We Made This Political Podcast

Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum talk together and with guests about what political science, psychology, and parenting has taught them about making politics better for everyone. wemadethispolitical.substack.com

  1. 5d ago

    Ep. 63: Jess Lee on Race, Identity and the Trouble with Categories

    On We Made This Political, hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall talk with sociologist Jess Lee (Cal Poly) about how the umbrella category “Asian American” was created as a post–Civil Rights political instrument to gain visibility and protection, yet can distort reality by centering East Asians, masking vast subgroup diversity, and limiting personal possibilities through stereotypes like the “model minority.” Lee explains how broad categories affect representation, resource allocation, and quantitative research, obscuring poverty, first-generation college needs, and shifting census definitions (including Middle Easterners being counted as white and many Asians reduced to write-ins). The conversation also covers interracial and interethnic dating as largely shaped by access and homogamy (especially socioeconomic), sex ratios in immigration flows, and how assimilation is increasingly seen as hybridization that reshapes what “American” means at the local level.00:00 Breaking Asian Stereotypes00:34 Meet the Hosts and Jess Lee02:19 Why Asian American Feels Messy07:04 Origins of the Asian American Umbrella14:25 Model Minority Myth Costs17:27 Who Counts as Asian22:20 Selection Effects and Stereotype Promise30:26 Measurement Problems in Research36:55 Interracial Dating and Homogamy49:20 Race Boxes and Census Confusion52:11 Assimilation and Hybrid America58:34 Local Hope and Closing This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 63: Jess Lee on Race, Identity and the Trouble with Categories

  2. Aug 3

    Ep. 61: Abi Olvera on Abundance and Positive Sum Thinking

    Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall interview Abi Olvera, writer of the Substack Positive Sum, about the “abundance” movement. Olvera frames abundance as “YIMBY for everything,” emphasizing prioritizing policies that materially affect people’s lives and improving state capacity by removing bottlenecks in housing, daycare, healthcare, workforce licensing, fire codes, and science funding. The conversation highlights examples like certificate-of-need laws and competitor’s vetoes that block new clinics and birth centers, occupational licensing that prevents mobility and locks out people with felonies, and regulatory regimes designed for large corporations that exclude small entrepreneurs. They discuss how debates over regulation often ignore counterfactuals (e.g., AI or safety vs no service), how scarcity thinking fuels partisan “bogeymen,” and how rebuilding public trust through responsive, outcome-focused governance could enable positive-sum progress. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:13 Defining the Abundance Movement 06:00 Certificate of Need Problems 08:52 Expanding the Abundance Agenda 10:34 Occupational Licensing Barriers 12:28 Fire Codes and Safety 13:50 Regulation Debates and Frameworks 16:55 The Counterfactual Problem 18:48 Scarcity vs Abundance Politics 21:11 Government Trust and Efficiency 23:11 Positive Sum Thinking 25:59 Making Abundance Motivating 27:56 Working Class Perspectives 30:50 Funding the Abundance Agenda 31:36 Distinguishing Protections from Obstacles 33:38 Improving Laws and Regulations 36:02 Learning from Missing Data 37:09 Fire Safety Paradox 38:32 Corporate Bias in Regulations 41:57 Gaming the System 43:19 Human Flexibility in Government 44:46 Building Trust in Systems 46:32 Responsive Government and Trust 48:56 Government Success Stories 51:10 Local vs Federal Incentives 53:22 State Department Resilience 55:36 Optimism and Closing Thoughts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 61: Abi Olvera on Abundance and Positive Sum Thinking

  3. Aug 3

    Ep. 62: William Deresiewicz on Liberal Education, Citizenship, and the Crisis of the University

    On We Made This Political, hosts Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall interview author and former Yale professor William Deresiewicz about his essay “Colleges Maybe Try Teaching” and the link between the decline of liberal education and liberal democracy. They contrast liberal education for citizenship with “servile” or purely utilitarian job training, arguing universities’ incentives—research pressure, credentialing, online instruction, politicization, and activism—undermine teaching and truth-seeking. Deresiewicz distinguishes citizens from activists, emphasizing shared political community, humility, patience, courage, and learning to be wrong, cultivated through seminar-style discussion and especially literature’s ability to build theory of mind and moral complexity. They discuss adult alternatives like The Catherine Project and the Matthew Strother Center for the Examined Life, and end with optimism that curiosity and hunger for deep learning are renewable. 00:00 Moral Maturity and Citizenship 00:37 Podcast and Guest Introduction 02:45 Liberal Democracy Meets Liberal Education 05:26 Servile Versus Liberal Learning 09:37 University Incentives and Research Overload 11:31 Politicization and Academic Conformity 13:52 Activists Versus Citizens 23:31 Virtues Learned in Seminar 27:11 Adult Great Books Alternatives 30:29 Reading Decline and Programs That Work 32:14 Seminar Teaching Magic 34:12 Why Online Learning Fails 36:52 The Real Cost of Small Classes 39:50 Credentialism and Teaching Reform 42:35 Mental Health and Fear of Wrong 45:06 Teaching as Craft Not Content 50:19 Literature Builds Theory of Mind 55:28 Tribalism and Moral Complexity 57:24 Wisdom and Living with Tensions 59:04 Hope and Where to Find Him 01:01:30 Closing Credits and Subscribe Additional Resources Bill’s website, where you can contact him, read his essays, and order his books Social psychologist Michael Inzlicht’s substack essay, “My p-hacking felt like truth” The website of the American Council on Education, which focuses on effective teaching’s impact on student success Jennifer Frey on liberal education versus servile education This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 62: William Deresiewicz on Liberal Education, Citizenship, and the Crisis of the University

  4. Jul 27

    Ep. 60: Lauren and Lura on What Holds a Country Together

    Lura and Lauren host a duo episode of We Made This Political on what holds a country together as the U.S. marks the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary month. They argue politics should be understood as relationship and shared flourishing, not winner-take-all power, warning that Pyrrhic victories undermine the ability to live and govern together. Hall contrasts national dysfunction with local communities where people quietly maintain civic life, sharing stories about preserving a historic home and restoring an old cemetery. They discuss Hall’s “running democracy on volunteers” theme, the “heroism tax” on underpaid, undertrained small-town mayors, rising threats and harassment, and county clerks caught in national election battles. They link polarization to social sorting and tribal identity, and suggest local conflict-management training and institutional neutrality policies to keep symbolic national fights from capturing local governance. 00:00 Politics As Relationship 01:34 Podcast Premise And 250th 03:10 Founding Community Over State 05:22 Local History In Action 08:50 Growing And Tending Communities 11:44 Volunteer Democracy And Mayors 13:28 Heroism Tax In Boroughs 20:35 Clerks Elections And Pay 24:54 Support Systems For Local Roles 30:31 Winner Take All Spiral 32:17 How Polarization Sorting Happened 33:41 Identity Threat Politics 35:39 Myths About The Other Side 37:19 Breaking The Sorting Cycle 39:42 Beyond Winner Loser Thinking 42:43 Local Governance Lowers Heat 45:50 Tools For Town Boards 49:19 Rebuilding The Leadership Pipeline 51:46 Influencer Politicians Rise 57:12 Rewarding Deliberation Again 59:10 Finding Hope Locally 01:04:13 Closing And Next Episode This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 60: Lauren and Lura on What Holds a Country Together

  5. Jul 20

    Ep. 59: Tony Williams on the Debating the Declaration

    Lura and Lauren host Tony Williams of the Bill of Rights Institute to discuss his book Divided Over the Declaration and the long history of Americans arguing over the Declaration of Independence. Williams explains that debates over the document’s meaning have shifted across eras, with different generations emphasizing consent, equality, and other principles, and argues that ongoing disagreement is a core feature of self-government rather than a threat. They focus on modern misunderstandings of “all men are created equal,” and Williams cites Jefferson’s excised anti–slave trade passage as textual evidence that “men” meant human beings, even though equality was not realized for all. The conversation turns to polarization, social media, weakened civil society, and practical steps to rebuild civic friendship through local community engagement.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:31 Meet Tony Williams01:05 Why the Declaration Matters03:52 Modern Misreadings of Equality06:10 Slavery Era Declaration Debates07:26 Debate as Self Government10:17 Did Jefferson Mean Universal13:15 Draft Clues on Slavery15:28 Parenting and Civic Virtue19:09 Ordered Liberty Today20:21 Consent of the Governed21:19 Social Media and Extremes22:15 Rebuilding Civic Life24:56 Zero Sum Politics Fallout27:20 Declaration as Covenant30:56 Liberty Meets Community33:30 Civic Habits You Can Practice36:30 America Divided Then and Now40:06 Optimism and Better Angels42:02 Where to Find Tony43:18 Closing and Declaration Challenge Resources Ready Tony and David Bobbs’ book Divided Over the Declaration Find Tony at the Bill of Rights Institute, including free resources for educators and civic leaders This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 59: Tony Williams on the Debating the Declaration

  6. Jul 13

    Ep. 58: Lauren and Lura on Political Grief

    In this solo episode of We Made This Political, Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall explore “political grief”: the sadness beneath political anger when a party, institution, or identity that once felt like home changes or reveals hypocrisy. They discuss how anger can mask vulnerability, share their own politically “homeless” backgrounds across Democratic, progressive, libertarian, and conservative intellectual traditions, and describe grief over MAGA’s damage to conservative principles and institutions such as rule of law and checks and balances. They also critique Democratic failures, elite insularity, culture-war politics, and gaslighting voters’ lived experiences. The conversation emphasizes pluralism, coalition-building, and restoring feedback between voters and government through community ties, electoral reform, and practical civic actions like contacting representatives and building local relationships.00:00 Political Grief Intro01:32 Anger Hiding Grief03:36 Lura’s Party Journey07:22 Lauren’s Political Homelessness10:45 Mourning Conservatism and Institutions15:13 Hypocrisy and Immigration Shock17:50 Both Parties’ Dysfunction21:30 Principles and Being Cast Out23:40 Elites and Voter Disconnect28:40 Why Democrats Struggle to Coalition30:48 Progressive History Theory32:36 Pluralism and The Other Side34:59 Lego Batman Tease35:30 Batman Joker Polarity37:14 Political Grief in DC38:07 Congress Dysfunction Incentives41:54 Fragile Systems Feedback44:24 Community and Chosen Family49:24 Independents and Party Homogeneity52:16 Channeling Grief into Action55:20 Potlucks and Rebuilding Trust58:17 Rightsizing Politics and Citizenship01:00:47 Practical Civic Engagement01:02:06 Closing and Next Episodes This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 58: Lauren and Lura on Political Grief

  7. Jul 6

    Ep. 57: [Archives] Fourth of July Special

    From the archives: We’re reposting one of our favorite conversations from last year to celebrate the 4th while we take some time off with our families. Enjoy! In this special July 4th episode, we explore what patriotism looks like in 2025 and what we are truly celebrating on Independence Day. Lura and Lauren emphasize the importance of community, civic engagement, and the unique diversity of American life. They share personal stories and reflections on local events, discussing how shared spaces and sustained interactions with diverse groups can reduce prejudice and foster unity. The conversation also touches on the challenges of balancing personal responsibilities and community involvement, the historical context of American values, and the evolving role of the presidency. Recommendations for celebrating include listening to Aaron Copland's music* and reading Frederick Douglass's speech, 'What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?' 00:00 Introduction and Guiding Questions 00:11 Defining Patriotism in 2025 00:42 Local Celebrations and Community Spirit 04:39 The Importance of Intergroup Contact 08:39 Challenges of Modern Socialization 10:26 Hosting Community Events 15:27 Historical Context and Moral Ambiguity 22:14 Parenting and Societal Expectations 30:11 Local vs. National Politics 36:58 Exploring Race Relations and Social Behavior 37:04 Acts of Kindness in Airports 38:00 Reflecting on American Values and Utopianism 39:17 Polarization and Perception of America 41:28 Immigrants' Perspective on America 46:14 The Role and Power of the President 55:40 The Importance of Local Communities 57:18 Final Thoughts and Recommendations* Erratum: Lura states incorrectly in the podcast that Aaron Copland was not an American. He was the child of Lithuanian immigrants and studied extensively in Europe. That may be the source of confusion, or it could just be confusion. Lura apologizes for the error. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 57: [Archives] Fourth of July Special

  8. Jun 29

    Ep. 56: Maryam Mehrtash on Reinventing the Village

    Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum host We Made This Political with guest Maryam Mehrtash, a former marketing executive (Disney, Marvel Studios, 20th Century, and the Paramount+ launch) who pivoted after a late-2023/early-2024 layoff into writing, Substack (This Is Not a Memo), speaking, and authoring her first book on reinvention, leadership, and how systems are failing people. She describes losing her identity after job loss, the pressures of transactional corporate culture, and a heart attack at 42 that she links to compounded chronic stress plus genetic risk (elevated lipoprotein(a)) and elevated LDL; she urges awareness of women’s heart-attack symptoms and Lp(a) testing. The conversation centers on her essay “We Were Never Meant to Do This Alone,” critiquing American self-sufficiency myths, discussing lost “villages,” workplace and policy gaps (childcare, paid leave, healthcare), community-building practices, and potential admin-load relief via AI.00:00 Meet Maryam Mehrtash00:41 From Disney to Reinvention02:20 Layoff and Identity Shift05:16 Heart Attack Wake Up Call13:05 Values Boundaries and Betting on Yourself18:59 We Were Never Meant Alone26:26 Rehumanizing Work and Policy32:38 Compounds and Modern Villages39:22 AI and the Invisible Load43:13 How to Build Your Village49:12 Where to Find Maryam50:11 Closing and Optimism Resources Find Maryam on Substack. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wemadethispolitical.substack.com

    Ep. 56: Maryam Mehrtash on Reinventing the Village
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum talk together and with guests about what political science, psychology, and parenting has taught them about making politics better for everyone. wemadethispolitical.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lura Forcum and Lauren Hall
  • Show Website
    We Made This Political Podcast

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