🚨 A quick heads up: This week’s episode is way more political than usual. 🚨
Emma literally just had her baby and she’s home hanging out with that perfect little baby angel. 🥹👶🏼 Travis is trying to navigate the world without Emma while she’s on her maternity break, so he’s hanging out with two of his new podcast friends, David and Lisa Beckemeyer, from This Week in Outrage. We dive into why everything feels so loud, angry, and broken right now, and why there’s actually way more middle ground (and exhausted, reasonable humans) than the internet wants you to believe.
We get into:
- How David went from getting into Twitter fights and doom-scrolling cable news to starting a research-driven podcast about toxic polarization and building bridges.
- The concept of the “exhausted majority”- the huge group of people who don’t love either party, hate the constant outrage, and don’t realize they’re actually part of the majority.
- Why our brains love feeling morally superior and how partisan media (on both sides) profits from keeping us angry and addicted.
- The wild case study of The Necessary Conversation podcas (it’s actually not satire).
- Trump as a “charismatic hero” for some people, and what happens psychologically when your entire identity is wrapped up in one politician.
- DEI, Target, culture wars, and why some folks feel like they’re “losing the culture” regardless of facts and reality.
- A revelation about trad wives, the manosphere, Project 2025, and the strange obsession with deciding how other people should live.
- RFK Jr., beef tallow, anti-vax conspiracies, and the Noah’s Ark experience in Kentucky.
If you’re exhausted by the 24-hour news cycle or just confused about how we got here… this one’s for you. 💖
Connect with David & Lisa
Outrage Overload: interviews with scientists, researchers, and practitioners on toxic polarization and bridge-building.
This Week in Outrage: David & Lisa’s weekly show breaking down the latest political chaos with humor and nuance.
Sponsors from this episode
🛏️ Cozy Earth Ridiculously soft bamboo sheets that keep you cool all night. Get 41% off anything on the site with code BESTIE at checkout at cozyearth.com.
👕 HyperNatural Jade-stone fiber polos and tees named Best Men’s Polo Shirts of 2024 by Men’s Journal. Get 20% off with code BESTIE at hypernaturalstyle.com.
Connect with Travis & Emma
WE FINALLY HAVE A WEBSITE: bestieapproved.com
Follow us everywhere: linktr.ee/travisandemma.com
Email us: hello@bestieapproved.com
🎧🎙️ Listen to bestie approved wherever you get podcasts. If you like the show, leave us a 5-star review and we will share it with the world (we love attention). 🤩 Share the pod with your messiest friend and always remember- from Indy to wherever you are, we love you! ❤️
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