4 episodes

A new series from eTown Media, hosted by Nick Forster, exploring the root causes of America's radical political division. Through conversations with experts, thought leaders, and fellow citizens during the final weeks of the 2018 mid-term election season, PurpleState exercises civility as form of resistance in its search for common ground. www.PurpleState.org. Social Media: @TeamPurpleState

eTown's PurpleState eTown

    • News
    • 4.9 • 7 Ratings

A new series from eTown Media, hosted by Nick Forster, exploring the root causes of America's radical political division. Through conversations with experts, thought leaders, and fellow citizens during the final weeks of the 2018 mid-term election season, PurpleState exercises civility as form of resistance in its search for common ground. www.PurpleState.org. Social Media: @TeamPurpleState

    Episode 3: Truth Pt. 2 (Trusting the Source)

    Episode 3: Truth Pt. 2 (Trusting the Source)

    In eTown’s PurpleState Episode 3, host Nick Forster continues to address the subject of truth. Professor and evolutionary biologist Christy McCain talks with Nick about how the current political divisiveness in this country is based, in part, on a distrust of science. They also discuss the challenges scientists face in getting their data-based findings across to the general public in a way that both sides will hear.
    Let us know what you thought of this episode on social media:
    FacebookTwitterInstagram
    www.PurpleState.org

    • 14 min
    Episode 2: Truth (Fact vs. Fiction)

    Episode 2: Truth (Fact vs. Fiction)

    The glaring contrast between fact-based truth and ideological ’myth’ presented as truth is one that is disturbing for many of us, particularly when it comes to the current American political scene. In eTown’s PurpleState Episode 2, host Nick Forster speaks with political scientist Jennifer Kavanagh (@jekavanagh), an associate director with the renowned Rand Corporation (@RANDCorporation).
    She’s the co-author of a recent Rand research project called Truth Decay, which focuses on the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American discourse and examines how perceptions and opinions in this country have become increasingly subjective. Alternative facts, anyone?
    Learn more about Jennifer's work and Rand Corporation at www.rand.org
    Let us know what you thought of this episode on social media:
    FacebookTwitterInstagram
    www.PurpleState.org

    • 16 min
    Episode 1: We The Purple

    Episode 1: We The Purple

    eTown’s PurpleState Episode 1, We the Purple, explores the structural, historic, and cultural forces that have contributed to political division in America, centering on the esoteric question, “Umm… how the f*** did we end up here?!” It’s an epic journey, covering important topics such as Congress, the Judiciary, Money, the Media, Humanity, and Eggplants. (Nick says they’re out, by the way.)
    The show was recorded live at eTown Hall in Boulder, Colorado on Wed. August 29, 2018, featuring a conversation moderated by eTown's host, Nick Forster, with: 
    Judge Jean Dubofsky, pioneering attorney and first woman justice elected to the Colorado Supreme Court
    Nick Troiano, civic entrepreneur and Executive Director of the independent political committee, UniteAmerica
    Carla Fredericks, Director of CU's American Indian Law Program and Indian Law Clinic
    Anand Edward Sokhey, CU Assoc. Prof of Political Science.
    Notes & More @ www.purplestate.org

    • 57 min
    eTown's PurpleState Trailer

    eTown's PurpleState Trailer

    eTown's PurpleState invites you to join us in rejecting the dysfunctional present state of affairs as inevitable. Through podcasts, digital engagement, and live events, eTown's PurpleState will reinvigorate the American tradition of civil discourse, on a path to finding common ground on some of the most important issues facing our nation and the world. eTown's PurpleState aims to create a more enlightened, empowered, and respectful American electorate that places the Welfare of the People back at the center of our collective agenda. @TeamPurple. www.PurpleState.org

    • 1 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
7 Ratings

7 Ratings

Neizan.Jones ,

A+

Thanks for making a podcast about coming together

THDoran ,

Come together

This is a much needed political conversation. Common ground can be found. Thanks eTown!

Zscully ,

Ambitious attempt to find common ground

This sounds like a very promising new podcast!

The first episode introduced issues including: ranked-choice voting, judicial nominations, politics in tribes, political and geographic sorting, and civility, among other issues.

I would like to see future episodes tackle topics more in depth, and include guests from farther afield than mostly Boulder.
Of course there is just the one introductory episode extant today.

It feels ambitious in this present time to attempt a podcast that finds understanding and agreement on how to make our political and societal structure more democratic and effective, “purple” in the language of this podcast. Yet actualizing positive change in society is even more ambitious, and very much needed! I’ll be listening in!

Top Podcasts In News

The Daily
The New York Times
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
Up First
NPR
Pod Save America
Crooked Media
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Daily Wire