Stories of Impact

We’re back this episode for our second timely interview focusing on political polarization, wrapping up in conversation with Dr. Kurt Gray, professor of moral psychology and neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill, and the director of the Deepest Beliefs Lab in the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. Moral psychology is the descriptive understanding of our moral judgments, or concern with not just how people should make moral decisions, but how they actually do. Why does this matter?  In Dr. Gray’s words: "To understand our contentious and divided political moments where people are unwilling to discuss politics across the aisle or entertain even that the other side is a reasonable human being in the way that you feel about yourself and your own side. We do disagree already when it comes to politics. But where does this political disagreement come from? …Once you get that, then you can understand where this political animosity comes from. But it's really a question of moral disagreement. And for that you need to understand our moral psychology.” Read the transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LNlegljeTIR_OcH204N_G8ra9zTdPKYL/view?usp=drive_link] of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/StoriesOfImpact/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/storiesofimpactseries/], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/storiesofimpact.bsky.social], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8p4rpol8q2iCBTQ8qz6YRcheYL9FTBuP] Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org [info@storiesofimpact.org]    Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/]

When we spoke recently with Dr. Sean Westwood, associate professor of government at Dartmouth College and the director of the Polarization Research Lab, we knew we wanted to share the conversation with you as quickly as possible, because it speaks so directly to the current moment. Dr. studies American politics and how partisan conflict manifests in the United States, its consequences and its origins.  Read the https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkFWfZpzx9NevfmuQXUp9FgF9JyNRvr9/view?usp=drive_linktranscript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ibcb9mBf67HhhvtCGcD5SWhWbJPbcJwU/view?usp=drive_link] of this episode   Learn more about the research [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects-resources/project-database/30379]Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/StoriesOfImpact/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/storiesofimpactseries/], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/storiesofimpact.bsky.social], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8p4rpol8q2iCBTQ8qz6YRcheYL9FTBuP] Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org [info@storiesofimpact.org]    Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/]

Today we wrap up an enlightening series of conversations on religious ritual as a pathway to human flourishing with Dr. Anna Corwin. When Dr. Corwin became connected to the Diverse Intelligences initiative and researchers who collaboratively examine the variety of intelligence on the planet or beyond, whether plant, animal, human, alien, or artificial, she was inspired to see new possibilities for her own unique research interest, and to embark on a scientific exploration into spiritual intelligence. Read the transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkFWfZpzx9NevfmuQXUp9FgF9JyNRvr9/view?usp=drive_link] of this episode   Learn more about  the research [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects-resources/project-database/0548]Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/StoriesOfImpact/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/storiesofimpactseries/], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/storiesofimpact.bsky.social], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8p4rpol8q2iCBTQ8qz6YRcheYL9FTBuP] Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org [info@storiesofimpact.org]    Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/]

Today we’re back in conversation with Dr. Adam Cohen, social psychologist and psychologist of religion at Arizona State University, who shares another research project that explores the way religious ritual connects participants more deeply not only with faith, but with community — this time, not through the practice of abstaining from food, but from breaking bread together.  Dr. Arielle Levites, Managing Director of the Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education and a Research Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University had the same idea — that observing Shabbat wasn’t just a nice idea, it was a practice with measurable impact. So the team designed a study, enlisting the participation of Aliza Kline, founding President and then-CEO of OneTable, an organization designed to help young Jews develop independence and confidence in observing the ritual of Shabbat dinner in their homes. The question they wanted to answer? Does Shabbat dinner as a spiritual practice increase social connectedness? Read the transcript of this episode   Learn more about the research [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/projects-resources/project-database/30280]Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/StoriesOfImpact/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/storiesofimpactseries/] and  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8p4rpol8q2iCBTQ8qz6YRcheYL9FTBuP] Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org [info@storiesofimpact.org]    Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/]

In today's episode, we continue the discussion about fasting, as we hear from two scholars about research focusing on what is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism: Yom Kippur. During the 25-hour Day of Atonement, observant Jews focus on deepening their relationship with God through prayer, community connection, and by fasting. Over the last three years, two Arizona State University researchers, professor of psychology Dr. Adam Cohen and associate research professor Dr. Kathryn A. Johnson, have been on a scientific mission to understand the universal impact of the fasting ritual, asking whether abstaining from food and drink during this Jewish High Holiday deepens virtue, social cohesion, and personal well-being. Read the transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/12gciaY1fYy3RvS0wqDJabbYB-2ruGWyh/view] of this episode   Learn more about the research [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org]Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/StoriesOfImpact/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/storiesofimpactseries/] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8p4rpol8q2iCBTQ8qz6YRcheYL9FTBuP]Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org [info@storiesofimpact.org] Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation [https://www.templetonworldcharity.org]