We live in a time when having open and honest conversations feels harder than ever. The media is so polarized now that everyone’s opinions are locked in, and people seem less open to hearing each other out. The political divide has gotten so deep that it’s even affecting relationships between friends and families.
About the Podcast
“The Necessary Conversation” is a podcast that tries to bridge that gap, a place where people with completely different political views can sit down and actually talk to one another.
The podcast was created by Chad Kultgen, who hosts alongside his sister Haley Popp. Both of them lean more towards the left, while their parents, Mary Lou and Bob, are conservative MAGA supporters. Every episode turns into a mix of tense and surprisingly emotional moments as the family argues, challenges, debates and sometimes just tries to understand each other.
The Purpose of the Show
As the podcast’s intro puts it:
In the aftermath of the 2024 election, America is even more divided than before. Half the country fears the end of democracy and the other half welcomes it. As America inches to the brink of authoritarian rule, now more than ever, we must force ourselves to have the necessary conversation.
The podcast doesn’t encourage one side to agree with the other; you don’t see Kultgen or Popp trying to convince their parents to conform to their ideas and vice versa. Of course, there is frustration there, but it’s not promoting each other’s political beliefs and disregarding the other in a bad way.
Why It Matters
What is actually happening is they are having conversations that need to be had. Of course, there are times when the conversations can get messy and the debates get heated, but that’s what makes this podcast real and also what makes it necessary.
According to NPR, approximately one in four people in the U.S. report having ended a friendship due to political disagreements. And many voters say they have few or no friends on the other side of the political aisle.
Having conversations like these really matters. Sometimes those uncomfortable discussions are what open the door to understanding, even if no one changes their mind. When we stop talking, that’s when the real progress stops.
“The Necessary Conversation” isn’t about winning debates or changing minds; it’s about showing what it means actually to stay in conversation, even when it’s uncomfortable. In a time when so many people are cutting each other off over politics, this podcast proves that it’s still possible to talk and to listen.
Let us know what you think by tagging @VALLEYmag on Instagram or X with your thoughts!
