The Courage to Stay Curious: Inside America’s Divide with Monica Guzmán

Award-winning journalist and author Monica Guzmán joins the Presidential Speaker Series for a masterclass in the art of bridging divides. Drawing from her celebrated book I Never Thought of It That Way, her work with Braver Angels, and her own experience as the “liberal daughter of conservative parents,” Monica explores how curiosity, courage, and deep listening can bring people back from the edges of political polarization.In this wide-ranging conversation, she reveals:Why curiosity acts like a “cognitive superpower” in tough conversationsHow her immigrant upbringing and early shyness shaped her careerThe difference between “cooking” and “burning” in heated dialogueWhy depolarization is a practice, not a performanceHow students, families, and communities can build bridges even in overwhelmingly like-minded environmentsWhen boundaries matter — and how to honor them without shutting down relationshipsThe spiritual dimension of seeing the full mystery in every human beingWhat she’s learned from conservatives about family, patriotism, and shared valuesA preview of her next book on fear, courage, and emotional capacityWhether you’re a student, educator, leader, or just someone tired of the national shouting match, this episode gives you practical tools and hopeful energy to create conversations that actually move somewhere. Monica doesn’t promise easy answers… but she shows us how curiosity makes the impossible possible.