And Ben Klutsey - Podcast Details

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We Made This Political PodcastEp. 09: Ben Klutsey on the Power of PluralismIn this episode, we're joined by Ben Klutsey of the Mercatus Center to discuss pluralism, politics, and parenting. Ben shares his background and personal experiences that fueled his passion for pluralism, including his childhood experiences in Germany contrasted against his warm welcome in Appleton, Wisconsin. He delves into his academic and professional journey exploring pluralism, informed by luminaries like John Izu and through extensive conversations with scholars and public intellectuals. The conversation also touches on how pluralism can be practiced through innovative approaches like the Pluralist Lab and the importance of fostering virtues and curiosity in children. Ben's hopeful...2025-06-3054 min

Plain Talk607: How do we do politics in the classroom? (REPLAY)We all know the old saying. You don't talk about religion and politics in polite company. Only, does that advice make sense in a society like ours, where we practice self-governance? How can we govern ourselves if we can't talk to one another about politics? And, more pertinent to this episode of Plain Talk, how do we teach our kids how to participate in discourse over challenging issues like abortion or gun control if teachers are afraid to tackle politics in the classroom? Lindsey Galvao is a long-time educator -- the social studies curriculum specialist a...2025-05-3034 min

When We DisagreeSeason 2 Finale: PluralismBen Klutsey, executive director of the Mercatus Center whose work to bridge political differences is showcased in the documentary Undivide Us, shares a formative story of encountering racism as a child visiting Germany—a moment of unprovoked hostility that deeply shaped his outlook. Years later, after leaving Ghana and arriving in Appleton, Wisconsin for college, he was met with unexpected warmth, an experience he describes as a healing contrast that sparked his lifelong commitment to what he calls pluralist points. For Klutsey, pluralism means more than diversity—it’s about engaging across difference with tolerance, humility, and patience. When...2025-04-2324 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyJeffrey Rosen on Virtue and the Pursuit of HappinessIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Jeffrey Rosen, the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, about the Founders’ understanding of the pursuit of happiness and how it relates to virtue. They discuss the notion of bounded liberty, the importance of deep reading, literature that contains ancient wisdom and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded March 5th, 2025 Other ways to connect Follow Discourse Maga...2025-03-2838 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyKurt Weyland on Populism vs. PluralismIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Kurt Weyland, the Mike Hogg Professor in Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, about the rise of populism. They discuss what factors contribute to populism, how worried we should be about its rise, why populism leads to authoritarianism, and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded February 11th, 2025 Other ways to connect Follow Discourse Magazine on X...2025-02-2845 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyKurt Gray on Moving Beyond Moral OutrageIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Kurt Gray, a psychology and neuroscience professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, about our moral understanding and how we react to perceived threats. They discuss why a “protection” narrative is better than a “destruction” one, the pros and cons of moral outrage, why stories matter more than facts in political disagreements, and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded January 9, 2025 Other wa...2025-01-3139 min

Faith and LawLeading Together in Divided TimesIn a democratic society, differences and disagreements are inevitable—but they don’t have to lead to dysfunction. For leaders, especially those guided by faith, understanding pluralism is key to navigating tensions and fostering unity. Ben Klutsey, Executive Director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, will share insights on bridging divides and advancing the common good. Drawing from his experience growing up under military rule in Ghana and his research on pluralism, he will offer practical guidance on how to bring opposing perspectives together in today’s polarized political climate.Support the show 2025-01-1530 min

Faith and LawLeading Together in Divided TimesIn a democratic society, differences and disagreements are inevitable—but they don’t have to lead to dysfunction. For leaders, especially those guided by faith, understanding pluralism is key to navigating tensions and fostering unity. Ben Klutsey, Executive Director of the Mercatus Center, will share insights on bridging divides and advancing the common good. Drawing from his experience growing up under military rule in Ghana and his research on pluralism, he will offer practical guidance on how to bring opposing perspectives together in today’s polarized political climate.Ben Klutsey is the Executive Director of the Me...2025-01-1530 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyShira Hoffer on Curious Disagreement In this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Shira Hoffer, the founder and executive director of the Institute for Multipartisan Education, about her work as a mediator and the importance of curious disagreement. They discuss self-censorship among college students, how to develop good conflict resolution skills, the Hotline for Israel/Palestine and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded November 11th, 2024. Other ways to connect Follow Discourse Ma...2024-12-2038 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyDaryl Davis on How to Fight HatredIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with author, activist and musician Daryl Davis, who is known for his work confronting racism through dialogue. They discuss Davis’ first encounter with a member of the Ku Klux Klan, his determination to discover the “why” behind racism, his meeting and eventual friendship with klan leader Roger Kelly and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded September 25th, 2024. Other ways to connect 2024-11-2243 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyCorey Brettschneider on Citizen Checks on Presidential PowerIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Corey Brettschneider, a professor of political science at Brown University, about his new book, “The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought To Defend It.” They discuss the early presidential models of Washington and Adams, what categorizes a “recovery” president after a period of crisis, Frederick Douglass as a founder of American democracy, how we haven’t yet recovered from Nixon and much more. Read a full transcript...2024-10-2542 min

Biz-eWerk"Ben Klutsey - UNDIVIDE US Film" Ep96“Unless we come together and get to know somebody, you won’t know how much you have in common.” – Benjamin Klutsey In this episode, Benjamin Klutsey, Executive Director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University discusses the film UNDIVIDE US. The film reminds us that while polarization is a genuine concern, fostering civil exchange is a crucial step toward building a more cohesive and understanding society. Along with our guests, Pete Calcagno, and Mike Lee, we discuss how individuals can engage in respectful dialogue by recognizing that common ground and shared values often outweigh perceived differences. (T...2024-10-2417 min

Speaking of ... College of CharlestonCivility, Conflict and the Power of Disagreement with Michael Lee, Director of the Civility InitiativeSend us a textIn this episode of Speaking of…College of Charleston, we talk to Michael Lee, professor of communication and Director of the Civility Initiative. Lee has been an influential figure at the college since 2002, focusing on political communication. His research delves into political branding, identity, and strategic communication, earning him numerous awards. Lee is getting ready to launch season two of his podcast When We Disagree, which is focused on powerful, human stories about arguments, conflicts and disagreements.The podcast is a guest driven show, and Le...2024-10-0232 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyMusa al-Gharbi on Symbolic Capital and Social JusticeIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Musa al-Gharbi, an assistant professor of journalism, communication and sociology at Stony Brook University, about his forthcoming book, “We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite.” They discuss the evolution of terms like “woke” and “politically correct,” how social justice beliefs can be both sincere and self-interested, why elites don’t always realize they’re elite and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video....2024-09-271h 11

The Great AntidoteRobert Doar on Think Tanks and ScholarshipSend us a textWhat does it actually mean to run a think tank, to create harmony within an office building full of idea-confident folk? Some have called the think tank a monastery, some have called it an academic social club, and some have even called it a policy incubator. What truly is it and how on earth do you lead one? Leading a think tank is a multifaceted job, because you have your own scholarship to do too. Today, I’m excited to welcome the president of AEI, Robert Doar, to the podcast for a s...2024-09-2052 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyIlana Redstone on Escaping the Certainty Trap In this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Ilana Redstone, a professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, about her new book, “The Certainty Trap: Why We Need To Question Ourselves More—and How We Can Judge Others Less.” They discuss why we ascribe ill intent to others, shortcomings of the term “critical thinking,” the role of education in escaping the certainty trap and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Rec...2024-09-0636 min

Plain Talk530: How do we do politics in the classroom?We all know the old saying. You don't talk about religion and politics in polite company. Only, does that advice make sense in a society like ours, where we practice self-governance? How can we govern ourselves if we can't talk to one another about politics? And, more pertinent to this episode of Plain Talk, how do we teach our kids how to participate in discourse over challenging issues like abortion or gun control if teachers are afraid to tackle politics in the classroom? Lindsey Galvao is a long-time educator -- the social studies curriculum specialist a...2024-09-041h 05

American ViewpointsTalking About How To Talk About The Divisive IssuesIt's one thing to understand the issues. It's another to understand how to debate those issues, which cam be divisive. In this discussion, Mercatus Center Executive Director Ben Klutsey discusses the campaign to teach civil discourse in America. Is there a place for that in our classrooms? For more information: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/teaching-civil-discourse-a-classroom-blueprint-for-all-america/ For More information: Mercatus.org 2024-09-0310 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyJoshua Cherniss on Cultivating an Ethos of Tempered LiberalismIn this re-release of an installment of a series on liberalism, Benjamin Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, talks with Joshua Cherniss, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University, about challenges to liberalism in the mid-20th century, the current liberal predicament, the thinkers who exemplify a spirit of tempered liberalism, the balancing act of activism vs. detachment and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Originally published January 27th, 2023 Other ways to connect: Follow Discourse Magazine on X ...2024-08-021h 02

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyYuval Levin on Acting Together While Thinking DifferentlyIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Yuval Levin, editor-in-chief of National Affairs magazine and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about the Constitution as a unity document, the relationship between liberalism and republicanism, the benefits of congressional inefficiency, the problems with primaries and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded July 10th, 2024 Other ways to connect Follow Discourse Magazine on X ...2024-07-2647 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyAmanda Ripley on High Conflict to Good ConflictIn this re-release of an installment of a series on liberalism, Benjamin Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, talks with Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist and author, about the benefits of not watching the news, the conflict industrial complex, whether divisions in the U.S. are getting worse, the importance of positive interactions and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Originally published February 24th, 2023 Other ways to connect Follow Discourse Magazine on X Follow Ben on X Fol...2024-07-1951 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyAlan Charles Kors on the Need for Mutual ForbearanceIn this re-release of the first installment of an interview series on liberalism, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Alan Charles Kors about the history of liberalism, the proper purpose of education, and the core liberal value of mutual forbearance. Kors is the Henry Charles Lea Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in European intellectual history of the 17th and 18th centuries. He has published several books and many articles on early-modern French intellectual history and was editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment. ...2024-07-0548 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyJosiah Ober on Democracy as a Civic BargainIn this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Josiah Ober, a professor of political science and classics at Stanford University, about democracy as a bargain among citizens, the necessity of civic education, the challenges of scaling democracy as populations become larger and more diverse, and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded June 6th, 2024 Other ways to connect Follow Discourse Magazine on X Follow Ben...2024-06-2840 min

Pluralist Points with Ben KlutseyWelcome to Pluralist PointsAmerica has always had factions; they are a feature—not a flaw—of representative democracy. However, when civil discourse breaks down, these factions can become so entrenched that we face the dangers of toxic polarization. This is where learning and adopting pluralism becomes crucial. Welcome to Pluralist Points, where we unpack the challenges and opportunities of liberalism and pluralism in the 21st century. In a world increasingly divided by tribalism and polarization, Pluralist Points aims to foster understanding, civil exchange, and the open-minded exploration of ideas. Each episode features an in-depth conversation that challe...2024-06-2601 min

The Curious TaskBen Klutsey - How Do We Rebuild Trust?Sabine speaks with Ben Klutsey about political polarization, commonalities between the United States and Canada, and his documentary on the subject entitled "Undivide Us" Episode Notes: The documentary's website with more information, a trailer and the option to request a screening: https://undivideusmovie.com/ Kevin Vallier's "Trust in a Polarized Age": https://a.co/d/gDm6pjz John Inazu's "Learning To Disagree": https://a.co/d/1OmKckQ Kevin Vallier on the Curious Task: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-isuwy-d16f34 2024-04-171h 01

The Archbridge PodcastTrue Progress: Polarization | Episode 3: Finding SolutionsCreditsWritten, Edited, and Directed by Arash AyromProduced by Clay Routledge and Ben WilterdinkNarrated by Robert Anthony PetersFeaturing interviews with:Ben Klutsey, Director of Academic Outreach, Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange, Mercatus CenterIlana Redstone, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Illinois; Co-Director, Mill Institute, University of AustinClay Routledge, Vice President of Research and Director of the Human Flourishing Lab, Archbridge InstituteDan Vallone, Director, More in Common, USATony Woodlief, Senior Executive Vice President at State Policy Network and Author of “I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance” ResourcesThe Hidden...2024-03-1837 min

The Archbridge PodcastTrue Progress: Polarization | Episode 2: Fracturing SocietyCreditsWritten, Edited, and Directed by Arash AyromProduced by Clay Routledge and Ben WilterdinkNarrated by Robert Anthony PetersFeaturing interviews with:Ben Klutsey, Director of Academic Outreach, Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange, Mercatus CenterIlana Redstone, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Illinois; Co-Director, Mill Institute, University of AustinClay Routledge, Vice President of Research and Director of the Human Flourishing Lab, Archbridge InstituteDan Vallone, Director, More in Common, USATony Woodlief, Senior Executive Vice President at State Policy Network and Author of “I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance” ResourcesThe Hidden...2024-03-1833 min

The Archbridge PodcastTrue Progress: Polarization | Episode 1: Defining DivisionCreditsWritten, Edited, and Directed by Arash AyromProduced by Clay Routledge and Ben WilterdinkNarrated by Robert Anthony PetersFeaturing interviews with:Ben Klutsey, Director of Academic Outreach, Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange, Mercatus CenterIlana Redstone, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Illinois; Co-Director, Mill Institute, University of AustinClay Routledge, Vice President of Research and Director of the Human Flourishing Lab, Archbridge InstituteDan Vallone, Director, More in Common, USATony Woodlief, Senior Executive Vice President at State Policy Network and Author of “I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance” ResourcesThe Hidden...2024-03-1827 min

The Great AntidoteUndivide Us: Ben Klutsey on Exploring and Confronting PolarizationSend us a textBen Klutsey is the Director of Academic Outreach and the Director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is also one of the masterminds behind a recent documentary, Undivide Us, which tackles the affective polarization in America and how to remedy it through thoughtful conversation. We talk about Ben’s journey and how it led him to this project, the findings of the Undivide Us documentary, and potential solutions to the divisions in society today. Near the end, we discuss the re...2024-02-0253 min