🎧Behavioral Scientist and Equity Leader Team Up for New Podcast on American Unity

Next Chapter Podcasts today announced a partnership with the TogetherUp Institute and E Pluribus Unum to launch “Reimagining Us,” a timely new podcast hosted by behavioral scientist Dr. Nichole Argo, the Founder and Executive Director of the TogetherUp Institute, and Scott Hutcheson, Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum.

Through conversations with behavioral scientists and change makers, the series "lifts the hood" to uncover what's behind Americans’ feelings of division today and to identify how we can reweave our frayed social fabric by fostering connection, collaboration, and belonging—even across differences—in our lives and communities.

The first episode of “Reimagining Us” is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and across all podcast platforms. The eight-episode season will launch weekly, with new episodes every Tuesday. Long-form video will be published to YouTube and Spotify each week.

Commented Dr. Argo, “Everyday Americans inspired this podcast. People tell us they are dismayed by the fraying social fabric in their communities. Across the countless surveys, focus groups, and interviews we’ve done in recent years, people have reported feeling unseen, yet afraid to use their voice. Feeling disengaged, yet uncertain of their ability to make a difference even if they tried. Most importantly, and above all else, they’ve said they want to come together across differences to solve real problems. The fact is that 87% of Americans are exhausted by today’s aggressive identity politics. They’re tired of dynamics that only tear each other down – they want to build. They want to build better communities, and they want to do it together. “Reimagining Us” seeks to shine a light on how to do that within the context of this moment.”

Jeremiah Tittle, Founder and CEO, Next Chapter Podcasts added, ”We are beyond thrilled to be working with the TogetherUp Institute and E Pluribus Unum to advance education and constructive narratives countering the perception that we, as a country, are divided, and strive to embrace the power of empathy, community and belonging as the antidote. Nichole and Scott have an organic on-air chemistry you cannot manufacture, built on curiosity, friendship and respect, not only for each other, but for our listeners who are seeking answers. We hope these conversations unites us on the local level and make us a stronger nation as a whole.”

Reimagining Us is not just another conversation series—it’s a vital tool for healing divisions, designing our lives and communities for belonging, and empowering a movement of “builders.” Hosted by two distinguished leaders from the fields of psychology and equity-building, the show takes a nuanced look at the forces that fuel division and highlights actionable paths toward reconnection. As the nation navigates a post-election landscape rife with challenges, Reimagining Us offers a timely and necessary space for discovery, dialogue, and change.

“Reimagining Us” is produced by Next Chapter Podcasts. The series is executive produced by Jeremiah Tittle with support from senior producers Byron Hunter, Brian Douglas and Janice Llamoca, in addition to editing and sound design by Kyle Murdock.

Dr. Argo is a social psychologist whose work on social identity sits at the intersection of science and practice. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the TogetherUp Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing a national movement of Americans committed to connecting across differences. She is also the founder and co-director of the Needham Resilience Network, a local model of civic-government partnership that brings leaders from diverse community groups together to build relationships, gain skills in communicating across differences, and co-create solutions to a local challenge. In recent years, Dr. Argo’s research has focused on belonging. She is the lead author of “The Belonging Barometer: The State of Belonging in the US” and “The Science of Polarization and Insights for Bridge Building.” Dr. Argo holds degrees from Stanford, MIT, and the New School for Social Research.

Hutcheson is the Executive Director of E Pluribus Unum, a non-partisan organization that focuses on advancing equity across the American South. Hutcheson previously served as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Cultural Economy for the City of New Orleans. Prior to that he served as the State of Louisiana Assistant Secretary of Cultural Development and founding Executive Director of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation. He resides in New Orleans.

ABOUT NEXT CHAPTER PODCASTS

Next Chapter Podcasts (www.nextchapterpodcasts.com) is an independent podcast production studio dedicated to original, authentic storytelling. We are a team of producers and sound designers, engineers, and artists with unique experience in podcast production from concept to creation. Next Chapter Podcasts include Spotify Original “The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers,” iHeart Original “The Ten News,” and award-winning “Beef with Bridget Todd.” Next Chapter Podcasts is also the parent company of Play On Podcasts, the flagship enterprise of NCP’s Scripted division, bringing epic audio adventures to listeners in the form of podcast re-creations of Shakespeare’s legendary plays. Play On Podcasts reached three-million downloads less than three years after its debut on April 9th, 2021

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