In this episode, host Corey Nathan reconnects with Lisa Willey Knierim—Mayor of Cranbury Township, NJ, President of 1880 Hospitality, and high school pal. Lisa shares powerful insights into the realities of small-town governance, the impact of state housing mandates, and the ripple effects of national political discourse. From boardrooms to township meetings, she brings candor, civility, and a healthy dose of humor to the conversation.

What We Discuss:

• How national political polarization affects small-town governments.

• What the Mount Laurel Doctrine means for affordable housing in NJ.

• The value of listening and transparency in political leadership.

• How Six Sigma strategies works in business—and public service.

• Real-world consequences of recent U.S. tariff policy from a global trade professional.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:03:00] The structure of Cranbury’s local government and Lisa’s role as mayor

• [00:07:00] Breaking down the affordable housing mandate and land challenges

• [00:14:00] How partisan behavior has filtered into local meetings

• [00:24:00] Six Sigma in practice: business problem-solving that works

• [00:27:00] Why abrupt tariff policy changes hurt American businesses

• [00:34:00] Lisa’s close election win and continued work with her predecessor

• [00:45:00] Remembering the best of our communities post-pandemic

• [00:53:00] Lisa’s campaign to bring back civility in politics

Featured Quotes:

“At the local level, I wish I didn’t even have to declare my party. It feels absolutely irrelevant.” – Lisa Willey Knierim

“You’ve got to create a vanilla ice cream environment—not too spicy. Be compassionate, be practical, be human.”

“National-level problems shouldn’t be light-switch decisions.”

“It’s not that I can’t solve the problem. But I can listen. That’s halfway there.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Six Sigma Black Belt Certification: asq.org/cert/six-sigma-black-belt
• Cranbury Township Info: www.cranburytownship.org/
• Lisa Willey Knierim Campaign Page: www.facebook.com/LisaKnierimTC22

If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

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Let’s keep talkin' politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡

In this episode, Corey Nathan sits down with Kate Carney, Deputy Director at More in Common. Kate shares her fascinating journey—from working in Congress to boating 6,000 miles around the U.S.—and how those experiences shape her work today. The conversation centers on More in Common’s new report, The Connection Opportunity, and explores how we can foster meaningful relationships across political, racial, religious, and socioeconomic divides.

What's Discussed:

• Why social connection is critical to healthy democracy.

• Surprising data on Americans’ openness to diverse perspectives.

• How psychological factors like intergroup anxiety impact connection.

• Kate’s transformative journey completing the Great American Loop.

• Real-world solutions for bridging divides in your own community.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:00 – Kate’s 6,000-mile boat journey and what it taught her about America.

• 10:00 – The Connection Opportunity: How More in Common is reframing social cohesion.

• 21:00 – Why politics remains the most difficult line of difference to cross.

• 25:00 – The power of community norms and intergroup anxiety.

• 32:00 – Revisiting the "Hidden Tribes" report and what’s changed since its release.

• 41:00 – The seven levers of change for increasing social connection.

• 48:00 – How cities like Kansas City, Houston and Pittsburgh are fostering community dialogue.

• 54:00 – Personal agency and why democracy starts with you.

Featured Quotes: “We are inherently diverse. To build strong communities, we have to be intentional about connecting across our differences.” — Kate Carney “The more people connect across difference, the more they want to—it’s a cascade.” — Kate Carney “There’s an overwhelming desire to have these conversations. It’s the fortress of assumptions that gets in our way.” — Corey Nathan

Resources Mentioned:

• More in Common: www.moreincommonus.com

• The Connection Opportunity Report: moreincommonus.com/publication/the-connection-opportunity

If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

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Let’s keep talkin' politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡

In this episode, host Corey Nathan reflects on where we stand as a country several months into the current administration. With candor and conviction, Corey explores the themes of democracy, decency, and due process. Drawing from scripture, the Constitution, and commentary by thought leaders like David Brooks and Mike Madrid, this episode delivers a compelling, timely snapshot of America’s civic health—and what’s at stake moving forward.

What's Discussed:

• Why the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments are more important than ever

• The consequences of immigration policies that bypass due process

• How the economy (including tariffs and inflation) is impacting voters

• What swayed key constituencies in the 2024 election

• What to watch for heading into 2026 and 2028

Episode Highlights:

• [00:02:00] Framing the episode: A “temperature check” on America

• [00:05:00] The First Amendment under threat

• [00:07:00] Due process and the constitutional rights of all persons

• [00:14:00] What really moved voters in 2024 (spoiler: price of eggs + immigration)

• [00:17:00] A powerful quote from David Brooks on civilizational foundations

• [00:22:00] Legal attacks and a defense of constitutional law

• [00:29:00] Polling data showing shifts in public opinion

• [00:34:00] Real-world impact on families, students, and small businesses

Featured Quotes:

• “Nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.”
• “Don’t talk to me about Donald Trump being a brilliant businessman—he’s a brilliant thief.”
• “For me, it’s about democracy and decency. Always has been.”

Resources Mentioned:

• David Brooks: "What’s Happening Is Not Normal" (NYT) – www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/opinion/trump-harvard-law-firms.html
• Adam Unikowsky on Substack – adamunikowsky.substack.com/p/the-case-for-suing
• Mike Madrid's Substack, The Great Transformation – substack.com/@madridmike

If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

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Let’s keep talkin' politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡

In this episode, host Corey Nathan talks with renowned journalist, scholar, and public intellectual E.J. Dionne Jr. E.J. is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, a professor at Georgetown University, and a prolific author. Together, they discuss democracy, faith, political polarization, and the enduring need for real argument and hope in public life.

What We Discuss:

• How E.J.’s upbringing shaped his approach to political debate and dialogue.

• Why engaging seriously with opposing ideas is crucial to democracy.

• The difference between optimism and hope — and why hope is essential.

• How faith and civil society contribute to repairing societal divisions.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:03:00] E.J. shares how his father encouraged open political debate.

• [00:06:00] Reflections on DEI, the “woke” debates, and critiques of excesses.

• [00:10:00] The Trump administration’s unintended role in uniting pro-democracy groups.

• [00:15:00] Anger and economic grievances in Fall River, Massachusetts.

• [00:24:00] Why hope, not just optimism, is vital for public life.

• [00:36:00] E.J.’s personal faith journey and the importance of humble belief.

• [00:48:00] Reflections on Pope Francis’ legacy and the Catholic Church.

• [01:05:00] What worries E.J. about democracy today — and what gives him hope.

Featured Quotes: "In real argument, you enter imaginatively into the ideas your opponent holds." — E.J. Dionne "Hope is the virtue on which faith and love depend." — E.J. Dionne "You can really disagree with people you love, and you can love people you disagree with." — E.J. Dionne "We find sanctity even in mundane conversations." — Corey Nathan

Resources Mentioned:

📘 Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right - Princeton University Press

📰 E.J. Dionne's column at The Washington Post – www.washingtonpost.com/people/ej-dionne-jr

If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

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Let’s keep talkin' politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡

🎙️Award-winning journalist and Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins joins us to explore the delicate intersections of politics, faith, and journalism. From shadowing Donald Trump to chronicling the political journey of Mitt Romney, McKay shares what it takes to pursue truth in turbulent times.

What We Discuss:

• What it’s like getting rare access to Trump, Romney, and the Murdochs

• How to navigate political rationalizations without losing your soul

• McKay’s writing rituals and creative process

• The powerful role of curiosity in building bridges across divides

• Why faith and civic life matter more than ever

Episode Highlights:

00:02:00 – McKay’s infamous 2014 Trump profile and its surprising legacy 00:10:00 – How luck and sincere curiosity lead to exclusive access 00:16:00 – Late nights, caps lock, and McKay’s writing habits 00:29:00 – The chilling effect of political intimidation on journalism 00:41:00 – Why many GOP leaders stay silent—and what Romney heard behind the scenes 00:50:00 – Do you lose your soul in politics? A deep dive 00:57:00 – The spiritual vacuum in modern America and how faith might fill it 01:02:00 – Why curiosity is the cure for today’s civic divide

Featured Quotes:

"He seemed like he desperately wanted affirmation all the time... and it was like empty calories." "To be somebody who has faith is to constantly have it tested and to have it evolve." "We need leaders thinking more about their obituaries than the next news cycle." "Curiosity is an underrated virtue in politics."

Resources Mentioned:

📘 Romney: A Reckoning – Simon and Schuster 📘 The Wilderness – Hachette Book Group 📰 McKay’s articles at The Atlantic – Visit

If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

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Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡

In this episode, host Corey Nathan shares a candid reflection about a recent encounter where he was right on the facts and the law—but completely wrong in how he presented them. Yet if we're honest with ourselves about when we make mistakes, it's a good opportunity to learn, reminding us that how we communicate is just as important as what we communicate.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why being right on the law isn’t enough in a conversation

• How righteous anger can derail productive dialogue

• Why due process matters for everyone—especially those who aren't guilty of crimes

• Tools for engaging in hard conversations with empathy and curiosity

• How the Constitution and Judeo-Christian values intersect in public discourse

Episode Highlights:

• [00:02:00] Corey introduces the story and the key lesson he learned

• [00:05:00] Breakdown of the Alien Enemies Act and a real legal case

• [00:06:45] A stranger challenges Corey at a restaurant

• [00:07:30] Corey "goes Jersey" and loses his cool

• [00:13:00] What due process really protects and why it matters

• [00:16:00] How Isaac Saul, David Brooks, and Mónica Guzmán inspired a better way to respond

• [00:18:00] Reading the First and Fifth Amendments to ground the conversation

Featured Quotes:

• "I was completely right on the facts, but I was completely wrong on the delivery." — Corey Nathan
• "Due process is there for the innocent just as much as the guilty—even more so for the innocent." — Corey Nathan
• "Ask at least three questions before making your point." — inspired by Isaac Saul

If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

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Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡