The Dissidents

In this episode, co-hosts Chris and Joia have the pleasure of speaking with Pam Hayes-Bohanan, a librarian with a career spanning nearly three decades. She shares her journey and insights on the importance of free speech, including discussing how her upbringing and experiences shaped her beliefs. She emphasizes the need for diverse voices and critical thinking, highlighting the importance of allowing ideas to be shared. Pam also discusses the role of libraries in providing credible information and promoting education on thinking skills.   See: https://heterodoxacademy.org/blog/utopia-in-the-stacks/

In this week's episode Steven James Lawrence joins Elizabeth for a discussion of critical theory, teaching in K-12 and college, as well as what he calls an organic perspective on diversity, equity and inclusion. We talk about the healing value of stories and the potentially destructive nature of community prescribed victim narratives. Stephen describes his success in inviting colleagues on an inclusiveness-focused journey, an alternative to often resented and ineffectual top-down methods of DEI enforcement. Podcast Notes Steven James Lawrence has served as chair of the Faculty Development Committee at the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, a Federally-designated Minority Serving Institution (MSI), where he promoted "invitational" approaches to DEI that were non-ideological. Steven's substack Steven's Organic DEI substack postSteven's personal reflections on contemporary social theories and how they disconnect us from ourselves and one another Pasupathi, M., Fivush, R., & Hernandez-Martinez, M. (2016). Talking about it: Stories as paths to healing after violence. Psychology of Violence, 6(1), 49-56.

This week's episode is a follow up with the authors of an article covered in a previous Dissidents podcast (S4, E15) about grade inflation and university faculty ideology.  Mark Horowitz and Anthony Haynor generously offered to share their insights, clarifications, and elaborations based on years of research on this topic.  We discuss historical trends toward left wing ideology and the impact on research, censorship, and the quality of education. Mark and Anthony call for the best and brightest to focus their energies on ensuring higher education retains its core purpose and values. Podcast notes: The Hyperpoliticization of Higher Ed: Trends in Faculty Political Ideology, 1969–Present Are Social Scientists Any Less Biased Than the Rest of Us? Horowitz, M., Haynor, A. L., & Kickham, K. (2023). “Undeserved” Grades or “Underserved” Students? Faculty Anxieties and Eroding Standards in the Corporate University. Higher Education Politics & Economics, 9(1), 43–84 S4 E15 | Grade 'A' Hypocrisy: Faculty Politics and Eroding University Standards:    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-e15-grade-a-hypocrisy-faculty-politics-and/id1537516628?i=1000656598690

In this episode, co-hosts Chris and Joia are delighted to talk with one of the Fellows of the Institute for Liberal Values, Elizabeth Spievak. Elizabeth shares her journey as a free speech advocate, highlighting the impact of cancel culture on her academic work and the importance of free speech in research and academic freedom. She emphasizes the need for civics education and support for those facing cancellation. The conversation delves into the challenges and impact of cancel culture on individuals and the importance of preserving free speech in society. You might also know Elizabeth as one of the co-hosts of The Dissidents podcast   See: https://ilvalues.org/podcast/

In this Legacies of Black Pioneers series of the Dissidents Podcast, Winkfield Twyman, Jr. and Jennifer Richmond speak with Professor Glenn Loury on his newly released book, Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative. We discuss authenticity, individualism, enterprise, faith, and end our conversation on the lively question of whether the experience of race can be equated to the encumbrance of a Soviet gulag and if retiring from race is the path to a better future or simply escapism. Sign up on Circle to be a part of our live events, join the conversations, and check out our resources for the Black Institute for Liberal Values (in collaboration with ⁠Free Black Thought⁠). Visit our ⁠website⁠ to sign up for our monthly newsletter to keep in the loop of all our new offerings. Podcast notes: Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative, Glenn Loury Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of "Political Correctness" and Related Phenomena,Glenn Loury Letters in Black & White: A New Correspondence on Race, Jennifer Richmond & Winkfield Twyman, Jr. The Raceless Antiracist: Why Ending Race Is the Future of Antiracism, Sheena Mason The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America, Coleman Hughes On Being Color-Blah with Angel Eduardo The Power of the Powerless, Vaclav Havel The Gulag Archipelago and The Wisdom of Aledsandr Solzhenitsyn, Academy of Ideas

This week Mike and Elizabeth discuss political conflict from the perspective of evolutionary psychology. While making the country (or the world) a better place for all is a commonly shared goal, the means for accomplishing it are rarely agreed upon. The authors of a recent article argue that in the simplest of terms, conservatives tend to value amassing resources while liberals value the distribution of resources. Both are necessary for a flourishing society, but the difference in focus makes compromise difficult. The authors suggest that the alternation of power common in the history of the United States may be quite beneficial in meeting the shared goals of both parties. Podcast Notes: Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2023). Cultural Animal Theory of Political Partisan Conflict and Hostility. Psychological Inquiry, 34(1), 1–16.

Join co-hosts Chris and Joia and get to know one of the founders and board members of the Institute for Liberal Values, Jennifer Richmond. Jennifer believes we are at our best when protecting individual rights and freedoms. Hear her stories and discover how Jen’s background in International Relations has shaped her understanding and advocacy for Free Speech. And don’t forget to check out the book she recently co-wrote with W.F. Twyman, Jr: Letters in Black and White: A New Correspondence on Race in America   See: https://ilvalues.org/

In this week's episode we talk about public speech as a mechanism for thinking, learning, and reflection. Elizabeth is joined by the founders of 1776Forward, Chris Bush and Joia Houheneka, for a discussion about how speaking aloud may impact our worldviews and relationships. We refer to an article that inspired us to think aloud about the impacts of community, word choice, and modes of communication on private and public attitudes, decision making, and creativity. We end on a positive note by considering how relevant metaphors (thinking of speech as play and free speech advocacy as a journey, not a fight) might help us all enjoy participating in liberal discourse. Podcast notes https://1776forward.com/ https://www.compactmag.com/article/private-thought-and-public-speech/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

This week Mike and Elizabeth discuss how we interpret others' decision-making motives and whether our assumptions make it more difficult to have liberal conversations. As a starting point, we reference research in which participants reasoned about their own and others' choices in different contexts. One study examined motives attributed to Trump and Clinton voters just days before the 2016 election. In all cases, others' decisions were assumed to reflect superficial motives. Podcast Notes: Barasz, K., Kim, T., & Evangelidis, I. (2019). I know why you voted for Trump: (Over)inferring motives based on choice. Cognition, 188, 85–97. 

Co-hosts Chris and Joia are delighted to bring on their first guest. James Petts is a barrister (the equivalent of a trial attorney) in London, England where he focuses on commercial and Chancery (property) cases, especially those involving fraud or dishonesty. To him, liberalism is fundamentally the rigorous reasoned inquiry in all aspects of life, particularly in ethics – this includes the understanding that concentrated coercive power is inherently dangerous.  Podcast Notes:https://institute-for-liberal-values.circle.so/c/liberal-values-concepts/