Freedom Over Fascism: Dr. Stephanie Wilson on Naming the Threat

How do societies decide which stories to tell about themselves and which truths to soften or ignore?

In this episode, historian, communications strategist, and Freedom Over Fascism host Dr. Stephanie Wilson joins Corey Nathan to discuss collective memory, historical narrative, and the language shaping American civic life right now.

Drawing on her academic work on Jerusalem, her experience in political communications, and her current focus on democracy and messaging, Stephanie explores how myths take hold, why people instinctively place themselves on the “right side” of history, and what happens when cruelty and dehumanization become normalized tools of power. Along the way, the conversation wrestles with Israel and Palestine, fascism and language, media failure, activism, and what it actually takes to engage across deep disagreement without abandoning moral clarity.

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Key Takeaways

• Collective memory often says more about who is telling the story than about the past itself • People naturally imagine themselves as heroes or resisters rather than beneficiaries or bystanders • Museums, monuments, and national myths are political acts, whether acknowledged or not • Fascism is better understood through concrete behaviors than abstract labels • Language shapes what people are willing to see, justify, or ignore • Values based framing opens more space for dialogue than policy arguments alone • Curiosity and empathy are necessary skills for sustaining democracy, even when lines must be drawn • Engagement across difference does not require moral surrender or tolerance of cruelty

About the Guest

Dr. Stephanie Wilson is a historian, activist, and communications expert. She is the creator and host of Freedom Over Fascism, where she examines democracy, messaging, media ecosystems, and civic engagement through conversations with journalists, scholars, and organizers. Her academic work focuses on historical memory, museums, and narrative power, with particular attention to Jerusalem and contested histories.

Links and Resources

• Freedom Over Fascism on Substack: www.freedomoverfascism.us • Freedom Over Fascism on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@FreedomOverFascismPod

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