This short episode is about giving better advice. Just as medicine containers have warning labels, I propose that all advice about being a better citizen, leader, parent, or partner come with three disclaimers:Not for everyoneMay have side effectsDilute before usingAfter all, different folks deserve different strokes.

In this episode of How My View Grew, educator Carlos Hoyt describes his early life experience transcending racial categories and how he discovered that the entire concept of "race" was false and unhelpful. What if the racial categories that pervade our conversations, public policy, and social science data are scientifically meaningless? What can we learn from people who have deracialized themselves and others? How might these insights improve lives and undermine racism at its roots?**Key Takeaways**8:00 Growing up in Boston—"Black and proud," changing school districts, mixing it up at summer camp18:00 Discovering research on other "race transcenders"22:00 The five steps in racializing people27:00 The pseudoscience of race34:00 Why "racial equality" is an oxymoron40:00 Making the U.S. Census more accurate44:00 How to adjust the way you refer to people50:00 Amiel's reflections, including the analogy of the Elvis Lives Fan Club**Resources**Carlos's web siteCarlos's forthcoming book, Diversity Without Divisiveness**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this short episode, I share a personal story about a time I was knocked off center by the verbal attacks of a human "bull." When someone attacks you, what can you do to regain center and respond skillfully? Here are five tips.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Rachel Eryn Kalish is a peacemaker. Personally, she radiates harmony. Professionally, she has devoted decades to non-violence and was mediating conflict before the term conflict resolution existed. Yet, today, she doesn't view non-violence as the one and only approach to global conflict. Sometimes, she has learned, force is necessary to save lives and reduce suffering. The massacre of Israelis by Hamas on October 7 is one example. We all know the saying that violence begets violence. But are there situations in which non-violence begets violence?This is the story of how Rachel Eryn began asking this question and listening deeply for answers.**Key takeaways**5:30 Facilitating conflict resolution and violence prevention in the workplace9:30 Teaching dialogue skills to mixed groups of Israelis and Palestinians amidst the suicide bombings of the Second Intifada14:15 Helping the deeply divided Bay Area Jewish community talk constructively about Israel19:00 The civil war in Sierra Leone prompts Rachel Eryn to reconsider her view of non-violence25:00 The savagery of October 7 and the need to get rid of Hamas's infrastructure31:30 Amiel's reflections: what type of humans commit barbaric violence, and what types of response can constrain them?**Resources**Workplace Connections, Rachel Eryn's consulting firmAmiel's essays on Medium about Israel/Gaza (and other big messes)**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode, I describe a conversation that is pivotal to approaching big global messes. Also useful for parenting, partnering, being a friend, and being a citizen. The possibility conversation is about the future. It's aspirational. It doesn't include assessments of the past. It's not about coordinating action. The critic stays on the bench. Our mood is constructive.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Two years ago, Ukraine stunned the world with its response to Russia's full-scale invasion. Where did its resilience come from? Leading Ukrainian civic activist Valerii Pekar has an answer. It's a story of a nation—and a man—undergoing two major transformations after the fall of the Soviet Union. First, a shift into freedom, then an awakening of dignity and civic activism. Why this matters to you and me: If Russia were to defeat Ukraine, its next likely targets are NATO countries the United States is bound by treaty to defend. Here's the back story—cultural, political, economic, and personal—behind Ukraine's extraordinary response to Russian aggression.**Key takeaways**7:00 The many facets of freedom after the fall of the Soviet Union10:35 Ukrainians vote for independence12:30 Valerii shifts from traditional to modern worldview15:00 Moscow tries to steal an election. Ukrainians take to the streets19:00 Valerii's speech on the Maidan about Ukraine's three revolutions20:00 The progressive postmodern worldview emerges23:00 Ukrainians explore a big question: what mistakes did we make ten years ago25:30 Valerii is elected to the National Reform Council29:30 A meeting with the President, who issues an invitation31:00 Russia invades, and Ukraine's new horizontal networks activate34:30 My reflections**Resources**Valerii's essays in the journal New Eastern Europe**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A short episode in which I explore: why would any of us want to shift our perspective on a big complex issue like climate change, democracy, the Middle East, or political polarization? Doing this isn't easy and can affect our status and relationships, so why bother?The answer is a quick primer on how as adults we grow our span of care.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode of How My View Grew, essayist Bill Deresiewicz describes the moment he stopped trusting his go-to news sources and started listening to "heterodox" perspectives. This is a story about American journalism and culture. It's also a story about the humility and courage it takes to let go of deeply held ideas and create space for something new.**About the guest**Bill Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic and frequent speaker at colleges and high schools. He is the author of five books, including the New York Times's best-seller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His latest book is The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society.**Key takeaways**5:20 "Hate listening" to NPR and discovering the heterodox world9:00 When an ideology from academia entered the mainstream15:00 Realizing his attitude about art and money is BS22:00 Growing up in a world of liberal Democrats and Orthodox Judaism—and making breaks from this world27:00 Discovering the misery and despair of many students at elite colleges31:00 Learning from Pride and Prejudice that feelings can be wrong35:00 Bill's message to Antifa and other young people revolting against the system39:00 Learning that he knew much less than he thought he did41:00 Amiel's reflections on the conversation**Resources**Bill's web site"Escaping American Tribalism" in UnHerd"Why I Left Academia (Since You're Wondering)" in QuilletteA Jane Austin Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship and the Things That Really Matter.The Death of the Artist**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. **Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this short episode, I revoke my permission to get stuck in a mood of despair and show you how to do the same. How moods differ from emotions.If you can't beat despair, don't join it. Dissolve it with humor.**Share the love**Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode of How My View Grew, discover how sustainability pioneer Gil Friend found his footing...and a commitment to a world that works for all life. At an extraordinary summer workshop filled with aliveness and curiosity, he found a new answer to the question, "Can the world work?"About the guestGil Friend is an inaugural member of the Sustainability Hall of Fame. He was named by the Guardian as one of the ten most influential sustainability voices in America. He served as the first chief sustainability officer for Palo Alto, California. He founded and runs both Natural Logic, Inc. and Critical Path Capital.Key takeaways1:37 An early belief that things are terrible and it's their fault7:33 Learning to plan backwards from the future13:12 Gil is tapped on the shoulder, saying "Go this way."17:15 Moods are the resonant frequencies of groups24:46 You can point fingers at others, or you can design the future26:30 Let's try capitalism by removing the subsidies for fossil fuel industries30:24 Amiel's reflections on the conversationResourcesConnect with Gil Friend at Natural Logic, Critical Path Capital, or Trimtab4TrimtabsConnect with Gil's Substack, Gil's YouTube channel or on Linked InBook Gil for a video consultation"Who was Buckminster Fuller?"**Subscribe to the podcast**To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Big thinkers describe how they see the world and how to make it better, but I want more. How do they get there? What did they used to think and what caused them to change their minds? The story behind this podcast with excerpts from three upcoming guests.