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PODCAST

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

David Beckemeyer

If you"re angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and

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All Episodes

40:52

72. The Fight to Make Online Spaces Civil Again -...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/09/17

Why Owning Your Online Identity Matters More Than EverIs 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 change the way communities connect. Yevgeny explains why escaping social media giants might be the first step

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34:28

DOCUMENTARY - What’s Pulling Young Men to the Right?

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/09/10

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, and the future of civic engagement—and consider how society can create better spaces for young men to

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32:32

71. Do Facts Really Change Minds? – Nick Stagnaro

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/09/03

The Shift from Certainty to NuanceWe’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’s the catch: while attitudes toward policies change, feelings toward people on the “other side” often

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41:59

70. Is There Still Hope for the Internet? - Kristin...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/08/20

The Hidden Power of Social NormsSocial 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.Kristin shares her personal journey into bridge-building, why social norms matter just as much as rules, and how

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37:58

BONUS - Teaching Civics in the Age of Outrage - June...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/08/13

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 “intergenerational dyad,” encouraging sustained, intentional conversations that challenge assumptions, stretch

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34:10

69. America’s Connection Opportunity - Kate Carney...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/08/06

The Connection Opportunity Report: Hope, Barriers, and the Path ForwardHow 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✅ The biggest barriers keeping us apart✅ How working together locally can overcome political tensions ✅ Digital

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42:07

68. Is Our Democracy Failing Because We’re Not...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/07/23

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 helping ordinary people make better decisions on complex policy questions. Discover how projects like America

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12:37

Outrage on the Mic – Part 3: Rage Sells, But We Don’t...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/07/16

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 explores 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 creators build something different in a world addicted to anger and fear? And what does it look like to

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33:42

Outrage on the Mic, Part 2: Outrage Has Always Been...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/07/09

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, media critic, or just trying to make sense of today’s outrage culture, this episode is for you.Text me your

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50:24

Outrage on the Mic – Part 1: Laughing Through the...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/07/02

Outrage Overload x Outrage FactoryThis 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 our Outrage on the Mic series, where we partner with fellow podcasters to explore how different voices and

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36:42

67. Can AI Help Us Talk About the Israeli-Palestinian...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/06/25

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 street interviews in Israel and the West Bank, the challenges of creating conversations in conflict zones, and how

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30:53

BONUS - Are We Witnessing a Democracy in Crisis? -...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/06/18

Exploring Democratic Erosion and the Rise of Authoritarian TacticsIs 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 democratic backsliding may already be underway—and why recognizing it matters now more than ever.Text me your

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29:47

66. What It Really Takes to Fix the Division in...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/06/11

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 country from the ground up.If you're tired of outrage, political fighting, and feeling stuck, this episode

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52:31

BONUS - The Crunchy to Radical Pipeline

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/06/04

How Wellness Content Fuels ConspiraciesWhat 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 wholesome spaces—like DIY cleaning tutorials and sourdough baking videos—can become subtle entry points into

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37:00

65. Grief, Fatigue, and the Aftermath of COVID -...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/05/28

How a Doctor’s Long COVID Journey Exposed Systemic FailuresMillions 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 about how we listen, how we heal, and what needs to change.Guest: Dr. Zeest Khan, physician, long COVID

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30:40

BONUS - Crisis in National Service Undermines Civic...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/05/21

How AmeriCorps Cuts Threaten Our Civic FutureTens 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 what these cuts mean, who’s being impacted, and why service years matter now more than ever.We talk about

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37:58

64. Our Democracy Is Fraying—Here’s How We Start...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/05/14

Why 500 Organizations Joined Forces to Bridge America’s Deepest DividesWe 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 movement that spans ideological divides, and how listening—not debating—can be the first step toward

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37:18

BONUS - Crisis in Journalism with Michael Deas

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/05/07

Exploring Media Consolidation, Distrust, and the Future of NewsWhy 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 facing journalism today. From media consolidation and self-censorship to the erosion of public trust and the

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29:14

63. Moral Psychology and the Harm-Based Roots of...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/04/30

How Perceptions of Harm Drive Moral Outrage and Political ConflictIn episode 61, we explored Outraged! with Kurt Gray, discussing the harm-based model of morality and how our perceptions of harm and victimization fuel moral outrage. But there’s so much more to uncover.In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the research behind these ideas with moral psychology researcher Sam Pratt. We examine the paper Morality in Our Mind and Across Cultures and Politics, unpacking how different moral

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35:04

62. Reducing Online Outrage: What Role Can...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/04/16

How Systems Like Community Notes on Twitter/X Aim to Break the Cycle of MisinformationAre social media algorithms fueling misinformation and deepening echo chambers—or can they help bridge divides? In this episode, we talk with Paul Resnick, a pioneer in recommender systems and digital trust, about how platforms curate content, the truth behind filter bubbles, and whether fact-checking tools like Community Notes on Twitter (X) can cut through the noise. Can algorithms be redesigned to reduce outrage

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125 results

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