LISTEN ON YOUR FAVE PLATFORM: APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER

In a society where polarizing arguments have become increasingly more common, (along with heated political division and clashes on social media), it sure can feel overwhelming to try and have a respectful conversation about today’s issues.

And that’s not the only struggle.

Add to the mix that different news sources often report from vastly different perspectives and biases, it can feel like a huge struggle to even get the facts about an issue in the first place.

So, how can we overcome our own biases, work to hear both sides of the issue, investigate the real facts beneath political division, and have respectful conversations with the aim to understand rather than to win an argument?

Well, that’s exactly what I’m talking about on today’s episode of the SHE podcast, with our guest, Sharon McMahon.

America’s Government Teacher

Sharon McMahon, lovingly referred to as “America’s Government Teacher,” is a former high school government and law teacher who gained a lot of attention in 2020 for her efforts on social media to educate the general public about political misinformation.

Her goal is simple: share non-partisan information about democracy so that people can have informed, respectful conversations about issues that matter – even in the midst of media bias and political division.

Through this mission, Sharon has gained hundreds of thousands of followers online (called “Governerds”) who try to overcome bias and seek out the truth.

And let me just say, Sharon not only has some great tips on how to navigate polarizing political issues, but she also dishes out all the wisdom on how to be a respectful and caring human being!

Navigating Media Bias and Political Division

If you have ever felt intimidated by the growing prevalence of polarizing views, misinformation, and conversations aimed to win arguments rather than to understand each other, then make sure you tune in to this episode with Sharon McMahon. You’ll learn:

• • What biases are and how to spot them in ourselves and in the media
  • Ways to determine which sources are reputable
  • The role experts play (and don’t play) in the distribution of information
  • The importance of our role in holding the media accountable
  • How to have conversations with people you disagree with, in person and on social media

To learn more from Sharon McMahon, visit her website at www.sharonmcmahon.com.

And let us know in the comments: what stood out to you from today’s episode?