Best Russellkirk Podcasts (2026)

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193 – Dissenting the Dissident Right with Stephanie Slade 1:10:31

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1h ago1:10:31

1:10:31

While Saving Elephants defends the classical conservative position, the loudest voices on the Right today coalesce around different policies, priorities, and goals. Those that form the dissident Right are comprised of multiple sub-groups with overlapping and, at times, incompatible views. So who is this disparate group of dissidents? What holds the…

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Roundtable - What Lieth Ahead 1:07:20

6d ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Does the fractious stupidity of our politics, the rapid advancement of AI, and the release of the final season of Stranger Things portend making America great again or the coming apocalypse? Join our panelists for a (definitive, obviously) glimpse into what's in store for us all in 2026. Panelists include: Brooke Medina - VP of Comms with the State…

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192 – Remnant Redux with Jonah Goldberg 1:11:41

21d ago1:11:41

1:11:41

Jonah Goldberg makes his triumphal return to Saving Elephants where host Josh Lewis peppers him with unyielding questions on what his fourth and forthcoming book will be about, the practicality of setting lottery winnings as a life-goal, what a post-Trump GOP might look like, whether it makes sense to even "save" the elephants, and whether we shoul…

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191 – Canceling Caylan with Caylan Ford 1:08:59

1M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

In 2019 Caylan Ford resigned her political candidacy in Canada after controversy over allegations of her echoing white nationalist rhetoric. In spite of her resignation—and continual insistence she held no such views—the mobs of cancel culture demanded "justice". She was blacklisted from employers, unable to continue work with organizations that se…

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Roundtable - Buckley Turns 100 1:05:12

1M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

William F Buckley was one of the most important figures in the conservative movement over the past century. His posthumous 100th birthday is Monday, November 24. Come celebrate the life and legacy of Buckley as our Saving Elephant panelists pay tribute to a conservative life well lived. Panelists include: Eric Kohn - CEO of America's Future Michael…

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Roundtable - Taking Federalism Seriously 58:30

2M ago58:30

58:30

Returning to the Founders' blueprint for dividing power across federal, state, and local governments may be the greatest weapon we have to reverse the appalling state of our politic divisiveness. What is federalism? And what would a recommitment to federalism look like? Saving Elephants welcomes panelists from the State Policy Network and the Acton…

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190 – Biographizing Buckley with Sam Tanenhaus 1:09:15

2M ago1:09:15

1:09:15

There are four faces on the Saving Elephants' Mount Rushmore of great conservatives: Edmund Burke, Russell Kirk, Thomas Sowell, and William F. Buckley. While the first three have each had fully episodes dedicated to their life and works, William F. Buckley has yet to be explored at length. And with Buckley's posthumous 100th birthday happening late…

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189 – Rescuing the American Project with Nathan Brown and Robert Haglund 55:49

2M ago55:49

55:49

Those who identify as pro-immigration and pro-nationalist are often at odds with one another. But what if a healthy dose of nationalism is the very thing that could bolster our immigration? Nathan Brown and Robert Haglund argue in their new book Rescuing the American Project that "much of the dysfunction in contemporary American politics is a conse…

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Roundtable - The Kids are all Alt-Right 1:07:18

2M ago1:07:18

1:07:18

Does the Right have a radical problem, particularly among young men? Saving Elephants assembles another insightful panel to offer their...insights. The panelists include: Eric Kohn - President of America's Future Jeffery Tyler Syck - Proffessor at the University of Pikeville Jeff Mayhugh - VP of NoCapFund Lura Forcum - President of the Independent …

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188 – The UnLeft with J.J. McCullough 1:07:35

3M ago1:07:35

1:07:35

Disillusioned with the rigidity of political tribalism, J.J. McCullough left his role as conservative journalist and commentator and became a content creator. His YouTube channel, J.J. McCullough offers his one million subscribers weekly deep dives about countries, cultures, and Canada. But while politics is not the focus of his channel, some of hi…

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Bonus Episode - My Conversation / Intervention with Justin Stapley 1:21:51

3M ago1:21:51

1:21:51

Justin Stapley and I have been on similar journeys these past many years seeking to better understand our worldviews and the ever-changing political moment and how best to restore sanity and integrity to our politics. But while I've been diligently producing podcast episodes for these past seven years, Justin has launched a dizzying array of projec…

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187 – Audaciously Aspirational with John Wilsey 1:03:38

3M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

One cannot BE a conservative. One can only aspire to conservatism. So says John Wilsey in his new book Religious Freedom: A Conservative Primer. Perhaps Roger Scruton's How to be a Conservative was a worthy endeavor but too audacious of a title. John Wilsey joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to flesh out the aspirational nature of conservatism …

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Roundtable - Combating Political Violence 1:18:34

4M ago1:18:34

1:18:34

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's shocking assassination, Americans are bracing for further political attacks. But is further violence inevitable? And what can be done to prevent things from escalating? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis assembles a roundtable to discuss these sobering and important issues. The panelists include: Avi Woolf - Host of Avi'…

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186 – Conservative Canucks with Shawn Whatley 1:09:28

4M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

Is Trump correct that Canada is destined to be America's 51st state? Or is there simply too much distinction between Canada and the United States to collapse us both into one homogenous mess? If conservatives in the U.S. are trying to conserve the American revolution, what are Canadian conservatives hoping to conserve? How might these two liberty-l…

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185 – Inventing Conservatism with Daniel J. Flynn 1:01:42

4M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

Few forerunners of the modern conservative movement are as important, little known, and underappreciated as Frank Meyer. Meyer possessed the IT factor that made women want him and men want to be associated with him. He used that in his early years to advance Marxism in England—building an impressive Marxist organization that had the attention of UK…

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Roundtable - Is Trump A Fascist? 1:21:19

4M ago1:21:19

1:21:19

Some Americans warn Trump's antics in this second term are flirting with fascism while others say that's totally whacked. So which is it? Is Trump a fascist or nothing of the kind? Join our livestream as our panelists engage over the topic. Panelists include: Josh Lewis (host), Mike Taylor, Blake Fischer, John Giokaris, Steve Phelps, and Kent Strai…

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184 – Paradigming Phenomenological Essences with Steven Hayward 1:02:02

5M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

Steven Hayward has been involved in so many conservative institutions and organizations it may be simpler to list where he hasn't left a mark. This conservative man-about-town joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis as they unravel what it means to be a conservative, how Straussians might make peace with Burke, and why Josh shouldn't be so critical …

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Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem 1:05:20

5M ago1:05:20

1:05:20

The MAGA coalition is comprised of a wide spectrum whose sole unifying idea is Trump himself. But what happens when that precarious foundation begins to fray? Have recent events shown cracks in the MAGA world that could quickly fracture, or is this all a tempest in a teapot? Join Saving Elephant panelists during our livestream to make sense of it a…

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183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins 1:01:24

5M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

Younger Americans—regardless of their political affiliations—are increasingly supportive focusing on environmental and conservation issues. But while there may be renewed unity on recognizing the importance of such issues, the policies advocated by the Left and Right continue to differ. The American Conservation Coalition (ACC) is a group of young …

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182 – Partying Like It's 1776 1:07:38

6M ago1:07:38

1:07:38

On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9! With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most e…

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181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn 57:56

6M ago57:56

57:56

The housing market today is in an increasingly unsustainable paradox: younger Americans need houses to be more affordable so that they can become homeowners. Meanwhile, homeowners and the entire U.S. economy need houses to rise in price to make them a secure and profitable investment. Thus, we are trapped between making homeownership increasingly d…

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180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh 1:01:16

7M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

What if the surest way to reduce the harmful effects of self-serving politicians in Washington D.C. is to have more of them? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeff Mayhugh to explain how the artificial "cap" the nation put on the number of representatives in the U.S. House almost a century ago has made government less representative and r…

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179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief 1:03:06

7M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

What if the real division in America isn't between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us? Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we…

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178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum 1:09:16

8M ago1:09:16

1:09:16

The 2024 presidential election witnessed a historic number of independent voters—more independents voted than Democrats and they came close to surpassing Republicans. It would seem that now is the time for those who are dissatisfied with both parties to dismantle the two-party duopoly of American government. And yet, the Republican and Democratic p…

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177 – Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards 56:06

8M ago56:06

56:06

Former president Chester A. Arthur is probably best remembered for his mutton chops and as a trivia question. But he did play a surprising role as a reformer when the nation was in the grips of political corruption. And the story of how he found the courage to do so holds some lessons for how we might interact with political power today in hopes of…

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176 – Consuming News Responsibly 1:29:00

9M ago1:29:00

1:29:00

In this era of information overload it's easy to join the ranks of the too online, filtering our every thought through the latest thing Trump tweeted or how the resistance is reacting. And it's just as easy to check out entirely and pretend like the news doesn't matter or, if it does, it'll have to be someone else's problem for now. Are there healt…

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175 – The Two James Burnhams with David Byrne 53:49

9M ago53:49

53:49

James Burnham was one of the most significant intellectual influences on the conservative movement of the twentieth century. As an anti-Communist hardliner, his views on dealing with the Soviet menace head on ultimately shaped US foreign policy in the Reagan administration. And his work at William F. Buckley's National Review gave the fledgling mag…

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174 – Triggering Straussians with Greg Collins 1:00:56

10M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

In his perpetual quest to mildly trigger his Straussian pals, Josh invites fellow Millennial and Burkean conservative Greg Collins on to discuss how Leo Strauss misconstrued Edmund Burke's political views and lasting impact. Also discussed are Burke's complex views on natural rights, manners, reform, revolution, social contract theory, classical li…

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173 – The Fertility Gap with Clara Piano 1:03:13

10M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

The Right has long had a thing or two to say about the importance of the family and its role in national stability and prosperity. But there are sharp divisions regarding what political implications can be drawn from this idea, and what policies should be pursued to protect and strengthen families. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis welcomes economis…

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Roundtable - Conversing Across the Political Divide 1:21:19

11M ago1:21:19

1:21:19

Is civil discourse even possible across the political divide when that divide seems so insurmountable? How do we maintain or even strengthen relationships when we don't see politics the same? The latest Saving Elephants roundtable brings together panelists who all have experience in communicating across the divide: Eric Kohn (former Acton Institute…

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172 – The History of American Conservatism with George Nash 1:50:56

11M ago1:50:56

1:50:56

In 1976 historian George H. Nash wrote The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945, a celebrated historical accounting that established much of the narrative for how we think about the development of modern conservatism even today. George Nash joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss the various strands of thought that eme…

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171 – Reality Therapy Redux 58:48

11M ago58:48

58:48

At the end of 2024, Ryan Rogers joined the show to share his experiences with fanatical wokism as a graduate student. He later had Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis on his new podcast, Reality Therapy, for a wide ranging discussion on conservatism, the challenges of the modern conservative movement, what conservatism offers that other political ideo…

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Roundtable - Trump's 1st Week on the Job 1:09:36

11M ago1:09:36

1:09:36

It's Trump's first week on the job and he's been quite busy making America great again or summoning the Fourth Reich, depending on your political perspective. Join Saving Elephants' livestream roundtable of cross-partisan pontificators to break it all down for you and what this first week might portend for the next four years.…

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170 – Tribalism is Dumb with Andrew Heaton 54:43

12M ago54:43

54:43

Comedian, author, and political satirist Andrew Heaton joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to explore where our political tribalism comes from, why it's gotten out of hand, and what to do about it. About Andrew Heaton From mightyheaton.com Andrew Heaton is a comedian, author, and political satirist. He's the host of "The Political Orphanage" com…

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169 – Unsolicited Advice with Blake Fischer 1:10:50

1y ago1:10:50

1:10:50

With the 2024 elections in rearview both parties are trying to grapple with what lessons they should learn. Who better to offer unsolicited advice than Josh Lewis and Blake Fischer, the respective hosts of the Saving Elephants and The Homeless Conservative podcasts? As two Trump-skeptical conservatives on the outside looking in, sure both parties a…

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Roundtable - 2024 - A Year in Review 59:16

1y ago59:16

59:16

As 2024 comes to a close podcasters everywhere will be doing one of those hackneyed and insufferable "a look back at the year's major events" shows. Not to be outdone, Saving Elephants will be getting in on the action as well with another livestream roundtable to bloviate and pontificate about the numerous twists and turns of our most recent trip a…

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168 – The Perennial Burke with Daniel Klein 1:03:54

1y ago1:03:54

1:03:54

As Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is wont to do, here is yet another episode exploring the political and philosophical brilliance of Edmund Burke. But this time he is aided by scholar and professor Daniel Klein to examine the late writings of Burke's life as Europe was descending into revolutionary chaos. What was Burke's understanding of liberty…

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167 – The Woke Mind with Ryan Rogers 59:44

1y ago59:44

59:44

"I do not believe," wrote F. A. Hayek in his book The Fatal Conceit, "that the widely held conception of 'social justice' either describes a possible state of affairs or is even meaningful." Hayek would complain "social" was a sort of "weasel word" that carried a lot of unexamined prescriptions. To call something "social justice" is to advocate for…

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Roundtable - Bullish or Bearish on Trump 2.0? 1:22:39

1y ago1:22:39

1:22:39

Should conservatives be bullish or bearish on the incoming Trump administration? Will Trump 2.0 deliver us to the sunlit uplands of a prosperous free market economy, sensible immigration reform, and reductions in wasteful deficit spending and overbearing regulations? Or will America become a dreadful hellscape with an executive branch consistently …

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166 – Independent Idiosyncrasies with Brett Loyd 1:07:13

1y ago1:07:13

1:07:13

"The biggest takeaway from the 2024 election," writes Justin Longo of the Independence Center, is that "independents have officially broken the duopoly and now share the title of America's largest political group with Republicans." But what is an independent, exactly? What do they want and how are they different from those who proudly affiliate wit…

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Roundtable - Election Night - Livestream 2:56:49

1y ago2:56:49

2:56:49

Sure, the major news networks had all the "experts", but how many of them opined on what Buckley, Burke, or Kirk would think of the election results? Listen to Saving Elephants' livestream on election night as results come in from another stellar panel of cross-partisan contributors: Josh Lewis, Eric Kohn, Justin Stapley, Calvin Moore, Kent Straith…

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165 – Take Courage 33:23

1y ago33:23

33:23

Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis flies this election day episode solo to offer his thoughts on how your vote is more likely to impact yourself than it is the races, having grace for those who choose to vote differently than we do, and why conservatives should take courage in a profoundly discouraging time. Special Election Night Livestream You're a…

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Roundtable - Election 2024 - Home Stretch 1:00:11

1y ago1:00:11

1:00:11

The most [assuredly not] important election of our lifetime is a little more than two weeks away. The candidates are in the home stretch as each of them make their final pitch to the dwindling undecided voter. Join another venerable group of panelists as we share our thoughts on the state of the race and our hopes and fears with a coming Harris or …

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164 – What is a Woman with Kimberly Ross 1:07:46

1y ago1:07:46

1:07:46

Saving Elephants meticulously avoids many cringeworthy tropes in today's "conservative" media and opts instead for deeper conversations on the conservative worldview and what it can offer Millennials. As such, there is much low-hanging-fruit among the fruitier parts of the Left that isn't as vigorously explored as it is in the aforementioned "conse…

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Roundtable - Vice Vice Baby 1:07:17

1+ y ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance square off for the first—and likely only—vice presidential debate that's sure to leave pundits chattering, social media accounts fighting, and late economists spinning in their graves. The debate begins at 9PM ET. Join us immediately following the debate for another livestream roundtable to restore …

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163 – Where Does the Conservative Go from Here? 1:10:23

1+ y ago1:10:23

1:10:23

In a world where both political parties are moving away from free market oriented policy solutions, a robust defense of our international allies, and traditional social norms, where does the conservative go from here? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by special returning guests Cal Davenport, Erik Kohn, and Justin Stapley for a roundtable…

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Roundtable - Towards a Sensible Foreign Policy 1:04:55

1+ y ago1:04:55

1:04:55

From Eastern Europe to the Middle East to Southeast Asia to so many other places, the world's on fire. Yet neither presidential candidate is offering us a compelling vision to navigate this brave new world. Join another august assembly of panelists as we discuss what a sensible foreign policy might look like. You can also watch this episode on YouT…

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162 – Harmonizing Sentiments with Hans Eicholz 1:04:30

1+ y ago1:04:30

1:04:30

The Declaration of Independence audaciously declares certain "truths" to be "self-evident". And, in so doing, offered a justification for not only a break with Great Britain and Revolutionary War, but the foundation upon which a new nation could be built. But how uniformly were these "truths" held and understood by the Founding Fathers? Were they d…

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Roundtable - That 1st Trump vs Harris Debate 1:15:58

1+ y ago1:15:58

1:15:58

The stakes were high in the first debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Did anyone, other than the American people, emerge the loser? Were any pets harmed during the debate? Did some semblance of substance somehow slip through? Saving Elephants presents another livestream cross-partisan panel to debate the d…

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161 – American Covenant with Yuval Levin 1:06:08

1+ y ago1:06:08

1:06:08

In this era of polarization and partisan bickering, Americans of all political persuasions are calling for the nation to come together. National unity is certainly in high demand and highly praised. But what is unity? As Yuval Levin argues in his latest book, American Covenant, "unity doesn't mean agreement…disagreement does not foreclose the possi…