kmcochran, Author at This Election

While politics divides us, music is something that can bring us together. The music of the Brilliance, a musical duo made up of David Gungor and John Arndt, does just that. Their songs invite us to see the humanity in all people while wrestling with some of the most acute challenges facing our world: war, violence, immigration, political polarization, hunger, and anxiety. In this conversation, I speak with David Gungor about the transformative power of music and about the spiritual practices he is bringing to this election.

In this episode, David and I discuss:

How music transcends language to bring people together
How music offers hope by inviting us into other people’s stories and experiences
How music accompanies us in our healing process by transforming individual grief into collective grief
Why starting with questions is important in politics and in art
The role of music and storytelling in undermining stereotypes and inviting people to look at their own assumptions
Entering this election with integrity, vulnerability, creativity, and a willingness to see the good in the other side.
The back stories of some of their songs including “Oh Dreamer” and “Lake Coatepeque”

Bring this wisdom with you as you engage:

Listen to the Brilliance on your preferred platform (Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube) or on their website at www.thebrilliancemusic.com.
Check out This Election’s Spotify Page which includes
- A Doing Politics Different playlist inspired by today’s conversation. It has songs from today’s episode and other songs selected to help you move into this election season with integrity, vulnerability, creativity, and hope.
- A Mutual Flourish Playlist created by David.
- Gen z Political Revolution Playlist which I found will creating the above.
- Vote Playlist created by The Class a few years back (tune into Episode 3 to hear more about The Class).
I am also creating a playlist of songs from our listeners. If there is a song that has inspired you, made you think, or invited you deeper into community, I would love to include it. You can send those to my email at [email protected] or message me on instagram @katie.m.cochran.

Download the transcript here.

You can find David at www.davidgungor.com, on X and Instagram @davidgungor.

***

All of our conversations are offered alongside a spiritual practice that can help you move through this election season in a more intentional, healthy way. Those practices, including the playlist from this episode, can be found at www.thiselection.org/spiritualpractrices.

If you found this conversation helpful and want to learn more:

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music.
Subscribe to our email list. We share a weekly newsletter that provides additional inspiration, practice tips, and resources to heal and ground you this election cycle.

To connect with me

Leave a comment below.
Follow me on Instagram @katie.m.cochran
Email me at [email protected]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Politics has taken an incredible toll on our emotional and mental health. In this conversation, Marvie Corbett explains that politics is inherently triggering because it engages our core beliefs, which is where our sense of safety is rooted.

In this episode, Marvie and I discuss:

How politics related to our core beliefs, and in turn, our sense of safety
What small t trauma is and how it shows up in the political realm
What it looks like to grieve broken beliefs and create new ones that serve us
How Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can help us understand where we and others are on a political issue so that we don’t talk past each other
How understanding the difference between consent and boundaries can enable us to create safer political spaces for ourselves and others

Bring this wisdom with you as you engage:

Marvie and I have developed a workbook to help you address past trauma and create emotional safety for yourself and others this election season. You can sign up below to download it for free.

You can read an transcript here.

You can find Marvie at www.resnikpyschology.com.

***

How did this episode land for you? Leave a comment below, or if that feels to like too much given the difficulty of these topics, send me a private message. I’d love to hear from you.

All of our conversations are offered alongside a spiritual practice that can help you move through this election season in a more intentional, healthy way. Those practices, including a free 30 day subscription to The Class through the election, can be found at www.thiselection.org/spiritualpractices.

If you found this conversation helpful and want to learn more:

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Apple Music.
Subscribe to our email list. We share a newsletter that provides additional inspiration, practice tips, and resources to heal and ground you this election cycle.

To connect with me

Leave a comment below
Follow me on Instagram @katie.m.cochran
Email me at [email protected]

Music as a portal for empathy, lamentation, and social imagining with David Gungor of The Brilliance

Politics and Emotional Safety: Consent, Boundaries and Small t Trauma with Marvie Corbett

Political Engagement Workbook