Because of the increasing popularity of podcasts, the CILMAR staff have been working to create intercultural learning lesson plans that incorporate this fast-growing platform.

Recently, a couple of us were talking about what we could develop from Alan Alda's interview with Ann Patchett on the podcast "Clear + Vivid," in which they discuss characters for which we simultaneously feel hate/repulsion/dislike and empathy. In our conversation, we decided these characters did not even have to be a typical villain to cause us to be ambivalent. (Think Michael Scott. Need a review? Take a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap0ae1Z8qGg.)

Although it is fun to discuss villains, such as https://www.syfy.com/…/25-villains-we-love-to-hate-from-the…, on television or in the movies, research indicates that it is reading literary fiction that can really give us an empathy boost. (For example, see https://www.scientificamerican.com/…/novel-finding-reading…/.) Consider Draco Malfoy, for instance (https://www.wizardingworld.com/…/chapter-that-made-us-fall-…).

Out of our discussion came a new tool that we think you will like. Try out "Empathy and Fiction" at hubicl.org/toolbox/tools/504/ and let us know what you think! We hope you have as much fun discussing this topic as we did.