Finding truth together: A fireside chat with author and journalist Mónica Guzmán

Mónica Guzmán is the author of “I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times”; founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity; senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels; and host of “A Braver Way” podcast. In this keynote address, Guzmán and moderator Mariah Lane of FOX 13 Seattle, will explore what it means to be a journalist in a divided America, and best practices for consuming the news. They will discuss what “truth” means when people approach issues with vastly different concerns, and how we can use our built-in superpower of curiosity to find it together. The presentation will include time for Q&A with the audience at the end.

Purchase a copy of “I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times”.

Community-Conversation-with-Monica-Guzman

Mónica Guzmán bio

Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and author who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. She’s founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, an organization working to build a world that sees itself; senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels, the nation’s largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America; and host of “A Braver Way,” a podcast that equips people with the tools they need to bridge the political divide in their everyday lives.

Guzmán’s book, “I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times” has been featured in The New York Times, the Glenn Beck Podcast, Reader’s Digest, and U.S. News named it one of the 10 best books to read before college. Purchase the book here.

Guzmán received an honorary doctorate degree from Wheaton College, and completed study and research fellowships at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, where she researched how journalists can rethink their roles to better meet the needs of a participatory public, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and the University of Florida, where she worked with researchers to better understand ways to employ techniques described in her book to boost understanding. Guzmán serves as an advisor for Starts With Us and the Generations Over Dinner project, is on the board of directors for the Institute for Multipartisan Education, and plays a barbarian named Shadrack in her besties’ Dungeons & Dragons campaign. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents. Read more about her and her work at moniguzman.com.

Mariah Lane bio (moderator)

Mariah Lane is a segment producer at FOX 13 Seattle who covers all things entertainment and lifestyle for Studio 13 Live. She also produces special projects for Good Day Seattle. Before joining KCPQ in 2023, Mariah closely covered the University of Idaho murders, Washington wildfires and day-to-day breaking news at KHQ in Spokane. She earned a digital journalism degree, specializing in broadcast, from Central Washington University. Mariah graduated from Auburn High School and is a proud champion of the New Voices legislation that was signed into law in 2018.

Interested in further discussion? Attend this featured breakout session!

GENERAL INTEREST
Rethinking our worldview
You do not need to have read Monica Guzman’s book “I Never Thought of It That Way” in order to get something out of this session. We will spend our time exploring key points her book touches on that relate to the work we do as journalists, and how it relates to our ability to relate and connect with others. If you have read the book, bring some of the takeaways with you, and let’s explore our curiosity in order to be better versions of ourselves.
Sandra Coyer, MJE, Puyallup High School, Seattle, Washington
10 a.m. Friday, Grand Ballroom A, Floor 2, Sheraton Grand Seattle