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PODCAST

We Made This Political Podcast

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall

Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum talk together and with guests about what political science, psychology, and parenting has taught them about making politics better for everyone. wemadethispolitical.substack.com

society & culture parenting

All Episodes

55:23

Ep. 45: Joe Waters on the Common Good, Family Policy,...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/04/06

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall host Joe Waters, CEO of Capita, to discuss how government should promote the common good by creating social conditions that help people and families flourish. Waters explains Capita’s founding in 2018 to address how major transformations—artificial intelligence, demographic change, political realignment, and climate disruption—affect families, and to push longer-term policy thinking beyond short-term fixes. He highlights Capita’s work with the Aspen Institute on the U.S

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63:18

Ep. 44: Mike Lee on Civility, Rhetoric, and...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/03/30

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall interview Mike Lee, director of the Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston and host of When We Disagree, about how to improve disagreement through both debate and dialogue. Lee argues dialogue requires letting go of winning to humanize conflict and preserve long-term relationships, while debate uses evidence and stress-testing to clarify issues and strengthen arguments; done well, each supports the other. Hall shares a pandemic-era student government conflict

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69:03

Ep. 43 WMTP: Elizabeth Neumann on Rage, Extremism,...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/03/16

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall host Elizabeth Neumann, former DHS assistant secretary for counterterrorism and author of Kingdom of Rage, to discuss how dynamics long studied overseas—radicalization, identity threat, and extremist mobilization—have intensified in U.S. politics, with data showing a post-2016 shift in plots and attacks and a growing public tolerance for hostile action. Neumann argues ideology is often a poor explanation for violence compared with unmet needs for belonging and

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66:24

Ep. 42: The Civic Art of Parenting

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/03/02

In the final episode of their parenting series, hosts Laura Forcum and Lauren Hall recap conversations with Peter Gray, Darby Saxby, and Helen Roy, focusing on what it would mean to take care seriously in a culture that undervalues and genders care. They discuss how care has become siloed and often invisible through professionalization, regulation, and divided civic spaces, with COVID highlighting schools as major providers of childcare. They argue that weakened communal networks and heightened risk

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64:39

Ep. 41: Helen Roy on Parenting, Care Feminism, and...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/02/23

Lura and Lauren welcome writer and mother of four Helen Roy of Helen Roy Writes to the podcast We Made This Political for their parenting month series. Roy describes how her early work as an analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, graduate study in Western moral tradition and Aristotle’s virtue ethics, and concern about national identity and lack of grand strategy led her to see the family as a basic unit of civilization and parenting as work with deep civic meaning. She shares how meeting her

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63:52

Ep. 40: Darby Saxbe on Fatherhood, Alloparenting, and...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/02/16

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall host an episode of We Made This Political featuring clinical psychologist and USC professor Darby Saxbe, whose research focuses on the transition to parenthood, fathers’ roles, and how family relationships shape mental and physical health. The conversation covers alloparenting and humans as cooperative breeders, arguing that shared caregiving and community support are central to healthy parenting and maternal mental health. They discuss how modern U.S. life—built

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65:29

Ep. 39: The Politics of Play with Peter Gray

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/02/09

In this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall are joined by Peter Gray, research psychologist and professor emeritus at Boston College, to discuss the crucial role of play in human development and education. Peter shares insights from his studies on the impact of unstructured play, autonomy, and curiosity on children’s psychological well-being and learning. Through personal anecdotes and research findings, the conversation explores how current schooling systems quash

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67:54

Ep. 38: Rob Feld on Jesters, Fools, and Cancel Culture

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall host documentary filmmaker Rob Feld. The conversation delves into the increasing polarization in American politics and public discourse, highlighting the impact of social media and algorithms. Rob shares insights from his film ‘Jesters and Fools,’ which uses comedians to explore polarization, cancel culture and self-censorship. Topics include the roles of outrage and anger in comedy, the challenges of civil discourse in

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65:51

Ep. 37: Emma Addams on Faith and Ethical Governance

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/01/26

In this episode of We Made This Political, Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall talk with Emma Adams, founder and co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG). Emma shares her journey from refugee resettlement volunteer to leading a national organization advocating for ethical governance. The discussion covers MWEG’s mission, peacemaking principles, and fostering bipartisan cooperation. The episode offers insights on navigating political and social conflicts with dignity,

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60:15

Ep. 36: Shannon Watson on Minnesota, Self-Governance,...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lauren Hall and Laura Forcum welcome back Shannon Watson, a civic leader from Minnesota, to discuss the current political climate in the state. They explore how Minnesotans are coping with federal interventions, the challenges of polarization, and the importance of local engagement and community resilience. Shannon shares insights on the nuanced reality of Minnesota, highlighting the state’s high civic participation and the critical role of

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61:44

Ep. 35 WMTP: Josh Lewis on the Future of Classical...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/01/12

Show Notes:Episode 35: Josh Lewis on Classical Conservatism in a MAGA WorldGuest: Josh Lewis, founder of Saving Elephants podcast and blogAbout Josh:Josh Lewis is a CPA and longtime student of conservative thought who founded Saving Elephants to reignite classical conservatism as a tradition rooted in prudence, gratitude, and community—rather than populism or personality-driven politics. He brings a practical, institution-focused perspective on how enduring conservative ideas can address

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60:43

Ep. 34: Russ Greene on Total Boomer Luxury Communism

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2026/01/05

In this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall engage with Russ Green, managing director of Prime Mover Institute, on the impending crisis of social security and Medicare entitlements in America. They discuss the significant automatic cuts expected by 2033, the misallocation of resources benefiting wealthier retirees at the expense of the younger generation, and the urgent need for reform. Russ shares insights on how current policies unfairly burden young people,

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46:28

Ep. 33 Musa al-Gharbi Part II

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/12/22

In part two of their conversation with Musa Al-Gharbi, Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall explore the future of universities, the impact of AI on faculty, and the sociopolitical dynamics affecting higher education. They discuss the overproduction of PhDs, the exploitative conditions of adjunct faculty, and the erosion of trust in academic and media institutions. The episode delves into how systemic issues in academia and journalism are misrepresented, the role of social and economic class in DEI

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48:47

Ep. 32 Musa al-Gharbi on Why We Have Never Been Woke

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/12/15

The Complex Trust Dilemma: Engaging Expert Perspectives with Musa AlbiIn this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Laura Ham and Lauren Hall dive into the complex dynamics of institutional trust with sociologist Musa al-Gharbi. Musa’s book, ‘We Have Never Been Woke,’ which critiques the gap between elite discourse and lived realities, serves as a focal point for discussing the mistrust of experts. The conversation explores Musa’s unique perspective of being an insider-outsider in the academic

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46:39

Navigating Narcissism in Politics

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/12/08

Hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall discuss the detrimental effects of narcissism in the political landscape on this episode of ‘We Made This Political.’ Drawing on our backgrounds in political science, psychology, and experiences as parents, we relate the dynamics of abusive personal relationships to those in politics. We explore how political elites exploit voters, highlighting issues like gerrymandering, lack of reciprocity, and the manipulation of policy issues for political gain. The episode

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62:31

Ep. 30: Lura and Lauren on Writing and Resistance

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/12/01

In this episode, Lura and Lauren dive into their writing processes, discussing how to utilize the mental downtime during the holidays for ideation. They explore strategies for overcoming resistance, the psychology behind creative bursts, and the importance of protecting one’s mental space for self-reflection and creativity. Both emphasize the significance of capturing ideas and using AI tools productively. They share personal journeys, including handling academic criticism and the challenges of

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64:34

Ep. 29: Thanksgiving Special with Kurt Gray on Outrage

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/11/24

In this episode of ‘We Made This Political,’ hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall talk with Kurt Gray, author of ‘Outraged.’ They explore strategies for managing political conversations with family during Thanksgiving, emphasizing the importance of connection, curiosity, and validation to prevent conflict. The conversation delves into the social psychology of outrage, the impact of tribalism, and practical tips for maintaining calm and constructive dialogue during the holiday season.00:00 Introduction

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29:29

Ep. 28, Part II: Shaka Mitchell's Path to Connection

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/11/19

This is Part II of our conversation with Shaka Mitchell of the Come Together Music Project. If you haven’t listened to Part I, go listen there first and the come back here. In this episode we talk to Shaka about the genesis and journey of the Come Together Music project. Inspired during the height of COVID-19, this initiative leverages music to foster connection and understanding in a divided world. From intimate song swap sessions to large public events, Shaka explains how music can be a powerful

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61:10

Ep. 28, Part I: Shaka Mitchell on Music and Community

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/11/17

This episode of We Made This Political is cross-posted with the Come Together Music Project, co-hosted with Shaka Mitchell. Together we explore the intersection of politics, parenting, and personal stories through music. We dive into songs that remind us of friends, parenting theme songs, and classic protest anthems, revealing surprising connections and deep insights along the way.00:00 Introduction to the Hosts and Podcast00:52 Welcome to the Come Together Music Project02:33 Musical Memories: Songs

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58:01

Ep. 27: Lenore Skenazy on Free Range Kids, Parenting,...

We Made This Political Podcast ·

2025/11/10

TakeawaysLenore Skenazy is a journalist and founder of Let Grow.Over-parenting leads to increased anxiety in children.Children need opportunities to develop agency and competence.Cultural shifts have changed how we view parenting and risk.Legal frameworks often hinder childhood independence.Play is essential for children’s development and learning.Parents should encourage independence through practical steps.The societal implications of over-parenting are significant.Schools play a crucial role in

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47 results

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