Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with Professor James S. Fishkin of Stanford University—the mind behind Deliberative Polling®—to explore whether informed dialogue can heal democracy’s divisions. Fishkin shares how a single “eureka” moment in 1988 led to a global movement transforming how citizens think, talk, and decide together. From Texas to Mongolia, and now through AI-assisted platforms, deliberative polling is proving that when people have space to learn and listen, polarization can melt away.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How deliberative polling bridges divides and builds mutual respect
• Why “America in One Room” changed what’s possible for civic engagement
• How AI is helping scale democratic participation to millions worldwide
• What a truly deliberative society could look like in the U.S.

Get James’ new book, Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy?, here: https://www.amazon.com/Can-Deliberation-Cure-Ills-Democracy/dp/0198944411

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Revolutionary Optimism is hosted by Dr. Paul Zeitz.