Andrew Heaton: Tribalism Is Dumb – Why We're Hardwired for Division & How to Cope
Andrew Heaton: Tribalism Is Dumb – Why We're Hardwired for Division & How to Cope  
Podcast: Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other
Published On: Tue Jun 10 2025
Description: In this insightful and often humorous episode, host Corey Nathan welcomes political satirist, author, and podcast host Andrew Heaton for a wide-ranging conversation about his latest book, Tribalism Is Dumb. Heaton, known for his podcast The Political Orphanage, brings his signature blend of wit, intellect, and candor to explore why politics has become so viciously tribal—and how we can fix it. Drawing from personal stories, deep research, and evolutionary psychology, Heaton discusses the roots of human division, the impact of media and technology, and the path to a more thoughtful public discourse. What We Discuss: Why tribalism is hardwired into human nature—and how it gets misapplied in modern politics How Heaton’s upbringing influenced his commitment to civility and intellectual rigor The role of media, social media, and political leadership in fostering division Practical tools for having productive, respectful political conversations What we can do—personally and societally—to resist toxic partisanship Episode Highlights: [00:01:00] Intro to Andrew Heaton and his new book [00:02:30] The story behind the dedication to Heaton’s father [00:06:45] Heaton’s early political influences [00:10:15] How Heaton preps for his many podcasts [00:21:00] The evolutionary roots of tribalism [00:34:00] Protestant vs. Catholic soccer rivalry in Scotland [00:36:30] What changed in the last few decades [00:55:00] Tools for better political conversations Featured Quotes: "There are lots of people that we share this country with that are good and intelligent people. The fact that we disagree with them is not a negation of their humanity." – Andrew Heaton "The need for an enemy precipitates the existence of the enemy." – Andrew Heaton "Tribalism is not just about community. It’s about the reflexive urge to find a ‘them’ to define the ‘us.’" – Andrew Heaton "I just try to remember: we’re not arguing about whether you're a good person. I already believe you are." – Andrew Heaton Resources Mentioned: The Political Orphanage podcast: https://mightyheaton.com/the-political-orphanage Tribalism Is Dumb by Andrew Heaton: https://mightyheaton.com/books Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone/Robert-D-Putnam/9780743203043 How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/peter-boghossian/how-to-have-impossible-conversations/9780738285344/ 📣 Call to Action: If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Check out our substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion 🔗 Connect on Social Media: It's @coreysnathan on... Bluesky LinkedIn Instagram Threads Facebook Substack Our Sponsors: Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com Prolux Autogroup: www.proluxautogroup.com or www.granadahillsairporttransportation.com Let’s keep talkin' politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡