The Enemies Project with Larry Rosen

Mediate Your Life with John Kinyon

In this episode of the Mediate Your Life podcast, John Kinyon engages in a deep conversation with Larry Rosen, a mediator who is creating a documentary series called, "The Enemies Project." Larry introduces his theory of the "enemy trance," explaining how empathy shutdown leads to misunderstanding and conflict escalation. He shares insights from the documentary he’s creating, which aims to bring together politically opposed individuals for transformative dialogues.

The discussion covers the neuroscience of conflict, the role of "enemy makers" in society, and how to break cycles of animosity. John also guides Larry through an internal mediation process, demonstrating Mediate Your Life principles and how these relate to the Enemies Project. This episode offers listeners an exploration of conflict dynamics on both societal and personal levels, providing practical insights for anyone seeking to navigate disagreements with greater compassion and understanding.

About Larry: Larry’s experience with peacemaking is multifaceted and long. As the founder of the mediation law practice Through Understanding, Larry has helped thousands craft stable solutions to crippling conflicts. In September 2024, Larry begins hosting the documentary film series The Enemies Project, whose goal is to help rivals and enemies see deeply inside each other. Larry’s TEDx, The Secret to Understanding Humans, viewed 1.5 million times, offers simple, profound insight into human psychology. His popular article series, Understanding Humans, further illuminates the hidden human mind. In 2024, Larry completed writing the soon-to-be-published novel The Enemy Dance, posing the question: Can a society riven by tribalism heal itself or must it descend into war? Larry graduated in the top 10 from UCLA School of Law where he was Editor of the Law Review. His many projects share a common purpose: feeling what is inside our enemies — so that we know how to convert them into friends. If you would like to participate in the documentary film series The Enemies Project, please visit the website and submit an inquiry.