Dispatches from the Divide

Two days earlier, Laryssa Bishop had no idea this trip existed. Now she's climbing into an RV with seven strangers to spend a day talking about one of the most divisive issues in America. After becoming afraid to speak openly about politics, Laryssa sees the trip as a chance to try again. But the topic is immigration – deeply personal for a Brazilian international student waiting for her green card – and she'll be discussing it with Republicans and Democrats whose views she doesn't know. What if the conversation gets ugly? What if she isn't prepared? What if this isn't actually a place where she can speak freely? By the time Laryssa finally pulls her chair into the circle, her heart is racing. This is the final episode of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman. —----- Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/ More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/ More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/ Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway —------- CHAPTERS (0:00) Laryssa Joins RV Trip (2:03) A Campus Killing Shakes Her (3:21) Why She Stopped Speaking (5:45) Braver Angels Explained (7:40) Common Ground Workshop Setup (9:28) Ground Rules And Fishbowl (12:02) Immigrant Stories In The Circle (16:14) Tension and Searching For Policy (18:01) Laryssa Sparks A Breakthrough (22:09) Courageous Citizenship Lessons (23:170 Finding Her Voice Again (24:21) Final Reflections And Farewell #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #BraverAngels #Immigration #BridgingDivides #CommonGround #CivilDiscourse #PoliticalPolarization #Courage

Laryssa Bishop left Brazil for college in America believing she'd finally found a place where she could speak her mind. Instead, she slowly became afraid to say what she really thought. As an international student in Salt Lake City, Laryssa wants to talk openly about politics, immigration, the Israel-Gaza war, and the issues dividing America. But conversations turn hostile, people on both sides unfollow her, and worries about her green card make speaking up feel increasingly risky Then an act of political violence close to home seems to confirm her worst fears. This is Episode 7 of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman. —----- Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/ More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/ More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/ Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway —------- CHAPTERS (0:00) Leaving Rio Behind (1:09) First Steps in America (3:28) Free Speech Expectations (5:03) Silenced Back Home (6:37) Campus Labels and Pushback (7:50) Social Media Backlash (8:32) Marriage and Green Card Fears (10:00) A New Hope Emerges (10:43) Birth of Peacemaker Project (13:18) The Big Immigration Debate (15:16) Peacemaking at Home (17:00) National Conference in Mountains (18:30) Larissa Gets Invited (19:32) Finding Her Voice Again (20:47) Campus Assassination Shock (22:26) RV Trip and Cliffhanger (24:37) Credits and Wrap Up #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #BraverAngels #FreeSpeech #PoliticalPolarization #InternationalStudents #Immigration #PoliticalDivision #CivilDiscourse

Helene Biandudi Hofer walked away from the kind of journalism she feared was making people more divided. Now she has to find out whether her alternative actually works. In Episode 6 of Dispatches from the Divide, Helene takes on a local election story in her own small town—and deliberately ignores some of the instincts that shaped her decades in journalism. Instead of chasing the obvious political conflict, she follows the parts of the story that don’t fit. Then election night throws the whole thing into doubt. Can she report the news differently—and still make people want to listen? —-- Subscribe to Dispatches from the Divide for more true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman. —----- Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/ More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/ More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/ Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway —------ CHAPTERS (0:00) Mom Tips Off Mystery (3:02) Dispatches Theme Setup (4:24) Spotting The Misfit Story (5:28) Trust First Reporting (8:05) Election Clock Ticking (9:41) Loss Then Breakthrough (11:20) Bert Interview Begins (13:43) Final Story Playback (14:13) Williamson Sets The Scene (16:26) Why Republicans Back Joe (20:30) Results snd Ripple Effects (23:28) Monica Reflects On News (26:00) Closing And Next Episode Watch the video of Helene’s story about Joe and Bert on the Good Conflict YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvgy9a3CVeQ #Journalism #PoliticalPolarization #LocalNews #LocalPolitics #SolutionsJournalism #BridgingDivides #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #B

Veteran journalist Helene Biandudi Hofer is sitting at home scripting her weekly news show when she suddenly puts down her laptop and starts to cry. She became a reporter because she wanted to help people understand each other. But after decades in the new business, she can't shake a troubling question: What if the way she's been telling stories is making our divisions worse? Just when she thinks she’s out of options, something lands in her inbox. This is Episode 5 of Dispatches from the Divide — true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman. —----- Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/ More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/ More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/ Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway —----- CHAPTERS (0:00) Crisis By The Fireplace (1:39) The Story She Regrets (5:12) Why News Feels Broken (6:42) A Childhood Calling (9:15) Solutions Journalism Spark (11:12) Complicating The Narrative (13:59) Teaching Looping Skills (15:44) Good Conflict Begins (18:44) What Audiences Want (23:50) Testing Nuanced Local Stories (25:47) Next Episode Tease (26:05) Credits And Wrap #Journalism #TrustInMedia #PoliticalPolarization #NewsMedia #SolutionsJournalism #MediaLiteracy #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BYUradio #DisagreeBetter #BraverAngels

Bob Hathcock helped launch a campaign to remove Julie Spilsbury from office. Now he's walking into her home—and neither of them knows how this conversation will end. In Episode 4 of Dispatches from the Divide, a bitter Mesa, Arizona, recall election fueled by political polarization, the 2024 election, and deep disagreements over local politics becomes intensely personal. Julie believes she followed her conscience. Bob believes she betrayed the conservative district that elected her. Now, with election day approaching, they finally sit down face to face. What happens when the person on the other side is suddenly sitting on your couch? —------- Subscribe to Dispatches from the Divide for more true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations that take an unexpected turn. Hosted by Monica Guzman. —----- Dispatches from the Divide is a co-production of BYUradio, Disagree Better and Braver Angels. Connect with us on social media @DispatchesfromtheDivide If you’re enjoying the podcast, you’ll love the new documentary “A House United.” Find a screening near you: https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ahouseunited More about Disagree Better: https://disagreebetter.us/ More about Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/ More podcasts from BYUradio: https://www.byuradio.org/ Listen to Monica Guzman’s other podcast “A Braver Way” https://www.moniguzman.com/abraverway —------- CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro (0:15) Recall Rivals Face Off (1:33) Couch Talk And Tears (2:29) Why Bob Felt Betrayed (5:18) Campaign Turns Ugly (7:06) Small Gestures Of Humanity (8:19) Election Night Fallout (9:49) Staying In Church Community (13:55) Love Over Civility Talk (18:07) Lunch With Former Opponent (19:50) Politically Homeless After Recall (22:29) Return Day And Closing #DispatchesFromTheDivide #BraverAngels #DisagreeBetter #BYUradio #JulieSpilsbury #ArizonaPolitics #RecallElection #LocalPolitics #PoliticalPolarization #BridgingDivides