Podcasts about Essay

Stefan Molyneux digs into the philosophical roots of how morals and culture get passed down, looking at how societies build up over time through shared knowledge. He points out the risks when governments take over education, swapping out long-held values for ideas that suit their own agendas and wearing away at cultural foundations. Molyneux breaks down what happens when authority moves from families to the state, saying it opens the door to brainwashing and breaks the links between older and younger folks. He picks apart the flaws in everyday ways of justifying right and wrong, pushing instead for a moral setup that's consistent across the board and rooted in logic. In the end, he urges building a system of ethics based on solid reasoning and facts, while cautioning about the downsides of seeing morals as relative or letting politics push too far.GET FREEDOMAIN MERCH! https://shop.freedomain.com/SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025

Vom rechten Straßenkampf zur Mutterikone im Palazzo Chigi: Giorgia Meloni vereint Macht, Mutterschaft und Nationalstolz. Wie verbindet sich die Inszenierung weiblicher Autorität mit dem Aufstieg einer neuen, emotional aufgeladenen Rechten in Italien? Albath, Maike www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. 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

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Ben Ratliff is the author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening (Graywolf Press, 2025) was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the 2026 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. A former music critic for the New York Times, he lives in New York City and teaches at NYU. Listening Recommendations: Cara Lise Coverdale, A Series of Actions in A Sphere of Forever Ishmael Rivera, Lo Ultimo in La Avenida Book Recommendations: Solvej Balle, On the Calculation of Volume 1-3 Samuel R Delaney, The Motion of Light and Water Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music

What's the right size for your business? If your gut response is, "As big as possible!" you're not alone.    But that mindset can quietly invite unnecessary complexity, friction, and risk into your operation—especially when growth isn't planned or sustainable.    In this episode, we challenge the default assumption that bigger is always better in construction. Using insights from a legendary 100-year-old essay by biologist JBS Haldane, we explore how biological limits in nature mirror organizational limits in business—and why ignoring them could be hurting your team more than helping it. In this episode you will:    Discover the hidden trade-offs of scaling your construction business too soon Learn how biology explains why your systems are breaking as your team grows Get 3 crucial questions to ask before making your next big hire or opening a new branch   If you're leading a growing team and feeling the strain, press play now to rethink your approach and regain control.   P.S. If you're a Charlie Munger fan/disciple like host Bradley Hartmann, this episode is a prime example of Munger's call to think multidisciplinary— using insights from biology to sharpen leadership and decision-making in construction.   At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership,  and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com. The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization. Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com. New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.   This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.      

In this episode, Sawtooth Frank reflects on the music of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd. Sawtooth also talks about Trump's crazy letter to the Prime Minister of Norway, and the movies "Avatar 3," "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," and "Train Dreams." If you like our show, there's a few things you can do to help us out: Read Sawtooth's Essay and subscribe to our Substack: https://softservepodcast.substack.com/p/fba2ddea-ab54-4107-9dcc-df3703fbf808 Check out our website at https://www.softservepodcast.com! Subscribe to our podcast in your favorite app, download our episodes! Leave a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-soft-serve-podcast/id1428770328 TELL A FRIEND about our show!  

Suzanne Roberts is the author of the lyrical essay collection Animal Bodies: On Death, Desire, and Other Difficulties (Longlisted for the 2023 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay),​ the award-winning travel memoir in essays Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel (2020), and the memoir Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail (Winner of the 2012 National Outdoor Book Award), as well as four collections of poems. Named "The Next Great Travel Writer" by National Geographic's Traveler, Suzanne's work has been listed as notable in Best American Essays and included in The Best Women's Travel Writing. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, CNN, Creative Nonfiction, Brevity, The Rumpus, Hippocampus, The Normal School, River Teeth, and elsewhere. She holds a doctorate in literature and the environment from the University of Nevada-Reno, teaches in the low residency MFA program in creative writing at UNR-Lake Tahoe, and lives in South Lake Tahoe.                   Guest Links- Publishers site for Almost Somewhere- Almost Somewhere - University of Nebraska Press Suzanne's site - Home Suzanne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suzanneroberts28/ Suzanne on Facebook - Suzanne Roberts Suzanne on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-roberts-083ab962/ Purchase books - Order Signed Copies Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/ Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

In this episode, I respond to the recent protest inside Cities Church, just blocks from my home. With decades of experience in the evangelical world and years spent speaking out against Christian nationalism and injustice, I offer a raw, pastoral perspective on the tension between righteous anger and sacred space.

Machtinstrument oder Maßstab für Qualität? Der literarische Kanon bleibt umstritten. Dennoch ist die Debatte um Kanones unverzichtbar – als Spiegel gesellschaftlicher Werte, Werkzeug ästhetischer Kritik und Motor lebendiger Literaturvermittlung. Pohl, Peter www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

Why do so many white evangelicals still support Donald Trump—even after all the lies, cruelty, and corruption? It's not because they've been fooled. It's because they've chosen the lie. In this episode, we hear from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian who resisted Hitler and wrote powerfully about the moral danger of what he called folly—a willful, self-protecting ignorance that chooses comfort over truth, and power over integrity. Other call it his Theory of Stupidity.

Arguably the first viral moment of 2026 is an essay about a “toxic” group of mom friends. Actor and singer Ashley Tisdale French wrote an essay for New York Magazine's The Cut about being iced out of her circle of fellow moms and – celebrity intrigue aside – it struck a nerve. Dr. Noelle Santorelli is a mom and a clinical psychologist who tells Audie there's deep suffering wrapped up in establishing community around your family. She and Audie discuss the vulnerability of needing support, making friends for yourself and your kid, and the dysfunction of group dynamics. --  This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta.  Senior Producer: Matt Martinez   Technical Director: Dan Dzula    Executive Producer:  Steve Lickteig  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PUTIN'S REVISIONIST HISTORY AND THE 2014 INVASION Colleague Professor Eugene Finkel. During the COVID-19 isolation of 2021, Vladimir Putin wrote an essay based on historical myths, asserting Ukrainians and Russians are one people and denying Ukraine's right to independent statehood. Finkel argues this revisionism signaled Putin's intent to restore Russia as a great empire. The conversation reviews the 2014 Maidan revolution, which Putinperceived as a loss of control, prompting the invasion of Crimea and the Donbas. Finkel clarifies that while some locals in the east preferred Russia, the violent uprising was engineered by Russian security services and mercenaries, not a genuine organic movement. NUMBER 51912 KYIV

Today, we are celebrating the 900th episode of the Scholarship GPS Podcast! Over the years, we've featured many insightful experts from the world of college and post-college planning. We've compiled a selection of some of the best advice from past episodes guests.    Here is what you'll learn in this special episode: Reetu Gupta, Founder and CEO of CirkledIn, tells us about this exciting online student portfolio platform. Scholarship GPS has partnered with CirkledIn, and all NEW subscribers to one of the Scholarship Navigator programs will get a PREMIUM membership on CirckledIn included with their Scholarship Navigator membership. This added bonus gives students premium placement in college searches, enhanced visibility to college recruiters, notifications when colleges show interest, and the ability to create multiple custom profiles for different opportunities. Plus, my favorite, students get access to CirkledIn's database of over 6000 vetted scholarships, which is updated DAILY. Again, NEW subscribers to any of Scholarship GPS's Scholarship Navigator programs get the CirkledIn premium membership included. This is on top of the custom list of scholarships that we build for your student based on their profile, personalized help with scholarship applications and essays, access to the scholarship GPS video-based course, and much more. To learn more and to find the Scholarship Navigator program for your student, click the link for the Scholarship Navigator Program for your student: Scholarship Navigator for Current College Students Scholarship Navigator for the Class of 2026 Scholarship Navigator for the Class of 2027 Scholarship Navigator for High School Freshmen & Sophomores Lisa Marker-Robbins shares her findings from a study of the 50 state flagship colleges about college major-specific admissions. With this free resource, you will be able to dive deeper into the college admissions process with a curated blueprint, designed to demystify how your teen's choice of college major influences admission decisions and future options. Click here to get this incredibly valuable free resource! https://courses.flourishcoachingco.com/a/2147831697/PLHdxFCx  Jackie Pollina of J&J Test Prep. Jackie shares her tips for how students can balance SAT & Act test prep with their other responsibilities, like school and extracurriculars, while still having a life. J&J Test Prep is one of the most respected test prep organizations in the country. If your student has completed the first semester of Alegbra 2, they are ready to prep for the SAT. To learn more about J&J Test Prep, click here. https://www.jjtestprep.com/satintensive-scholarshipgps  Dr. Kellie Coppi of Say Yes to the Essay shares some advice around your student's college admissions essays. Kellie is going to tell us why a student's essay is critical for college admissions success. To connect with Kellie, visit her website. Or, to learn more about the ACE Networks (Access to College Experts), click here. https://sayyestotheessaywithdrcoppi.com/ https://sites.google.com/view/ace-network/faqs?authuser=0  College financial planning expert, Luanne Lee, explains how changes to the student loan world could leave students without a way to pay for college beyond the second or third year. If you would like to connect with Luanne to learn more about planning to pay for college, visit her website. https://www.ycpcoach.com/  Class of 2025 grad, and winner of nearly $200,000 in scholarships, Victoria, and her mom, Nicole, explain the role of the Personal Narrative for earning scholarships. Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship - now featuring a scholarship tip of the week! https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/ 

Mit der Sprache und dem Lesen kommen wir zur Welt und zur Gesellschaft. Welches Weltbild wird Kindern in der Schule vermittelt? Gilt die Kleinfamilie aus Vater, Mutter und Kind als Keimzelle der Gesellschaft? Oder Patchwork- oder Regenbogenfamilien? Von Patricia Görg www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

Aujourd'hui, Bruno Poncet, cheminot, Antoine Diers, consultant, et Fatima Aït Bounoua, professeur de français, débattent de l'actualité autour d'Alain Marschall et Olivier Truchot.

A national group seeks answers from OU over its decision to remove a teaching assistant.Oklahoma is looking at new election dates starting this year.A group of four-year-olds is planting trees and preserving Chickasaw culture.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

What if there's one simple theory that explains every decision Donald Trump makes? In this epsidoe, I break down the pattern I've seen in Trump's behavior for over a decade—one that not only explains his most outrageous and contradictory actions, but actually predicts them. From pardoning convicted drug lords to dismantling global aid programs, and from gutting institutions to throwing parties for billionaires while millions starve—this isn't chaos. It's strategy.

An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent was Newman's most difficult work. While not a formal epistemology (theory of knowledge), Newman prompted a movement away from modern epistemology, stressing certainty that is best found in logic and mathematics, to common sense epistemology, affirming truth that is not absolutely certain. Bishop Barron explains why this epistemology is proper to religious knowledge, which includes notional and real assent.   Topics Covered: Why assent is not certitude  Religious Liberalism  Notional and Real Assent  Conscience  Links: Article: A Meditation on the Grammar of Assent Video: Dr. Reinhard Huetter on Newman Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/   NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.  

Wie viel Vergangenheit steckt in der Gegenwart? Wer sich heute mit Geschichte beschäftigt, kann darauf eine Antwort finden. Allerdings darf die Geschichte nicht darauf reduziert werden, gegenwärtige Narrative nur zu bestätigen. Von Ralf Konersmann www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

Happy New Year, listeners! To read the essay and access other bonus content (written and audio), or to support the show, please visit Patreon.com/symbolpod. --AA

Books That Matter for Photographers, Artists, Writers and all Creators: Steven Pressfield and The War of Art, Resistance, and Professionalization. Recorded on New Year's Day from a busy coffee shop in Bali, Indonesia, this solo episode of Beyond The Lens is a deep, honest meditation on why photographers, artists, writers, and creators struggle to do the work that matters most—and what to do about it.Drawing from The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, Richard unpacks the idea of Resistance: the invisible, internal force that shows up whenever we try to create, grow, or change. Procrastination. Self-doubt. Distraction. Rationalization. That voice that says, “Do it tomorrow.” That's Resistance.This episode is part book review, part personal reflection, and part practical field guide for photographers, writers, artists, and anyone trying to live a more intentional, creative life.Notable Links:The War of Art on AmazonSteven Pressfield OnlineRichard's Essay on Resistance: Beyond The Lens Newsletter*****If you're looking for that next-level boost to your creativity and photography skills, you've got to check out my Beyond The Lens Newsletter on Substack. It's like having a backstage pass to everything I explore with my guests here on the podcast - delivered straight to your email inbox.Think practical photography tips, mind-expanding ideas for personal vision, and real-world tactics to level up your craft. Plus I'm sharing my thoughts on travel, conservation, creativity and more.It's straight to the point, super actionable, and it shows you how to see the world in an entirely new way. So if that sounds like your vibe, head on over to beyondthelens.fm/go and prepare to take your creative game to new heights. *****This episode is brought to you by Kase Revolution Plus Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I've tried all of them, but in recent years I've landed on Kase Filters.Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, Ultra-Low Reflectivity, zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Alle sprechen vom Krieg, von der Rente, der Wehrpflicht, vom Stadtbild. Und das Klima? Eine seltsame Stille ist um dieses Thema entstanden. Wie konnte es passieren, dass die größte globale Zukunftsfrage kaum noch Gegenstand öffentlicher Debatten ist? Von Luisa Neubauer www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

In this final episode of 2025, I welcome my friends and IFJA colleagues Andy Carr and Logan Sowash from Odd Trilogies to the show to help me close out the year with a breakdown of the Indiana Film Journalists Association's Ten Best Films of 2025. Timestamps Show Start - 00:28 Introducing the Guests - 02:30 IFJA Thoughts - 08:38 Best Film Finalists Bob Trevino Likes It - 15:12 Hamnet - 23:00 The Life of Chuck - 32:25 Marty Supreme - 43:36 No Other Choice - 56:26 Train Dreams - 1:06:15 Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - 1:16:17 Weapons - 1:21:30   Runner-Up: One Battle After Another - 1:28:37 Winner: Sinners - 1:32:38    Movies We Would Have Wanted in the List - 1:41:10 Closing the Ep - 1:45:10 Patreon Clip - 1:48:07   Related Links 'Sinners' tops list of Indiana Film Journalists Association awards Nominations announced for 2025 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards   Andy's Letterboxd Logan's Letterboxd Odd Trilogies Odd Trilogies - 116: The Silent Night, Deadly Night Trilogy Odd Trilogies - 115: Robert Zemeckis' CGI Trilogy Odd Trilogies - 114: The Odd Oz Trilogy Logan's Review of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Andy's Essay on "The Willem Dafoe Drip Check"   My 2025 Podcast and Writing Archive The Long Walk Book Reactions on Patreon IT: Welcome to Derry Episode Reactions on Patreon Patreon Potpourri - 035 - "Awards Season 2025" - Splitsville (2025), Bob Trevino Likes It (2025), If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025), and The Perfect Neighbor (2025) - Nov 17-Dec 24, 2025 Patreon Companion Episodes Collection   Indianapolis Theaters Alamo Drafthouse Indy Kan-Kan  Living Room Theaters Keystone Art  Flix Brewhouse   Ways to Support Us Support Us on Patreon for Exclusive Content Official OV Merch Buy Me A Coffee Obsessive Viewer Obsessive Viewer Presents: Anthology Obsessive Viewer Presents: Tower Junkies As Good As It Gets - Linktree Start Your Podcast with Libsyn Using Promo Code OBSESS   Follow Us on Social Media My Letterboxd | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | TikTok | Tiny's Letterboxd   Mic Info Matt: ElectroVoice RE20 into RØDEcaster Pro II (Firmware: 1.6.8) Andy: Samson Q2U via USB in Riverside FM Logan: Blue Yeti in Riverside FM   Episode Homepage: ObsessiveViewer.com/OV498   Next Week on the Podcast OV499 - IT: Welcome to Derry (Season 1)

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE. Shannon and Titania are back—this time tackling the Johns Hopkins supplemental essay. With Hopkins celebrating its 150th anniversary, this year's prompt sounds poetic, reflective, and… a little overwhelming. But what are admissions officers actually asking for? PART 1: How to answer Every Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts! [WATCH IT HERE] PART 2: How to answer Yale Supplemental Essay + Short Answer Prompts! [WATCH IT HERE] --- Register for our upcoming webinars. We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog.  Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com. To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE. Shannon and Titania return to break down every Harvard supplemental essay prompt, sharing how successful applicants actually approach each question, what admissions officers are really listening for, and the common mistakes that quietly hurt otherwise strong candidates. PART 1: How to answer Every Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts! [WATCH IT HERE] PART 3 COMING UP NEXT: How to answer Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt! --- Register for our upcoming webinars. We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog.  Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com. To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

In this second year-end reflection, I get blunt about a lesson that's taken years to fully grasp — but in 2025, it became undeniable: the white evangelical movement in America is utterly depraved. Not just theologically. Morally. Culturally. Publicly. From Donald Trump's ongoing abuses to the disgraceful “revival” at Charlie Kirk's funeral, 2025 made it crystal clear: this movement is no longer about Christ — it's about power, whiteness, and control. And it's dragging the name of Jesus through the mud.

What score would you get if you took the IELTS tomorrow? Get your estimated IELTS Band Score now with our free 2-minute quiz. Want to get a guaranteed score increase on your next IELTS Exam? Check out our 3 Keys IELTS Online course. Check out our other podcasts: All Ears English Podcast: We focus on Connection NOT Perfection when it comes to learning English. This podcast is perfect for listeners at the intermediate or advanced level. This is an award-winning podcast with more than 4 million monthly downloads. Business English Podcast: Improve your Business English with 3 episodes per week, featuring Lindsay, Michelle, and Aubrey Visit our website here or https://lnk.to/website-sn Send your English question or episode topic idea to support@allearsenglish.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE. Shannon and Titania return to break down every Harvard supplemental essay prompt, sharing how successful applicants actually approach each question, what admissions officers are really listening for, and the common mistakes that quietly hurt otherwise strong candidates. PART 2 COMING UP NEXT: How to answer Every Yale Supplemental Essay Prompts! --- Register for our upcoming webinars. We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog.  Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com. To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

Make Morality Mainstream Again The adultification of teen fiction has intentionally Frankensteined books for teens into cesspools of ideological normalization. A while ago, I met a mother and her daughter, the latter of whom I hadn't seen in several years. On the cusp of turning twelve, she'd obviously grown in the time since, and, her mother proudly informed me, had become quite the reader. Indeed, the girl held quite a thick book in her hand. Which was it? The girl showed me the cover. I turned to the mother. “Do you know what your daughter is reading?” She'd figured telling her eleven-year-old she could read whatever was marked 14+ was a safe enough guardrail for appropriate content. As reading is an experience between book and reader, the mother wouldn't have seen what her daughter was taking in. She couldn't either know that her daughter's book was familiar not because it was something I'd read but because it was something I wouldn't. Worse, she thought she could trust the institution. THE READING DILEMMA Parents want kids to read, but as most can't keep up with their reading habits, they don't fully realize what's being allowed, even promoted, in books for young readers. As with other once vaunted institutions, the publishing world has morphed in ways many aren't fully aware of. Over a decade ago, I signed my first contract for Young Adult (YA) fiction. Before and since, I've watched the genre boom through the stages of audience demographic to viable business. Throughout, YA has expanded from books for teens to a genre unto itself, attracting talented writers, lucrative contracts, and the golden goose of Hollywood adaptations. YA is officially for readers 14-18 years (and up). However, as it's after Middle Grade (8-12 years), tweens are frequent readers, plus many eleven-year-olds reading up. There is “lower” and “upper” YA, but they're unofficial categories for libraries or writers specific about their target audience. Most retailers and publishers categorize all teen books under the general YA umbrella. NA, New Adult, mainly written for college-aged readers into their early twenties, is often sheltered under the YA umbrella too. Alongside the wider publishing industry, YA has changed significantly over the years, reflecting broader shifts in society. What follows isn't an analysis on talent or quality but content, as something about words in a book makes what's written more real, valid, romantic, admirable, aspirational. Thus, the intent is to shed light on some of the many topic and imagery that are included in books for young readers. At risk that this won't earn me any friends in publishing (at best), here's some of what I've seen: DEVOLUTION OF YA FICTION Growth of the YA audience/genre is an objective benefit, logical as it is to increase methods for targeting potential customers. As YA has increased in business and position, its morphing into genre unto itself has attracted many adults readers. As a YA author, I read mainly within my market and see the appeal for adult readers considering how well the genre's developed. The migration of older readers to YA is certainly one of the many reasons it's been so adultified. Other factors include the poisonous stranglehold ideological tentacles have on many aspects of culture, entertainment, and education. The shifts adults have finally caught onto in adult fiction and film have infected literature for younger audiences, picture books through YA. A quick example, originally, romantic comedies centered on a man and woman who clashed at the outset, then eventually found their way to each other at the end. The story would build to some romantic declaration, then a kiss. Anyone who's been watching knows that there's now a whole lot of touching that happens before any romantic declaration occurs. Longer, more frequent kisses are only second to scenes of the pair sleeping together before deciding how they really feel about each other. All this is becoming commonplace in YA. What was once cutesy stories about a high school girl chasing a crush has now become stories featuring a whole lot of other firsts, even seconds, and then some. The devolution of YA is a result of purposeful normalization and reshaping of societal norms through manipulatively emotional appeals by writers, agents, and editors. On average, books from larger publishing houses take roughly eighteen months to two years to evolve from contract to product on the shelf. To say, story trends are set in motion well before their rise in popularity. Whatever the view on agents as gatekeepers to the larger houses, publishers only publish so many books in a year, an amount significantly less than all the people who want to be published. Hence, agents act as preliminary filters for editors, whittling down potential authors to relatively more manageable numbers. An agent must really believe in a writer and project to nab one of those few spots. Like most creative fields, writing is highly subjective, so in addition to general quality, each agent and editor has preferences for stories they want to work with. They're also usually pretty clear about what they're looking for, so part of the progression of change can be traced back to what's being requested. CHARACTER INCLUSION CHECKLISTS When I first entered the “querying trenches,” wish lists from agents mainly specified genres and their various offshoots. Although ideologies make a home in all genres, most were subtler, more akin to a light sprinkling than the deluge of today. Within a few short years, wish lists changed. Unofficial “checklists” appeared in the now familiar cancerous categories of equity, representation, marginalization, and other socialist pseudonyms. Nonfiction for teens is dominated by activism, coming out, and adaptations of left-wing figures' biographies. Rather than prioritize quality, potential, uniqueness, the new gatekeeping is often focused on the inclusion of certain ideologies. For the first while, emphasis was on strong female characters, an odd request considering the YA market is dominated by female writers and readers. Previous character portrayal thus had little to do with some imagined patriarchal oppression. Now, female characters are “fierce”, projections of feminist fantasies celebrating girl bosses who are objectively pushy, uncooperative, obnoxious, self-righteous, and/or highly unrealistic. Somehow, they capture the most desirable love interest, a magical combination of masculinity and emotional vulnerability, who is inexplicably un-neutered by support of her domineering principles. Frequently, the girl makes the first move. Worse than overbearing feminism is unrealistic portrayals of a girl's physical abilities accompanied by most unsavory rage and wrath and anger. Supposedly, these traits aren't anathema to the gorgeous guys (when it is a guy) these girls miraculously attract. Unless there's a moth to flame metaphor here, it's a lie to pretend wrath is a healthy attraction. This well reflects the move away from what's become so-last-century stories featuring underdogs who searched deep for courage and heart to overcome challenges, raising up others alongside themselves. A time when character development focused on, well, character. More wholesome stories have been replaced with a self-proclaimed oppressed burning with self-righteous rage and violence. Such characters have seeped into fantasy for adults as well, most notably in armies featuring female combat soldiers and warriors without special powers, who somehow go toe-to-toe if not best male counterparts. Often this sort of matchup is shown as some cunning of smallness, agility, and destruction of arrogant male condescension. Never mind that such fighting is highly unrealistic, and any male is rightly confident if paired against a woman in physical combat. No amount of small body darting or ingenuity will save a girl from the full force of one landed male punch. The unquestioned portrayal of women able to best men in physical combat is worrying considering the real possibility of a reader confusing fact with fiction. Besides, a country which sends its women to war will no longer exist, as it's a country with males but not men. The current not-so-secret of major houses is that a book doesn't have a high chance of getting published if it doesn't check certain markers, especially for midlist and debut authors, though A-listers are not immune. A Caucasian is hardly allowed to write a story featuring a so-called BIPOC, but a straight author must somehow include the ever-expanding gay-bcs, and it must be in a positive light. Some authors were always writing these characters, which at least reflects acting of their own volition. For the rest, many didn't start until required. Because of the careful wording around these ideologies, many don't speak out against these practices so as not to appear hateful and bigoted. The mandated appearance of so-called marginalized and under-represented in stories lest the author risk erasing…someone, somehow also operates along these lines. Although, apparently, only very specific groups are at risk of disappearing. These standards are ridiculous in their least damaging iterations. How many so-anointed BIPOC were consulted over their standard portrayals? How can every individual of every minority be consulted for approval, and who chooses which faction decides? How many Latinos, speakers of gendered language, agreed to Latinx and Latine? Christian characters in mainstream publishing are rarely portrayed as steadfast believers or even rebels rediscovering faith. Jewish stories usually feature a character who's “lived experience” is assimilation, so the character is of a religion but doesn't represent it. A real portrayal of the true beliefs these characters come from would not align with the world mainstream publishing wants to shape. Even more ludicrous is that “disabled” and “neurodivergent” are considered identities, as if a physical or medical condition is cause for new labeling. The approach used to be that you are still you, worthy of respect and consideration, despite these conditions. In the glorified world of the self-hyphenate, the world of we-are-our-self-declared-identity, it's the foremost feature mentioned, with accompanying expectation of praise and exaltation, regardless of an individual's character or behavior. Don't confuse the argument against the labeling with the individuals, because they are separable. Worse than the tokenism is the reduction of individuals to secondary characteristics. Is this really the first thing you have to say about yourself, the most essential thing to know? When did it become norm to turn skin color or medical condition or physical ability into a character trait, the very notion of which says that anyone in this group must be viewed primarily through this lens, as if each is exactly the same? How myopic. How belittling. Following the cue set by movies, books for teens also morphed from cutesy rom-coms to ideological showcases. Unsurprisingly, there's been the introduction of the stereotypical gay best friend. Then storylines focusing on coming out or discovering someone close was gay, with accompanying template for writing them. The one coming out is always the strong one, the resilient one, though much language must be banned lest they be offended or erased, so their strength is dependent upon a carefully constructed bubble. Not only is inclusion necessary but happiness is the only possible, deliberately portrayed reaction. Never mind if some or all of it runs counter to a writer's religious beliefs. Moreover, “I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I'll still treat you with respect” was never an acceptable response. And it is an acceptable response in all manner of situations, unless you exorcise it in efforts to forcibly shape a particular worldview. Additionally, the attitude is that since you can't tell me who to love, and loving this person makes me happy, you must not only ally but champion me. Why is it offensive to present different acceptable, respectful reactions to teens? Who exactly is erased if this character isn't presented at all? As before, don't confuse the argument against mandate with the individuals. The contention isn't about love, but about religion protecting the sanctity of romantic relationships and marriage, a religious practice since the dawn of time, as seen across centuries and civilizations. Marriage is described as sanctified and holy, because it's Divine in nature, and thereby under the domain of the religious. If it's just a contract, then of course any government can regulate it. It’s disingenuous to deny that such enforcement clashes with the very nature of what writing is about. It shuts down discussion, then subverts it entirely by pretending there's nothing to debate. That shouldn't be a source of pride for publishing, but deepest shame. In their efforts to supposedly widen the window of story matter, they've narrowed the frames and tinted the panes to exclude suddenly unacceptable voices entirely. PORNOGRAPHY AND CONSENT Compounded upon all this, most books are no longer relatively clean romances building to a single kiss, as every stage of the relationship has become more explicit. Some scenes are akin to manuals, containing the sort of imagery once the sole province of steamy romances. When efforts are rightly made to remove these books from shelves, screeches of censorship! erasure! representation! resound. We wouldn't, and shouldn't, tolerate any adult approaching a kid on the street and telling stories with such description, nor should we allow it from close friends or family. Authors do not hold special status in this, no matter what the screechers screech. Taking such books off shelves isn't an indication of bigotry, intolerance, hatred, or erasure, but moral obligation. The counterargument from writers, agents, and editors is that explicit detail is necessary because of something to do with “lived experiences” and consent. First, if kids are doing it anyway, then adults definitely needn't assist. Second, consent is not quite the magical word society would have us believe. Third, “everyone has different experiences” is not a reason for writing graphic content, and the replacement of “intimacy” with “experience” is largely responsible for why relationships are in the gutter and leaving people unfulfilled. Intimacy is something private between two individuals; experience is a vague euphemism to pass off what should matter as transitory, despite irrevocable effects. It's difficult to imagine in an age when phones, cameras, and microphones track a person everywhere, but there was once an ideal called privacy, and the intimate was part of it. Pushback also leads to defenses of “sexuality,” another way of saying adults want to teach kids all kinds of ways to pursue these “experiences”. Changing the wording doesn't alter the nature but does allow immoral actors to force celebration of their fantasies and fetishes. The wrongness is incontestable, though not surprising from those who promote polyamory for teens and romantic relationships between humans and demons or other ungodly creatures. The feeble argument for writing scenes of teens sleeping together is they must see what consent looks like. Again, authors do not hold special status or exemption. There is no strong enough argument for writing scenes for teens in which one character undresses another and verbally asks permission every step of the way. Especially because the new trend seems to be the girl not only “consenting”, but also a burning I want this. If she wants, this wording implies, then she must have, abandoning all reason and morality. Consent has become an excuse for all sorts of undesirable, immoral, even illegal behavior, but mutual agreement is supposed to make it okay. This isn't the behavior we should be promoting for teens; we should be giving them better things, bigger ideas to think about. Worst of all, why is any adult writing about two sixteen-year-olds sleeping together? A teenager, no matter how mature, is still developing and while smart and clever not really old enough to fully understand what she's “consenting” to, and is probably being taken advantage of. We treat eighteen with the same magical power as consent, as if any age should be sleeping around, even if legalese only extends so far. Teen pregnancy, abortion overall, would hardly be an issue if everyone stopped sleeping with people they shouldn't. Any adherent to morality knows this, though morality is just another thing scuttled from teen fiction. G-dless ideology is the new morality; immoral, manmade gods have replaced G-d; lust is the new love; sexuality excuse for pornography; perceived racism and misogyny validation for violence and rage. Many are we who did not consent to this. These scenes are in teen films as well, though how many parents know this in an age of individual devices? Adults pretending to be teens take each other's clothes off before a camera for real tweens, teens, and/or adults to watch. Please explain in clear and simple language why this is not a form of pornography. What absolutely vital role does this scene have in advancing the story? Consent is not enough. Wanting is not enough. We're encouraging teens to turn their bodies into used cars, dented, scraped, scarred, and baggage laden, for what? Why is this hollowing out of self and morality good? This serves no benefit for teens and the overall state of relationships. Consent has become an excuse for all sorts of undesirable, immoral, even illegal behavior, but we're supposed to think that everyone agreeing makes whatever they agree to okay. It's incredibly obvious that feminism and the sexual revolution didn't free women, but chain them in a prison of animalistic, unsatisfying desire, dooming them to jadedness, frustration, and loneliness. But they're so responsible! So mature! By such logic, a responsible sixteen-year-old should be able to buy guns, alcohol, and drugs. But identity! No, identity doesn't mandate a book with graphic imagery, nor is it “sexuality” or “feeling seen” or any other term you hide behind. Witness the tattered remains of social morality that writers do not balk at writing this for teens. They should balk at writing this for anyone. Once we recognized that betterment came through battling temptations. It is not difficult to see how the enforced normalization of all this was also an effective ridding of undesirable shame. Not only have we banished feeling bad, we've enforced celebration of what shame once kept in line. But they'll never be prepared! How did any of us get here if none of this existed for millennia? But look at the sales! Many people also bought rock pets. Deviants and defenders will attempt to claim that (a) this sort of stuff always existed, which isn't really a reason for its continuance, and (b) previous generations were undoubtedly stifled in their inability to express their true selves. Perhaps. And yet, previous generations built civilization, with significantly less medical prescriptions too. Previous generations were better at family and community, meaning and purpose. We have “experiences.” But this is what married people do! Some writers introduce a faux or rushed marriage into the plot, perhaps because their weakening moral compass prevents writing an explicit scene between unmarried characters. Marrying the characters and making them eighteen doesn't magically okay writing this for teens. Everyone does it—indeed there are many common bodily functions which shouldn't be demonstrated in public—isn't either reason enough. Pressures to include these scenes is evidenced by authors long regarded as “clean” storytellers, authors who won't swear or indulge in graphic or gratuitous content, authors who clearly express Christian beliefs in their acknowledgements, writing them too. Would they give this book to their priest? To a young church member? Would they read the scene aloud for family or friends or the very teens they write for? If even the professed religious authors do not have the fortitude to oppose this, if even they can be convinced of the supposed validity, then gone is the bulwark protecting children from the psychological and moral damage resulting from these scenes. But inclusivity! We must reflect the world around them! Considering what's in these books, all should pray teens aren't seeing this around them. Either way, that doesn't excuse writing about it. Moreover, cries for inclusivity from those shutting down differing opinions are inherently without substance. True inclusivity is achieved when stories focus on universal truths and laudatory values shared by all. The fundamental argument is that “could” is not “should”, and the only reliable arbiter between the two is Divinely-based morality. Current permissiveness is only possible in a society which worked for decades to expunge religion from its vital foundational position and influence. The demonization piled atop its degradation was simple insurance that the moral truths of religion wouldn't interfere with the newly established secular order. We can still be good people, they claimed. Witness the tattered remains. Allowing, championing, this sort of writing has not made us better, and instead of listening to concerns, activists and proponents double down. Need you any proof of the separation between ethics and morality and elitism and academia, scroll through an article or two in defense of these scenes. The more “educated” the individual, the twisted the pretzel of rationalization. Rational lies, all of them. These lies are prominently center of the new crusade against so-called “book banning,” although the books are still available at retailers and publishers. Fueled by self-righteous hysteria, activists take great pride in influencing state legislatures to enact decrees against book bans in protection of “lived experiences,” representation, and the like. If a teen doesn't see two boys or girls or more sleeping together, so the thinking goes, then they face imminent, unspecified harm, never mind that their sacred voice has been quashed. They claim BIPOC and queer authors are specifically targeted, failing to mention it's the content not the author rejected. Somehow the bigots are the ones who don't want kids reduced to “sexuality”, while the tolerant are the ones who do. Need anyone ask if these protections extend to writers who don't align or even disagree with their worldview? I'd say these books are better suited for adults, but adults are despairing of the unreadability of books in their categories too. And that aside from the targeted “decolonization” of books and authors that adults, especially men, enjoyed reading. From the myriad of books extant, no plot was ever turned, no story ever dependent upon an explicit scene, in the bedroom or elsewhere. Neither does such render the work art or literature, but rather indecent and abhorrent. Parents struggle to encourage their kids to read when such are the books available. ELIMINATING THE WEST For some time, agents have specifically requested non-western narratives, histories, and legends. Atop the deteriorating state of the current education system, teens aren't being presented with a fictionalized character in history, which may thereby spark interest and curiosity in real history. No wonder they know so little of the past when they're not offered history at all. What does make it in represents very select time periods. Other permitted historical fiction is alternative histories where the past is magicked or reimagined, almost always in some gender swapped way. While alternative histories can be creative, the lack of regular historical fiction seems to indicate the only permitted history is a remade one. Otherwise, most of western history isn't on shelves because no one wants to represent it. Which means no one's fighting for it to be published. Which means young readers aren't given glimpses into the past that made this present and will highly influence the future. And this from those who claim large swaths of the population don't properly teach history. The same who pushed the fabricated and widely debunked lie that slavery was unique to the west, the only culture who actively sought to end it. The same who have yet to consider the absolute necessity of mandating schools to teach the true horrors of communism done right. The same who have a monochrome view of colonization and chameleon approach to the faux oppressed-oppressor narrative. A rather high volume of Asian-based stories, histories, and mythologies fill the market instead. The proliferation of Asian and other eastern fiction isn't objectively concerning, but it's deliberate increase alongside western stories' deliberate decrease is. It's less an expansion of viewpoints and more a supplanting of anything west. I grew up reading historical fiction, but there's a dearth on shelves for teen readers, who must see where we come from through the eyes of characters resembling our ancestors. Instead of walking through time in their shoes and understanding their struggles in the context of when they lived, we project modern ideologies upon the one protagonist somehow vastly ahead of her time. It's deliberately false and disconnects readers from the world that created the one we live in. Whatever your opinion of our world, it was formed in those histories, and we cannot appreciate the present without understanding the world that made it. MENTAL HEALTH Another major trend in teen fiction is the focus on the broad category of mental health, its emergence unsurprising considering the uptick in modern society. Whatever the viewpoint on diagnoses, the truth is that the ones calling for greater awareness have much to do with having caused the issues. Teens living in the most prosperous, free society that ever was should not have such measures of mental health struggles, yet they do. Skim the messaging of the last several decades and it's no wonder why. Teens are raised on a bombardment of lies and damaging viewpoints resulting in a precarious Jenga structure at their foundation. For decades they've been told they can sleep around without lasting consequence, negating the need to build deep, lasting, exclusive relationships. Families, a fundamental source of meaning and grounding, have been shoved aside for the faux glory of sleeping with whomever, whenever, and the new solution of “found family”. Just because a pill supposedly prevents biological consequences doesn't mean a different sort of toll hasn't been exacted. And that follows the perpetual degradation of dress, reducing the entirety of an individual to a form as valued or devalued as any other physical object. Added to the disrespect of the body is the incessant, unfounded claim that “climate change” is going to destroy the planet by…well, soon. Never mind that we're doing better than before, and all predictions have been proven wrong. Imagine what continual doom and gloom does to the mental state of a teenager already grappling with ping-ponging hormones, who should be presented with optimism for the future they're about old enough to create. Well, we have a pill for that too. Teens have been told the American dream is gone by those who set out to destroy it, that American greatness isn't worth dreaming about by those who recolored it a nightmare. Hobbies and collected skills, the work of their own hands, have been shunted for social media trends and unfettered internet access. Phones are given to younger and younger kids, so they don't grow up in the tangible, real world but an algorithmic, digital one. Inevitably, the worst of that world affects them. They're told that they're hated, feared for the way they were born. They're told they're not even who they've been since birth, basic facts purposely turned into issues and doubts to shake the foundation of self. Those most adamant about the contrived need for teens to discover identity are the most diligent at axing their very roots. The response to the mental health crisis, the jadedness, the internal turmoil they've helped facilitate by destroying the enduring, reliable fabric of society is to encourage more of the same empty, hollowing behaviors. Atop all this is never-ending rage, rage, rage. At the base is the deliberate removal of religion. No matter an individual's choice of observance, religion undeniably provides what liberal society and decadence cannot; meaning. Eternal, enduring meaning. The knowing that you're more than a clump of cells passing through this timespan, because you are an integral link in a chain reaching back millennia. Your ancestors didn't endure hardships or fight to build civilization so you could be the end of the line, but so you could gratefully take your place in it. You and your actions matter. Not because you're a political vote or celebrated community, but because you were made in the image of G-d Who woke you today as there's something only you can do in His world. What effect would the proliferation of this messaging in literature have on the mental state of the youth? And for those pontificating about diversity and inclusion, who in truth only want different skin colors espousing the same beliefs, there is no greater unifier than religion. Belief in a higher power unites individuals of different backgrounds, colors, and, most valuably, opinions, in ways no mandate or ideology ever can. While lengthy, the above in no way encompasses all the changes, reasons, and effects pertaining to the devolution of teen fiction. And, as the focus is not on talent but content, it can be shifted as easily as it was before. You may disagree with everything I've written. You may accuse me of jealousy, hatred, bigotry, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, erasure, et al. I only encourage you to look for yourself. Peruse bookstore aisles; click through new releases; check who's getting awards. What do your eyes see?

After ten days offline over the holidays, I'm back — and in this first episode of a short, year-end series, I'm getting personal. I didn't plan to disappear. But somewhere between writing another essay on Donald Trump and realizing I didn't want to ruin Christmas thinking about him, I made a decision — to step back and protect my joy. In this reflection, I share why that pause mattered, what it taught me, and how it connects to the long-term work so many of us are doing at the intersection of faith, politics, and democracy.

This week's featured scholarships: $2000 CollegeXpress Winter Break Scholarship $2000 A Better Financial Future Scholarship $1000 Appily Easy Money Scholarship $5000 Christian Connector Scholarship $2000 SoFi Scholarship Giveaway $2000 Sallie No-Essay Scholarship $50,000 ScholarshipOwl No-Essay Scholarship To get the free list of our recommended scholarship websites, go to https://www.scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-websites To have all of our easy Winter Break Scholarships, along with the amazing 24-hour flash sale deals delivered to your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletter, "Your Daily Scholarship" at https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/   In today's episode, I interview Jennifer Fenitti from ScholarshipOwl to learn more about their scholarship, as well as: The importance of forging an affordable path to college Prioritizing applying for scholarships and jobs, not loans Why ScholarshipOwl is such a powerful resource for students seeking scholarships Why students should avoid taking out student loans, and the devastating impact student loans can have on borrowers long after they have completed their education The impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill Act” on college students Is college still worthwhile? And more…  

Darf man Männer einfach so beißen? Harald Martenstein über einen "Liebesbiss" in den Po, der in Österreich einen Prozess nach sich zog.

Müll ist mehr als nur Abfall – er spiegelt gesellschaftliche Ungleichheiten wider. Wer verursacht Müll, wer trägt die Verantwortung? Während Reiche ihre Abfälle unsichtbar machen, kämpfen benachteiligte Stadtteile mit stigmatisierter Verschmutzung. Von Henriette Hufgard www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

In Arteetude 314, Detlef and AI Co-Host Sophia deliberately avoid the usual year-end retrospective.No highlights.No rankings.No productivity myths.Instead, they turn the microphone inward.This episode is a reflective self-interrogation — playful, honest, and at times provocative. Detlef speaks openly about moments of arrogance and vulnerability, artistic doubt, identity, unpopular opinions about contemporary art, the pain of being misunderstood, and the quiet pride of community-based “world-saving art.”Sophia asks the questions many podcasts avoid — not to expose, but to create space for thought.The episode closes with a simple mantra for the year ahead:Love. Try. Repeat.Arteetude remains a non-profit podcast, created out of curiosity, cultural responsibility, and the belief that art is a thinking space — not a marketplace.Detlef Schlich is a rock musician, podcaster, visual artist, filmmaker, ritual designer, and media archaeologist based in West Cork. He is recognised for his seminal work, including a scholarly examination of the intersections between shamanism, art, and digital culture, and his acclaimed video installation, Transodin's Tragedy. He primarily works in performance, photography, painting, sound, installations, and film. In his work, he reflects on the human condition and uses the digital shaman's methodology as an alter ego to create artwork. His media archaeology is a conceptual and practical exercise in uncovering the unique aesthetic, cultural, and political aspects of media in culture.WEBSITE LINKS WAW Official YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@WAWBand"The Niles Bittersweet Song" WAW BandcampSilent NightIn a world shadowed by conflict and unrest, we, Dirk Schlömer & Detlef Schlich, felt compelled to reinterpret 'Silent Night' to reflect the complexities and contradictions of modern life.https://studiomuskau.bandcamp.com/track/silent-nightWild Atlantic WayThis results from a trip to West Cork, Ireland, where the beautiful Coastal "Wild Atlantic Way" reaches along the whole west coast!https://studiomuskau.bandcamp.com/track/wild-atlantic-wayYOU TUBE*Silent Night Reimagined* A Multilayered Avant-Garde Journey by WAW aka Dirk Schlömer & Detlef Schlichhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAbytLSfgCwDetlef SchlichInstagramDetlef Schlich ArTEEtude I love West Cork Artists FacebookDetlef Schlich I love West Cork Artists Group ArTEEtudeYouTube Channelsvisual PodcastArTEEtudeCute Alien TV official WebsiteArTEEtude Detlef Schlich Det Design Tribal Loop Download here for free Detlef Schlich´s Essay about the Cause and Effect of Shamanism, Art and Digital Culturehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/303749640_Shamanism_Art_and_Digital_Culture_Cause_and_EffectSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/arteetude-a-podcast-with-artists-by-detlef-schlich/donations

Einen langen Atem zur haben, galt lange Zeit als Garant für Erfolg. Im Alltag, beim Sport, in der Politik. Heute leben wir in Zeiten der schnellen Erfolge und einer Politik der Kettensägen. Gibt es Auswege aus dieser Kurzatmigkeit? Von Solmaz Khorsand www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

Khorsand, Solmaz www.deutschlandfunk.de, Essay und Diskurs

Send us a textFreedom doesn't survive on paperwork alone; it lives or dies on the character of a people. We open Galatians 5:1 and read Joe Wolverton's stirring essay “The Manger and the Republic,” tracing a vivid line from Bethlehem to Philadelphia and asking what happens when a nation keeps the legal forms of liberty while losing the moral foundations that make liberty possible. Across history's ledger—from Rome's bread and circuses to modern screens and slogans—we examine how self‑government withers when virtue erodes and why every expansion of vice invites an expansion of state control.Together we revisit what the founders understood: rights endure because they are gifts, not grants. Tocqueville's insight on religion as the first political institution comes alive as we connect conscience to limited government, gratitude to social peace, and humility to the courage that resists tyranny. Christmas becomes more than sentiment; it is a strategy. The manger proclaims that rulers are ruled, that human dignity is not measured by compliance, and that no jail can bind a soul anchored in Christ. From carols that once rattled despots to nativity scenes that remind courthouses who truly reigns, we explore how worship shapes culture and, in turn, shapes law.We close with a practical roadmap: begin renewal at home. Let families be the first government, marriages the first covenant, and living rooms the first sanctuaries of truth and beauty. Choose prayer over propaganda, gratitude over grievance, and courage over comfort. If freedom is to endure, it will be because households, churches, and schools teach hearts to govern themselves. Listen, reflect, and share your next step toward rebuilding virtue where you live. If this message resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to a friend who's ready to trade noise for hope.Support the showhttps://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

I honestly love Achilles. You'll see if you listen (hehehe... do it!)My links:My Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/rhetoricrevolutionSend me a voice message!: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/liam-connerlyTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mrconnerly?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠Email: ⁠rhetoricrevolution@gmail.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connerlyliam/Podcast | Latin in Layman's - A Rhetoric Revolution https://open.spotify.com/show/0EjiYFx1K4lwfykjf5jApM?si=b871da6367d74d92YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrConnerly

From Seth Andrews' 2015 audiobook "Sacred Cows," here's a fun little profile of a dark Christmas tradition that many in the United States don't (yet) know about.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

Why are women developing chronic illness at younger ages—and why are they so often dismissed when they seek answers?In this episode of Brave New Us, bioethicist and chronic illness patient Samantha Stephenson explores why women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune disease, migraines, infertility, depression, and other chronic conditions. Drawing from ethics, medicine, and lived experience, she examines the role of environmental toxins, hormonal contraception, abortion, and inequities in medical research—and asks how women can pursue real healing without ignoring the spiritual meaning of suffering.In This EpisodeWhy women are getting sicker at younger agesChronic illness, autoimmune disease, and women's healthEndocrine-disrupting chemicals in beauty, cleaning, and food productsThe “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) loopholeHormonal birth control as a band-aid—not a cureSide effects of hormonal contraceptives, including brain changesRestorative reproductive medicine and NaProTechnologyAbortion and women's physical and psychological healthWhy women are underrepresented in medical researchThe ethics of studying women's bodiesFinding meaning, faith, and intimacy with Christ through sufferingEssays & ArticlesSamantha's Essay (discussed in this episode)“Why Are Women So Sick?” — Claire the Catholic FeministAbortion Is the Real Assault on Women— Crisis MagazineWomen Deserve Better Than Abortion — Word on FireBooks & FilmsYour Brain on Birth Control— Sarah E. HillOffer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering— Megan Hjelmstad (Blessed Is She)Hush(documentary)Women's Health & FertilityNatural Cycles AppTempDropOther MentionsAlex ClarkAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on the menstrual cycle as the “fifth vital sign”Momosophy Substack (Elizabeth Kulze)Resources from SamanthaSubscribe to the newsletter for essays, link roundups, and book updatesDetails on Samantha's chronic illness journey Grow Where You're Planted — including a downloadable list of favorite non-toxic products available with preorderJoin the ConversationHave thoughts on this episode or personal experience with chronic illness? Join the discussion at choosinghuman.org.If this episode resonated, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts—it helps others find the show.

Send us a textWe're coming full circle from our podcast on right-wing authoritarianism to talk about that viral Oklahoma student essay and why Christians rallying around bad arguments makes all Christians look terrible. Then Keith and I get vulnerable about how our faith has changed over the last few years—from realizing faith isn't just about beliefs, to understanding who Jesus actually called out (spoiler: not "the world"), to reframing the concept of sin as form of brokenness that God truly understands and has deep compassion for (as opposed to the angry God who is mad at us all the time). We'll also share some of the exciting things coming in 2026!JOIN OUR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN!Help us raise money to fund our research, our new podcast docuseries, and our translation projects! Give through the Good Fruit Faith Initiative (tax deductible within the United States) or join our Patreon!CHECK OUT THE RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Whole Story puberty courseThe Great Sex RescueTO SUPPORT US: Join our Patreon for as little as $5 a month to support our workAnd check out our Merch, or any of our courses!Give to the Good Fruit Faith Initiative of the Bosko FoundationJoin our email list!LINKS MENTIONED: Our podcast on Right Wing AuthoritarianismSupport the showJoin Sheila at Bare Marriage.com!Check out her books: The Great Sex Rescue She Deserves Better The Marriage You Want and the Study Guide The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex and The Good Guy's Guide to Great Sex And she has an Orgasm Course and a Libido course too!Check out all her courses, FREE resources, social media, books, and so much more at Sheila's LinkTree.

This episode is presented by Create A Video – A lengthy essay by Jacob Savage about the real impacts of our DEI-obsessed cultural institutions on young white men has gone viral. It reveals how older white guys jammed up the talent pipelines in academia, media, and Hollywood that had become hyper-focused on not hiring white men for entry- and lower-level positions. Subscribe to the podcast at: https://ThePetePod.com/ All the links to Pete's Prep are free: https://patreon.com/petekalinershow Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code! Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com Get exclusive content here!: https://thepetekalinershow.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.On today's edition of The Briefing, Dr. Mohler discusses an Oklahoma university student who failed an assignment for expressing Christian views on gender and sexuality, and he answers questions about gambling and fantasy football, where to study astronomy, the nature of Jesus's body, and questions to ask on a first date.Part I (00:13 – 10:20)College Instructor Put on Leave Over Zero Grade for Gender Essay by The New York Times (Mark Arsenault)A Conservative Student Got a Zero on Her Paper About Gender. Did She Deserve It? by Chronicle of Higher Education (Emma Pettit)University of Oklahoma Student Receives Zero on Essay after Citing Bible by TPUSAPart II (10:20 – 15:04)Part III (15:04 – 18:14)Part IV (18:14 – 21:30)Part V (21:30 – 23:58)Part VI (23:58 – 26:22)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

In episode 1973, Jack and Miles are joined by comedian, Lucas Zelnick, to discuss… I Don’t Want To Comment On It ...The Answer Is Yes, Oklahoma College Essay Controversy Gives Us Our Next Wannabe Reilly Gaines, New Internet Character Dropped: SAY HI TO ME Hiker Guy, The War On Christmas Is Back? Right Wing Media Rages Against “Woke” Christmas Tree and more! I Don’t Want To Comment On It ...The Answer Is Yes Oklahoma College Essay Controversy Gives Us Our Next Wannabe Reilly Gaines New Internet Character Dropped: SAY HI TO ME Hiker Guy Woke Portland lawmakers spark fury with more 'inclusive' name they've given to city's main Christmas tree Portland Refuses to Call It a Christmas Tree Portland’s woke ‘tree’ lighting ceremony sparks outrage: ‘They can’t even say Christmas tree’ Portland holds 41st Annual Tree Lighting ceremony West Coast city snubs ‘Christmas’ from tree lighting again while activists wave Palestinian flag onstage The Grinch That Stole Hanukkah? Do Christmas trees have pagan roots? The pagan origin and history of the Christmas tree White House Ban on 'Christmas' Trees? LISTEN: Inborn by CouboSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.