Did you know that an American citizen who works for NASA has been held in solitary confinement in Turkey for 18 months? And that he just received a 7.5 year prison sentence for a crime he could not possibly have committed? The United States has essentially done nothing but [read more]
I like Turkey very much. But I do not like Erdoğan, the current leader of Turkey, or the thuggish government and military he has produced. Now, he’s accusing the YPG (a U.S. ally) of being in league with the PKK, and therefore an enemy of Turkey. Why does the [read more]
In November, Stephen responded to the watershed of sexual abuse allegations coming to light. Today – 10 weeks after that episode originally aired – the "Weinstein effect" continues its spread. As the sexual abuse epidemic unfolds, it's more important now than ever before to understand what's happening in our [read more]
The Founding Fathers distrusted human nature. They were mostly Christians who believed in the Fall of Man. Though the phrase hadn’t been uttered yet, they believed that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” That’s why they designed a tripartite government that forces conflict to serve us. They wanted tension, differing opinions, [read more]
The statue version of history omits flaws. This view perpetuates a false belief that the great men and women of history had relatively little existence outside of the great acts for which they are known. The recent story of the university that wanted to remove a Lincoln statue because [read more]
In this episode, Stephen shares his candid review of Darkest Hour, the latest Hollywood blockbuster that delves into the life of Winston Churchill. Consider the leadership themes. Don’t be dissuaded by the ahistorical bits, which Stephen discusses here (spoiler-free). Also, check out a few of Stephen’s other Churchill recommendations, [read more]
How did “evangelical,” which has its roots in the Greek word for “good news,” come to have a largely negative association with right-wing politics? In this episode, Stephen briefly traces the history and usage of the word, discussing along the way: the ancient church, John Wesley and the Methodist movement, [read more]
Whether you’re a Christian or not, the Christmas season is an excellent time to allow the humanity, warmth, love, and graciousness of the Christmas season wash over you. In this podcast, Stephen recommends some books and movies through which you might allow yourself to be transformed… Joyeux Noel (watch [read more]
We are constantly being bombarded with negative news. It’s easy to become disillusioned, our beliefs about ourselves, our people, and our country suffering along the way. In this podcast, Stephen offers a solution through recommending a few books and videos. May these restore your peace, hone your vision, and [read more]
The political middle has been abandoned. The mainstream may talk about the “middle” as a place for those with weak, undecided opinions, but Stephen sees the “radical middle” as a place for thoughtful voters with convictions and morals. In this episode, Stephen gives some examples of what a right-of-center [read more]