Another engaging riff with David Storey, Boston College philosophy professor and Spartan Race athlete. This time I take center stage. We explore why Americans are collectively depressed, why Democrats ignore power politics, why turning off phones and turning toward each other feels great, and how all of this is related.

I make a case for phone-free schools. Dave helps me see even bigger benefits.

We get political. We get personal. We refuse to give advice or answer the question, "What should the average person do?"

**Key takeaways**

• 11:00 Feeling bottled up? Recapture the oomph and lock arms with others
• 15:00 The Tit-for-Tat strategy from the Prisoner's Dilemma
• 21:00 Reclaiming power. "Don't step on me."
• 23:00 Two reasons Democrats get complacent about power politics
• 28:00 Want advice on what to do? Instead, ask yourself these four questions
• 32:00 Conscious phone use through PSAs and intentional points of friction
• 35:00 It's time to make public spaces public again
• 38:00 Stricter phone policies in schools free teachers to teach, not police
• 41:00 Adults exerting their agency. "Trust your moral compass."
• 45:00 Moving beyond the hyper-individualistic story of America
• 47:00 Laughter is something we create together

**Resources**

• David's web site, including his podcast, Wisdom@Work

**Subscribe to the podcast**

To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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In this five-minute episode of How My View Grew, I offer six ideas for Democrats and Never-Trumpers who haven't given up:

1. Doing something is better than doing nothing.
2. We're lousy at predicting the outcomes of our actions.
3. The 2026 mid-terms are super-important.
4. Winning in 2026 requires two distinct tasks.
5. Dems and Never Trumpers need a new mood.
6. Biden-to-Trump voters need permission structures, not shaming.

**Subscribe to the podcast**

To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

**Share the love**

Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Status differences, real and perceived, and the resentment that comes with them.

Republicans use them to fire up voters and win elections. Democrats largely ignore them.

To regain power and reverse the authoritarian tide, Democrats will need to take status differences seriously.

My five-minute take.

**Subscribe to the podcast**

To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

**Share the love**

Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.