In each episode we explore timely topics, fostering knowledge, skills, and empowerment. Together, we'll broaden our minds, open our hearts, and strengthen connections to face the challenges of living in a divided world.
Tania Israel is a psychologist, professor, and award-winning author of two books about navigating political division.
Elizabeth Scharpf is a social entrepreneur, leader in global innovation and impact, and urgent optimist.
In this episode, Tania shares her recent trip to Alabama. Tania and Elizabeth discuss implications of the civil rights movement for what's happening in the U.S. today. They discuss the significance of key sites like the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the lynching memorials, and the ongoing relevance of racial justice efforts today.
In this episode:
Tania shares her journey to Alabama, including marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and visiting civil rights landmarks
The historical significance of Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Act
The museum and memorials that portray the narrative of racial terrorism and lynching in America
Personal reflections on the persistence and courage required to challenge racial injustice
How media and documentation influence public perception today versus the 1950s
The importance of community organizing, strategic protests, and sustained activism
Lessons learned about hope, resilience, and the ongoing fight against racial terrorism
Resources & Links:
Tania’s blog (https://taniaisrael.com/2026/03/13/visiting-my-50th-state-alabama/) about her visit to Alabama
The Legacy Sites (https://legacysites.eji.org/about/)
Film: The Body of Emmett Till (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V6ffUUEvaM&rco=1) (warning - graphic content)
The Civil Rights Movement Museum in Birmingham (https://civilrightsmuseum.org/)
Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial (https://everydayabolition.com/)
Book: "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson (https://www.amazon.com/Just-Mercy-Story-Justice-Changed/dp/081299453X)
The Legacy of lynching memorials - photos and blogs by Tania Israel (https://riverside.com/editor/cfa4ea6c-807f-44ea-8044-375acaddeffe/69c31cd536e263bc73e3024c#) (Link to her blog/website)
17 Nov 2025
26. Report From the Bridging Summit
In this episode, Tania shares her experience attending the Bridging Summit, a gathering of organizations working to strengthen social cohesion and democracy in the U.S.
Read 26. Tania’s blog about the Bridging Summit (https://taniaisrael.com/2025/09/30/bridging-summit-2025/)
Learn about award-winning grassroots bridge building initiatives (https://www.listenfirstproject.org/2025-showcase)
Tune into the bridging movement by signing the Listen First Pledge (https://www.listenfirstproject.org/pledge)
Bridging organizations referenced in the episode:
(https://bridgeusa.org/)
(https://braverangels.org/)
Living Room Conversations (https://livingroomconversations.org/)
(https://www.raftforamerica.org/)
26 Sept 2025
25. Acting Locally
In this conversation, Tania and Elizabeth discusses Elizabeth's effective altruism and the need for more thoughtful philanthropy, emphasizing the value of direct community involvement and the connections formed through shared experiences. Through Elizabeth's transition from global work in Eastern Africa to focusing on local community engagement in California, she reflects on her experiences in international development, the importance of local ownership in community initiatives, and the role of vulnerability in leadership.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
18,872
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
74
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
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