Roundtable - Conversing Across the Political Divide

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

#Government #Capitalism #Conservatism #Edmundburke #Interviews #Russellkirk #Thomassowell #Williamfbuckley #Josh Lewis #Conservative #News #Politics #Republican #GOP #Millennial

33:42

ChatGPT Agent is here! ↳ What the heck is it? ↳ How does it work? ↳ What do you need to know? Glad you asked, shorties. Join us for the answers. Square keeps up so you don't have to slow down. Get everything you need to run and grow your business—without any long-term commitments. And why wait? Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/jordan. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today. Newsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletter More on this Episode: Episode Page Join the discussion: Thoughts on this? Join the convo and connect with other AI leaders on LinkedIn. Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineup Website: YourEverydayAI.com Email The Show: info@youreverydayai.com Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn Topics Covered in This Episode: ChatGPT Agent Mode Overview & Naming Live ChatGPT Agent Demo Walkthrough ChatGPT Agent Mode Availability & Pricing Operator vs. Deep Research Capabilities Explained ChatGPT Agent Virtual Computer Functions Spreadsheet and PowerPoint Generation in ChatGPT Mini RAG-Ready Agents with Data Connectors ChatGPT Agent Security and Biological Risk Classification Timestamps: 00:00 "Introducing ChatGPT Agent" 03:41 Potential Delay for Paid Plan Rollout 09:24 "Chat GPT Agent: New Tools Overview" 12:44 OpenAI-Microsoft Tensions Over Software Overlap 16:42 "ChatGPT's New RAG Feature Unveiled" 21:55 AI Agent with Weapon Risk 23:31 Agent Models: Boon or Bane? 29:05 "Agent Mode: Seamless Editing Integration" Keywords: ChatGPT Agent, Agent Mode, OpenAI, virtual computer, Agentic skills, Operator, Deep Research, browsing websites, web research, synthesizing information, Microsoft competitor, PowerPoint creation, Excel spreadsheet creation, terminal access, public API integration, connectors, data analysis, image generation, multi-agent environments, retrieval augmented generation, mini RAG, AI operating system, human-in-the-loop, security concerns, biology classifier, biological weapons classification, chemical weapons classification, O3 model, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro, agentic models, AI workflows, editable slide deck, Microsoft Office alternative, AI-powered presentations, spreadsheet automation, cloud-based agents, AI task automation, calendar integration, Gmail connector, Google Drive connector, Outlook connector, team collaboratio Send Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Try Gemini 2.5 Flash! Sign up at AIStudio.google.com to get started. Try Gemini 2.5 Flash! Sign up at AIStudio.google.com to get started. Try Gemini 2.5 Flash! Sign up at AIStudio.google.com to get started.…

about a year ago 1:21:19

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Is civil discourse even possible across the political divide when that divide seems so insurmountable? How do we maintain or even strengthen relationships when we don’t see politics the same? The latest Saving Elephants roundtable brings together panelists who all have experience in communicating across the divide: Eric Kohn (former Acton Institute podcast host), Corey Nathan (Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other), Will Wright and Josh Burtram (Faithful Politics Podcast), Elizabeth Doll (Braver Angels), and Calvin Moore (Leading Questions Podcast).

157 episodes

Roundtable - Conversing Across the Political Divide

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

157 episodes

#Government #Capitalism #Conservatism #Edmundburke #Interviews #Russellkirk #Thomassowell #Williamfbuckley #Josh Lewis #Conservative #News #Politics #Republican #GOP #Millennial

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Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
182 – Partying Like It’s 1776 1:07:38

8 days ago1:07:38

1:07:38

On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9! With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most exceptional of nations. Meet the panelists: Lura Forcum Lura Forcum leads the Independent Center , the nation’s go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, representing those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. Lura holds a PhD in marketing and consumer psychology from Indiana University (Kelley School of Business). She’s studied social cognition and brands, focusing on the factors that lead consumers to respond to brands as if they were people and the outcomes of doing so. Prior to becoming president of the Independent Center, Lura was the Director of Marketing and Communications at the State Policy Network . Jeffery Tyler Syck From jtylersyck.com Jeffery Tyler Syck is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pikeville. Tyler’s academic research focuses on the development of American democracy and the history of political ideologies. He is the editor of the forthcoming book “A Republic of Virtue: The Political Essays of John Quincy Adams” and is completing a second book manuscript entitled “The Untold Origins of American Democracy.” This second book describes how the political debates between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson forever altered the republic created by the American founders – leaving behind an increasingly majoritarian democracy. His essays and articles on politics, philosophy, and history have appeared in several public facing publications including Law and Liberty , Persuasion , and the Louisville Courier-Journal . Tyler’s academic work has recently been published in the journal Pietas . A native of Pike County Kentucky, Tyler’s political thought and writing are strongly shaped by the culture of Appalachia. With their tightly knit communities, the mountains of Appalachia have instilled in him a love of all things local. As such his writing most often advocates for a rejuvenation of local democracy and a renaissance of rural culture. Tyler received a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Government from the University of Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and History from Morehead State University where he graduated with honors. About Eric Kohn From americasfuture.org Eric Kohn is Chief Executive Officer at America’s Future , the premier nationwide network of liberty-minded young leaders. For more than 10 years, he led the organization’s Chicago chapter. Prior to joining AF, Eric was Chief Marketing Officer at Empower Illinois. He has also previously served as Director of Marketing & Communications at the Acton Institute , and Director of Community Management at the Illinois Policy Institute. He was also the Founder and CEO of Curious Task Strategies, a public affairs consulting firm. Eric is a producer of the award-winning film The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom , the 2022 documentary feature from the Acton Institute. From 2019 to 2021, he co-hosted Sources with Knowledge along with Joe Kaiser on AM 560 The Answer in Chicago. From 2022 to 2023, he was the interim host of the nationally syndicated radio program Beyond the Beltway with Bruce DuMont, on which he was also a regular program guest and guest host. He previously hosted The Eric Kohn Program on AM 1530 WJJG, and has guest-hosted the nationally syndicated The Guy Benson Show, Illinois Watchdog Radio, and Chicago’s Morning Answer. Eric grew up in Belleville, Ill., and is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he enjoys (or attempts to enjoy) watching New York Rangers hockey, which he also writes and podcasts about for Blueshirt Banter.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn 57:56

22 days ago57:56

57:56

The housing market today is in an increasingly unsustainable paradox: younger Americans need houses to be more affordable so that they can become homeowners. Meanwhile, homeowners and the entire U.S. economy need houses to rise in price to make them a secure and profitable investment. Thus, we are trapped between making homeownership increasingly difficult or sinking the economy. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by president of Strong Towns Chuck Marohn to discuss his latest book: Escaping the Housing Trap . About Chuck Marohn From strongtowns.org Charles Marohn (known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues) is the founder and president of Strong Towns. With decades of experience as a land use planner and civil engineer, Marohn is on a mission to help cities and towns become stronger and more prosperous. He spreads the Strong Towns message through in-person presentations, the Strong Towns Podcast, and his books and articles. In recognition of his efforts and impact, Planetizen named him one of the 15 Most Influential Urbanists of all time in 2017 and 2023. Marohn grew up on a small farm in central Minnesota. On his 17th birthday, he joined the Minnesota National Guard, which he served in for nine years. During this time, he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. He later returned to his alma mater to complete a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning. As well as being passionate about building a stronger America, he loves playing music, is an obsessive reader, and religiously follows his favorite baseball team, the Minnesota Twins. Marohn and his wife live with their two daughters in their hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

5 weeks ago1:01:16

1:01:16

What if the surest way to reduce the harmful effects of self-serving politicians in Washington D.C. is to have more of them? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeff Mayhugh to explain how the artificial “cap” the nation put on the number of representatives in the U.S. House almost a century ago has made government less representative and responsive. Returning to the Founding Father’s understanding of how people might best be represented by their leaders will require a lot of hard work, but it has the potential to benefit all Americans all across the political divide. About Jeff Mayhugh Jeff Mayhugh is a Christian, Husband, Father of five, Political Theorist, and Poet. He is the Founding Editor of Politics and Parenting , Vice President of No Cap Fund , and a Contributor to The Hill. You can follow Jeff on Twitter @Jmayhugh28.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

7 weeks ago1:03:06

1:03:06

What if the real division in America isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us? Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we think and how federalism holds the solution to many of the policy battles of the moment. About Tony Woodlief Excerpts from Tony’s bio in the State Policy Network and on his author page : Tony Woodlief is State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow for SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism. He helps oversee SPN operations, supports SPN’s president in her guidance of the leadership team, and helps ensure the organization’s projects and programs measure success, evolve as SPN grows, and maintain alignment with our vision and mission. Tony previously served as president of the Bill of Rights Institute, and before that the Market-Based Management Institute. He has also served as president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, he has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from Wichita State University. Tony has appeared in media outlets including Fox News , The Wall Street Journal , The New York Post , National Review , and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal . Tony Woodlief is also an author. His short fiction has appeared in Image , Reckon Review , Ruminate , Dappled Things , and elsewhere. His story “ Name ” received a Pushcart Honorable Mention in 2010, and was included in Image Journal’s 25th anniversary anthology. Tony’s spiritual memoir, Somewhere More Holy , was listed among Image’s top ten works of 2010. His most recent book is the novel We Shall Not All Sleep . Tony is also the author of I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance . In writing I, Citizen , Tony conducted extensive research on American public opinion to find out what Americans believe and uncover the source of their political animosities. Through his research, Tony discovered that America is more united than divided, despite what the pundits tell us, and traced the source of our perceived animosity to a small minority of dedicated partisans within the political establishment of Washington, DC. I, Citizen tells the story of how these partisans have created the myth of a divided America and how they’ve concentrated power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats and partisan elites, and offers practical solutions for how we can reclaim our right to self-governance by focusing on solutions and commonalities closer to home.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

9 weeks ago1:09:16

1:09:16

The 2024 presidential election witnessed a historic number of independent voters—more independents voted than Democrats and they came close to surpassing Republicans. It would seem that now is the time for those who are dissatisfied with both parties to dismantle the two-party duopoly of American government. And yet, the Republican and Democratic parties collectively control all branches of governments at all levels. Why is that? What would it mean for Americans to embrace an “independent” politics and how likely is that to occur? What do independent voters actually want? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is president of the Independent Center Lura Forcum to explore these questions. About Lura Forcum Lura Forcum leads the Independent Center , the nation’s go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, representing those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. Lura holds a PhD in marketing and consumer psychology from Indiana University (Kelley School of Business). She’s studied social cognition and brands, focusing on the factors that lead consumers to respond to brands as if they were people and the outcomes of doing so. Prior to becoming president of the Independent Center, Lura was the Director of Marketing and Communications at the State Policy Network .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

11 weeks ago56:06

56:06

Former president Chester A. Arthur is probably best remembered for his mutton chops and as a trivia question. But he did play a surprising role as a reformer when the nation was in the grips of political corruption. And the story of how he found the courage to do so holds some lessons for how we might interact with political power today in hopes of a better tomorrow. Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Destry Edwards to discuss his new documentary Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand , and how a single citizen can have an outsized effect on our political system. About Destry Edwards Destry Edwards is the Media Production and Studio Manager at the Competitive Enterprise Institute . With a passion for both film and politics, Destry seeks to use storytelling as a way to bridge the gap between people and policy. He is a native of the great state of South Carolina. Before coming on with CEI, Destry’s background includes time at FreedomWorks and Blaze Media. Destry holds a Bachelor of Science in Cinema Production from Bob Jones University. About the Documentary In 1881, following President James Garfield’s assassination, the country was in turmoil. Many suspected Vice President Chester Arthur, a long-time beneficiary of the spoils system, to be a party to the plot and dreaded his ascension to the presidency. In the immediate aftermath—and before the height of the women’s suffrage movement—New Yorker Julia Sand wrote to the soon-to-be President. Between August 1881 and September 1883, Sand penned 23 letters to President Arthur imploring him to abandon his corrupt machinations, become the leader the country deserved, and champion civil service reform. The Competitive Enterprise Institute proudly presents the documentary Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand to discover the outsized effect a single citizen can have on our political system. You can watch the full documentary on the streaming platform SalemNow .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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176 – Consuming News Responsibly 1:29:00

14 weeks ago1:29:00

1:29:00

In this era of information overload it’s easy to join the ranks of the too online, filtering our every thought through the latest thing Trump tweeted or how the resistance is reacting. And it’s just as easy to check out entirely and pretend like the news doesn’t matter or, if it does, it’ll have to be someone else’s problem for now. Are there healthier ways to approach the news? How can we maintain sanity in a seemingly endless supply of hot takes and outrage-of-the-moments? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Avi Woolf, JB Shreve, and Blake Fischer as they discuss how to consume the news responsibly. About the Panelists Avi Woolf is a writer, editor, translator, and podcaster whose work has been published in Arc Digital, Commentary, National Review, The Bulwark, and The Dispatch. He was chief editor of the online Medium publication Conservative Pathways , and he—in his words—"hopes to help forge a path for a conservatism which is relevant for the 21st century while not abandoning the best of past wisdom.” Avi hosts his own podcast entitled Avi’s Conversational Corner , a podcast on culture, history, and politics in a broad perspective. You can find Avi on Twitter @AviWoolf JB Shreve hosts two podcasts and blogs. JB Shreve & Faithful Considerations includes devotionals and bible studies, while JB Shreve & the End of History looks at our generation's current events, history, and socio-political issues. JB has written two books: How the World Ends: Understanding the Growing Chaos published in 2019 and his latest book Politically Incorrect: Real Faith in an Era of Unreal Politics . Blake Fischer is a political junkie, so you don't necessarily have to be. A lifelong conservative, Blake covers conservative policies, current politics, and the historical context of today's events. With a unique blend of media critique and a focus on the big issues that often go unaddressed, Blake offers insightful solutions to pressing problems without the fear-mongering or populist outrage used in mainstream political media. Blake lives in Oklahoma and is the creator of The Homeless Conservative . Listener Mail Josh responds to listener mail from two fellow podcasters both asking whether it’s time to ditch the GOP for good. Dennis Sanders is host of the Church and Main podcast, exploring where religion intersects with 21st-century public life with a focus on the story of Mainline Protestantism. Calvin Moore’s podcast is brand new and follows the historical accounts of the many people who ran for president and came up short.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

16 weeks ago53:49

53:49

James Burnham was one of the most significant intellectual influences on the conservative movement of the twentieth century. As an anti-Communist hardliner, his views on dealing with the Soviet menace head on ultimately shaped US foreign policy in the Reagan administration. And his work at William F. Buckley’s National Review gave the fledgling magazine its foreign policy heft. Throughout his long public career, there emerged two James Burnhams: one who provided the early scaffolding to neoconservative ideas and the other who inspired paleoconservatives. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by history professor David Byrne to discuss his latest book James Burnham: An Intellectual Biography . About David Byrne David Byrne is an adjunct professor of history at California Baptist University and Santa Monica College. He contributes to the blogs The American Thinker and Crisis: A Voice for the Faithful Catholic Laity. His previous book Ronald Reagan: An Intellectual Biography analyzes the ideas that informed Reagan’s political philosophy and policies, establishing a rationale for the former president’s motives, and discusses how thinkers such as Plato and Adam Smith influenced him. Have you heard? Saving Elephants has joined Substack! Having trouble keeping up with all that Saving Elephants is producing these days? Join the substack to receive monthly newsletters to your inbox with the latest podcast episodes, YouTube clips and interviews, blog posts, recommended readings, and even the occasional banjo solo (no joke).…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

18 weeks ago1:00:56

1:00:56

In his perpetual quest to mildly trigger his Straussian pals, Josh invites fellow Millennial and Burkean conservative Greg Collins on to discuss how Leo Strauss misconstrued Edmund Burke’s political views and lasting impact. Also discussed are Burke’s complex views on natural rights, manners, reform, revolution, social contract theory, classical liberalism, and Rousseau. Fair warning, dear listener, this one gets nerdy in a hurry! About Greg Collins From The Kirk Center Dr. Gregory Collins is one of the most celebrated Burke scholars of the rising generation. He is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Program on Ethics, Politics, and Economics at Yale University. He recently received the Buckley Institute’s 2024 Lux and Veritas Faculty Prize. His first book, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke’s Political Economy , examined Edmund Burke’s understanding of the connection between markets and morals. Greg has also published articles on Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, Frederick Douglass, Eric Voegelin, Leo Strauss, and Britain’s East India Company. His additional writings and book reviews can be found in Modern Age, Law & Liberty, National Affairs, National Review , and University Bookman . You can follow Greg on Twitter @GregCollins111 About the Russell Kirk Center’s School of Conservative Studies As is noted in the episode, Josh met Greg during a recent virtual course on Burke. In the month of February, the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal hosted two of the nation’s foremost Burke scholars, Ian Crowe and Gregory Collins, as they taught a special class on Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France. This was a pilot course offered in anticipation of the official launch of the Russell Kirk Center’s School of Conservative Studies in the Fall of 2025. For information about the School and future courses, sign up for the Center's e-letter and print newsletter, Permanent Things . https://kirkcenter.org/permanent-things/…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

20 weeks ago1:03:13

1:03:13

The Right has long had a thing or two to say about the importance of the family and its role in national stability and prosperity. But there are sharp divisions regarding what political implications can be drawn from this idea, and what policies should be pursued to protect and strengthen families. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis welcomes economist Clara Piano to the show to talk about the government’s role in pro-natal and pro-family policies, the ideal population size, the challenges of under/over-population, ethical consumerism, and what some of today’s Right have in common with family policy practiced by the Soviet Union. About Clara Piano From clarapiano.com Clara Piano is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Mississippi. Her primary areas of research are family economics, law and economics, and public choice. Sher is also a Senior Fellow in the Family Program at Cardus , a Law & Economics Fellows Advisor for the International Center for Law & Economics , and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Markets & Morality .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

21 weeks ago1:21:19

1:21:19

Is civil discourse even possible across the political divide when that divide seems so insurmountable? How do we maintain or even strengthen relationships when we don’t see politics the same? The latest Saving Elephants roundtable brings together panelists who all have experience in communicating across the divide: Eric Kohn (former Acton Institute podcast host), Corey Nathan ( Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other ), Will Wright and Josh Burtram ( Faithful Politics Podcast ), Elizabeth Doll ( Braver Angels ), and Calvin Moore ( Leading Questions Podcast ).…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

22 weeks ago1:50:56

1:50:56

In 1976 historian George H. Nash wrote The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 , a celebrated historical accounting that established much of the narrative for how we think about the development of modern conservatism even today. George Nash joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss the various strands of thought that emerged after the Second World War that eventually evolved into a political movement on the Right. Along the way, Dr. Nash shares his insights on the colorful individuals who shaped the debate, how they fought one another, and how an eventual loose consensus was brought forth. Finally, he offers some thoughts on what a lifetime of studying the history of conservatism can teach aspiring conservatives today. About George H. Nash George H. Nash is the epitome of a gentleman and a scholar . A graduate from Amherst College who received his Ph.D. in History from Harvard University, Dr. Nash is an authority on the histories of American conservatism and the life of President Herbert Hoover. Dr. Nash is an independent scholar, historian, and lecturer. He speaks and writes frequently about the history and present direction of American conservatism, the life of Herbert Hoover, the legacy of Ronald Reagan, the education of the Founding Fathers, and other subjects. His writings have appeared in the American Spectator, Claremont Review of Books, Intercollegiate Review, Modern Age , National Review , New York Times Book Review , Policy Review , University Bookman , Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He has lectured at the Library of Congress; the National Archives; the Herbert Hoover, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson presidential libraries; the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum; the Hoover Institution; the Heritage Foundation; the McConnell Center; and at various universities and conferences in the United States and Europe. Several of his lectures have been featured on C-SPAN. He has also been interviewed by C-SPAN, National Public Radio, numerous radio stations, and the print media. Dr. Nash lives in Massachusetts. Listener Mail At the end of the episode, Josh responds to a listener’s question about a comment he made in the episode that dropped on Election Day 2020. Josh had expressed his views at that time that neither major party candidate represented an existential threat to the United States and the listener askes, given what we now know about the election aftermath, accusations of widespread election fraud, the incursion on January 6, and the subsequent white washing of the Republican party, would Josh now view Trump as an existential threat to the country?…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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171 – Reality Therapy Redux 58:48

24 weeks ago58:48

58:48

At the end of 2024, Ryan Rogers joined the show to share his experiences with fanatical wokism as a graduate student. He later had Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis on his new podcast, Reality Therapy , for a wide ranging discussion on conservatism, the challenges of the modern conservative movement, what conservatism offers that other political ideologies do not, and much more. This episode is a re-podcast of that original conversation. About Ryan Rogers Ryan Rogers is a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling. He has a bachelors degree in psychology and a work history in addiction treatment. His latest book, The Woke Mind , is the sixth book in his series on social justice fanaticism .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

25 weeks ago1:09:36

1:09:36

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

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
170 – Tribalism is Dumb with Andrew Heaton 54:43

26 weeks ago54:43

54:43

Comedian, author, and political satirist Andrew Heaton joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to explore where our political tribalism comes from, why it’s gotten out of hand, and what to do about it. About Andrew Heaton From mightyheaton.com Andrew Heaton is a comedian, author, and political satirist. He’s the host of “The Political Orphanage” comedy and news podcast, and scifi deep dive podcast “Alienating the Audience.” He’s a frequent Reason TV contributor and hosted the popular webseries “Mostly Weekly.” He’s performed standup comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as a finalist in the China International Standup Competition, and throughout the United States and Europe. A former congressional staffer, he’s the best-selling author of “Laughter is Better Than Communism,” as well as two funny novels. He once opened for William Shatner, who said he’s “very funny.” So there. As a UCB-trained sketch writer and improviser Andrew Heaton comprises half of the comedy duo Lost History , which has performed improvised historical reenactments at the Del Close Marathon and Austin’s Out of Bounds Comedy Festival . He’s a founding member of the popular New York indie improv team Lumberon , and an alumni of the sketch troupes 17:38 and First Runner Up. As a political comedian Andrew Heaton has entertained numerous think tanks and advocacy groups, student associations, and sinister political action committees. He’s a regular at Electoral Dysfunction at the People’s Improv Theater in New York, and the Totally Dishonest Media Show at Stand Up New York. He hosted the award-winning series EconPop , a comedy show which explained economics through popular culture. Andrew Heaton is the author of the best-selling work of political satire Laughter is Better Than Communism , and two funny paranormal novels: Frank Got Abducted (about aliens) and Happier as Werewolves (a tender coming of age novel involving werewolves). His latest book is Tribalism is Dumb , detailed below. About Tribalism is Dumb Tribalism has made politics so awful I was forced to write a book about it. Well, fine. Fine. This book explores the evolutionary roots of loving our team and hating the enemy team, and why groupish caveman instincts linger in our minds today. It answers: If tribalism is hardwired into us, what changed in the last twenty years? How did partisanship get so loud, toxic, and obnoxious, and ruin last Thanksgiving? Finally, it says what we can do about it as individuals navigating relationships, and as society as a whole. "Tribalism is Dumb" will make you less flummoxed by partisanship, political loudmouths, and dogmatic pundits. It will make you taller, slimmer, and more attractive to everyone you could legally hit on. And it will make you better equipped to navigate tribalism in the wild.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

28 weeks ago1:10:50

1:10:50

With the 2024 elections in rearview both parties are trying to grapple with what lessons they should learn. Who better to offer unsolicited advice than Josh Lewis and Blake Fischer, the respective hosts of the Saving Elephants and The Homeless Conservative podcasts? As two Trump-skeptical conservatives on the outside looking in, sure both parties are eager to hear their thoughts on how both parties should proceed in the elections ahead. In this episode, Josh and Blake take a deep dive into what went wrong and what went right for the Republicans in 2024 and what might help them secure their newfound majorities for elections to come. But wait, there’s more! This episode is the first in a two-part series. In part 2 Blake puts Josh on the hot seat to ask what lessons the Democratic party should take from their 2024 losses. But you won’t find that conversation on the Saving Elephants podcast. Instead, it appears as a special cross-over episode on Blake’s The Homeless Conservative , which you can listen to here . About Blake Fischer and the Homeless Conservative Blake Fischer is a political junkie, so you don't necessarily have to be. A lifelong conservative, Blake covers conservative policies, current politics, and the historical context of today's events. With a unique blend of media critique and a focus on the big issues that often go unaddressed, Blake offers insightful solutions to pressing problems without the fear-mongering or populist outrage used in mainstream political media. Blake says, “I know a lot of people who would consider themselves more conservative than liberal, but don’t like Trump and feel like there’s nowhere for them in the Republican party. Welcome to the club! But if that’s you, I’d encourage you to not check out completely because we need reasonable citizens in this country to pay attention and vote accordingly if we want to change the direction of government and politics.” Blake lives in Oklahoma and is the creator of The Homeless Conservative .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
Roundtable - 2024 - A Year in Review 59:16

29 weeks ago59:16

59:16

As 2024 comes to a close podcasters everywhere will be doing one of those hackneyed and insufferable “a look back at the year’s major events” shows. Not to be outdone, Saving Elephants will be getting in on the action as well with another livestream roundtable to bloviate and pontificate about the numerous twists and turns of our most recent trip around the sun. Of course, unlike all those other shows, you never know when the panelists will get into an argument about whether Burke, Strauss, Hayek, or Scruton would have had the more insightful outlook were they alive today.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

31 weeks ago1:03:54

1:03:54

As Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is wont to do, here is yet another episode exploring the political and philosophical brilliance of Edmund Burke. But this time he is aided by scholar and professor Daniel Klein to examine the late writings of Burke’s life as Europe was descending into revolutionary chaos. What was Burke’s understanding of liberty and natural rights, and how did it differ from many of his more radical contemporaries? How did Burke distinguish between reforms that were constructive or destructive, and why did he seem so reluctant to use them in some circumstances and so adamant they should be employed in others? In what way did Burke inspire his audience to reinvigorate the “magic” of their world? And how might all this be applied to the politics of today? About Daniel Klein Daniel Klein is a Professor of Economics and JIN Chair at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University. He leads the Adam Smith Program at GMU Economics and is the chief editor of Econ Journal Watch . Dr. Klein holds degrees from George Mason University and New York University, where in both cases he studied the classical liberal traditions of economics. His teaching focuses on economic principles and public policy issues. Professor Klein has published research on policy issues including toll roads, urban transit, auto emission, credit reporting, and the Food and Drug Administration. He has also written on spontaneous order, the discovery of opportunity, the demand and supply of assurance, why government officials believe in the goodness of bad policy, and the relationship between liberty, dignity, and responsibility. Klein is the author of Smithian Morals , Central Notions of Smithian Liberalism , and Knowledge and Coordination: A Liberal Interpretation , as well as coauthor of Curb Rights: A Foundation for Free Enterprise in Urban Transit , editor of Reputation: Studies in the Voluntary Elicitation of Good Conduct , editor of What Do Economists Contribute? , and coeditor of Edmund Burke and the Perennial Battle, 1789–1797 and three volumes on Classical Liberalism by Country .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
167 – The Woke Mind with Ryan Rogers 59:44

33 weeks ago59:44

59:44

“I do not believe,” wrote F. A. Hayek in his book The Fatal Conceit , “that the widely held conception of ‘social justice’ either describes a possible state of affairs or is even meaningful.” Hayek would complain “social” was a sort of “weasel word” that carried a lot of unexamined prescriptions. To call something “social justice” is to advocate for something without bothering to fully explore what that something might even be. What are the philosophical underpinnings of social justice? What does it practically mean, and how could it practically apply. And what ought we to do when the goals of “social justice” conflict with actual justice? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Ryan Rogers who shares his story of experiencing the social justice movement in graduate school and his efforts to fully understand it origins, merits, and faults. About Ryan Rogers Ryan Rogers is a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling. He has a bachelors degree in psychology and a work history in addiction treatment. His latest book, The Woke Mind , will be available in early 2025. It is the sixth book in his series on social justice fanaticism .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

34 weeks ago1:22:39

1:22:39

Should conservatives be bullish or bearish on the incoming Trump administration? Will Trump 2.0 deliver us to the sunlit uplands of a prosperous free market economy, sensible immigration reform, and reductions in wasteful deficit spending and overbearing regulations? Or will America become a dreadful hellscape with an executive branch consistently thwarting its constitutional limits and a GOP-controlled congress refusing to hold them in check, federal departments and agencies run by charlatans and conspiracy theorists, trade wars and industrial policies that would make late 19th century populists blush, and a justice system whose primary focus is on retribution against those who “stole” the 2020 election? Christopher Chesny and Blake Fischer join Josh to discuss and debate what awaits us over the next four years.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

35 weeks ago1:07:13

1:07:13

“The biggest takeaway from the 2024 election,” writes Justin Longo of the Independence Center , is that “independents have officially broken the duopoly and now share the title of America’s largest political group with Republicans.” But what is an independent, exactly? What do they want and how are they different from those who proudly affiliate with the Republican or Democratic parties? And what might this portend for the future of American politics? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by pollster Brett Loyd to make sense of the rise of the independents in the electorate. About Brett Loyd President and CEO of The Bullfinch Group, Brett Loyd is a leading researcher and campaign strategist, being one of the few political operatives to accurately forecast the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections. With his methods unswayed by external influences, Brett has built a reputation as a trusted and insightful partner to presidential, senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial candidates; national political committees; and corporate and issue campaigns. His unbiased and data-first approach has delivered research, insights, analysis, and recommendations that have led to wins from the highest levels of U.S. campaign politics to local policy initiatives, and among his trade association, NGO, and Fortune 500 clients’ efforts. This extensive experience also allows Brett to serve as a reputable advisor to DC’s embassy and foreign relations community, advising international government relations firms as well as ambassadors and their diplomatic staff in Washington and abroad. Brett Loyd began his career in statistics and political science after graduating from Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Following his start in state politics, Brett moved to Washington, DC in 2007 where he and his wife still reside with their dog Falkor and goldfish Doug. About The Independence Center The Independence Center is an organization dedicated to building a movement of independent-thinkers with Leaders who support centrist common sense compromise. The Independent Center’s mission is advocate for the millions of Americans who believe we share common ground and to promote and support candidates who share those values through research and outreach. Have you heard? Saving Elephants is now on YouTube! Saving Elephants now has YouTube channel, featuring full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@savingelephants…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
Roundtable - Election Night - Livestream 2:56:49

37 weeks ago2:56:49

2:56:49

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

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
165 – Take Courage 33:23

37 weeks ago33:23

33:23

Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis flies this election day episode solo to offer his thoughts on how your vote is more likely to impact yourself than it is the races, having grace for those who choose to vote differently than we do, and why conservatives should take courage in a profoundly discouraging time. Special Election Night Livestream You’re already staying up late to watch the election results. Why not watch them with another august cross-partisan panel brought to you by Saving Elephants? Join us, beginning 9PM CST, as we analyze the results in real time. Sure, the national networks have professional pundits, but how likely are any of them to seriously discuss what Burke, Kirk, or Buckley would think about our political developments? Here’s the link for YouTube and another for Facebook where we’ll be livestreaming.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

39 weeks ago1:00:11

1:00:11

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

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

40 weeks ago1:07:46

1:07:46

Saving Elephants meticulously avoids many cringeworthy tropes in today’s “conservative” media and opts instead for deeper conversations on the conservative worldview and what it can offer Millennials. As such, there is much low-hanging-fruit among the fruitier parts of the Left that isn’t as vigorously explored as it is in the aforementioned “conservative” media. But that doesn’t mean these topics are off limits—just that they’re to be approached with conviction and clarity. Josh Lewis welcomes Kimberly Ross back to the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on what it means to be a woman, the place of feminism in conservatism, how both the Left and Right get the differences in the sexes wrong, and whether Andrew Tate is the “conservative’s” answer to Che Guevara. About Kimberly Ross Kimberly Ross is a freelance conservative writer. Her work regularly appears in The Washington Examiner, both online and the print magazine, and The Mirror magazine, a monthly publication from Aid to the Church in Need. She is a freelance columnist at The Freemen News-Letter and co-host of The Right Thoughts podcast. Her archive of published work can be found at RedState, Arc Digital, The Bulwark, Rare, and USA Today. As a mother of two and self-described "first wave feminist", she is most passionate about the rights of children, women, and the issue of abortion. She considers herself an independent conservative (not to be confused with conservative independent) and is beholden to no politician. Kimberly has a B.A. in history with graduate work in political science. You can follow Kimberly on Twitter @SouthernKeeks…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
Roundtable - Vice Vice Baby 1:07:17

42 weeks ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance square off for the first—and likely only—vice presidential debate that’s sure to leave pundits chattering, social media accounts fighting, and late economists spinning in their graves. The debate begins at 9PM ET. Join us immediately following the debate for another livestream roundtable to restore some inkling of sanity back to this election. Panelists include Scott Howard, Jeffery Tyler Syck, and John Giokaris.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

42 weeks ago1:10:23

1:10:23

In a world where both political parties are moving away from free market oriented policy solutions, a robust defense of our international allies, and traditional social norms, where does the conservative go from here? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by special returning guests Cal Davenport, Erik Kohn, and Justin Stapley for a roundtable discussion on what the future holds for the conservative movement. This episode first dropped as a livestream on the new Saving Elephants YouTube channel., featuring full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@savingelephants…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

43 weeks ago1:04:55

1:04:55

From Eastern Europe to the Middle East to Southeast Asia to so many other places, the world's on fire. Yet neither presidential candidate is offering us a compelling vision to navigate this brave new world. Join another august assembly of panelists as we discuss what a sensible foreign policy might look like. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve3XCgOkHQc&t=3446s…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

44 weeks ago1:04:30

1:04:30

The Declaration of Independence audaciously declares certain “truths” to be “self-evident”. And, in so doing, offered a justification for not only a break with Great Britain and Revolutionary War, but the foundation upon which a new nation could be built. But how uniformly were these “truths” held and understood by the Founding Fathers? Were they disparate views that were ultimately incoherent or inconsistent? Did the divergent cultures of the American North and South have fundamentally different ideas of what they conceived of America to be? Were the Founders simply protecting their material interests and reaching for any argument at hand that seemed useful to that end? Who was most responsible for the ideas of the American founding? John Locke? Scottish Enlightenment thinkers? Egalitarianism? Modernity? Scientific rationalism? Christian teachings? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is historian Hans Eicholz who argues it was actually a harmonization of many of these different, but not incompatible, sentiments that lead to the founding of America. About Hans Eicholz Hans Eicholz is a historian and Senior Fellow at Liberty Fund. Much of his work has been in the history of economic thought, looking initially at the influence of market ideas in the American founding period, but also extending up through the 19th century. Hans is the author of Harmonizing Sentiments: The Declaration of Independence and the Jeffersonian Idea of Self-Government (2001; Second Edition, 2024), and a contributor to The Constitutionalism of American States (2008).…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

45 weeks ago1:15:58

1:15:58

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

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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

46 weeks ago1:06:08

1:06:08

In this era of polarization and partisan bickering, Americans of all political persuasions are calling for the nation to come together. National unity is certainly in high demand and highly praised. But what is unity? As Yuval Levin argues in his latest book, American Covenant , “unity doesn’t mean agreement…disagreement does not foreclose the possibility of unity. A more unified society would not always disagree less, but it would disagree better—that is, more constructively and with an eye to how different priorities and goals can be accommodated. That we have lost some of our knack for unity in America does not mean that we have forgotten how to agree but that we have forgotten how to disagree…Unity does not mean thinking alike; unity means acting together.” Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Yuval Levin himself who contends that the American Constitution is ideally designed to address our need for unity. And becoming better acquainted with the intentions and insights of those who put our system of government together could bring us together the durable and cohesive unity we lack today. About Yuval Levin Yuval Levin is a political analyst, public intellectual, academic, and journalist. He is the founding editor of National Affairs , director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a contributing editor of National Review , and co-founder and a senior editor of The New Atlantis. He also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. Yuval served as a member of the White House domestic policy staff under President George W. Bush. He was also executive director of the President’s Council on Bioethics and a congressional staffer at the member, committee, and leadership levels. Yuval’s essays and articles have appeared in numerous publications, among them, The New York Times , The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal , Commentary . He is the author of many books which include American Covenant , A Time to Build , and The Great Debate . Yuval discussed the last two books when he was previously on the podcast in Episode 73 – Formative Institutions with Yuval Levin…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
Roundtable - Kamala's DNC Speech 1:10:41

48 weeks ago1:10:41

1:10:41

It's the last night of the Democratic National Convention and who better to offer commentary on Kamala Harris' speech than a cross-partisan panel? Join us for a livestream discussion scheduled to take place shortly after Kamala's speech.

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
160 – FreeCons with Avik Roy 1:08:59

48 weeks ago1:08:59

1:08:59

The great fusionist project of ordered liberty advocated by Frank Meyer, William F. Buckley, and M. Stanton Evans is defended and affirmed today by a group calling themselves Freedom Conservatives, or FreeCons. And as most groups of conservatives are wont to do, they have drafted a Statement of Principles outlining what they hope to affirm. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is a proud signatory on this statement and welcomes in this episode one of the two originators of the Statement, Avik Roy, for a wide-ranging discussion on fusionism, how FreeCons may compare and contrast with NatCons, the need for conservatism to grapple with issues of equality, and much more. About Avik Roy Excerpts from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/person/avik-roy/ Avik Roy is the President of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP.org), a non-partisan, non-profit think tank that conducts original research on expanding opportunity to those who least have it. Roy’s work has been praised widely on both the right and the left. National Review has called him one of the nation’s “sharpest policy minds,” while the New York Times ’ Paul Krugman described him as man of “personal and moral courage.” Roy has advised three presidential candidates on policy, including Marco Rubio, Rick Perry, and Mitt Romney. Roy also serves as the Opinion Editor at Forbes , where he writes on politics and policy, and manages The Apothecary, the influential Forbes blog on health care policy and entitlement reform. [He] is the author of How Medicaid Fails the Poor , published by Encounter Books in 2013, and Transcending Obamacare: A Patient-Centered Plan for Near-Universal Coverage and Permanent Fiscal Solvency , a second edition of which was published in 2016 by FREOPP. He serves on the advisory board of the National Institute for Health Care Management, is a Senior Advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Center, and co-chaired the Fixing Veterans Health Care Policy Taskforce. Roy’s writing has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal , The New York Times , The Washington Post , USA Today , The Atlantic , National Review , The Weekly Standard , and National Affairs , among other publications. He is a frequent guest on television news programs, including appearances on Fox News, Fox Business, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg, CBS, PBS, and HBO. From 2011 to 2016, Roy served as a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, where he conducted research on the Affordable Care Act, entitlement reform, universal coverage, international health systems, and FDA policy. Previously, he served as an analyst and portfolio manager at Bain Capital, J.P. Morgan, and other firms. Roy was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied molecular biology, and the Yale University School of Medicine. You can follow Roy on Twitter @Avik…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
159 – The Prudential Lincoln with Allen Guelzo 1:01:58

50 weeks ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Was Abraham Lincoln a racist? Were his efforts at emancipation the mere cold calculations of a politician whose sole aim was to win the Civil War, or do they point to some deeper ideals of America’s first principles? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Lincoln historian Dr. Allen C. Guelzo for a wide-ranging conversation on how Lincoln’s efforts at ending slavery and saving the union may provide the clearest example of prudent American statesmanship in practice. About Dr. Allen C. Guelzo Excerpts from the James Madison Program Dr. Allen C. Guelzo is a New York Times best-seller author, American historian and commentator on public issues. He has written for the New York Times , the Washington Post , the Los Angeles Times , The Wall Street Journal , the Christian Science Monitor , National Affairs , First Things , U.S. News & World Report , The Weekly Standard , Washington Monthly , National Review , the Daily Beast , and the Claremont Review of Books , and has been featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday” and “On Point,” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2008), Meet the Press: Press Pass with David Gregory, The Civil War: The Untold Story (Great Divide Pictures, 2014), Race to the White House: Lincoln vs. Douglas (CNN, 2016), Legends and Lies: The Civil War (Fox, 2018), Reconstruction (PBS, 2019) and Brian Lamb’s “Booknotes.” In 2010, he was nominated for a Grammy Award along with David Straithern and Richard Dreyfuss for their production of the entirety of The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (BBC Audio). In 2018, he was a winner of the Bradley Prize, along with Jason Riley of The Wall Street Journal and Charles Kesler of the Claremont Institute. He is Thomas W. Smith Distinguished Research Scholar and Director of the James Madison Program Initiative on Politics and Statesmanship. Previously, he was Senior Research Scholar in the Council of the Humanities at Princeton University, and the Director of Civil War Era Studies and the Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg College. During 2010-11 and again in 2017-18, he served as the WL. Garwood Visiting Professor in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. He holds the MA and PhD in History from the University of Pennsylvania. Among his many award-winning publications, he is the author of Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President , which won both the Lincoln Prize and the Abraham Lincoln Institute Prize in 2000; Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America (Simon & Schuster, 2004) which also won the Lincoln Prize and the Abraham Lincoln Institute Prize, for 2005; Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates That Defined America (Simon & Schuster, 2008), on the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858; a volume of essays, Abraham Lincoln as a Man of Ideas (Southern Illinois University Press, 2009) which won a Certificate of Merit from the Illinois State Historical Association in 2010; and Lincoln: A Very Short Introduction (in the Oxford University Press ‘Very Short Introductions’ series. In 2012, he published Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction with Oxford University Press, and in 2013 Alfred Knopf published his book on the battle of Gettysburg (for the 150thanniversary of the battle), Gettysburg: The Last Invasion , which spent eight weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. Gettysburg: The Last Invasion won the Lincoln Prize for 2014, the inaugural Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize in Military History, the Fletcher Pratt Award of the New York City Round Table, and the Richard Harwell Award of the Atlanta Civil War Round Table. His most recent publications are Redeeming the Great Emancipator (Harvard University Press, 2016) which originated as the 2012 Nathan Huggins Lectures at Harvard University, and Reconstruction: A Concise History (Oxford University Press, 2018). He is one of Power Line’s 100 “Top Professors” in America. In 2009, he delivered the Commonwealth Fund Lecture at University College, London, on “Lincoln, Cobden and Bright: The Braid of Liberalism in the 19th-Century’s Transatlantic World.” He has been awarded the Lincoln Medal of the Union League Club of New York City, the Lincoln Award of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, and the Lincoln Award of the Union League of Philadelphia, in addition to the James Q. Wilson Award for Distinguished Scholarship on the Nature of a Free Society. In 2018, he was named a Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute. He has been a Fellow of the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History at Harvard University, and currently serves as a Trustee of the Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History. Together with Patrick Allitt and Gary W. Gallagher, he team-taught The Teaching Company’s American History series, and as well as courses on Abraham Lincoln ( Mr. Lincoln, 2005) on American intellectual history ( The American Mind, 2006), the American Revolution (2007), and the Founders ( America’s Founding Fathers , 2017). From 2006 to 2013, he served as a member of the National Council of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Guelzo’s latest book, Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment , which is discussed in this episode is available wherever books are sold. He lives in Paoli and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Debra. They have three children and five grandchildren. His website is allenguelzo.com Saving Elephants is coming to YouTube! We’re thrilled to announce that Saving Elephants will be launching a YouTube channel in August with full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Further details coming soon...…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
158 – Fashionable Fusionists with Samuel Goldman 1:00:06

1 year ago1:00:06

1:00:06

In an age of rampant informalities, shoddy attire, and the kind of milieu that makes People of Walmart a possibility, conservatives stand athwart history yelling STOP! Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is the impeccably dressed Samuel Goldman to explore how conservatism informs the world of fashion, why legendary figures on the Right from Russell Kirk to Albert J Nock to Willmoore Kendall wore such questionably lavish accessories, the connective tissues between intellectual conservatism and 90s era punk rock, and much more. About Samuel Goldman Samuel Goldman is an associate professor of political science at George Washington University, where he is also executive director of the John L. Loeb, Jr. Institute for Religious Freedom and director of the Politics & Values Program . Samuel is the Editor of FUSION , an online journal inspired by the belief that Western civilization is defined by intertwined threads of freedom and tradition, innovation and order, rights and duties. In addition to academic work, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal , and many other publications. His most recent book, After Nationalism: Being American in a Divided Age was published by University of Pennsylvania Press in spring 2021. His first book God’s Country: Christian Zionism in America was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 2018. Samuel received his Ph.D. from Harvard and taught at Harvard and Princeton before coming to GW. You can follow Samuel on Twitter @SWGoldman For those interested in learning more about men’s fashion, Samuel recommends the following resources: Blogs Put This On Die, Workwear Necktie Salvage Books Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear The Casual Style Guide Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion Hollywood and the Ivy Look Saving Elephants is coming to YouTube! We’re thrilled to announce that Saving Elephants will be launching a YouTube channel in August with full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Further details coming soon...…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
157 – Fifty Conservative Thinkers 1:24:33

1 year ago1:24:33

1:24:33

In an age where what passes for the archetype conservative are the likes of Candace Owens , Bill Mitchell , Sean Hannity , Matt Gaetz , Tomi Lahren , and Donald Trump, it can be discouraging for those of us who take pride in the rich legacy and colorful history of thinkers on the Right to be associated with such grifters, demagogues, and charlatans. Trying to define conservatism is challenging and trying to compile a list of individuals who best exemplify conservatism is problematic. Yet this is becoming increasingly important in a world where “conservatism” is quickly being coopted by reactionary nationalist populists who have little to nothing in common with the namesake. In this episode Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis offers his list of conservative thinkers well worthy of your time and attention. Disclaimer This list is imperfect and incomplete. If I were to revisit the list next year or possibly even next week, I’m sure there are plenty of names I’d believe should supplant the names here. Some of these individuals may even be uncomfortable with the label “conservative”, though they all share aspects of the broader conservative worldview. The names below are not listed in order of preference or importance, but they are all insightful and noteworthy. The fifty individuals discussed in this episode are noted below. If you’d like to learn more about each one you can check out the original blog post of Fifty Conservative Thinkers for a brief bio and links. Josh’s (Incomplete) List of Fifty Conservative Thinkers Worth Your Time Edmund Burke Milton Friedman Wilhelm Röpke David Bahnsen F.A. Hayek John Adams Frederick Douglass Thomas Sowell James Madison Barry Goldwater Ronald Reagan Bradley J. Birzer Russell Kirk Matthew Continetti David French Gertrude Himmelfarb George Nash Stephen J. Tonsor Roger Scruton Jacques Ellul Whittaker Chambers Michael Oakeshott Eric Voegelin Timothy Carney C.S. Lewis G.K. Chesterton Jonah Goldberg Wendell Berry T.S. Eliot Ross Douthat Mary Eberstadt M. Stanton Evans Irving Kristol George Will William F. Buckley Kristen Soltis Anderson Robert Nisbet Carly Fiorina Arthur Brooks Marian Tupy Charles Marohn Patrick Deneen Harry Jaffa Walter Williams Frank S. Meyer Alexis de Tocqueville Lord Acton Leo Stauss Willmoore Kendall Yuval Levin…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
156 – Reappraising the Right’s Foreign Policy with Michael Lucchese 1:18:57

1 year ago1:18:57

1:18:57

In February of 2004 the late Charles Krauthammer delivered the keynote address at AEI’s Annual Dinner . It was a year into the Iraqi war and several years into the War on Terror. Krauthammer’s address—entitled Democratic Realism —lauded much of the Bush administration’s approach to the war, but offered some stern warnings on how the war and rebuilding efforts might go awry. His warnings proved to be profoundly prescient as the following years led to the disillusionment of what broadly (and wrongly) became known as NeoCon foreign policy. What had the Right missed in Krauthammer’s warnings? What foreign policy approaches has the United States historically taken, and are any of them still relevant? How might conservatism shed light on the most appropriate foreign policy we could pursue? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is returning guest Michael Lucchese to think through the lessons learned in American foreign policy. About Michael Lucchese Michael Lucchese is the founder and CEO of Pipe Creek Consulting, a communications firm based in Washington, D.C., and a visiting scholar at the Liberty Fund. Previously, he was a communications aide to U.S. Senator Ben Sasse. He received a BA in American Studies at Hillsdale College and was a Hudson Institute Political Studies fellow and an alumnus of the Röpke-Wojtyła Fellowship at Catholic University of America's Busch School of Business. Michael is an Associate Editor at Law & Liberty and a contributing editor to Providence . His writings have also appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Examiner and National Review , Engelsberg Ideas, and Public Discourse. Michael Lucchese is from Chicago, Illinois. Michael was a previous guest on Saving Elephants in episode 143 – The Conservative Mind at 70 with Michael Lucchese…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
155 – Melodic Musings with Barney Quick 57:57

1 year ago57:57

57:57

How might music point us to the good, the true, and the beautiful? What is the purpose of music, and we are guilty of misusing it? Why are we so obsessed with Taylor Swift? Musician and conservative journalist Barney Quick joins Josh to discuss how conservatism might better inform our approach to music. Also discussed are whether or not the elephants can be saved at all, how an owning-the-libs approach misses the spirit of conservatism, and whether or not Principles First has lost its first principles. About Barney Quick Barney Quick is a journalist whose work appears in magazine features. He is a frequent contributor to Ordinary Times and a Senior Freelance Contributor for The Freeman News-Letter . He has been maintaining his blog, Late in the Day , since 2012. But you can find the bulk of his writings on his substack Precipice . Barney is also a musician and jazz guitarist who could find lucrative gigs, but is well aware he’s chosen a musical life that isn’t going to pay a lot of bills. Barney is an adjunct lecturer in jazz history and rock and roll history at his local community college. You can follow Barney on Twitter @Penandguitar…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
154 – That Old Burkean Saw with Cal Davenport 1:05:45

1 year ago1:05:45

1:05:45

After a stint of episodes taking deep dives into obscure topics, Josh returns to some conservative first-principles by inviting long-time friend of the podcast Cal Davenport on for a wide-ranging discussion on whether or not the fusionist consensus is truly dead, why all the energy in the Right seems to be going towards the NatCons, what’s leading to the rise of populism, how to repackage conservative ideas into digestible slogans, who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of conservative thought, and how Edmund Burke factors into all of this. Trigger warning for the Straussian listener: this episode gets a bit Burke-y. About Cal Davenport Cal Davenport is a veteran podcaster and writer. He has written for The Wasington Examiner, RedState, The Resurgent and more. He has worked in Congress, for political campaigns, for think tanks, and in political consulting. Cal received his M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Witten/Herdecke University. You can follow Cal on Twitter @jcaldavenport…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
153 – Full-Time with David Bahnsen 56:21

1 year ago56:21

56:21

David Bahnsen returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book: Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life . David holds a high view of work and, in an era where self-help gurus are teaching us how to work less to achieve a work/life balance, David wants to shift the paradigm to work/rest and celebrate the productive nature of our being. Also discussed in this episode are what the church gets wrong about work, how each generation brings different challenges and advantages to work culture, universal basic income (UBI), whether the Marxist are right and work under a capitalist system is exploitation, and what the future of retirement might mean for working Americans. About David Bahnsen From David’s website : David L. Bahnsen is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group , a bi-coastal private wealth management firm with offices in Newport Beach, CA, New York City, Minneapolis, and Nashville managing over $3.5 billion in client assets. David is consistently named as one of the top financial advisors in America by Barron’s, Forbes, and the Financial Times. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business and is a regular contributor to National Review and Forbes. He has written his own political viewpoint blog for over a decade. David serves on the Board of Directors for the National Review Institute and was the Vice-President of the Lincoln Club of Orange County for eight years. He is a committed donor and activist across all spectrums of national, state, and local politics, and views the cause of Buckley and Reagan as the need of the hour. David is passionate about opposition to crony capitalism, and has lectured and written for years about the need for pro-growth economic policy. Every part of his political worldview stems from a desire to see greater freedom as a catalyst to greater human flourishing. He is the author of the book, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It and his most recent book, There’s No Free Lunch: 250 Economic Truths . His ultimate passions are his lovely wife of 18+ years, Joleen, their gorgeous and brilliant children, sons Mitchell and Graham, and daughter Sadie, and the life they’ve created together in Newport Beach, California.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
152 – Humanist Conservatives with Jeffery Tyler Syck 1:03:31

1 year ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Fusionism—the viewpoint advocated by the likes of William F. Buckley and Frank Meyer of order and liberty mutually reinforcing each other—has been the dominant form of conservatism in the United States for a generation. In the era of Trump and the rise of nationalist populism on the Right, however, fusionism has steadily lost influence. Should conservatives double down on what’s worked in the past? Or is it time for a different approach that was advocated by some of the original critics of fusionism on the Right? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeffery Tyler Syck to argue for a conservative alternative to the fusionists and NatCons: humanist conservatism. The humanist conservative is interested in preserving the diverse daily practices of human existence, as advocated by noteworthy thinkers like Michael Oakeshott, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Peter Viereck. It’s a quitter, more moderated form of conservatism that—Syck believes—could offer an antidote to the excess of the nationalist populous radicalism ascendant on the Right. About Jeffery Tyler Syck From jtylersyck.com Jeffery Tyler Syck is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pikeville. Tyler’s academic research focuses on the development of American democracy and the history of political ideologies. He is the editor of the forthcoming book “A Republic of Virtue: The Political Essays of John Quincy Adams” and is completing a second book manuscript entitled “The Untold Origins of American Democracy.” This second book describes how the political debates between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson forever altered the republic created by the American founders – leaving behind an increasingly majoritarian democracy. His essays and articles on politics, philosophy, and history have appeared in several public facing publications including Law and Liberty , Persuasion , and the Louisville Courier-Journal . Tyler’s academic work has recently been published in the journal Pietas . A native of Pike County Kentucky, Tyler’s political thought and writing are strongly shaped by the culture of Appalachia. With their tightly knit communities, the mountains of Appalachia have instilled in him a love of all things local. As such his writing most often advocates for a rejuvenation of local democracy and a renaissance of rural culture. Tyler received a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Government from the University of Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and History from Morehead State University where he graduated with honors. You can follow Tyler on Twitter @tylersyck…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

1
151 – The God of This Lower World 55:32

1 year ago55:32

55:32

What is the single most important virtue for a leader to possess? What quality can make the run-of-the-mill politician into a statesman? Is it integrity, communication skills, resilience, courage, empathy, or wisdom? All of these things are important, of course, and if any are sufficiently lacking we wouldn’t call that a good leader. But what would you say is the chief virtue? Conservative thinkers from Burke to Kirk to Kristol to Strauss and even many of the ancient and medieval thinkers from Aristotle to Plato to St. Thomas Aquainis identified a single virtue as the chief “political” virtue. A virtue so important that Edmund Burke referred to it as the god of this lower world. What is that virtue? That’s exactly what Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis explores in this solo episode. Mentioned in the episode: Saul Alinsky’s interview on William F. Buckley’s Firing Line .…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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150 – We Don't Need No Indoctrination with Luke Sheahan 59:16

1 year ago59:16

59:16

What is the purpose of higher education? Is it primarily to prepare us for the jobs of the future? Is it to ensure the leaders of tomorrow hold the right opinions on important issues? Is it to provide a safe haven for the pursuit of Truth? Thinkers on the Right have held differing—sometimes incompatible—views on the purpose of higher education. Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is returning guest Luke Sheahan to explore these arguments and how conservatives might respond to the rise of radicalism and wokism on college campuses. About Luke Sheahan From Luke’s website : Luke Sheahan is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Duquesne University and a Non-Resident Scholar at the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society (PRRUCS) at the University of Pennsylvania. He researches the intersection of First Amendment rights and political theory. Sheahan’s scholarly articles and reviews have appeared in The Political Science Reviewer, Humanitas, Anamnesis, and The Journal of Value Inquiry and he has lectured widely on religious liberty, freedom of speech, and freedom of association. He is author of Why Associations Matter: The Case for First Amendment Pluralism . He is writing a second book tentatively titled “Pluralism and Toleration: Difference, Justice, and the Social Group.” From 2018-2019, Sheahan was Associate Director and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Freedom Project at Wellesley College and from 2016-2018, Sheahan was a Postdoctoral Associate and Research Fellow in the Department of Political Science at Duke University. He received a PhD and MA in political theory from the Catholic University of America and a B.S. in political science from the Honors College at Oregon State University. He is a five-time recipient of the Humane Studies Fellowship from the Institute for Humane Studies, a 2014 recipient of the Richard M. Weaver Fellowship from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), and a 2018 recipient of the Leonard P. Liggio Memorial Fellowship. In 2022 the Russell Kirk Center announced the appointment of Dr. Luke C. Sheahan as the fifth editor in the history of The University Bookman , originally established by none other than Russell Kirk, seeking to redeem the time by identifying and discussing those books that diagnose the modern age and support the renewal of culture and the common good. You can follow Luke on Twitter @lsheahan…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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149 – The Legacy of Roger Scruton with Fisher Derderian 1:17:44

1 year ago1:17:44

1:17:44

Having published more than forty books on an astoundingly wide range of topics and holding noteworthy positions at the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature, the University of Oxford, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and the University of Buckingham, Sir Roger Scruton was the quintessential British gentleman and scholar. He was also one of the greatest conservative intellectuals of the last century and the beginning of this century who died in 2020. Fisher Derderian joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis for a woefully incomplete exploration at the legacy of Scruton, including Scruton’s contributions to American conservatism, his curious admiration of Friedrich Hegel, his spirited yet charitable critics of the thinkers of the New Left, and his inscrutable views on the Christian faith. About Fisher Derderian Source – Scruton.org Fisher Derderian is the Founder and Executive Director of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation. He met Sir Roger as a student in the MA Philosophy Programme at the University of Buckingham and the idea for the RSLF was subsequently conceived at a tutorial with Scruton. Fisher currently resides in Orange County with his wife, Maxine, and their three children. He serves as a member of the Arts Commission for the City of Costa Mesa. Fisher holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from The King’s College NYC and a MA in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham. You can follow Fisher on Twitter @Fisher_D About the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation Source – Scruton.org The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation is the centre of an international network of institutions and scholars dedicated to furthering the philosophical and cultural achievements of the West championed in Scruton’s work. Through the hosting and sponsoring of events, lectures, seminars, research and projects, the RSLF supports those dedicated to the achievements of Western philosophy, architecture, art and literature who are committed to living for ‘the vanished things’ and teaching our great inheritance to the rising generations.…

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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148 – Conservatism in Practice with Gov Mitch Daniels 48:20

1 year ago48:20