Check out part 1 of our conversation with April Chatham-Carpenter, new state coordinator for Braver Angels Arkansas, on our On The Other Hand podcast. Share freely with others.

Summary: In this first part of our interview with Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, April shares her journey — from an aptitude test that launched a career in communication, to her discovery of Braver Angels and why its mission immediately resonated with her. She reflects on how communication sits at the heart of both polarization and healing, and describes her path from early Braver Angels volunteer to national leadership roles. April also introduces listeners to her new role as state co-coordinator for Braver Angels Arkansas and what drew her back to focus locally.

In part 2 of our conversation with Bob Estes, coordinator of Arkansas Peace Week, Bob gets practical—and personal—about what it really takes to bridge divides in Arkansas. He talks about why trust must come before persuasion, and he shares the surprisingly freeing impact of deleting Facebook from his phone. We also explore the deeper cultural and generational gaps shaping our state, why he’s hopeful about young leaders, and what it means to serve your community without being afraid to fail. Along the way, Bob reflects on how he hopes to be remembered—and the simple daily practice that keeps him grounded. It’s an honest, hopeful look at how change actually happens, often in quieter ways than we expect.

In this episode of On the Other Hand, Glen talks with Bob Estes, coordinator of Arkansas Peace Week and longtime advocate with the Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice, about what it really means to build a culture of peace in a deeply divided time. Bob reflects on the personal influences that shaped his commitment to fairness and equality, from mentors like Paul Wellstone and Woody Guthrie to his own experiences in community organizing. He explains how Arkansas Peace Week—centered around September 21—uses youth art and essay contests and practical lessons to plant seeds of nonviolence that may take years to fully bloom. The conversation also explores what Bob has learned about fostering respectful dialogue across political differences, citing as a hopeful example a recent bipartisan legislative success. It’s a thoughtful, grounded discussion about how peacebuilding happens—not just in theory, but in classrooms, communities, and everyday conversations.