Listening, asking good questions, managing emotion in difficult conversations, reading group dynamics, communicating complex ideas clearly—these are the skills that make a good advocate.
Advocate Spotlight: J. Glen White, PhD
What is something important you have learned about advocacy that has made you more effective?
I keep learning, in life and in my advocacy work, an important lesson that I first heard in psychology—the critical role of relationship. No matter how much expertise or energy I bring to an interaction, the most effective thing I can do is build a genuine, positive relationship with the person in front of me. Persuasion follows trust, not the other way around. Also, expand your appreciation of diverse persons and interests. Research on group decision-making has long shown that diversity of experience and knowledge measurably improves the quality of a group’s conclusions—I knew that as a psychologist before I joined Braver Angels and began the podcast, but now I have a deeper, lived appreciation of that principle. We really are stronger together. That’s not just a value statement; it’s what the evidence shows.
Can you give us a key tip in doing successful advocacy that others may not be aware of?
Host a podcast. It’s been one of the most unexpectedly powerful advocacy tools I’ve found. It spreads your message, yes, but it also opens doors to new contacts and teaches you things you didn’t know you needed to know. And it has become increasingly easy to do this without requiring extensive expertise in technical aspects of the process, so don’t let that intimidate you. Some of my most important advocacy insights came from guests I interviewed, not from anything I said myself. This mirrors a similar dynamic I observed in my career as a psychotherapist. While I used my skills to help others in therapy, I often learned lessons from my clients as well.
What would you want APA members who are not engaged in advocacy to know?
Our training in psychology is an exceptional foundation for advocacy. Listening, asking good questions, managing emotion in difficult conversations, reading group dynamics, communicating complex ideas clearly—these are the skills that make a good advocate, and they are the same skills we already practice every day in our work. If you’ve been hesitant to step into advocacy because you don’t feel qualified, I’d argue you’re more qualified than most. And don’t just cite research findings. Tell stories about how our research findings can apply in a specific situation that is meaningful to someone. I’d add that as busy as you may be, there are many ways to help advocate for psychology. Lobby, testify, write a letter to the editor, talk to local groups, or just share your knowledge and thoughts with others in social or other non-professional settings. There are countless ways to help, and many of them require only a modest amount of time.
Biographical information
J. Glen White, PhD, is a retired clinical psychologist whose career in central Arkansas spanned community mental health, academic medicine, and the Veterans Health Administration. He held faculty appointments at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Psychiatry and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, served as training director for APA-accredited predoctoral and postdoctoral programs, and finished his career at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Alongside his clinical and administrative work, he taught part-time at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, maintained a part-time practice at the Fowler Institute, and was active in the Arkansas Psychological Association and other community organizations. In retirement, Glen has applied a psychologist’s lens to one of the country’s most pressing civic problems: extreme political polarization. He co-founded the Arkansas Alliance of Braver Angels—a national depolarization organization—and has served in several leadership roles, most recently stepping down as state co-coordinator to take on the role of communications co-chair. He continues to lead workshops and community presentations in support of the Braver Angels mission. He also created and co-hosts the organization’s Arkansas podcast, On the Other Hand, with April Chatham-Carpenter, featuring conversations with Arkansas and national leaders who work across political and other divides.
Home state: Arkansas
SPTA membership: Arkansas Psychological Association
Date created: August 2026
