'Utterly Moderate' Shippensburg professors aim to break down divisions with podcast

The world is a classroom for two Shippensburg University professors. 

On their new podcast, professors Lawrence Eppard and Alison Dagnes welcome experts for discussions on big issues facing America and the world as we go deeper into the 21st century, such as immigration, climate change, the First Amendment, democracy and COVID-19. 

The podcast's title, "Utterly Moderate," puts their strategy front and center: Just the facts; no politics, no bias, no slant. Each approximately hour-long episode is paired with resources to back up the points shared.

By diving into important topics with just facts and taking “aggressive” action to keep bias out of it, Dagnes’ and Eppard’s ultimate goal is to become people listeners trust.

“Research is clear that even the biggest partisans can change their minds if they hear it from people they trust,” Eppard said.

It is not that they want to change anyone's mind, but they hope they can inspire people to open their minds to things they may have been blocking out. 

When it comes to controversial issues, “the number one thing is you gotta run toward the folks you don’t engage with…to see if the things you are afraid of are really that scary,” Dagnes said.

“That’s why the idea of this podcast was so engaging to me. Lawrence had the idea to let’s just talk to these different experts.”

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Social scientist Eppard and Dagnes, a political scientist, bonded over summers spent working on the mostly empty floor of the campus building where both their departments are based. They would talk about the big topics facing the world, as well as others not so monumental.

Both professors have been troubled by the polarization in America and how people on both sides of the ideological coin limit their information consumption to a diet that fits their views. Dagnes even wrote a book about it. 

The problem has seeped into their classrooms, making them “fraught environment(s),” Dagnes said. Some students are afraid to speak up for fear of how their views will be received by both their peers and their professors. 

“Now you can’t have a really good time because everyone’s just walking on eggshells. They’re looking for grievances, they’re looking for some offense,” Dagnes said. “It’s just not a great way to teach at a higher level where you’re supposed to wrestle with ideas. There is no absolute right and wrong.”

They don't expect to become massively successful, but Eppard and Dagnes do hope that their podcast will help build bridges locally between people of opposing politics and views. 

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The first episode of "Utterly Moderate" went live on Jan. 20. The hosts hope to post two or three each month.

"The world is incredibly, incredibly complex, and only getting more complex. These big issues are only the tip of the iceberg," Eppard said.  

How to listen to "Utterly Moderate"

Find episodes at www.UtterlyModerate.com or anywhere you listen to podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Spotify. 

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.