Best Postliberal Podcasts (2025)

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Actually Existing Postliberalism (ft. Nathan Pinkoski) 1:03:56

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12d ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Nathan Pinkoski, fellow at the Center for Renewing America, talks to Timon about postliberalism, the radical shifts of the 1990s, and right wing literature. Notes: Actually Existing Postliberalism - First Things The Camp of the Saints - Paperback – Itasca Books Spiritual Death of the West - First Things Nathan Pinkoski earned his BA (Hon) from the …

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#55 Paige MacPherson: Smartphones, Canadian Education Performance, and School Choice 1:06:48

17m ago1:06:48

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Canada is libertarian on cell phones in classrooms and statist on school choice (in most provinces). We get a poor return on investment when it comes to education in Canada. Our math and reading scores are several years behind (even before Covid). Students are distracted by over 100 messages on their cellphones each day. And teachers cannot control…

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Charlie Kirk & the Future of the Right (ft. Mike Sabo & Ben Crenshaw) 1:11:09

3d ago1:11:09

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The editorial team discusses the meaning and impact of the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what the right needs to do going forward. Timon Cline is the Editor-in-chief of American Reformer. Prior to his appointment as editor-in-chief, he was a deputy attorney general in the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General. He is a graduate of Rutgers La…

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#54 Étienne-Alexander Beauregard - Gen-Z Conservatism & Anti Civilization: Why Our Societies Collapse From Within 57:41

1d ago57:41

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Gen Z sits at the cusp of major change in conservatism. Young people do not feel a warmth and longing for Reagan or Thatcher. Sure, they value freedom, but they also what to know where the guardrails stand. Étienne-Alexandre speaks clearly for a new generation of non-left thinkers. He asks what might be the role of conservatism in the near future. …

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Behind the Declaration (ft. Pavlos Papadopoulos) 1:26:12

5d ago1:26:12

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Pavlos Papadopoulos, professor of humanities at Wyoming Catholic College, talks to Timon about the ideas that undergird the Declaration of Independence. Notes: American Heritage and the American Idea - American Reformer Dr. Papadopoulos joined the Wyoming Catholic College faculty in 2018. A native of New England, he has traveled steadily south and …

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#53 Tristin Hopper: Extremism in Canadian Universities and review of his book, "Don't be Canada" 48:17

6d ago48:17

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Once again, Canadian university professors show their extremism in response to Charlie Kirk, a mirror of their praise for Oct 7. Professors shape opinion; they shape culture. Do we want the kind of culture they promote? Turning to his book, Tristin argues that Canada's world-famous policy failures are self-inflicted. He believes we could recover, i…

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#52 Josh Lewis: Conservatism, Saving Elephants, Populism, Donald Trump, and Economic Morality 1:09:50

8d ago1:09:50

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Josh Lewis is a traditional conservative who has worked in 'government' in America, has served in retail politics, and has interviewed hundreds of leading thinkers in American conservatism. Josh has a unique ability to bridge the gap between politics and life, philosophy and culture. His developed his skill comes from a deep discomfort with what he…

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#51 Reflecting on Charlie Kirk. Are we tired of being bullied? 22:53

13d ago22:53

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I couldn't stay silent and sane. Once again, the AI summary is scarily accurate, so I will let is stand. Let me know what you think. Shawn AI Summary: Responding to Tragedy: Honouring Charlie Kirk & Challenging Silence In this deeply reflective episode of Concepts, host Shawn Whatley breaks from his usual avoidance of current events to address a tu…

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#50 George Nash: The Conservative Intellectual Movement 1:09:54

15d ago1:09:54

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If you find conservatism confusing, you are not alone! Dr. George Nash has spent 50 years explaining all the strands that weave together into the collection of ideas we call conservatism. The AI summary is surprisingly good, so I will simply point out the book links below: The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945 Russel Kirk's C…

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Americanism (ft. Pax Americana) 53:31

20d ago53:31

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The popular internet pseudonym, Pax Americana, joins Timon to talk about aesthetics, nostalgia, and the American right. @1776pax is an X account dedicated to countering narratives that portray America as systemically flawed, emphasizing its heritage and values. Founded to challenge decades of negative programming, it rejects the notion of America a…

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#49 Yuval Levin: Unity, Citizenship, and American Constitutionalism 1:03:00

22d ago1:03:00

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How can we live together when we don't t all think alike? Are there nothing but power struggles, or is there a better way? Dr. Yuval Levin explains that we don't need to disagree less; we need to learn to disagree better. Unity does not mean unanimity. We should be hopeful, not simply optimistic. Yuval has spent several decades trying to persuade c…

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Right Wing John Mark Comer (ft. Chase Davis & Joe Rigney) 1:09:15

26d ago1:09:15

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Chase Davis and Joe Rigney join the show to talk about spiritual formation, worship, masculinity, and corporate agency. Notes: Spiritual Formation and the Trouble with Christian Nationalism - American Reformer J. Chase Davis (M.Div, Th.M, Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor of Ministry of The Well Church in Boulder, Colorado. Chase is married to Kim an…

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Bourgeois Values (ft. Amy Wax) 57:36

28d ago57:36

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Amy Wax, professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania, talks to Timon about her cancellation, the state of academia, and western civilization. Amy Wax is a tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she has taught since 2001, holding the Robert Mundheim Professor of Law chair since 2007. A native of Troy, New York, …

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#48 Nico Lagan: Political Orphans, Masculinity, and Faith 1:08:01

29d ago1:08:01

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The non-left in Canada includes an interesting and often overlooked group. They promote a mix of exercise, martial arts, masculinity, self defence, freedom, self sufficiency, honour, Christianity, and more. This group baffles academics and exasperates leftists. Both left and right seeks to dismiss and minimize their impact. But they represent a lar…

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Paleoconservatism, America, and the New Right (ft. Paul Gottfried) 1:46:40

1M ago1:46:40

1:46:40

Paul Gottfried, editor of Chronicles Magazine, former professor at Elizabethtown College, and author of numerous books, joins Timon and Ben to talk about the history of the conservative movement, what "rights" are, what an American is, and where the New Right is going. Notes: https://chroniclesmagazine.org/ https://passage.press/products/gottfried …

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#47 Andy Crooks: Moral Courage and the Heart of Conservatism 1:10:51

1M ago1:10:51

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Andy captures the heart of conservatism unlike anything I've found elsewhere. He has lived it. He embodies it. And he welcomes others to enjoy it. Andy Crooks spelled out what's at stake for Canada, and he explained what we must do to save it. Stark, fun, inspirational, and tragic. I can't think of a better embodiment of the heart an soul of conser…

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Everson Must Fall (ft. Timon Cline) 1:01:06

1M ago1:01:06

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Editors Mike Sabo and Ben Crenshaw interview Timon about his article on why Everson v. Board of Education must be overturned and separation of church and state ended, co-authored with Josh Hammer and Yoram Hazony, in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. Notes: https://journals.law.harvard.edu/jlpp/ Timon Cline is the Editor-in-chief of Ame…

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Postliberal Protestants (ft. Hunter Baker) 1:04:22

1M ago1:04:22

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Hunter Baker, provost and professor at North Greenville University, joins Timon and Josh to talk about his new book, Postliberal Protestants: Baptists Between Obergefell and Christian Nationalism. Hunter Baker, J.D., Ph.D. serves as provost and dean of the faculty of North Greenville University. He is the author of three books (The End of Secularis…

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#46 Marco Navarro-Genie: Red Toryism, Canadian Identity, and the Role of Conservatism 1:08:19

1M ago1:08:19

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Marco packages powerful barbs in (slightly) softened academic polish. It makes his writing and speaking fun to consume and hard to forget. Do check out his Substack https://substack.com/@navarrogenie Looking forward to hearing what you think! Thanks again! AI summary: Special guest Dr. Marco Navarro-Genie, VP of Research at Frontier Center for Publ…

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American Awakening (ft. Joshua Mitchell) 1:16:36

2M ago1:16:36

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Joshua Mitchell, professor at Georgetown University, joins Timon and Josh for a wide ranging discussion about America, identity politics, and Protestantism. Joshua Mitchell, PhD. is currently professor of political theory at Georgetown University. He has been Chairman of the Government Department and also Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at SFS-Q.…

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#45 Sean Walsh: The Hard Problem of Consciousness, AI, and Conservatism 53:48

2M ago53:48

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Sean has a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence. He writes well and thinks deeply. He's also experienced more grit than the average academic. This was not a light discussion, but I think you will find it well worth your time. Articles mentioned: Wandering Thoughts Artificial, human and angelic intelligence Sean is Associate Editor of Co…

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#44 Tristan Rogers: Conservatism Past and Present--A Philosophical Introduction 1:06:32

2M ago1:06:32

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Tristan and I discuss his new book on conservatism. It is fun and deep and convoluted...you will love it. The AI summary (below) chunks out the main sections. Books and articles mentioned: Conservatism Past and Present: A philosophical introduction, by Tristan Rogers https://amzn.to/4lYHPbC England: An Elegy, by Roger Scruton https://amzn.to/4lMKkO…

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Teach Them Diligently (ft. Kirk Cameron) 29:34

2M ago29:34

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Kirk Cameron joins Timon and Josh to talk about the See You at the Library initiative, America's Christian heritage, culture building, and why teaching our children biblical virtue is essential for national renewal. Notes: https://bravebooks.us/pages/see-you-at-the-library Kirk Cameron is known by millions as “Mike Seaver” from the 1980’s sit-com “…

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Stockholm Syndrome Christianity (ft. John West) 1:00:57

2M ago1:00:57

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John West, Vice President of the Discovery Institute, joins the show to talk his new book Stockholm Syndrome Christianity. West argues that many Christian leaders and institutions are adopting secularist views and facilitating cultural decline. He cites examples like Andy Stanley's rejection of the Old Testament and Francis Collins's support for LG…

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#43 Brian Day: The Fight for Canadian Healthcare | A 30-Year Battle for Patient Rights 1:07:55

2M ago1:07:55

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Dr. Brian Day has spent decades fighting for patients' rights. He trained during an era of no wait times and doctors competing to provide care for patients. People find this hard to believe, and system planners find it horrifying. Canadian medicare was once the envy of the world. Today, countries try to avoid creating 'Canada-like' results. Dr. Day…

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The Johnson Amendment (ft. Jon Whitehead) 51:29

2M ago51:29

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Jon Whitehead, attorney and former board member of the ERLC, joins the show to talk about the significance and implications for pastors of the Trump administration’s recent changes to the tax code. Jonathan Whitehead represents churches, denominations, colleges, and religious organizations on matters of corporate governance and compliance. He playe…

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#42 Nathan Pinkoski: Actually Existing Postliberalism 1:01:22

2M ago1:01:22

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A quiet revolution occurred in the 1990s. Our institutions shifted. The global war on terror solidified the shift and obliterated the distinction between public and private, which was once a feature of liberalism. The fusion of public and private represents a new era of actually existing postliberalism. https://firstthings.com/actually-existing-pos…

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#41 Rebecca Vachon: Canada's Rapid Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)/Euthanasia 50:44

3M ago50:44

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Canada has the fastest growing assisted dying program in the world. Medical Assistance in Dying (passive and active euthanasia) is now tied as Canada's 5th leading cause of death. We tackle loneliness and social isolation, individualism, and (briefly) social response to suffering. Not a light episode, but a crucial topic to discuss. Thanks for chec…

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Conservatism & Higher Ed (ft. Scott Yenor) 1:04:17

3M ago1:04:17

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American Reformer contributor and Claremont Institute fellow, Scott Yenor, joins Josh and Timon to talk about his experience in conservative higher education reform. Scott Yenor is a Washington Fellow at The Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life. His research focuses on feminism, sexual liberation, and on dismantling the rule of…

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#40 Happy Canada Day! What is Canada? What are we celebrating? 6:19

3M ago6:19

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Short recording for Canada Day. I hope you find (or found) time to enjoy the day and reflect on what we are celebrating. Canada is young: many Canadians alive now are more than 1/2 as old as Canada itself. Given its youth, what exactly is Canada? What aspects do we hope to pass on to our children and grandchildren? Whatever Canada is it must be "pl…

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#39 Adam Swart: CEO Crowds on Demand. Paid Protesters a Moral and Political Dilemma? 54:10

3M ago54:10

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I had a friendly debate with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, the largest protest company in America. He ran circles around me having clearly argued almost all my points many times before. He called out my hypocrisy at being intolerant of paying protesters while being ok with all the other money that flows around inside politics. Adam forced me…

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Iran and Equality (ft. Ben Crenshaw & Mike Sabo) 1:04:46

3M ago1:04:46

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For an editors roundtable, Timon, Ben, and Mike discuss the meaning of American equality and the potential for war with Iran. Mike Sabo is a Contributing Editor of American Reformer and an Assistant Editor of The American Mind, the online journal of the Claremont Institute. His writing has appeared at RealClearPolitics, The Federalist, Public Disco…

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#38 Ryan Alford: Seven Absolute Rights and necessary limits on government 1:00:29

3M ago1:00:29

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Our legal history will shock you. It has more tradition than libertarians can stomach and more anti-government sentiment than conservatives can tolerate. Dr. Alford explains why we need both more history and more enthusiasm to put government in its place. He ends with a message of hope for rescuing Canada. Seven Absolute Rights: Recovering the Hist…

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#37 Daniel Pitt: The essence of conservatism from Burke to Scruton. 1:00:22

3M ago1:00:22

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I got a chance to visit with Dr. Dan Pitt, co-author of Intellectual Conservatism: From Burke to Scruton. We focussed on a chapter he wrote which offers a brilliant rubric for understanding conservatism -- one of the best I've seen. Dr. Pitt offers an attractive view beyond the status-quo liberalism in which all political parties operate, for the m…

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The Virtue of Nationalism (ft. Yoram Hazony) 1:10:39

4M ago1:10:39

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Yoram Hazony joins Josh and Timon to celebrate the seventh anniversary reprint of his book, The Virtue of Nationalism. Yoram Hazony is President of the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem, and currently serve as Chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation, a public affairs institute based in Washington DC that has hosted the National Conservatism Conference s…

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#36 Ferenc Hörcher (Hungary) on Intellectual Conservatism from Burke to Scruton 53:21

4M ago53:21

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Conservatives are often suspicious of intellectuals and for good reason. Novel ideas dreamt up by radical intellectuals have caused enormous suffering over the past 200 years. But Conservative parties cannot survive without intellectual substance. European conservatism doesn't suffer from the North American tendency to confuse conservatism with cla…

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#35 Peter Copeland: The politics of Pope Leo XIV. What can we expect from the new pope? 51:27

4M ago51:27

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Pope Leo's election garnered far more interest than usual. We are in a time of great change. People are paying attention. The Pope shapes public opinion, and people are eager to know what Pope Leo might say. I asked Peter all the most provocative political questions I could imagine. What might the Pope think about resource development, immigration,…

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Scandals and Due Process (ft. Mike Sabo & Ben Crenshaw) 1:02:36

4M ago1:02:36

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In this editors roundtable, Mike, Ben, and Timon talk about the recent revelations surrounding former President Biden's health, and recent court cases that are preventing President Trump's immigration policies. Mike Sabo is a Contributing Editor of American Reformer and an Assistant Editor of The American Mind, the online journal of the Claremont I…

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#34 David Livingstone: Radical Conservatives, postmodernism, and D'Arcy McGee on Canada's Founding 1:03:35

4M ago1:03:35

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Dr. Livingstone worries about postmodernism destroying Truth. I worry about about postmodernism destroying history as a way to understand the present. David says we need universals to resist postmoderns. I say we should fear universals lest the postmoderns inflict us with their 'values'. In this episode we resolve the debate (sort of). Thanks for w…

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#33 John von Heyking on political friendship, pro-Hamas protests, and the future of Canada. 53:27

4M ago53:27

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Can a country survive if we aren't united about common fundamental matters? Pro-Hamas protests block streets in Toronto. They have even forced ambulances to turn around. This has really bothered me. Aside from basic procedural solutions -- keeping a lane open for emergency vehicles or having police enforce the law -- can we solve the deeper, existe…

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#32 Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is not. What is universalism? 19:12

4M ago19:12

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Prime Minister Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is a (rare) politician who, for the most part, doesn't seem to be a universalist. Universalism is an essential concept to help us understand modern politics. It's a core pillar of liberalism, but many 'conservatives' are universalists also. AI Summary Understanding Univer…

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Preliminary Principle (ft. Zachary Garris) 1:17:36

5M ago1:17:36

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What is the meaning of the preliminary principle of the PCA's constitution? What is its relationship to the Westminster Confession of Faith? This and more with Zachary Garris in his conversation with Timon Cline and Ben Dunson. Show Notes: https://americanreformer.org/2025/04/principle-and-confession/ Zachary Garris serves as pastor of Bryce Avenue…

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#31 Simplifying liberalism. Start with individuals. 17:24

4M ago17:24

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Go ask a professor for a simple definition of liberalism or conservatism. If they are honest, they won't give you a short answer. These terms are super complex. But we need somewhere to start. In this short segment, I offer a place to start talking about liberalism: a theory with 4 pillars. The first pillar we discuss is individualism. We will disc…

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#30 Geoff Russ -- Hope for Canada vs progressive internationalism 46:27

5M ago46:27

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Geoff stands out as a new kind of writer on the non-left. He offers hope that embraces Canada's past without repudiation -- truly rare these days Thanks for listening! AI Summary Shawn interviews Geoff Russ, a Vancouver-based writer, about the evolving concept of Canadian nationalism and identity. They discuss the need for newcomers to understand t…

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#29 Grant Havers on Leo Strauss, Conservatism, and Modern Political Issues 1:02:08

5M ago1:02:08

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This episode goes deep into the philosophy of Leo Strauss and the modern Conservative movement by looking at Professor Haver's book on Strauss and Ango-American democracy. I got too excited with the discussion and stopped paying attention to the recording quality. It's less than I would have hoped, but the content Grant shares is excellent. I offer…

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Cotton Mather (ft. Rick Kennedy) 59:14

5M ago59:14

59:14

Listener and readers will know that, around here, we love Cotton Mather. On this episode, Rick Kennedy, professor of history at Point Loma Nazarene University, talks to Timon about the life and legacy of "America's first evangelical." #CottonMather #RickKennedy #PointLoma #History #America #Evangelical #Christian Show Notes: https://www.amazon.com/…

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#28 Jodi Bruhn: Political Myths, the non-left voter, and COVID fallout 1:06:40

5M ago1:06:40

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Professor Bruhn is a unique thinker. She calls herself someone of the 'non-left'. Her advocacy on indigenous issues does not rest on the more common progressive principles. I hope you enjoy the episode! AI summary: In this episode, Shawn dives into Canadian political thought with Dr. Jodi Bruhn. They explore topics such as the conservatism of Pierr…

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#27 Ted Morton: The Charter Revolution & Conservative Politics 54:57

5M ago54:57

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Ted Morton offers a perspective you cannot find anywhere else in Canada. He's an academic, turned politician, returned academic from Alberta. If you want to understand Canadian politics, you simply have to spend time digging into Alberta. Ted has a great sense of humour and seems to love chatting about the thorniest political issues. He jokes that …

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#26 Another short introduction. Why would an MD bother with politics? 4:36

5M ago4:36

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Our lives are shaped by the political systems in which we live. When our country starts to struggle, we need to revisit the ideas that animate the programs and structures around us. In just under 5 minutes, I explain why we need to focus on political ideas now, and why philosophical conservatism offers a (paradoxically) new and fresh way to think. …

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#25 Ginny Roth on Political Myths, Biggest Election Misses, Trump, and Canada's Future 45:29

5M ago45:29

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Ginny returns to answer common Canadian myths and misconceptions, as well as offering analysis on the upcoming election. We start out with four familiar comments or questions: Is the Conservative Party uncaring, especially about people in need? Will Pierre Poilievre end up spending as much as Mark Carney? The CBC is Canadian. Isn't it a trusted sou…