Life is heavy these days – complicated and contentious and lots of us are struggling with simple things like – how do we talk to people – often people we love – who are on the other side of some of the most important issues of our time.

Author and activist Gareth Higgins is our guest today. Gareth was born in Belfast in 1975, grew up during a time of violent conflict in northern Ireland. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, to bring peace and make justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland by helping the residents of Northern Ireland address the legacy of conflict that drove the violence.

Gareth owns a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story and Movies & Meaning festivals. He leads retreats in North America and Ireland; and he founded The Porch Magazine.

To learn more about Gareth and his work go to https://www.garethhiggins.net/about