The Optimistic American - Audio Edition The Optimistic American

In the third episode of "Jordan Peterson: You're Just Wrong on This One," we continue our exploration of the Ukrainian War and the West's involvement in it. This time, we focus on the emotional and moral implications of the conflict and how it relates to the broader context of Western society.
Jordan Peterson argues that the West's declining morality is partly to blame for its involvement in the Ukrainian War. He points out the hypocrisy of Western leaders who claim to promote individualism and free markets but engage in military interventions that go against those values. He also suggests that the West's moral decay is evidenced by the rise of identity politics, political correctness, and cancel culture.
In contrast, the host of the episode argues that the West's values are not declining but rather evolving to become more inclusive and just. They point out that the Ukrainian War is not just a matter of geopolitical power plays but also a humanitarian crisis that demands a moral response. They believe that supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is the right thing to do, even if it means opposing authoritarian regimes like Russia. 
We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism.
This episode reflects the best themes of The Optimistic American, that our best days lie ahead.
 
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
optamerican.com
Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You by Dr Emily Bashah and Hon Paul Johnson

In this episode 2 of a 4 part mini-series of The Optimistic American, we explore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the West's involvement in it. Jordan Peterson and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's podcast on Russia and Ukraine sparked a lot of discussion, with Peterson calling out not just the Ukrainian war but also the declining morality of the West. He suggests that G7 leaders should focus on determining exactly what the Russians would accept as a minimum precondition for peace, instead of simply labeling Putin as a modern-day Hitler or Stalin.
However, here at The Optimistic American, we take a different perspective. We believe in the importance of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and standing up against authoritarian regimes like Putin's Russia. While it's always important to question our government's actions, we see ourselves as part of the fight for the preservation of Western liberal democracy, free markets, and governments that prioritize the individual's wellbeing.
In this episode, we also explore the motives behind the military-industrial complex, and whether their profits may be driving certain political decisions. So tune in, and join us as we navigate these complex issues with an optimistic eye towards the future.
We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism.
This episode reflects the best themes of The Optimistic American, that our best days lie ahead.
 
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
optamerican.com
Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You by Dr Emily Bashah and Hon Paul Johnson

In this episode of a 4 part mini-series of The Optimistic American, we explore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the West's involvement in it. Jordan Peterson and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's podcast on Russia and Ukraine sparked a lot of discussion, with Peterson calling out not just the Ukrainian war but also the declining morality of the West. He suggests that G7 leaders should focus on determining exactly what the Russians would accept as a minimum precondition for peace, instead of simply labeling Putin as a modern-day Hitler or Stalin.
However, here at The Optimistic American, we take a different perspective. We believe in the importance of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and standing up against authoritarian regimes like Putin's Russia. While it's always important to question our government's actions, we see ourselves as part of the fight for the preservation of Western liberal democracy, free markets, and governments that prioritize the individual's wellbeing.
In this episode, we also explore the motives behind the military-industrial complex, and whether their profits may be driving certain political decisions. So tune in, and join us as we navigate these complex issues with an optimistic eye towards the future.
We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism.
 
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
optamerican.com
Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You by Dr Emily Bashah and Hon Paul Johnson

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss gun control, mass shootings in the United States, and how we can use the data to prevent mass shootings from happening in the future.
Paul and Emily start the conversation by describing how mass shootings, directly and indirectly, impact local communities. According to Emily, we need to understand how mass shooters think and operate - only then can we prevent more shootings from happening in the future. Emily breaks down what the data says about mass shooters. A study done in the 2021 book, The Violence Project: How to Stop A Mass Shooting Epidemic, compiled detailed data including the life history of 180 shooters. The data shows that nearly all mass shooters have a history of trauma and most mass shooters are suicidal and the hatred they have for themselves turns outward. Almost all mass shooters have one thing in common: they all want to die and don’t care who they take with them. To solve the problem of mass shootings we have to be willing to look for answers that can work politically, be constitutional, and be effective. Some of the solutions being bantered about are ineffective if the data is correct. The solution will need both gun restrictions and mental health efforts. Paul and Emily agree that dedicating funds to community mental health efforts can help identify and potentially reduce the number of mass shooters. Especially on school campuses where the data helps us identify those people who are most at risk. Paul talks about gun laws that would effectively reduce the number of mass shootings in the US and those that will have little effect. Paul points out that while he isn’t defending AR-15 sales,most of the shootings happen with hand guns, and if you banned AR-15’s, there isn’t evidence it would have stopped any of the mass shootings. It just would have happened with a different gun. Paul points out the type of gun laws that data shows works is the gun laws that keep guns out of the hands of people who commit the crimes, notably kids, people with a history of violence and those who are suicidal. This includes safe storage laws, red flag laws, and the ability to put restraining orders issued by a judge on people who have shown signs of being violent. Emily points out that at the scene of most mass shootings, there are usually many people with guns in the parking lot that didn’t stop the shootings. We have to work on creating barriers before the incident. Paul and Emily agree that reducing the number of mass shootings is only possible if both gun laws are adopted that target the potentially dangerous individual and a focus on mental health. Emily points out the type of clues and hints mass shooters exhibit before attacking innocent civilians. Those clues can help us identify at risk individuals and save lives. Who is to blame for the increase in number of mass shooters? Emily believes it’s everybody - from the government to the parents and everybody in contact with the mass shooters has to take responsibility to fix this massive problem.  
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
optamerican.com
Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You by Dr Emily Bashah and Hon Paul Johnson
The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic by Jillian Peterson

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to talk about the right way to engage in politics. They explain how being obsessed with civic duties can make you a target for radicalization and impact your ability to find meaning in life.
Paul and Emily start the conversation by describing how people can be involved in politics without harming their ability to think independently. The goal of people who run political parties is to use fear to radicalize you. Emily describes how winning an argument releases adrenaline and dopamine. This creates an addiction to both arguing and the need to always be right. Paul said the right and the left are both necessary, but the extreme right and the extreme left don’t like America - they both reject the idea of an individualistic society. Politics is the place we go to resolve our problems; it will always be controversial. Compromise is essential if the union is to survive, but unfortunately, many people have a negative view of compromise. Paul shares why gerrymandering allows politicians to win without ever having to face half the voters who are in the other party. He feels elected officials should face every voter every time they run for office. When we allow politicians, political Party’s or the nightly talk shows to terrify us, it drives us towards more extreme ideologies, giving these very groups more control over you. According to Emily, it’s 100% possible to be involved in politics without jeopardizing your ability to lead a normal life, but you have to maintain your sense of objectivity and agency. Politics becomes an addiction when the obsessive components of the ideology are no longer in your control. You lose control when issues begin to scare, frighten or terrorize you. The people who often become radicalized are not those who have a lot and want more or those who have nothing and want something. They are the people who once had something and lost a piece of it. Paul uncovers the connection between genocide, terrorism, and extremist groups: ideology. The most dangerous ideological groups are the ones that separate people into the oppressed and the oppressor. Paul points out that in his experience, small radicalized groups can dramatically impact society with radical and harmful ideas (unless rational people say no). Once you believe a person is fundamentally evil, you objectify them and then you can begin to justify your atrocious acts against them. Radicalized leaders have the ability to take good people and make them do bad things. Paul and Emily agree that the easiest way to avoid radicalization is to stop consuming hateful TV and social media content, to find other things in life other than politics. People need to focus more on meaning and less on happiness. If we focus on happiness, we’re never going to find it. If we focus on meaning, we have a chance of finding happiness. Paul shares how struggle can help you find meaning and happiness in life.   
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
optamerican.com
Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning and Agency When Politics Fail You by Dr Emily Bashah and Hon Paul Johnson
The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah sit down and discuss the three C’s of every healthy relationship: communication, compromise, and compliments, and why it takes courage to be vulnerable enough to find love.
There are three C's to every healthy relationship: communication, compromise, and compliments. If someone you are with can’t get any insight into who you are and how you feel, it’s going to be very difficult to grow together. Choosing how you communicate with your partner is going to be critical for a successful relationship. You need to understand the core values that brought you together in the first place. It’s important to remember that your relationship with someone can end at any time and shouldn’t be taken for granted. A mentor of Emily’s advice on marriage was to “never stop pursuing your spouse. Just because you have someone, that doesn’t mean you can keep them.” If you can’t coach the other person (and vice-versa), and help them understand where you’re coming from, the odds of you being able to communicate with them and compromise, or get the compliments you’re looking for become very remote. Abusive relationships can come as a result of trauma bonds, where there are positive feedback loops and patterns in the relationship alongside the abuse. This can result in codependence. Oftentimes, the abuser will foster the dependency on them which encourages the environment of captivity, which is when autonomy begins to disappear. Be financially capable of taking care of yourself. Research has shown that men and women are both hardwired and socialized differently. Women tend to be process-oriented, and men tend to be product-oriented, but that’s not a set-in-stone rule. These traits are necessary for a good parenting environment, even if they don’t come from the traditional male/female pair. We need both perspectives and diverse ideas if you want a company or a country to succeed. Love is one of the most important things you can find in life, and do find it you need to dare greatly. You need to be able to surrender and be vulnerable in a relationship, and that takes courage.  
Communication Strategies
Emily has clients that tend to be fault-finders when it comes to their relationships, but she turns that around by observing what that attitude says about themselves. You can’t expect someone to want to be with you if they always feel inferior because of your criticism. Emily tells the story of how something at work was making her life very difficult and her very frustrated. She asked for “pre-forgiveness” as a way to let other people know you’re stressed and not at your best. We’re all human and we are all going to make mistakes, asking for pre-forgiveness upfront will give people a heads up and make them much more likely to extend the grace you need. Good communication makes things clear and prevents your partner from creating stories in their head to fill in the gaps of their understanding. It’s important to externalize the problems and name them, so the other person doesn’t feel threatened by it. We all have problems and challenges in our lives, and those have emotional effects on us. You can make the situation worse if you don’t inform people what is going on in your life. By communicating those emotions, you give the other person the opportunity to feel like an ally rather than a contributor to the problem. We all have moments of crisis in relationships. They come about because you both have a version of the story going on in your heads, and without knowing each other’s story the odds of finding common ground are slim. Don’t fight via text. Get them on the phone or meet them in person. You will apply the version of the story in your head and miss all the nuances that in-person communication comes with. Really listen and try to feel through the other person’s perception. It’s hard to see our own habits, but you can g