Big day around here!
Buckle up, ‘cause I’ve got a bunch of fun stuff to share with you. Four things, actually, starting with a bang:
1. Founding memberships are here!
Ever since the podcast relaunched this summer, I’ve been hearing from several of you who want to check in more directly on the divides driving you crazy, get more specific tips to put episode insights to good use, compare notes on the guests and material we’re covering, or (and this one’s always lovely) lend support in one way or another to keep this wacky labor of love strong and independent.
So we’ve tinkered, and we’ve hustled, and today, we’re making all of this available through — drumroll, please — our brand new founding memberships to A Braver Way.
For $7 a month (about the cost of two drip coffees), you get:
A live hour with me and fellow members every month (more on that below!)
My prep notes for every episode: loads of research, my handwritten scribbles, and waaaay too many questions
Practical tools to put episodes to work in your life
Discounts from bridging partners I love, like Braver Angels, Tangle News, The Flip Side, AllSides, and Holistic Life Navigation
A part in something bigger than a podcast: helping more people meet division with strength instead of fear
These are “founding” memberships because we’re building this community as we go, and we need you to help us shape it. 💪🏽
Sound like your kind of thing? I’d be honored to have you!
Then sign up to talk turkey…
2. Dreading Thanksgiving? Let’s talk.
Thanksgiving lands just three weeks after the midterms this year. And for a lot of us, it’ll set the first big family table since the votes were cast. Someone’s going to be thrilled. Someone’s going to be fuming. A lot of us might be anxious? Who knows! But it’s a holiday, for goodness’ sake. And we’ll all want to be ready.
So for our first founding-member gathering, on Tuesday, Nov. 17 (4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET on Zoom), I’m hosting an open Q&A: Surviving (and even enjoying?) divided holidays. Bring the conversation you’re dreading, or the person you love who sees the world differently. Nothing’s off the table. We’re among friends. ❤️
Then stop the presses…
3. A new (newsy) episode, and a new tool
In today’s episode, we raise a question to keep in your back pocket: Is the news doing more to you than for you? Joy Mayer of Trusting News and Jonathan Stray of UC Berkeley join me to go where journalists rarely dare. Should newsrooms hire for political diversity? Can reporters stay fiercely curious without platforming hate? Listen wherever you get podcasts or on YouTube.
And as a bonus for members, our team made How to News Wisely, a one-pager detailing five specific ways to take in political news without letting it take you over. They range from the “would could should” rule for speculative headlines to a stretch goal for the next time you clash with someone over a newsy detail. Join today and it’ll be waiting for you in the “Episode prep notes” page, along with behind the scenes notes and research on the episode →
4. Oh, and we have merch!
The A Braver Way merch store is officially open! If you’re ready to show off that chic curiosity of yours, we know just the hat / mug / hoodie / t-shirt. And when you join as a founding member, you get 20% off.
OK that’s it! That’s the update!
And by the way: Whatever you decide about becoming a founding member, thank you so dang much for being here with us — that means the world — and for everything you’re already doing to stand up for better, braver conversations.
Stay curious,
