Dialogue Killers Revealed: Beat Ad Hominem & Proxies to Reclaim Civil Political Talk
Dialogue Killers Revealed: Beat Ad Hominem & Proxies to Reclaim Civil Political Talk  
Podcast: Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other
Published On: Sat Jun 07 2025
Description: In this edition, host Corey Nathan dives into two behaviors that shut down meaningful dialogue before it even starts: ad hominem attacks and treating individuals as proxies for groups. Drawing from real-life interactions and candid personal stories, Corey illustrates why civil discourse matters now more than ever. What Is Discussed: Why personal attacks destroy productive dialogue How assuming people represent an entire group harms mutual understanding Strategies for better conversations: passive, defensive, and proactive Why labels and assumptions often miss the mark The power of treating others as individuals with unique stories Episode Highlights: 1:00 – Defining the two dialogue killers: ad hominem and proxy labeling 2:00 – A local mayor faces national-level hostility in small-town politics 4:00 – A neighborly disagreement about family farms shows how it can be done right 5:00 – Corey’s impassioned reaction to toxic comments and attacks 10:00 – When people are reduced to stand-ins for political ideologies 14:00 – Facebook comments spiral as users resort to vilifying each other 19:00 – Setting realistic expectations when engaging across divides 27:00 – “I will not defend positions I don’t hold”—drawing healthy boundaries 30:00 – Lessons from the fight for marriage equality: changing hearts through human connection 33:00 – Passive, defensive, and proactive strategies to communicate better Featured Quotes: “People are people—not proxies...” “I will not defend positions that I don’t hold.” “You’re not talking to ‘them,’ you’re talking to me.” “Go talk some politics and religion with gentleness and respect.” 📣 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. 🎙️💡