Reimagining Us

People want to contribute to their communities. So why do so many feel disconnected from the places where decisions get made? This episode opens in a room Scott has sat in more times than he can count: smart, caring leaders who understand the data, nod at every point, and conclude they can’t act. But the world outside that room has changed. A rising tide of disconnection and division has altered t...

What makes a group of strangers become the kind of people who visit one another in the hospital, check on an elderly neighbor, or come together when their community is in crisis? In this episode of Reimagining Us, Dr. Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson explore what makes civic life feel not merely obligatory, but meaningful—even sacred. Drawing on stories from communities across the country and insi...

Why do so many well-intentioned programs fail to bridge our political and social divides? In this episode of Reimagining Us, Dr. Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson explore why traditional civic initiatives and simple dialogue programs often fail to create lasting unity in an increasingly polarized world. Moving beyond basic "get together and talk" solutions, the hosts discuss the underlying psycholo...

What if belonging isn't something we find, but something we can intentionally create? In the Season 2 premiere of Reimagining Us, hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson shift the conversation from what's pulling us apart to what we can build together. Drawing on insights from social psychology, community-based research, and conversations with leading thinkers, they explore the hidden architecture...

In Season 2 of Reimagining Us, we go deeper... If you care about connection, community and real change, this season is for you! Reimagining Us is a podcast series that "lifts the hood" to uncover what's behind our feelings of division today, identify how we can rebuild connection and collaboration across differences in communities. The show is hosted by behavioral scientist Nichole Argo, the Found...

In this episode, Nichole and Scott explore how philanthropy is getting behind work to connect and collaborate across differences at the local level with Kristen Scott Kennedy of the Council on Foundations. They then highlight a scalable example of this work: The Needham Resilience Network (NRN) brings town officials, diverse residents, and key stakeholders together to build relationships, anchor i...

In this episode, Nichole and Scott talk about how individual and group efforts to revitalize connection in communities are necessary---but may not be sufficient for sustained change. Once we have the mindset and skills of pluralism, we need spaces and institutions that enable us to practice them. We need local governments and community stakeholders to invest in policies that foster “civic infrastr...

Imagine that four experts on bridging divides came together to advise you on how to handle your next challenging conversation…Voila! Meet the “Be The Change” tool chest! On this episode of Reimagining Us, hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson ask questions such as: What strategies can I use to build my curiosity muscle? How do I prepare for a conversation across differences? Do I need to bridge w...

In Part I, Nichole and Scott invite three top thought leaders to share foundational insights that can help listeners connect across differences.  Curiosity is a bridge to connection, an essential tool allowing us to explore the stories, values, and perspectives of others, says Scott Shigeoka, author of SEEK. It strengthens personal, work and civic relationships…“People who feel seen, stay.” Activa...

In this episode, Nichole and Scott are joined by john a. powell, who leads them in an exploration of belonging while contrasting it with the damaging effects of othering.  By understanding and addressing the dynamics of belonging and othering, communities can create spaces where everyone thrives. Belonging is a fundamental human need that reflects feeling seen, heard, and valued in a community. Ot...

In this episode, Nichole and Scott begin with a startling figure from Amanda Ripley’s book, Unthinkable: 90 percent of counties in the U. S. were declared federal disaster zones over a 10 year period from 2011 to 2021. These disasters, which largely represented extreme weather, are here to stay – how can our local communities become resilient? International research says the most important factor...

In this episode of Reimagining Us, co-hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson delve deeper into the pervasive dynamics of toxic polarization, exploring how societal divisions manifest as "us versus them" thinking in our own lives and communities, and how awareness and intentionality enables us to counter it. They are joined by Dr. Peter Coleman, author of The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polariza...

On this episode of Reimagining Us, co hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson have a conversation with Daniel Stid focused on toxic polarization and the importance of pluralism in countering it. In contrast to ideological polarization, where people disagree with each other but can still work together, toxic polarization refers to when people dislike and even dehumanize their political opponents, se...

On the debut episode of Reimagining Us, Nichole and Scott share their personal stories, explain how they came together to cohost the show and relay their vision and the purpose for the series answering the question: 'Why this podcast, now?' Reimagining Us is not just another conversation series—it’s a vital tool for healing divisions, designing our lives and communities for belonging, and empoweri...

Reimagining Us is a podcast series that "lifts the hood" to uncover what's behind our feelings of division today, identify how we can rebuild connection and collaboration across differences in communities. The show is hosted by behavioral scientist Nichole Argo, the Founder and Executive Director of the TogetherUp Institute & Scott Hutcheson, Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum. HOSTS: Nichole A...