In this timely episode of The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan sits down with Deb Roy, director of the MIT Center for Constructive Communication, to explore how the modern information ecosystem is reshaping democracy, trust, and our relationships with one another. At a time when misinformation, algorithmic amplification, and fragmented media environments are fueling polarization, Deb offers a powerful framework for understanding what he calls our information architecture—the invisible systems that determine what we see, what we believe, and how shared meaning either forms or breaks down.

But this conversation goes deeper than technology or media systems. It is ultimately about our humanness—the ways we see, hear, and relate to one another. Deb’s work reminds us that when information systems distort reality, they also weaken the relational fabric that allows diverse societies to function. As a world-leading researcher, Deb brings rigorous insight into how information systems shape civic life. Drawing on both modern research and what he calls “ancient wisdoms,” he reminds us that renewing democracy may begin with something profoundly simple: re-invigorating relational connection through listening, storytelling, and shared human experience.

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When Dr. Susan Blumenthal spearheaded a bold effort to move imaging technology from missiles to mammograms, she didn’t just advance innovation—she showed what’s possible when conviction meets creativity and unlikely coalitions.

In this conversation, Leigh sits down with the former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General and global public health leader to explore her decades of bipartisan service across both Democratic and Republican administrations, the deeply personal story that drew her into women’s health advocacy, and what it really takes to build progress across political and institutional divides.

Dr. Blumenthal makes a powerful case that women’s health and women’s empowerment are directly tied to the strength of families, communities, and nations. She also shares practical wisdom for staying grounded in your values when progress feels slow, misinformation spreads quickly, and polarization runs high.

This inspiring episode is about leadership in turbulent times, the courage to look around corners, staying persistent when the path ahead isn’t clear, and how storytelling and lived experience can help all of us build bridges—no matter our role.

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In this episode of The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan and Dr. Vardit Ravitsky (President and CEO of The Hastings Center for Bioethics) explore what moral courage in practice actually looks like when the choices are thorny, the facts are contested, and the consequences are deeply human. Leigh and Dr. Ravitsky explore how bioethics helps us navigate today’s most charged issues—vaccines and public health, abortion and women’s lives, AI and genomics—without sliding into either performative “dialogue” or hardened certainty. You’ll hear why Dr. Ravitsky insists that “good ethics starts with good facts,” how her team designs inclusive conversations without legitimizing misinformation or dehumanization, and why trust-building relationships are the real engine of progress. If you’re hungry for grounded wisdom on how to stay humane, clear-eyed, and connected in unsettled times—this conversation will both steady you and challenge you.

Check out show notes at www.spaceinbetweenpodcast.com.

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