nostalgia for traditional masculinity, and a belief that men are the new victims o...

Why Talking Isn’t Enough to Bridge Divides What happens when people in deeply divided communities set aside differences to work on real problems together? In this episode, we hear from participants in Southern Oregon and from Urban Rural Action’s Senior Director of Programs about how building trust and taking action can bridge divides, create belonging, and spark lasting change. Text me your feedb...

What If Inclusion, Not Normalization, Was the Goal? Too often, conversations about autism happen without autistic voices at the table. In this episode, we talk with Ari Ne’eman , Assistant Professor at Harvard and co-founder of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, about the real divides in autism advocacy and what a better path forward could look like. Ari brings both lived experience and policy ex...

Why Owning Your Online Identity Matters More Than Ever Is it possible to fix social media? In this episode, I’m joined by Yevgeny Simkin, Co-Founder of Sez.us , a new social media platform built to encourage civility and healthier online spaces. We talk about why we need real alternatives to Facebook and Twitter , who controls online conversations today, and how owning your online identity could c...

Gen Z’s political gender gap is widening. Young women are trending left, while young men drift right—and it’s not just politics. In this episode, we explore the cultural, social, and economic pressures shaping young men’s identities, from the “manosphere” to societal expectations around masculinity and the pressure to be the breadwinner. We examine the consequences for democracy, social cohesion,...

The Shift from Certainty to Nuance We’ve all heard the saying: facts don’t change minds. But new research challenges that idea. In this episode, David talks with social scientist Nick Stagnaro about what happens when people dive deep into the facts on divisive issues like gun control. The findings? Knowledge can soften extreme positions—shifting people toward a more nuanced middle ground. But here...

The Hidden Power of Social Norms Social media often gets blamed for fueling outrage and deepening political divides. But what if the very tools that spread division could be used to bridge it? In this episode, we talk with Kristin Hansen, Executive Director of Civic Health Project, about Normsy.ai —a groundbreaking initiative using human-plus-AI tools to foster civility and connection online. Kris...

What Happens When Students Talk Across Generations? We sit down with with Dr. June Klees, a historian and educator at Bay College, about the Waging Dialogue initiative — a unique civics program designed to help students develop the confidence and skills to engage in dialogue across generational and ideological divides. Students are paired with older conversation partners in what’s called an “inter...

The Connection Opportunity Report: Hope, Barriers, and the Path Forward How can we truly connect across political, racial, religious, and class divides? In this episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer dives into the Connection Opportunity report from More in Common with guests Kate Carney and Calista Small . Discover: ✅ Why most Americans still want connection—even across differences...

Is democracy failing because citizens aren’t truly thinking through the issues? In this episode, we hear from Prof. James Fishkin , Stanford scholar and creator of Deliberative Polling , a groundbreaking method used around the world to reveal what people would think if they had the chance to deliberate in depth. Fishkin explains why deliberation is about more than civil conversation. It’s about he...

War, political chaos, economic fears, AI disruption—the world feels like it’s on fire. And the media? It never stops pouring fuel on the flames. In this final chapter of the Outrage on the Mic series, we explore how outrage has become the currency of media—from the fiery sermons of Father Coughlin to the viral rants of today’s podcasters and political pundits. Why does outrage work so well? Can cr...

In Part 2 of our special series Outrage on the Mic , we go back in time to explore how public outrage has shaped societies long before the digital age. David Beckemeyer is joined by Outrageous History! host Ernest Granson , who brings his journalist’s eye to scandals, uprisings, and media-fueled conflicts from the French Revolution to the Spanish-American War. Whether you're a history nerd, m...

Outrage Overload x Outrage Factory This week, we kick off our special July series, Outrage on the Mic , with a fun and irreverent crossover featuring the hosts of Outrage Factory —Dale Deruiter and Geoff Gauthier. We explore the absurdity of online outrage, how humor can both defuse and amplify it, and what it means to build a show around the week’s most ridiculous controversies. This is Part 1 of...

Why is it so hard to have civil conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ? And can we break through the outrage culture , media tribalism , and polarization that dominate today’s discourse? In this episode, we talk with Adam Boaz Becker , founder of Headon. AI , an AI platform designed to foster political dialogue and bridge divides . Adam shares what he's learned from years of st...

Exploring Democratic Erosion and the Rise of Authoritarian Tactics Is the U.S. Sliding Toward Competitive Authoritarianism? Political scientist Lucan Way joins us to discuss signs of democratic erosion, competitive authoritarianism, and the weaponization of institutions. Drawing from his co-authored New York Times essay, “How Will We Know When We Have Lost Our Democracy?”, Way explains how democra...

Why are we so divided — and what can we really do about it? In this episode, Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute and author of The New Civic Path , returns to the show to share how communities across America are rebuilding trust and taking action — without waiting on Washington. We talk about how to bring people together, restore belief in each other, and start healing our divided count...

How Wellness Content Fuels Conspiracies What starts as a search for natural living or homegrown veggies can slowly become something else entirely. In this episode, we follow the personal story of Kavisha Pillay , a digital ethics expert who unexpectedly found herself pulled into the “tradwife” aesthetic while simply exploring homesteading and wellness content online. We explore how seemingly whole...

How a Doctor’s Long COVID Journey Exposed Systemic Failures Millions are still living with long COVID, yet many patients are dismissed, misunderstood, or left without answers. In this episode, Dr. Zeest Khan shares her personal journey—from treating critical patients as a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist to becoming a long COVID patient herself. This conversation isn’t just about COVID—it's ab...

How AmeriCorps Cuts Threaten Our Civic Future Tens of thousands of AmeriCorps service positions are being eliminated. In this episode, we explore how cuts to national service programs are affecting communities, civic engagement, and the future of democracy in America. Maureen Eccleston, Chief Impact Officer at Service Year Alliance and longtime AmeriCorps alum, joins David Beckemeyer to break down...

Why 500 Organizations Joined Forces to Bridge America’s Deepest Divides We sit down with Karissa Raskin, the new CEO of Listen First Project, a national organization leading a coalition of over 500 groups working to reduce toxic polarization and build stronger communities through connection and dialogue. Karissa shares her personal journey into the bridge-building space, what it’s like to lead a m...

Exploring Media Consolidation, Distrust, and the Future of News Why are major newspapers stepping back from endorsing presidential candidates? What does that say about the Fourth Estate—and its ability to hold power accountable? In this episode of Outrage Overload , David Beckemeyer is joined by journalist and educator Michael Deas , former editor at The Chicago Tribune , to explore the challenges...