Let's stop the cycle of contempt and learn to disagree better! In this video, we discuss how to fix our broken conversations and bridge the divide in our nation.

Are we really more divided than ever—or just worse at disagreeing?

In this episode of An Ounce, we explore how contempt has crept into every corner of modern life—from relationships and work meetings to dinner tables and online comment sections—and why it's killing our ability to communicate. You'll hear insights from Stoic philosophers, historical figures like Lincoln and Mandela, and even modern research on what actually ends relationships (hint: it’s not yelling).

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⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:16 – Conversation That Broke Down
02:41 – The Real Enemy
03:49 – In the Living Room – Relationships
04:40 – The Family Table – Political Polarization at Home
05:31 – At Work
06:27 – Online: Public Contempt Preformed for Audience
07:33 – The Temptation of Contempt
08:33 – Why Civility Isn’t Enough
09:16 – The Better Way
10:43 – How Grace Stops Contempt
11:25 – Challenge
12:32 – An Ounce

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🎥 Watch More Great Videos:
👉 You’ve Been Lied To: The Truth Behind History’s Biggest Myths – What else have we been so sure about… and so wrong?
https://youtu.be/JpHTMQV-XPQ

➡️ The Nicholas Effect – A true story about choosing grace over contempt—and changing lives.
https://youtu.be/Affw-qmLQog

➡️ If It Feels Good – How something soothing (like contempt) can be more dangerous than it seems. https://youtu.be/Z39Qf8z0gB4
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📚 References & Resources:
1. Pew Research (2021):
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/11/09/americans-politics-and-politicians/
2. John Gottman on contempt and divorce:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-four-horsemen-the-antidotes/
3. Nelson Mandela’s inaugural address & reconciliation:
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/inaugural-address-president-nelson-mandela-1994
4. RBG and Scalia friendship (NPR):
https://www.npr.org/2016/02/14/466620117/the-odd-couple-antonin-scalia-and-ruth-bader-ginsburg
5. Socrates and questioning truth (Plato’s Apology summary):
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/
6. Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison (Blight, 2018):
https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/david-w-blight
7. Additional Reading: More Love, Less Contempt, Arthur C. Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute, April 25, 2019. Found at- https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/arthur-c-brooks/more-love-less-contempt/
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🛒 Check Out My Book:
Firehouse Philosophy – Real stories and lessons from an exceptional life
📘 On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Philosophy-Embers-Insight-Exceptional/dp/B0BJ58Q1FS
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📬 Contact / Collaboration Inquiries:
jim@anounce.org
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🎵 Credits:
Music: VENTATESANANDA by Jesse Gallagher from YouTube Library
Illustrative and Background Visuals: iStock, Getty, Wikimedia, and AI-generated
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📢 Subscribe for Short History, Big Ideas
An Ounce Podcast delivers daily Shorts and weekly episodes that are surprising, thoughtful, and just a little bit profound.
#historypodcast #shortformhistory #lifelessons #storytellingpodcast #humorandhistory #educationalentertainment #realstories

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Witness the incredible true story of Joseph F. Smith, a Mormon teenager who showed incredible courage when faced with a gang of armed men in the Wild West. This story of bravery and calm in the face of death will inspire you.
Joseph F. Smith, LDS history, and teenage bravery come together in this true story of quiet courage. At 19, while crossing Southern California during a time of anti-Mormon violence, Joseph faced a gang of armed men. While others ran, he didn’t flinch. “Yes, siree. Dyed in the wool. True blue, through and through.” That one line said it all. But this moment was just the tip of a life forged by hardship—an orphan at 13, a missionary at 15, tested in the Sandwich Islands, and transformed by grit and faith.

🧠 Quick Takeaway:
This An Ounce episode is about the kind of strength that doesn’t shout, but stands calmly.
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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro
01:17 – QUIET RESOLVE
02:32 – THE CRUCIBLE
04:17 – THE MOMENT OF COURAGE
06:50 – WHAT BECAME OF HIM
07:40 – An Ounce

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🎥 Watch More Stories from History:
👉 Think Fake News is New? Wild West Journalists Did it First – With Style!
https://youtu.be/pIrCZ5L8DJc
➡️ Teddy Roosevelt: Takes an Assassin’s Bullet – Then Finishes His Speech
https://youtu.be/oxiCHrs3V08
➡️ Why Didn’t They Smile in Old Photos?
https://youtu.be/l3xddLnkqME
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📚 References & Resources:
• Charles W. Nibley’s account of Joseph F. Smith's confrontation with armed men
Published in Improvement Era, January 1919, later referenced in multiple biographical retellings.
📍 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1972/08/joseph-f-smith-true-blue-through-and-through
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• Joseph F. Smith’s early letters and mission experience
Compilation of letters to his sister Martha Ann; insights into language struggles, personal conviction, and self-education.
📍 https://rsc.byu.edu/joseph-f-smith-reflections-man-his-times/personal-glimpses-joseph-f-smith-adolescent-prophet
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• Biographical overview from Doctrine and Covenants Central
Includes background on his orphaned youth, mission call, and leadership years.
📍 https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/people-of-the-dc/joseph-f-smith
________________________________________
🛒 Check Out My Book:
Firehouse Philosophy – Real stories and lessons from an exceptional life
📘 On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Philosophy-Embers-Insight-Exceptional/dp/B0BJ58Q1FS
________________________________________
📬 Contact / Collaboration Inquiries:
jim@anounce.org
________________________________________
🎵 Credits:
Music: Ukulele Beach by Doug Maxwell; Frog Kiss the peat and Come Along by Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz; In The Wild by National Sweetheart
Illustrative and Background Visuals: iStock, Getty, and AI-generated via Meta
________________________________________
📢 Subscribe for Short History, Big Ideas
An Ounce Podcast delivers daily Shorts and weekly episodes that are surprising, thoughtful, and just a little bit profound.
#historypodcast #shortformhistory #lifelessons #storytellingpodcast #humorandhistory #educationalentertainment #realstories

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Learn how to stop letting fear control your life with lessons from sheep. Discover how courage and character can lead to personal growth and transformation. This true story will inspire you to face your fears and create positive change in your life.

What can a 7-year-old chasing sheep teach us about managing fear? A humorous childhood memory opens the door to deeper truths about fear, courage, and growth. With stories from Apollo 13, Florence Nightingale, and quotes from Roosevelt, Churchill, and Plato. Explore how fear holds us back—and how to face it with purpose.

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00:00 Intro
00:12 The Boy and the Sheep
01:25 The Nature of Fear
02:59 Florence Nightingale
03:57 Everyday Fear
04:31 Fear Meets Focus – Apollo 13
05:32 Elenore Rosevelt and Winston Churchill
06:10 What Do We Do About Fear
07:26 An Ounce
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👉 WATCH NOW: Theodore Roosevelt gets shot and gives his speech anyway! - https://youtu.be/oxiCHrs3V08

VIDEOS TO WATCH NEXT:
➡️The Great Fire of London? - https://youtu.be/zB4575siib0
➡️True courage and pluck from a little tiny girl! - https://youtu.be/O8O6Hb6-veQ

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➡️ Purchase my book, Firehouse Philosophy, on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Philosophy-Embers-Insight-Exceptional/dp/B0BJ58Q1FS

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Inquiries: jim@anounce.org

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Online References:
1. Fear response in prey animals – https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/livestock-stress-and-capture-myopathy
2. Neuroscience of fear – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573739/
3. Florence Nightingale bio – https://www.britannica.com/biography/Florence-Nightingale
4. NASA Apollo 13 account – https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo13.html
5. APA article on fear psychology – https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/fear
6. Eleanor Roosevelt quote – https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/652-you-gain-strength-courage-and-confidence-by-every-experience-in
7. Churchill quote source – https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/quotes/quotes-falsely-attributed-to-churchill/
8. Bible verse (John 14:27) – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A27&version=KJV
9. Plato quote attribution notes – https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/10/03/dark-light/


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Attributions and Credits:

Music: All music sourced from Cyberlinks Power Director 365
Images and Video from iStock, Getty, and generated with AI as noted in video.

10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube