Welcome back to Building Left, the podcast where hosts Jaime Frederick and Kallee Lins dive into the evolving landscape of social democracy and progressive politics in Canada. In this episode, the hosts are joined by Dr. Jared Wesley, a political scientist from the University of Alberta. Dr. Wesley dives into how individual Albertans make sense of their political identity, challenging the stereotypical conservative image of the province, and raises issues like the "spiral of silence" that can keep progressive voices sidelined.  Join the conversation for political insights that impact ridings across the country. Dr. Wesley's research and experience speaks to the importance of fostering belonging, bridging perceived political divides and communication strategies to find common ground on specific issues.  Sources and Background Reading:  Jared Wesley's website No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics by Alex Marland, Jared J. Wesley and Mireille Lalancette How Minds Change by David McCraney Alberta's distorted view of their own political culture Deep Engagement Canvassing - Neighbours United