Reimagining Us
Reimagining Us is not just another conversation series—it’s a vital tool for healing divisions, designing our lives and communities for belonging, and empowering a movement of “builders.” Hosted by two distinguished leaders from the fields of psychology and equity-building, the show takes a nuanced look at the forces that fuel division and highlights actionable paths toward reconnection. As the nation navigates a post-election landscape rife with challenges, Reimagining Us offers a timely and necessary space for discovery, dialogue, and change.Throughout America, our neighborhoods and local communities find themselves at an unprecedented moment. Pundits and political leaders roil us in toxic...
What Makes Civic Life Sacred?
What makes a group of strangers become the kind of people who visit one another in the hospital, check on an elderly neighbor, or come together when their community is in crisis?
In this episode of Reimagining Us, Dr. Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson explore what makes civic life feel not merely obligatory, but meaningful—even sacred. Drawing on stories from communities across the country and insights from Sam Pressler, john a. powell, Seth Kaplan, and Dan Gutekanst, they examine what happens when people repeatedly experience being seen, valued, and needed by one another.
The an...
Complexity and Control
Why do so many well-intentioned efforts to bridge our political and social divides struggle to create lasting change?
In this episode of Reimagining Us, Dr. Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson explore why even promising efforts to bridge political and social divides can struggle to produce lasting change. Moving beyond the assumption that bringing people together for conversation is enough, they examine the psychological and systemic forces that sustain polarization and what it takes to counter them.
Their central insight? **Lasting change requires both a shift in how we relate to one another and structures that...
It Starts With Belonging
What if belonging isn't something we find, but something we can intentionally create?
In the Season 2 premiere of Reimagining Us, hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson shift the conversation from what's pulling us apart to what we can build together. Drawing on insights from social psychology, community-based research, and conversations with leading thinkers, they explore the hidden architecture of belonging: the everyday interactions, shared spaces, and local institutions that shape whether we feel connected, valued, and able to make a difference.
From the science of belonging to the surprising power of libraries, front...
Introducing...Season 2 of Reimagining Us
In Season 2 of Reimagining Us, we go deeper...
If you care about connection, community and real change, this season is for you!
Reimagining Us is a podcast series that "lifts the hood" to uncover what's behind our feelings of division today, identify how we can rebuild connection and collaboration across differences in communities. The show is hosted by behavioral scientist Nichole Argo, the Founder and Executive Director of the TogetherUp Institute & Scott Hutcheson, Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum.
Nichole Argo, Ph.D.: A behavioral scientist and...
"Bright Spots: The Needham Resilience Network”
In this episode, Nichole and Scott explore how philanthropy is getting behind work to connect and collaborate across differences at the local level with Kristen Scott Kennedy of the Council on Foundations. They then highlight a scalable example of this work: The Needham Resilience Network (NRN) brings town officials, diverse residents, and key stakeholders together to build relationships, anchor in the concept of belonging, learn skills in communicating across differences, and co-create solutions to local problems.
This episode opens with Kristen Scott Kennedy discussing how philanthropy can play a critical role in place-based work to connect across...
Transforming Our Communities
In this episode, Nichole and Scott talk about how individual and group efforts to revitalize connection in communities are necessary---but may not be sufficient for sustained change. Once we have the mindset and skills of pluralism, we need spaces and institutions that enable us to practice them. We need local governments and community stakeholders to invest in policies that foster “civic infrastructure.” Special guests Sam Pressler and Layla Zaidane help us explore the role of policy and institutions in fostering this kind of connection.
In order to thrive, Sam Pressler argues that local governments and community leaders shoul...
"Be The Change - Part II - Tool Chest"
Imagine that four experts on bridging divides came together to advise you on how to handle your next challenging conversation…Voila! Meet the “Be The Change” tool chest! On this episode of Reimagining Us, hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson ask questions such as:
What strategies can I use to build my curiosity muscle? How do I prepare for a conversation across differences? Do I need to bridge with everyone? How do you engage with someone who isn’t interested in being curious? What do you do in a conversation where you think, “This person is crazy!” What do you do wh..."Be The Change - Part I - Key Insights”
In Part I, Nichole and Scott invite three top thought leaders to share foundational insights that can help listeners connect across differences.
Curiosity is a bridge to connection, an essential tool allowing us to explore the stories, values, and perspectives of others, says Scott Shigeoka, author of SEEK. It strengthens personal, work and civic relationships…“People who feel seen, stay.” Activating curiosity also generates dopamine, a feel-good neurochemical, and is tied to creativity, problem-solving and innovation, and better health. Like any muscle, our ability to be curious grows stronger with practice..and it’s contagious!
Dialogue is d...
"Belonging: A North Star for our Communities” with john a. powell
In this episode, Nichole and Scott are joined by john a. powell, who leads them in an exploration of belonging while contrasting it with the damaging effects of othering. By understanding and addressing the dynamics of belonging and othering, communities can create spaces where everyone thrives.
Belonging is a fundamental human need that reflects feeling seen, heard, and valued in a community. Othering is when we fail to see others' humanity or treat differences as threats to belonging. It is not differences alone that cause othering, but the socially constructed significance that is given to them. Belonging and otheri...
“Want to be Resilient? Build Local, Build Now” with Seth Kaplan and John Paul Lederach
In this episode, Nichole and Scott begin with a startling figure from Amanda Ripley’s book, Unthinkable: 90 percent of counties in the U. S. were declared federal disaster zones over a 10 year period from 2011 to 2021. These disasters, which largely represented extreme weather, are here to stay – how can our local communities become resilient? International research says the most important factor is strong, pre-existing relationships across differences. So what state are our communities in today, and how can we strengthen them?
Nichole and Scott first welcome Dr. Seth Kaplan, author of Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society One Zip Code at...
“Know It, Name It, Inoculate Against It” with Peter Coleman and Stephen Hawkins
In this episode of Reimagining Us, co-hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson delve deeper into the pervasive dynamics of toxic polarization, exploring how societal divisions manifest as "us versus them" thinking in our own lives and communities, and how awareness and intentionality enables us to counter it.
They are joined by Dr. Peter Coleman, author of The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization and a renowned expert in conflict resolution. Peter opens with a Cherokee parable that highlights the agency each of us has in choosing to feed positivity or negativity within ourselves and our society...
"Toxic Polarization and Its Antidote---Pluralism," with Daniel Stid
On this episode of Reimagining Us, co hosts Nichole Argo and Scott Hutcheson have a conversation with Daniel Stid focused on toxic polarization and the importance of pluralism in countering it. In contrast to ideological polarization, where people disagree with each other but can still work together, toxic polarization refers to when people dislike and even dehumanize their political opponents, seeing each other as a threat not just to ideas but to their values, identities, and social groups. However, perceptions of the opponents and their views are often inaccurate. Toxic polarization leads to a breakdown of relationships and the...
Why This Podcast, Now? Bridging Divides and Rebuilding Communities
On the debut episode of Reimagining Us, Nichole and Scott share their personal stories, explain how they came together to cohost the show and relay their vision and the purpose for the series answering the question: 'Why this podcast, now?'
Reimagining Us is not just another conversation series—it’s a vital tool for healing divisions, designing our lives and communities for belonging, and empowering a movement of “builders.” Hosted by two distinguished leaders from the fields of psychology and equity-building, the show takes a nuanced look at the forces that fuel division and highlights actionable paths to...
Introducing...Reimagining Us
Reimagining Us is a podcast series that "lifts the hood" to uncover what's behind our feelings of division today, identify how we can rebuild connection and collaboration across differences in communities. The show is hosted by behavioral scientist Nichole Argo, the Founder and Executive Director of the TogetherUp Institute & Scott Hutcheson, Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum.
HOSTS:
Nichole Argo is the Founder and Director of Research at TogetherUp Institute
Scott Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum
Produced by Next Chapter Podcasts
