Tag: Conversation

Wilk replays conversation with Angel Eduardo on DTH Episode 129

Getting Along Isn’t Possible If We Aren’t Having The Conversation

October 5, 2022 wilkwilkinson Uncategorized 0 Comments

Getting Along Isn’t Possible If We Aren’t Having The Conversation

I bring this up because we are just weeks away from yet another contentious election. Accusations are flying, hyperbole is everywhere. Many people are not even having the conversation, they are just going to their corners and staring with disgust at the other side. Hate for the opposition is thick in the air and little of what is said about those on the opposing side is probably true. What would the world, and more specifically our country, be like if people of opposing views had civil discussions again?

It’s been incredibly busy for me in recent weeks, which hasn’t afforded me a lot of time for guest interviews and editing. I am incredibly fortunate to have some great archived episodes with some outstanding guests that I can pull from. One such guest is my friend Angel Eduardo. Getting along, made possible through conversation, is something that Angel does very well. Through his insightful writing, his work with multiple organizations and, as a podcast host on the FAIR perspective podcasts, Angel continues to do incredible work to better the world in which we live.

Wilk Wilkinson and Dr. Francis Collins discuss the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in episode 119 of the Derate The Hate podcast

The Truth and Trust Project… Episode 119 with Dr. Francis Collins Part 1 of 2

July 27, 2022 wilkwilkinson Uncategorized 2 Comments

Do you trust that our public health officials are telling you the truth? I for one find myself very skeptical these days. As many who’ve listened to the DTH podcast for long know, I’ve been highly critical of the government’s response to the pandemic from the very beginning. How does someone like me have a conversation with someone who had direct influence on the government’s response to the pandemic? Not so long ago, I would say that the conversation would never happen, because my attitude would not have allowed it.

The Truth and Trust Project may be one of the most important endeavors of my life. Several times over the past several months, I asked the question, “if you could ask Dr. Francis Collins or Dr. Tony Fauci a question, what would that question be?”. For that question, I received nothing but negative responses. The most common response was some variation of, “I wouldn’t waste my time, they wouldn’t listen anyway”… I asked the question because I am currently involved in a Braver Angels initiative called the “Truth and Trust Project” with Dr. Francis Collins and myself as partners.

Wilk discussing "Braver Politics" with Rick and Barbara of Braver Angels in DTH episode 113

Episode 113: Be Engaged, Not Enraged… Discussing Braver Politics with Braver Angels Rick & Barbara

June 15, 2022 wilkwilkinson Uncategorized 1 Comment

I started this podcast a couple years ago with the slogan, “Bettering the World, One Attitude at a Time”… That is more than just a mission statement for me, that has become one of my central purposes in life. Why you might ask? In many ways, it’s because I see our world, but more specifically our country, has in certain ways become broken.

What can we do if our country ‘s political system is broken?
In addition to doing the Derate the Hate podcast, I have become quite involved with the organization Braver Angels. Braver Angels has become one of the country’s leading organizations working to depolarizeย  and mend our social fabric. As I began to hear more about the latest initiative that Braver Angels was working on, Braver Politics,ย I wanted to know more. I thought who better to reach out to than my friends Rick and Barbara!

How can I engage without being enraged?
Would you like to become more involved in the political discussion, without becoming part of and enraged shouting match that accomplishes nothing? Take a listen to my conversation with my friends Rick Hotchner and Barbara Thomas, (who you may remember from Episode 48) where we are discussing Braver Politics… Let me know what you think!

Wilk talks transgender athletes in episode 101 of the Derate the Hate podcast

Episode 101: If My Child Identified As A Train

March 23, 2022 wilkwilkinson Uncategorized 0 Comments

We as a society cannot be expected to bend reality in order to accommodate those who lack the ability to accept reality. We also must acknowledge that truth, no matter whether it offends me, you, or anyone else, is still the truth and by inhibiting one’s ability to speak the truth, it does not make it any less true. This simply creates an environment filled with more division and hate among those who disagree.

While it is often considered taboo to discuss, and often a “cancelable” offense, I think it’s important that we continue as a society to discuss controversial topics such as transgender athletes competing in events against opponents that are not of their biological sex. Some (big tech & big media) would have you believe that if you are on the opposing side of this topic, for whatever reason, you are committing “hate speech”, and you should be silenced. Like most things, I believe if we choose to silence those with whom we disagree, we drive a larger wedge of hate between us. Maybe that is by design, but it’s a design I refuse to accept.