Navigating Political Divides: Tania Israel on Healing Division

Bridging political divides, developing cross-party empathy, and having meaningful conversations in polarized times.

I recently sat down with UCSB professor Tania Israel, and she completely transformed how I think about political polarization.

While we’re more ideologically divided than ever, she taught me that the real problem isn’t our different opinions—it’s the growing animosity we feel toward people on the other side. I found myself nodding along as she explained how our tribal instincts, combined with today’s media landscape, trap us in echo chambers that make us see political opponents as cartoon villains rather than complex humans.

Here’s the game-changing lesson I took away: When talking to someone with opposing views, don’t ask what they believe or why. Instead, ask how they came to believe it. I’ve already started using this approach, and it’s remarkable how a simple shift in questioning can open up real human connection. That’s the kind of actionable wisdom I love sharing with you all.

Tune in to Tania’s full episode here.

Mahalo!

Guy