Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

Why We Resist Facts & How to Fight Back! In this episode, we explore the concept of knowledge resistance with Dr. Åsa Wikforss. We discuss the complex factors that contribute to knowledge resistance, including confirmation bias and motivated reasoning. The conversation highlights the importance of trust in reliable sources of knowledge and the need for a well-functioning information landscape....

Why we need to abandon the Left-Right political spectrum paradigm We examing the divisive nature of the left-versus-right political framework with our guest, Hyrum Lewis. Together, we explore how this polarized paradigm fuels tribalism, exacerbates political violence, and distorts meaningful discourse. Lewis argues that the traditional political spectrum simplifies complex issues into extremes, en...

How Braver Angels is Lowering the Temperature in Political Conversations In this episode, David interviews Luke Nathan Phillips, the Publius Fellow for Public Discourse at Braver Angels. They discuss the mission of Braver Angels and how the organization is working to bridge the political and cultural divide in America. Luke shares the origins of Braver Angels and how it has grown into a national o...

Success Stories: Why You Need the Dignity Index in Your Toolbox Tami Pyfer, Chief of Staff and Project Director for UNITE, returns to discuss the progress of the Dignity Index, a scale that rates speech for dignity or contempt. The goal is to encourage healthy debate and problem-solving by treating others with dignity. The index is being used to score political speech, with the hope of holding us...

Why even those who value democracy might contribute to its decline Americans across the political spectrum express concerns about the health of democracy. In this episode of the Outrage Overload Podcast, host David Beckmeyer delves into the paradox of democratic erosion with researcher Alia Braley. They discuss the perception that political opponents are ready to subvert democratic norms and how t...

How a Fun Game Reduces Political Polarization Discover how a fun online game called GuesSync! is reducing political polarization and fostering empathy across party lines. In this episode, host David Beckmeyer interviews Ashwin Rajadesingan, the creator of GuesSync!, about the surprising results of the game and its potential to lower the temperature in our politically divided society. Find out how...

How Real-Life Communities Are Tackling Tough Topics in Education In this episode, we meet Ken Futernick, the host of the podcast "Courageous Conversations About Our Schools." We discuss the importance of dialogue over debate in addressing the culture wars and divisive issues in education. Ken shares his concerns about claims of indoctrination in schools and the banning of books. He empha...

Is This Podcast Part of the Problem or the Solution? In this thought-provoking episode, host David Beckemeyer takes a deep dive into the Outrage Overload podcast, offering a self-reflective analysis of our approach to navigating the intricate landscape of American democracy. The episode serves as a meta-analysis, scrutinizing our treatment of topics such as polarization, potential pitfalls of fals...

How to be the adult in the room, no matter your age. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kevin Smith, a political science professor, about the challenges of political division and the erosion of democratic norms. Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of gracefully accepting defeat in a democracy and the responsibility of individuals to promote civility and critical thinking. He discusses the role of m...

Selling Fury: How Television Turned Outrage into a Commodity In this episode, we heard from Professor Robert Thompson about the history of television and its impact on our society. They discuss the evolution of news media, from the golden age of TV to the rise of trash TV and reality shows. They also explore the current state of news commentary and the role it plays in fueling outrage and division...

How distorted memories of the Civil Rights Movement fuel today's divisions In this bonus episode for MLK Day, host David Beckmeyer interviews Hajar Yazdiha, an assistant professor of sociology and author of "The Struggle for the People's King." They discuss the hidden narratives and complexities of the civil rights movement, the misperceptions surrounding Martin Luther King Jr....

How Outrage Addiction Hijacked Our Conversations Peter Coleman discusses the current state of political polarization in America and offers practical strategies for bridging divides and fostering understanding. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the "exhausted middle majority," the majority of Americans who are tired of the vitriol and division in politics. Coleman explains that...

How social media gives us what captures our attention rather than what we actually want In this episode we talk to Dr. Steven Rathje, building on research from prior episodes, we look at how out-group animosity drives engagement on social media. Dr. Steven Rathje discussing research that found that social media creates incentives for out-group animosity, which can be a factor in increasing polariz...

In this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, we hear from Matt Levendusky, a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, about political polarization and bridge building. Levendusky discusses the challenges of political polarization and the toll it takes on our mental and emotional health. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on our shared values and identities to bui...

In this one-year anniversary episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, we reflect on the past year of diving deep into the outrage machine and searching for ways to lower the temperature. We’re thrilled to welcome back Dr. Peter Ditto, our very first guest, as we reexamine the ongoing challenges of political polarization and the erosion of trust in democracy. One year ago, Professor Ditto warned us...

Late-Night Comedy, Far-Right Talk Shows, and Why You Might Be Wrong In this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, host David Beckmeyer interviews Dannagal G. Young, a communication expert who studies how the media influences our political beliefs. They discuss the similarities between late night comedy shows and far right talk shows, the impact of these shows on viewers, and the shared characte...

How to Overcome Challenges in Challenging the Status Quo Dr. Lawrence Eppard discusses the challenges of ideological conformity in academia and the impact it has on research and knowledge dissemination. He shares personal experiences of facing backlash and reputational harm for challenging orthodoxies in his field. Dr. Eppard emphasizes the need for intellectual diversity and transparency in acade...

Outrage 26 – The Science of Changing Minds David McRaney discusses the concept of changing minds and the challenges of political polarization. He emphasizes the importance of understanding why we want to change someone else's mind and explores the motivations behind our own beliefs. McRaney explains that changing minds requires more than just presenting facts and information. It involves enga...

How Crowdsourcing Identified Effective Strategies to Reduce Political Polarization Jan Voelkel discusses the Strengthening Democracy Challenge, a joint project between academics and practitioners aimed at reducing anti-democratic attitudes, support for political violence, and partisan animosity among Americans. The challenge involved testing 25 different interventions to determine their effectiven...

The podcast has been running for over six months and has covered a range of topics related to political sectarianism and the outrage industry. The host and creator, David Beckemeyer, discusses with co-director and co-editor, Austin Chen, key episodes, including interviews with experts like Peter Ditto, Jeffrey Berry, and Stephen Rathje. They explore the role of moral superiority in political divid...

How Recognizing Fear and Pain Can Heal Our Divided Society In this episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, host David Beckemeyer interviews psychotherapist and author Phyllis Levitt. We discuss her new book, “America in Therapy” in which she describes the anger and division in American society, the importance of listening and understanding different perspectives, and the need for mental health ed...

What Baker's Ideas on Media Can Teach Us About Democracy Sanjay Jolly discusses the work of C. Edwin Baker, a leading scholar of constitutional law, communications law, and free speech. Baker argued that the First Amendment should protect the public's right to receive information from diverse sources. Jolly explains how media decisions are made, how technology fuels outrage, and the impo...

How Chronic Conditions Drive Desperation: The High Cost of Naturopathic Care We look at the world of alternative medicine, exploring the clash between naturopathy and evidence-based medicine with former naturopathic doctor Britt Marie Hermes and board-certified physician Dr. Michael Lenz. They offer unique perspectives on the allure of alternative treatments, particularly for those battling chroni...

Episode 22 – How the Dignity Index Offers Hope for More Productive Political Discourse Tami Pyfer discusses the Dignity Index, a scale that measures the level of contempt or dignity in public speech. She explains that the index is a problem-solving tool that helps individuals recognize and address contemptuous language. Tami emphasizes the importance of treating others with dignity and engaging in...

How QAnon Impacts Lives: Exploring The Conspiracy's Reach into Homes. Courtney Heard discusses her personal experience with QAnon and how it led her to start the Q-Dropped Podcast. She highlights the emotional toll that QAnon can have on relationships and emphasizes the importance of understanding the human side of the phenomenon. Courtney also explores the role of conspiracy theories in toda...