This conversation with Alissa Wilkinson is a fascinating exploration of how the stories we tell ourselves - through Hollywood, through politics, through the media - shape the very fabric of our culture and our history. Wilkinson's work on the iconic writer Joan Didion provides a powerful lens to examine how the narratives we construct, often unconsciously, can profoundly influence the way we see the world and the decisions we make as individuals and as a society. What's so compelling about this discussion is the way it peels back the layers on these deeply ingrained stories - the myths of the American West, the heroic narratives of World War II, the celebrity-driven politics of the Reagan era. Wilkinson shows how these cultural touchstones don't just reflect our values, but actively shape them, often in ways that obscure uncomfortable truths or justify harmful actions. In an age where the very notion of objective reality is under assault, this conversation reminds us of the vital importance of interrogating the stories we tell ourselves. Because the stories we choose to believe - whether about our national identity, our political leaders, or our own personal histories - have real consequences. They determine how we see the world, how we make decisions, and ultimately, the kind of future we create for ourselves. So I encourage you to listen closely, to wrestle with the questions Wilkinson raises about the power of narrative, and to consider how the stories you've internalized might be shaping your own understanding of the world. It's a conversation that gets to the heart of what it means to be human in a complex, ever-shifting cultural landscape. Alissa Wilkinson is a movie critic at the New York Times and the author of "We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine," which will be published by Liveright on March 11, 2025.Alissa's Book:<a href='https://amzn.to/41y3aRG'>We Tell Ourselves Stories</a>Alissa's Recommendations:<a href='https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34963732/'>Predators</a><a href='https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34965959/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_0_in_0_q_project%2520zodiac'>Zodiac Killer Project </a>Subscribe to Our Substack: <a href='https://shiftingculture.substack.com/'>Shifting Culture</a> Connect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.us Go to <a href='https://www.shiftingculturepodcast.com'>www.shiftingculturepodcast.com</a> to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy. Follow on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcast'>Facebook</a>, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/'>Instagram</a>, <a href='https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2'>Twitter</a>, <a href='https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcast'>Threads</a>, <a href='https://bsky.app/profile/shiftingculture.bsky.social'>Bluesky</a> or <a href='https://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcast'>YouTube</a> Consider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowEmail jjohnson@allnations.us, so we can get your creative project off the ground! <a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316986' target='_blank'>Faith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!</a>Breaking down faith, culture & big questions - a mix of humor with real spiritual growth. Listen on: <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-balance-of-gray/id1785509143' target='_blank'>Apple Podcasts</a> &nbsp; <a href='https://open.spotify.com/show/0FwHKB00ZMInmQ2eGWnKJH' target='_blank'>Spotify</a><a rel="payment" href="https://allnations.kindful.com/?campaign=329535">Support the show</a>

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Ep. 277 Alissa Wilkinson - We Tell Ourselves Stories

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