Uncommon Ground with Van Jones artwork

Uncommon Ground with Van Jones

57 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★ - 237 ratings

Are you concerned about the future? Tired of divisiveness? Join political commentator and changemaker Van Jones on a journey to find unifying solutions to our country’s biggest problems. Each week, Van and his guests explore topics that affect us all—from climate change to prison reform, from voting rights to political polarization. In Uncommon Ground with Van Jones, you’ll hear inspiring, hopeful and unique perspectives on what it takes to create meaningful change and foster productive dialogue in a divided nation.

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Episodes

A Thank You from Van

October 26, 2022 07:01 - 3 minutes - 3.48 MB

In this final installment of the podcast, Van thanks the Uncommon Ground community for joining him on this journey.  Some doubted that anyone could do a successful podcast based solely on finding positive solutions, deepening understanding and bringing people together across lines of difference. But we're happy to report: measured by downloads, Uncommon Ground wound up in the top 2 percent of all podcasts! Our success with this podcast over fifty episodes has shown that people do r...

Hope for the Democratic Party with Rep. Ritchie Torres

October 19, 2022 07:01 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MB

“Yes, the system is broken. But the solution lies not in dismantling it or burning it down, but in finding solutions that have been shown to work. We should focus on the bread-and-butter issues. Most rank-and-file Democrats are practical and not ideological. Most of them have no Twitter accounts. They worry about the cost of housing, healthcare, and higher education.”  Congressman Ritchie Torres is a pragmatic progressive who stands out among a new generation of leaders. He is ofte...

Bonus Episode: The Future of Climate Leadership

October 17, 2022 07:01 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

In this season’s final bonus episode, we wanted to make sure you got a chance to hear from some incredible young people who are trying to save the Earth. Last year, Van went to COP26 (the UN Climate Change Conference) held in Glasgow, Scotland. There he met with Jerome Foster, Kevin Patel, Chante Harris, Alexandria Villaseñor, Kevin Mtai, and others. These young people are doing extraordinary work advocating for progress on climate solutions — to ensure they inherit a livable plane...

How Do Conservatives Really Feel? with Matt Schlapp

October 12, 2022 07:01 - 52 minutes - 48 MB

It is exceedingly rare these days for two national voices on opposite sides of the political spectrum to come together and have an honest, respectful exchange of views. Many on the right believe that progressives want to abuse government power to punish them for their views. Many on the left feel under constant assault from the right. It is increasingly easy for each side to dismiss the concerns of the other. But in a democracy, we need to try to understand those who think different...

Bonus Episode: Van’s Take on Race and Privilege with Chelsea Handler

October 10, 2022 07:01 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MB

In this special bonus episode, Van moves into the guest seat for an interview with comedian and author Chelsea Handler. The conversation took place in 2018 while Chelsea was filming her Netflix documentary: Hello, Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea. Chelsea’s goal was to explore the impacts of ‘white privilege’ on American culture. In the intervening years, the U.S. has gone through a racial justice awakening. But with so much progress still needed, this never-before-heard conversation is...

Republican Pollster Tackles Voter Concerns with Kristen Soltis Anderson

October 05, 2022 07:01 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MB

“So many people in politics, they've all got opinions. My job is not to be about my opinions. My job is to go out and listen to other people's opinions.”  What shot does Donald Trump have at re-election? What do Republicans really think about Ron DeSantis? How are people feeling about the Biden Presidency? What issues are really keeping Americans up at night? With her keen and unique insight, Kristen Soltis Anderson can help us answer these questions. As a top Republican pollster, ...

From Actor to Authentic Self with Adrian Grenier

September 28, 2022 07:01 - 41 minutes - 38 MB

"There's that quote: ‘First I was smart, and I tried to change the world. Then I got wise, and I tried to change myself.’ What I've leaned into now is: let me stop soap-boxing and telling everyone else what to do. And let me start looking at myself. I was a fraud in many ways because I felt that I had to represent the thing, but I didn't have to be the thing.” Adrian Grenier was an A-list actor who had it all, including fame, money, and influence. But even in the midst of great suc...

How to Avoid Civil War in the US with William Ury

September 21, 2022 07:01 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MB

“I've seen situations, which are far worse than our situation, where the impossible became possible. I saw the Berlin wall come down. I was in South Africa in 1989 when Mandela was still in prison. And within six years there was an astonishing political transformation in South Africa. Even in the Middle East, Israel and Egypt forged a peace that endures to this day, 40 years later.” Tensions and polarization within the US are increasing. Many people are wondering: could we be headi...

How to Thrive in a Changing World with Arianna Huffington

September 14, 2022 07:01 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MB

“Failure is not the opposite of success. It's a stepping stone to success. If we're lucky, we get 30,000 days to play the game of life. How we spend those 30,000 days depends on what we value. And if we are disconnected from our spiritual essence, it is so much easier to value things that will never really fulfill us.” This week, Van is joined by Arianna Huffington – renowned author, entrepreneur, media personality and one of Van’s most influential mentors. Arianna is no stranger t...

Speak Truth to Power Like an Artivist with Aloe Blacc

September 07, 2022 07:01 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MB

“What am I going to do to create lasting positive transformation? Everyone has that opportunity. And I think everyone should recognize that you should not ever quit or doubt your ability to make something positive happen.” You might know Aloe Blacc as a famous musician. But did you know that he’s also an activist, a non-profit founder, and a biotech entrepreneur? Aloe proves that no matter what skill your known for, you just might surprise yourself with how much more you're capable...

Will This Republican Be the Next Black President? with Senator Tim Scott

August 31, 2022 07:01 - 39 minutes - 36 MB

“What's being sold today is that one side is good, and the other side is bad. That one side is racist, and the other side is not. There's just nothing further from the truth.”  Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina is up for reelection this fall. Many speculate that he will run for president one day soon. Scott is one of only three Black United States senators, and the only Black senator in the Republican Party. His unique tone, set of experiences and views on immigration differentia...

How to Combat Anti-Asian Hate with Lisa Ling

August 24, 2022 07:01 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MB

“Because there were so few people who looked like me in my business throughout my career, I've been so cautious about drawing attention to my ethnicity, to my gender. To bring these issues to the fore has been very uncomfortable, but necessary. I hope that I've inspired people in my own community to no longer be content to sit on the sidelines. It's been an incredible experience to see this community come together.”  Lisa Ling is a beloved and gifted journalist and TV star. Since t...

The Next Gen TikTok Star Reinventing the News with A.B. Burns-Tucker

August 17, 2022 07:01 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MB

“You have a bold generation now that you can tap into. Younger people. They are ready to go toe-to-toe with whomever on an idea that they feel passionate about. And a lot of the ideas could help us be the America that we claim to be.”  TikTok is becoming the social media home of a new generation of activists, while older folks debate politics on Facebook and Twitter. The rules and expectations are totally different on this newer platform. Nobody has found their political voice or f...

Can We Find Hope in the Face of Crisis? with Ian Bremmer

August 10, 2022 07:01 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MB

“It is very clear that we are on the precipice – two years, three years, ten years max – that some of these disruptive technologies will fundamentally threaten the way we presently exist on the planet, in the way that nuclear weapons did when you and I were growing up. That transformation is scary, but it's also ripe with opportunity.”  This week Van is joined by the brilliant Ian Bremmer. Ian is a political scientist who has spent his career analyzing global political risk and adv...

Unapologetic Joy with Billy Porter

August 03, 2022 07:01 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB

“To be queer and come out in 1985 when I'm 16 years-old, and be thrust into the AIDS crisis and fighting for our lives on the front lines…Silence does equal death...I don't know anything else, but to fight. I do understand that as a queer Black man in this space who has been unapologetic from the beginning, there is a responsibility for me to continue to speak my truth.”  The incomparable Billy Porter does it all! He’s an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy award-winning actor, singer, producer...

A Christian and an Atheist Search for Common Ground with Sam Harris

July 27, 2022 07:01 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MB

“While people are occasionally motivated to do wonderful things on the basis of their faith, faith generally speaking provides bad reasons to do good things when good reasons are actually available.”  Can a Christian and an Atheist have a civil and constructive dialogue about the future? For the past 20 years, neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris has been one of the leading thinkers of the New Atheism Movement. Van Jones, on the other hand, is a man of deep Christian faith. De...

Why Does This California Congressman Care about Jobs in Kentucky? with Rep. Ro Khanna

July 20, 2022 07:01 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MB

“You have this phenomenal wealth-generation going on. Yet you still have so much of the country totally left out – half the country, if not more, thinking the American dream isn't gonna be available for their kids.” U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna is an uncommon Congressperson. He represents California’s 17th district – a district with one of the highest concentrations of billionaires in the country. But he is adamant that we should tax billionaires fairly. He represents Silicon Valley, yet he...

Can You Turn Pain into Real Change? with Brittany K. Barnett

July 13, 2022 07:01 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MB

“I do not have the privilege to be partisan.” Get ready for a strong dose of inspiration from Van’s guest this week - Brittany K. Barnett. When Brittany was 17 years old, her mother went to prison for drugs. Although Brittany may not have known it at the time, this awful breakdown would lead her to a powerful breakthrough. Hear about Brittany’s journey from accountant to attorney and finally, tireless criminal justice reform advocate. Brittany has won clemency for nearly a dozen cl...

Abortion: What Can the Left & Right Agree On? with S.E. Cupp

June 29, 2022 07:01 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

“I am pro-life. But Roe is a 40-year-old legal precedent. Respecting the rule of law, means I accept the decision. I don't want to celebrate abortion, but I don't want to demonize it, either. I'm the majority. It has never felt so lonely to be in a majority.” S.E. Cupp is back – this time to discuss abortion. Van is a pro-choice progressive. S.E. is a pro-life conservative. One might expect fireworks! But in this episode, S.E. lays out a nuanced, sophisticated and emotionally inte...

Can We Unite Americans through Universal Basic Income? with Michael Tubbs

June 22, 2022 07:01 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MB

“Cash can’t solve everything. But it can solve everything that has to do with cash.” Michael Tubbs became the youngest mayor of any major city in US history – at the age of 26. He immediately made poverty his number one issue. In 2017, as the newly elected mayor of Stockton, California, he recognized that lack of money was the root cause of most of the problems in his community. But what can the government do to alleviate poverty? Michael’s answer – give cash directly to people ex...

Should We Give Land Back to Native Americans? with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

June 15, 2022 07:01 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MB

“If we want to address the climate crisis, we have to heal our relationship with the land. And part of that looks like returning lands to indigenous people.” Within the movement to solve the climate crisis, there is a generational divide. Established leaders are doggedly working within the system. But younger activists want FASTER progress — and deeper changes. After all, young people will have to face the greatest effects of climate change. They feel the URGENCY — and thus often ...

Black Activist from a White Trump Family Drops Gems! with Shaun King

June 08, 2022 07:01 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB

“People asked me hard questions. They asked, if Trump wants to do a press conference with you about Rodney Reed’s case, would you appear with him – if it meant stopping the execution of Rodney Reed?” If you know Shaun King, you know him as one of America’s staunchest advocates for racial justice in the digital age. One of the most controversial as well. After all, his viral videos have transformed the global conversation about police misconduct and racial violence. But you may not...

Carjackings? Tent Cities? Can One Woman Fix LA? with Karen Bass

June 01, 2022 07:01 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MB

"[Homelessness] has become a humanitarian crisis. It has become an emergency that I believe needs to be addressed with the same mentality that you would address a natural disaster. I mean, this is Los Angeles. We have the skills, the knowledge and the resources." Karen Bass is going back to where it all began: Los Angeles, California. After an extensive and impressive tenure in Congress, Karen Bass is running for Mayor of LA. She has big goals and tangible plans to make them happen...

How a Black Man Gets KKK Members to Quit with Daryl Davis

May 25, 2022 07:01 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MB

“How can you hate me if you don’t even know me?” This is the question that Daryl Davis has spent much of his life trying to answer.  Daryl is a Black musician who spends a surprising amount of time with members of the Ku Klux Klan. How and why does he do this?! Over the last 30 years, Daryl has interviewed senior Klan members, attended Klan rallies and even made friends with Klansmen. In the process, he’s convinced many of them to renounce their affiliation to the KKK and give up t...

Crime & Police Abuse Are BOTH Out of Control: Now What? with Bill Bratton

May 18, 2022 07:01 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MB

Violent crime is on the rise across the country; relationships between community members and police remain strained and fractured. While we can all agree that something needs to be done about this, the question is - WHAT? Should we defund the police – or give them more money? Should we abolish the police – or increase police presence? Are there other solutions that too few people are talking about? This week, Van Jones tackles these questions and more with Bill Bratton, the former ...

Will Fed-Up Black Voters Abandon Democrats? with Charlamagne Tha God & Tezlyn Figaro

May 11, 2022 07:01 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MB

This episode might deserve a warning label: “SHOCKING TRUTHS—SERVED EXCEEDINGLY HOT.” Van is joined this week by Charlamagne Tha God and Tezlyn Figaro, two influential voices in media and in the Black community. His guests expose a white-hot level of frustration in the Black community—one that could upend the next two elections. Democrats hold the White House and Congress, but the party’s slow legislative progress has left many of its base voters— especially Black voters— exceedingl...

The Maxine Waters Nobody Knows: How She REALLY Makes Change

May 04, 2022 07:01 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MB

Maxine Waters has been serving in Congress for more than 30 years. In that time, she’s built a reputation as someone who calls it like she sees it. But she doesn’t shy away from reaching across the aisle and working with Republicans, when it means she can pass bills that will improve the lives of all Americans. In this episode, Rep. Waters gives an insider’s perspective on Washington and leadership, and the problems she’s using her position to solve. She shares the importance of sta...

Can Environmentalists & Coal Miners Help Each Other? with Cecil Roberts

April 27, 2022 07:01 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MB

It’s an unlikely friendship: Van, a climate advocate, and Cecil Roberts, the president of the United Mine Workers of America. Many assume that coal miners and climate activists must be at odds. But in this episode, Van and Cecil challenge that assumption. As climate activists push for more reforms and a move to cleaner energy, can coal be part of a greener future? Van and Cecil will get to the heart of the matter — finding some solutions that just might work for everyone.  New epis...

Wondery Presents: Will Be Wild

April 25, 2022 08:00 - 6 minutes - 5.57 MB

Will Be Wild is a new 8-part series about the forces that led to the January 6th insurrection and what comes next. Through in-depth stories from a wide range of characters – from people who tried to stop the attack to those who took part – hosts Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz explore the ongoing effort to bring autocracy to America, the lasting damage that effort is doing to our democracy, and the fate of our attempts to combat those anti-democratic forces. Because January 6th wa...

A Bipartisan Solution To The Climate Crisis? With Benji Backer & Michelle Romero

April 20, 2022 07:01 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MB

“I started to realize the political discourse nationally is not representative of the American people at all. It's what's best for TV or social media. It's good for a headline, but it's not good for actual people.” Two unlikely allies in the environmental movement – Michelle Romero, a liberal leader at Green For All, and Benji Backer, a consvervative leader at the American Conservation Coalition – prove that certain problems, like the climate crisis, are bigger than political parti...

A Bipartisan Solution to the Climate Crisis? with Benji Backer & Michelle Romero

April 20, 2022 07:01 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MB

“I started to realize the political discourse nationally is not representative of the American people at all. It's what's best for TV or social media. It's good for a headline, but it's not good for actual people.” Two unlikely allies in the environmental movement – Michelle Romero, a liberal leader at Green For All, and Benji Backer, a conservative leader at the American Conservation Coalition – prove that certain problems, like the climate crisis, are bigger than political partie...

Can Left & Right Unite to Save Democracy? with Newt Gingrich

April 13, 2022 07:01 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MB

“I worry some about the pure polarization – the Left versus the Right…But I worry equally about a lack of faith in the future.” Newt Gingrich might be best known for his strong opinions and fierce partisanship. But he’s also a deeply patriotic thinker who is open to finding common ground where it counts. Can blockchain technology increase trust in our elections? Can we place satellites in space to beam solar power to Earth? These are just a couple of the creative solutions Van and ...

Kim Kardashian’s Fight for Justice

April 06, 2022 07:01 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MB

“My whole life has been so much about me. And I'm at a place in my life where I don't care for that, the way that I used to. Now it's time to help other people. We shouldn't stop fighting for people that no one wants to fight for.” Van sits down with one of his closest allies in the fight for criminal justice reform: Kim Kardashian. Kim gives a behind-the-scenes look at how she pursues justice for those behind bars, how her approach to criminal justice reform has evolved, and how a...

Can a Movie Mogul Fix the Prison System? with Scott Budnick

March 30, 2022 07:01 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MB

“I'm sitting on a mountaintop in Vegas. I should be super happy, with all the movie stars, shooting Hangover 3. But instead I wish I had been there for that kid.” How does someone go from producing comedy blockbusters, like The Hangover, to helping to pass landmark criminal justice reform? For Scott Budnick, it was all about taking that first step: saying ‘YES.’ He started out teaching a writing class at a juvenile hall. Now Budnick is the founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, ...

How to Handle the Effect of COVID on Your Child with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

March 23, 2022 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MB

“The thing that is most important for us as parents and caregivers is this: to be able to be there for our kids, we gotta take care of ourselves.” Former California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, joins Van to answer listener questions about how to handle the adverse effects of the pandemic on children. What do you do if your child is neurodivergent? How can we help to make sure our children are still socialized during periods of isolation? How do we help our young ones g...

How to Handle the Effect of the Pandemic on Your Child with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

March 23, 2022 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MB

“The thing that is most important for us as parents and caregivers is this: to be able to be there for our kids, we gotta take care of ourselves.” Former California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, joins Van to answer listener questions about how to handle the adverse effects of the pandemic on children. What do you do if your child is neurodivergent? How can we help to make sure our children are still socialized during periods of isolation? How do we help our young ones g...

“Nice Racism” and the Truth about Critical Race Theory with Dr. Robin DiAngelo

March 16, 2022 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MB

“This is a terrifying moment in our country – it's literally illegal to teach that racism exists. But most white people live segregated lives. And I think the most powerful message of white supremacy is that I could live, love, work, play, die in racial segregation with no sense whatsoever that anything of value has been lost.”  There’s been a lot of discussion recently about white fragility, critical race theory (CRT), systemic racism, and more – but what does any of this actually...

“Should We Abolish Prisons?” with Phillip Agnew

March 09, 2022 06:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MB

“The freedom of Black people is a big American question – can those two things coexist? Can the United States of America, as we know it, coexist with true Black freedom? It's a constant fight, and I don't think many people in this country are very free.” – Phillip Agnew It’s easy to complain about people and policies on the other side of the political aisle. But what do you do when you have disagreements with your political allies – the people with whom your goals are the same, but...

Grace and Mercy in the Age of “Cancel Culture” with Malkia Devich-Cyril

March 02, 2022 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

“We have to be more transparent, more honest, more vulnerable, more willing to confront our mistakes than ever before, because we're in this context where lies can become truth with great ease.” What is the role of mercy, grace and redemption within movements for freedom? Malkia Cyril - activist, writer, and founding director of the non-profit Media Justice - has deeply considered answers. In this episode, Van and Malkia discuss the importance of building communities that ground acc...

“Should Vaccines be Mandated?” with Sean Penn

February 23, 2022 06:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MB

“Freedom has never been free, and it shouldn’t be. We get independence through recognition of our interdependency.” Van sits down with Sean Penn to discuss questions of freedom and responsibility, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people know Sean Penn as an award-winning actor with a rebellious spirit, but his life work extends far beyond the screen and into some of the most disaster-stricken parts of the world. In this conversation, Van and Sean dive into vaccine mandate...

Fighting Racism by Building Black Wealth with John Hope Bryant

February 16, 2022 06:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MB

"To live in a system of free enterprise, and to not understand the rules of free enterprise, must be the very definition of slavery." The racial wealth divide in America is a huge problem. So what do two Black men, both of whom have access to enough capital to actually make a difference, think we should do about it? In this week’s episode, Van Jones sits down with John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation HOPE, Inc. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, John is focused on financial lite...

Coming Soon on Uncommon Ground with Van Jones

February 02, 2022 06:00 - 2 minutes - 1.83 MB

Uncommon Ground with Van Jones will be back soon with more inspiration, solutions and great guests like Kim Kardashian, Sean Penn, John Hope Bryant, and more. Here's a quick preview of what's to come!  In the meantime, make sure to catch up on any episodes you may have missed.  Have a question for Van? Call 347-770-2785 and leave him a voicemail. Your question will be recorded, and may be played and answered on a future episode of Uncommon Ground! See Privacy Policy at https://ar...

A Stranger in My Own Party with S.E. Cupp

January 19, 2022 06:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MB

“The media, and the nature of our politics right now, relies on binary division. And you're defined more by your enemies than you are by your friends.” What happens when you no longer feel at home in your own political party? How do you handle it at a personal, emotional level? And how do you vote? In this episode, Van Jones and S.E. Cupp grapple with these questions and more. A long-time political commentator and host of the CNN show Unfiltered, S.E. is a lifelong conservative. She...

The Other Side of the South with Trae Crowder

January 12, 2022 06:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MB

“I'm not saying the South doesn't have problems with race. It does. But it allows the rest of the country to point at one place and be like, that right there–that's the racist part. When racism is very much an American problem.” You may have a particular image of a white southern male. They sound a certain way — therefore they must think and vote a certain way. But comedian, Trae Crowder, is complicating that image. A Tennessee native, Trae goes viral online with his “Liberal Rednec...

Leaning into the Future with will.i.am

January 05, 2022 06:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MB

“I was stuck in my neighborhood. I was stuck with no opportunity. But creativity is the way out. The same brain that creates a song can come up with concepts and pitch them to companies – or build programs to help kids in the inner city.” These days it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck. Visionaries, like Van's guest will.i.am, show us a better path forward. In this episode, musician, philanthropist and futurist will.i.am discusses innovations the future may hold. How can artifi...

Building Tables (Not Walls) with Chef José Andrés (Replay)

December 29, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MB

“If I can feed people in the good times, why can I not put my talents to use to serve people in the not so good times?” In their first conversation since each receiving Jeff Bezos’ Courage & Civility Award — a $100,000,000 grant to further their charitable efforts — Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, sits down with Van for this replay of the premiere episode of Uncommon Ground. They discuss disaster relief, helping others as a way to help ourselves, and the boundari...

How to Combine Social Change & Inner Change with Tara Brach

December 22, 2021 06:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MB

“The only thing that helps me is to feel like I'm holding hands with others who are remembering.” It seems like there are two types of people. Some are focused on fixing the external world – fighting to solve tough social problems. Other people are focused on healing their internal worlds – doing the spiritual work to deepen their own wisdom. What happens when we recognize the need for BOTH? Is it possible to combine the pursuits for outer peace and inner peace? This week, Van sits ...

Gun Violence: Ending the War on America’s Streets with Philly’s Pastor Carl

December 15, 2021 06:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MB

“Today, people film high school fights on their cell phones — and post them online. Back in the day, things would happen in school. But that was just between you and the other person. Now you have thousands of people who've seen it, which pushes people to respond with violence.” Should Black Lives Matter expand their scope to address gun violence on the streets? Are conservative pundits on Fox News helping or hurting when they opine about violence in urban areas? In this episode, Va...

“Should Black People Take the Vaccine?” with Deon Taylor and Jonathan Isaac

December 08, 2021 06:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MB

“We're at a crossroads right now, where I truly believe this is the reckoning.” With the Omicron variant spreading globally and Covid-related hospitalizations on the rise again, Van pulls back the curtain on a vaccination debate raging within the Black community. Arguments for and against the COVID-19 vaccine tend to play out differently among African-Americans. To help explore the dueling perspectives, Van is joined by two guests--Deon Taylor (filmmaker and producer) and Jonathan I...

Loving the Haters with Sarah Silverman

December 01, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MB

“Nobody's going to be changed by being judged or condescended to.” In this episode, Van is joined by comedian, actress, writer, and podcast host, Sarah Silverman. They talk about the need for empathy (even for hecklers or haters), and how the best way to start to love someone is to get to know them. Sarah shares about her love for apologizing. And she shows that a mixture of humor, vulnerability, humility, and openness, can be a recipe for progress. New episodes of Uncommon Ground ...

Guests

Karen Bass
1 Episode
Newt Gingrich
1 Episode
Sam Harris
1 Episode