Derate The Hate

Wilk Wilkinson
  • 4.8 (37)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Bettering the world one attitude at a time. We did not create the hate, but together, we can 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚! In a world filled with divisiveness, and dominated by F.O.G. (Fear, Outrage & Grievance), it's time we find a better way to engage. That all starts with each of us as individuals. We cannot control all that we encounter within our day to day lives, or the environment in which we live, but we certainly have the ability and responsibility to control how we react to it. For me, it starts with gratitude and personal accountability. Take a listen and see if there is something here to help you in taking your part in turning down the hate. Welcome to the 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩...

  1. Why Empathy Beats Outrage in Every Conversation – DTH Episode 295 with Robert Begley

    6D AGO

    Why Empathy Beats Outrage in Every Conversation – DTH Episode 295 with Robert Begley

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Why does outrage feel powerful — yet leave conversations broken in its wake? In Episode 295 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by world-class speaking coach and author Robert Begley to explore why empathy-rooted rhetoric is far more effective than outrage-driven communication. Together, they unpack how conversations escalate, why persuasion works better than force, and how curiosity and listening can disarm hostility before it turns into conflict. This episode offers practical tools for navigating difficult conversations — without sacrificing conviction or humanity. Guest: Robert Begley Book: Voices of Reason (Amazon Bestseller) Key Topics Why outrage kills dialoguePersuasion vs. rhetorical forceDefusing hostile conversationsEmpathy without agreementListening to understand, not respondLearn more and connect with Robert Begley in the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    36 min
  2. How Stories Conquer Fear and Raise Courageous Kids - DTH Episode 294 with Julie Lavender Le Doux

    DEC 17

    How Stories Conquer Fear and Raise Courageous Kids - DTH Episode 294 with Julie Lavender Le Doux

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! In Episode 294 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson is joined by author and speaker,  Julie Lavender Le Doux for a powerful conversation about performance anxiety, childhood experiences, fear, shame, and personal growth. Julie shares how early experiences shaped her fear of being seen, how anxiety spread into multiple areas of her life, and how confronting fear became the path toward healing and courage. Together, Wilk and Julie explore how avoidance temporarily feels safe—but ultimately deepens fear—and why courage is a learnable skill. They also discuss Julie’s imaginative Amazings book series, which uses metaphor and storytelling to help children and families process trauma, propaganda, conformity, and fear—while cultivating wonder, critical thinking, and resilience. Key Topics Performance anxiety and childhood experiencesFear, shame, and avoidanceCourage as a learned skillHealthy vs. avoidant boundariesStorytelling as a tool for healingRaising courageous, curious kidsImagination, wonder, and truthLearn more and connect with Julie Lavender Le Doux in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    40 min
  3. From Gaza to America: Lessons We Can't Ignore - DTH Episode 293 with Nathan Stock

    DEC 10

    From Gaza to America: Lessons We Can't Ignore - DTH Episode 293 with Nathan Stock

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Episode 293 with guest Nathan Stock In this episode, Wilk sits down with international conflict-resolution specialist Nathan Stock, a man with more than 20 years of experience working to reduce violence and strengthen democracy around the world. Nathan shares how his journey began as an English teacher in Gaza during the Al-Aqsa Intifada — an experience that taught him how quickly societies can shift from tension to full-scale conflict. Nathan explains the unsettling parallels he now sees in American political polarization: declining trust in institutions, tribal media bubbles, and the growing tendency to view political opponents as evil rather than human. But he also emphasizes the hopeful part: we still have agency, and personal relationships across difference remain one of the strongest antidotes to toxic polarization. Topics include: • Lessons from living through violent conflict • Why good people can be driven to do bad things • The role of media consumption in shaping our “reality” • Declining trust in institutions • How everyday citizens can help reduce political hostility • Building cross-partisan relationships that humanize, not demonize Learn more about and connect with Nathan Stock by getting the full show notes at www.DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    37 min
  4. The Perception Gap: Why We Misjudge Each Other and How to Fix It - DTH Episode 292 with James Coan

    DEC 3

    The Perception Gap: Why We Misjudge Each Other and How to Fix It - DTH Episode 292 with James Coan

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Episode 292 — Correcting Misperceptions with James Coan of More Like US  Misunderstanding each other is fueling a level of toxic polarization that’s tearing at our civic and social fabric. In this episode, Wilk is joined by James Coan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of More Like US, an organization that helps Americans see each other more accurately—especially on college campuses.   They unpack: • Why we think our political “opponents” are more extreme than they really are • How false stereotypes lead to fear, outrage, and hostility • The perception gap: what it is and how it warps our values • Why data can calm what misinformation inflames • The CAST framework for seeing people as complex, admirable, similar, and worthy of togetherness • How to interrupt the “race to the bottom” in our politics This conversation is full of clarity, humanity, and real-world solutions. Learn more about James and his work by visiting the full show notes for this episode on DeratetheHate.com or MoreLikeUS.org The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    35 min
  5. Strengthening Our Civic Fabric, One Pocket Constitution at a Time - DTH Episode 291 with Joni Bryan

    NOV 26

    Strengthening Our Civic Fabric, One Pocket Constitution at a Time - DTH Episode 291 with Joni Bryan

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Episode 291 – Featuring Joni Bryan of The 917 Society In this episode, Wilk sits down with Joni Bryan, Founder & Executive Director of The 917 Society, an organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation with a personal connection to the U.S. Constitution. Joni shares how a simple question — “Have you ever read the Constitution?” — evolved into a nationwide effort to provide every 8th-grade student with a free pocket Constitution and the Declaration of Independence in honor of Constitution Day. Topics include: Why constitutional literacy is decliningOriginalism vs. modern interpretationsLimited government and the balance between federal and state powerThe role of bureaucracy in shaping today’s political dividesPushback The 917 Society receives — and whyThe importance of the Constitution for all Americans, regardless of political beliefsThe 2026 goal: 2.5 million pocket Constitutions for America’s 250th anniversaryLearn more about Joni & The 917 Society in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com or visiting 917society.org. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    37 min
  6. Grading Politicians on Collaboration–Not Party Lines - DTH Episode 290 with Brad Porteus

    NOV 19

    Grading Politicians on Collaboration–Not Party Lines - DTH Episode 290 with Brad Porteus

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Bridge Grades & the Fight Against Toxic Polarization This week, Wilk is joined by Brad Porteus, founder of BridgeGrades.org, to discuss the pervasive issue of toxic political polarization and identity politics in America. Brad shares his experience of returning to the U.S. after 14 years abroad, seeing a "stark" difference and feeling "mad" about the decay of the civic fabric. The conversation delves into the dangers of the outrage economy that profits from division, and how our perception of reality is being warped by algorithms. Brad introduces BridgeGrades.org, a new data-driven system that evaluates every member of Congress on one key dimension: Are they Bridgers—or Dividers? This conversation digs into pluralism, loss of agency, legislative dysfunction, and how we can build a healthier civic culture by supporting leaders who collaborate instead of perform. Topics Include: What returning to America after 14 years overseas revealedThe boiling-frog effect of polarizationIdentity politics and the loss of shared humanityHow algorithms distort our perceptionsLegislative health and the importance of cross-party collaborationHow Bridge Grades identifies genuine “Bridgers”Why pluralism—not uniformity—is the American superpowerLearn more in the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    38 min
  7. Can Americans Still Have Civil Discussions About Immigration? - DTH Episode 289 with Jim Robb

    NOV 12

    Can Americans Still Have Civil Discussions About Immigration? - DTH Episode 289 with Jim Robb

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Episode 289 | Guest: Jim Robb, Vice President of Alliances at Numbers USA Immigration is one of America’s most polarizing debates—but what happens when lifelong political opponents choose conversation over combat?  Wilk Wilkinson sits down with Jim Robb of Numbers USA to discuss his organization’s collaboration with Braver Angels on the Citizens Commission on Immigration. Together they explore:  ✅ How employer exploitation drives illegal labor markets  ✅ Why “jobs Americans won’t do” is a myth  ✅ The bipartisan framework behind the Citizens Commission on Immigration  ✅ The power of persuasion in rebuilding trust and reform Listen as two bridge-builders tackle one of America’s toughest issues—showing that common ground is still within reach. 🔗 Learn more about and connect with Jim Robb by checking out the full show notes for this episode at DerateTheHate.com. The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    39 min
  8. Temporary Pleasure of Outrage–Long Term Cost of Division - DTH Episode 288 with Lura Forcum

    NOV 5

    Temporary Pleasure of Outrage–Long Term Cost of Division - DTH Episode 288 with Lura Forcum

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! Lura Forcum: The Pleasure of Outrage vs. The Cost of Division Outrage is addictive—but understanding it may be our way out.  Wilk Wilkinson welcomes Lura Forcum, president of The Independent Center and co-host of We Made This Political, for a fascinating conversation about political schadenfreude—the pleasure we feel when our opponents suffer. Drawing from her background in consumer and social psychology, Lura explains how this emotion drives today’s outrage economy, fuels partisanship, and weakens civic trust. Together they explore how independent voters are reshaping the political landscape and how genuine human connection can heal the divisions outrage creates. Topics Covered: The psychology of schadenfreude in politicsHow outrage is engineered for profitWhy independent voters hold the key to civic renewalRestoring connection and trust in public lifeMoving from political battles to real conversationsLearn more about and connect with Lura Forcum in the full show notes at DerateTheHate.com.  The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you’ve got. Make every day the day that you want it to be! Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact The Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America’s largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.org Welcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast! *The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

    39 min
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4.8
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

Bettering the world one attitude at a time. We did not create the hate, but together, we can 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚! In a world filled with divisiveness, and dominated by F.O.G. (Fear, Outrage & Grievance), it's time we find a better way to engage. That all starts with each of us as individuals. We cannot control all that we encounter within our day to day lives, or the environment in which we live, but we certainly have the ability and responsibility to control how we react to it. For me, it starts with gratitude and personal accountability. Take a listen and see if there is something here to help you in taking your part in turning down the hate. Welcome to the 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩...

Information

  • Creator
    Wilk Wilkinson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Derate The Hate
  • Show Website
    Derate The Hate

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