Are you willing to change your mind on abortion? What about immigration? Education?

Here at Intelligence Squared U.S., we love a good argument – almost as much as we love an audience willing to change its mind. So when the New York Times’ David Leonhardt challenged Americans to do just that this summer, we took notice. In an op-ed entitled, “A Summer Project to Nourish Your Political Soul,” David asked readers to, "pick an issue that you find complicated, and grapple with it."  But he didn’t stop there: David then advised readers to, “consider changing your mind, at least partially."

In this episode, David joins our host John Donvan to discuss the urgency of engaging with people and ideas that challenge closely held orthodoxies:

He cites immigration, abortion, and education as examples of contemporary issues that defy easy answers, and says it’s ultimately the right and responsibility of every citizen in a democracy to wrestle with nuances and complexities.

For David, engagement is paramount. “If you end up having a conversation with someone who doesn’t agree with you, it can actually be quite an eye-opening experience,” he says.

Listen to that conversation now and let us know you what you think of David’s summer experiment – and just how willing you are to challenge those deeply held political beliefs.