The Power of Storytelling, Curiosity and Hope: Swati Srivastava
Sep 05, 2025•28 min
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Episode description
How do we help people see their common humanity and find common ground? We discuss this and much more with our guest, independent filmmaker and storyteller, Swati Srivastava.
At a time of polarization and deep political divisions in America, growing numbers of citizens are now pushing back against the fear, loathing and distrust that poison our national conversation. Our podcasts report on the people, projects, and ideas of this movement.
Swati Srivastava is Director of Visual Media at Crossing Party Lines, a non-profit group that facilitates conversations among Americans of different opinions. She established the group’s Long Island Chapter and is also active with Braver Angels. Her short video, “The Braver Angels Way” is designed to be played at the start of Braver Angels conversations and debates. Find out more about Swati’s film and storytelling projects here.
“Absolute certainty is the death of curiosity, conversation, and empathy,” Swati says. “Curiosity is the antidote which says ‘tell me more’… When listening happens almost anything is possible.”
Our conversation includes Swati's insights about storytelling, moderating conversations and workshops across party lines, and her compelling life story as an immigrant, film director, producer and creator of innovative media.
How Do We Fix It? is hosted by award-winning journalist Richard Davies. For more than three decades he was an ABC News Radio Correspondent. Today he’s a podcast consultant, producer, and media trainer.
Over the past decade, we’ve released more than 430 podcast episodes. A constant theme for us is how do we talk more creatively across party lines? If we brought the kind of energy and imagination to fixing our politics that we bring every day to our careers and family life, America would be in much better shape than it is today.
At a time of polarization and deep political divisions in America, growing numbers of citizens are now pushing back against the fear, loathing and distrust that poison our national conversation. Our podcasts report on the people, projects, and ideas of this movement.
Swati Srivastava is Director of Visual Media at Crossing Party Lines, a non-profit group that facilitates conversations among Americans of different opinions. She established the group’s Long Island Chapter and is also active with Braver Angels. Her short video, “The Braver Angels Way” is designed to be played at the start of Braver Angels conversations and debates. Find out more about Swati’s film and storytelling projects here.
“Absolute certainty is the death of curiosity, conversation, and empathy,” Swati says. “Curiosity is the antidote which says ‘tell me more’… When listening happens almost anything is possible.”
Our conversation includes Swati's insights about storytelling, moderating conversations and workshops across party lines, and her compelling life story as an immigrant, film director, producer and creator of innovative media.
How Do We Fix It? is hosted by award-winning journalist Richard Davies. For more than three decades he was an ABC News Radio Correspondent. Today he’s a podcast consultant, producer, and media trainer.
Over the past decade, we’ve released more than 430 podcast episodes. A constant theme for us is how do we talk more creatively across party lines? If we brought the kind of energy and imagination to fixing our politics that we bring every day to our careers and family life, America would be in much better shape than it is today.
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