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Defending Ideas

Sutherland Institute

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Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, by equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy. Visit defendingideas.org.
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Good Game is your one-stop shop for the biggest stories in women’s sports. Every day, host Sarah Spain gives you the stories, stakes, stars and stats to keep up with your favorite women’s teams, leagues and athletes. Through thoughtful insight, witty banter, and an all around good time, Sarah and friends break down the latest news, talk about the games you can’t miss, and debate the issues of the day. Don’t miss interviews with the people of the moment, whether they be athletes, coaches, rep ...
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There's a growing national discussion about how men are doing — economically, socially, and emotionally — and whether they face unique challenges related to purpose, connection, and opportunity in American life. In this episode, host Nic Dunn sits down with contributor Beth Akers to discuss new Sutherland/Y2 Analytics survey findings on the well‑be…
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We're revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2025, starting with a conversation with Allyson Felix. The retired track star and mother-of-two spoke with Sarah over the summer about her legendary career and the joys and challenges of juggling parenthood and multiple business endeavors. They discussed her new management company Always Alpha, he…
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Little Citrus is back for another holiday hot take speed round – Christmas edition!! Sarah and Alex share their opinions on artificial trees, gift cards as gifts, Hallmark movies, Die Hard and more. Then some hot takes from a few Slices and a couple of your favorite NWSL stars. Plus, a No. 3 pummels some No. 1s, when the student becomes the teacher…
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2025 is (blessedly) almost over, which means it’s time for the 2025 Slice-ees (aka the Good Game with Sarah Spain End-of-Year Awards). Sarah and Alex present their nominees in categories including the “The Megan Rapinoe I F***ing Yeeted My Achilles in the Final Game Award" for the most unbelievable injury and the “Misha Jones Left You Brokenhearted…
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Former head of Turner Broadcasting, now co-CEO and Founder of Horizon Sports & Experiences David Levy joins Sarah to discuss this weekend’s Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic, what he learned about buying and selling sports in his 33 years at Turner, his advice for decision-makers when it comes to the changing media landscape, and why the women…
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Women’s volleyball reporter and host of the Side Out Society podcast Tiffany Oshinsky joins Sarah to preview this weekend’s NCAA volleyball Final Four in Kansas City, discuss the biggest upsets and surprises from the tournament, and take a pop quiz on city nicknames. Plus, tripling up the triple doubles, winning by a Mississippi, and we’ll take one…
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Ahead of the Milan-Cortina Paralympics, multi-sport phenom Oksana Masters sat down with producer Alex to discuss how she’s persevered through dozens of injuries and surgeries to become the most decorated Winter Paralympian in U.S. history, her caffeine-fueled goals for life after competition, and the advice she'd give up-and-coming competitors (but…
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Legendary soccer player Michelle Akers joins Sarah to talk about Origin Story: The 85ers, a new podcast documenting the first U.S. Women's National Team, the topless surf outing that resulted in a lasting nickname, and the joy, injuries and heartbreak that came with setting into motion 40 years of U.S. women’s soccer dominance. Plus, the field beat…
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Justine Siegel and Assia Grazioli-Venier of the soon-to-launch Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) joined Sarah to discuss the behind-the-scenes process of getting the league up and running, the decision to start with four teams in coastal cities but play the inaugural season in the Midwest, and the emotions they expect to feel when they witness the…
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Former WNBA player, coach and sometime reality star Ty Young joins Sarah to discuss all the offseason options now available to players, the reality of being on reality TV, working under Teresa Weatherspoon, and her shock at the WNBA legend getting just one year at the helm in Chicago. Plus, is it possible that winning too much is a bad thing? SHOW …
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Beth Mowins, longtime play-by-play announcer and OG women’s hoops broadcaster, joins Sarah to discuss the most memorable moments from her legendary career, the changes she’s seen in the women’s college basketball landscape over the years, the biggest winners, losers, surprises and disappointments of this NCAA hoops season so far, and her advice to …
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The Winter Olympics are coming at us fast — almost as fast as a tight turn on an icy track. Ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games, producer Alex sat down with two-time skeleton world championship medalist Mystique Ro to discuss how she made the transition from track & field to sliding on ice, why “warming up” looks a little different in her sport, and w…
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College is often treated as the default path to success — but there are other successful paths that are underused. In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Zach Boren of Apprenticeships for America to explore how expanding work-based training can open new doors to upward mobility, especially for men and boys who are struggling to…
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Sport-inspired artists Shannon Favia and Mallory Tolcher join Sarah to discuss their paths to becoming professional artists, combining their passions for sport and art, collaborating with teams and athletes, and the unique way they’ve each used basketball nets in their work. Plus, the return of the best rivalry, climbing for days, and when in droug…
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Haley Carter, the Washington Spirit’s new President of Soccer Operations, joins Sarah to discuss her decision to leave the Orlando Pride for D.C., the league rejecting the long-term deal the Spirit agreed to with Trinity Rodman, what comes next in the team’s efforts to keep Rodman, and her take on the NWSL’s gender policy. Plus, raise it to the raf…
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Comedians and podcast hosts E.R. Fightmaster and Erin Foley join Sarah for our second annual Unrivaled Draft! All 8 Unrivaled teams are put through a rigorous, highly scientific grading process, using only the most important categories – name, logo, ability to shoulder-carry, amount of tea in their DMs — to determine the squad we’ll each root for t…
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Founder of Watch Party PHL and host of the Everyone Listens to This Jawn podcast, Jen Leary joins Sarah to discuss Watch Party PHL’s latest events, outfitting actress Aubrey Plaza in women’s sports gear, the city’s deep-rooted women’s sports lore, and Philly jargon. Plus, mom on mom goals, smoke with no fire, and a dictionary that ducking rocks. Th…
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2026 is right around the corner and we’re getting pumped for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics! Producer Alex caught up with speed skater Brittany Bowe at the Team USA summit to chat gold medal goals, taking inspo from her girlfriend Hilary Knight, and how the couple plans to navigate Olympic scheduling challenges! Plus, a cameo from Knight and… Ga…
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Utah’s redistricting battle has reached a breaking point, and the stakes go far beyond political outcomes. In this episode, Nic Dunn sits down with public affairs expert Taylor Morgan of Morgan May Public Affairs and Bill Duncan to unpack how one judicially selected congressional map reshaped Utah’s political landscape, sidelined the constitutional…
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Angel City FC breakout star and NWSL Rookie of the Year finalist Riley Tiernan joined Sarah during NWSL Championship Weekend to talk about going from non-roster invitee to starting every match, the vets who helped her feel like she belonged, her fast friendship with teammate Macey Hodge, and what it will take to make ACFC a winning squad. Plus, ext…
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Andrea Brimmer, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer for Ally Financial, joins Sarah to talk about the company’s groundbreaking 50/50 Pledge to reach equal spend in media across men's and women's sports, (and why folks need to see ROI differently in the two spaces), her favorite “I told you so” moments and why Ally leaned into its sponsorsh…
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We're revisiting one of our favorite interviews of 2025! Sarah originally caught up with Canadian hockey royalty Marie-Philip and Laura back in June, but today we’re running back their interview in light of the 2025-2026 PWHL season kicking off last week. Marie-Philip and Laura discuss bringing the Walter Cup to Montreal, their decision to be more …
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Celebrate Thanksgiving the Good Game way, with Sarah and producer Alex running through a Holiday Hot Take Speed Round and sharing their chaotic Turkey Day traditions. Plus, NWSL stars including Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw roasting turkey (and sometimes the entire holiday), friends of the show like Rebecca Lobo and Jessica Mendoza weighing in on …
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Bay FC forward Penelope Hocking joined Sarah as part of the iHeart Women’s Sports Strong Start event at the NWSL Championship in San Jose. She discusses scoring in the same legendary stadium as her baseball-playing dad, getting drafted into the NWSL on the same day as her twin sister, and an awkward trade ask that was well worth it, now that she’s …
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As families gather for Thanksgiving, disagreements about politics and culture can feel unavoidable. In this episode, Nic Dunn explains why the best way to lower the temperature is to lead with your deeply held principles, not partisan talking points, and how doing so strengthens both relationships and our civic life. Defending Ideas is a weekly pod…
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Women’s soccer legend and Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain joined Sarah as part of the iHeart Women’s Sports Strong Start event at the NWSL Championship. Brandi discusses the history of women’s soccer in the Bay Area, the challenges of launching a new NWSL team, her interest in coaching at the national team level, and the time she signed a car. Pl…
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It was a dopamine-producing weekend in San Jose! From Gotham FC’s "underdog"-to-top-dog NWSL title run and Rose Lavelle’s 80th minute banger, to postgame reactions from Sue Bird, Midge Purce, Lilly Reale and more, Sarah and producer Alex share the on-the-pitch action and spill the off-the-pitch tea — parties, pool-table dancing, surprise Kesha sets…
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It’s NWSL championship weekend and we’re bringing you with us to San Jose! Ahead of Saturday’s game between the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC, Sarah sat down with players from both teams, including Trinity Rodman, Croix Bethune, Jaedyn Shaw and Emily Sonnett. Hear about their preparation and predictions for the championship game, the celebrity fa…
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With the PWHL returning tomorrow, Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford joined Sarah to talk about the league from launch to season three, how learning from the history of women’s hockey led to the PWHL's success, and the thinking behind the expansion process that sent several household names to new teams in far flung places. …
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Four-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray joins Sarah to discuss how the Las Vegas Aces turned their season around and secured dynasty status, why Becky Hammon is the best coach she’s ever had, and how becoming a mom has helped her master the art of letting go. Plus, dishing the dirt on the NWSL, sending coastal elites to the middle of America, and… do …
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A 43-day federal shutdown exposed how fragile state programs become when Washington can’t keep the lights on. In this episode, Nic Dunn is joined by Jennifer Butler, Senior Policy Advisor for the Center for Practical Federalism at the State Policy Network, along with Sutherland’s Bill Duncan and Christine Cooke Fairbanks. They unpack what the shutd…
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Women’s volleyball reporter Michella Chester joins Sarah to discuss what makes undefeated Nebraska so good, the biggest storylines of the NCAA season, and the crowded, complicated pro volleyball landscape. Plus, Swedish success, making good on a “Promise,” and competing for your own award. Again. Watch Alysa Liu's short program from Skate America h…
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WNBA legend and Project B co-founder and Chief Basketball Officer Alana Beard joins Sarah to discuss the origins of the Project B women's basketball league, how Alana’s international experience as a player informs her new gig, the league’s much-talked-about partnership with a company owned by the Saudi-owned Public Investment Fund, and when we can …
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Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger joins Sarah to talk about her squad’s stunning upset of the top-seeded Kansas City Current, prepping to face Marta and the defending champs this weekend, what she learned from her battles with thyroid cancer, and how teammate Jess Carter became a roommate turned girlfriend turned fiancé. Plus, a pair of peak p…
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New Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello joins Sarah to discuss why her ouster from the New York Liberty didn’t come as a surprise, how she’s approaching team building during a very uncertain offseason, and the barriers keeping women and former players out of the coaching ranks. Plus, building an arena too small for women, more evidence this is…
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Ahead of The Annika – the second-to-last event on the LPGA calendar – Sarah chats with Maya Reddy, a former pro golfer, current sports law and policy consultant, and forever LGBTQ+ activist. They discuss how the LPGA has handled issues of gender, sexuality and identity, what to make of one particular athlete who received an invitation to compete at…
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Utah’s new state superintendent, Dr. Molly Hart, joins Nic Dunn alongside Christine Cooke Fairbanks to discuss the future of education in Utah. From strengthening local control to harnessing innovation in the classroom, they explore how Utah can lead the nation in rethinking public education and empower parents, teachers, and students to thrive. Sh…
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Yahoo Sports contributor Maggie Hendricks joins Sarah to discuss the biggest college hoops storylines, the upcoming games she has circled on her calendar, the best reactions she’s gotten to her famous cookies, and the very unprofessional cheering she’ll be doing during the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Plus, Carolina Blue is always in, wi…
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First Sarah breaks down a wild NWSL quarterfinal weekend. Then, with just under three months until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Alex sits down with sisters Alli, Lauren, and Sam Macuga to discuss how they got their start in three different winter sports – moguls for Alli, alpine skiing for Lauren, and ski jumping for Sam – and why their paren…
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Former Iowa basketball coach turned NBC Sports analyst Lisa Bluder joins Sarah to discuss her new role behind the broadcast desk, watching her former players hoop in the pros, her 20+ year career leading Iowa women’s basketball, and what it’s like being at the center of the Caitlin Clark commotion. Plus, pulling out the dictionary to get to know ou…
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Allie Kleva, the Chief Growth Officer for Athletes Unlimited, joins Sarah to discuss the latest season of AU Volleyball, big announcements to expect ahead of the next Athletes Unlimited Softball League season, the power of investing in top front office talent, and how advice from an Uber driver resulted in a years-in-the-making gift for her kids. P…
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Tamerra Griffin, women’s soccer writer and podcast host for The Athletic, joins Sarah to discuss all the NWSL Decision Day chaos, preview this weekend’s quarterfinal matchups, and unpack what it means for Racing Louisville to finally end its ninth-place curse. Plus, Sarah demands answers to tough questions, like which team’s color is the cutest. Fo…
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What parent would take a raise if it meant their family would be worse off? That’s the reality for many families facing the “benefits cliff.” Nic Dunn sits down with Keith Barnes of the Beyond the Cliff Coalition to discuss how government policies can unintentionally punish work — and how states can innovate for smarter, family-centered reforms to …
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With college hoops season upon us, Sarah gets you up to speed on the stars, stakes, stats and stories you need to know. She breaks down the preseason favorites, tells ya who's where with "old faces in new places," and shares her five burning questions as the season tips off. Plus, streaking for veebs, falling back in love with the game, and the fas…
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Sarah and producer Alex Azzi introduce you to Little Citrus (just a squeeze or two short of Big Citrus). They discuss the chaos that was NWSL Decision Day, reveal the postseason matchups now that the bracket has been set, and cross their fingers that what they think they saw wasn’t what they saw at all. Plus, the hope of a day-to-day prognosis, a p…
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Live from the annual espnW Women + Sports Summit, Sarah is joined by Ilana Kloss, CEO of Billie Jean King enterprises, Kara Nortman, Managing Partner of Monarch Collective and Co-Founder of Angel City FC, and Fielding Jamieson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Tipt Ventures. The quartet gathered to discuss investing in women’s sports, the challen…
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Dr. Nicole LaVoi, the Director of the Tucker Center, and Emily Jo Roberts, the Director of women’s coaching and executives for The Collective, join Sarah to discuss getting more women coaches into women’s sports, the trends they’re seeing at both the college and pro ranks, and the sport that’s the worst offender when it comes to hiring women coache…
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Jen Millet, president of NWSL expansion team Denver Summit FC, joins Sarah to discuss being the club’s first hire, how the Summit will tell the story of its city, and the race to get the team onto the pitch and the temporary stadium up and built. Plus, the W goes glam, steppin’ up for the CBA, and creating a problem to freak out over. Marie-Philip …
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The federal government shutdown isn’t just a budget story, it’s a reflection of deeper challenges in how Congress governs. On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn talks with Matt Weidinger of the American Enterprise Institute about what led to the latest shutdown, how it’s affecting key programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and what it says about t…
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Thayer Lavielle, managing director of The Collective, the women’s division of Wasserman, joins Sarah to unpack how brands and consumers drive the women’s sports economy. They dig into research revealing how different demographics watch, engage with, and spend on women's sports, and how The Collective plans to shape the next era of investment. Plus,…
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