Experimental Payphones Link San Francisco and Texas to Bridge Political Divides
A unique social experiment is attempting to bridge America's deep political chasm through the simple act of conversation. Two specially installed payphones, one located in liberal San Francisco and another in conservative Abilene, Texas, are connecting strangers from opposite ends of the political spectrum for direct, unmediated discussions.
Connecting Ideological Opposites Through Direct Dialogue
The innovative project, created by Boulder-based biotechnology company Matter Neuroscience, repurposes old payphones purchased from Facebook Marketplace to facilitate these cross-party conversations. In San Francisco, the phone sits outside Black Serum Tattoo parlour in the Mission District, while its counterpart occupies a downtown Abilene location near Seven and One Books. Clear signage on each unit explains that callers will be connected with someone holding fundamentally different political views.
"The goal for this project is for people from different places to have a meaningful conversation and enjoy common humanity," states the explanatory sign on the San Francisco payphone. It continues with a neuroscience perspective: "Research shows that the core molecules associated with happiness are the same in all human brains, regardless of political identity."
The Neuroscience Behind Political Conversation
The project's creators emphasize the biological impact of political discourse. According to their signage, while political disagreements are natural, hostile exchanges typically increase cortisol levels (the stress hormone) while suppressing happiness. Conversely, positive conversations have the opposite effect, lowering cortisol and boosting feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and cannabinoids.
"In short, more cannabinoids and less cortisol equals more happiness for all," the sign concludes, presenting a biological argument for civil political discourse.
Ben Goldhirsh, co-founder of Matter Neuroscience, explained to ABC7 San Francisco that the initiative tests whether providing simple opportunities for cross-political conversation can increase mutual understanding. "I think our thesis is that humans are pretty awesome and – if given the opportunity – will really look to find common ground because biologically that actually gives us a lot more happiness," Goldhirsh stated.
Real Conversations Across the Political Divide
ABC7 monitored several conversations between the two cities, revealing exchanges that ranged from political identification to everyday observations. Berkeley resident Milo Duhamel discussed passing Cybertrucks with his Abilene counterpart, noting the conversation wasn't overtly political but provided interesting insight into life in Texas.
Meanwhile, Sai Duhamel directly addressed political affiliation with his conversation partner, asking: "On the phone it says call a Republican. Do you consider yourself a staunch Republican?" Surprisingly, the Abilene resident identified not as Republican or Democrat, but as a Green party member considering switching to the Peace and Freedom party.
Arlene Kasselman, owner of Seven and One Books where the Abilene phone is located, observed significant local enthusiasm for the project. "People are excited," she told ABC7. "I think the opportunity to have civil discourse in a time where there's so much polarization is important for people. I think people want to experience a unifying thing and these conversations can be unifying."
Recording and Sharing the Dialogue
Matter Neuroscience confirms that conversations are being recorded, with plans to share selected exchanges online around late January. The project represents a tangible attempt to address America's political polarization through direct human connection, leveraging neuroscience principles to encourage more constructive political engagement.
While The Guardian has reached out to Matter Neuroscience for additional comment, the payphones continue operating as physical bridges between two of America's most ideologically distinct regions, offering strangers the rare opportunity to speak directly across the political divide.
