Sponsored by a generous donor and working in partnership with Idaho Public Television, Idaho Listens will present a rare opportunity for audiences to listen — truly listen — to speakers from a cross-section of backgrounds, occupations and experiences, who live different values and perspectives about the central issues of our state and our time. That is the goal: to listen and learn, nothing more and nothing less.
That goal requires speakers of courage and integrity, who will tell their very human stories to an audience of courage and integrity who will honor them with attentive listening. Speakers and listeners are not expected to agree with one another — far from it. That is why courage and integrity are essential. It takes both to listen, especially when values and perspectives may clash.
Last fall, eleven ordinary Idahoans shared stories about their lives and values, and the audience had to agree to listen silently, without interruption, without questions, without cheers or jeers. IdahoPTV documented Boise State’s Idaho Listens project, and what the Idaho “listeners” took away from the project.
The Idaho Listens documentary is also available for streaming at video.idahoptv.org and through the PBS app.
