This event is part of Critical Conversations, a new series on the age of misinformation by Intelligence Squared and Sage & Jester, hosted by Sophia Smith Galer.

Have you ever clashed with someone on social media or even a loved one? Conversations can easily escalate in a time where everyone is consuming different media with wildly different messaging.

At Truth Hurts: From Conflict to Connection, we tackled the most divisive topics in our day-to-day lives and how we can all become better conversationalists. How can we productively engage with those who have opposing views? How can we de-escalate emotionally-charged conversations? And how can we engage others to create a more ethical, kind and sustainable world?

We dove into clever strategies for critical thinking and taught you how to dodge sneaky traps; whether you’re scrolling through your newsfeed or navigating tricky conflicts. We also explored techniques for managing emotions and sparking meaningful, empathy-driven conversations that actually get somewhere.

Social cohesion researcher Dr Julia Ebner was in conversation with host Sophia Smith Galer live at the Pleasance Theatre in London.