Podcasts about american culture

What if the biggest story in America isn't politics at all?In this episode of The Right Side:  After watching the massive UFC event associated with President Trump, Doug Billings realized the real story wasn't the fights, the celebrities, or even Trump himself.The story was the crowd.Why do America's media elites, Hollywood elites, and political elites seem perpetually shocked by election results, cultural trends, and the values of ordinary Americans?Doug explores the growing disconnect between the people who shape America's culture and the people who actually live in America.Drawing on his experiences growing up in Kansas City, years in education, and conversations with thousands of listeners across the country, Doug explains why millions of Americans are rediscovering confidence in their own values, their own observations, and their own common sense.This isn't really a story about UFC.It's a story about family, faith, patriotism, personal responsibility, culture, and why ordinary Americans are no longer willing to let elites define reality for them.Topics include:• The cultural significance of Trump's UFC event• Why media elites keep misreading America• The disconnect between Hollywood and Main Street• Family, faith, and traditional American values• Why ordinary Americans are pushing back• The Great American Pushback and the future of the RepublicThe story isn't politics. The story is culture. And culture always comes first.Contribute to The Right Side with Doug Billings at: www.DougBillings.usWe're in this together. Believe it.For the Republic!Cheers. #DougBillings #TheRightSide #AmericaFirst #MAGA #ConservativePodcast #Patriot #AmericanCulture #Trump #UFC #MediaBias #PoliticalCommentary #CultureWar #FaithFamilyFreedom #Podcast Support the show

The FBI says it disrupted an alleged terror plot targeting UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., preventing what authorities described as a potentially deadly attack involving explosive-laden drones and sniper teams. Todd examines the disturbing rise of political hatred and asks a difficult question: how far has the radical left gone in normalizing violence against its opponents?Todd also responds to criticism surrounding UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, exploring why traditional masculinity, combat sports, and American culture continue to spark outrage among political activists. Plus, a look at historical White House sporting events, Teddy Roosevelt's boxing sessions, and the double standards surrounding what is considered acceptable on White House grounds.

The FBI says it disrupted an alleged terror plot targeting UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., preventing what authorities described as a potentially deadly attack involving explosive-laden drones and sniper teams. Todd examines the disturbing rise of political hatred and asks a difficult question: how far has the radical left gone in normalizing violence against its opponents?Todd also responds to criticism surrounding UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, exploring why traditional masculinity, combat sports, and American culture continue to spark outrage among political activists. Plus, a look at historical White House sporting events, Teddy Roosevelt's boxing sessions, and the double standards surrounding what is considered acceptable on White House grounds.

 “Have you ever wondered what America looks like… through someone else's eyes?”

As America approaches its 250th birthday, visitors from around the world are getting an up-close look at the United States—and many are discovering that what they've been told about America doesn't match reality. Todd explores the reactions of World Cup fans who are experiencing American hospitality, small-town culture, road trips, sports traditions, and everyday life firsthand. Why are so many surprised by what they find? Todd discusses the gap between America's reputation and its reality, the influence of media and culture on global perceptions, and why gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities available in this country still matters. Plus, reflections on UFC 250 at the White House and the importance of appreciating the nation we call home.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, visitors from around the world are getting an up-close look at the United States—and many are discovering that what they've been told about America doesn't match reality. Todd explores the reactions of World Cup fans who are experiencing American hospitality, small-town culture, road trips, sports traditions, and everyday life firsthand. Why are so many surprised by what they find? Todd discusses the gap between America's reputation and its reality, the influence of media and culture on global perceptions, and why gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities available in this country still matters. Plus, reflections on UFC 250 at the White House and the importance of appreciating the nation we call home.

As America approaches her 250th birthday, a deeper question emerges: Are we still America?In this episode of THE RIGHT SIDE, Doug Billings explores the ideas that made America exceptional—faith, liberty, personal responsibility, self-government, and the belief that rights come from God. Have we forgotten those principles, or are Americans beginning to rediscover them?This conversation isn't about politics. It's about identity, culture, and the future of the American experiment.Prayerfully consider donating to the show at: www.DougBillings.us #AreWeStillAmerica #America #America250 #Faith #Family #Freedom #ConservativePodcast #DougBillings #TheRightSide #Liberty #PatriotPodcast #AmericanCulture #SelfGovernment #FYP #USASupport the show

What is the actual job of a civilization?In this episode of THE RIGHT SIDE, Doug Billings explores a simple but powerful framework that has guided successful civilizations throughout history:Protect the children. Secure the borders. Preserve the culture.From family and community to national identity and sovereignty, this episode examines the foundational responsibilities that determine whether civilizations thrive, decline, or disappear.As America approaches her 250th birthday, these questions may be more important than ever.Prayerfully consider donating to the show at: www.DougBillings.us #Civilization #AmericanCulture #America250 #Faith #Family #Freedom #ProtectTheChildren #SecureTheBorders #PreserveTheCulture #DougBillings #TheRightSide #AmericanIdentity #Liberty #ConservativePodcast #America #USA #FYPSupport the show

毎年５月下旬から６月初旬にかけてアメリカは高校・大学の卒業式シーズンとなります。今は大学生になった娘もそうしたアメリカの卒業式を経験。カトリック系の高校のため、ニュージャージー州にある有名な大聖堂で行われました。卒業式に着る服装と式の様子を通して私が感じたアメリカの文化について語ります。ぜひ、聴いてくださいね。 “Thrilled by the Cathedral! A Glimpse into American Culture at a Graduation Ceremony” Every year, from late May to early June, it's graduation season for high schools and colleges in the U.S. My daughter, who is now in college, also experienced one of these American graduation ceremonies(Commencement). Since she attended a Catholic high school, the ceremony was held at a famous cathedral in New Jersey. I'd like to share my thoughts on American culture as seen through the attire worn at the ceremony and the atmosphere of the event. I hope you'll tune in! ★番組および藤木優子への質問、メッセージ等は以下フォームより、またはX（＃藤木アメリカ）にてどしどしお寄せくださいね！頂いたメッセージは番組内でご紹介させて頂くことがあります。楽しみに待っています！！★ Please send your questions and messages for this program and/or Yuko Fujiki freely via the form below and/or X (#藤木アメリカ)! I may introduce your messages on the show. I look forward to hearing from you!! https://forms.gle/99hoUnPx14pZrXeA6 藤木優子Yuko Fujiki X: https://x.com/fujiki_yuko Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Fujiki2_USA

The HelloFresh Controversy Reveals A Bigger Problem A Pride Month social media post from HelloFresh has sparked outrage, backlash, boycotts, and endless debate. Was it a bad joke? Probably. But the reaction to it may reveal something much bigger about where we are as a society in 2026. After spending 30 minutes discussing the controversy on GB News in the UK, one thing became clear: the conversation isn't really about HelloFresh. It's about LGBTQ visibility, Pride Month, and why so many people are still uncomfortable when queer people are included in mainstream culture. Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Donald Trump continue to push claims and conspiracies that dominate headlines. But are Americans still listening? Why is every election called “rigged” when one side loses and “fair” when the other side wins? And a new poll raises a troubling question: Is American exceptionalism fading? Fewer Americans than ever believe the United States stands above the rest of the world. What happened to the confidence that once defined the country, and what does it say about our future? In this episode, Karel connects the dots between culture wars, political outrage, conspiracy thinking, and a changing America struggling to define itself.

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 65: Connected Speech and Why English Sounds So FastIn this episode, we explore one of the biggest reasons English sounds so fast and difficult to understand: connected speech. We'll look at three patterns that native speakers use naturally and automatically, and we'll show you how to start hearing them in real conversations, movies, and podcasts.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Robert C. Cottrell is a writer with eclectic interests.  Robert has written numerous books on topics ranging from American radicalism, the 1960s, and the counterculture to baseball, WWII-era conscientious objectors, and popular culture.  His most recent work, The Heyday of Willie, Duke, and Mickey: New York City Baseball's Golden Age Amid Integration, involves a dissection of the ascent and descent of the New York baseball dynasty, with a close look at the New York Giants, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the New York Yankees. That also involves an emphasis on those teams' star center fielders, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, and Mickey Mantle, as well as the shift of the Giants and the Dodgers to the West Coast. Woven throughout the book is an analysis of America race relations within and beyond the national pastime. Ray Sheehan also known as Chef Ray is an award winning maker of barbecue sauces and rubs as well as an award winning cookbook author.  We continue with our yearly tradition as he presents his Annual Father's Day Gift Guide.   Links for the gift guide follow: Kansas City Steak Company, https://www.kansascitysteaks.com/  Plowboys Sauces and Rubs,  https://www.plowboysbbq.com/  Big Horn Outdoors 1500F Portable Infrared Steak Grill with Pizza Stone, https://bighornoutdoor.com/  Big Green Egg Wireless Predictive Thermometer with WiFi Booster, https://biggreenegg.com/  VGASS, https://vgass.com/  JD's Backyard BBQ Sauces,  https://www.jdsbackyardsauces.com/  MagneChef Freedom Gloves, https://magnechef.com/  Garage Gang Hot Sauce, https://magnechef.com  True Board, https://thetrueboard.com/  Myron Mixon Smokers, https://myronmixonsmokers.com/ John Coulson is the author of Wee Willie Sherdel:  The Cardinals' Winningest Left-Hander.  John Sherdel is Wee Willie's grandson and an important contributor to the book.  They previously joined us on episode 136 to discuss the book and Wee Willie's many great feats on the diamond 100 years ago as he played with more than 90 future Hall of Famers and some of the greatest players of all-time including Ruth, Gehrig, Ty Cobb, and Rogers Hornsby.  Both men were determined to have Wee Willie enshrined in the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, and they just recently received the great news that Wee Willie Sherdel was being inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, along with Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.  This interview was done in person at the Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum where John Coulson and the two of us gave presentations.      We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan's website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves, Cutting Edge Firewood High Quality Kiln Dried Firewood - Cutting Edge Firewood in Atlanta for high quality firewood and cooking wood, Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. We truly appreciate our listeners and hope that all of you are staying safe. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on Uncommon Sense, we're discussing what may be the most consequential political moment of Donald Trump's career. With Trump's approval ratings slipping, the Iran conflict escalating, renewed questions surrounding the Epstein files, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk continuing to reverberate through the conservative movement, many Americans are asking whether these events are isolated, or part of a much larger story.In this episode, I examine the connections I believe may exist between these developments, including my view that the Epstein files may have been used as leverage against powerful political figures and that foreign interests have exerted significant influence over American policy in the Middle East.We'll discuss:Trump's declining support among his baseThe growing controversy surrounding U.S. involvement with IranThe unanswered questions surrounding the Epstein filesThe political impact of Charlie Kirk's assassination and its aftermathWhy I believe these stories intersect in ways the mainstream media refuses to exploreMy goal is not to tell you what to think, but to encourage you to question narratives, follow incentives, and examine who benefits from the decisions being made in Washington.--https://www.bible.com/

Join the conversation!What do you do when you start feeling sick? In this episode, Donielle and Khrystyna discuss home remedies, family traditions, and common treatments for everyday ailments. They compare experiences from different cultures, explore why some remedies become so popular, and share plenty of stories and opinions along the way. It's a fun and engaging conversation filled with useful vocabulary and cultural insights for English learners. Show Notes  Support the showTo get the most out of this podcast, be sure to download the show notes for each episode. There you will find more information about the vocabulary used in the conversation and additional cultural and language notes regarding this topic. realcoolenglish.com/podcastMusic: Wake Up to the Renaissance by AudioCoffee from Pixabay

The US public's tastes and habits are fragmenting, leading to new consumer behaviours. The shift from a handful of TV networks to an endless supply of streamed shows and social media clips is just one of many causes. Investment manager Dave Bujnowski discusses the characteristics that determine which growth companies should thrive in the resulting ‘high entropy' environment.Dave Bujnowski is an investment manager in our US Equity Growth Team and co-manager of the Baillie Gifford U.S. Equity Growth Fund and our American Fund. In this conversation, he tells Short Briefings… host Leo Kelion about his work with anthropologist Dr Grant McCracken, studying the causes and effects of the fragmentation of American culture. They believe that US culture is a system that has entered a ‘high entropy state' – meaning that tastes and habits no longer change in an orderly manner. The result is “tremendous instability” and a sense of “continual pandemonium”. This shift, they argue, has implications for growth companies and helps explain why some are struggling to maintain mass-market appeal. But the disorder also plays to others' advantage, and they have sought to identify which will thrive and why. Portfolio companies discussed include:·      Cloudflare – the service that protects websites from attack and optimises their performance·      DraftKings – the sports gambling platform that lets Americans bet on sporting events·      Samsara – the Internet of Things specialist helping companies track and make sense of data·      SharkNinja – the home appliance company behind the CREAMi ice-cream maker·      Shopify – the ecommerce platform serving merchants ·       Resources:Dr Grant McCrackenShort Briefings on Long Term Thinking podcast archiveThe Long View collectionThinking in SystemsWhen systems fragment: entropy, cultural change and the next great US companies  Companies mentioned include:·      Alphabet (Google)·      Amazon·      Cloudflare·      DraftKings·      Meta·      Netflix·      Samsara·      SharkNinja·      Shopify·      SpaceX Timecodes:00:00  Introduction02:05  System-level thinking03:20  How change happens06:10   Entropy and fragmentation08:15   A conversation with Cloudflare's CEO10:20   Ants and anthropology13:25   Grant McCracken on North Sea culture15:15   The causes of splintering culture17:05   New consumer behaviours19:15   Challenging times for lululemon21:00   Shopify and agility23:10   Agentic commerce25:40  SharkNinja and new niches28:30  DraftKings and cultural anchors30:40  Samsara's entropy antidote32:10   Finance and space: systems to watch33:50  Book choice  Glossary of terms (in order of mention): Entropy: In this podcast, a metaphor for systems becoming more fragmented, varied and harder to predict.Cash flows: The money moving into and out of a business.Market cap: The total stock-market value of a company: share price multiplied by number of shares.S&P 500: A major US stock-market index of large companies.Second law of thermodynamics: A physics principle often simplified as the tendency of energy in a closed system to spread out over time. Mainframe: A large, central computer used by organisations to process major computing tasks. Big iron: Informal technology term for large, powerful central computers. MMA: Mixed martial arts, a full-contact combat sport. Delulu: Internet slang for optimistic or unrealistic self-belief. Short for ‘delusional'. Traffic aggregation: Bringing together large numbers of users or customers in one place, often online. Total addressable market (TAM): The total potential market size for a product or service if it reached all possible customers. Prediction markets: Markets where people trade contracts based on the likelihood of future events. Internet of Things: Everyday equipment connected to the internet so it can collect and share data.     

What is it about small towns that Americans can't stop romanticizing?In this solo episode of the America Explained series, Rich Bennett dives into America's deep emotional connection to small towns and why they continue to represent community, belonging, and authenticity in today's fast-paced world.From classic TV shows and Hallmark movies to Main Street diners, local festivals, and Friday night football games, Rich explores how small towns became woven into the American identity and why so many people still dream about escaping to them.Whether you grew up in a small town, live in one now, or simply love visiting them, this episode will make you think differently about the role these communities play in shaping American culture.In this episode, you'll learn: Why small towns symbolize connection and simplicity  How Hollywood shaped America's small town nostalgia  The important role small towns played in building America  Why people crave authentic local experiences  The challenges and resilience of modern small towns Mentioned in this episode: Harford County Living  America Explained Series  The Andy Griffith Show  Gilmore Girls  Friday Night Lights If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves small town America as much as we do.Send us Fan MailCelebrate the Magic of Words in Bel Air, Maryland!https://bookfairatbelair.org/Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 64: Movies for Intermediate English LearnersIn this episode, I share six movies that are genuinely good for intermediate English learners. They're not all easy, and they're not all from the same era. Some have a lot of dialogue, some have very little. But every one of them has something that makes it useful for listening practice, and every one of them is a good film.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and the new idioms guide, 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Homily of Fr. Michael O'Connor from Mass on May 24, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings Acts 2:1-11 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 Jn 20:19-23 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 63: Why Idioms in English Are So Hard to UnderstandIn this episode, I explain why idioms are one of the most frustrating parts of learning English. The words are familiar, but the meaning is something completely different. We'll look at five idioms that native speakers use every day and talk about exactly why they're so hard to understand the first time you hear them.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and the new idioms guide, 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/medicine

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kira Ganga Kieffer (Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University; PhD, Boston University, 2023) studies contemporary American spiritualities, health, gender, and marketing. Her first book, a history of religion and vaccine skepticism, Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America (Princeton UP, 2026), is  forthcoming from Princeton University Press. She is the author of “Smelling Things: Essential Oils and Essentialism in Contemporary American Spirituality,” in Religion & American Culture (2021) and “Manifesting Millions: How Women's Spiritual Entrepreneurship Genders Capitalism,” in Nova Religio (2020), which received the Thomas Robbins Award for Article of the Year. She has written for Religion & Politics, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Religion for Breakfast. Kieffer uses textual analysis of spiritual marketing materials to discover how consumer culture creates religious concepts within a secular context. Focused on spiritual items and practices that are marketed to women, Kieffer compares the usage of essential oils by three very different groups of spiritual practitioners: contemporary yogis, evangelical Christians, and witches. Although the usage of essential oils is consumerized, Kieffer argues, the beliefs and practices created by “oilers” are nonetheless meaningful responses to the spiritual yearning. Essential oil practices blur the lines between religious traditions, sharpen individual spirituality, and work to create new collective identities. Order "Unvaccinated Under God" here: here Visit Sacred Writes here: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

One Casualty of the Trump Era: America Is Losing Its Inspiration Has America lost its ability to dream, create, and feel inspired? This week on The Karel Show, Karel shares a deeply personal realization after spending hours in a camera store for the first time in nearly 50 years. What started as a search for a new camera became something much bigger: a conversation about creativity, burnout, fear, politics, and why so many Americans are desperate to reconnect with inspiration again. A 70-year-old woman searching for a camera to reignite her love of night photography. Musicians upgrading studios to create again. Artists trying to unplug from endless chaos, war, inflation, and division. The message was everywhere: People are exhausted by survival mode and want their lives back. In this episode: * Why inspiration is becoming one of the biggest casualties of modern America * The emotional toll of nonstop politics, war, and economic anxiety * How rising prices and uncertainty are crushing creativity * Why people are searching for hobbies, art, music, photography, and meaning again * UK voters send a warning shot to leadership as global frustration grows * Iran, Ukraine, Putin, Trump, and the nonstop pressure of the modern news cycle Plus: Why creating art may now be an act of resistance.

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 62: Why Native English Speakers Don't Sound Like Your TextbookIn this episode, I explain why fluent English isn't about knowing more grammar. It's about knowing the right phrases, understanding how words connect at natural speed, and reacting the way native speakers actually react.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus two free resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator and the free phrase guide, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the incredible mothers out there. Today's episode is a deeper conversation about the urgent need for stronger, more biblical men and women in our culture, people willing to stand for truth, protect the vulnerable, and refuse to stay silent in the face of evil.We discuss the ongoing outrage surrounding the Epstein files, the lack of accountability for powerful people, and the broader cultural failure to protect victims from wicked and predatory individuals. But this conversation goes beyond headlines. It's about morality, courage, justice, faith, and what happens when societies stop valuing strong families, strong character, and biblical principles.This episode is ultimately about hope too, because evil does not win forever. Real justice matters, truth matters, and good people still have a responsibility to speak up.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with Garrett Exner — former Marine Corps Special Operations Officer, Hudson Institute fellow, and Executive Director of the Public Interest Fellowship — for a conversation on faith, fatherhood, parenting, and rebuilding strong American families. Garrett shares his journey from the military to Washington, D.C., the lessons he and his wife have learned raising resilient kids, why sports and discipline matter, and why America is hungry for more family-friendly, pro-American storytelling. They also discuss modern parenting, building confidence in children, the loss of trust in society, and how gratitude and faith can transform your life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're talking about why so many people feel like none of us are fine anymore. The Epstein files reopened deep questions about power, corruption, protection, and why the people at the top never seem to face real accountability. We're breaking down the public reaction, the distrust, the anger, and what it means when people feel like justice only applies to ordinary citizens.--https://www.bible.com/

A rich history of cross-racial coalitions and alliances of the Sixties' freedom movement, acclaimed historian Alice Echols's Black Power, White Heat reshapes our understanding of the entire era. One of the most divisive issues in recent progressive politics has been what role, if any, allies might legitimately play in other people's movements. Despite the significance of this debate, it has taken place in a historical vacuum.In Black Power, White Heat: From Solidarity Politics to Radical Chic, (Oxford UP, 2026) the Sixties historian Alice Echols explores what happened some sixty years ago when whites and Blacks came together in the fight against racism. She tells this story by focusing on two Black-led organizations that bookend the Sixties: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party. In SNCC, whites were, in part, meant to generate a "white heat" so searing it would accelerate change. Results were mixed, and white activists formed new movements, from women's liberation to draft resistance.By 1967, the Black Panther Party was advancing its own unique brand of "revolutionary nationalism," and seeking out white supporters. Partnering with whites brought the group visibility and resources, but it also put the Panthers at odds with other Black radicals, with unfortunate consequences.Black Power, White Heat explains how solidarity lost credibility, and not just from within the movement. Here, the FBI played a key role, and so did the discourse of "radical chic," advanced most effectively by the journalist Tom Wolfe. Still, even as Black-white solidarity lost steam, it was not entirely played out. In some of the era's most important political trials, even courtrooms became sites of solidarity as predominantly white juries returned verdicts that suggested they trusted Black Panther defendants more than the District Attorneys prosecuting them. Clear-eyed about the difficulties of solidarity, Black Power, White Heat nonetheless emphasizes the achievements and considerable promise of uniting across difference, and in ways that will inform and deepen current debates roiling progressive politics. Alice Echols is Professor of History at the University of Southern California. She is the author of numerous books, including Daring to Be Bad, Scars of Sweet Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 61: Listener QuestionsIn this episode, I answer three questions from listeners around the world. Why do Americans smile at strangers on the street? Why is it so hard to understand native speakers even after years of study? What is the most surprising thing about living in New York City? As with all episodes, this one is just the right length for practicing your listening skills in one sitting.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator delivered straight to your inbox.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A rich history of cross-racial coalitions and alliances of the Sixties' freedom movement, acclaimed historian Alice Echols's Black Power, White Heat reshapes our understanding of the entire era. One of the most divisive issues in recent progressive politics has been what role, if any, allies might legitimately play in other people's movements. Despite the significance of this debate, it has taken place in a historical vacuum.In Black Power, White Heat: From Solidarity Politics to Radical Chic, (Oxford UP, 2026) the Sixties historian Alice Echols explores what happened some sixty years ago when whites and Blacks came together in the fight against racism. She tells this story by focusing on two Black-led organizations that bookend the Sixties: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party. In SNCC, whites were, in part, meant to generate a "white heat" so searing it would accelerate change. Results were mixed, and white activists formed new movements, from women's liberation to draft resistance.By 1967, the Black Panther Party was advancing its own unique brand of "revolutionary nationalism," and seeking out white supporters. Partnering with whites brought the group visibility and resources, but it also put the Panthers at odds with other Black radicals, with unfortunate consequences.Black Power, White Heat explains how solidarity lost credibility, and not just from within the movement. Here, the FBI played a key role, and so did the discourse of "radical chic," advanced most effectively by the journalist Tom Wolfe. Still, even as Black-white solidarity lost steam, it was not entirely played out. In some of the era's most important political trials, even courtrooms became sites of solidarity as predominantly white juries returned verdicts that suggested they trusted Black Panther defendants more than the District Attorneys prosecuting them. Clear-eyed about the difficulties of solidarity, Black Power, White Heat nonetheless emphasizes the achievements and considerable promise of uniting across difference, and in ways that will inform and deepen current debates roiling progressive politics. Alice Echols is Professor of History at the University of Southern California. She is the author of numerous books, including Daring to Be Bad, Scars of Sweet Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

A rich history of cross-racial coalitions and alliances of the Sixties' freedom movement, acclaimed historian Alice Echols's Black Power, White Heat reshapes our understanding of the entire era. One of the most divisive issues in recent progressive politics has been what role, if any, allies might legitimately play in other people's movements. Despite the significance of this debate, it has taken place in a historical vacuum.In Black Power, White Heat: From Solidarity Politics to Radical Chic, (Oxford UP, 2026) the Sixties historian Alice Echols explores what happened some sixty years ago when whites and Blacks came together in the fight against racism. She tells this story by focusing on two Black-led organizations that bookend the Sixties: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party. In SNCC, whites were, in part, meant to generate a "white heat" so searing it would accelerate change. Results were mixed, and white activists formed new movements, from women's liberation to draft resistance.By 1967, the Black Panther Party was advancing its own unique brand of "revolutionary nationalism," and seeking out white supporters. Partnering with whites brought the group visibility and resources, but it also put the Panthers at odds with other Black radicals, with unfortunate consequences.Black Power, White Heat explains how solidarity lost credibility, and not just from within the movement. Here, the FBI played a key role, and so did the discourse of "radical chic," advanced most effectively by the journalist Tom Wolfe. Still, even as Black-white solidarity lost steam, it was not entirely played out. In some of the era's most important political trials, even courtrooms became sites of solidarity as predominantly white juries returned verdicts that suggested they trusted Black Panther defendants more than the District Attorneys prosecuting them. Clear-eyed about the difficulties of solidarity, Black Power, White Heat nonetheless emphasizes the achievements and considerable promise of uniting across difference, and in ways that will inform and deepen current debates roiling progressive politics. Alice Echols is Professor of History at the University of Southern California. She is the author of numerous books, including Daring to Be Bad, Scars of Sweet Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

A rich history of cross-racial coalitions and alliances of the Sixties' freedom movement, acclaimed historian Alice Echols's Black Power, White Heat reshapes our understanding of the entire era. One of the most divisive issues in recent progressive politics has been what role, if any, allies might legitimately play in other people's movements. Despite the significance of this debate, it has taken place in a historical vacuum.In Black Power, White Heat: From Solidarity Politics to Radical Chic, (Oxford UP, 2026) the Sixties historian Alice Echols explores what happened some sixty years ago when whites and Blacks came together in the fight against racism. She tells this story by focusing on two Black-led organizations that bookend the Sixties: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party. In SNCC, whites were, in part, meant to generate a "white heat" so searing it would accelerate change. Results were mixed, and white activists formed new movements, from women's liberation to draft resistance.By 1967, the Black Panther Party was advancing its own unique brand of "revolutionary nationalism," and seeking out white supporters. Partnering with whites brought the group visibility and resources, but it also put the Panthers at odds with other Black radicals, with unfortunate consequences.Black Power, White Heat explains how solidarity lost credibility, and not just from within the movement. Here, the FBI played a key role, and so did the discourse of "radical chic," advanced most effectively by the journalist Tom Wolfe. Still, even as Black-white solidarity lost steam, it was not entirely played out. In some of the era's most important political trials, even courtrooms became sites of solidarity as predominantly white juries returned verdicts that suggested they trusted Black Panther defendants more than the District Attorneys prosecuting them. Clear-eyed about the difficulties of solidarity, Black Power, White Heat nonetheless emphasizes the achievements and considerable promise of uniting across difference, and in ways that will inform and deepen current debates roiling progressive politics. Alice Echols is Professor of History at the University of Southern California. She is the author of numerous books, including Daring to Be Bad, Scars of Sweet Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

What do people mean when they say we were founded as a "Christian nation"? Is that true?  Revisit this 2019 conversation on the political and religious history behind that idea. BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler talks with Dr. Steven Green, author of Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding, about the political history of this concept, including how, when and why it originated. They also discuss misguided claims that the Ten Commandments are the basis of our legal system. On the second half of the episode, we hear from church historian Bill Leonard on what religious leaders said and did during the founding of the United States and how that relates to the freedoms we have today. This conversation was part of our podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism, first released on August 14, 2019.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 02:22):  Steven Green on the political history of the idea This program originally aired August 14, 2019, as episode 3 in our 10-part BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism. Dr. Steven Green is the Fred H. Paulus Professor of Law and Affiliated Professor of History and Religious Studies at Willamette University. His most recent book – released in 2022 – is Separating Church and State. He is the author and co-author of several books, including Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding; Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court; and The Third Disestablishment: Church, State, and American Culture, 1940-1975.   Segment 2 (starting at 21:18): Bill Leonard on the religious history of the idea The Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard is the founding dean at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, who now holds the title of "professor of divinity emeritus." He has written some 25 books, and his research focuses on church history with particular attention to American religion, Baptist studies, and the Appalachian religion.  During the episode, Amanda Tyler mentions an article he wrote for Baptist News Global: Legislating 'In God We Trust': using the state to do the Church's work. To learn more about BJC's work countering Christian nationalism, visit ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org or BJConline.org/ChristianNationalism. You can also access our discussion guide to go with this podcast series. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

What happens when "woke" ideology takes over a nation's culture? Comedian Ben Bankas joins Tomi Lahren to discuss the "systematic dismantling" of Canada and why the same "toxic relationship" is threatening America. Ben exposes how government-funded theater boards cancel his sold-out comedy shows and why Late Night TV has "sewered" itself by abandoning meritocracy. From the truth about the border to Justin Trudeau's celebrity rebrand with Katy Perry, this is a no-holds-barred conversation on why we must stop giving our culture away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A third assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump has stunned the nation, raising urgent questions about political rhetoric, media narratives, and escalating hostility in America. In today's episode of The Todd Huff Show, Todd breaks down what we know about the suspect, the manifesto, and the troubling ideological motivations behind the attack. He examines how anti-Trump and anti-Christian sentiment may be fueling dangerous behavior, and why this moment reflects deeper cultural and spiritual issues. Todd also explores the role of media messaging, political activism, and the broader consequences of a decade of intense political division. This is a critical conversation about truth, responsibility, and the state of our nation.

A third assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump has stunned the nation, raising urgent questions about political rhetoric, media narratives, and escalating hostility in America. In today's episode of The Todd Huff Show, Todd breaks down what we know about the suspect, the manifesto, and the troubling ideological motivations behind the attack. He examines how anti-Trump and anti-Christian sentiment may be fueling dangerous behavior, and why this moment reflects deeper cultural and spiritual issues. Todd also explores the role of media messaging, political activism, and the broader consequences of a decade of intense political division. This is a critical conversation about truth, responsibility, and the state of our nation.

Send us Fan MailGUEST: Cal Beisner, President, Cornwall AllianceMy 92-year-old mother, who has been a follower of Christ for over 65 years, will often describe how much American culture has declined in her lifetime with regard to morality and marriage, manners and standards, movies and music, education and communication, and more. She does not say that things were perfect or sinless “in the good ol' days,” but rather how much the culture has coarsened.The younger generation has grown up in this stew so they may not realize all that has changed. And many from the older generation may not discern the downward trajectory or actually see it as “progress.”But the basis for evaluating our society is not human viewpoints, not even my mother's, but the fixed standard of God's Word. For example, God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman for life, not two or three people of the same gender. God commands that our speech be truthful and edifying, not marked by obscenity or sensuality. God desires His principles and practices—like prayer, worship, Christ-like character—to be venerated rather than dismissed.So where do we go from here? Can the culture be renewed or is that just another attempt at coercive Christian nationalism? What does it mean for the church to teach, and individual Christians to apply, “the whole counsel of God”?Cal Beisner, founder and president of The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation is our guest this weekend. We will discuss what he calls, “The Whole Counsel: A Project for Cultural Renewal” that he will be introducing at Cornwall's upcoming Spring Conference on May 1-2 in Memphis, Tennessee where other speakers like Megan Basham will be presenting. More details here.We hope you join us this weekend to learn how “the whole counsel of God from the whole Word of God to the whole people of God is for the whole of life.”

8. THE LEGACY OF THE SISTERHOOD AND BEYOND Guest Mundy: Guest Mundy concludes with the current lives of the "Sisterhood," including Barbara Sude and Heidi August, who often sacrificed family for their careers. These women eventually found catharsis by gathering to read aloud from the self-serving memoirs of the male directors they served. Mundy addresses the "sharp-elbowed" reputation of the woman who inspired the film *Zero Dark Thirty*, noting she was denied promotion despite her success. Ultimately, Mundy frames this history as a broader commentary on Americanculture and the enduring struggle for female professional recognition within the highest levels of the US government. (9)1900 yemen

Episode two of One Million Neighbors brings us to the chaotic final days of Saigon in April 1975, as ten-year-old Simon Hoa-Phan watches his world unravel. From the terror of nighttime bombings to the desperate crush of families fleeing toward evacuation helicopters, Simon's story captures the fear, uncertainty, and life-altering decisions faced by thousands as South Vietnam fell. His family's escape—narrow, chaotic, and uncertain—becomes a window into a much larger phenomenon: the mass displacement of millions across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, where war, political upheaval, and U.S. intervention forced entire populations to flee under harrowing conditions. At the same time, across the world in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kathleen Vellenga witnesses these events from a hospital bed and feels a call to act. Her personal turning point reflects a broader movement among American faith communities, who would go on to play a central role in resettling more than a million Southeast Asian refugees. This episode traces the historical roots of that movement—from Cold War politics and moral responsibility to deeply held religious convictions—and introduces the ordinary people who made extraordinary choices to welcome strangers as neighbors. Dr. Melissa Borja is Associate Professor of American Culture and Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan. Trained at Harvard, the University of Chicago, and Columbia, she is a historian of migration, religion, race, and politics and author of Follow the New Way: American Refugee Resettlement Policy and Hmong Religious Change (Harvard University Press), which won the the Thomas Wilson Memorial Prize, the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize from the American Society of Church History, and the Outstanding Achievement Award in History from the Association for Asian American Studies. Dr. Borja has advised Princeton's Religion and Forced Migration Initiative as well as the Bridging Divides Initiative, which tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States. An expert on anti-Asian racism during the Covid-19 pandemic, she leads the Virulent Hate Project and has contributed research to Stop AAPI Hate. In honor of her research and advocacy about Asian Americans, USA Today honored her as one of its 2022 Women of the Year. This podcast is part of AAPI Stories of Faith & Life, an Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) project funded by Lilly Endowment Incorporated.  www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music, Composition, and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global English Pronunciation⁠⁠ is available now. We'll show the 8 native secrets to clear English pronunciation. This is our newest course! Join today to get access to all 8 modules, interactive exercises, AI pronunciation analysis and scoring, teacher feedback, weekly live conversation practice, and more. Go here to enroll now. Save $50 this week only on basic or personal coach plans. Learn what other courses don't teach you about English pronunciation.  The special offer ends Sunday, 5 April at midnight. ⁠ ⁠Join here now.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mens Room Top 10

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

68 MinutesPG-13Paul Fahrenheidt is a husband, father, podcaster, writer, and founding member of the Old Glory Club.Paul joins Pete to talk about why Virginia has always been the center of America's high culture. This was episode 1101.A Country Squire's NotebookOld Glory Club YouTube ChannelOld Glory Club SubstackPaul's SubstackPaul on TwitterPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's Substack Pete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.