Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

How to Have Better Political Conversations (Even with Your Most Difficult Relatives) In this episode of Outrage Overload , host David Beckemeyer sits down with Dr. Karin Tamerius, a political psychiatrist and founder of Smart Politics, a nonprofit that helps progressives communicate persuasively while maintaining respect for differing viewpoints. They discuss how political polarization affects bot...

Why We Need Courage, Not Hope, to Face Climate Change In this episode, I dive into new territory, exploring the environmental crisis with Dr. Roger Gottlieb, renowned author of The Sacrifice Zone . Dr. Gottlieb offers a striking perspective on the looming threat of environmental devastation, arguing that our greatest enemy is not just the crisis itself but the avoidance and denial surrounding it....

Can Humor Save Election Day? In this episode of Outrage Overload , host David Beckemeyer interviews Jonathan Bernstein, a writer and satirist, about his new visual storytelling project that aims to increase voter turnout through political satire. Bernstein shares how humor can cut through the noise of outrage-driven media and foster civic participation by highlighting shared values and commonaliti...

How Twitter Impacts Our Well-being We explore  the intricate relationship between Twitter and society with Victoria Oldemburgo de Mello, a fourth-year PhD student at the University of Toronto. Victoria's research sheds light on the psychological effects of Twitter use, exploring how the platform shapes well-being, mental health, and social connections in a polarized digital landscape. Our con...

How AI Can Help Address Toxic Polarization In this bonus episode of Outrage Overload , we dive into the intriguing potential of artificial intelligence to reduce political polarization in online spaces. Our guest, Steve McIntosh—developmental philosopher, author, and co-founder of the Developmental Politics Project—joins us to discuss his work on DepolarizingGPT , a custom AI chatbot designed to p...

How to Combat the Misinformation Crisis In this episode, we sit down with Samuel Spitali, author of How to Win the War on Truth , to unravel the complexities of misinformation and its impact on society. Samuel offers a deep dive into the history of media polarization, examining key moments like the removal of the Fairness Doctrine and the rise of partisan news outlets. We also explore the psycholo...

How Platforms Like OtherWeb and 1440 Are Changing News Consumption Original Air Date 9/4/2024 In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of news consumption with Alex Fink, CEO of OtherWeb, and Drew Steggerwald, co-founder of 1440 News. We explore how their platforms are reshaping the way we engage with information, focusing on curating a balanced and healthy media diet. They discuss the...

After Trump: Understanding the Continuing Influence of Trumpism  We explore the enduring influence of Donald Trump on American politics and media. Despite the controversies and outrage that defined his presidency, Trumpism continues to dominate voter sentiment, political discourse, and media narratives, often amplifying divisions and fueling heated debates about political bias, emotional connectio...

In this episode, the conversation revolves around Project 2025, conservative policy proposals, and the potential implications on the administrative state. The discussion examines the nuances of Trump's agenda, the challenges of implementing certain policy changes, and the role of constitutional norms in safeguarding democracy. Dr. Evans offers a balanced perspective on the various aspects of...

How Understanding Intractable Conflicts Can Improve Our Society In this powerful episode of the Outrage Overload Podcast, we dive deep into the roots of our societal conflicts and explore ways to bridge the seemingly intractable divides that are tearing us apart. Our guest, Dr. Guy Burgess, a pioneering figure in conflict resolution, shares his insights on how to foster constructive dialogue and b...

Why We Need Conservative Perspectives to Combat Polarization In this episode we address concerns about the podcast’s perceived political bias by featuring conservative researcher and author Michael Anderson. Anderson, known for his work on tribalism, offers a conservative perspective on issues like toxic polarization and the impact of social media on public discourse. Text me your feedback and lea...

How to Build Mental Immunity Against Misinformation and Conspiracies We sit down with science educator Melanie Trecek-King to explore how critical thinking can help us navigate an age dominated by misinformation, outrage fatigue, and polarized media. Together, we uncover strategies for building mental immunity and strengthening cognitive resilience against the emotional manipulation of engagement-...

When “Listen to the Other Side” Isn’t Enough (Emergency Panel) Feeling like "listen to the other side" just isn't cutting it anymore? You're not alone. In this special bonus episode of Outrage Overload, we address your frustration head-on with an "emergency panel" discussion. Communication experts Phyllis Leavitt and Lisa Swallow join us to explore why traditional met...

How Our Brains Are Wired for Political Division We look into the phenomenon of ideological inferences with guest Carsten Sander. The discussion revolves around how individuals instinctively categorize others based on their behavior, hindering civil discourse and perpetuating polarization. Sander's research reveals the complexities of these inferences and offers insights into breaking free fro...

Why Crossing Party Lines is Essential for a Healthy Democracy In this bonus episode of Outrage Overload, we examine the challenges of political conversations and how to lower the temperature. Featuring Lisa Swallow, founder of Crossing Party Lines, the episode explores the importance of understanding and respectful dialogue across political divides. Lisa shares her journey of starting the nonprofi...

The Trolls Among Us: Understanding and Mitigating Online Toxicity Fed up with the negativity that plagues online political discussions? This episode challenges the conventional wisdom that political topics themselves are the root of the problem. Join us as we delve into a groundbreaking new study that suggests the issue might lie with the people who engage in these conversations, not the topics th...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Okay Boomer series! In this episode, we shift the mic to the younger generation for a conversation about a critical issue: housing. Skyrocketing rents and the seemingly impossible dream of homeownership are leaving many young adults feeling frustrated and hopeless. Our guests, Cameron Lee Cowan (writer) and Jake Didinsky (DJ/Producer with a political science...

How Certainty Fuels Outrage and Division In this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, we delight in a thought-provoking conversation with Ilana Redstone, a leading expert on the psychology of certainty. Redstone introduces the concept of the "certainty trap" and explores how absolute certainty can hinder intellectual growth and impede healthy democratic discourse. The discussion delv...

How Negativity Bias Fuels Toxic Politics In this episode of Outrage Overload, we explore the concept of negativity bias and its role in toxic polarization. We are joined by Travis Monteleone, a private equity investor and depolarization advocate. Monteleone argues that negativity bias is a major factor contributing to toxic polarization because it causes individuals to overemphasize negative infor...

How to Combat Youth Radicalization Using Learning Psychology In this episode, we explore the rise of youth radicalization and the potential for online platforms to play a role in the radicalization process with Jack Wippell, an expert in extremism and radicalization. Jack shares insights into the factors that make individuals susceptible to radical ideologies and the impact of social and emotional...

 I sit down with Lawrence Eppard to explore the complex landscape of media trust in America. How do we grapple with the challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and news literacy in an increasingly polarized media landscape? From dissecting the roots of media distrust to exploring strategies for staying informed without succumbing to outrage overload, this conversation offers valuable insight...

In this special documentary-style episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, we look at the world of electoral politics and the challenges of close elections. Drawing inspiration from the movie "Swing Vote" and real-life insights from history, political science, and contemporary discourse, we explore the trend of close elections and the implications of razor-thin margins. We discuss the im...

How to Rise Above Nasty Politics In this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, host David Beckmeyer interviews Thomas Zeitzoff, a professor specializing in political violence and political psychology. The episode explores the concept of "nasty politics" and its impact on political discourse and democracy. Zeitzoff discusses the different forms of negativity in politics, from insults a...

Discover how seemingly neutral topics can become politicized in this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast. Host David Beckemeyer is joined by researcher Dino Carpentras to explore the dynamics of polarization and dialogue. They discuss how even simple topics like circles and pencils can become battlegrounds for political ideologies, and the implications this has for our society. Learn how polar...

How Broken Trust is Poisoning American Democracy In this episode, host David Beckmeyer interviews Andreas Schedler about his research on political polarization in the United States. Schedler challenges the traditional understanding of polarization as a simple left-right divide and argues that the breakdown of trust is a fundamental factor driving hostility between political factions. He explains t...