Why Are We So Polarized?

Discourse about hot-button social issues is broken. Can we fix it? Sociologist Ilana Redstone joins Laci to discuss the challenges of embracing viewpoint diversity. They explore how identity politics took academia and social media by storm, society's turn toward moral absolutes, whether our intentions matter, bad behavior vs bigotry, dealing with being offended, the secret ingredient for a vibrant discourse, and more.

Even in progressive company, polyamory is a widely misunderstood relationship style. Today we take a deep dive to better understand polyamory through the lens of our sexual evolution. Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller joins to discuss the stigmas of evolutionary psychology and polyamory, negotiating sexual boundaries, mate selection, dealing with jealousy, how poly can help people who struggle romantically, and technological threats to monogamy.

Emotions sometimes feel like hardwired reactions that are out of our control. But what if this is all wrong? Laci explores a mind-bending new view of emotion that is changing everything. Neuropsychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett joins to discuss how emotions are made and how we can gain control of them, techniques to experience more joy, the psychological pros and cons of trigger warnings, and how to become more emotionally intelligent. Learn more about Indirect Message at lacigreen.tv/podcast.  Laci's Twitter: twitter.com/gogreen18 Laci's YouTube: youtube.com/lacigreen Today's guest: Lisa Feldman Barrett, author of How Emotions Are Made

America's 50% divorce rate is a jarring reality check. In this episode, Laci shares her evolving thoughts about getting married. She discusses why we tend to ask the wrong questions before tying the knot, the 4 communication habits that destroy relationships, and a shockingly simple way we can cut the divorce rate in half. Learn more about Indirect Message at lacigreen.tv/podcast.  Laci's Twitter: twitter.com/gogreen18 Laci's YouTube: youtube.com/lacigreen Today's Guest: Susan Piver, author of The Hard Questions

Seemingly overnight, TikTok became one of the most addictive social media apps on the planet. It is also the first giant created in the authoritarian state of China. Laci discusses how TikTok managed to capture the world's attention, their controversial history of censorship, and whether the app could be used as a weapon of mass manipulation. Learn more about Indirect Message at lacigreen.tv/podcast.  Laci's Twitter: twitter.com/gogreen18 Laci's YouTube: youtube.com/lacigreen Guest: Chris Stokel-Walker, author of TikTok Boom Content Warning: brief mentions of slavery, ableism, and the Uyghur genocide

Dr. Drew dished out sex advice on the radio for over 30 years. He and his daughter Paulina join me for a fireside chat. We discuss their father/daughter relationship and the impact of Drew's fame, sex ed in '80s, how hook up culture developed, gender differences in desire, why college students binge drink, rejection and emotional development, rehabilitating abusers, and more. Learn more about Indirect Message at lacigreen.tv/podcast.  Laci's Twitter: twitter.com/gogreen18 Laci's YouTube: youtube.com/lacigreen Guest: Dr. Drew Pinski and Paulina Pinski Content Warning: brief mention of eating disorders, extensive discussion about perpetrators and rehabilitation

Is dating the next feminist frontier? The ladies who started Reddit's Female Dating Strategy certainly think so. Laci is joined by the strategy's creators to explore what it means to unapologetically center women's needs in dating. They discuss their critiques of sex positive & liberal feminism, the "manosphere" and online backlash, the problem with 50/50 dating, "forever girlfriends", how they vet men for relationship success, and more. For audio that doesn't pan, listen to this episode on YouTube. Content Warning: brief mentions of non-consensual choking and violent porn, potentially upsetting generalizations about men

Moralizing, outrage, and condemnation are all over social media. While it may be well-intentioned, there is quite often a dark side to this behavior. Laci is joined by philosopher Dr. Brandon Warmke to explore the use and abuse of moral talk on social media. They discuss the five ways we virtue signal and why it is so widespread, the threat it poses to activist causes, and what those of us who crave better moral discourse can do about it.

Despite the body positive movement's enormous virality online, girls and women are just as fixated on their bodies as they ever have been. Is there a better approach? Activists, researchers, and identical twins Drs. Lexie & Lindsay Kite join Laci to share their perspective. They discuss why the body positive movement has struggled to achieve its radical goals, self-objectification and a critique of the selfie, the effects of body shame on motivational states, diet talk, and integrating body positivity with a healthy lifestyle. Content Warning: brief mention of eating and exercise disorders.

Liberal feminism and Islam have become unlikely bedfellows; the hijab is largely celebrated, while critical discussion is hampered by accusations of bigotry. Activist Yasmine Mohammed, an ex-Muslim child abuse survivor who was forced to marry an Al Qaeda operative, questions the narrative. She joins Laci to discuss her life experiences, why the liberal conversation about Islam is so fraught, Islam (the doctrine) vs. Muslims (the people), double standards and racism, violence prevention in multicultural societies, and feminist approaches to the hijab. Content Warning: discussions of sensitive cultural issues, child abuse, homophobia, descriptions of FGM, sexual violence, and suicide.