In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern continues the limited series Conversations at the Edge—a space for staying grounded, curious, and connected when conversations move into charged, uncertain, or deeply divided territory. Inspired by Robin's ongoing dialogue with her dear friend Lynn Redleaf, the series is rooted in dignity, respect, and a commitment to resisting manipulation while making room for complexity and humanity.

Robin is joined by Dr. Oded Adomi Leshem, a senior researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a leading voice in the emerging field of hope research. Oded's work asks a deceptively simple question: What is hope—and does it actually create tangible change, or is it just a comforting idea? Drawing from psychology and philosophy, and grounded in the realities of intractable conflict, he shares insights from his book Hope Amidst Conflict, which examines how hope operates when it is most challenged—and how it can be strengthened in ways that support ethical engagement, social change, and peacebuilding.

Oded also shares the personal path that led him here: from documentary filmmaking and witnessing war up close, to a humanitarian initiative helping sick Palestinian children access medical care—where one conversation with a woman from Gaza sparked his lifelong curiosity about why hope sometimes burns brightest in the hardest circumstances.

Together, Robin and Oded explore a powerful framework for understanding hope as a two-dimensional construct: the expectation that change is possible, and the wish—the desire and commitment that makes change worth pursuing. They discuss why societies can lose not only belief in peace, but the desire for it, how leaders and public rhetoric can erode "peace as a worthy goal," and why peace advocacy often fails when it becomes too technical and forgets to speak to the heart. They also name the real risks of hope—its burden, its vulnerability to disappointment, and its mental effort—while offering a grounded reminder that real hope doesn't deny reality; it faces it honestly and still chooses a future worth working toward.

This is a bracing and deeply human conversation about what it takes to carry hope when the world feels heavy, divided, and uncertain.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern continues the limited series Conversations at the Edge—a space for staying grounded, curious, and connected when conversations move into charged, uncertain, or deeply divided territory. Inspired by Robin's ongoing dialogue with her dear friend Lynn Redleaf, the series is rooted in a simple but urgent belief: we have to be able to talk about what matters, with dignity and respect, even when we don't agree.

Robin is joined by writer, journalist, and longtime friend Courtney E. Martin, whose work explores family, community, moral courage, and the messy realities of living by our values. Courtney shares how growing up in polarized Colorado Springs shaped her appetite for difficult conversations, and how her mother's decades-long practice of gathering women and amplifying stories helped form her deep commitment to nuance, belonging, and community.

Together, Robin and Courtney discuss what it means to confront privilege without collapsing into shame or defensiveness, including the personal journey behind Courtney's book Learning in Public: Lessons for a Racially Divided America from My Daughter's School. Courtney reflects on the emotional complexity of choosing a Black-majority public school, the relational fallout of making a different choice than her progressive peers, and the pressure of being labeled "performative"—along with how she turns those moments into opportunities for humility, discernment, and deeper alignment.

The conversation widens into the everyday practices that sustain us: building long-term friendships, living in intentional community, multi-generational family life, and the power of repair—especially what children can teach us about coming back together after conflict. With warmth, humor, and honesty, this episode is a reminder that connection isn't a luxury—it's a practice, and it's how we keep our humanity intact at the edge.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern continues the limited series Conversations at the Edge—exploring what it takes to stay grounded, curious, and connected when conversations move into charged, uncertain, or deeply divided territory. Rooted in dignity and respect, the series invites us to make space for someone else's ideas without erasing, attacking, or diminishing the person across from us.

Robin is joined by two long-time Detroit journalists and thought leaders, Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson, who spent decades on opposite sides of the editorial page—Nolan as a conservative voice at The Detroit News and Stephen as a progressive voice at The Detroit Free Press. Instead of letting ideology define their relationship, they built a genuine friendship and professional partnership, ultimately co-creating the Great Lakes Civility Project and co-authoring The Civility Book: A Guide to Building Bridges Across the Political Divide.

Together, they unpack why "agreeing to disagree" can become avoidance, and what it looks like to find value in disagreement without making it personal. They share the four pillars that have helped them sustain trust through heated debates—dropping assumptions, setting honest goals for conversation, practicing deep listening, and committing to the relationship over time. Robin connects their framework to emotional intelligence, including how strong emotions and today's fear-driven media environment can make civility feel harder—and why emotion regulation and curiosity can be the difference between disconnection and meaningful dialogue.

This is a practical, hopeful conversation for anyone navigating family dinners, friendships, workplaces, or communities in a polarized world—and looking for a way to stay in connection without sacrificing integrity.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.