Politics and the Point of Comedy

Navigating the Political Minefield | The Minefield

Lyonel Laverde and Rebecca are conservative and liberal, respectively, but they agree on the need for integrity, discernment, openness, and respect when it comes to navigating politics. In this episode of The Minefield, they discuss how they each stand by their values, what it means for voters and political leaders to have integrity, and the idea of the "mushy middle". They offer an example of how to talk about politics with friends across the aisle and how to maintain constructive attitudes in the midst of immense political unrest. The Minefield is an episode format that is focused on conversations with people across the aisle, politically or otherwise.

Men, Women, Abuse & Power

Many women are raised to believe that men are meant to have more power than them, and some women continue to hold onto this in various contexts, especially when it comes to voicing their opinions. For a lot of us, this has created patterns that have undermined our own power and self esteem, and sometimes caused us to end up in dangerous situations. In this episode, Rebecca and her close friend Nicole Netti talk about what they were taught, what they've experienced, the level of power they want, and how Nicole has managed to find her voice amidst the contradictions and obstacles. You can find Nicole on Tiktok at @petty_netti

An Engineer's Approach to Faith

Religions often ask for people to believe in what they cannot see, and many argue that science and faith are not compatible. But what if you are committed to both, and which wins out in the end if there's a conflict? In this episode, Rebecca interviews her father, an engineer, on how he came to his Christian faith, how he understands his faith through logic and science, and how he handles discrepancies and grey areas. We discuss the role of humility and the value of consulting other minds when things are not always obvious.

Politics and the Point of Comedy

Comedians have been telling political jokes for centuries, but in today's landscape, political comedy threatens to limit a comic's audience or livelihood. Where do you draw the line in order to keep getting booked and how do you maintain a reputation that people will pay for? Comedian Harrison Friedman and Rebecca talk about his political journey from Zionism to democratic socialism and his stance on comedy both politically and personally.

Liberal Hate & Christian Conservatism

In our first political episode, Rebecca, a liberal, meets with Tim and his sister Kristin to talk about the hate they get for being Christian conservatives. We get into perceptions, fear, power, and the importance of context to achieve understanding.