Today’s episode offers a compelling exploration of truth, resilience, and the power of storytelling in a divided world. At the height of the pandemic, two immigrant filmmakers, cinematographer Horacio Marquínez and film editor Kirill Myltsev, journeyed across the United States to uncover an unfiltered, unflinching portrait of America.
In an era dominated by mindless scrolling and stylized selfies, their documentary America Unfiltered reveals raw, intimate conversations and searing black-and-white portraits that strip away artifice and distraction to expose the vulnerable truth of the human experience, and exploring the central theme of the documentary - "What does it mean to be an American?"
Through stark, unvarnished imagery, Horacio’s compositions lay bare the essential character of each person he photographed — inviting us to see beyond divisions and connect with one another on a deeper level. The film asks: What if we could better relate to one another and heal our nation’s divides by recognizing the shared humanity beneath the surface?
Robin is thrilled to be joined by her good friends Horacio Marquínez, the visionary cinematographer behind America Unfiltered, and Dr. Marc Brackett, who served as a producer on the film in addition to his role as founder and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of Permission to Feel. Together, they discuss how media manipulation, emotional gaslighting, and truth distortion shape our collective consciousness — and how emotional intelligence and storytelling can help us build empathy and foster hope for America’s next chapter.
It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.
To read the full transcript of this episode, head over to robinstern.com.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.
Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/
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Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a
Dr. Robin Stern's Books:
The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide
Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.
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