Asynchrony Podcast

Kevin Shively and Dean Bagley
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast featuring regular discussions between a bleeding-heart liberal and a three-time Trump voter. We explore where our perspectives diverge and where they come together. If you are expecting name calling and acrimony, this might not be for you. If, however, you want to better understand the divisions that are causing so much stress in our world today, then you might feel right at home. Subscribe today to join the conversation and help us be a part of the solution rather than a reason for the problem.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 19 - We Are one - Sharing the Keys

    In this episode, Kevin and Dean explore the deep psychological and philosophical roots of societal division, emphasizing how moral frameworks shape our perceptions and conflicts. They highlight the importance of recognizing that both sides of the political spectrum are necessary for a balanced society, and discuss how framing and social norms influence behavior and unrest.

    1h 7m

  2. Jun 4 ·  Bonus

    Building Bridges with Zachary Elwood

    In this episode, we explore the roots, mechanisms, and potential solutions for the toxic polarization plaguing society today. Zachary Elwood, a former professional poker player turned polarization researcher and author, shares deep insights into the nature of conflict, the importance of understanding narratives, and practical ways to foster civil discourse. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Toxic Polarization 02:59 Zach's Journey from Poker to Polarization 05:59 Understanding Conflict Dynamics 08:48 The Role of Curiosity in Political Discourse 12:04 Shared Fears and Political Narratives 15:02 Moral Frameworks and Their Impact 18:05 The Challenge of Bridging Divides 20:55 The Importance of Self-Critique in Politics 23:57 The Power of Narratives in Shaping Beliefs 33:51 The Complexity of Truth and Misinformation 36:41 Navigating Toxic Conflict and Open Dialogue 39:05 Understanding Motivations Behind Disagreements 43:47 The Demand for Less Polarization 48:12 The Illusion of Left vs. Right 55:14 The Aesthetic vs. Structural Layers of Organizations 01:00:15 The Illusion of Group Identity 01:03:15 Understanding Perspectives Through Dialogue 01:05:01 The Dynamics of In-Group and Out-Group 01:06:02 The Complexity of Human Behavior 01:12:45 Navigating the Landscape of Manipulation 01:17:39 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions Links to Zachary Elwood's Work Podcast: People Who Read People Podcast - https://behavior-podcast.com Books: Diffusing American Anger - https://american-anger.com How Contempt Destroys Democracy - https://american-anger.com

    1h 18m

  3. Jun 2

    Episode 18 - Which Reality Is Real? The Five Perceptual Asymmetries

    This episode explores the deep divisions in perception and ideology, focusing on moral frameworks, cultural shifts, and the asymmetries in political reality. Hosts Dean Bagley and Kevin Shively analyze how different lenses shape our understanding of society, power, and free speech. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Growth 01:02 Understanding Different Realities 03:01 Defining Our Milieu 05:56 Moral Frameworks and Pathologies 08:52 The Filters of Perception 12:03 Identifying Pathologies in Ideologies 14:56 Cultural and Political Contexts 17:52 Critical Race Theory and Its Impact 20:59 The Evolution of Educational Norms 23:52 The Rise of Cancel Culture 27:02 Inversion of Virtue and Vice 29:52 The Institutionalization of New Norms 33:09 Free Speech and Power Dynamics 36:05 The Speech Dilemma: Balancing Freedom and Harm 39:06 Pathologies of Political Discourse 42:22 Perceptual Asymmetries in Political Reality 50:11 Cultural Norms and Their Discontents 01:01:22 Evaluating Government: Procedural vs. Cultural Perspectives 01:10:04 Bridging the Divide: Finding Common Ground

    1h 11m

  4. May 26

    Episode 17: It's a Cult! The Problem of Totalizing Ideologies

    This episode explores the nature of in-group and out-group dynamics, totalizing ideologies, and how they contribute to societal polarization. Hosts Kevin Shively and Dean Bagley analyze psychological, social, and philosophical frameworks to understand and counteract divisive groupthink. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Cult Dynamics 01:08 The Misuse of the Term 'Cult' 02:54 In-Group vs. Out-Group Dynamics 06:05 Totalizing Ideologies and Their Impact 09:02 Fear of Totalitarianism Across the Spectrum 11:59 Conspiracism and Its Roots 15:13 The Nature of Group Dynamics 18:04 Agonistic Pluralism vs. Antagonism 20:59 The Role of Compromise in Politics 23:54 The Moral Implications of Ideologies 27:03 The Political Vector of Facts 29:35 Exploring Truth, Tribes, and Ideologies 30:42 The Role of Alexander Solzhenitsyn 31:41 Understanding Totalizing Ideologies 34:12 Rejecting Lies and Embracing Truth 37:50 In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics 40:00 The American Experiment and Unity 42:36 The Pathology of Group Identity 49:44 Existential Threats and Moral Binaries 51:32 Thought Reform and Totalitarianism 55:58 Cult Dynamics and Group Psychology 01:00:03 The Role of Language in Ideological Groups 01:03:18 The Path to Totalizing Ideologies 01:12:55 Diagnostic Thresholds for Group Dynamics 01:19:17 Finding Truth in Dialogue

    1h 21m

  5. May 19

    Episode 16: Addressing the Elephant - How to Talk About COVID

    In this episode, Dean and Kevin tackle the big elephant in the room. They explore how the COVID pandemic has exemplified societal divisions, motivation-driven reasoning, and the importance of epistemic humility. They emphasize constructing a shared analytical toolkit to disentangle truth from noise amid polarized narratives, especially around complex issues like the virus's origins, policy responses, and social implications. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:14 Constructing an Analytical Toolkit for Bias Reduction 03:05 The Limitations of Searching for Absolute Truth 04:25 The Role of Divisions and Polarization in Society 06:23 In-group Out-group Dynamics and Threat Assessment 08:15 COVID as a Case Study of Cultic Dynamics 12:20 Analyzing COVID Through a Manichaean Framework 16:32 Agreement on COVID Facts and Disagreements on Origins 20:09 Origin Theories and Political Dogmatism 23:35 The Lab Leak Hypothesis and Motivated Reasoning 27:43 Conspiracism and Blame Attribution 35:39 Applying Symmetric Scrutiny and Evidence Standards 43:32 Factual Claims vs. Value Judgments in Policy 47:45 Personal Reflection and Moral Frameworks 55:29 The Importance of Cost-Benefit Analysis in Policy 01:00:06 Estimating COVID Mortality and Infection Rates 01:05:30 The Need for Humility and Uncertainty in Analysis 01:10:16 Epistemic Successes in Navigating COVID Divides 01:11:43 Falsification and the Path to Truth Key Topics The necessity of an objective, bias-stripping analytical approach when addressing societal crises.How Manichaean dualities and ideological constructs shape our understanding and response to COVID and other issues.The role of motivated reasoning and identity signaling in fueling polarization, especially in contentious topics like vaccines and origins of the virus.The significance of calibrated uncertainty and maintaining genuine relationships across divisions.Practical steps for applying a scientific and philosophical toolkit to navigate misinformation, dogma, and moral framing. This episode underscores that understanding the societal and psychological roots of polarization is vital to pursuit of truth. The toolkit provided offers a structured way to challenge entrenched narratives, foster honest dialogue, and approach complex problems with humility and scientific rigor.

    1h 14m

  6. May 12

    Episode 15: It Gets Real - Taking the First Bite of the Elephant

    In this episode, Kevin Shively and Dean Bagley explore how to approach contentious topics like COVID, vaccines, and societal division with discipline and a structured methodology. Their focus is on fostering honest dialogue, evaluating sources critically, and building a shared pathway to truth that bridges ideological divides. This is setting up the really difficult discussions coming in future weeks on the podcast. Key insights The importance of analyzing not just what is said, but how arguments are structured and the logic behind themDifferentiating between factual claims, interpretive claims, and moral/value claims to improve clarityThe role of source credibility, primary sources, and the importance of good faith in discussionsTechniques like adversarial collaboration (steel-manning) and adopting calibrated uncertainty to foster humility and open-mindednessThe significance of identifying shared ground and avoiding the pitfalls of motivated reasoning and source discreditingThe impact of COVID as a catalyst for societal division rather than its root causePractical tools for evaluation, including frameworks inspired by scientific principles and the wisdom of primary source analysisTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 00:34 - The concept of asynchrony and its relevance to shared journeys 02:15 - The evolution of Kevin and Dean’s search for objective truth 03:53 - Analyzing partisan bias and group identity’s impact on perception 05:12 - The role of AI in examining transcripts and understanding perspectives 07:11 - Ensuring analysis is unbiased through multiple AI runs and fact-checking 09:58 - The significance of healthcare and COVID debates in societal division 10:40 - Exploring epistemology: how do we know what we know? 13:35 - Comparing educational backgrounds to data evaluation skills 15:09 - The value of primary source verification and self-directed learning 17:38 - Evaluating credibility: sources that correct themselves and use primary materials 20:14 - The importance of source integrity, transparency, and motive analysis 23:07 - The necessity of engaging with opposing views and avoiding echo chambers 26:14 - Addressing source discrediting and fostering humility in discussions 30:09 - The role of framing, source context, and the Overton window 34:24 - Building logical structure before source credibility 36:44 - Differentiating claims: factual, interpretive, and value-based 39:36 - The challenges of framing in media and the importance of transparency 44:01 - Accepting calibrated uncertainty over forced resolution 47:22 - The influence of motivated versus principled reasoning in debates 51:13 - Recognizing the importance of shared goals and consistent objectives 55:45 - The COVID pandemic as a catalyst for division, not its root cause 58:00 - The importance of agreeing on what happened to build mutual understanding 1:01:12 - Questioning motivations and good faith in public statements 1:06:09 - The necessity of examining these issues on the same axes for clarity 1:10:56 - The progress of understanding over repeated discussions and analyses 1:13:14 - The significance of setting ground rules and maintaining discipline in conversations 1:15:14 - Looking ahead: transparency tools, ongoing analysis, and collaborative truth-seeking This episode emphasizes that productive dialogue requires discipline, humility, and structured methodology. By reflecting on our biases, sourcing rigorously, and accepting uncertainty when needed, we can collaboratively navigate toward truth in an increasingly divided society.

    1h 16m

  7. May 5

    Episode 14: Moral Foundations - Seeking Shared Values

    This episode explores the deep roots of political division, moral judgments, and the importance of understanding different perspectives to bridge societal gaps. Dean and Kevin discuss Jonathan Haidt's Moral Foundations Theory, the impact of information bubbles, and strategies for constructive dialogue. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Asynchronous Conversations 01:51 Navigating Political Divides 05:49 Moral Judgments and Certainty 09:08 Understanding Moral Foundations Theory 14:56 The Duality of Moral Perspectives 20:35 Diversity of Thought in Political Ideologies 23:47 Building a Toolkit for Productive Discussions 28:31 The Friend-Enemy Distinction 32:18 Fundamental Motivation Error 38:41 Assessing Moral Values in Political Discourse 39:17 Character Development and Moral Judgment 42:29 Cognitive Dissonance in Political Views 49:12 The Importance of Character in Leadership 58:49 Evaluating Leadership and Moral Character 01:10:40 Building an Analytical Toolkit for Political Discourse Key  topics * Moral foundations theory and its six dualisms * The impact of information bubbles and media influence * The friend-enemy distinction and its societal implications * Strategies for understanding and bridging political divides * The role of moral judgments in leadership and societal values

    1h 13m

  8. Apr 28

    Episode 13: It's war! Silencing the Culture War Cannons

    The conversation delves into the engagement and feedback received by the podcast, the turning point in the podcast's content, the origin and etymology of culture war and identity politics, the impact of counterculture and division, the concept of duality and moral judgment, the dialectic and Kantian concept, the shift from policy focus to identity focus, the corrosion of democracy, and the role of the establishment in governance. The conversation delves into the nature of organizations, the corruption of truth, identity politics and dogma, and the unwinnable culture war. It emphasizes the need for conversation and understanding in the face of polarization and dogma. Takeaways Engagement and feedback are crucial for an ongoing conversationThe shift from policy focus to identity focus has led to a corrosion of democracy Efficiency and organizational function are key aspects of organizational behavior.The subordination of accuracy to solidarity and the framing of political machinery contribute to the corruption of truth.Identity politics and the paradox of group identity contribute to polarization and the unwinnable culture war.The need for conversation and understanding is essential in the face of polarization and dogma. Chapters 00:00 Engagement and Feedback06:06 Culture Comp and Cultural Struggle12:39 Identity Politics and Intersectionality17:38 Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis23:53 Dogmas and Political Enemies29:16 Corrosion of Democracy34:30 The Nature of Organizations46:51 The Corruption of Truth57:29 Identity Politics and Dogma01:09:14 The Unwinnable Culture War

    1h 11m
See All (23)

Trailers

About

A podcast featuring regular discussions between a bleeding-heart liberal and a three-time Trump voter. We explore where our perspectives diverge and where they come together. If you are expecting name calling and acrimony, this might not be for you. If, however, you want to better understand the divisions that are causing so much stress in our world today, then you might feel right at home. Subscribe today to join the conversation and help us be a part of the solution rather than a reason for the problem.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Shively and Dean Bagley
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kevin Shively and Dean Bagley
  • Show Website
    Asynchrony Podcast