Today, we’re continuing our How to Disagree series with an episode called How to Disagree On Gaza and Zohran Mamdani.
A reminder: these episodes feature coaching sessions and real-life disagreements. Our goal is to equip everyone with the skills (and some inspiration) to more productively disagree.
Please note: this session was recorded live, on Substack, over the summer. And as you know, quite a lot has changed since then…But with today’s NYC mayoral election, we thought this was the right time to share the conversation.
In this episode, journalist, podcast host and author Anya Kamenetz meets with the New York Times best-selling conflict expert, Amanda Ripley. Anya was struggling with discussing not only the war in Gaza, but also how the war, and divergent information sources, were complicating discussions with a close friend over Zohran Mamdani’s candidacy in the New York City mayor’s race.
The session features in-depth coaching from Amanda on the concepts of “looping” an opposing argument and identifying the “understory,” tools we can all use to keep our disagreements healthy. And if you’re listening from NYC, perhaps they can specifically help in conversations unfolding in your own life.
The Questions:
How do we discuss politics with friends and family who are not only reading different news sources, but who have internalized beliefs different to our own?
How do you listen tactically and how can you encourage those in your life to do the same?
How can you identify the understory for yourself and your counterpart in a disagreement?
The Guests
Anya Kamenetz is a journalist and the author of The Gold Hour on Substack. Her work primarily focuses on the intersection of children, well-being, education, and climate change. She covered education for many years, including for NPR, where she co-created the podcast Life Kit: Parenting. Her last book was The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now.
Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, a Washington Post contributing columnist, and the co-founder of Good Conflict, a media and training company that helps people reimagine conflict. She has written three award-winning, nonfiction books about three very different subjects: High Conflict, The Smartest Kids in the World, and The Unthinkable.
A special thank you to Anya for being so open and vulnerable with us.
Are you wrestling with a disagreement?
Do you have an interpersonal disagreement that you would like help with? Leave it in the comments or email me directly at alex@thedisagreement.com.
Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq.
