Host, Editor

Megan Phelps-Roper

What I Do

I'm a writer, host, and producer here at Longview.

Much of my work explores the tensions that emerge when deeply held beliefs collide. I'm interested in how people form convictions, how those convictions shape institutions and societies, and what makes persuasion, coexistence, and truth-seeking possible in a pluralistic world.

These questions guide nearly all of the work I do. They led me to host and produce The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, a podcast series examining some of the most heated cultural conflicts of our time. They inform my reporting and commentary on free speech, polarization, and social division. And they shape my work at Longview, where I contribute to narrative journalism about some of the most consequential issues facing society.

My Background

I was born and raised in the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, where I spent most of my life immersed in an insular religious community known for its extreme public protests. In 2012, I was compelled to leave the church after conversations with people I had been taught to regard as “enemies.” The experience transformed my understanding of belief, identity, and the psychology of how minds change — and eventually became the subject of my memoir, Unfollow. That story has also been chronicled in the New Yorker, a trio of BBC documentaries, and a viral TED Talk.

Since leaving religious extremism more than a decade ago, I've devoted much of my career to examining the forces that pull people apart — and the forces that can bring us back together. I’ve used my experiences to work with law enforcement organizations on deradicalization, with schools on anti-bullying campaigns, and with tech companies on the intersection of safety and free speech. I've also spoken around the world about free expression, civil dialogue, polarization, and the challenge of living together amid profound disagreement.

My Ethics

I believe curiosity is more useful — and more honest — than certainty.

I try to approach every subject, and every person, with intellectual humility. I don’t believe that means abandoning judgment or avoiding difficult questions. Rather, I believe it means recognizing that we must make judgments in the midst of uncertainty, and that it is essential to remain open to new evidence that can and should change our positions.

I believe people deserve to be represented fairly, even when their views are unpopular or controversial. I strive to tell stories with accuracy, context, and empathy — and to follow evidence wherever it leads rather than where I expect it to go.