Weaving the Social Fabric: John Noltner on Storytelling, Presence, and Seeing One Another

How do we learn to see one another as human again in a moment shaped by fear, fragmentation, and outrage?

In this episode, photographer, author, and storyteller John Noltner joins Corey Nathan as part of TP&R’s ongoing Weavers series in partnership with Weave: The Social Fabric Project. John’s work spans five continents and centers on a simple but demanding conviction: storytelling and art can help restore trust, dignity, and connection in a divided world.

From Minneapolis in the midst of national attention to the U.S. southern border, Northern Ireland, and beyond, John reflects on what it means to bear witness without exploiting pain, to listen without trying to win, and to practice proximity rather than abstraction. The conversation explores how curiosity can disarm contempt, why relationship must precede disagreement, and what it takes to stay open to human connection without becoming numb to suffering.

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Key Takeaways

• Storytelling and art can open space for understanding when facts and arguments fail • It is possible to encounter deep disagreement without abandoning moral clarity • Curiosity is a practice, not a personality trait, and it can be cultivated • Human connection requires patience before tackling the most contentious issues • Being seen is different from being observed, and the difference matters • Proximity to people is often more illuminating than distance from ideas • The social fabric is frayed in partisan politics but surprisingly strong in local acts of care • Vulnerability deepens connection but carries real emotional cost

About the Guest

John Noltner is an award winning author, photographer, and founder of A Peace of My Mind. His work focuses on peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and human dignity through storytelling. John has produced projects for national publications, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofit organizations, and his books and exhibitions have been used by communities across the world to foster dialogue and civic trust.

Links and Resources

• A Peace of My Mind: apeaceofmymind.org • Audio Reflection Course: 40 Days Toward Deeper Listening • Podcast: A Peace of My Mind • Instagram: @apommstories

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Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners

Thanks to Pew Research Center for making today’s conversation possible. Gratitude as well to Village Square for coming alongside this work and helping foster better civic dialogue.

Links and additional resources:

• Pew Research Center: pewresearch.org

• The Village Square: villagesquare.us

• Meza Wealth Management: mezawealth.com

Proud members of The Democracy Group

Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room.