How to Bridge Divides with Simon Greer
About this episode:
Chris Cooper is joined by bridge-builder and social entrepreneur Simon Greer for a powerful conversation about how to bridge divides in a world where people increasingly see those they disagree with as “the other.”
Simon shares his early life, his rise through progressive politics, and the turning point when he realised he had been contributing to the very demonisation he opposed. He came to see that real change had to begin with himself. That insight sparked a decade-long journey to better understand the people his own side had cast as enemies, immersing himself in perspectives he had once dismissed.
Together, they explore why today’s conflicts may be less political than spiritual — rooted more in identity and belonging than in policy. They discuss what it really means to “get inside” the issues that divide us, why listening is a superpower, and how to enter courageous conversations with honesty and humility. They also examine how we can honour the competing truths people carry from their own histories and traditions.
The conversation dives into Simon’s work on college campuses, in prisons, and in Israel–Palestine — places that serve as laboratories for dialogue and understanding. They consider why recovering a shared story of who we are may be essential if we are to solve our problems together.
A timely and deeply human discussion about what each of us can do to foster understanding, rebuild trust, and bridge divides in our families, communities, and wider society.
More about Simon Greer:
Simon has spent the last decade seeking to bridge the gaps in our polarized nation, including conservatives and progressives, secular and evangelical college students, and corrections officers and the formerly incarcerated. Greer speaks regularly at The Nantucket Project, on campuses across the country, and at corporate events and retreats on topics including bridge-building, listening as a superpower, and building high-performing teams. He has hosted courageous conversations on stage with the likes of Sean Spicer, Valerie Jarrett, Karl Rove, Candace Owens, John Haidt, Juan Williams, Joe Kennedy, Andrew Yang and Glenn Beck. In 2025, he won a MidSouth Emmy® for his work as a producer on The North Carolina Listening Project, recognized in the Interview/Discussion category.
Considered to be a serial entrepreneur in the nonprofit world, Simon has also founded and led a range of organizations including founding Bridging the Gap and serving as Senior Advisor to One Voice United and Managing Director of the Fund for New Leadership. Today, he works with organizations and institutions—colleges and universities, tech, media, healthcare and fashion companies, philanthropies and purpose-driven organizations—to cross lines of difference and solve pressing problems.