Derate The Hate

Wilk Wilkinson

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. Teaching History Without Taking Sides - DTH Episode 309 with Monica Harris

    10 HR AGO

    Teaching History Without Taking Sides - DTH Episode 309 with Monica Harris

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Monica Harris returns to Derate the Hate — this time in person — to talk about FAIR's newly renamed curriculum, Many Stories, One Nation. It's a high school social studies elective that takes a different approach to teaching American history: broad, honest, chronological, and built around civil discourse. Monica breaks down what separates this curriculum from liberated ethnic studies — and why the oppressor/oppressed framework, even when well-intentioned, ends up hurting the very students it's trying to help. The damage, she argues, runs in both directions. They also dig into the "competing goods" framework, the reticular activating system and confirmation bias, what it means to teach kids how to think instead of what to think — and what Monica sees as realistic success in a state like Minnesota. If you care about what's happening in classrooms and why it matters beyond the classroom, this is the conversation for you. 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.

    43 min
  2. Beyond the Golden Rule: Communication, Courage & Bridging the Divide - DTH Episode 308 with Jennifer Furlong

    25 MAR

    Beyond the Golden Rule: Communication, Courage & Bridging the Divide - DTH Episode 308 with Jennifer Furlong

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) You've heard the Golden Rule your whole life. Jennifer Furlong says it's a great start — but it's not enough. In this episode, Wilk welcomes back communications strategist and coach Jennifer Furlong (Communication TwentyFourSeven) for a conversation that's equal parts practical and eye-opening. They dig into the Platinum Rule — the idea that truly effective communication means treating people the way they want to be treated, not the way you do. That shift sounds simple. It isn't. Jen and Wilk explore the four core communication styles, why acknowledgment and agreement are two very different things, and what it actually takes — courage, intention, and a willingness to put your ego in the back seat — to have a real conversation with someone who sees the world completely differently than you do. If you've ever walked away from a hard conversation feeling like nothing got through, this one's for you. Topics Covered: •        The Platinum Rule vs. the Golden Rule •        The four communication styles and your default setting •        Why listening IS the skill (not just a nice-to-have) •        Acknowledgment ≠ agreement •        Communicating across ideological differences •        Creating shared meaning — even when you can't find common ground •        The Three Gates: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Learn more about and connect with Jennifer Furlong by getting 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
  3. He Wanted to Disappear: Now He's Seen Around the World - DTH Episode 307 with Brandon Farbstein

    18 MAR

    He Wanted to Disappear: Now He's Seen Around the World - DTH Episode 307 with Brandon Farbstein

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) What do you do when the world stares at you everywhere you go? Brandon Farbstein was born with metatropic dysplasia — one of only 84 documented cases in human history. Growing up at 3’9" in a world that pointed, stared, and laughed, he reached a breaking point at 11 years old where he just wanted to disappear. Then something shifted. Therapy. A chance encounter in an airport. A TEDx stage at 15. And a realization that his pain wasn’t his prison — it was his purpose. Today, Brandon Farbstein is a Gen Z powerhouse speaker, author of Ten Feet Tall and A Kids Book About Self-Love, a champion of two Virginia anti-bullying laws, and a newly appointed member of the ProHuman Foundation Board of Advisors. In this episode, Wilk and Brandon talk about: • What it’s really like to grow up with a condition most doctors have never seen • The moment at 11 that became a turning point — and how therapy changed everything • The airport encounter that launched his speaking career at 14 • Why self-love isn’t a buzzword — it’s a survival skill • Why your circle of influence doesn’t have to be the size of LA to matter • The ProHuman Foundation’s mission and how YOU can be part of it Your story matters. Your platform doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be real. Learn more about and connect with Brandon Farbstein 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.

    35 min
  4. You Can't Hate the Hate Out of Someone: Here's What Works - DTH Episode 306 with Allizandra Herberhold

    11 MAR

    You Can't Hate the Hate Out of Someone: Here's What Works - DTH Episode 306 with Allizandra Herberhold

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) What does it take to walk away from an ideology you were raised inside of — and then spend your career pulling others out of the same darkness? Allizandra Herberhold grew up in a racially segregated community where white supremacist ideology was woven into the fabric of everyday life. She didn't choose it. It was handed to her by trusted adults who knew no other way. It wasn't until college — when her first roommate turned out to be a Black woman who showed her nothing but patience and kindness — that the fear she'd been carrying started to crack. Today, Allizandra is a full-time Exit Interventionist with Parents for Peace, working directly with radicalized individuals across the ideological spectrum: neo-Nazis, ISIS supporters, incels, would-be school shooters, and more. Her approach treats radicalization like an addiction — and replaces shame with connection. In this conversation with host Wilk Wilkinson, we get into the real mechanics of how hate takes root, why confronting ideology head-on almost never works, and how curiosity and compassion — paired with lived experience — become the most powerful tools in the room. In This Episode: •        How Allizandra was exposed to white supremacist ideology growing up — and what began to change it •        What an Exit Interventionist actually does, and how long the process really takes •        Why Allizandra views radicalization through the lens of addiction •        The role of self-disclosure and lived experience in building trust with radicalized individuals •        Why you can't hate the hate out of someone — and what works instead •        The silencing of dissenting voices in higher education and what it costs us •        A final message: be curious, not condemning Learn more about and connect with Allizandra Herberhold 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.

    38 min
  5. Can a Divided Nation Agree on What Our Kids Need? — DTH Episode 305 with Lauren Farrow

    4 MAR

    Can a Divided Nation Agree on What Our Kids Need? — DTH Episode 305 with Lauren Farrow

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Can a divided nation actually agree on what children need? That's the question at the heart of this conversation. Wilk sits down with Lauren Farrow — former public school teacher, founder of SchoolingAmerica.org, and education reform advocate — for an honest, nonpartisan look at what's really happening inside the American education system. Lauren shares what she witnessed as a classroom teacher in the post-pandemic years: behavior struggles, academic decline, burnt-out teachers spending their own money on supplies, and a bureaucratic structure that strips educators of the very autonomy they need to actually help kids. She breaks down why the system isn't broken — it's functioning exactly as designed — and why that distinction matters for anyone who wants to fix it. Together, Wilk and Lauren explore school choice and voucher programs, the reality of Title I school funding, the role of teachers unions, and most importantly: what parents and community members can actually do about it. The answer? Courageous citizenship. Show up. Get involved. Act instead of react. Whether you have kids in school or not — you have skin in the game. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders. Learn more about and connect with Lauren Farrow in the complete 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.

    38 min
  6. The Muslim James Bond: Reclaiming Agency in the Face of Extremism – DTH Episode 304 with Mubin Shaikh

    25 FEB

    The Muslim James Bond: Reclaiming Agency in the Face of Extremism – DTH Episode 304 with Mubin Shaikh

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) In Episode 304 of Derate The Hate, Wilk sits down with Mubin Shaikh — a former extremist who deradicalized after 9/11 and went on to work undercover against terrorism. Born and raised in Toronto, Mubin experienced an identity crisis that led him toward violent Islamist extremism as a young man. But marriage, fatherhood, and the events of 9/11 forced him to confront hard questions about ideology, violence, and truth. After studying Arabic and Islamic theology in Syria, he returned to Canada and became an undercover operative for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. His work helped dismantle terror networks, including the infamous Toronto 18 case. Today, Mubin works with Parents for Peace, helping families intervene before radicalization turns violent. This episode explores:  • The psychology of radicalization  • Identity crisis and youth vulnerability  • Moral dilemmas of undercover work  • The online pipeline to extremism  • Parenting in the digital age  • Courageous citizenship and reclaiming agency Radicalization isn’t “over there.” It can happen anywhere the ingredients are present. Learn more about and connect with Mubin Shaikh 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.

    46 min
  7. Glory Be in Civility - DTH Episode 303 with April Ossmann

    18 FEB

    Glory Be in Civility - DTH Episode 303 with April Ossmann

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) In Episode 303 of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with poet and author April Ossmann to explore how poetry can become a powerful tool for bridging America’s political divide. April is the author of We: Poems (Red Hen Press, 2025), a collection devoted to healing polarization through empathy, metaphor, and shared humanity. A recent member of Braver Angels, she brings a unique voice to the civic renewal movement — one grounded not in rhetoric, but in soul. In this episode, they discuss: How poetry fosters understanding where arguments failThe difference between compromise and “synergizing”Why civility is strength — not weaknessFamily estrangement and political divisionListening with intentionSeeing past ego to soulApril’s “Peace Hymn for the Republic”If you care about democracy, dialogue, and restoring decency in public life, this conversation will challenge and inspire you. Learn more about April Ossmann 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
  8. Homegrown: The Human Cost of Us vs Them Tribalism - DTH Episode 302 with Michael Premo

    11 FEB

    Homegrown: The Human Cost of Us vs Them Tribalism - DTH Episode 302 with Michael Premo

    Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) In this episode of Derate The Hate, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with award-winning filmmaker Michael Premo to discuss Homegrown, his powerful documentary exploring the motivations behind individuals drawn into the Proud Boys movement in the years leading up to January 6. Rather than reducing people to stereotypes, Homegrown examines how community, belonging, grievance, and identity often drive political radicalization. Wilk and Michael unpack the role of outrage entrepreneurs, the public planning behind January 6, and why America’s deepest problem isn’t left vs. right—but toxic polarization itself. This conversation challenges listeners to look beyond headlines and ask harder questions about how we got here—and where we go next. 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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    322
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Derate The Hate
  • Show Website
    Derate The Hate

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