During the event, Abdullah Antepli and Dr. L. Gregory Jones discussed the role of civil discourse in navigating differences. The conversation highlighted the value of building deep, trusting relationships to support meaningful dialogue. Antepli emphasized the need to engage across political, religious, and cultural divides, reminding the audience, “You don’t have to agree with someone to deeply respect and understand them.” He encouraged listeners to prioritize shared humanity over ideological alignment, describing civil discourse as a discipline that must be practiced with humility and courage.

Ed Magee reflected on the deeper nature of truth-seeking, arguing that it goes beyond simply fact-checking. “Fact-checking matters, but if we’re not searching for truth with empathy, we’re just reinforcing our own bubbles,” he said. Magee also spoke about the dangers of echo chambers and stressed the value of intentionally exposing ourselves to diverse perspectives to promote more constructive conversations.

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