April 19, 2023
The Nature of Our Division
Tell Me More Podcast (Season 2/Episode 1) explores the many ways we are a divided country
This first episode of the second season, The Nature of Our Division, takes a high-altitude approach. Instead of a single issue, we discuss the fault lines of division across American society. Valerie Alexander, Dr. Roger Blackwell, and Curt Bear join host Matt Lehrman for a courageous conversation on what divides us - and what just might hold us together as a nation.
Listen now on: Apple, Spotify, Amazon or any other podcast platform.
Ilryong Moon came to the United States from Korea at 17. He didn’t speak much English. His family had little money. His parents, both undereducated, worked long hours to support their children in a new and unfamiliar country. Ilryong repeated a year of high school just to learn the language. From there, he went on to graduate from Harvard, build a successful law career, and eventually serve for decades on the school board of one of the nation’s largest—and most diverse—school districts.
Last week, local leaders from across the country came together for a 90-minute virtual conversation about the words we use, the values we hold, and the challenges we face. Mayors, council members, and civic officials shared candid insights—not just about policy, but about how everyday language now feels risky, and how they stay grounded in community service. Here’s what they shared.
Empathy isn’t just a personal trait—it can be a process. When communities create space for difficult conversations, real change is possible.