Political Depolarization Advocate & Writer; National Ambassador of Braver Angels; Contributor to The Wall Street Journal

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

John Wood Jr. Biography

John Wood Jr. is a writer, speaker, and figure in the American depolarization movement. As national ambassador of Braver Angels, a grassroots bipartisan organization dedicated to political depolarization, Wood has focused his career on bridging partisan divides through dialogue and moral philosophy. His work centers on fostering understanding between polarized communities, particularly in politics, race, and religion.

Before joining Braver Angels, Wood was the youngest active nominee for Congress in California, challenging Maxine Waters in the 43rd district. His campaign emphasized depolarization and reducing political animosity, critiquing both parties for divisive behavior. Wood later served as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County before shifting his focus to political depolarization, influenced by his upbringing in a politically mixed family—a liberal Black mother from Los Angeles and a conservative white father from Tennessee—which shaped his approach to cross-ideological dialogue.

Wood is a co-host of the Braver Angels Podcast and host of "The John Wood Jr. Show." Through his podcast, he features conversations on restoring civic discourse with political commentators and thought leaders. His writings on race, politics, religion, and moral philosophy have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Examiner, USA Today, Real Clear Politics, Quillette Magazine, and Reflections, a journal of the Yale School of Divinity.

As a public speaker on political and racial reconciliation, Wood has addressed audiences at think tanks, universities, corporations, philanthropic organizations, and political associations, including Aspen Institute, Manhattan Institute, Global Philanthropy Forum, Philanthropy Roundtable, Target, General Mills, LucasFilm, and universities such as Pepperdine, Duke University, USC, Purdue, and UC Berkeley. He has spoken on the importance of civic trust and compassion in sustaining democracy at venues such as Town Hall Seattle, hosted by the University of Washington's Office of Public Lectures, and Indiana University, where he discussed American political polarization and the value of celebrating the nation's history by fostering respect across political differences.

In addition to his work with Braver Angels, Wood serves as an advisor to The American Project, the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, and the 1776 Unites Project. He is a member of the Progress Network, an initiative of the New America Foundation, and a field-builder with the New Pluralists Collaborative, a coalition supporting organizations committed to depolarization and social justice. Wood describes depolarization as gradual, interpersonal work requiring patience and commitment to democracy, drawing on the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the concept of agape—a form of selfless love he considers essential to a healthy democratic culture.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/09/2026.

John Wood Jr. Videos

John Wood, Jr. speaks at the Aspen Institute's #WeaveThePeople ...

John Wood, Jr. speaks at the Aspen Institute's #WeaveThePeople ...

This content isn't available. John Wood Jr. speaks at the Aspen Institute's #WeaveThePeople 2019. @aspeninstitute65 likes2.5K views6 years ...

The Omni-American Dream Interview with: John Wood, Jr. - YouTube

The Omni-American Dream Interview with: John Wood, Jr. - YouTube

Monday February 17 2025 the School of Public Policy hosted its 2025 Black History Month webinar featuring John Wood Jr. leading figure ...

Philosophical Nonviolence and the Democratic Ideal with John ...

Philosophical Nonviolence and the Democratic Ideal with John ...

John Wood Jr. questions and upvote other audience questions here: https://app.sli.do/event/q2Zg1uAg3FeyWnij79e8Xz.

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  • What topics does John Wood Jr. speak about?

    John Wood Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Anti-Racism, Bipartisan, Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Journalist, Leadership, Podcast Host, Political, Social Activism, Thought Leadership
  • Where does John Wood Jr. travel from?

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John Wood Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book John Wood Jr. for your event is available upon request. John Wood Jr. generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tania Israel, Amali Tower, Xernona Clayton, Clayborne Carson and Hasan Piker. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling John Wood Jr. for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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