---

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Nov-2024/093q2.jpg)

 [ POLITICS ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022)

#  Navigating Identity, Politics, and Community: Jason Montoya & Guest Margaret Heffernan on the Share Life Podcast

November 18 2024

Written by Jason Montoya.

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

PODCAST - In this episode of [the Share Life podcast,](https://www.jasonscottmontoya.com/podcast) [Jason Scott Montoya](https://www.jasonscottmontoya.com/about) chats with [Margaret Heffernan](https://www.mheffernan.com/) (entrepreneur, author, speaker, storyteller, and professor of practice at the University of Bath in England), exploring the complexities of political discourse, community engagement, and the importance of understanding identity in today's society.

They discuss the 2024 presidential election, Trump's shocking victory, the balance between optimism and reality, and the significance of building connections within communities to foster positive change.

In this conversation, they explore the complexities of America's identity, the implications of wealth distribution, and the blind spots that can lead to societal complacency. They also dive into the role of misinformation in democracy, the power of narrative in shaping perspectives, and the importance of respectful dialogue in changing minds.

 [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")

 [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/2026%20LADWP%20PowerSavers%20300x250.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")

 [ ![David DeJute Campaign](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/DejuteAd.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")

 [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")

 [ ![Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/reitano%20vertical%20rework.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays

 Name

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8c/074h-8ccaaf79.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)

### [L.A. County Faces a Government Shake-Up](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)

WESTSIDE - Currently larger than 40 states in terms of population with roughly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/17/074g-17fdff1c.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33346-before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves)

### [Before We Ask God to Judge Us, the Jewish People Must Judge Ourselves](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33346-before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves)

Yom Kippur demands more than personal repentance. At a defining moment for Jews everywhere, it asks whether we have tru…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a0/075c-a0f1e7b1.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)

### [The Greater Israel Delusion May Undo Israel](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)

ANNEXATION - The vision of “Greater Israel” draws on maximalist readings of biblical verses, especially Genesis 15:18–2…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/41/075i-41edaa2b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33366-israels-political-map-is-being-redrawn)

### [Israel’s Political Map Is Being Redrawn](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33366-israels-political-map-is-being-redrawn)

NETANYAHUISM - The next Israeli election may be about something larger than Benjamin Netanyahu. For the first time in a…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/63/074j-63285bf8.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away)

### [LA, Stop the War on Cars. They Aren’t Going Away](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away)

LA TRANSPO - For anyone traversing the San Fernando Valley, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Los Angeles is sp…

---

##  [ POLITICS ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/074a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/33352-she-can-skip-congress-she-cant-skip-accountability)### [She Can Skip Congress. She Can't Skip Accountability](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/33352-she-can-skip-congress-she-cant-skip-accountability)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2026/073m.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/33339-from-democrat-to-independent-one-voters-break-with-las-left)### [From Democrat to Independent: One Voter’s Break With LA’s Left](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/33339-from-democrat-to-independent-one-voters-break-with-las-left)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/070a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/33286-one-city-15-mini-mayors-los-angeles-is-governing-itself-into-chaos)### [One City, 15 Mini Mayors: Los Angeles Is Governing Itself Into Chaos](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/33286-one-city-15-mini-mayors-los-angeles-is-governing-itself-into-chaos)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/038m.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/32722-californias-homeless-disaster-is-exploding-which-governor-candidate-has-the-courage-to-stop-it)### [California’s Homeless Disaster Is Exploding Which Governor Candidate Has the Courage to Stop It?](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/32722-californias-homeless-disaster-is-exploding-which-governor-candidate-has-the-courage-to-stop-it)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/041m.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/32762-tim-gaspars-political-problem-the-more-voters-learn-the-worse-it-gets)### [Tim Gaspar’s Political Problem: The More Voters Learn, the Worse It Gets](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-election-2022/32762-tim-gaspars-political-problem-the-more-voters-learn-the-worse-it-gets)
