Politics with Paul

Approachable, nonpartisan, and nonideological analysis of various political topics by nonpartisan political analyst, writer, researcher, and speaker Paul Rader.

Is Potentialism the Key to American Civic Renewal? w/ Daniel Yudkin | Politics with Paul #79

E80 • Feb 10, 2026 • 52 mins

Our civic culture is in precarious state, and toxicity and hyperpolarization threaten to make it even more unhealthy. It's now more critical than ever to renew our commitment to our civic ideals and to each other as Americans. But that's considerably easier said than done. How do we do that? Today's guest, Daniel Yudkin, joins the podcast to showcase what may be the key to revitalizing our civic culture and getting back to more healthy engagement with our political system. As head of the Beacon Project, he and his organization have been developing the concept of "potentialism," which states that everyone has a gift to offer our civic culture, and a right and responsibility to develop and share that gift. Is potentialism the antidote to the poison of hyperpolarization?

Key Points

Many Americans feel disillusioned with political institutions because they don't see these entities effectively representing their concerns or values.
Potentialism emphasizes that everyone has a unique gift to contribute to society, and it encourages both the development and sharing of these gifts as a right and responsibility.
Engagement in civics doesn't have to be political; it can involve meaningful contributions to one's community, fostering a sense of connection and purpose.

Daniel's Links:

The Beacon Project: https://beaconproject.us/
"What is Potentialism?" on the Beacon Project website: https://beaconproject.us/potentialism/
How we think about what we owe each other as Americans: https://civicprofile.us/

Paul's Links:

Download my FREE 5-day educational email course on how to fight polarization: https://detoxifyamericanpolitics.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrader352/
Buy my book on Amazon (ebook and paperback): https://www.amazon.com/Why-Independents-Rarely-Win-Elections-ebook/dp/B09K8PYM5J/
My website: https://paulrader.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulRaderWrites
Medium: https://paulrader-42650.medium.com/
Email: [email protected]

Speakers

Paul Rader

Host • 40%

Daniel Yudkin

Guest • 60%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction to Civic Renewal and Potentialism
1:52	Why Daniel is Invested in Civic Renewal, Political Bridge-Building
3:56	What the Beacon Project is and How Daniel Became Part of it
9:00	What is Potentialism and Why is it a Right and Responsibility?
15:05	What Does it Mean to Call Potentialism a "Gift"?
19:22	Tackling the Problem of Distrust in Political Institutions
23:14	How Ready is the Public for Potentialism?
28:34	Responding to Arguments that Potentialism is Impractical or Too "Touchy-Feely"
33:34	Demonstrating Potentialism to Citizens Who Feel They Have Nothing to Offer
37:52	Demonstrating Potentialism to People Who are Afraid of Politics
41:23	Demonstrating Potentialism to People Who Don't Care About Politics
43:17	How Can People Get Involved With Potentialism, the Beacon Project?
46:10	Final Thoughts on Potentialism, Civic Renewal, Depolarization
47:59	Random Question: A Hobby You'd Like to Develop That You May Not Have Time For
50:41	Closing and Our Links

Transcript

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