Podcast Summary: Books With Your Besties
Episode Title: The Pendulum of Progress: Understanding Societal Shifts
Hosts: Emily and Ashley
Release Date: May 16, 2025

Introduction

In this insightful episode of Books With Your Besties, hosts Emily and Ashley delve deep into the dynamics of societal progress, exploring how advancements in areas like human rights and equality often face backlash, creating a "pendulum" effect. Blending personal anecdotes, psychological insights, and current events, the duo provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in societal shifts.

Update on Previous Cases

Idaho Town Hall Incident

Emily begins by revisiting their most impactful episode—the Idaho Town Hall incident involving Teresa Bor. She updates listeners on significant legal developments:

• Legal Charges: As of April 30, 2020, four men—Paul Truitt, Russell Dune, Christopher Berg, and Jesse Jones—have been charged with battery, false imprisonment, and violations of security agent duties and uniform requirements.
  "They have all been charged," [03:12] Emily announces.

• Business Consequences: Lear Asset Management's business license in Coeur d'Alene has been revoked due to multiple code violations. Ashley emphasizes the importance of holding violators accountable:
  "You should never set that precedent that you're okay with violence toward anyone." [03:24] Ashley asserts.

The hosts reflect on the public's initial reactions and the importance of allowing due process:
"Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time. So you have to just be careful how you react completely." [04:02] Emily advises.

Kyron Horman Case Update

Ashley shares optimistic news regarding the Kyron Horman case:
"Our new district attorney, Nathan Vasquez, came back out and said he's looking at the case again and wants to reaffirm his continued commitment to the case." [14:30] Emily reveals. The involvement of the FBI and the digitization of case files suggest a thorough re-examination of the evidence.

Main Discussion: The Pendulum of Progress

The core of the episode revolves around the Pendulum Effect, a concept describing how societal progress often swings back and forth rather than moving in a straight line. Emily articulates the idea:
"Progress is made non-linearly... it's like the pendulum has swung back in response to pushing really far." [15:20] Ashley explains.

Examples of the Pendulum Effect

1. Transgender Rights:

   • Progress: Acceptance of transgender individuals in the military and societal acknowledgment of their rights.
   • Backlash: Resistance to initiatives like gender-neutral bathrooms, leading to polarized debates.
   • Ashley provides a poignant example:
     "Instead of saying, wait a minute, whoa, slow your roll, make a law... Instead, they said, no trans rights for anyone." [18:27] Emily discusses the rapid shift and the ensuing resistance.

2. Women's Rights and Economic Shifts:

   • Progress: Increased participation of women in the workforce and advocacy for equal pay.
   • Backlash: Emergence of movements opposing dual-income households, with some advocating for traditional gender roles.
   • Ashley connects economic factors to societal expectations:
     "The economy and the way that our society functions actually probably was really impacted by that." [27:32] Emily adds concerns about young women embracing restrictive roles:
     "It feels like this dramatic shift... how are these young women so like white Christian nationalists?" [26:14]

3. Body Positivity Movement:

   • Progress: Acceptance and celebration of diverse body types.
   • Backlash: A resurgence of unrealistic thinness standards, reminiscent of the 1990s.
     "Body positivity seems to be going back to looking like you are like the 90s. Very, very unhealthy thin." [30:09] Ashley observes.

Psychological Insights

Moral License

Ashley introduces the concept of Moral License, explaining how individuals justify immoral actions based on perceived moral behavior in other areas:
"Moral license is the concept that we behave in a way that we think is moral and then it gives us license to act immorally." [19:43] She provides the example:
"I'm not racist. I voted for Obama. It is okay for me to vote for Trump who behaves in a racist way because I already proved I wasn't racist." [20:22] Emily adds examples related to LGBTQ+ support:
"Because I have a gay friend, it's okay if I vote for somebody who's going to try to strip away gay rights." [20:53] Ashley underscores the subtlety of these justifications.

Implicit Influence on Behavior

The hosts discuss studies illustrating how subconscious priming affects actions:

1. Aging Stereotypes:

   • Participants exposed to words related to the elderly walked 13% slower.
     "We are influenced non-consciously by ideas." [22:26] Emily expresses amazement.

2. Rudeness Priming:

   • Those exposed to rude words interrupted conversations more quickly, while those with polite primes delayed interruptions by up to 20 minutes.
     "People are just really strongly influenced by the things around us." [24:14] Emily reflects on societal reactions:
     "We throw the whole baby out with the bathwater." [24:37]

Political Polarization

Emily and Ashley analyze the current political climate, illustrating it as a manifestation of the pendulum effect:

• From Obama to Trump:
  "It's the Obama to Trump example," [19:33] Emily states, highlighting the dramatic shift in political attitudes and policies.

• Eugenics and Research Funding:
  Ashley raises alarms about discriminatory practices in scientific research funding, emphasizing the detriment to marginalized communities:
  "You can't use the words gay, lesbian, anything to do with LGBTQ... All funding to breast cancer research... you can't use the word pregnant fetal... it's a push and a movement to only support research on white men." [31:13]
  Emily echoes the horror:
  "That's awful that it seems like the whole point is cruelty." [33:24]

Impact of Education and Social Media

The hosts discuss the role of education in mitigating the pendulum effect, stressing that:

• Education Prevents Radical Swings:
  "Education is the number one thing that prevents poverty... and makes people more open-minded." [22:32] Emily and Ashley agree that informed individuals are less susceptible to extreme shifts in societal norms.

• Social Media's Role:
  Rapid information dissemination can exacerbate the pendulum effect by fostering impatience and pre-judgment:
  "In this information age, we think we have access to the whole truth and we forget that we don't." [06:31]
  Ashley adds:
  "It's easier to jump to conclusions without being part of the situation." [05:41]

Future Content and Closing Remarks

Emily and Ashley tease upcoming content, including updates on the Kyron Horman case, discussions on eugenics, and another true crime episode. They emphasize their commitment to tackling controversial and critical topics despite potential backlash.

Ashley concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage on Patreon for bonus content, while Emily wraps up the episode with a heartfelt farewell:
"Thanks for listening." [35:51]

Key Takeaways

• Societal Progress is Non-Linear: Advancements often encounter backlash, creating a pendulum-like swing between progressive and regressive states.

• Psychological Underpinnings: Concepts like moral license and subconscious influences significantly shape behaviors and societal trends.

• Education and Awareness are Crucial: Empowering individuals with knowledge can mitigate extreme swings and promote sustained progress.

• Critical Evaluation of Information: In the age of social media, exercising patience and critical thinking is essential to forming informed opinions.

Notable Quotes:

• "Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time. So you have to just be careful how you react completely." — Emily [04:02]

• "Moral license is the concept that we behave in a way that we think is moral and then it gives us license to act immorally." — Ashley [19:43]

• "We are influenced non-consciously by ideas." — Emily [22:26]

• "It's easier to jump to conclusions without being part of the situation." — Ashley [05:41]

For more discussions, insights, and updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Books With Your Besties and support the hosts on Patreon for exclusive content.