The Ben & Jamesa Podcast: Conversations About Community
Welcome to The Ben & Jamesa Podcast, where we explore conversations about community.
In each episode we challenge each other, and you the listener, to unlearn old patterns and build more compassionate, authentic connections in every area of life.
If you're new here, start with episode #137, “Start Here,” for an overview of our work and podcast. After that, dive into any episode that resonates with you as we break down how to move from control to genuine connection.
The Ben & Jamesa Podcast: Conversations About Community
Ep. 139: Hiding Control in Virtuous Language
What do phrases like “pro-life,” “law and order,” and “family values” have in common?
They sound virtuous—but they’re often just control, dressed up as morality.
In this episode, Ben and Jamesa—coming to you from our life here in Portugal—unpack how language that sounds good on the surface can actually be a tool for domination, silence, and harm. We explore how these phrases shape everything from public policy to workplace culture, and how control often hides behind ideas that seem unassailable.
We also share what it means to move beyond that—to lead and live with more honesty, more discomfort, and a lot more connection.
