EP 50 - A Nation Divided: What We Learned From Tragedy, Faith, and Real Talk

Summary

Podcast Summary: More Than Reality with Adam & Danielle Busby

Episode 50 – “A Nation Divided: What We Learned from Tragedy, Faith, and Real Talk”

Release Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Adam and Danielle Busby

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Overview

In their milestone 50th episode, Adam and Danielle Busby grapple with the recent tragic events that have affected the nation and reflect deeply on how division and outrage are exacerbated by social media and media narratives. Drawing from heavy personal experiences, current events—including the assassination of Charlie Kirk—and their own faith, the Busbys urge listeners to seek grace, humility, and real conversations to heal divides in society. This candid and heartfelt episode balances vulnerability with practical wisdom for moving forward in a fractured world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast and Life Transitions

• The Busbys start by reflecting on reaching their 50th episode milestone and the transitions in their personal lives, including listing their house for sale and dealing with the practicalities and emotions around closing a chapter.
  • “I feel like I can't get settled in even this temporary home until that's kind of closed, you know?” – Danielle (04:37)

2. A Tragic Week: National and Personal Impact

• The hosts acknowledge a series of tragedies including the Evergreen High School shooting, the murder of a Ukrainian woman in North Carolina, and—most centrally—the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
  • “I felt like we could not film a next podcast without at least speaking on... the horrible thing that we all saw this past week...” – Adam (12:00)
• They discuss the ripple effect these tragedies have on families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
  • “Our hearts go out to the family and Erica and the kids... Charlie was a father and he was a husband and a friend and a person and it’s just a tragic, tragic day.” – Danielle (13:34)

3. Shock, Outrage, and Responses Online

• Adam and Danielle are troubled by the polarized online reactions to tragedy, including celebratory responses to violence.
  • “Then you saw the other side of it, of people that, like, laughed about it and said he deserved it and all these things, and you’re like... wow, that is just evil.” – Adam (15:17)
• They reflect on how social media algorithms trap people in echo chambers.
  • “Yeah, because we're in two completely different algorithms and I don't see any of the things that you're talking about. And I was like, huh?... That's why none of this makes sense to the other side, because we don't see it.” – Adam (32:21)

4. Faith and Light Amidst Darkness

• The hosts frame these events in spiritual terms, emphasizing that tragedy has awakened many to the reality of evil and prompted spiritual searching.
  • “It was like God peeled back a veil and exposed hundreds of millions of people to evil. And they were able to see the spiritual realm...” – Adam (15:20)
  • “Their reaction has been like, okay, let me open a Bible or let me go buy a Bible or let me step back into church... tragedy was seen that day. But this veil of evil was witnessed.” – Danielle (17:52)
• They encourage renewed boldness and faith-based action.
  • “We have got to stand forward and we have got to be more bold and... shout the truth and don't let the evil win, you know.” – Danielle (18:50)

5. The Importance of Civil Conversation

• Adam shares a powerful, recent three-hour conversation with someone who holds opposing views, illustrating that finding common ground is possible.
  • “We both wanted the same things. There was like a few little minor nuances... None of that stuff was enough to... make either one of us feel outraged. After that conversation... why is the temperature so high right now?” – Adam (27:32)
• The hosts decry “cancel culture” and the tendency to unfollow or dismiss those with opposing opinions.
  • “That’s also something that I don’t understand either... you find out that they support this or have said this... automatic unfollow. Like, I never want to see you again. And that’s silly.” – Adam (21:15)

6. Media Manipulation and Social Media Algorithms

• The Busbys critique how media and algorithms stoke outrage for profit, furthering division and misunderstanding.
  • “There’s people out there that want to keep us outraged and to further divide everyone. People get split up into these algorithms... and it just gets more and more egregious, more and more inflammatory...” – Adam (30:56)
  • “You just need to do better.” – Danielle (39:47)
• They urge listeners to do their own research and avoid falling for soundbites or narratives designed to provoke.
  • “Stop doing what someone's telling you to do. Make your own judgment... Is this the full truth that they're telling me? Let me investigate. Let me pull my own truth out of what I've received.” – Danielle (34:14)

7. The Role of Faith in Navigating Division

• Danielle reminds listeners that only God’s word is absolute truth, encouraging discernment in evaluating media.
  • “The only word that is true is the words that God has spoken. And those come from the Bible... The stuff that comes from the media is their take on what they have seen.” – Danielle (38:51)

8. A Plea for Lowering the Temperature and Seeking Unity

• Adam closes by encouraging humility, grace, and the intentionality to engage others with curiosity and respect.
  • “Lower the temperature. We need to get back... to the way things used to be, where people could actually sit across from each other and have a conversation. Because you'll find out... you're gonna find common ground.” – Adam (40:06)
  • “Don’t be afraid to sit across from somebody, meet them where they are, offer grace, be humble.” – Adam (43:03)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Once we get to a point where we just can't talk anymore, that's when the trouble starts.” – Adam (01:11, also repeated at 19:12)
• “There's nothing that anybody can say, no words that anybody can say that's worth just taking somebody’s life for. Over words.” – Adam (20:41)
• “If we all liked and all had the same thing, there wouldn't be nothing to talk about. So it's okay to disagree with things. It makes conversation, but it's not okay to not talk about it.” – Danielle (40:54)
• “My plea for everyone out there is just lower the temperature... have grace for their opinion and just find out what allowed them to form that opinion and not be afraid to share yours.” – Adam (41:39)
• “Thank you for sitting here and listening to our heart. Thank you for sitting around through episode 50.” – Adam (43:03)
• “God bless America.” – Danielle (43:53)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• [04:06–05:08] – Personal updates, house listing, family adjustments.
• [12:00–14:21] – Discussion of tragedies (school shooting, Ukrainian woman, Charlie Kirk’s assassination).
• [15:17–17:52] – How the reaction to tragedy revealed societal and spiritual divides.
• [19:12–20:41] – On the importance of civil discourse; consequences of division.
• [21:15–23:29] – Navigating criticism and unfollowing in social media culture.
• [27:32–31:59] – Adam’s experience of seeking common ground in difficult conversations; role of media and algorithms in division.
• [32:21–35:10] – Advice to listeners: due diligence, discernment, and making independent judgments.
• [38:51–40:11] – Danielle on the true source of truth and the Bible vs. media narratives.
• [41:39–43:03] – Final advice: lower the temperature, pursue grace and understanding.

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Tone and Language

The episode is marked by honest, down-to-earth dialogue typical of Adam and Danielle's style. There’s a strong current of vulnerability, introspection, and faith throughout, interwoven with humor and married-life banter in lighter moments. The conversation is candid and direct, showing both the heaviness of the subject matter and practical hope for change.

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Final Takeaways

• Tragedy can reveal deep divides, but also provides an opportunity for awakening, reflection, and unity.
• The Busbys strongly advocate for civil conversation and personal connection rather than outrage, division, and knee-jerk online reactions.
• Media (mainstream and social) must be viewed critically; listeners are encouraged to seek truth, do their research, and rely on faith as a compass.
• Meeting others with humility, grace, and a willingness to really listen is central to healing both personal relationships and national wounds.

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For listeners new or veteran, this episode is a defining reflection on the Busbys’ values—faith, family, authenticity, and a longing for national healing.

Transcript

[Danielle Busby]

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[Adam Busby]

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[Danielle Busby]

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[Adam Busby]

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[Danielle Busby]

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[Adam Busby]

The phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. There's people out there that want to keep us outraged and to further divide everyone. And then she stopped me. She's like, yeah, because we're in two completely different algorithms and I don't see any of the things that you're talking about. And I was like, huh? Yeah. And that's why none of this makes sense to the other side, because we don't see it. One of the biggest things that he used to say was when people stopped talking, civil war is going to happen. Like, it's the most dangerous thing that can possibly happen. When people feel like they can't just sit down and talk with another person about whatever the issue is, Once we get to a point where we just can't talk anymore, that's when the trouble starts. Don't be afraid to sit across from somebody, Meet them where they are, offer grace, be humble.

[Danielle Busby]

This is More than Reality podcast, where we dive into all things faith, family, and marriage and share that there is so much more than the reality that you see on the surface. Welcome to More Than Reality with Adam and Danielle Busby.

[Adam Busby]

All right, guys, this is Adam and Danielle Busby. I was just about to lead into that. This is Adam and Danielle Busby from More Than Reality podcasts. And I was going to give Danielle the honors because she remembered what episode this was.

[Danielle Busby]

So it's episode five.

[Adam Busby]

Zero, fifty.

[Danielle Busby]

I actually remembered for random reason. I was like, adam, is this episode 50? And he said, yeah, I can't believe we had 50 episodes. I've really been thinking a lot. We've had a lot of, like, feedback and, like, just kind of like, looking at, like, where the podcast started, what we've been kind of talking about in the vision of, like, what we want the podcast to be, we've kind of been going through, like, A life transition of just, like, moving and everything and, you know, trying to keep it real on the real on the podcast. And so our vision here is to, you know, talk life, talk real, share our heart, share our faith, share parenting things and marriage things. Jinx. Yummy. A Coke. That's what I was gonna say.

[Adam Busby]

Me too. Jinx.

[Danielle Busby]

Does that remind you. Yeah. Does that remind you of the sizzle? Yeah, every time I hear that, but I forgot I would say, oh, yeah. So our goal is to have conversations with other people, too, and bring people into the podcast and have interviews and topics and conversations with others, too. Just right now, we're just still back in transition with, you know, the house and stuff like that. And so. But speaking of the house, we finally listed the house, which is really good.

[Adam Busby]

House is finally on the market.

[Danielle Busby]

Finally on the market. And which is. It feels kind of like. Like, you know, we still got to get it sold, which is good.

[Adam Busby]

We've had a few people come and look at it over the last few days. Yeah, it just got. It just got listed right at the beginning of this week. So, yeah, it's fresh on the market.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah, we've had good feedback and stuff. So just waiting on that perfect offer to come in or a couple offers would be nice, you know, on it. Like, a little bidding war would be even better.

[Adam Busby]

Heck, yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

But ready to close that chapter, really, and just feel like I feel like I can't get settled in even this temporary home until that's kind of closed, you know?

[Adam Busby]

Yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

We still have a garage full of stuff over there.

[Adam Busby]

Garage and attic and patio and there's another garage behind the patio. And.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah, there's still. There's still quite a few stuff that we gotta, like, go get, like, once the house sells. But.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah, but at least the house is, like, straight up. It looks good.

[Adam Busby]

Just praying the weather gets a little cooler. I know, because when we were moving the house last time, it was so dang hot, dude.

[Danielle Busby]

Adam was so busy the week that the house was getting pictures done. So I was, like, going back and forth and doing all the final things and moving stuff out and moving it to the garage, like, doing. I told him. I was like, I'm doing all the man things.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. Because I would have just enough time, like, okay, I can run over there. I can do this one thing, and then I have to leave. And I did that for, like, a few days in a row. Like, there's so much stuff that, like, little random things that I need to do, but, like, I can only do this One thing right now. And so, like, I'd run over there.

[Danielle Busby]

And then we had two days left.

[Adam Busby]

30 plus minutes away. I'll do that one. One task. And I'd jump in my truck before I got sidetracked. But.

[Danielle Busby]

And then the day that, like, we had to, like, do the paint and stuff in your office, and I'm like, what can. And, like, have the paint, and, like, I'm like, up on the ladder, and you come in, and I'm like, on the ladder, and I'm painting, you know, the thing or whatever. You had already done, like, the patching.

[Adam Busby]

And whatever in my. In my office at the old house. So I had. It was like a little production studio. And so, like, I had these. These hydraulic arms mounted to the walls in three.

[Danielle Busby]

You always say I give too many.

[Adam Busby]

Details and stuff because they're, like, heavy duty arms for, like, big, heavy lights or cameras and stuff like that. So you can, like, move them around the room. It takes big anchors to put in a wall, so I had to, like, pull those off, patch them, retexture the wall, stuff like that.

[Danielle Busby]

And so I'm in here painting on a ladder, and Adam comes in, and I don't know, he just comes in here.

[Adam Busby]

What?

[Danielle Busby]

He sits down on the floor. He sits down the floor, starts talking to me, and I get down the ladder, and I walk over to the other one. He's just, like, talking to me, and I'm just, like, sitting here painting him. Like, he's like, is that a spot? I'm like, bro, like, I'm about to, like, get that ladder and move over here and either get a paintbrush or get out of here. And don't tell me that I missed a spot. Do you remember that? You're like, oh, my bad. I'm like, okay, you don't have to paint, but at least move the ladder around for me. Yeah, that's funny. You're not a multitasker. You cannot paint and talk at the same time.

[Adam Busby]

No. Anyway, but I get, like, super fixated. And, like, I remember whenever I was, like, touching up some stuff upstairs, there was, like, some thing, like, I had to.

[Danielle Busby]

I remember I asked you. I go, that's what you. That's the only thing you did?

[Adam Busby]

Yeah, because I, like, I would, like, see something else, and I would jump to that, and then I'd see something else, and I jumped to that because I had, like, the paint in my hand. So I'm, like, touching up. I ended up, like, painting pretty much, like, half of the upstairs, like, baseboards and stuff. Because like, I just kept jumping around and I'm like, well, if I painted this, I need to go paint that. And like I just. And it wasn't all what I went there to do do and. But yeah, it was funny.

[Danielle Busby]

But the house looks good and hope it goes to the perfect family.

[Adam Busby]

It was nice painting that though because I knew the next day they were coming to put carpet in so I didn't have to worry about even getting paint on the carpet. Yeah, I'm just like, that was nice. All right, so now we're going to take a little break from our sponsor today, which is Cozy Earth. And man, this week more than ever I've wanted to just like crash in your bed. In the bed.

[Danielle Busby]

You actually, I actually walked in over the weekend and you were like laying in bed, taking a nap and I don't know if I've ever seen.

[Adam Busby]

No, that's because I had a headache.

[Danielle Busby]

I don't know if I've ever seen you like just cuddle up in bed and take a nap.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

But it almost made me want to get in bed too because I'm like, no, that's my cozy bed.

[Adam Busby]

I very rarely do that. And.

[Danielle Busby]

But I know you were cozy.

[Adam Busby]

I was definitely cozy. And so, yeah, I mean it's just something about this. Just bamboo sheets, there's nothing like it.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah, they are definitely breathable. They keep you cool at night and even when you're taking a nap during the day.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah, yeah. So we, we use the cozier sheets every single night. We absolutely love them.

[Danielle Busby]

And even when I wash my cozy Earth sheets, I don't. I used to just put another set of sheets on and you know, put.

[Adam Busby]

Them in the laundry bed, like all undone because you want to wait till those.

[Danielle Busby]

I literally wash and dry them and put them back on the bed.

[Adam Busby]

We need to order a second set just for our bed. So we just do hot swap.

[Danielle Busby]

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[Adam Busby]

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[Danielle Busby]

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[Adam Busby]

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[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

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[Danielle Busby]

Yep. Thank you, Cozy Earth. Anyway, so let's see episode 50. It's, you know, I would like to say it's a fun episode, but it is a, it's a big episode. I mean, we've made it to 50.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

But this episode, it's. I don't know, it's heavy because we've, we've gone this last week, this weekend. Last week has just been very heavy and tragic. I'm gonna let Adam kind of, you know, talk about a lot of this and like, lead the conversation, but it's, it's been a lot, so.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. And I mean, obviously everyone around the world has seen it and stuff. I mean, I felt like we could not, we could not film a next podcast without at least speaking on.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

The horrible thing that we all saw this past week, you know, obviously you have a school shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado. Horrendous, terrible. Yeah. You had a lady that was from Ukraine that was brutally murdered, I believe it was in North Carolina on a train. And it was, that was horrible. It was horrible seeing the people on the train that did nothing about it also. And then on the 10th, Charlie Kirk's assassination. And you know, we've, we've shared a few things and I'm, and I'm sure everybody has been bombarded with takes on every single side and. But it's, it's gotten conversations started good and bad about everything. And I didn't want this episode specifically to be about like, you know, the assassination of Charlie Kirk because there's like something like so much like deeper and underlying within that. Yes, it was, it was horrible.

[Danielle Busby]

And our hearts go out to the family and Erica and the kids and the fact that that was, you know, seen across the world and she saw it. Her kids will are, are young and can one day as older as that video is out there, and it is something that they can see one day as they're older. And it's just a tragic, hard thing and our hearts go out to that family. And, you know, Charlie was a father and he was a husband and a friend and a person and it's just a tragic, tragic day. And so we are so sorry for the loss of. Of Charlie.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. And I mean, whether, I mean, anyone, you know, believed, like, the things that he was saying or didn't like the things that he's saying, the problem with it all is nothing that anyone says is worth what happened.

[Danielle Busby]

Right.

[Adam Busby]

And, you know, that's, that's the bigger issue. And so, like, how have we gotten here as a society, as a people where. And then you look at their reactions of people online. You know, a lot of people, very moderate, just reasonable people, were like, man, that was horrible. I wish I would have never seen that ever. And that should have never happened. And people like. And then you saw the other side of it, of people that, like, laughed about it and said he deserved it and all these things, and you're like.

[Danielle Busby]

Wow, that is just evil.

[Adam Busby]

And that was horrible. And so, you know, it got, you know, just. It just got me thinking about, you know, there's. There's a clear. You know, we've said it multiple times on our. Throughout the course of the last 49 podcasts, we've. We've spoken. You know, this year, at one point, I even shared a. A story of coming face to face with, like, a demonic presence. And, And I feel like, in a sense, there was. There was a bit of a blessing. It's hard to say that there was a bit of a blessing that came from the tragedy. And that blessing was hundreds of millions of people. Their eyes were open to the very. It was like God peeled back a veil and exposed hundreds of millions of people to evil. And. And they were able to see the spiritual realm of demons, demonic presence, demonic possession, through other people all over the world. Because I truly believe anybody that is celebrating the death of the death of somebody like this in such a tragic way, a father, a husband, and is celebrating and laughing about it, that is demonic. And I truly believe that. And, you know, the more of, like, thinking about that and then the more of, you know, you're seeing people that are not necessarily believers all over the world, it's caused them to start thinking about, you know, the Bible and, well, you know, taking. Taking a step like a. A second look at man, should I go back to church and should, Should I start seeking, like, why. Why do I feel this. This way? Because it. It put, it caused a reaction in.

[Danielle Busby]

A lot of people and a reaction that us as believers would say is the Holy Spirit. And what they're feeling is something they can't explain, but it is causing them to Seek something.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

And so their reaction has been like, okay, let me open a Bible or let me go buy a Bible or let me step back into church, or I've never stepped in church, or I haven't been to church in five years. And I had a friend tell me that her sister went to church this past Sunday for the first time in 15 years and, you know, gave her life to Christ. Like that day, which, it's just tragedy was. Was seen that day. But what you're saying is, you know, this veil of evil was, Was. Was witnessed across the board from, like, millions of people. And it did. I think it has opened the eyes of. Of a lot. And, you know, Erica Kurt, her message of, like, you don't know what you have unveiled and what, what. What is now going to be seen and shown, you know, And I believe, like, the believers and the followers of Christ and us, like, we have got to stand forward and we have got to be more bold and in and shout like, the truth and don't let the evil win, you know.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah, it's definitely unleashed. And you can see that amongst thousands of people for sure, that I've even seen that. Just like a newfound boldness to just not be afraid to say what they feel or what they believe. And, you know, at, at the. Whether. Whether you believe the things that Charlie said or not the biggest one, at one of the biggest things in his, you know, him going to college campuses, him debating all these other people. One of the biggest things that he used to say was when people stopped talking, civil war is going to happen. Like, it's the most dangerous thing that can possibly happen. When people feel like they can't just sit down and talk with another person about whatever the issue is. Once we get to a point where we just can't talk anymore, that's when the trouble starts. And I feel like we were at the. We're. And we still are. We're at this tipping point of people that are just afraid to speak up because they're afraid they're going to be shouted down or canceled or attacked or killed or whatever that that may be and that that has to stop.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

Because there's nothing that anybody can say, no words that anybody can say that's worth just taking somebody's life for. Over words. Like, if you disagree with somebody, okay, that's fine. That's your opinion. Walk away. But the fact that it's like, absolutely, like, enrages people to the point of feeling like they need to take someone's life. That's where things are just so sideways. And yesterday I'm not going to like, say any names or anything. If you listen to this, obviously you know who you are, but I had like a, a three hour conversation yesterday with somebody that I very much so like, we're on polar opposite ends of the spectrum and beliefs, you know, whenever it comes to just like social issues, politics, stuff like that, where we couldn't be more probably opposite. But she posted something on social and I still follow her. Like, that's, that's also something that I don't understand either. Like, okay, you know, there's people that, you know, there's things that, you know, you have in common. There's things that you like about somebody, but then you find out that they support this or, or have said this, and then it's like, oh, automatic unfollow. Like, I never want to see you again. And that's like, that's silly. I follow all kind of people that like, believe other things that I don't believe. But so, you know, I still follow her, she still follows me.

[Danielle Busby]

How much, how much of that do we see on our own personal feeds?

[Adam Busby]

Oh, yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

How dare you follow that one person. Or, you know, we've gotten a lot of traction on, you know, just for like, we went to the visual and the prayer night for Charlie Kirk in Houston and like just all the comments, like, how dare you follow. I thought you were a better person than that. And all this thing and it's like, it's like, whoa, like, I'm, I'm. This is something I feel as a Christian.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. And I've seen an injustice.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

And, and it was somebody that was personal to us and, you know, it resonated. And so we went there to show our support, show our support for our city and for Erica and her family.

[Danielle Busby]

And even just for the country, like.

[Adam Busby]

You know, like, now's the time. I mean, it's just like a kind of like a post 911 thing. Whenever the country comes together.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

You know, we just wanted to come together with other people just to show our support. And people are like, oh, I can't believe you actually did that, or he deserved that or whatever. Immediate unfollow. I'm like, at this point, like, I don't care, especially after the things that I've seen last week, the things that nobody should see and then the way that that was celebrated. Like, I feel like this line has drawn in the sand where no. Charlie encouraged people to speak and he was bold in that. And yes, people attacked him. People Hated him for it. But he always encourages, he always encouraged people like, if you have, it's a question, or if you have a question or a disagreement, step up to the mic and let's, let's just talk. And if you truly without, without finding the sound bites and the edited clips and the things taken out of context that you see on social media, if you actually watch the video, the videos that he posted, there's probably tens of thousands of hours of video of all his debates and school visits and all this kind of stuff that are online for the world to see. And if you scrub through those and you watch the discussions in full context from beginning to end, he was actually extremely cordial. He was very courteous and gracious in his responses. And he was for them, unless he was attacked by somebody very personally, he was still very pleasant. That's the problem nowadays is that, you know, so here we go back to the three hour conversation that I had. So I'm on the, I'm on the phone yesterday. So this person, she sends me a text message because she, she posted on her, like, on her Instagram feed. She's like, hey, I would like to speak to like, another Christian that has, you know, pretty conservative views and conservative values. I would like to get your, your take on some things. And then I saw that, like, nobody responded. And so, like, the next day I just responded on there and I was like, hey, any takers? And. And then I get a text message from her a little bit later that day. She's like, hey, you feel like getting on a phone call? I was like, yeah, let's go. So what I've gathered from that phone conversation, we spoke, literally, we spoke for three hours. And probably more than 90% of that phone conversation, we both agreed on everything we were talking about. We both wanted the same things. There was like a few little minor nuances to certain topics or whatever that, you know, you kind of conceded with each other. Okay, yeah, that's, you know, like more social, social topics here and there. That. Okay, I understand that you believe that because I would explain, like, why I believe that. And she's like, well, you know, yeah, I, I get your point, but. And then she would say, like, she would tell her side and then, okay, like, and I understand her side of it. And it was cordial. Not a single time in the entire three hours that either, either person, like, raised her voice. We were very gracious with each other and we were able to freely speak our mind. Never got heated. It was actually very pleasant and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. And one thing that we both gathered is that, you know, through all of this, we all want the same thing. Like, we all want.

[Danielle Busby]

Did y' all both agree on that?

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. Like, we all want to be able to, like, live our lives with, you know, the most simple things of just being able to have a house at a roof over our head, lower gas prices, easier access, you know, to. To lower costs in food. Like, you know, just, like, random, like, all these issues. Like, we both want the same thing. And it was just these few very minor things that we kind of, like, disagreed with. And neither. None of that stuff. It was enough to, like, raise the temperature or make, like, either one of us feel outraged for it. And after that conversation, you know, I was just thinking about it is, you know, so why does. Why is the. The temperature so high right now across the media, across social media, across, you know, everything? Like, why. Why are people so angry and outraged and just want to, like, shout each other down? And you're right, I'm wrong, and how dare you. The divide and there's so much division and all this, like, just hate speech, because at the end of the day, most of us want the same thing. It goes back to what's. What was that documentary a few years back about social media, so Social dilemma. It really. It really goes back to that. I mean, you. You think about, you know, like, social media platforms were created so people could communicate more and be, like, be able to communicate more easily and share. Share your life with other people. But it's become so perverted and divisive because of the media and politics and all this stuff, and. And then, you know, algorithms have created to further divide and. Because we were, like, talking about a few things, and she had mentioned a few things about Charlie Kirk and some of the things that she. She heard about Charlie Kurt, and so the things that she said about him. And I was like, but that was only half of the statement. And. And she's like, well, that's all I've seen. And that. So, like, I explained about. Okay, well, this was the full context of that. That discussion. And right after that, where you stopped, he explained further, and he went to this. And she was like, oh, yeah, that makes a lot more sense. And I was like, yeah, exactly. And a lot of people have. And I've seen it because people are coming on my social media and are saying, like, oh, he said this, and he said this. But it's only half of the statements. Yeah, because there's people out there that want to keep us outraged and to further divide everyone. And so people out there have an agenda, and their only goal is to further divide people. And so people get split up into these algorithms, split up into their camps. And so they don't see, they don't see the content from the other side, and vice versa. All you see is the stuff that you're consuming. And so they just feeding you more of that, more of that, more of that. And then it just gets more and more egregious, more and more inflammatory to the point where now we're at this, like, fever pitch of everybody hates each other and this side's a Nazi. And this side, you know, it's just. And for what? You know, for what? You know. And I feel like the people out there that are profiting because of it are the real problem. Yeah, you know, you have people in the media, you look at the news, you know, Fox News versus msnbc, NBC, and, you know, and they're both telling their side of the argument from their perspective and slot throwing insults at the other side. And all it's doing all, all, all they want to do is keep you irritated and aggravated and angry. Because if you, if you stay angry, you're going to keep watching. And it's like people, it's like a dopamine hit. People wanted. People are just, like, addicted to it.

[Danielle Busby]

And, and then it causes your stress levels to be high, which then is going to cause you to be angry. And it's going to change the demeanor of how you are with the people around you and how you are with your peers and your household and everything. And so your fingers are on your responses to people that you don't even know.

[Adam Busby]

And so, I mean, at the end of the day, there's people that are making lots of money off of manipulating all of us. And no matter what you believe, I guarantee you, you can sit across from that other person. And if you can have the courage to have an intelligent conversation with somebody, you're going to find out that most of the things that you talk about, you're, you're, for the most part, in alignment with. There might be a few little fringe things here and there. Other than that. It's not worth it. That was what I've learned. I mean, that was like one of the big things that I've learned for the most part from that conversation yesterday. You know, it was just, it was like, eye opening because, you know, there was one thing, you know, we were talking about some stuff, and I had explained about that, that sound bite that she was talking about. And she's like, well, I've never seen that. And. And then she stopped me. She's like, yeah, because we're in two completely different algorithms, and I don't see any of the things that you're talking about. And I was like, huh? Yeah. And that's why, you know, none of this makes sense to the other side, because we don't see it. You know, we're, we're just being fed the stuff that social media thinks that they want you to see because you have consumed that, or you may have liked this one thing that this person said. So it's just going to start sending you more of that, and it just further. Just creates this big divide.

[Danielle Busby]

I mean, and even the other day when we were at, you know, like one of the teenagers said the other day, like, yeah, I saw the, the thing with all the stuff about Charlie Kirk, but then I just went to go look at, like, puppy videos for two hours just to get that stuff out of my feed. You know, it's like, kids know it. They know that people know how algo algorithms work, so they need to get smarter about, like, do better about using your own brain and, and say, is this what I believe or is someone making me believe it? Okay, so stop doing what someone's telling you to do. Make your own judgment and say, okay, I have been giving this information. What am I going to do about it? Is this the full truth that they're telling me? Let me investigate. Let me pull my own truth out of what I've received. Because what you are receiving from the media is not the only truth. It's not all the truth. Right. So what you see on this side and what you see on this side, you've got to do your own.

[Adam Busby]

Due diligence.

[Danielle Busby]

Yes, due diligence.

[Adam Busby]

With.

[Danielle Busby]

What do you, what do you come up with that? You know, because it's true. I mean, the media and it's. Social media just added it's, it's, it's there to, it's there to divide. It's there to keep you hyped up and keep your fingers going and to keep your brain from distract. It's to keep you distracted and keep you from, you know, I mean, it's, it's only getting worse too, you know?

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. I mean, a lot of the stuff that I like, I'll come across on social media that kind of like, stirs something up in me as far as, like, gets me, like, feeling a certain way about something, like, I'll stop myself. And I'm like, I'm not just gonna take this person's word for that. Like, let me, let me do some searching. Is this true?

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

And, you know, and I feel like so much of this stuff the last few days, like, every single attack I've received, just because, just for going to a prayer vigil that dozens and dozens of people were saved through faith in Jesus Christ at, which was like such a awesome thing to see. You know, so many of the things that people are saying to me, like, it, it's such like, so misinformed. Yeah, like, it was like so many of this, the, the, the quotes and the snippets that people were sending me. I'm like, but that, that's only, that's only a small port portion of it. Like, you like, send me the rest of it. Because that's not the whole, that's not the whole statement. And it was like so much of that, like so many people out there, obviously social media has created us to just like, keep swiping, keep swiping, keep swiping, like small micro content. And so you see this for 30 seconds and you're on to the next thing and you're, oh, this makes me mad. Let me, let me like that and keep going. And you know, instead of actually just like, don't be so freaking lazy and actually go look at it for yourself. I mean, there's tens of thousands of hours of all these recordings. I mean, everything is probably ever said is out there in full context, full length, and, you know, you can really see this. And obviously, you know, there's things out there. I mean, he was, he was definitely a very pro life, pro American, conservative Christian. And so, like, obviously, you know, if you don't believe in those things, obviously you're going to disagree with those things. But none of that stuff was worth, like, killing someone over. And a lot of the people that sat across from them in a, in a conversation ended up walking away with like, with a smile on their face and like, or, you know, thanking them for just like speaking. And it wasn't that difficult. I mean, there was very few people that walked away that looked angry. And so, I don't know. I mean, it's just. I believe there's some very rich and powerful people out there that are playing us all for fools, you know, especially after seeing this, this week. Like, you need to see it for what it is. They're playing all of us. They're playing on our emotions and they're, they're getting rich off of it and people are dying because of it because we're so freaking angry and so divided in our side. And they're right, I'm wrong, and, and at the end of the day, we all want the same things, so.

[Danielle Busby]

And don't. Media is. The only word that is true is the words that God has spoken. And those come from the Bible. So the stuff that comes from the media is, is their take on what they have seen. They're journalists, so they're, they're hearing something, they're seeing something. And they're telling you a story. They' reading you a story that they have put together. Okay. And five people can go out there and give you five different stories. You know, just like you read the, the, the Gospels, they're telling you there's four gospels in the book in the Bible. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They're telling you all the same story from their point of view. That is true. That is true. These words are true. So the Bible has true words spoken by Jesus, God's words. But you can't take all the media as true. And I don't believe. I believe that us Americans and everybody around the world needs to be smarter with what they're intaking and do better. You just need to do better.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

I mean, and that's that next generation for sure.

[Adam Busby]

And that means all sides.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

I mean, Fox News is responsible. NBC is responsible. Like, everybody plays a part in this. They're all doing the same things to all of us. And we're all just being played for fools. Yeah. And so I mean, my plea for everyone out there is just lower the temperature. We need to get back. How. Get our country back to the way things used to be, where people could actually sit across from each other and have a conversation. Because you'll find out really quickly most of the things that you talk about, you're gonna find common ground.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

So that would be my encouragement for you.

[Danielle Busby]

And if we all liked and all had the same thing, there wouldn't be nothing to talk about. So it's okay to disagree with things. It makes conversation, but it's not okay to not talk about it.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah.

[Danielle Busby]

Did I say that right? It's not okay to not talk about it. Yes. It's a. We need to have conversations. Adam and I disagree. We're two different brain, we two different likings on things. But conversation is what we have to do. Conversation is what still needs to take place within the country, within the world to make things happen, which make things work together, come to common ground. Like, I mean, it's, it's a. It's part of our marriage. It needs to be part of the covenant of this world.

[Adam Busby]

So, yeah, that's my encouragement. Like, you know, lower your, lower the temperature. You know, meet someone where they are, have grace for other people, have grace for their opinion and just find out where, like how, like what, what allowed them to form that opinion and not be afraid to like share yours. Because I mean, there's things that we agree, we believe in because we have a lived experience of what, what gave us that belief and gave us that.

[Danielle Busby]

Opinion, not just because someone told us.

[Adam Busby]

And so, you know, and that, that's why we have that opinion about things. And if you just like understand that from people, you know, you'll see like the humanity in people and what, what causes them to believe what they believe. So that's all I've got.

[Danielle Busby]

It's Good.

[Adam Busby]

So.

[Danielle Busby]

Episode 50, guys.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. Hopefully it wasn't just like a Adam lecture, but I feel like it was just something that.

[Danielle Busby]

No, it's good.

[Adam Busby]

It needs to be said because it.

[Danielle Busby]

Needs to be talked about and it's a, it's something that is going to be talked about. What has happened, I mean, this is a milestone.

[Adam Busby]

Yeah. You know, and it was something that like in history. I'm, I'm not just saying it, just to say it, like without, with like shallow words. Like I literally had a three hour conversation with someone that I vehemently disagree with on almost everything. And it was enlightening and it was cordial. Yeah. So let that encourage you. Don't be afraid to sit across from somebody, meet them where they are, offer grace, be humble. So that's how I got it. Thank you for, for sitting here and listening to our heart. Thank you for sitting around through episode 50.

[Danielle Busby]

Yeah.

[Adam Busby]

Of more than Reality podcast. All right, we love you guys.

[Danielle Busby]

God bless America.

[Adam Busby]

And Doug. Here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera.

[Danielle Busby]

They see us.

[Adam Busby]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. Liberty Savings Fairy Underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts. This is the new single from Juanes. It's called Cuando estamos tu hi yo.

[Danielle Busby]

Undo Cayenne to sauce for Segundo Kwandos.

[Adam Busby]

Listen to Juanes, Kwandos, Tamos tui yo and more on Spotify.