In this edition, host Corey Nathan dives into two behaviors that shut down meaningful dialogue before it even starts: ad hominem attacks and treating individuals as proxies for groups. Drawing from real-life interactions and candid personal stories, Corey illustrates why civil discourse matters now more than ever.
What Is Discussed:
Why personal attacks destroy productive dialogue
How assuming people represent an entire group harms mutual understanding
Strategies for better conversations: passive, defensive, and proactive
Why labels and assumptions often miss the mark
The power of treating others as individuals with unique stories
Episode Highlights:
1:00 – Defining the two dialogue killers: ad hominem and proxy labeling
2:00 – A local mayor faces national-level hostility in small-town politics
4:00 – A neighborly disagreement about family farms shows how it can be done right
5:00 – Corey’s impassioned reaction to toxic comments and attacks
10:00 – When people are reduced to stand-ins for political ideologies
14:00 – Facebook comments spiral as users resort to vilifying each other
19:00 – Setting realistic expectations when engaging across divides
27:00 – “I will not defend positions I don’t hold”—drawing healthy boundaries
30:00 – Lessons from the fight for marriage equality: changing hearts through human connection
33:00 – Passive, defensive, and proactive strategies to communicate better
Featured Quotes:
“People are people—not proxies...”
“I will not defend positions that I don’t hold.”
“You’re not talking to ‘them,’ you’re talking to me.”
“Go talk some politics and religion with gentleness and respect.”
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