Derate The Hate

A Physician’s Front-Line Account Of The Covid Pandemic

“The public health policy’s connection with the health of a society is only peripheral, the real impact of public health is that it determines how everyone lives and conducts business. If you do not have a good, effective public health structure, you simply cannot exist as an individual or a society.” So many of us experienced the Covid pandemic in different ways, but some had i...

Exploring Civility: A Weakness Or Bold Necessity?

I find it interesting that some, when presented with the idea of confronting those of differing mindsets with curiosity rather than hostility, accuse those seeking civility of somehow being weak or cowardly. As someone who used to do my share of spreading toxicity, I can understand how this can happen. When someone "attacks" what we feel passionate about, it is al...

Will Generation Z Be Our Open Minded Hopeful Majority?
When a generation is consistently taught that tribalism trumps unity, a divisive mindset takes root. Generation Z is a such a group, raised amid boundless digital information, confronts a paradox: being told unity is unattainable through open dialogue and curious conversations. Consequently, their perspectives narrow, hindering cooperation and understanding. Yet, this situa...

Truth Is The Resolution To Irrationality
The suppression of truth can have profound consequences, often leading to irrational behavior among individuals and societies. When information is deliberately withheld or manipulated, it distorts people's understanding of reality, creating a skewed perspective that can foster fear, ignorance, and mistrust. Without access to accurate information, individuals might make decisions bas...

Humility & Free Speech Are Fundamental Prerequisites For Trust In Science

If you have been following me from the beginning, you know I've been outspoken in opposition to much of the government's response to the pandemic since very early in 2020. But not unlike a tree falling in a forest when there is nobody there to hear it, guys like me in 2020 were seldom heard, especially when it came to our thoughts on th...

Acknowledgement Is Needed To Confront The Stains Of Our Past

The power to transform the world lies within the choices we make when wielding our words. It is imperative that we redefine the way we express ourselves, both in speaking of ourselves and of others. Conflicts will arise, but it is essential to recognize that among our disagreements and disputes, a fundamental truth prevails – we are bound together as one human fa...

A Hunger For Healing That Gives Us Hope

It may be lost on many who spend all their time navigating the toxicity of the internet ecosystem, but there is a deep hunger for civic renewal and a return to civility in public discourse. As hardworking individuals in the exhausted middle, who often feel overlooked or caught in the crossfire of partisan battles, many yearn for a political landscape that prioritizes practical soluti...

Are Conservatives The Biggest Challenge The LGB Community Faces?
It's not often you see the letters LGB these days without the rest of the characters. What was once a movement of same-sex attracted persons, traditionally known as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, has become something many from that original movement find hard to recognize, let alone agree with. One thing I will continue to emphasize on this podcast though is that d...

How Looking Through An Us-vs-Them Lens Leads To More Animosity & Anger

 So much of the work I do in the depolarization space leads me to great people of all mindsets. It's not that we have to agree, we just have to find a way to disagree in a more civil way. In today's hyper-connected world, where social media platforms amplify our differences and echo chambers abound, it has become increasingly crucial to cu...

2023 Braver Angels National Convention Recap
On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, Braver Angels orchestrated a remarkable gathering, uniting nearly 700 delegates from diverse backgrounds across our great nation. Their mission: to engage in meaningful discussions on how individuals with varying political mindsets can unite and contribute to the betterment of America. Spanning four days, this convention provided an immersive experience wi...

What is The People's Patriot Project?
I am often asked where I find the drive to do this work I do with the Derate The Hate podcast, or how I find the time to do the work I do with the Braver Angels organization. It seems that I answer this in many ways because there are many reasons, but it often comes down to this; I absolutely love speaking with, and learning from, those who are trying to better the world in which we l...

Why The Uproar About The Latest SCOTUS Rulings?

There's nothing like a little Supreme Court action these days to get the masses all riled up. In these polarized and divisive times, would you expect any less. While approximately 70% of the American public believes that race should not play a part in college admissions, many on social and within the main stream media would have you believe that an "illegitimate cou...

Finding Common Ground With Those Who Hold Contrary Beliefs

Polarization and tribalism have taken hold of many parts of our public discourse today. It has been my experience that many who I once thought to be reasonable, have now placed politics over principles. How did we get here? When people place political blinders on, and quit interacting with those of differing mindsets, they often lose their ability to focus on thing...

Should we fear AI, or use this tool to live in a better way?
It is often those things that we know the least about that we fear the most. There has been a lot circulating in the news and political circles in recent weeks and months about “slowing the progression” of artificial intelligence technology. Is this the correct response? Are we even asking the right questions? It is a general tendency for us as humans to fear that whi...

Polarization, The Issue Of Our Time
People who know me, or those who have listened to the DTH podcast for long know about my great passion for depolarization. With a mission statement like “Bettering the world, one attitude at a time”, it’s easy to surmise that to better the world, we as individuals must get along with each other. I know that getting everyone to agree is unrealistic, in fact, I’d say it’s unhealthy and unproduc...

Giving Your Best Self By Finding Your Purpose
 When we find ourselves loving our partner more than we love ourselves, we often overlook our own worth and potential. It becomes challenging to recognize and appreciate our own strengths, as we are constantly focused on meeting the needs and expectations of our partner. However, it is crucial to remember that we cannot truly be the best version of ourselves for someone else if we n...

Bettering The World By Being The Change You Want To See
Anyone who’s listened to the DTH podcast for long has probably heard me mention the quote "be the change you want to see in the world". This carries profound meaning in relation to another topic I speak of often, the perpetual victim mentality. Too often, individuals perceive themselves as helpless victims of external circumstances, attributing their struggles so...

Looking within to live a courageous life

How do you deal with the outside when you don’t feel right on the inside? It may seem like a simple question, but have you ever asked it? Have you ever tried to solve a problem without defining what the problem is? A large part of my self-healing journey had to do with figuring out who I am and dealing with me. Most of the tools needed to live the life you were meant to live are found within ...

Are Our Political Rivals As Bad As We Think They Are?
For the great majority of my life I had no interest in politics. It was not until after 9/11 that I had any interest whatsoever in anything any politician had to say. The only thing about politics I was certain of was that I didn't want anything to do with politics. For many that I knew, their stories were similar. In the past decade, or decade and a half, that has stea...