Family, Politics, and Empathy in a Divided America with Beth Macy

How family, politics, and empathy collide in a divided America — with award-winning author Beth Macy.What happens when national divisions show up at your own kitchen table? In this episode, award-winning author Beth Macy joins the show to discuss her new memoir, Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, a deeply personal story about family, identity, and the growing divides shaping life in the United States.Beth shares how returning to her hometown of Urbana, Ohio forced her to confront political and religious rifts within her own family, and how those experiences reflect broader trends — from digital radicalization and shifting media habits to the long-term impact of the opioid crisis on rural communities, education, and healthcare. She also reads an excerpt from the book and explains why empathy, curiosity, and listening remain essential tools for bridging cultural and political divides.The conversation includes behind-the-scenes insight from Beth’s work on the Hulu series Dopesick, exploring how storytelling can humanize complex social issues and create space for understanding.Inspired by the discussion, host Allo Gilinsky, the Craft Beer Concierge, reflects on his own hometown roots while enjoying Crooked Goat’s Ibex IPA, celebrating community spaces like HopMonk Tavern and The Punchdown Wine Bar as places where shared experiences still bring people together.📖 Perfect for readers, fans of Dopesick, and anyone grappling with family, politics, and connection in modern America.Featured GuestBeth MacyResources MentionedBooks by Beth MacyPaper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured AmericaDopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America AdaptationsDopesick (Hulu Series): The award-winning adaptation of Beth Macy's non-fiction book PublicationsThe New York TimesThe AtlanticNews MediaFox News Newsmax OrganizationsBraver AngelsHarm Reduction CoalitionBookstoresCopperfield's Books AuthorsMaggie O'Farrell Geraldine BrooksAnna Quindlen Heart and the Lover by Lily KingThe Safekeep by Yael van der WoudenHometown Beers & PubsCrooked Goat BrewingIbex IPAHopmonk TavernThe Punchdown Wine Bar