Alexandra Hudson is a writer, popular speaker, and the founder of Civic Renaissance, a publication and intellectual community dedicated to beauty, goodness, and truth. She was named the 2020 Novak Journalism Fellow, and contributes to Fox News, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, TIME Magazine, POLITICO Magazine, and Newsweek. She earned a master's degree in public policy at the London School of Economics as a Rotary Scholar, and is an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy. She is also the creator of a series for The Teaching Company called Storytelling and The Human Condition, and author of the bestselling book, The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.
In this episode of Mindful Money, I talk with Alexandra about the urgent need for deeper human connection in an increasingly polarized world. We explore how civility differs from politeness, why true respect is essential for a flourishing society, and how our culture’s overreliance on politics has crowded out faith, family, and friendship. Alexandra shares stories from her upbringing, her intellectual journey, and how becoming a parent reshaped her priorities. This conversation is a call to slow down, get curious, and rediscover the beauty of engaging with others—especially those we disagree with.
In this episode:
(00:00) – Intro
(01:04) – Meet Alexandra Hudson
(03:47) – Growing up with entrepreneurial parents
(05:41) – The influence of Alexandra’s mother
(09:25) – Philosophical foundations and education
(11:27) – The problem civility solves
(13:44) – Instrumentalizing others and human dignity
(19:08) – Defining civility
(20:34) – The essence of civility
(21:22) – The dangers of polarization
(24:48) – The crisis of misplaced meaning
(28:31) – The power of curiosity
(31:25) – The importance of digital detox
(34:28) – Balancing work and family
(37:24) – How to connect with Alexandra
Get full show notes and links at https://mindful.money.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindfulMoney.