No matter where in the world you live, it’s hard to miss the tension out there these days. Shouting matches, name-calling and one-sided debates are the new norm. With all of this emotion fuelling the political arena, where does this leave us?

In this episode, we discuss what it takes to stay calm in the face of chaos. My guest, Ian Brown, is an award-winning photographer whose work focuses on the human condition. Long fascinated by the elusive American Dream, Ian set out to document what this notion means to Americans of all ages, races, identities, classes, religions, and ideologies.

Over the course of twelve years, Ian travelled more than eighty thousand miles in an old truck, visiting all fifty states and connecting with hundreds of individual Americans. As a Canadian investigating the fabric of America, Ian offers an intimate look at this divided country. His stunning portraits, and collection of hand-written stories from the Americans he met along the way, are showcased in his new book, “American Dreams”.

In our conversation, Ian shares what he learned about true diversity on his journey into the heart of America. He explains how listening is a key to bring us closer together, and why he remains hopeful for the future.

Full show notes on Wake Up Shake Up webpage. 

• American Dreams Project
• Website
• Instagram

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YOUR WAKE UP, SHAKE UP TEAM:

Aimée DuBrule, CultureRISE
Host and Producer

Website: https://culturerise.com/
Instagram: @culturerise
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimeedubrule/

Jenn MacLeod, Jenneve Digital
Media Production

Website: https://jenneve.com/
Twitter: @jennevedigital
Instagram: @Jenneve_Digital
Facebook: @JenneveDigital