150 episodes

Our stories have the power to bring us closer together, if only we will listen. Emmy Award-winning journalist and entrepreneur, Linda Lorelle, guides guests through insightful, intimate conversations that reveal our common humanity. This show is not about politics; it is about finding a way to reclaim civility in the context of the contentious times in which we live, by sharing our personal and professional stories, in hopes that others might find a glimpse of themselves.

Our Voices Matter Podcast Linda Lorelle

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 19 Ratings

Our stories have the power to bring us closer together, if only we will listen. Emmy Award-winning journalist and entrepreneur, Linda Lorelle, guides guests through insightful, intimate conversations that reveal our common humanity. This show is not about politics; it is about finding a way to reclaim civility in the context of the contentious times in which we live, by sharing our personal and professional stories, in hopes that others might find a glimpse of themselves.

    How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future - Denise Hamilton

    How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future - Denise Hamilton

    As American school children, we learned it by heart, and recited it every day.
    "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..."
    But how often did we then, and do we now, think about the meaning behind the words? "...one nation. Under God. Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
    Indivisible
    What does it mean to be indivisible? It's a question Denise Hamilton explores with intelligence, empathy and disarming approachability in her groundbreaking debut as an author.
    "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" grabs you by the throat on page one of the Prologue, and doesn't let you go.
    Through deft storytelling, research and personal reflection, Hamilton challenges us to re-think what it means to build diversity and inclusion in a polarized world where the words and the concepts are increasingly demonized.
    It's Not About a Checklist
    Hamilton is a nationally recognized workplace culture and DEI expert, and CEO of WatchHerWork, a digital learning platform for professional women.
    She has helped hundreds of companies recognize that meeting their DEI goals, if they still have them, is not about a checklist.
    It's about helping organizations figure out what their guiding principles are -- and whether they choose to act on them.
    It's about maximizing the gifts of everyone involved so that they and the organization can thrive.
    Beyond the Workplace
    What's so powerful about Hamilton's approach is that it applies far beyond the workplace into every aspect of our relationships, both professional and personal.
    The book is chock full of examples that allow you to see yourself in a given scenario, and then challenges you to re-examine your beliefs.
    It reveals the power within each of us to enact positive change, and gives us the tools to do so.
    Denise is a return guest who first shared her thoughtful perspective with the OVM community shortly after we launched.
    We couldn't be more proud to have Denise back to share her powerful new book.
    It's exactly what we need to help unify our fractured world.
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    • 46 min
    How to Keep College Campuses from Becoming Political Battlegrounds - Manu Meel

    How to Keep College Campuses from Becoming Political Battlegrounds - Manu Meel

    What is driving the recent conflict on college campuses? One obvious factor is reaction to the Israel-Hamas War.

    But my guest this week isn’t sure it’s quite that simple. 

    As CEO of the non-profit, BridgeUSA, 25 year-old Manu Meel is in constant contact with students on more than 70 campuses across the country.

    The organization helps facilitate conversations among college and high school students with idealogical differences.

    In the days and weeks following the October 7th massacre of Israelis by Hamas, Bridge USA heard plenty from its student members.

    “There was a lot of pain, there was a lot of confusion as to what to do on campus,” says Manu. “And then as the news cycle started going and as what I call the elite Twitter crowd went to play, and as people started to essentially lose sight of what had happened and focus on what’s the broader implication, what’s my tribe going to say and how do I make the most of this moment — I think then you saw that trickle down into campuses. “

    Tribal Politics on Campus 
    Political protest on campus is nothing new. 

    But America’s tribal politics have reached a fever pitch, finding a fertile home where the freedom to explore and express, typically a welcome right of passage, is now emblazoned with an asterisk.

    *Speak your mind at the risk of being demonized by “the other”.

    *Explore divergent points of view at the risk of angering your tribe.

    *Express your opinion at the risk of being cancelled, or worse..

    Glimmer of Hope
    It’s no surprise that the tension on college campuses is a microcosm of the tension in America.

    But there is a glimmer of hope, Manu assures us, and it’s on these very college campuses.

    It’s just that we don’t often hear about it in the media.

    You’ll hear about it now as Manu helps unpack the nuances of this complex topic.

    This remarkable young leader kicks off the 6th year of Our Voices Matter, sharing thoughtful insight on the generation tasked with leading us into the future.

    One that will hopefully remind us how to have civil, constructive conversations with those who look and think differently than we do.

    A future where we celebrate and embrace our common humanity rather than blind allegiance to our tribes.

    www.ourvoicesmatterpodcast.com
    www.lorellemedia.com


    This podcast is devoted to empowering us all to better understand each other's differences...one story at a time.  Emmy Award-winning journalist, Linda Lorelle, guides guests through insightful, unexpected conversations that reveal our common humanity.  This show is not about politics per se; it is about finding a way to reclaim civility in the context of the contentious times in which we live, by sharing our personal and professional stories, in hopes that others might find a glimpse of themselves.
    Support the show

    • 47 min
    How Jewish and Arab Israelis Seek Pieces of Peace During War

    How Jewish and Arab Israelis Seek Pieces of Peace During War

    The eyes of the world are trained on Israel and Gaza like no time in recent memory.
    The horror of October 7th ignited a firestorm that will reverberate for generations to come.
    Yet, in the midst of unfathomable pain borne by families on both sides of the Israel Hamas War, there is an ongoing search for pieces of peace.
    Jewish and Arab Israelis working together toward a shared society.
    Even now.
    Especially now.
    Shared Society
    When I learned about the work of Givat Haviva, I knew this was a conduit to having a constructive conversation — not so much about the war itself — but the humans who are impacted and simply want peace.
    Even when it comes in pieces.
    For the last 74 years, Givat Haviva has brought together Jews and Arabs who live in Israel to work toward a shared society.
    One that recognizes the dignity and rights of all its citizens, including the 20% of Israelis who are Arab.
    Michal Sella and Mohammad Darawshe work side by side to make the mission of Givat Haviva a reality.
    She as CEO of the non-profit, and he as Director of Strategy, together they lead a team of Jewish and Arab Israelis to create the model society they want to live in.
    With a focus on education, language instruction, culture, and art, their programs bring Arabs and Jews face to face, often for the first time in their lives.
    Their efforts became exponentially more difficult on October 7th.
    Doing the Work
    In Givat Haviva’s October 2023 newsletter, Sella writes:
    “Together with the insufferable anxiety and loss, it is important for me to call your attention to the emergence of other human traits –compassion, demonstrations of responsibility, and coping.
    Givat Haviva now faces two major tasks. The first is to help, to the extent possible, civilians and families from the south who were compelled to leave their homes after the most ruthless experiences one can imagine.
    The second is to do everything in our power to maintain the calm internally in Israel – to protect the rights of all citizens of Israel, and to protect proper relations between Jews and Arabs within the State of Israel.”
    And that is what they are doing, as they cope with their own feelings of anxiety, anger and uncertainty about the future of their families.
    It isn’t easy. But Sella and Darawshe remain committed to doing the work.
    The Road to Peace
    Disillusioned with Israeli leadership, neither has faith in a top down approach to achieving their goal of a shared society.
    They are convinced that the road to peace starts from the bottom up — with human to human interaction.
    So their efforts focus on breaking down barriers and fostering relationships.
    Talking. Listening. Learning.
    Engagi
    Support the show

    • 1 hr 5 min
    How To Belong, Not Just Fit In - Dumpling Dudez

    How To Belong, Not Just Fit In - Dumpling Dudez

    It’s been inspiring to see our friends in the LGBTQ+ community celebrate and be celebrated during Pride Month.

    Though, I must say I long for the day when we don’t need a specific month to acknowledge the humanity of those who are marginalized.

    No matter who we love, what our race, how we pray or how we identify, we matter. We are human. We belong.

    But until that day, I am grateful for each month that shines a spotlight on stories too often overlooked.

    Stories that teach us and show us the full, beautiful complexity of what makes us human.

    An Unlikely Story Unfolds
    As Pride Month 2023 wraps up, I was reminded of a delightful and enlightening conversation I had with two men determined to figure out how to belong, not just fit in.

    Chih Lin’s posts on LinkedIn caught my attention a couple of years ago. So, I reached out and before I knew it, I was interviewing him and his husband, Michael Dorsey.

    My first question: What on earth possessed two engineers to ditch their corporate jobs in oil and gas, take a leap of faith and launch a business making dumplings? 

    And from there, the unlikely story unfolds, taking us along on their quest to simply be who they are.

    To stop twisting themselves into knots, just to fit in.

    What would it feel like to truly belong?

    Because they took that leap of faith, now they know.
    www.ourvoicesmatterpodcast.com
    www.lorellemedia.com


    This podcast is devoted to empowering us all to better understand each other's differences...one story at a time.  Emmy Award-winning journalist, Linda Lorelle, guides guests through insightful, unexpected conversations that reveal our common humanity.  This show is not about politics per se; it is about finding a way to reclaim civility in the context of the contentious times in which we live, by sharing our personal and professional stories, in hopes that others might find a glimpse of themselves.
    Support the show

    • 31 min
    How Humor Leads to Hope for Humanity - Nick Anderson

    How Humor Leads to Hope for Humanity - Nick Anderson

    I can hear my dad saying it now: “I have to laugh to keep from crying.” As a little girl, I didn’t quite get it.

    But now I do. And it’s safe to say, these days, that’s how most of us feel.

    Up is down. Fake is real. Fact is fiction. The world has gone mad.

    And we’re all choosing sides — scared to death of what this chaos means for our future.

    So. How to cope with it all?…

    My guest this week chooses laughter over tears. And he’s talented enough to bring us along for the ride.

    Storied History
    This week, our nation made history with the arrest and arraignment of the 45th President of the United States.

    Certainly, no laughing matter.

    But then a political cartoon from Nick Anderson hit my inbox.

    I was reminded of the long and storied history of this creative art form, under attack in recent years.

    And why I asked Nick to sit down with me shortly after he and a group of fellow Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists launched Counterpoint a couple of years ago.

    8 from the Right. 8 from the Left. Churning out an online newsletter with competing cartoons about the biggest stories of the day. Including the one from this week.

    The Power of Political Cartoons
    As Counterpoint continues to thrive, Nick’s contributions to the political landscape now extend to his role as Managing Editor of Reform Austin News.

    And while he and his team of investigative journalists help Texans understand state politics and politicians, his sketch pad remains by his side.

    As stated in Counterpoint, “Political cartoons have shaped our country from its earliest days.

    They create the kind of political environment our country needs right now: a balanced, uncensored debate with enough humor to make these critical topics approachable for the dinner table, and to invite healthy discussions among friends.

    A nation divided by opinion cannot stand, but a nation composed of diverse opinions and lively debate will land on the best possible consensus. Cartoons can help us get there.”

    We need all the help we can get.
    Support the show

    • 56 min
    How Gen Z Leaders are Strengthening our Democracy - Manu Meel

    How Gen Z Leaders are Strengthening our Democracy - Manu Meel

    “We cannot coexist if we cannot talk to each other — it’s that simple.”

    And that complicated. Yet the leaders of BridgeUSA are determined to meet the challenge.

    This 7 year-old non-profit is “building a student movement to bring the country together”, led by a dynamic CEO and return guest to Our Voices Matter, Manu Meel.

    Lessons Learned
    When we first spoke with Manu over a year ago, he was about to embark upon a nationwide campaign across college campuses, aptly called “Let’s F*#king Talk to Each Other“.

    I was eager to find out how it went, what lessons were learned, and how the organization is making progress in its mission to fight political division.

    Manu more than delivers in this follow-up conversation, offering perspective and insight that belie his youth.

    And perhaps most important, he offers hope. I don’t know about you, but I sure need some of that.

    The Hopeful Majority
    There’s even a bit of breaking news: Manu and BridgeUSA are joining the world of podcasting.

    “The Hopeful Majority” podcast launches May 29th.

    As a member of the OVM community, I’m sure you join me in welcoming Manu to this space.

    We certainly need more amplification of our majority voices in the middle, the 80% who are far too often drowned out by the extreme voices that drive our political narrative.

    Yes, our voices matter, too.



    www.ourvoicesmatterpodcast.com
    www.lorellemedia.com


    This podcast is devoted to empowering us all to better understand each other's differences...one story at a time.  Emmy Award-winning journalist, Linda Lorelle, guides guests through insightful, unexpected conversations that reveal our common humanity.  This show is not about politics per se; it is about finding a way to reclaim civility in the context of the contentious times in which we live, by sharing our personal and professional stories, in hopes that others might find a glimpse of themselves.
    Support the show

    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
19 Ratings

19 Ratings

kfa6kfa6 ,

Important conversations, beautifully done

I grew up watching Linda Lorelle anchor the evening news in Houston. On her podcast, she continues to shine, sharing her talents to tackle important conversations. Highly recommend!

DoodleWerk ,

About Time!

Without discourse democracy fails!

Shadialight ,

Incredible

Wonderful! This is exactly what the world needs. Thank you.

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