The Courage to Connect — with Ciaran O’Connor and John Wood, Jr.

It’s no revelation that Americans aren’t getting along. But it’s
easier to diagnose the problem than come up with solutions. The
organization Braver Angels runs workshops that convince
Republicans and Democrats to meet, but not necessarily in the
middle. “Conflict can actually be a pathway to intimacy and
connection rather than division, if you have the right structure
for bringing people together,” says Ciaran O’Connor, the
organization’s Chief Marketing Officer. We’re delighted to have
Ciaran and the Braver Angels National Ambassador John Wood, Jr.
on the show to describe their methods, largely based on marriage
counseling techniques, and talk about where to go next. “How do
you scale that up and apply that to the digital space, given that
that is the key battlefield?” asks John. Technology companies
play a role here, and the wisdom of the people doing the work on
the ground is a valuable guide.