We've Got To Talk

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING ⚠️

This episode contains discussion of suicide and grief related to suicide loss. We share personal stories about losing loved ones to suicide, which may be difficult or triggering for some listeners.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7 in the U.S.)

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

You are not alone, and there is always help availabl...

We can’t believe it’s been a year! In this special episode, Nicole (liberal) and Jolene (conservative) reflect on what it’s really like to launch a podcast across the political divide—sharing honest behind-the-scenes moments, favourite interviews, and the biggest surprises of our journey so far.

From tackling tough topics like gun policy and abortion to finding unexpected common ground, we’ve learned that real conversation rooted in curiosity and respect, matters more than ever. Highlights include our powerful interview with Monica Guzman and the joy (and chaos) of producing nearly 50 episodes.

Looking ahead to 2...

The holiday season is here, and we're talking about what Christmas and Hanukkah mean to us, how we navigate the pressure and expectations, and why the spirit of the season matters more than perfect decorations or expensive gifts.

Jolene celebrates a traditional Christmas with stockings, a beautifully decorated tree, and all the festive cheer. I (Nicole) grew up celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah, experiencing the magic of Christmas morning and the ritual of lighting the menorah for eight nights. We both agree on the beauty of holiday decorations - whether it's stars or angels, menorahs or nativity...

After spending months dissecting politics, gun control, and the collapse of American democracy, we desperately needed a break. So today we're talking about the stuff that occupies more of our mental space than we’d care to admit: our pet peeves from everyday life and the tiny moments of joy that remind us life isn’t all bad. Because honestly, sometimes the person who won't get out of the left lane feels more urgent than foreign policy.

The mix of irritation and joy is what makes life entertaining. If everything was perfect, we'd have nothing to laugh abou...

What if the advice to avoid talking about politics is actually making everything worse? In our first-ever guest interview, we sit down with Monica Guzman - author of "I Never Thought of It That Way," and advisor at Braver Angels to talk about how to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times.

Monica doesn't sugarcoat it: America is fraying. Social media has made it easy to be incurious while feeling righteous, and "conflict entrepreneurs" are profiting off our division. But she believes the only way forward is to keep talking to each other, especially across disagreement.<...

There's a massive group of Americans we don’t talk enough about; people who work full-time, pay their taxes, and still can't afford basic necessities. They earn too much to qualify for government assistance but too little to actually survive. They're called ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. And they represent 38 million households  (29% of America). Combined with those below the federal poverty line, that's 55 million households, or 42% of the entire country, struggling to make ends meet. 

I (Jolene) learned about ALICE through a friend who works for United Way, and honestly, it changed how I think about pove...

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about gratitude, family, and great food - but with tensions running high in America, the holidays might feel more charged than usual. In this episode, we share how to actually enjoy Thanksgiving without avoiding meaningful conversation or ending up in a screaming match.

Growing up, our Thanksgivings looked different but felt the same: togetherness, gratitude, and way too much food. Now as adults with our own traditions and chosen families, we've learned something crucial: curiosity beats judgment every single time.

When someone says something you disagree with at the dinner...

We're about to talk about religion, which means a good portion of you just got a little uncomfortable. But here's something wild that might make this conversation easier: science shows that prayer and meditation do essentially the same thing to your brain. Whether you're a Christian praying in a church or an atheist meditating in your living room, your brain is having a remarkably similar experience. Today we're taking a look at why these practices work, how they're more alike than different, and why maybe we should all stop arguing about whose version is "right."

Whether you...

Menopause is a natural life transition that half the population will experience, yet somehow it remains medicine's best-kept secret. 

I (Nicole) spent months getting shuffled between specialists, each one treating individual symptoms without connecting the obvious dots. Itchy skin? See a dermatologist. Mood changes? Try therapy. Bone loss? Take calcium supplements.

Each doctor had a different diagnosis. None of them mentioned menopause.

Then came the osteoporosis diagnosis, and suddenly everything clicked. But it shouldn't have taken a bone density scan to get answers about something as predictable as menopause. 

Today we're ta...

California Governor Gavin Newsom is everywhere right now - doing podcasts, engaging with conservative voices, and very obviously positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run. He's got the hair, the charisma, and the baggage that comes with governing California. Today we're talking about whether Newsom could actually win a national election, and whether the kid I (Nicole) knew from afar in high school, wearing blazers and slicked-back hair, could actually become president.

I (Nicole) went to high school with Gavin Newsom. Even back then, he had this air of sophistication that set him apart. While the rest of...

President Trump is building a new ballroom at the White House, and predictably, everyone has lost their minds. Some people see it as a practical addition for official events. Others see it as an extravagant monument to Trump's ego being permanently installed in the people's house. Today, we're talking about why a ballroom has become yet another flashpoint in American politics, and whether maybe we're all just exhausted and looking for things to be angry about.

I (Jolene) get why people are upset about this, but honestly, the ballroom doesn't bother me. Here's why: it's being funded...

President Trump did something remarkable in the Middle East. I (Nicole) can barely believe I'm typing this, but credit where it's due - he got hostages home and negotiated a ceasefire in a conflict that's been bleeding for decades. Whether you love Trump or hate him, what happened this week deserves acknowledgment. And that's exactly what we're talking about today.

We're not declaring Trump a hero or pretending this solves the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We're also not ignoring what he accomplished because we disagree with his politics. We're doing what we should all do more often: recognizing when...

We recorded this episode seven days into the government shutdown, and honestly, we were both furious. Not the performative outrage you see on cable news, though. Actual, bone-deep frustration at watching our government play chicken with people's livelihoods while collecting their own paychecks without interruption. TSA workers are showing up to keep us safe without knowing when they'll get paid. FAA controllers are managing air traffic on empty stomachs and maxed-out credit cards. And Congress? They're posting memes.

The government shutdown isn't just about budget negotiations or policy disagreements. It's a symptom of a political system that's...

When was the last time you had a real conversation about what government is actually supposed to do? Not a screaming match about specific policies, but a genuine discussion about the fundamental role of government in America? I (Nicole) and Jolene have been friends for almost 40 years despite living on opposite sides of the political spectrum, and recently we realized we'd never actually tackled this most basic question: What should our government be doing, and how much should it be involved in our daily lives?

The answer, it turns out, is a lot more complicated than either...

Jimmy Kimmel got pulled off ABC after making comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination, and honestly, it's left us both feeling unsettled about where America is heading. Whether you thought his jokes were inappropriate or not, the speed at which he disappeared from television should concern everyone. 

Today we're talking about what this means for free speech, why comedy matters in a democracy, and whether we're crossing lines we can't uncross.

The Kimmel situation isn't really about one comedian or one set of jokes. It's about whether we still believe in the principles that made America d...

Gun control debates usually end with people screaming past each other about the Second Amendment and dead children. But what happens when you actually sit down and try to understand why people feel so strongly on both sides? Today we're tackling America's most polarizing issue, and honestly, neither of us walked away feeling like we had all the answers. Maybe that's the point.

The conversation about guns in America isn't going to end anytime soon. But maybe it could get more productive if we stopped assuming the worst about people who disagree with us and started looking...

When Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah, the immediate response from both political parties revealed something deeply broken about American discourse. Instead of mourning a human life, social media exploded with celebrations, blame, and calls for revenge.

We’re processing this tragedy as friends from opposite sides of the political spectrum, sharing their heartbreak over how quickly Americans turned a murder into political ammunition. This episode examines the cruel responses that followed, the systemic issues creating isolated and radicalized young people, and why political violence should terrify everyone regardless of party affiliation.

A deeply personal co...

Everyone's noticed it, but nobody wants to say it out loud: Americans have gotten meaner. Or at least, that’s what David Brooks believes. Today we're discussing an article that David wrote for The Atlantic, “How America Got Mean”. His explanation for our national cruelty crisis left Nicole feeling defeated, and Jolene a little more optimistic.

Regardless of whether the article was perhaps a little over dramatic, both Nicole and Jolene agreed there is something very wrong with the way Americans are treating each other. And it seems to have gotten worse over the last 20 years. 

So ho...

When Trump and Putin meet in Alaska, followed by Zelensky and European leaders rushing to D.C. to meet Trump 3 days later, you know something big is happening. But what exactly? The headlines give us locations and handshakes, but the real story is what we're not being told. Today we're diving into the kitchen-table conversations everyone's having but nobody wants to say out loud: What's really going on with this war, and who's actually calling the shots?

I (Jolene) watched this Alaska meeting unfold with fascination. Here's Trump getting two of the world's most complicated leaders to...

What does it mean to be a woman in 2025? 

We talked to women across generations - from 20-somethings navigating career ambitions to 80-year-olds who've watched the Republican party evolve around them. The answers surprised us. Despite decades of progress, some battles feel eerily familiar. We were given the task of interviewing some of the women in our social circles, to get their take on what it means to be a woman, and how they feel things have changed over time.

I (Nicole) interviewed friends who've climbed corporate ladders while dealing with dress codes that still t...

Making friends as an adult is hard. While teenagers effortlessly form bonds over shared cafeteria tables, adults need to be more intentional about creating and maintaining connections. Recently, I (Nicole) and my husband Josh traveled to visit Jolene and her husband Jeff in the Ozarks for our very first in-person podcast recording. This was a rare treat that got us thinking about how friendship actually works and why it's worth the extra effort it takes as adults.

Recording by the lake in the Ozarks with Jolene, our husbands Jeff and Josh joining us for parts of the...

Climate change discussions usually end in shouting matches about melting glaciers and coal jobs. But what happens when a liberal and a conservative actually sit down to talk through the science, the solutions, and the politics without trying to win? Today we're tackling the topic that's supposedly dividing America, and discovering we might have more common ground than cable news wants you to believe.

Climate change doesn't care about your political party. Neither do rising energy costs, extreme weather events or global economic competition in clean technology sectors.

Maybe we need to stop treating climate...

What happens when a liberal starts watching Fox News and a conservative dives into The New York Times? We decided to find out. For 10 days, we deliberately consumed each other's preferred media sources to see if we'd been living in completely different realities. 

I (Nicole) typically get my news from The New York Times, The Daily podcast, and Ezra Klein. Jolene gravitates toward Fox News, America's Newsroom, and The Free Press. For 10 days, we switched sides to see what we'd been missing - or avoiding.

In a time when we're told that Americans have never b...

Some conversations are too important to avoid just because they're uncomfortable. Toda, Jolene brought questions to the table that she's been wrestling with and wanted my (Nicole's) take on as a liberal Democrat: 

Can you love America without being racist? 

Should we forgive student loans or is that unfair to people who already paid? 

And what's really in those Epstein files? 

These are the discussions happening in your head that you're afraid to say out loud - so we're saying them for you.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

A politician launches a meme coin and makes millions overnight while regular investors lose their shirts. Sound familiar? It should, because it's the same story that's been playing out for decades - just with different players and shinier packaging. Today we're taking a look at Trump's latest money grab and asking the question nobody in Washington wants to answer: Why do the rules seem different for the people making them?

The solution might not be to elect different politicians - it could be changing the rules so that public service means actual service, not personal enrichment. Blind...

When did ordering coffee become a political statement? When did choosing a grocery store require checking their donation records? Everything in America has become a battlefield - immigration, crime, even due process. Today we tackle the exhausting reality of living in a country where literally everything gets filtered through red and blue lenses, and ask the question nobody wants to answer: How do we fix this mess?

The truth is, most Americans want the same things: safe communities, economic opportunity, fair treatment under the law. We disagree on methods, not goals. But our political system profits from...

When a progressive candidate wins NYC's Democratic primary, Republicans immediately cry "socialism" while Democrats are optimistic about change. Nicole and Jolene examine whether expanding city services is actually radical or just what every other developed country already does.

This episode explores the weaponization of political labels, why Democratic voters are choosing progressives over moderates, and whether America is ready for policies that prioritize people over profits. From free childcare to the fear of Venezuela comparisons, we tackle the real questions behind the headlines.

Two friends proving that political opposites can have productive conversations about the...

According to a study performed by the Commonwealth Fund, Americans are sicker than ever while spending more on healthcare than any other country. 

Let that fact sink in for a moment. For a developed nation, we expect so much better for our country and we desperately want to see change.

So why are Americans spending so much on healthcare, and still getting sicker? it seems that the answer isn't in your medicine cabinet - it's in your pantry. We’re taking a look into the dirty alliance between Big Food, Big Pharma, and the politicians who...

Two massive events dominated the weekend: the Army's 250th anniversary parade and the No Kings March. One celebrated military might with millions in taxpayer dollars, the other protested government overreach with signs and chants. Both claimed to represent "real America." So which one actually does? We’re digging into the messy reality of modern patriotism and ask the uncomfortable question: Can you love your country while hating your government?

Maybe the real issue isn't whether parades or protests are more patriotic. Maybe it's that we've forgotten how to disagree without demonizing. The Army parade and No Kings Ma...

Two friends. One TikTok account. Complete chaos.

What started as an innocent attempt to share our conversations quickly turned into a masterclass in online brutality. From weird yelling videos in the DMs to comment sections that looked like digital war zones, we learned the hard way that TikTok doesn't play nice with nuanced political discussions.

This episode shares some of the behind the scenes issues we’ve been dealing with on social media since launching our show. We're talking about the algorithm that rewards outrage, the trolls who live for destruction, and the mental health co...

Abortion. The word alone can end friendships, split families, and turn dinner parties into war zones. So what happens when a conservative Catholic woman and a liberal feminist sit down to discuss reproductive rights? Today's episode tackles the most divisive issue in America through the lens of a nearly four-decade friendship that's survived everything - including this.

Here's what makes this conversation different from the “debates” on cable news: both women actually listen to each other. Jolene doesn't dismiss Nicole's concerns about women dying from back-alley abortions. Nicole doesn't mock Jolene's belief in the sanctity of life. They...

Ever catch yourself making snap judgments about someone based on their political views? That MAGA hat automatically equals racist? That Biden sticker means socialist? We're all guilty of it, and it's destroying our ability to have real conversations. Today's episode exposes the shocking truth about how wrong we are about each other - and why our assumptions are keeping us trapped in our own echo chambers.

Our addiction to being right is costing us relationships, communities, and any chance of solving actual problems. While we're busy arguing with strawmen versions of each other, real issues go unaddressed...

Everyone has those stories. The ones that shaped us, scarred us, or made us laugh until we cried (and maybe peed a little bit). Today's episode strips away the serious topics to reveal the raw, ridiculous, and sometimes embarrassing moments that made Nicole and Jolene who they are. From childhood dreams of stardom to saving lives - these are the stories you’ve never heard.

Today's reminder? Behind every heated debate, every strong opinion, every firm stance, there's a person shaped by their own collection of firsts, fears, and family recipes. Maybe that's the secret to having ha...

The White House has a new crisis on its hands, and it's not just medical. President Biden's aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis dropped like a bomb this week, leaving Americans with more questions than answers. Was this really breaking news to his medical team, or just to us? Today's episode digs into the suspicious timing, the convenient narrative shifts, and the uncomfortable question we’re all asking: How long have they been hiding this from the American people?

As this story continues to unfold, we're left navigating a political landscape where truth seems optional and timing is everything. Th...

Some topics feel impossible to discuss in 2025. They're too loaded, too painful, too complex. Today's episode tackles one of the most challenging: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through Nicole's personal journey as someone with Jewish heritage, we explore what happens when identity, politics, and humanity collide. No easy answers, just real conversation about issues that matter.

For Nicole, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict isn't just headlines - it's personal. Growing up with a Jewish father and a Christian mother meant straddling two worlds, never quite belonging in either. Jewish enough to feel the sting of antisemitism, but not Jewish enough by...

Every woman knows that number. The one on the scale that determines if it's going to be a "good" day or a "bad" day. Today's episode strips away the Instagram filters and exposes the raw truth about weight obsession, body image, and the latest "miracle" drug everyone's talking about - Ozempic. From step aerobics in the 80s to modern-day weight loss shots, Nicole and Jolene confront the exhausting reality of living in a society obsessed with being thin.

America's relationship with weight isn't just about health - it's about worth. It's about equating thinness with success, with...

Ever wondered how a conservative Christian woman justifies voting for Donald Trump? Or how someone reconciles their faith with a leader whose behavior often raises eyebrows? Today, we're ripping off the band-aid and answering some of the questions that have been flooding our DMs. No sugar-coating, no dancing around the issues—just real talk about politics, faith, and those messy places where they collide.

Here's the thing—whether you're nodding along or shaking your head, this conversation matters. We're peeling back the layers of assumptions that keep us divided and replacing them with something more valuable: understanding.

One wrong social media post. One controversial opinion. That's all it takes to see your business suffer in 2025. Today we’re taking a look at the brutal reality of cancel culture - what actually happens when your views don't match the majority. From death threats sliding into DMs to orchestrated boycott campaigns, Nicole and Jolene reveal the true cost of speaking up in an era where silence feels safer.

The most dangerous impact of cancel culture isn't the loud voices demanding boycotts - it's the voices we never hear. How many important conversations die in draft folders? Ho...

It's not every day you hear about a tech mogul transitioning to a pivotal role in government, yet here we are. When Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk as the head of the Department Of Government Efficiency, it sent shockwaves through every corner of Washington D.C. It's a bold move that has us curious, frustrated, and admittedly a bit nervous about what lies ahead. 

So what does this truly mean in the governmental landscape? Only time will tell, but it’s certainly causing quite a stir among Republicans and Democrats.

As the dust begins to set...

The White House has become America's most dramatic reality show, with policy changes dropping faster than a new Netflix series. Trump's latest plot twist? A fresh wave of tariffs that are sending shockwaves from Wall Street to Shanghai. Just when the global markets thought they had the script figured out, this new economic bombshell is rewriting international trade rules and leaving world leaders scrambling to respond. 

For those keeping score at home (and let's face it, we all should be), these aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet—they're moves in a high-stakes game that's reshaping everything from you...

Hold onto your hats, folks—we're about to tackle one of the most heated topics in the current US political landscape.  Trump's recent rollback of DEI initiatives has set off a firestorm of reactions, and this topic is anything but simple. 

You know what's fascinating? The sheer audacity of this move has created a natural experiment in corporate values. While some companies scrambled to follow suit and drop the initiative with vigor, giants like Costco, the NFL, and Apple stood their ground with a resounding "Thanks, but no thanks." It's like watching a high-stakes poker game where comp...

In our latest episode, we tackled a story that reads like a political thriller—Robert F. Kennedy Jr's appointment as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. This isn't just another political appointment; it's a narrative that challenges everything we thought we knew about party lines, public health, and the dance between science and politics. 

Picture this: A Kennedy—yes, from that Kennedy family—potentially serving under a Republican administration. It's like watching a political eclipse; rare, fascinating, and slightly unsettling. Though, not dissimilar to Trump switching from his Liberal roots to the Republican party. This unexpec...

Should the President of the United States hold the power to grant pardons? 

In our latest podcast episode, we tackled this burning question, particularly focusing on the pardons issued by Trump related to the January 6th Storming of the Capitol event. Should such pardons be allowed, and do they hold ethical ground? 

During our discussion, we explored the ramifications of pardons issued by Trump and Biden. Jolene raised an important point about Biden's preemptive pardons aimed at protecting individuals involved in January 6th based on fear of future retaliation from Trump and his constituents. Meanwhile, Tr...

Left or right? Progressive or traditional? 

These labels have become battle cries in our modern society, yet they barely scratch the surface of who we truly are. Beyond the oversimplified boxes of 'liberal' and 'conservative' lies a rich tapestry of human experience that defies easy categorization. 

Today, we're peeling back the layers of these identities—not just as political badges, but as deeply personal frameworks that color how we see the world, shape our relationships, and influence every conversation we have. 

It’s clear that the essence of being liberal or conservative extends beyond...

Immigration: a hot-button topic that conjures knee-jerk reactions from racism to compassion, depending on who you ask. It's a question of humanity, security, and policy—a multifaceted issue that's as confusing as it is consequential. In this article, we are doing our best to discuss the issues with border security at the United States' southern border, and how the media portrays the situation differently depending on what state you’re living in.

When discussing the physical border wall, Nicole expressed that its implications extend beyond the structure itself —it symbolizes the country's stance on the lack of openne...

It’s clear that meaningful conversations between Republicans and Democrats have never been more crucial. It's time we stop the finger-pointing and just start talking to each other. Our goal here is to humanize the dialogue and inspire others to do the same.

For Jolene and me, our friendship began with curiosity and mutual respect back in college. Jolene was my first Republican friend, a small-town Iowa girl, meeting me, the California liberal. From the onset, we embraced each other's perspectives, cultivating a relationship grounded in respect. We've navigated tough political waters together, proving that real-life dialogue is...

In today's polarized political climate, finding common ground can feel like an insurmountable task. Yet, in our almost 40 years of friendship, we've learned that it's the tough conversations, the ones we might be a little hesitant to have, that often bring us closer together. As we sat down to discuss the events of January 6th, 2021, we realized just how much the divide between conservative and liberal media shapes our understanding of the world—and how essential it is to bridge that gap with empathy and curiosity.

Our dialogue won't erase the divisions, but it's a step towards un...

In this episode, I share the story of my extraordinary almost 40-year friendship with Jolene, two women who found themselves on opposite sides of the political spectrum during Trump's re-election in 2024. I open up about my journey as a Democrat, while my dear friend Jolene brings her Republican perspective to our conversation, showing how we've managed to maintain respect and understanding during one of America's most polarizing moments.

I take you through my raw emotional journey - from my initial frustration on election night to my eventual realization that this was a call to action for Democrats...

Our story begins in the halls of the University of Iowa, go Hawks! It was there that two seemingly different paths intersected and a friendship blossomed. Despite our different upbringings—Jolene in little Pleasantville, Iowa, and me, Nicole, just across the Golden Gate Bridge in the bustling Bay Area—we became fast friends. And here we are, almost 40 years later, living in a world that often seems intent on drawing lines in the sand and choosing sides.

So why "We've Got To Talk"? Because we truly believe that in this deeply divided society, the power of conversation can...