Walking Back Extremism

  Humans are peculiar. We are capable thoughts, feelings, and expressions ranging from unconditional love to insidious hate. It begs the question: where do we learn those concepts? And then: How do we unlearn them? Here is a good one: How does someone who has been a member of a group that professes hatred of other humans leave that community and ideology behind? What are the steps? What’s the process like? Who are the people that can help them?

There is no excuse for hate and oppression. That much is very clear. However, when one recognizes the poison of their thoughts and actions, how can they walk away from beliefs that feel key to their identities? How can they move forward fully accountable for their actions? Is there potential for redemption? In episode 28, we talk with a clinical psychologist about implicit bias, counselors on how to bring back family and friends who may have gone too far down the QAnon rabbit hole. And we hear from a former white supremacist who is helping others leave those groups and shed the thoughts of hate.

GUESTS:

• Tony McAleer, author of The Cure For Hate – A Former White Supremacists Journey From Violent Extremisim to Radical Compassion
• Diane Benscoter, founder, Own Your Brain
• Dr. John Dovidio, professor emeritus, Yale Universtiy 
• Rachel Bernstein, therapist, host of IndoctoriNation Podcast 
• Joseph Kelly, cult mediation specialist, Cult Mediation

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Our guests for sharing their experience and expertise with us
• Taylor Velazquez for pitching in with editing help
• Jazztone the Producer, Cheo, Dahm Life, Business School, Sun Dog, and Oh Lawd Records for providing music for the show. Khaki, Pope Yesyeyall, and Bigawatt produced some of the show’s themes.

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No More Normal is brought to you by Your New Mexico Government, a collaboration between KUNM and New Mexico PBS. Funding for our coverage comes from the New Mexico Local News Fund, the Kellogg Foundation and KUNM listeners like you, with support for public media provided by the Thornburg Foundation.

We dedicate this and every episode to the memory of Hannah Colton. We love and miss you Hannah.