“I worry some about the pure polarization – the Left versus the Right…But I worry equally about a lack of faith in the future.” Newt Gingrich might be best known for his strong opinions and fierce partisanship. But he’s also a deeply patriotic thinker who is open to finding common ground where it counts. Can blockchain technology increase trust in our elections? Can we place satellites in space to beam solar power to Earth? These are just a couple of the creative solutions Van and Newt explore. ...
Apr 13, 2022•39 min•Ep. 22
“My whole life has been so much about me. And I'm at a place in my life where I don't care for that, the way that I used to. Now it's time to help other people. We shouldn't stop fighting for people that no one wants to fight for.” Van sits down with one of his closest allies in the fight for criminal justice reform: Kim Kardashian. Kim gives a behind-the-scenes look at how she pursues justice for those behind bars, how her approach to criminal justice reform has evolved, and how a hypothetical ...
Apr 06, 2022•49 min•Ep. 21
“I'm sitting on a mountaintop in Vegas. I should be super happy, with all the movie stars, shooting Hangover 3 . But instead I wish I had been there for that kid.” How does someone go from producing comedy blockbusters, like The Hangover , to helping to pass landmark criminal justice reform? For Scott Budnick, it was all about taking that first step: saying ‘YES.’ He started out teaching a writing class at a juvenile hall. Now Budnick is the founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition , which helps...
Mar 30, 2022•39 min•Ep. 20
“The thing that is most important for us as parents and caregivers is this: to be able to be there for our kids, we gotta take care of ourselves.” Former California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, joins Van to answer listener questions about how to handle the adverse effects of the pandemic on children. What do you do if your child is neurodivergent? How can we help to make sure our children are still socialized during periods of isolation? How do we help our young ones grieve? Dr. Bur...
Mar 23, 2022•35 min•Ep. 19
“This is a terrifying moment in our country – it's literally illegal to teach that racism exists. But most white people live segregated lives. And I think the most powerful message of white supremacy is that I could live, love, work, play, die in racial segregation with no sense whatsoever that anything of value has been lost.” There’s been a lot of discussion recently about white fragility, critical race theory (CRT), systemic racism, and more – but what does any of this actually mean? And how ...
Mar 16, 2022•45 min•Ep. 18
“The freedom of Black people is a big American question – can those two things coexist? Can the United States of America, as we know it, coexist with true Black freedom? It's a constant fight, and I don't think many people in this country are very free.” – Phillip Agnew It’s easy to complain about people and policies on the other side of the political aisle. But what do you do when you have disagreements with your political allies – the people with whom your goals are the same, but your strategi...
Mar 09, 2022•49 min•Ep. 17
“We have to be more transparent, more honest, more vulnerable, more willing to confront our mistakes than ever before, because we're in this context where lies can become truth with great ease.” What is the role of mercy, grace and redemption within movements for freedom? Malkia Cyril - activist, writer, and founding director of the non-profit Media Justice - has deeply considered answers. In this episode, Van and Malkia discuss the importance of building communities that ground accountability i...
Mar 02, 2022•30 min•Ep. 16
“Freedom has never been free, and it shouldn’t be. We get independence through recognition of our interdependency.” Van sits down with Sean Penn to discuss questions of freedom and responsibility, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people know Sean Penn as an award-winning actor with a rebellious spirit, but his life work extends far beyond the screen and into some of the most disaster-stricken parts of the world. In this conversation, Van and Sean dive into vaccine mandates and the pot...
Feb 23, 2022•33 min•Ep. 15
"To live in a system of free enterprise, and to not understand the rules of free enterprise, must be the very definition of slavery." The racial wealth divide in America is a huge problem. So what do two Black men, both of whom have access to enough capital to actually make a difference, think we should do about it? In this week’s episode, Van Jones sits down with John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation HOPE, Inc. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, John is focused on financial literacy as a mean...
Feb 16, 2022•32 min•Ep. 14
“The media, and the nature of our politics right now, relies on binary division. And you're defined more by your enemies than you are by your friends.” What happens when you no longer feel at home in your own political party? How do you handle it at a personal, emotional level? And how do you vote? In this episode, Van Jones and S.E. Cupp grapple with these questions and more. A long-time political commentator and host of the CNN show Unfiltered, S.E. is a lifelong conservative. She is in favor ...
Jan 19, 2022•34 min•Ep. 13
“I'm not saying the South doesn't have problems with race. It does. But it allows the rest of the country to point at one place and be like, that right there–that's the racist part. When racism is very much an American problem.” You may have a particular image of a white southern male. They sound a certain way — therefore they must think and vote a certain way. But comedian, Trae Crowder, is complicating that image. A Tennessee native, Trae goes viral online with his “Liberal Redneck” videos, in...
Jan 12, 2022•41 min•Ep. 12
“I was stuck in my neighborhood. I was stuck with no opportunity. But creativity is the way out. The same brain that creates a song can come up with concepts and pitch them to companies – or build programs to help kids in the inner city.” These days it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck. Visionaries, like Van's guest will.i.am, show us a better path forward. In this episode, musician, philanthropist and futurist will.i.am discusses innovations the future may hold. How can artificial intelligen...
Jan 05, 2022•32 min•Ep. 11
“If I can feed people in the good times, why can I not put my talents to use to serve people in the not so good times?” In their first conversation since each receiving Jeff Bezos’ Courage & Civility Award — a $100,000,000 grant to further their charitable efforts — Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, sits down with Van for this replay of the premiere episode of Uncommon Ground . They discuss disaster relief, helping others as a way to help ourselves, and the boundaries we ar...
Dec 29, 2021•37 min
“The only thing that helps me is to feel like I'm holding hands with others who are remembering.” It seems like there are two types of people. Some are focused on fixing the external world – fighting to solve tough social problems. Other people are focused on healing their internal worlds – doing the spiritual work to deepen their own wisdom. What happens when we recognize the need for BOTH? Is it possible to combine the pursuits for outer peace and inner peace? This week, Van sits down with ren...
Dec 22, 2021•32 min•Ep. 10
“Today, people film high school fights on their cell phones — and post them online. Back in the day, things would happen in school. But that was just between you and the other person. Now you have thousands of people who've seen it, which pushes people to respond with violence.” Should Black Lives Matter expand their scope to address gun violence on the streets? Are conservative pundits on Fox News helping or hurting when they opine about violence in urban areas? In this episode, Van sits down w...
Dec 15, 2021•33 min•Ep. 9
“We're at a crossroads right now, where I truly believe this is the reckoning.” With the Omicron variant spreading globally and Covid-related hospitalizations on the rise again, Van pulls back the curtain on a vaccination debate raging within the Black community. Arguments for and against the COVID-19 vaccine tend to play out differently among African-Americans. To help explore the dueling perspectives, Van is joined by two guests--Deon Taylor (filmmaker and producer) and Jonathan Isaac (NBA pow...
Dec 08, 2021•55 min•Ep. 8
“Nobody's going to be changed by being judged or condescended to.” In this episode, Van is joined by comedian, actress, writer, and podcast host, Sarah Silverman. They talk about the need for empathy (even for hecklers or haters), and how the best way to start to love someone is to get to know them. Sarah shares about her love for apologizing. And she shows that a mixture of humor, vulnerability, humility, and openness, can be a recipe for progress. New episodes of Uncommon Ground with Van Jones...
Dec 01, 2021•29 min•Ep. 7
“Civility is key to civilization.” In this episode Van talks with Meghan McCain, columnist for The Daily Mail, author, and former co-host of The View , about the importance of recognizing the good in each political party and respecting those who have different perspectives. Van and Meghan’s friendship shows us that people with political differences can still come together to form meaningful relationships — and this conversation is a good guide for anyone looking to connect with a loved one with ...
Nov 24, 2021•45 min•Ep. 6
What if we start taxing the robots? What if we eliminate closed primary elections? What if we launch a new political party? In the fifth episode of Uncommon Ground , Van sits down with that supernova of solutions, Andrew Yang. During the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, Yang was a fount of fresh thinking -- including his proposal to give every American $1,000 a month. In this conversation, Yang proves he is just getting started. He’s continuing to push FORWARD a whole new slate of creative solut...
Nov 17, 2021•33 min•Ep. 5
You may not have heard of LaTonya Myers — at least not yet. But Van Jones bets your heart and soul will be uplifted by discovering her story today. In the fourth episode of Uncommon Ground , Van sits down with the trailblazing young activist — who just won the Reebok International Human Rights Award for her incredible work to uplift urban communities. LaTonya has turned her pain into purpose, working to improve the lives of folks in her community of Philadelphia and beyond. You can follow more o...
Nov 10, 2021•40 min•Ep. 4
“In retrospect, we love our heroes. In real time they’re always controversial.” In the third episode of Uncommon Ground with Van Jones , Bishop T.D. Jakes--renowned pastor, author and filmmaker--talks with Van about what it takes to build understanding, maintain perspective, and bridge our ever-increasing divides, while keeping our souls strong. New episodes of Uncommon Ground with Van Jones release weekly, every Wednesday. Have a question for Van? Call 347-770-2785 and leave him a voicemail. Yo...
Nov 03, 2021•33 min•Ep. 3
“You forgive not because the other deserves forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” In this episode, Deepak Chopra, prolific author and renowned advocate for alternative medicine, talks with Van about conscious communication, forgiveness, compassion, and what it means to really work for peace. New episodes of Uncommon Ground with Van Jones release weekly, every Wednesday. Have a question for Van? Call 347-770-2785 and leave him a voicemail. Your question will be recorded and may be played a...
Oct 27, 2021•27 min•Ep. 2
“If I can feed people in the good times, why can I not put my talents to use to serve people in the not so good times?” In their first conversation since each receiving Jeff Bezos’ Courage & Civility Award — a $100,000,000 grant to further their charitable efforts — Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, sits down with Van for this premiere episode of Uncommon Ground . They discuss disaster relief, helping others as a way to help ourselves, and the boundaries we are and are not ...
Oct 27, 2021•37 min•Ep. 1
Van Jones is on a journey to find unifying solutions to our country’s biggest problems. Each week, he'll explore topics that affect us all—from climate change, to prison reform, to voting rights, to cancel culture. You’ll hear inspiring, hopeful and unique perspectives on what it takes to create meaningful change from guests like Deepak Chopra, Andrew Yang, LaTonya Myers and José Andrés. Listen to Uncommon Ground with Van Jones on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts: amazon.com/uncomm...
Oct 13, 2021•2 min
