The Aaron Renn Show: Recent Episodes
Aaron Renn
Aaron Renn's commentary and insights on our 21st century world, along with his conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers on the issues of today. Covering culture, media, economics, politics, Christianity and men's issues.
Is local leadership declining, even in America’s fastest-growing cities?
Aaron Renn sits down with Mark Barbash, a longtime economic development professional in Columbus, Ohio, to examine the quiet crisis of civic and corporate leadership. They discuss how generational change, corporate consolidation, shifting philanthropy, and a K-shaped economy are weakening the institutions that once held cities together—while headline growth continues.
Using Columbus, Ohio as a case study, they explore what it will take to rebuild commitment to the common good. Topics include the decline of place-based corporate leaders, the rise of donor-advised funds, workforce and housing constraints, the limits of economic development incentives, and whether there’s still a “burning platform” for meaningful change.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction: The Leadership Crisis in American Cities)
(02:05 How Civic and Corporate Leadership Has Changed Over the Decades)
(08:15 Generational Shifts and the Decline of Place-Based Leadership)
(15:00 Economic Development in a Globalized, Industry-Focused World)
(17:00 The K-Shaped Economy, Workforce Shortages & Housing Stress)
(24:00 The Transformation of Local Philanthropy and Community Foundations)
(31:40 Is There a Burning Platform for Change in Booming Cities?)
(37:00 What Should We Do? Rebuilding Consensus and Engagement)
ARTICLES DISCUSSED:
🌐 From Titans to Technocrats: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/from-titans-to-technocrats
🌐 'The Columbus Way' is failing as community, problems grow: https://www.aol.com/articles/columbus-way-failing-community-problems-082827000.html
🌐 Instability at Columbus Partnership sign of broken Columbus Way: https://www.aol.com/articles/instability-columbus-partnership-sign-broken-081533000.html
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this week's episode, I'm sharing an appearance I made on Faithful Discourse with Chris Henry, the senior pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. For more about this church and our conversation, you can see the write up I did on my web site:
https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/the-reckoning-is-here
Economist Arpit Gupta joins Aaron to break down the future of American cities after remote work, office real estate collapse, and the rise of AI.
From the “Urban Doom Loop” — where falling commercial property values crush city tax revenue and trigger a vicious spiral — to surging suburban housing prices, office-to-residential conversions, and the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles, this conversation covers the biggest forces reshaping urban America.
Will AI supercharge white-collar job growth and rescue downtowns, or accelerate the displacement of routine office work? Are superstar cities like New York and San Francisco pulling ahead while second-tier cities struggle? And how will self-driving cars radically expand commuting patterns and city sprawl?
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 – Introduction & The Urban Doom Loop Explained)
(03:20 – Post-COVID Office Market Recovery (or Lack Thereof))
(07:45 – Why Housing Prices Are Soaring While Offices Collapse)
(12:10 – Remote Work’s Lasting Impact on City Centers)
(15:30 – AI’s Dual Effect on White-Collar Jobs & Office Demand)
(22:40 – Can Tourism or “Playground Cities” Replace Commerce?)
(26:15 – Agglomeration Effects in the Age of Zoom & AI)
(31:40 – Advice for Young People Entering the Job Market)
(36:50 – The Game-Changer: Autonomous Vehicles & the Future of Sprawl)
(43:20 – Will Most Cities Decline or Adapt?)
ARPIT GUPTA LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/arpitrage
🌐 Arpit Gupta's NYU Homepage: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/arpit-gupta
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this powerful conversation, Delano Squires, Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Flourishing at The Heritage Foundation and author of The Vanishing Black Family, breaks down the dramatic collapse of the Black family — from stable two-parent homes in the 1940s-1950s to today’s 70% out-of-wedlock birth rate. Delano explains how slavery deformed but did not destroy the Black family, but how the combination of 1960s welfare policies and new ideologies worked to undermine it.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(01:45 The 1986 Bill Moyers Documentary)
(04:20 Why Delano Wrote This Book Now)
(08:10 The Black Family Before the 1960s – Surprisingly Stable)
(13:40 Slavery’s Real Impact vs. Welfare & Feminism)
(19:55 The Economic Argument – Jobs vs. Culture)
(26:40 Why the “Marriageable Men” Theory Falls Short)
(32:15 Restoring the Black Family – The Multi-Generational Plan (Church, HBCUs & More))
(42:50 Final Thoughts)
DELANO SQUIRES LINKS:
📖 Buy The Vanishing Black Family: How Welfare and Feminism Made Marriage Optional and Children Vulnerable: https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Black-Family-Feminism-Vulnerable-ebook/dp/B0FRFLFVLH/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/DelanoSquires
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
How did “disinformation” become the all-purpose explanation for American politics? In this eye-opening conversation, journalist Jacob Siegel reveals how a century-old progressive vision of expert rule evolved into today’s censorship-industrial complex — from Woodrow Wilson’s propaganda machine to the Hunter Biden laptop suppression and beyond. Siegel, author of the new book The Information State, traces the hidden history of information control and explains how governments and tech platforms now shape what we see, say, and believe.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(00:48 Discovering Disinformation Everywhere in 2016)
(04:00 Misinformation, Disinformation & Malinformation Explained)
(08:23 The Hamilton 68 Censorship Scandal)
(12:15 The Hunter Biden Laptop Suppression)
(18:45 The Progressive Origins: Woodrow Wilson to the Creel Committee)
(35:00 What Should Replace the Information State?)
(41:10 Rebuilding Borders on the Internet)
(45:59 Is the Censorship Apparatus Still a Threat?)
JACOB SIEGEL LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/Jacob__Siegel
📖 Buy The Information State: Politics in the Age of Total Control: https://www.amazon.com/Information-State-Politics-Total-Control/dp/1250363128/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Is AI the next great labor shock — and are we about to repeat the mistakes of NAFTA? Aaron Renn talks with Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about what AI is already doing to the workforce, why this time the disruption is hitting knowledge workers first, and why human formation may be the most valuable asset in an AI-infused world.
Brent Orrell studies the future of work and AI at AEI and previously served for years at the U.S. Department of Labor. He is launching a National Commission on AI and the Future of the American Workforce.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(00:55 Why AI Is the New NAFTA)
(04:30 A National Commission on AI and Work)
(07:30 The Labor Effects Already Happening)
(12:20 How "Learn to Code" Became a Trap)
(17:00 Adaptation: The Core Skill for the AI Era)
(24:00 Why Human Formation Matters More Than Ever)
(40:00 The Coming White-Collar Political Disruption)
BRENT ORELL LINKS:
🌐 Brent Orell's AEI Home Page and Articles: https://www.aei.org/profile/brent-orrell/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Aaron Renn sits down with Seth Barron, Associate Editorial Page Editor at the New York Post and author of Weaponized: The Left's Capture and Destruction of America's Sacred Institutions. They discuss how cherished American myths have been twisted to weaponize key institutions — policing, borders, public safety, housing, education, and civic life itself.
From “defund the police” and anarcho-tyranny in New York City to open borders, the erosion of assimilation, and the battle over American identity, this conversation reveals how the left uses institutions as tools of political power.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(01:36 - What "Weaponized" Really Means)
(03:45 - The Left's War on Policing & Public Safety)
(09:20 - Anarcho-Tyranny in NYC Under Mamdani)
(15:10 - Police Brutality Myths vs Reality)
(18:40 - Why the Right Lacks a Competing Moral Vision)
(22:15 - Think Globally vs Think Locally)
(28:50 - Immigration, Borders & the Attack on Citizenship)
(36:55 - American Identity & the End of Assimilation)
(43:20 - Israel, Palestine & the Left's Broader Agenda)
GUEST LINKS:
📖 Weaponized: The Left's Capture and Destruction of America's Sacred Institutions: https://www.amazon.com/Weaponized-Lefts-Seizure-State-Power/dp/1630062693/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/sethbarronnyc
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this wide-ranging conversation, Georgetown Professor Joshua Mitchell explains why America remains a deeply Hebraic, covenantal nation — and why the current culture war is best understood as a distorted continuation of the Reformation.
From the Plato-Aristotle divide to Luther’s turn to history, from Tocqueville’s warnings to the spiritual economy of stain and redemption, Mitchell offers a profound diagnosis of where American Christianity stands today. Watch until the end for a hopeful (yet challenging) path forward.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 Introduction & The Article That Sparked a National Conversation)
(04:20 The Great Schism: Plato vs Aristotle & East vs West)
(11:45 Why the Catholic Church Chose Aristotle — And Its Consequences)
(18:50 The Reformation: Luther’s Historical Dialectic vs Calvin’s Covenantal Path)
(27:15 America as a New Israel — The Hebraic Soul of the Nation)
(35:40 Identity Politics as Deformed Puritanism)
(44:10 Evangelicals, Conservatives & the Path Forward for Reformation Christians)
JOSHUA MITCHELL LINKS:
🌐 Whither the Reformation in America: https://americanreformer.org/2026/03/whither-the-reformation-in-america/
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
📖 The Cave and the Light: Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization by Arthur Herman: https://www.amazon.com/Cave-Light-Aristotle-Struggle-Civilization/dp/0553385666/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Why do people think conservatives are boring? Sociologist and cultural thinker Margarita Mooney Clayton joins me to challenge the stereotype that artists must be transgressive and that conservatives lack creativity.
Drawing on the philosophy of Jacques Maritain, we explore the true vocation of the artist: cooperating with divine inspiration to create beautiful works that point toward the good, the true, and God Himself. We discuss romanticism vs. ordered creativity, abundance vs. desecration in culture, and how conservatives can reclaim beauty, joy, and cultural renewal.
Margarita shares insights from her work at Princeton Theological Seminary, Blackfriars Hall Oxford, and as founder of the Scala Foundation.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(01:51 How a sociologist became interested in beauty and the arts)
(04:28 Why people think conservatives are boring)
(09:02 Art as transgressive? The panel discussion)
(10:28 Jacques Maritain and the vocation of the artist)
(19:13 Romanticism, reason, and the role of intellect in art)
(26:35 Can modern art be beautiful? Tradition vs. modernism)
(33:58 The place of transgression, paradox, and truth in art)
MARGARITA MOONEY CLAYTON LINKS:
🌐 Are Artists Transgressive, Conservative, or Neither?: https://www.gracedimagination.com/p/does-an-artist-steal-fire-from-the
🌐 The Vocation of the Artist in Jacques Maritain’s Life and Work: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/new-blackfriars/article/from-strangers-to-friends-of-god-the-vocation-of-the-artist-in-jacques-maritains-life-and-work/00BBA2972BD500A5D831835CF8C5BE8D
🌐 Scala Foundation: https://scalafoundation.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Emma Waters is a Policy Analyst at the Heritage Foundation's Center for Technology and the Human Person, wife, mother of two, and author of the new book Lead Like Jael: 7 Timeless Principles for Today's Women of Faith (Regnery Publishing, March 2026).
In this episode of The Aaron Renn Show, Emma joins Aaron to discuss biblical womanhood in a post-pandemic world. Drawing from the story of Jael in Judges 4–5, she outlines a nuanced vision that rejects both "girl boss" feminism (even when dressed in evangelical clothes) and overly romanticized trad-wife ideals. Instead, she advocates prioritizing marriage and motherhood as primary callings while strategically using God-given gifts and modern opportunities like remote work.They cover personal stories (including Emma dumping her now-husband during college), the real trade-offs of career vs. family, research on childcare impacts, the "tent peg strategy" for women fighting evil from the home, and why putting first things first often leads to unexpected blessings.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(03:20 The Freak-Out Over Kids & Career in College)
(09:45 Critiquing Girl Boss Feminism & Trad Wife Romanticism)
(17:30 Remote Work, Home Economy, & Childcare Research)
(25:00 The Breakup & Choosing Family Over a Dream Opportunity)
(32:40 The Tent Peg Strategy – Jael's Story & Fighting Evil as Women)
(40:15 The 7 Principles: Discernment, Shrewdness, Motherhood as Warfare & More)
(50:00 Finding Wise Mentors & Counsel in Today)
EMMA WATERS LINKS:
📖 Lead Like Jael: 7 Timeless Principles for Today's Women of Faith: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510783539/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/emlwaters
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, Aaron Renn interviews T.C. Schmidt, associate professor at Fairfield University and author of the groundbreaking Oxford University Press book Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ. Schmidt, with a PhD from Yale, uses new linguistic analysis, computer databases, and ancient Greek studies to argue that the Testimonium Flavianum—Josephus's famous passage about Jesus—is substantially authentic. This challenges a century of scholarly consensus that it was heavily interpolated by Christians. Schmidt shares his journey as an evangelical scholar, the book's warm reception (including praise from top Josephus expert Steve Mason), and why Christians should pursue excellence in secular academia.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(02:30 - Who Was Josephus? Background & Importance)
(07:45 - The Controversial Testimonium Flavianum)
(12:20 - New Methods: Databases, Style Analysis & Word Studies)
(18:50 - Reinterpreting "Appeared Alive Again" – Resurrection Insight)
(25:10 - Scholarly Reception & Challenges to Consensus)
(32:40 - Evangelical Scholarship in Secular Academia)
(40:15 - Advice for Aspiring Christian Scholars)
TC SCHMIDT LINKS:
📖 Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ (free download): https://josephusandjesus.com/
🌐 Institute for Christian Reflection: https://instituteforchristianreflection.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
AI isn't just answering questions anymore—it's doing real work that used to take humans hours, days, or even weeks. In this wide-ranging conversation, returning guest Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, breaks down the massive leaps in AI since mid-2024: smarter models with true reasoning, web-searching research agents, and revolutionary coding agents that control your computer via command line to automate complex tasks.
We cover:
- Why AI has gone from "toy" to essential tool for professionals
- The rise of coding agents (Claude Code, OpenAI tools) and real-world examples
- Why so many skeptics—especially on the American right—are still skeptical (and why they're likely to get left behind)
- Data center backlash, NIMBYism, energy/water concerns, and how AI companies could win more community support
- Dean's experience drafting the Trump administration's AI action plan at the White House OSTP
- Practical tips: Go "AI-first" in your workflow (skip Google, use Claude/Grok, integrate agents)
Whether you're an AI user, skeptic, policymaker, or just curious about where this tech is headed in 2026, this episode is a reality check on what's actually working today.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 Introduction)
(00:44 How Far AI Has Come Since 2024)
(02:35 Smarter Models + Better Reasoning)
(03:14 From Google Search to Real Research Reports)
(03:56 Coding Agents: The New Form Factor Revolution)
(05:49 Aaron's AI-First Workflow (Claude, Grok, Voice Prompting))
(07:46 Real Example: Building a Manosphere Podcast Transcription Tool)
(10:15 AI for Work vs. Chat/Fun – Doing Useful Stuff)
(12:20 Feedback on Writing, Refining Ideas, Not Great at Pure Idea Gen)
(13:45 Addressing AI Skepticism (Right & Left))
(16:40 Ignorance, Cultural Animosity, & Boycotts)
(18:30 Josh Hawley Example & Early Impressions)
(23:00 Data Centers: NIMBY Fights, Energy, Taxes, & Community Buy-In)
(30:00 Trump's AI Action Plan – What It Covers & Why)
(35:00 National Security, Cyber Risks, & Prudent Steps)
(42:00 Dean's White House Experience & Using AI to Help Draft)
(51:00 AI Is Like a Piano – Easy to Start, Hard to Master)
DEAN BALL LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/deanwball
🌐 Dean Ball's Substack: https://www.hyperdimensional.co/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, historian Dr. Albert Thompson joins Aaron Renn for a deep, honest discussion on race in America—from its English colonial roots through slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crow, civil rights victories, and today's challenges. They explore how history shapes identity, why progress has been real yet uneven, the impact of WWII on black human capital, post-1960s cultural shifts, talent migration, networks, and why national unity is essential for America's future in a competitive world.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
4:10 - America's English Origins and the Slow Establishment of Slavery
9:50 - Founding Fathers, Contradictions, and the Devil's Bargain of Race Over Religion
14:30 - The Civil War: Nationalism, Union, and the Destruction of Slavery
20:45 - Post-Civil War Reinvention: Republican Dominance, Jim Crow, and Northern/Southern Divide
28:00 - 20th Century Shifts: Great Migration, Depression, and WWII as a Turning Point
35:15 - Civil Rights in the 1960s: Successes Amid Cultural Upheaval and the "Great Awokening"
42:20 - Talent, Networks, Migration, and Building Human Capital in Black Communities
50:30 - Rethinking DEI, Seeking Untapped Talent, and Why Unity Matters to Compete Globally
55:00 - Addressing Real Problems as Fellow Citizens
DR. ALBERT THOMPSON LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/IronProfessor
🌐 Dr. Thompson's Substack: https://www.albertrussellthompson.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this insightful conversation, host Aaron M. Renn sits with Jeff Giesea, Stanford grad, entrepreneur, and founder of the Boyd Institute—a policy lab focused on bold solutions for America's future, tackling gerontocracy, overregulation, AI, and social fragmentation.
They dive deep into the structural challenges facing the country: the Boomer Paradox (how older generations are both holding society together and holding it back), the rise of gerontocracy and its impact on young Americans, the transformative power of AI as democracy's best hope, America's declining state capacity and overregulation, and the urgent need to shift from performative culture-war politics to real problem-solving.
Whether you're concerned about housing, fiscal policy, technological disruption, or national renewal, this episode offers thoughtful, heterodox perspectives on building a flourishing post-Boomer America.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(00:42 - The Big Issues America Ignores)
(02:28 - Gerontocracy: The Real Demographic Crisis)
(03:10 - Who Advocates for Young Americans?)
(05:34 - The Boomer Paradox: Holding Us Back and Together)
(07:13 - The Long Boomer Farewell & Interregnum Ahead)
(09:11 - Boomer Influence in Politics & Policy)
(10:14 - Property Taxes, Housing, and Robbing the Future)
(13:01 - Boomer Caregiving & Political Wreckage)
(15:58 - Local Impacts: Schools, NIMBYism, and Driving Laws)
(17:03 - Overregulation & Lost State Capacity)
(31:05 - Public Sector Competence & Private Sector Dynamism)
(32:44 - AI as Democracy's Best Hope for Renewal)
(34:04 - Why Democracies Struggle & How AI Can Help)
(35:15 - America's Unique Challenges vs. Other Countries)
(37:37 - Wanting Competent Government That Delivers)
(39:36 - Enemies of Progress: Regulation, Unions, Fragmentation)
(41:04 - Emerging Consensus on Reform & Building)
(43:46 - Shifting from Performative Politics to Real Solutions)
(45:21 - How to Approach Politics)
JEFF GIESEA LINKS:
🌐 The Boyd Institute: https://boydinstitute.org/
🌐 The Boomer Reckoning No One's Ready For: https://jeffgiesea.substack.com/p/post-boomer-world
🌐 Boomer Caregiving Will Wreck Our Politics: https://jeffgiesea.substack.com/p/boomer-caregiving
🌐 The Long Boomer Farewell: https://jeffgiesea.substack.com/p/long-boomer-farewell
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/jeffgiesea
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this eye-opening conversation, Aaron sits down with economic historian Chris Bream, author of Beyond Steel: Pittsburgh and the Economics of Transformation to unpack one of the most dramatic industrial collapses in American history — and what it reveals about the future of cities, regions, and the country.
Pittsburgh went from being the steel capital of the world to losing hundreds of thousands of jobs and people in just a few brutal years in the early 1980s. Chris explains why the collapse was so sudden and so total, how generations of warnings were ignored, and how Pittsburgh eventually began to rebuild around talent, education, and knowledge industries.
This is far more than local history — it’s a powerful case study in economic denial, disruptive change, identity tied to work, and what successful regional adaptation actually looks like in the 21st century.
CHAPTERS:
(0:00 Introduction)
(0:59 Why Pittsburgh became the steel capital of the world )
(3:24 Geography, coal, rivers, and Andrew Carnegie’s real role )
(5:18 How steel came to dominate and displace every other industry)
(7:54 Steel wasn’t just jobs — it became Pittsburgh’s entire identity )
(10:03 The shocking speed of the 1980s collapse — what really happened )
(13:21 Paul Volcker, 21% interest rates, and the Rust Belt reckoning )
(15:21 Warnings ignored for decades: reports from the 1940s, 1960s, and earlier)
(19:24 Why temporary booms kept postponing the inevitable day of reckoning )
(23:27 Denial, hubris, and the human cost of believing “it will never end” )
(27:14 How Pittsburgh actually recovered — the real story )
(29:47 The roots of the knowledge economy go back decades before the crash )
(31:20 Lessons for the rest of America: what declining regions can, and can’t, do )
(33:52 Rethinking success in places that won’t grow anymore )
CHRIS BRIEM LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/chrisbriem
📖 Beyond Steel: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Steel-Pittsburgh-Economics-Transformation/dp/1606355023/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this eye-opening conversation, Ohio businessman Justin Powell joins Aaron Renn to discuss his viral article “Dying to Give” — why waiting until death to pass on wealth is often the wrong move, and how thoughtful, early giving can build stronger families, businesses, and communities.
Justin shares powerful real-life stories: a multi-generation gravel pit owner who’s deliberately preserving two generations of reserves for his sons instead of chasing short-term profits, how he set his teenage boys up with $3,000 each to start lawn-mowing businesses (one made $35K in a summer), and why small, strategic investments at key “choke points” (home down payments, first business capital, financial literacy) can change the trajectory of a young person’s life forever.
Together they explore:
- The massive $85 trillion wealth transfer happening over the next 20 years
- Why asset ownership (homes, businesses, land) is becoming harder — and more important — than ever
- How parents and grandparents can give wisely without spoiling kids
- Balancing prudence (longevity, healthcare risks) with bold generosity and trust in God’s provision
- Real examples of leverage points where $5K–$20K today creates massive long-term impact
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, business owner, or young person trying to get on the ownership ladder, this episode challenges the default “you’ll get it when I die” mindset and offers a better way forward.
Read Justin's entire "Dying to Give" article: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/dying-to-give
CHAPTERS
(0:00 Introduction)
(1:26 The gravel pit family story: preserving two generations of reserves)
(4:41 Setting kids up early — $3K investment → $35K summer earnings)
(7:06 The mindset shift: prepare them now, not just at death)
(9:06 The $85 trillion wealth transfer wave)
(10:53 Upper-class family subsidies vs. the ownership ladder struggle)
(13:24 Choke points: down payments, first businesses, college debt)
(16:00 Timing matters — home equity winners vs. renters)
(19:00 Wisdom over coercion: guiding adult children with small gifts)
(21:52 Billionaire’s car test & financial literacy approach)
(23:51 Prudence vs. catastrophe planning: when to give boldly)
(26:58 Time, talent, and treasure — character over cash)
In this episode I sit down with Tanner Greer, one of America's most insightful public intellectuals. We dive deep into his recent American Affairs article, "The Making of a Techno-Nationalist Elite" — a sharp review of Palantir CEO Alex Karp's book "The Technological Republic." Greer contrasts today's Silicon Valley tech elite with the Gilded Age industrialists and Eastern Establishment who led America's second industrial revolution - railroads, steel, electricity, modern corporations - and built a modernized nation. He argues that tech leaders must step up as a true governing class — with economic power, political coalitions, and cultural vision — to build a "techno-nationalist" America that serves the nation, not just consumer gadgets or globalist ideals.
We explore why Karp's call for Silicon Valley patriotism falls short, the lessons from history's successful elites (like building alliances beyond their own class), and what it would take for tech to become a patriotic, nation-building force in the age of AI, China rivalry, and hard tech resurgence. Whether you're in tech, politics, or just care about America's future, this is a must-listen on power, elites, and rebuilding national ambition.
CHAPTERS
(0:00 - Introduction)
(2:45 - Overview of Tanner's American Affairs article & Alex Karp's book)
(6:30 - Why Silicon Valley needs to embrace nation-building (and why many resist))
(12:10 - The Second Industrial Revolution: How America became the technological republic)
(18:40 - Pre-Civil War vs. post-Civil War elites — sectional to national vision)
(25:15 - Rise of the modern corporation, railroads, and managerial class)
(32:00 - The Eastern Establishment's generational mindset & political coalitions)
(40:20 - Critiquing Karp's The Technological Republic — scattered ideas, no real vision)
(48:50 - Silicon Valley's shift from libertarian/globalist to techno-nationalist awareness)
(55:30 - Comparing tech elites to antebellum planters — a wake-up call?)
(1:02:45 - Hard tech, defense startups, and re-industrialization potential)
(1:10:20 - Building a true governing elite: Economic base, politics, culture)
(1:18:00 - Advice for Silicon Valley: Heritage, responsibility, and connecting to America)
TANNER GREER LINKS:
🌐 The Making of a Techo-Nationalist Elite: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2025/11/the-making-of-a-techno-nationalist-elite/
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/Scholars_Stage/
🌐 The Scholar's Stage: https://scholars-stage.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this return appearance on the podcast, demographer Lyman Stone joins Aaron Renn to discuss the latest global fertility and marriage trends as of 2026. While U.S. birth rates and marriage rates have shown relative stability at low levels, the picture elsewhere is far bleaker—sharp declines in East Asia and Eastern Europe, with South Korea hitting historic lows.
They explore the long-term consequences: aging societies, loss of dynamism, military vulnerabilities, and whether the United States could emerge as demographic "last man standing" in a world of collapsing birth rates. The conversation covers housing affordability, young men's declining economic prospects, marriage penalties in public policy, ineffective pronatalist interventions, and why cash incentives do work—but at a steep price. Stone also critiques "billionaire baby fetishes," calls for fixing marriage disincentives, and highlights practical ideas like family-friendly airports and better child tax credit design.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 – Introduction)
(00:25 – What’s changed in fertility/marriage trends recently?)
(02:19 – U.S. stability vs. global plunges (Eastern Europe, East Asia))
(04:05 – Underlying drivers aren’t reversing: gender polarization, young men’s economic status, housing)
(07:18 – Long-term implications: from military staffing crises to loss of community dynamism)
(09:51 – Why declining population feels bad even when GDP rises)
(13:48 – Aging societies, boomer interests, and anti-family tax policies)
(17:49 – Do cash incentives work? Yes—but expensive)
(21:30 – Immigration and AI as supposed fixes (and why they fall short))
(23:41 – America as potential “last man standing” in a century)
(27:12 – Rising elite fertility and the K-shaped economy’s impact on family formation)
(35:51 – Economic shifts delaying peak earnings and complicating mate selection)
(38:05 – Pronatalism: intact families matter, fixing marriage penalties, child tax credit reform)
(46:12 – Corporate interests, stay-at-home parents, and policy failures)
(49:43 – Critique of billionaire “sperm spamming” and surrogacy tourism)
LYMAN STONE LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/lymanstoneky
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Aaron Renn welcomes back Daniel Hess, one of the sharpest analysts of global fertility trends, for a deep dive into why birth rates are collapsing—and why the divide is increasingly political.They discuss:
- The growing fertility gap between red states (near replacement) and blue states (deeply sub-replacement)
- How marriage is becoming even more important for births in the era of perfect birth control
- The rise of a genuine pro-natal culture on the political right
- Why high-density YIMBY-style housing often hurts family formation
- The forgotten role of suburban sprawl in fueling the Baby Boom
- Rising material expectations and status competition squeezing young families
- Billionaire fertility extremes and the shifting debate around IVF/surrogacy
If we want a growing future, we need more births. This episode unpacks the cultural, economic, and policy roadblocks—and what might actually move the needle
Chapters:
(00:00 - Intro & Global Fertility Collapse)
(01:11 - The New Political Divide on Kids)
(05:30 - Marriage Matters More Than Ever)
(09:20 - Pronatal Culture Emerging on the Right)
(11:40 - Why Israel Is the Only High-Fertility Developed Nation)
(14:50 - Housing: The Real Barrier for Families)
(22:20 - YIMBY vs. Family-Friendly Building)
(28:50 - Suburbia & the Baby Boom Lesson)
(36:30 - Materialism and the Rising "Cost" of Kids)
(43:35 - Billionaires, IVF, and Fertility Tech Debates)
DANIEL HESS LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/morebirths
🌐 Dan Hess Substack: https://www.morebirths.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, Aaron welcomes men’s style influencer O.W. Root for a deep dive into the dramatic decline of men's dress over the past 30 years. From the universal suit-wearing era of the 1990s to today's pajama pants in public, they explore how tech culture, Silicon Valley, and the shift to digital life contributed to the rise of "slob culture." Root shares why classic menswear is fun, dignified, and accessible—even on a budget via eBay thrifts—and offers practical advice for any man wanting to dress better without looking out of place.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 - Introduction)
(00:55 - How Men's Dress Has Changed in the Last 30 Years)
(02:53 - What Caused the Slide Toward Informality?)
(05:07 - The Dot-Com Era and Tech's Role in Killing the Suit)
(08:24 - Digital Life vs. Real World: Why Physical Appearance Declined)
(11:55 - The Great Male Renunciation and the Suit as Uniform)
(16:49 - Why Politicians and Media Now Dress So Boringly)
(18:20 - Classic Style Is Fun: Patterns, Colors, and Joy in Dressing)
(22:52 - Practical Implications: Manners, Dignity, and Arrested Development)
(30:20 - How O.W. Root Got Into Classic Menswear)
(31:57 - Learning Menswear in the Internet Era (Ask Andy, Style Forum))
(34:05 - How to Start Dressing Better Without Looking Like a Freak)
(39:34 - eBay Thrifts, Affordable Classics, and Realistic Advice)
(44:32 - Final Thoughts: Dress Better for More Enjoyment in Life)
O. W. ROOT LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/owroot
🌐 The Fitting Room: https://necktiesalvage.substack.com/
🌐 Michigan Enjoyer: https://enjoyer.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, Aaron welcomes real estate developer Bobby Fijan to discuss one of the most overlooked crises in American urban life: the dramatic decline of children in major cities. Once filled with kids playing in the streets, neighborhoods in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and beyond are now increasingly childless. Bobby and Aaron explore the causes—from Richard Florida’s influential “creative class” vision that reshaped city priorities, to financial incentives driving developers to build studios and one-bedrooms instead of family-sized apartments, to skyrocketing private-school costs and the loss of family-friendly infrastructure.They also examine why this matters: cities are engines of opportunity and culture, but forcing ambitious young people to choose between career growth and starting a family is a societal failure.
Bobby shares his vision for “baby maybe” housing, practical ways to make cities welcoming for young families again, and why a biblical image of elderly people watching children play in the streets should inspire modern urban planning. The conversation ends with a provocative look at how cities have become extraordinarily dog-friendly—at the expense of being kid-friendly.If you care about the future of America’s greatest cities, this is a must-listen.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 - Intro & Welcome Bobby Fijan)
(00:55 - The Collapse of Children in Big Cities)
(03:17 - Why Kids Disappear After Age 5 (And Now Even Younger))
(04:31 - Richard Florida and the Rise of the Creative Class)
(07:13 - How Cities Catered to Young Singles—and Forgot Families)
(10:55 - The Insane Cost of Private Schools in Cities)
(12:47 - Decline of Catholic/Parochial Schools)
(14:22 - Why Childless Cities Matter)
(17:48 - Economic & Cultural Hubs Need Families Too)
(19:45 - Texas Cities vs. Legacy East Coast Cities)
(23:35 - Why We Keep Building Studios & One-Bedrooms)
(26:23 - Financialization of Housing & Developer Incentives)
(28:28 - Introducing “Baby Maybe” Housing)
(31:29 - How to Fix the System (Fair Housing, Subsidies, Vision))
(36:36 - Dogs, Kids, and the Future of Urban Life)
(46:47 - Closing Thoughts)
BOBBY FIJAN LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/bobbyfijan
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
📖 Richard Florida: The Rise of the Creative Class: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Creative-Class-Richard-Florida-ebook/dp/B07M77X5ZQ/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
A special Christmastime podcast reflecting on some of the guests I've hosted this year, along with a special fundraising appeal during my limited time only discount window.
Through December 12, you can support the podcast and get great benefits by becoming a Member at a special rate of 30-40% off. You'll not only help me work, but also get paid subscriber access to Substack, an exclusive monthly solo podcast, Member-only Zooms, and access to a private Slack community discussion group.
You can become a Member annually for $360/year - 40% off the regular monthly price: https://www.aaronrenn.com/subscribe?selectedPlanId=founding36000usd
You can also become a Member monthly for $35/month - 30% off the regular price: https://www.patreon.com/aaron_renn/membership
Thank you so much for your support. Send me your podcast feedback and suggestions.
Are the Gospels historically reliable, or just late legends? Philosophers and top apologists Dr. Tim McGrew and Dr. Lydia McGrew join me to dismantle the biggest myths about Gospel authorship, dating, and accuracy. From undesigned coincidences that criss-cross all four Gospels, to Luke’s stunning geographical and political precision in Acts, to the statistically perfect 1st-century Jewish names—the evidence is far stronger than mainstream scholarship admits.If you’ve ever wondered whether the New Testament can stand up to rigorous historical scrutiny, this episode will blow your mind.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Intro & Welcome to Tim and Lydia McGrew)
(02:42 What mainstream New Testament scholars actually believe)
(06:40 Why small differences between Gospels are evidence FOR reliability)
(08:18 Markan priority: the harmless version vs. the skeptical version)
(10:40 The criterion of embarrassment & heads-I-win-tails-you-lose arguments)
(13:35 The astonishing match of 1st-century Jewish names in the Gospels)
(19:30 Why everyone trusts Josephus but doubts the Gospels)
(21:05 Oldest New Testament manuscripts & textual reliability)
(25:09 Undesigned coincidences: the hidden interlocking details)
(28:15 The feeding of the 5,000 – why Jesus asked Philip (John 6 + Luke 9))
(29:00 Green grass in Mark + Passover timing in John)
(29:50 Luke’s insane accuracy in Acts (even Pliny the Elder got it wrong!))
(36:50 Pointless but vivid details that scream eyewitness memory)
(37:17 Peter puts his coat ON before jumping in the water (John 21))
(41:25 The mysterious “dispute about purification” in John 3)
(43:55 153 fish – fishermen gonna fish)
(45:20 Recommended books by Tim & Lydia)
TIM AND LYDIA MCGREW LINKS:
📖 The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage: https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Beholder-Gospel-Historical-Reportage/dp/1947929151/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
📖 Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels: https://www.amazon.com/Testimonies-Truth-Why-Trust-Gospels/dp/1947929232/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
📖 The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Mask-Liberating-Gospels-Literary-ebook/dp/B0896W473Q/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Doug DeVos, former President and current co-chair of Amway, joins Aaron Renn to discuss the 50th-anniversary re-release of his father Rich DeVos’ 1975 classic book Believe!
In an era of cynicism and drift, Rich’s unapologetic optimism, faith in people, love of America, and defense of free enterprise feel more urgent than ever. From sinking boats off Cuba to building one of the world’s largest private companies, this is a conversation about risk, patriotism, and perseverance.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 Introduction)
(03:20 “You can do it!” – Why failure doesn’t make you a failure)
(04:20 The flight school, the sunken boat, and the spirit of adventure)
(06:30 Why the most interesting people always go off-script)
(08:40 Rich DeVos’ old-school, hand-over-heart patriotism in the 1970s (and today))
(11:50 How to stay relentlessly positive when everything looks dark)
(13:30 Why Doug decided to bring the book back in 2025)
(15:10 The multi-generational friendship between the DeVos and Van Andel families)
(19:30 Why socialism keeps sounding good when a country starts “drifting”)
(22:20 Rich DeVos’ simple definition of free enterprise)
(25:25 The regulatory state: What would Rich say about today’s red tape?)
(28:35 America vs. China – Are we really falling behind?)
(30:40 A 90-year-old planning the next 50 years: the ultimate long-term thinking)
(33:20 Final message: The glass is still half full)
DOUG DEVOS LINKS:
📖 Buy Believe! A Timeless Endorsement of American Principles: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Timeless-Endorsement-American-Principles-ebook/dp/B0FPXPCK92/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 The Believe Journal: https://www.thebelievejournal.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Darel Paul, Professor of Political Science at Williams College and author of From Tolerance to Equality: How Elites Brought America to Same-Sex Marriage, to discuss his provocative First Things article "Feminism Against Fertility."
We explore a stunning reversal in gender dynamics that challenges everything we thought we knew: women are now less interested in marriage, dating, and parenthood than men. Through data and careful analysis, Darel explains how we're experiencing an unprecedented retreat from lifelong care relationships, the apocalyptic consequences of global fertility collapse, and what this means for the future of society.
From depopulation in rural areas to the rise of right-wing populism in response to immigration pressures, this conversation covers the massive societal transformations happening right now that most people aren't talking about.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(00:48 The Retreat from Care Relationships)
(03:18 Data Showing Women Less Interested in Marriage & Kids)
(04:31 Why Public Discourse Hasn't Caught Up)
(06:43 The Feminist Sensibility vs. Reality)
(10:45 Fertility Rates and Global Demographics)
(21:04 Depopulation: From Rural Areas to Ghost Towns)
(23:02 Immigration, Assimilation & Political Consequences)
(25:23 What Should Young People Do?)
(26:57 The Role of the Church in Matchmaking)
(27:53 Closing Thoughts)
DAREL PAUL LINKS:
📖 From Tolerance to Equality: https://www.amazon.com/Tolerance-Equality-Brought-Same-Sex-Marriage/dp/1481306944/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 Feminism Against Fertility: https://firstthings.com/feminism-against-fertility/
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/darelmass
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Joseph Holmes—film critic, culture writer, and contributing film critic on my newsletter—joins the show to talk about his debut feature film Jim vs. the Future, releasing November 11, 2025 on digital and DVD.
An ordinary guy, a Christmas Eve breakup, and time-traveling kidnappers from competing futures all fighting to force one decision that will save their timeline…and erase the rest. Think Primer meets It’s a Wonderful Life—with theology, multiverse genocide, and a guy who’s tired of being a doormat.
Note: This video version of this podcast includes the trailer to Jim vs. the Future. You can watch the video version on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ET4JMYZu1I
CHAPTERS:
(0:00 – Introduction)
(1:09 – Jim vs. the Future Plot (No Spoilers))
(2:45 – From Desperation to Debut Feature)
(5:27 – TRAILER)
(8:06 – Christianity in a Multiverse Movie)
(10:40 – Why Hollywood Loves the Multiverse (And What It Reveals))
(14:50 – Christian Imagination vs. Worldview)
(22:30 – Romance, Men, and the “Doormat” Trap)
(27:35 – The Shift: Faith Films Go Male-Coded)
(30:50 – Horror + Faith = 2025’s Big Winners)
(34:46 – Wrap & Release Info)
JOSEPH HOLMES LINKS:
🌐 Watch the Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1102228507
🌐 Links to Watch Jim vs. the Future: https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron Renn as he interviews Leah Libresco Sargeant, author of The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto. In this thought-provoking episode, Leah explores a bold vision of feminism rooted not in independence, but in the inherent dignity of human dependence. From kitchen counter heights to breast pumps, investment banking hours to factory design, they discuss how modern systems often demand standardization at the expense of human flourishing, especially for women and families. Leah challenges the myth of autonomy, celebrates the interdependence of men and women, and calls for workplaces, communities, and tools that serve real people—not abstract, interchangeable workers. Whether you're a parent, a policymaker, or just tired of the grind, this conversation offers fresh insight into building a society that honors care, weakness, and mutual need.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(02:45 - The Hyattsville Catholic Community)
(04:35 - STEM to Storytelling: How Math Shaped a Writer)
(05:40 - What Is The Dignity of Dependence?)
(06:25 - Why Call It a Feminist Manifesto?)
(07:44 - Kitchen Counters, Breast Pumps, and Industrial Design)
(09:36 - Critiquing Modernity: Tools vs. Human Needs)
(11:09 - Redesigning Work for Parents (Not Just the Elite))
(13:24 - The Bruderhof Model: Factories Built for Community)
(14:17 - Efficiency vs. Human Good: Where to Make Trade-Offs)
(16:33 - Middle-Class Flexibility & Real-World Parenting)
(18:31 - No Going Back: Living Thoughtfully in Modernity)
(20:36 - Men, Strength, and the Call to Protect)
(24:43 - Men’s Need: To Be Needed)
(27:28 - Autonomy: The Modern Myth of the Untouchable Self)
(29:56 - Abortion, Euthanasia, and the Logic of Dependence)
(31:39 - Final Thought: Weakness Is Not Failure)
LEAH LIBRESCO SARGEANT LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/LeahLibresco
📖 Buy The Dignity of Dependence: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Dependence-Feminist-Manifesto-Catholic/dp/0268210330/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron Renn as he sits down with Dr. Mark David Hall, Director of the Religious Liberty in the States Project at First Liberty's Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy. In this episode, they dive into the critical role of state-level laws in protecting religious freedom, the surprisingly high ranking of states like Illinois, and why some red states like Indiana and West Virginia lag behind. Learn how you can advocate for stronger religious liberty protections in your state.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(00:58 - Why State-Level Religious Liberty Matters)
(02:47 - The Religious Liberty in the States Index)
(04:37 - Key Protections for Religious Freedom)
(07:34 - Religious Liberty and Parents' Rights)
(08:38 - Surprising State Rankings: Illinois Shines)
(11:22 - Why Red States Like Indiana Rank Low)
(14:13 - Corporate Influence and Religious Liberty)
(17:15 - Red States Making Progress)
(23:31 - How You Can Advocate for Change)
MARK DAVID HALL LINKS:
🌐 Religious Liberty in the States: https://religiouslibertyinthestates.com/
🌐 Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy: https://crcd.net/
🌐 First Liberty: https://firstliberty.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join us for an incredible conversation with A. M. Hickman, aka "Shagbark Hick," one of the most unique voices on X. From living as a self-described "homeless" hitchhiker to owning a $33,000 home in rural America without a mortgage, Hickman shares his unconventional journey to a life of freedom, frugality, and purpose. Discover how he lives on just $600 a month, rejects the corporate grind, and builds a fulfilling life with his family of three in the northern Adirondacks. This episode is packed with insights on rethinking the American Dream, finding affordable land, and embracing a simpler, more meaningful way of living.
Shortly after we recorded this podcast, Hickman's early life as an anarchist was profiled in the Wall Street Journal, so be sure to check that out too.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction to Shagbark Hick)
(01:29 Celebrating New Beginnings: Hickman’s First Child)
(02:22 From Homeless to Property Owner: An 8-Year Transformation)
(03:43 Choosing a Life of Adventure: Hickman’s Hitchhiking Days)
(04:56 Joining the Coast Guard: A New Chapter)
(06:18 Rejecting the Credentialist Path)
(08:22 Life in a Dying Rural Town)
(10:26 Making a Living as a Rural Writer)
(12:43 How to Live on $600 a Month)
(14:38 Escaping the Consumer Treadmill)
(16:34 Debunking the Housing Crisis Myth)
(18:43 Finding Love in an Unconventional Life)
(20:59 The Power of Owning Land)
(24:35 The Magic of $10,000)
(27:41 Managing a Tiny Mortgage)
(28:53 Healthcare Hacks with the Amish)
(31:20 The Mindset Shift America Needs)
(34:34 Homesteading vs. Hickman’s Philosophy)
(36:37 Why Rural America Matters)
(37:46 Wrapping Up with Shagbark Hick)
A. M. HICKMAN LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/shagbark_hick
🌐 Hickman's Substack: https://shagbark.substack.com/
🌐 Recent profile of Hickman's earlier life in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/tech/how-two-young-men-got-pulled-into-internet-darkness-and-how-they-got-out-814d0214
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join us for a compelling conversation with Chris Arnade, author of Dignity, as he shares his journey from Wall Street quant to amateur ethnographer, walking through America’s toughest neighborhoods. From McDonald’s as community hubs to the growing cultural and educational divides in the U.S., Chris offers a unique perspective on the state of America and its challenges. Don’t miss this deep dive into the heart of our cities and the people who call them home.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:33 About Dignity
01:25 Walking America’s Cities
02:08 From Physics to Wall Street to Ethnography
06:18 Navigating Tough Neighborhoods
09:00 Breaking the Ice with Strangers
10:55 The Power of Being an Outsider
13:14 Street Photography and Storytelling
16:24 McDonald’s as Community Centers
22:55 Lessons for the Front Row
27:36 Rediscovering Faith
28:34 Is America Becoming a Third-World Country?
34:28 Dysfunction in U.S. Public Services
39:01 The Decline of the Commons
43:34 Building a High-Trust Society
46:23 Policy Solutions for a Healthier America
50:00 Closing Thoughts
CHRIS ARNADE LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/Chris_arnade
📖 Buy Dignity: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Seeking-Respect-Back-America/dp/0525534733/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 Chris Arnade on Walking Michigan City: https://walkingtheworld.substack.com/p/walking-michigan-city-indiana
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join host Aaron Renn and cultural diagnostician Dr. John Seel in this thought-provoking podcast episode as they dive into the crisis of masculinity, the unraveling of modern culture, and the path to aspirational manhood. From the influence of sociologists like James Davison Hunter and Peter Berger to the societal implications of nihilism and technology, this conversation explores headwater issues shaping families, society, and civilization. Dr. Seel also introduces his new book, Aspirational Masculinity, offering a bold vision for men rooted in faith and purpose. Don’t miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional narratives and calls for a renewed understanding of what it means to be a man today.
CHAPTERS:
(0:00:01 - Introduction and Welcome)
(0:00:49 - Dr. John Seel on Masculinity)
(0:01:31 - Working with James Davison Hunter and Oz Guinness)
(0:08:23 - The Cultural Inflection Point: Nihilism and Modernity)
(0:11:10 - Technology’s Acceleration vs. Cultural Decline)
(0:13:41 - Power, Authority, and Nietzschean Nihilism)
(0:22:03 - The Crisis of Masculinity: A Headwater Issue)
(0:26:51 - Framing the Masculinity Problem)
(0:31:16 - Identity Formation: Postmodern, Modern, and Biblical Views)
(0:39:37 - Aspirational Masculinity and Christ-Centered Identity)
(0:49:01 - Grace, Nature, and Masculinity)
(0:58:14 - The Parable of the Talents and Agency)
(1:03:28 - The Marines: A Secular Model for Identity)
(1:09:50 - Final Thoughts on a Positive Vision for Masculinity)
(1:11:18 - Book Announcement: Aspirational Masculinity)
JOHN SEEL'S LINKS:
📖 Buy Aspirational Masculinity: https://store.standrewsalmanor.org/products/aspirational-masculinity/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join host Aaron Renn as he sits down with David Yancey, president of Presbyterians for the Kingdom, and Generation Z influencer Redeemed Zoomer to discuss their mission to renew the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and the broader Operation Reconquista movement. They dive into the challenges and opportunities of restoring traditional theology within mainline Protestant denominations, the role of young conservatives in this revival, and their plans for the future. From institutional commitment to the power of historic churches, this episode explores why they’re staying to reform rather than leaving.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(00:33 - What is Presbyterians for the Kingdom?)
(01:07 - Operation Reconquista and Its Inspiration)
(02:48 - Networks within the PCUSA)
(06:21 - Challenges of Mainline Decline)
(08:19 - A Generational Shift Toward Conservatism)
(11:11 - Personal Ties to the PCUSA)
(16:11 - Perceptions of the Movement within PCUSA)
(19:46 - Institutional Commitment in the PCUSA)
(27:01 - Balancing Word and Sacrament in Reformed Theology)
(33:40 - Biblical Case Against Splitting from the Church)
(37:06 - Stewardship of Historic Resources)
(42:30 - Future Plans for Presbyterians for the Kingdom)
GUEST LINKS:
🌐 Presbyterians for the Kingdom Website: https://www.kingdompresbyterians.com/
🐦 Presbyterians for the Kingdom Twitter/X: https://x.com/kingdompresbys
🌐 Redeemed Zoomer's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@redeemedzoomer6053
🐦 Redeemed Zoomer Twitter/X: https://x.com/redeemed_zoomer
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join host Aaron Renn as he sits down with Caleb Morell, author of A Light on the Hill, to explore the rich history of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1878, this evangelical church, located just blocks from the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, has remained steadfast in its theological convictions while navigating cultural, political, and social changes over 150 years. From its founding by Civil War veterans to its role in the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, urban challenges, and the revitalization under pastor Mark Dever, this episode uncovers what makes this church a unique case study in American Christianity. Learn how Capitol Hill Baptist has maintained its gospel-centered mission amidst D.C.’s evolving landscape, including its response to suburbanization, gentrification, and even a lawsuit against the city during COVID-19.
CHAPTERS:
(00:01 - Introduction)
(00:24 - What Makes Capitol Hill Baptist Unique?)
(03:33 - Founding and Early History (1878))
(05:42 - Capsule Summary of the Church’s History)
(09:24 - The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy)
(14:56 - Suburbanization and Desegregation in the Mid-20th Century)
(20:54 - Urban Planning and Parking Lot Disputes)
(22:12 - Racial Integration and Social Engagement)
(27:31 - The Marion Barry Era and Urban Violence)
(32:13 - Mark Dever’s Arrival and Church Revitalization)
(35:50 - Gentrification and Its Impact)
(38:38 - COVID-19 Lawsuit and Church Response)
(41:38 - Commitment to Single-Service Gatherings)
(45:09 - Political Engagement Over Time)
(49:17 - The Importance of Institutions)
(52:11 - Closing Remarks)
CALEB MORELL'S LINKS:
📖 A Light on the Hill: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Hill-Surprising-Influenced-Evangelicalism/dp/1433592894/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 Capitol Hill Baptist Church: https://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this provocative episode, Aaron sits down with Joel Carini, "The Natural Theologian," to explore the challenges of truth-seeking within evangelicalism. From the insular approach of seminary education to the open inquiry at the University of Chicago, Joel contrasts how these environments shape Christian thought. They dive into presuppositionalism, natural theology, and why evangelicals often shy away from engaging with opposing views. Join us for a candid conversation about faith, doubt, and the pursuit of truth.
CHAPTERS
(0:00:00 - Introduction)
(0:02:06 - Seminary vs. University of Chicago: A Tale of Two Educations)
(0:03:38 - What is Presuppositionalism?)
(0:09:05 - The University of Chicago’s Truth-Seeking Approach)
(0:15:24 - The Limits of Presuppositionalism in Apologetics)
(0:19:32 - Evangelicals and the Fear of Being Wrong)
(0:25:18 - Critiquing Evangelicalism’s Defensive Mindset)
(0:33:25 - Finding Common Ground with Non-Believers)
(0:44:57 - What is Natural Theology?)
(0:54:00 - Learning from Secular Thinkers to Strengthen Faith)
(1:00:20 - Wrapping Up: Building Faith on a Solid Foundation)
JOEL CARINI'S LINKS:
🌐 The Natural Theologian: https://joelcarini.substack.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
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Dive into the housing crisis with Aaron Renn and Adam Ozemeck, Chief Economist at the Economic Innovation Group, as they unpack why buying a home can feel impossible in 2025. From skyrocketing construction costs to zoning roadblocks and institutional investors, this episode explores the real reasons behind soaring home prices. Discover potential solutions like YIMBYism, density zones, and more to make housing affordable again.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction: The Housing Crisis Explained)
(01:32 - State of the Housing Market: Why Are Prices So High?)
(05:58 - Indianapolis Case Study: A 40% Price-to-Income Surge)
(07:33 - Construction Costs: Why Building Homes Is So Expensive)
(15:33 - Zoning: The Hidden Barrier to Affordable Housing)
(23:26 - Monopoly in Home Building: Is Competition the Issue?)
(28:48 - Institutional Investors: Are They Driving Up Prices?)
(44:23 - Immigration and Labor: Impact on Housing Costs)
(49:50 - Solutions: YIMBYism and the Abundance Agenda)
(55:42 - Single Stair Reform: A Key to Cheaper Housing)
(59:22 - State Preemption: Rewriting Zoning Rules)
(1:02:13 - Density Zones: A Balanced Approach to Local Control)
(1:06:43 - Tackling Construction Costs: Tariffs and R&D)
(1:09:09 - Place-Based Policy: Spreading Opportunity Beyond Big Cities)
(1:15:08 - Fiscal Stimulus: Did It Fuel the Housing Crisis?)
(1:16:23 - Final Thoughts: Building a Dynamic Future)
ADAM OZIMEK'S LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/ModeledBehavior
🌐 Economic Innovation Group: https://eig.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Ted Esler, President of Missio Nexus, joins me to dive deep into the current state of Christian missions. He explores the history, challenges, and future of global missions, from the legacy of William Carey to the impact of globalization and cultural shifts. Ted discusses the role of unreached people groups, the influence of American imperialism, and the evolving dynamics of missionary work, including the significant contributions of women. Discover how missions are adapting in a rapidly changing world and what it means for the global church.
Note: There are 134,000 US missionaries, not 340,000 as stated in the podcast. Esler accidentally gave the global rather than US total.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Defining Missions: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Planting
01:30 The History of the Modern Missions Movement
03:07 The Origins of Missio Nexus
04:00 Missionary Funding and Global Perspectives
06:49 Paradigms Shaping Modern Missions
08:22 The Tension Between Evangelism and Development Work
11:24 The Decline of Mainline Denominations in Missions
12:36 Missions and the Question of Imperialism
17:35 Missions in the Age of Globalization
23:24 The Impact of DEI and Christian Nationalism on Missions
26:22 Women in Missions: A Historical Constant
28:31 The Future of Missions: Trends and Predictions
33:01 Closing Thoughts
TED ESLER LINKS:
🌐 Missio Nexus: https://missionexus.org/
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🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join host Aaron Renn as he sits down with Michael Foster, pastor of East River Church in Batavia, Ohio, for a raw and unfiltered conversation about the wild cultural ride of the past five years. From the rise of the Manosphere to the pushback against woke culture, the impact of the pandemic on churches, and the shifting dynamics of masculinity and dating, this episode dives deep into what’s shaping our world in 2025. Michael shares his journey from starting It’s Good to Be a Man to planting a church during the pandemic, offering insights on faith, culture, and the new vibe shift. Expect candid reflections, bold takes, and a look at where we’re headed next.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(01:04 - Michael Foster’s Journey: Starting East River Church)
(03:58 - The Manosphere’s Rise and Cultural Impact)
(11:23 - Dating Dynamics and the Internet’s Influence)
(19:55 - The Pandemic’s Effect on Churches and Culture)
(28:49 - The Post-Pandemic Vibe Shift)
(36:30 - Christianity, Institutions, and Missed Opportunities)
(50:04 - Choosing Stability Over Controversy)
(58:13 - The New Cultural Stasis and What’s Next)
(1:08:09 - Closing Thoughts and Farewell)
MICHAEL FOSTER-S LINKS:
📖 It's Good to Be a Man - https://www.amazon.com/Its-Good-Be-Man-Masculinity/dp/1954887396/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/thisisfoster
🌐 This Is Foster - https://www.thisisfoster.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Professional boxer Ed Latimore talks about his inspiring journey from growing up in Pittsburgh’s housing projects during the crack epidemic to earning a physics degree and overcoming addiction. In this episode, Ed shares raw insights from his book, Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life, diving into the challenges of poverty, the psychological traps of subsidized housing, the impact of corporal punishment, and how boxing gave him discipline and community. Ed also opens up about his battle with alcoholism and offers practical advice for those struggling with addiction. Don’t miss this powerful conversation about resilience, pattern recognition, and transforming your life against all odds.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 - Introduction)
(01:02 - Growing Up in the Projects: Life During the Crack Epidemic)
(03:11 - The Systemic Traps of Subsidized Housing)
(06:13 - How Childhood Beatings Shaped Ed’s View on Boxing)
(09:01 - Boxing as a Path to Discipline and Community)
(14:48 - Why Ed Rejects Corporal Punishment)
(24:43 - Writing Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: A Memoir with Purpose)
(26:54 - Discovering His Intelligence Through Boxing and Education)
(33:08 - From Boxing to a Physics Degree: Ed’s Academic Journey)
(37:18 - How Intelligence Kept Ed from Self-Destruction)
(44:01 - Overcoming Alcoholism: Ed’s Strategies for Recovery)
(53:15 - Final Thoughts and Book Details)
ED LATIMORE'S LINKS:
📖 Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Lessons-Hurt-Business-Boxing/dp/0593716361/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 Ed Latimore's web site: https://edlatimore.com/
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/edlatimore
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join me for an insightful conversation with Dr. Jason Jewell, Chief Academic Officer of the State University System of Florida, as we dive into the bold reforms transforming higher education in the Sunshine State. From Governor Ron DeSantis’ efforts to eliminate ideological influences to the creation of a new accrediting agency, we explore how Florida is reshaping its universities to prioritize academic excellence and efficiency. Learn about Florida's innovative steps toward a new accreditation model, its post-tenure review policy, and the fight against administrative bloat.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(01:15 Dr. Jason Jewell’s Background)
(04:44 Role of the Board of Governors)
(08:41 DeSantis’ Higher Ed Reform Goals)
(12:29 Creating a New Accrediting Agency)
(31:50 Post-Tenure Review Policy)
(43:07 Tackling Administrative Bloat)
(48:00 Conclusion)
JASON JEWELL'S LINKS:
🌐 Governor Ron DeSantis Announces First-of-its-Kind Alternative University Accreditor - https://www.flbog.edu/2025/06/26/icymi-governor-ron-desantis-announces-first-of-its-kind-alternative-university-accreditor/
🌐 No “Brain Drain” from the SUS’s Post-Tenure Review - https://www.flbog.edu/2025/07/21/no-brain-drain-from-the-suss-post-tenure-review/
🌐 Jason Jewell's Substack - https://jasonjewell.substack.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron in this eye-opening podcast episode with Rick Reinhardt, an expert on the intersection of urbanism and religion, as they dive into the growing crisis of America's emptying churches. With up to 100,000 churches facing closure, what happens to these historic buildings and their land? From affordable housing to community spaces, discover the challenges and opportunities of redeveloping sacred spaces in urban areas. Learn about the decline in church attendance, the financial burdens of maintaining historic properties, and innovative solutions for repurposing church real estate. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion on faith, urban planning, and the future of America’s communities!
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction: The Church Closure Crisis)
(10:12 - Why Are Churches Closing Across America?)
(03:27 - Case Studies: Buffalo, Ottumwa, and Beyond)
(05:28 - The High Cost of Maintaining Historic Churches)
(08:05 - The Role of Churches in Communities)
(09:59 - Real Estate Opportunities: From Condos to Affordable Housing)
(12:58 - Using Church Land for Parking, Gardens, and More)
(15:27 - Affordable Housing: A Growing Trend for Church Properties)
(18:12 - Zoning and Regulatory Challenges)
(23:19 - Selling Churches: Who Buys Them and Why?)
(26:55 - Barriers to Redevelopment: Denominational Control and NIMBYs)
(30:07 - Cities and Tax-Exempt Properties)
(33:30 - Advice for Struggling Congregations)
(38:51 - Resources for Learning More)
(41:32 - Closing Thoughts)
RICK REINHARD LINKS:
🌐 Affordable Housing: YIGBY (“Yes in God’s Backyard”) Movement Seeks to Counter NIMBY Movement - https://urbanland.uli.org/property-types/housing-affordable-and-workforce/affordable-housing-yigby-yes-in-gods-backyard-movement-seeks-to-counter-nimby-movement
🌐 Can Struggling Houses of Worship Be Turned Into Housing? Not Always - https://www.governing.com/urban/can-struggling-houses-of-worship-be-turned-into-housing-not-always
🌐 Sacred Spaces, Civic Value: Making the Case for the Future of Faith-Built Assets - https://canurb.org/publications/sacred-spaces-civic-value/
CONNECT & FOLLOW:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
An inspiring conversation with Reverend Jake Dell, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Woodbury, Connecticut, founded in 1659. Rev. Dell shares his journey to become an Episcopal priest, then to taking on leadership of a dying historic church in an attempt to revive a congregation with 355 year legacy. Also discover his bold vision for a donor intent litigation trust to hold mainline institutions accountable and revive America’s Christian heritage.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(01:04 Rev. Dell’s Journey to Ministry)
(05:02 The Need for Operation Reconquista)
(08:51 What Is Operation Reconquista?)
(12:29 Why Rev. Dell Is Optimistic About Revival)
(14:31 Understanding Congregational Churches)
(17:25 Reviving a 350-Year-Old Church)
(27:52 Secrets to Growing a Congregation)
(34:08 The Donor Intent Litigation Trust Idea)
(47:58 Next Steps for the Litigation Trust)
(50:01 Closing Thoughts)
REV. DELL'S LINKS:
🌐 The First Congregational Church of Woodbury - https://www.firstchurchwoodbury.org/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
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🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron Renn as he sits down with Doug Reed, president of Partnership International and author of Ten Men: The Rich Connections Every Man Needs. In this insightful podcast, Doug explores the powerful relationships in King David’s life from the Bible, revealing the ten types of men every man needs to thrive—mighty mentors, covenant friends, spiritual fathers, and even ordained opposition. Discover how these biblical principles can transform modern masculinity and foster deep, meaningful connections.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(00:21 - About 10 Men and King David’s Relationships)
(00:47 - Why Doug Wrote About Masculine Relationships)
(02:10 - Mighty Mentors: The Role of Joab in David’s Life)
(06:26 - Covenant Friendships: David and Jonathan’s Bond)
(09:52 - The Decline of Male Friendships Today)
(14:18 - Spiritual Fathers: Samuel’s Impact on David)
(18:01 - Ordained Opposition: How Goliath and Saul Shaped David)
(26:12 - Closing Thoughts)
Buy Ten Men: The Rich Connections Every Man Needs - https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Men-Connections-Every-Needs-ebook/dp/B0D938929B/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron Renn as he sits down with policy wonk Robert Ordway to explore the vibrant and complex world of America's multiracial working class. Growing up in the steel town of Lake Station, Indiana, Ordway shares his journey from a blue-collar upbringing to working in the halls of power, offering unique insights into the values, challenges, and political shifts of working-class communities. From his roots in a Southern migrant family to his affiliations with both the NAACP and NRA, Robert’s story sheds light on the cultural and economic dynamics shaping places like Northwest Indiana. Discover how faith, family, and community anchor these communities and why figures like Donald Trump resonate with them. Don’t miss this heartfelt and revealing conversation about the heart of America’s working class.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 Introduction)
(01:01 Why Robert Is a Life Member of Both the NRA and NAACP)
(04:34 Growing Up in Gary: A Family History)
(10:36 Life in Lake Station: A Working-Class Childhood)
(21:31 Racial and Ethnic Dynamics in Northwest Indiana)
(28:36 Politics in Lake Station: Trump and Ticket-Splitting)
(33:37 The Appeal of Trump’s Style to the Working Class)
(37:00 A Life-Changing Scholarship: From Steel to College)
(53:07 Staying Connected to Working-Class Roots)
(58:39 Conclusion: Understanding the Working-Class Heart)
ROBERT ORDWAY'S LINKS:
🌐 The Reality of America’s Multi-Racial Working Class - https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/multi-racial-working-class
🌐 Robert Ordway's Substack - https://www.robertordway.com/
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron Renn as he dives into the alarming global fertility crisis with Daniel Hess, the voice behind the More Births X account and Substack. In this eye-opening podcast, they uncover the shocking decline in birth rates worldwide, its devastating implications for economies and societies, and what we can do to reverse this trend. From South Korea’s record-low fertility to the power of suburbs and pro-natal beliefs, this discussion is a wake-up call for anyone concerned about the future of humanity.
CHAPTERS:
(0:00:00 Introduction)
(0:01:03 Why Daniel Hess Cares About Fertility Decline)
(0:03:47 Personal Story: Raising Six Kids and Social Influence)
(0:05:00 The Case for More Births: Debunking Overpopulation Myths)
(0:08:03 South Korea’s Crisis: Highest Innovation but Lowest Birth Rates)
(0:11:29 How Severe Is the Fertility Crisis? Economic and Social Impacts)
(0:19:23 Worst-Hit Countries: China, Italy, and Beyond)
(0:23:33 Drivers of Fertility Decline: The Multifaceted “Fertility Stack”)
(0;26:46 Israel’s Secret: Pro-natal Beliefs and High Fertility)
(0:29:22 Marriage Decline: A Key Culprit in Falling Birth Rates)
(0:34:25 Housing Matters: Why Suburbs Beat High-Rises for Families)
(0:43:10 Land Ownership and Affordability: Lessons from Utah and Canada)
(0:53:01 Solutions: Education, Religious Freedom, and Policy Ideas)
(1:06:37 Closing Thoughts: A Call to Action for Pro-natalism)
Follow Daniel Hess on X: https://x.com/morebirths
Daniel Hess' website: https://www.morebirths.com/
Julian Simon's The Ultimate Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Resource-Julian-Lincoln-Simon/dp/0691003815/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Why did religion become obsolete? Dr. Christian Smith, a renowned sociologist from the University of Notre Dame and author of the new book Why Religion Went Obsolete, joins us to explore the cultural shifts that have led to the decline of traditional religion in America since the 1990s. From the impact of neoliberal capitalism and postmodernism to the rise of the internet and changing family structures, Dr. Smith unpacks the complex forces reshaping faith. We also discuss the rise of alternative spiritualities, the role of Christian nationalism, and what this all means for society’s future. Don’t miss this deep dive into the sociology of religion and its place in modern America!
CHAPTERS:
(00:00 - Introduction)
(00:28 - What Does "Obsolete" Mean for Religion?)
(04:40 - What Happened in 1991?)
(08:28 - Cultural Fragmentation and the Digital Revolution)
(11:20 - How Neoliberal Capitalism Undermined Faith)
(13:08 - The Impact of Postmodernism)
(15:27 - September 11 and Religious Scandals)
(18:54 - Changing Family Structures and Religion)
(20:33 - Has Postmodernism Faded?)
(23:37 - Explaining the Decline: Causal Mechanisms)
(27:30 - Religion’s Self-Inflicted Wounds)
(29:48 - What Can Religious Communities Do?)
(31:41 - The Rise of Traditionalist Micro-Movements)
(34:15 - Has the Rise of the “Nones” Plateaued?)
(39:22 - Obsolescence and the Future of Religion)
(46:22 - Societal Impacts of Religious Decline)
(52:52 - Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendation)
Buy Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America - https://www.amazon.com/Why-Religion-Went-Obsolete-Traditional-ebook/dp/B0DXSZZYPF/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
A fascinating discussion with Ian Fletcher, co-author of the comprehensive new book Industrial Policy for the United States (Cambridge University Press). In this episode, Ian unpacks the critical role of industrial policy in shaping America’s economic future, challenging the myths of free trade, and exploring how the U.S. can protect and grow its advantageous industries. From historical successes like the Morrill Act to modern challenges like China’s rise and the overvalued dollar, this conversation covers the past, present, and future of U.S. industrial strategy.
Chapters:
(00:00 Introduction)
(01:17 Regarding Free Trade)
(02:43 What is Industrial Policy?)
(04:07 National Security and Deindustrialization Risks)
(07:49 The Role of Government in Innovation)
(09:37 Defining Advantageous Industries)
(12:29 Tariffs and Strategic Industries)
(13:55 U.S. Industrial Policy Through History)
(18:26 Government’s Role in Aviation and Tech)
(23:31 Industrial Policy Failures: Synthetic Fuels & Solyndra)
(29:48 Case Study: China’s Industrial Policy Success)
(38:21 Case Study: The UK’s Industrial Policy Failure)
(43:13 What Should the U.S. Do Today?)
(49:27 Evaluating Trump’s Tariff Policies)
(53:36 Key Takeaways from the Book)
(54:28 Ian’s Advice: Trust Economic History, Not Theory)
Buy Industrial Policy for the United States: https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Policy-United-States-Competition/dp/1009243071/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron Renn as he sits down with Philip Howard, founder of Common Good, to discuss the crippling bureaucratic red tape stifling America’s ability to build and innovate. In this eye-opening episode, Howard delves into his Manhattan Institute paper, Escape from Quicksand: A New Framework for Modernizing America, revealing how a compliance-driven system has paralyzed infrastructure projects—like the $42.5 billion broadband initiative with zero results after four years. From the New Deal’s rapid achievements to today’s endless legal labyrinths, Howard proposes a bold solution: a framework rooted in human responsibility and accountability to restore America’s can-do spirit. Tune in to learn why we’re stuck, how we got here, and what it’ll take to break free.
CHAPTERS
(00:00 - Introduction)
(01:00 - The Problem: America’s Bureaucratic Quicksand)
(04:13 - New Deal vs. Today: A Stark Contrast)
(09:13 - Extortion by Law: How the System Enables Delays)
(15:27 - Solutions: Rebuilding a Framework for Action)
(23:02 - Political Challenges: Why Reform is Tough)
(29:01 - The Role of the Judiciary in Blocking Progress)
(37:43 - Conclusion: A Call to Replace the System)
Escape from Quicksand A New Framework for Modernizing America - https://manhattan.institute/article/escape-from-quicksand-a-new-framework-for-modernizing-america
Common Good - https://www.commongood.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join host Aaron Renn as he sits down with Elizabeth Landis, author of The Forgotten Realm: Civics for American Christians, to explore why Christians need to engage more deeply in the civil realm. From local government to federalism, Elizabeth shares her journey from a concerned citizen to a passionate advocate for civic involvement, offering practical insights and biblical wisdom for Christians navigating governance. Discover how to move beyond voting, build relationships across political divides, and become a winsome force for change in your community. Get your copy of The Forgotten Realm via the link below.
(00:00 - Introduction: Welcome to the Podcast)
(01:03 - Why Civics is the "Forgotten Realm" for Christians)
(02:37 - What Sparked Elizabeth’s Civic Awakening)
(06:38 - A Primer on American Government: From Local to Federal)
(09:15 - Uncovering Federalism and Election Systems)
(12:38 - Engaging with Local Government in Moscow, Idaho)
(17:07 - Building Unexpected Friendships Across Ideologies)
(19:17 - Opportunities for Christians in Civic Roles)
(24:21 - The Call for Christians to Care About Governance)
(29:02 - Christian Diplomacy: A Winsome Approach to Civics)
(33:06 - Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Book Info)
Buy The Forgotten Realm: Civics for American Christians - https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Realm-Civics-American-Christians/dp/1963505085/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
This fascinating conversation with writer Sheluyang Peng explores the profound influence of Friedrich Nietzsche on American thought. From Emerson’s impact on him to the way his philosophy found similarities with American pragmatism to his role in shaping modern political and cultural landscapes, this episode uncovers Nietzsche’s surprising connections to American philosophy, theology, and even infamous historical events like the Leopold and Loeb case. Yang shares insights into how Nietzsche’s ideas resonate with both the left and the right, and why his philosophy remains relevant today.
(00:00 - Introduction)
(01:03 - Why Yang Got Interested in Nietzsche: A Preacher’s Kid Perspective)
(03:30 - Nietzsche’s American Connection: Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Influence)
(05:12 - American vs. European Views of Nietzsche)
(06:53 - Nietzsche’s Role in American Pragmatism)
(08:02 - H.L. Mencken and Popularizing Nietzsche in America)
(10:33 - Nietzsche and the Leopold and Loeb Murder Case)
(13:47 - Nietzsche’s Surprising Influence on Christian Thinkers)
(18:58 - Nietzsche in Modern American Politics)
(20:56 - Bronze Age Pervert and Right-Wing Nietzscheanism)
(25:27 - Nietzsche and René Girard’s Mimetic Theory)
(28:56 - Is Nietzsche Whatever You Want Him to Be?)
(30:14 - The Future of Nietzschean Thought in America)
(31:27 - Closing Remarks and Where to Read More)
SHELUYANG PENG LINKS:
🌐 American Affairs Journal: Nietzsche's Eternal Return in America - https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2024/11/nietzsches-eternal-return-in-america/
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WithinGoodNEvil
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Leopold and Loeb Murder Case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_and_Loeb
Join Aaron Renn as he sits down with Geoffrey Kabaservice, Vice President of Political Studies at the Niskanen Center and author of Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party. In this compelling episode, they dive into the decline of moderate Republicanism, tracing the transformation of the GOP from the era of Dwight Eisenhower to the rise of Ronald Reagan, the Tea Party, and beyond. Why did moderate Republicans fade from prominence? What role did populism play in reshaping the party? And is there a future for pragmatic, effective governance in today’s polarized America? This conversation explores the historical shifts, key figures, and structural challenges facing the Republican Party, offering insights for anyone interested in American political history.
GEOFFREY KABASERVICE LINKS:
📖 Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party - https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Ruin-Moderation-Destruction-Development-ebook/dp/B005UFCPHG/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
📖 The Guardians: Kingman Brewster, His Circle, and the Rise of the Liberal Establishment - https://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Kingman-Brewster-Liberal-Establishment-ebook/dp/B00LRXCF66/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/ruleandruin
CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this eye-opening episode, Aaron Renn sits down with Saagar Enjeti, co-host of Breaking Points and The Realignment, to dive deep into the explosive rise of sports betting in America. Following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates, sports gambling has become a predatory industry, hooking millions with sophisticated algorithms, addictive apps, and aggressive marketing. Saagar breaks down the public policy failures, the devastating impact on problem gamblers, and the complicity of sports leagues and states in this growing crisis. From skyrocketing bankruptcies to increased domestic violence, the societal costs are staggering. Tune in to learn why Saagar calls for banning online gambling and how we can fight back against this dystopian trend.
CONNECT & FOLLOW SAAGAR ENJETI:
🌐 Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar: https://www.youtube.com/c/breakingpoints
🌐 The Realignment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3O3P7AsOC17INXR5L2APHQ
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/esaagar
Subscribe to Aaron Renn's newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join me for this exclusive conversation with former Vice President Mike Pence, as we dive deep into faith, marriage, and navigating life in the public square. In this heartfelt episode, Pence shares his journey to Christianity, the secrets behind his 40-year marriage to Karen Pence, and the truth about the controversial "Mike Pence Rule." He also offers inspiring advice for those hesitant to enter public life, emphasizing how character and faith can thrive in today’s challenging political landscape. Don’t miss this powerful discussion filled with wisdom and encouragement.
Mike Pence's Books:
📖 So Help Me God - https://www.amazon.com/So-Help-God-Mike-Pence-ebook/dp/B0B6GK9LPG/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
📖 Go Home for Dinner: Advice on How Faith Makes a Family and Family Makes a Life - https://www.amazon.com/Go-Home-Dinner-Advice-Family/dp/1982190361/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Why can't America build like it used to? What happened to our mojo? In this eye-opening episode, special guest Tanner Greer dives deep into the cultural and institutional decline that’s left America struggling to get things done. From building the Empire State Building in a year to endless delays today, we explore what’s gone wrong—comparing the decisive Spanish Flu response of 1918 to the chaos of COVID-19—and uncover solutions from high-agency groups like the U.S. Marine Corps, LDS Church, and Silicon Valley. If you’re curious about why our institutions feel broken and how we can rebuild a culture that gets results, this episode is a must-listen!
Tanner Greer: "On Cultures That Build": https://scholars-stage.org/on-cultures-that-build/
Tanner Greer: "A School of Strength and Character": https://www.palladiummag.com/2023/03/30/a-school-of-strength-and-character/
Inc. Magazine: "Corps Values": https://www.inc.com/magazine/19980401/906.html
Tanner Greer's Homepage: https://scholars-stage.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron as he sits down with William Wolfe, Executive Director of the Center for Baptist Leadership (CBL), to discuss the future of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the fight against liberal drift in the church, and the intersection of faith and politics. From grassroots reform to meeting President Trump in the Oval Office, William shares CBL’s mission to revitalize Baptist identity and equip a new generation of leaders.
🌐 Center for Baptist Leadership: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/
🌐 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode of Aaron Renn's series on religious minorities in America, he speaks with Josh Hammer, senior editor-at-large at Newsweek Magazine and author of the book Israel and Civilization. Josh shares his personal journey from an assimilated Jewish upbringing to becoming fully observant, discusses the challenges of practicing Judaism in modern America, and offers insights on Jewish-Christian relations, contemporary anti-Semitism, and Israel's role in American foreign policy.
Note: My audio level was poorly adjusted in this recording.
GUEST LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/josh_hammer
📖 Buy Israel and Civilization: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1635769736/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 The Josh Hammer Show: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-josh-hammer-show
CONNECT & FOLLOW:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn
🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this first episode in a new series exploring the religious minority experience in America, I sit down with author, educator, and entrepreneur Haroon Mogul to discuss his experiences as a Muslim in the United States. Born to Pakistani immigrant parents in Connecticut and raised in New England, Haroon offers unique insights into navigating dual identities, building community across ethnic lines, and finding his place in a country where Muslims remain a small but diverse minority. From childhood memories of Christmas trees to raising his own children in Cincinnati, Haroon's story illuminates the challenges and opportunities of maintaining faith in a society that isn't built around you.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to the series
2:17 - Meeting Haroon Mogul
3:33 - Growing up Muslim in New England
7:56 - Navigating dual identities
13:15 - Diversity of American Muslims
20:45 - Ethnic diversity in American mosques
27:23 - Moving from NYC to the Midwest
28:23 - Facing opposition to mosque construction
33:33 - American law and Muslim practices
40:58 - Living in a "neutral world" as a religious minority
47:13 - Conclusion
Haroon Mogul was named as one of the 50 most influential Muslims in the Americas by EqualityX in 2023 and 2024.
🌐 Haroon Moghul's Substack: https://sundayschooled.substack.com/
🌐 Subscribe to my newsletter for in-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join host Aaron as he interviews Christopher Schlect, Senior Fellow of History and Director of the Classical and Christian Studies Program at New St. Andrews College. They discuss Schlect's fascinating doctoral dissertation "Onward Christian Administrators," which explores how business management practices transformed American Protestant churches in the early 20th century. Discover how this administrative revolution influenced church architecture, theological controversies, and even women's ordination in unexpected ways.
Read "Onward Christian Administrators" - https://rex.libraries.wsu.edu/esploro/outputs/doctoral/Onward-Christian-Administrators/99900581729701842
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this thought-provoking conversation, wealth manager and author David Bahnsen challenges conventional wisdom about work, retirement, and purpose. Managing $7.1 billion in assets hasn't stopped Bahnsen from questioning our culture's assumptions about work as something to escape from. His book "Full-Time: Work in the Meaning of Life" presents a radical rethinking of vocation as central to human flourishing. Bahnsen argues that our focus on consumption over production and our eagerness to retire represent fundamental misunderstandings of what gives life meaning. Whether you're planning for retirement, questioning your work-life balance, or searching for greater purpose, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on finding fulfillment through productive contribution.
Buy Bahnsen's book Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCMMFGJY/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter - https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Tony Carnes, sociologist, journalist, and founder of "A Journey Through NYC Religions," joins us to explore how New York City has transformed from a secular metropolis into what he calls "America's first post-secular city."
Tony shares fascinating stories from his project documenting every religious site in New York City, revealing the vibrant religious communities that thrive in neighborhoods across all five boroughs. From Hasidic synagogues in Brooklyn to storefront churches in the Bronx, discover how faith communities have shaped the city's culture and politics.
Visit A Journey Through NYC Religions: https://nycreligion.info/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Join Aaron as he welcomes back Brad Littlejohn, author of "Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License" and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. In this thought-provoking conversation, they explore the true meaning of freedom from a Christian perspective and how it contrasts with modern society's understanding of liberty as unlimited choice. Brad unpacks how technology, despite promising greater freedom, often leads to new forms of enslavement, and explains why the Christian concept of freedom through service to Christ offers a more fulfilling path to genuine liberty.
Note: The audio levels on this podcast are unequal. I am migrating to a new podcasting system and still getting the hang of it. Bear with me as I learn the new software
Buy Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License: https://www.amazon.com/Called-Freedom-Retrieving-Christian-Everything/dp/1087779502?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this wide-ranging conversation, writer and editor Titus Techera explores how media has evolved from America's founding to today's social media landscape. We discuss how different forms of media - from Revolutionary War pamphlets to modern podcasts - have shaped American democracy and character.
Techera breaks down how technological changes have repeatedly disrupted elite institutional control, and why legacy media's attempts to maintain power in the digital age keep backfiring. We explore the roles of figures like Joe Rogan, Christopher Rufo, and Elon Musk in transforming modern media dynamics.
The Third Wave of Journalism: https://lawliberty.org/the-third-wave-of-journalism/
The Postmodern Conservative: https://pomocon.substack.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
NYT columnist Ross Douthat joins me to discuss his new book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. We explore why skeptics and non-believers should consider religious faith, examining evidence from science, philosophy, and human experience. Douthat makes the case that religious belief is not only reasonable but arguably obligatory for thinking people in our age.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Why-Everyone-Should-Religious-ebook/dp/B0D8VNGWKL/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Princeton Classics PhD Alex Petkas argues against the "Great Books" model of classical education and makes the case for returning to traditional classical training focused on Greek and Latin languages. He explains why Plutarch's Lives was one of early America's most influential books and why it deserves renewed attention today.
Alex Petkas is host of the Cost of Glory podcast, exploring great thinkers and events in classical civilization.
Alex Petka's article in the American Mind: “Great Books” Is for Losers: https://americanmind.org/salvo/great-books-is-for-losers/
The Cost of Glory Podcast: https://www.costofglory.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, Ruy Teixeira, one of America's leading political analysts, discusses the dramatic realignment of American political coalitions and what it means for the future. A longtime Democratic insider and co-author of The Emerging Democratic Majority, Teixeira explains his journey from progressive think tanks to the American Enterprise Institute, unpacks the Democrats' struggles with working-class voters, and offers a three-point plan for rebuilding the Democratic coalition.
The Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/
Buy The Emerging Democratic Majority: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Democratic-Majority-John-Judis-ebook/dp/B0036QVPEU/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
P. Jesse Rine, director of the Center for Academic Faithfulness and Flourishing (CAFF), joins us to talk about the state of Christian higher education. He will also showcase CAFF's new online Christian college guide, which is the most comprehensive collection of information about Christian colleges available.
Note: This podcast may be best on Youtube because it involves a demonstration of a web site with beta data: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGoVYk06TwI
Christian College Guide: https://www.christiancollegeguide.com/
Center for Academic Faithfulness and Flourishing: https://www.faithfulcolleges.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, a deep dive with Matthew Continetti on his book The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism. We explore how American conservatism developed, from its birth in in the 1920s and opposition to FDR's New Deal through today's populist resurgence. Continetti explains why conservative populism keeps returning, how elites lost their grip on the right, and what the future might hold for American conservatism.
Matthew Continetti is the Director of Domestic Policy Studies and the Patrick and Charlene Neal Chair in American Prosperity at the American Enterprise Institute.
Buy: The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism - https://www.amazon.com/Right-Hundred-Year-War-American-Conservatism/dp/1541600517/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, Tim Chapman discusses how traditional conservatives are engaging with the Trump administration. He's the president of Advancing American Freedom, an advocacy group set up by former Vice President Mike Pence.
We discuss:
- What traditional conservatism is and what it's future is in the age of populism and Trumpism
- What Advancing American Freedom does
- Engaging with the Trump administration: supporting China tariffs and a Tik Tok ban, tax cuts, deregulation
- Why AAF opposes RFK, Jr.'s nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services over abortion.
Advancing American Freedom: https://advancingamericanfreedom.com/
Follow Tim Chapman on Twitter/X: https://x.com/TimChapman
Get my analysis of Christianity, family, cities, politics, society and economics: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
In this episode, sociologist Musa al-Gharbi discusses his book We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite.
How should we understand the "woke" phenomenon? Where did it come from? Why do elite whites claim to be marginalized, while showing little care for genuinely marginalized people around them like the service workers they rely on?
Article referred to in the podcast about China interfering to elect Bill Clinton president in the 1990s: https://musaalgharbi.com/2018/03/01/democrats-unlearned-lessons-2020/4/
GUEST LINKS:
📖 We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Never-Been-Woke-Contradictions-ebook/dp/B0D6QDVW24/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
🌐 Website: https://musaalgharbi.substack.com/
🐦 Twitter/X: @Musa_alGharbi
CONNECT & FOLLOW:
🌐 Website: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
🐦 Twitter/X: @aaron_renn
Jon Askonas is a professor of politics at Catholic University. He wrote an interesting piece for Comment magazine on how Americans went from seeing technology as a source of progress to viewing it as leading us to an apocalypse. He joins us to discuss: How and why did this shift take place? Why are we so anxious? How should we live in this age of anxiety?
Read "Building a Future in the Face of the Apocalypse": https://comment.org/building-a-future-in-the-face-of-the-apocalypse/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Academia is almost entirely dominated by the left. Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton, has thrived in it as a strong Catholic. But is it possible for conservatives and Christians to follow the same path today? What are the signs of optimism both for conservatives in academia, but also for a healthier climate for academia itself? George joins me to discuss these topics and what's he's personally been doing to push academia in a healthier direction.
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Ryan Williams is the president of the Claremont Institute. Claremont is the institutional base of West Coast Straussianism, and has long been known for its fellowship programs and quarterly journal The Claremont Review of Books. It has attracted controversy in the Trump era for its willingness to engage with dissident ideas. It published the mega-viral "The Flight 93 Election Essay" and also the first mainstream review of the book Bronze Age Mindset. Williams joins me to talk about Claremont and how they've navigated our new political world.
Claremont Institute: https://www.claremont.org/
The Flight 93 Election: https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/digital/the-flight-93-election/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Despite major progress in civil rights, black economic uplift, and even electing a black President, the question of race continues to be an ongoing major issue in the United States. There are continuing significant racial disparities between races. A black underclass still remains in America. And political and cultural debates around race continue to be major flashpoints. This includes within the evangelical church, where debates over race have become very intense.
Joining me to discuss the ongoing question of race is Robert "Bob" Woodson, Sr. He is one of American's foremost civil rights leaders and experts on alleviating poverty. He's been an advisor to Presidents, a MacArthur Genius Grant Award winner, and recipient of numerous other awards. He's the founder of the Woodson Center and editor of the new book A Pathway to American Renewal.
What actually is the state of racial inclusion in America? Where has progress been made, and where does it still remain? How many of the problems around race today are actually class related? How should American evangelicals think about the question of race and how should they seek to engage on it? What are some of the most encouraging initiatives and leaders that he sees in the country today?
Buy A Pathway to American Renewal: https://www.amazon.com/Pathway-American-Renewal-White-Black-ebook/dp/B0D4HDLSN2/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
The Woodson Center: https://woodsoncenter.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Justin Shubow is the president of the National Civic Art Society, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. that promotes the classical and humanistic tradition in public art and architecture. He was also formerly the chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts. He joins me to talk about our public buildings and how to make them beautiful.
Note that this podcast includes a discussion of specific buildings. Pictures of these buildings are shown in the video version of the podcast, which you can watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6MwHNiEgcQ
National Civic Art Society: https://www.civicart.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Bestselling author Rod Dreher has a knack for putting his finger on what people are going to be talking about next. He's done it again with his new book on re-enchantment, Living in Wonder. He joins us today to talk about embracing what historian Tom Holland calls the "weird stuff" in Christianity.
What does it mean for the world to be enchanted? Isn't enchantment just superstition? What does the trend towards psychedelics and the occult tell us about the public's longings? Are demons real?
Note: There are some quality issues on Dreher's audio feed.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Wonder-Finding-Mystery-Meaning/dp/0310369126/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Os Guinness is an author and social critic. Yes, he is related to the Guinness brewing family. He has an incredible life story, being born in China to medical missionaries and living through the communist takeover there. He has a DPhil from Oxford and has been involved with many eminent organizations ranging from the Brookings Institution to the Trinity Forum.
He’s also the author of many books, including his latest Our Civilizational Moment: The Waning of the West and the War of the Worlds, which he joined me to discuss today. What is a "civilizational moment"? Why did Christianity lose its purchase on the West? Why have some contenders to replace it fared better than others? What should Christians in the Wes be doing today?
But Our Civilizational Moment: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Civilizational-Moment-Waning-Worlds/dp/B0DL3LW558/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Delano Squires is a Research Fellow in Life, Religion and Family at the Heritage Foundation, and a contributor to the Blaze. He joins me today to talk about the enduring relevance of the call to manhood and family, and how to live that out in today's world.
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Stephen Eide is a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute who studies homelessness and mental illness. He joins me to discuss his new article in National Affairs magazine about how to help the homeless and those who struggle at the very bottom of society.
Read Eide's article: https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/uplifting-the-man-farthest-down
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Austin Knuppe is an assistant professor of political science at Utah State University specializing in Foreign Policy, International Politics, Middle East Politics, and War. He's the author of a recent book on how Iraqis survived the Islamic State.
He joins me to discuss Christians in the Middle East. Once sizable Christian populations there have declined noticeably in the past 100 years. He argues that America's Global War on Terror, however, has accelerated the decline of Christian communities in Middle Eastern countries.
Austin Knuppe: There Are Always Consequences: https://americanreformer.org/2024/08/there-are-always-consequences/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Journalist and AEI Senior Fellow Tim Carney joins me to discuss his new book Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to BeRead Jason Jewell's review of the book: https://americanreformer.org/2024/09/the-war-on-ordinary-families/
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Unfriendly-Culture-Raising-Harder-ebook/dp/B0C592J1TF/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Nate Fischer, Founder and CEO of New Founding, joins us to talk about his firm's investment strategy, and particularly the macro forces that will be shaping the society and economy of tomorrow.
Read the New Founding Strategy: https://www.newfounding.com/post/strategy
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
While divorce rates have fallen from their peak, they are still very high, with women initiating the vast majority of them. The divorce rate among American Christians is also too high. While divorce is difficult for non-religious men, Christian men face unique issues. Their churches are likely to blame them for the divorce, and they are likely to lose their friend network at church as well.
Men's devotional writer and podcaster Chris Bolinger joins me to discuss what Christian men need to know to survive divorce.
Buy Chris Bolinger's 400,000 copy selling men's devotional Daily Strength for Men: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Strength-Men-365-Day-Devotional/dp/1424557534/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
My article on what to do when your wife divorces you: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-40-what-to-do-when-your
My article on how to help your friends whose wive's divorced them: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-41-how-to-help-our-friends
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James Davison Hunter is a renowned sociologist at the University of Virginia who introduced the term "culture war" to the US discourse. He's a leading expert on cultural change and cultural battles in America.
He joins me to discuss his new book Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis, which tells the deep cultural story underlying today's polarized politics.
This important book describes the deep structure of American culture as resting on what he calls the "hybrid Enlightenment," joining various strands of European Enlightenment thinking with largely Calvinist Christianity. The various contradictions in this hybrid Enlightenment, such as slavery, were worked out over time. But that hybrid Enlightenment also became unraveled over time, leaving Americans without the cultural underpinnings necessary to sustain solidarity. The result is nihilism and culture war.
Democracy and Solidarity is a compelling and important read to understand our present cultural moment.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Solidarity-Cultural-Americas-Political-ebook/dp/B0CW17D3N3/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Dr. Hunter is also the publisher of the Hedgehog Review magazine: https://hedgehogreview.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Joshua Klein, editor of Mortise and Tenon magazine, joins me to talk about his love of traditional wood construction techniques, and the value of craftsmanship and manual work. In addition to the magazine, Klein is also an Associate Fellow in Mechanical Arts at Greystone Theological Institute.
Buy Mortise and Tenon Magazine: https://www.mortiseandtenonmag.com/
Greystone Theological Institute: https://www.greystoneinstitute.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Jon Tyson, founding and senior pastor of Church of the City in New York, joins me to talk about the urban church in today's world. Tyson discusses:
- How to deal with the constant population churn in the city?
- The differences between pre-Covid and post-Covid New York
- How Covid wiped out 70% of what Tim Keller and others built over the previous 35 years in terms of New York City church plants
- The flow of church planters into New York drying up
- What's unique about Generation Z? Includes that they don't want to plant churches.
- Why New York is not as different from the rest of the country culturally as it used to be.
- The impact of the migrant influx on Manhattan
- The future of the cultural engagement model of church
- What he thinks of Trumpist culture war Christianity
- How he talks about flashpoint cultural issues
- Advice for church planters thinking about New York City.
Visit Church of the City: https://www.church.nyc/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Oren Cass is founder of American Compass, a reformist center-right think tank seeking to look beyond dogmatic adherence to libertarian economics. He joins me to talk about the future of the American worker.
American Compass: https://americancompass.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Artificial intelligence is the hot topic of the tech world today. But how do we make sense of it? Dean Ball is a Research Fellow in the Artificial Intelligence & Progress Project at the Mercatus Center, who also writes a Substack on the subject. He joins me to discuss this new AI technology and how to regulate it.
Subscribe to Dean Ball's Substack: https://www.hyperdimensional.co/
Subscribe to my Substack: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
BYX (Beta, Upsilon, Chi in Greek, for Brothers Under Christ and pronounced "Bucks") is a Christian college fraternity. National director Jared Musgrove and Georgia chapter member Will Pesch join me to talk about this fraternity and how it shapes young men in a campus environment.
BYX Website: https://byx.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Miami and South Florida have been booming. City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez joins me to talk about their success at the "Miami model" of urbanism. We discuss:
- Miami's transition from America's most dangerous big city to one of its safest.
- Why Miami is an emerging national and global business center
- The inflection points that boosted Miami's trajectory
- How Mayor Suarez, a Republican, and his party have found success in a big, dense, diverse, heavily Latino city.
- What Miami will do next that will surprise people.
Read my profile of Miami as an under-heralded urban success story: https://www.governing.com/urban/miami-the-under-appreciated-urban-success-story
Read my article on why conservatives should care about cities: https://americancompass.org/conservatives-should-care-about-cities/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
American Enterprise Institute scholar Yuval Levin joins me to discuss his new book American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again.
While many today argue that the US Constitution is dead or obsolete, Levin argues that the Constitution is actually the path forward for creating unity in our deeply divided republic.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/American-Covenant-Constitution-Unified-Nation_and/dp/0465040748/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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Miles Smith is an assistant professor of history at Hillsdale College. He joins me to discuss what he learned from reading exvangelical memoirs and books about Christian nationalism.
Miles Smith's "Reading the Exvangelicals": https://mereorthodoxy.com/reading-the-exvangelicals
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Matthew Peterson, editor-in-chief of the Blaze and founding editor of the American Mind, joins me to talk about the media and conservative media landscape in America today.
Visit the Blaze: https://www.theblaze.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Georgetown Professor Joshua Mitchell, author of the book American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time, joins me to talk about what factors caused the rise of identity politics in America.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/American-Awakening-Identity-Politics-Afflictions/dp/1641771305/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Newsweek opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon joins me to discuss her recent book Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women. It's a look at the travails facing America's working class.
Read my review of Second Class: https://www.city-journal.org/article/review-of-second-class-by-batya-ungar-sargon
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Class-Betrayed-Americas-Working/dp/1641773618/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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Richard V. Reeves is the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. He's also the author of the acclaimed book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. He joins me to discuss the problems facing today's American men, and why he thinks "keep it boring" is the right strategy.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Men-modern-struggling-matters/dp/1800751036/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Visit the American Institute for Boys and Men: https://aibm.org/
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Farah Stockman is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and member of the New York Times editorial board. She's also the author of the great book American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears.
Her book chronicles the closure and relocation to Mexico of a Rexnord bearing plant in Indianapolis in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. It focuses particularly on the lives of three workers in the plant.
American Made is a detailed a moving portrait of the reality of industrial life in the 21st century American Heartland. She joins me to discuss on the podcast this week to discuss this important book.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/American-Made-Happens-People-Disappears-ebook/dp/B08YN77FLS/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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Jonathan Whitehead, a lawyer who has been active in Southern Baptist institutional life for many years, joins me to discuss the future of the SBC. We will focus on the SBC's upcoming convention in Indianapolis, where several key issues will be debated and addressed.
Dr. Anthony Bradley joins me to talk about why the evangelical church struggles to attract men. We will discuss the state of men in America, the matrilineal nature of evangelicalism, and what needs to change to make the church more relevant. Bradley is the author of the book Heroic Fraternities: How College Men Can Save Universities and America.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Heroic-Fraternities-College-Universities-America/dp/1666715530/
Evangelicalism is Matrilineal: https://mereorthodoxy.com/evangelicals-matrilineal
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Dr. Ewan Goligher is a scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute. He's the author of the book How Should We then Die?: A Christian Response to Physician-Assisted Death. He joins me to discuss physician-assisted suicide from a Christian point of view.
Buy his book: https://www.amazon.ca/How-Should-then-Die-Physician-Assisted/dp/1683597478
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Three years ago I recorded a podcast series on the American postwar conservative moment. One of the episodes focused on the way that the nascent conservatives responded to the campus unrest of the 1960s. Since campus protests are again in the news, I'm reposting my thoughts from that old episode.
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Paul Carrese is the founding director of the School for Civic and Economic Though Leadership (SCETL) at Arizona State University. SCETL was established by an act of the state legislature to reinvigorate the idea of civics education as a core function of the public university. It is also a model for many other similar centers that have been established at other public universities around the country. Dr. Carrese joins me to discuss SCETL, and why it and centers like it are critical to the future of the university and society.
Visit SCETL's web site: https://scetl.asu.edu/
Luke Robson is on a mission to revitalize the downtown of Hillsdale, Michigan, the small town where Hillsdale College is located. He joins us to discuss his efforts and why he believes this is important.
Subscribe to Luke's Hillsdale Renaissance Newsletter: https://hillsdalerenaissance.substack.com/
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Your identity is the foundation and the heart of everything. Because if you don’t know who you are, you don’t know what to do. In this month's newsletter I discuss the importance of identity, and why many people in power in our society want to sever you from yours.
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Leon Podles joins me today to discuss the deep roots of why men don't go to church, focusing on the male quest for honor. He is the author of The Church Impotent and Losing the Good Portion: Why Men Are Alienated from Christianity.
Read The Church Impotent for free: https://podles.org/church-impotent.htm
Buy Losing the Good Portion: https://www.amazon.com/Losing-Good-Portion-Aliendated-Christianity/dp/158731505X/
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Peter Ostapko joins us to discuss his project Kinsmen Journal, a high quality print magazine for Christian men and broader project to curate conversations around faith, fatherhood, and work. Kinsmen Journal featured original commissioned photography and writing, and the highest quality printing and packaging available.
Buy Kinsmen Journal: https://kinsmen.org/
This is my interview from two years ago with David Murrow, author of the influential book Why Men Hate Going to Church. Why does the American church skew female? How did he get interested in this topic? How did people receive his book and what changed as a result of it? What is the story arc of the church's attempts to reach men in recent decades?
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078523215X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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Paleoconservative military writer William Lind developed a concept he calls "4th Generation War," which is an insurgency conflict similar to Afghanistan or Iraq. 4GW is rooted in a decline of the legitimacy of the state, a fundamentally asymmetric conflict, and the criticality of winning at "the moral level of war." There are interesting parallels to cultural conflict which I explore in this newsletter.
Sociologist Brad Wilcox joins to discuss his new book "Get Married." He explains why, despite its decline in our society, marriage remains the best path to success in flourishing in life.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/0063210851/
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Georgetown University professor Joseph Hartman joins me to discuss the 20th century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, and why he still matters today.
Sociologist Brad Vermurlen will join me to discuss his new book Reformed Resurgence: The New Calvinist Movement and the Battle Over American Evangelicalism.
Vermurlen's book is an excellent overview of the New Calvinist movement, the backdrop of Evangelical fracture in which it developed, and the various strategies the movement implemented.
This podcast was recorded two years ago as Youtube only.
Read more about the book at: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/reformed-resurgence-brad-vermurlen/
Buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0190073519/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Josh Abbotoy joins me to discuss his projects to built intentional communities of likeminded people in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Ridgerunner USA: https://ridgerunnerusa.com/
Highland Rim Project: https://www.newfounding.com/highland
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One of the key events in the Christianization of the Roman Empire was when the children of the existing Roman elites turned aside from the status system of the Roman imperium in favor of new ways of pursuing and achieving elite status within the church.
Today, in the Negative World, the church operates as a shadow status system that takes its cues from secular elite culture. It will always be dominated by that culture unless and until it creates its own status system again. The Thiel Fellowship is an example of what an attempt at creating an alternative form of status would look like in our society.
Management is about the known. Exploration is about the unknown. Dwight Gibson has studied the techniques of the explorers from the great age of exploration. He will discuss how people and organizations can make use of those oft-forgotten methods to help navigate today's uncertain and unprecedented world.
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John Burtka, president of ISI, joins me to discuss his new book Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill. It's a collection of some of the best writing in history about the nature of the statesman.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Statesmanship-Selections-Xenophon-Churchill/dp/1684515432/
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Lexi Hudson joins me to discuss her recent book The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Civility-Timeless-Principles-Ourselves-ebook/dp/B0B9KTF7BP/
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Too many people today have negative identities - they are defined by what they oppose not by what they are for or hope to create. Negative identities create asymmetries in which you are vulnerable to people with morally expansionist visions. They also make your identity dependent on the very thing you claim to oppose. While there are plenty of bad positive identities, it's much better to base your identity on a positive than negative vision of life.
Notre Dame professor Darren Dochuk joins me to discuss his book Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America. Every aspect of modern political, economic, and cultural development of the 20th century was bound up with various strains of the oil industry and Christianity. Dochuk explains this oft-overlooked history.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Anointed-Oil-Christianity-Modern-America/dp/0465060862/
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Pragmatism is about what we can do with our own two hands with the material we see in front of us. It's an important perspective on the world - but very limiting as well. Too much devotion to pragmatism can blind us to the possibilities in the world and life.
Brad Littlejohn and Chris Castaldo join me to discuss their book Why Do Protestants Convert?, which examines the psychological, theological, and sociological reasons that evangelical intellectuals often convert to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy.
Buy the book: https://davenantinstitute.org/why-do-protestants-convert
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Ben Merkle, president of New St. Andrews College, joins me to discuss the broken financial model of higher education in America.
Read Big Ed, Too Big to Fail: https://nsa.edu/blog/big-ed-too-big-to-fail
Subscribe to my newspaper: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Nancy Pearcey, a professor at Houston Christian University, joins me to discuss her book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes.
Pearcey was named one of the top five women apologists by Christianity Today and hailed in The Economist as America's preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual.
Buy The Toxic War on Masculinity: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-War-Masculinity-Christianity-Reconciles-ebook/dp/B0B6Q3BCG8/
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For this month's newsletter, John Seel shares an essay on masculinity and the quest to become a "holy man." He examines who a holy man is, the tools he uses, and the product he produces.
Subscribe to my newsletter at: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
John Seel joins me to discuss his thoughts on cultural engagement in today's negative world. Dr. Seel holds a Ph.D from the University of Maryland, and is a cultural renewal entrepreneur.
Download Dr. Seel's white paper on The Challenge of Cultural Engagement: https://www.exploradelphia.com/publications
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Long time missionary Andrew Brunson joins me to talk about his two year nightmare in a Turkish jail after being falsely imprisoned by the government for spying.
Wavestarters, a Ministry of Andrew and Norine Brunson: https://www.wavestarters.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
John Lovell joins me to discuss his new book The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well. Lovell is a former Army Ranger, combat veteran, and missionary. He runs the popular Youtube channel The Warrior Poet Society.
Buy The Warrior Poet Way: https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Poet-Way-Guide-Living/dp/0593541847/
John Lovell's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WarriorPoetSociety
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Why do men turn to online influencers instead of the church? One reason is that evangelicals promote a vision of masculinity that is so bleak and unappealing it turns men off. They sum this up under the heading “servant leadership”
Properly defined I believe servant leadership is important and something we should all aspire to. But evangelicals use it as a term of art that ends up defining a man’s mission is life as catering to the needs and desires of his wife and kids.
They use a highly curated set of Bible passages and example like Jesus washing the disciples feet, while avoiding the many other examples that show other aspects of what it means to be a man or a leader.
Evangelical servant leadership is a form of radical kenosis in which a man much empty himself of all of his own desires, ambitions, mission goals, etc. in order to serve his wife. One high profile pastor all but says men are never allowed to do anything for themselves.
The evangelical view of the husband echoes the view of God in "moralist therapeutic deism" in which he is a sort of "Divine Butler and Cosmic Therapist."
In evangelical teaching, a man has no legitimate claims of his own he can assert, no legitimate desires or aspirations he can hold, no mission in the world to undertake.
Suffice it to say, the people promoting this approach to manhood don’t give off much evidence of living this way themselves.
We definitely need servant leadership. But the way they define it isn’t right. Correcting these faulty teachings on gender is one of the church’s major to-do’s in the today’s negative world.
Newsletter version of his podcast: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/servant-leadership
Gen Z Youtuber "Redeemed Zoomer," a member of the PCUSA, joins me to discuss his case for why Christians should not abandon mainline denominations.
Visit Redeemed Zoomer's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@redeemedzoomer6053
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Eric Lefevre joins us to discuss the Concordia-Seminex Affair, in which the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod reversed a trend towards liberal theology in its flagship seminary and the denomination as a whole.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida joins me to discuss his new report, "The State of the Working (and Non-Working) Man," issued by his office as part of his Project for Strong Labor Markets and National Development.
Read the report: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-releases-labor-report-the-state-of-the-working-and-non-working-man/
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Presbyterian minister Daniel Howe joins us to discuss his new book Worship, Feasting, Rest, Mercy: The Christian Sabbath.
Link to Buy: https://crownandcovenant.com/products/worship-feasting-rest-mercy-the-christian-sabbath
Aaron Renn's Newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
This month's newsletter looks at lessons from two contemporary novels, Guadalupe Nettel's Still Born and Vigdis Hjorth's Will and Testament.
Buy Still Born: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Born-Guadalupe-Nettel-ebook/dp/B0BQ3ZRSK1
Buy Will and Testament: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Testament-Vigdis-Hjorth-ebook/dp/B07LDSXBTD/
Newsletter #39 on forged families: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-39-we-can-only-go-forward
My thoughts on the film "The Worst Person in the World": https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/live-through-this
Sohrab Ahmari joins me to discuss his book Tyranny, Inc: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty - and What To Do About It.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Inc-Private-American-Liberty/dp/0593443462/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
Washington Post columnist Christine Emba joins me to discuss her viral feature essay, "Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness."
"Men Are Lost" Article link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/10/christine-emba-masculinity-new-model/
Reader feedback on how to be a man article link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/14/readers-react-christine-emba-masculinity/
Subscribe to Christine Emba's Substack: https://christineemba.substack.com/
Follow Christine Emba on Twitter: https://twitter.com/christineemba
Subscribe to the Aaron Renn newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
This month's audio newsletter looks at the teachings of two online men's influencers whose work reflects something of a neo-pagan sensibility, Jack Donovan and his book The Way of Men, and Ryan Landry and his book Masculinity Amidst Madness.
The Way of Men: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Men-Jack-Donovan-ebook/dp/B007O0Y1ZE/?&tag=theurban-20
Masculinity Against Madness: https://www.amazon.com/Masculinity-Amidst-Madness-Ryan-Landry/dp/1951897145/?&tag=theurban-20
Text version of this newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/neopagan-masculinity
Link to Newsletter #58 on loyalty: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-58-loyalty-is-the-coin
Denny Burk is the President of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, the organization charted with advancing complementarian gender theology. Complementarianism holds that only men can be pastors, and that husbands are the head of the home. The main rival system is egalitarianism, which affirms female pastors and says husbands and wives have equal authority in the home.
He joins to discuss recent renewed controversies over evangelical gender theology, particularly in the Southern Baptist Convention.
Links:
Newsletter #78: Big Eva Says Out with Complementarianism, In with Anti-Fundamentalism: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-78-big-eva-says-out-with
My previous interview with Denny Burk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvG2l_4wOuM
Aaron Ginn joins me to discuss his recent viral essays on male friendship and how to recovery from the dysfunctions of "nice guy syndrome."
Aaron Ginn's Substack: https://aginn.substack.com/
As the evangelical world begins to crack up and realign, a segment of "big eva" elites is promoting the idea of redefining the boundary of their community. They want to eliminate complementarianism (a male only pastorate) and replace it with anti-fundamentalism. What was previously a solidly conservative movement would instead be more self-consciously centrist. This was explicitly laid out at a strategy by Tim Keller, and is being executed by people like Russell Moore and others.
The Christian Reformed Church (CRC), a quasi-mainline denomination originating in the Dutch Reformed tradition, had been trending in a more liberal direction. It approved of ordaining women and its Calvin University took a more progressive tack. But recently the denomination has pivoted to the right on sexuality issues. What dynamics have been at play in the CRC? What does the future hold for this denomination? CRC pastor and Youtuber Paul VanderKlay joins to discuss.
Paul VanderKlay's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulVanderKlay
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Conservatives have a strong preference to have other people make their points for them. Hence they love liberals who criticize wokeness, or Muslims who argue for religious freedom. There's nothing wrong with partnering with or promoting others who share your views, but there's something wrong with people who can't seem to advocate for themselves.
The left frequently argues that "structural racism" and other factors dominate our societies. While conservatives rightly recognize these as code words for left ideology, they often react in ways that fail to recognize the way structural forces really do affect individual and group outcomes.
The now disgraced Mark Driscoll was once one of America's hottest "bad boy" pastors. His church had 14,000 attendees, and he had a massive following on social media.
Although his empire imploded in a cascade of scandals a few years back, it's still worth looking at his teachings on gender because stripped of his provocative style, the content is actually pretty similar to what other complementarians (those who assert men are the head of the home and that only men can be pastors) teach even today.
Driscoll's complementarianism can be summed up as: The husband is the head of the home, but what that means is his primary life mission is sacrificing for and serving his wife and kids. He is probably doing a very bad job of this, deserves stern rebuke, and needs to repent. What authority he has should be used to give things to his wife. He is to defer to his wife’s wishes for anything that is not a major life issue. If there’s a conflict on a major issue, he is to try to avoid making the decision if he can, and only do so as a last resort. If his wife is unhappy about that decision, or anything else, she can appeal to the elders of the church to override her husband. She should make sure not to be too submissive to him.Driscoll sermon Men and Marriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jacWAsOK0w
Driscoll's "How Dare You!" Rant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkaeAkJO0w8
Newsletter #28: The Anti-Marriage Message of American Pastors: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-28-the-anti-marriage-message
Newsletter #3: The History of the Church and Men: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-3-the-history-of-the-church
There's been a lot of discussion of the limits of the "winsome" model of cultural engagement in the evangelical world, and how it is no longer as effective as it once was and is even counter-productive in some ways. But the culture war model also has limits and is in many ways equally as obsolete. A new model for the negative world is needed that transcends the limits of the old.
Liberal pressure campaigns frequently work. Conservative ones are typically a failure. But the largely spontaneous Bud Light boycott was an exception. I look at why it was an exception - but one that most likely just proves the rule.
A mainline presbyterian Gen-Z videocaster and Episcopal priest recently discussed whether mainline denominations can ever be retaken by the theologically orthodox. I share one example that shows at least some level of institutional recapture is possible, though the risks remain very high.
Interview with Jake Meador: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxP_sPcCIkY
My podcast on Tim Keller: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1330924/6548746-regarding-tim-keller
My podcast on mainline Protestantism: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1330924/8416331-the-cost-of-the-decline-of-mainline-protestantism
Peter Thiel says that "brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius." We see that on display in the way the leadership of the Gospel Coalition threw pastor and TGC Keller Center fellow Josh Butler under the bus when the hate mob came for him. This is unfortunately standard operating procedure in much of American leadership today. We all need to find ways to become incrementally more courageous in order to deal with the serious challenges facing our society and the church today.
Conservative insurgents have won elections in a number of places. But as we've seen in cases ranging from Ottawa County, Michigan to North Idaho College to the Hamilton East Library, they often lack detailed knowledge of the governments they are now in charge of, and are getting tripped up by process and other errors. Some to-dos for conservatives, with a focus on libraries.
American's view of what an oppressive, authoritarian society looks like is shaped by models like Naziism, Communism, George Orwell's 1984, or perhaps the persecution of the early church. These systems are both formally repressive, relying on hard government power. And also almost entirely bad. But there are other models in which bad is mixed with good, and in which the system functions differently while still being at some level repressive. China is an example of this. The United States is another. The US model is very unique, based on a hybrid public-private-philanthropic system, and must be understood on its own terms.
Very few people have sacrificed as much personally or absorbed as much pain for the sake of defending and living their life in alignment with their gender theology as Kathy Keller has. She has demonstrated major skin in the game, which commands great respect.
This month's newsletter is a look at what post-familialism hath wrought in South Korea: toxic gender relations, roiled politics, and an emerging conflict between those with kids and without.
Dr. Nicholas Ellis was raised and home schooled on the mission field in Brazil. He then went to England, where he obtained his doctorate at Oxford. Now back in the United States, he has launched Christian Halls, an effort to reimagine Christian higher education in America through creating self-governing microcampuses providing a fully accredited education in every county in America.
Check out Christian Halls International at: https://christianhalls.org/
Clear Speech for a Confused Age Event in Cincinnati: https://www.kings-domain.com/events
Recent events such as the school shooting in Nashville, the indictment of President Trump, and the conviction of Douglas Mackey shouldn't surprise us, or cause us to give into despair or hate. But it should cause us to change the way we view the American rulership structure that exists today. Like the Roman Empire, it has many positive attributes, but is built on and suffused with pervasive and systematic injustices.
An article in the Guardian argues that online influencers will be more important to conservative discourse in the US going forward in America. This is in part because of technological change, but also from the failure of the establishment class. At the same time, the influencer model has key weaknesses that need to be shored up to make that model healthier.
The Guardian: ‘It’s all about trolling’: how far-right influencers are shaping Republican narrative - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/26/jack-posobiec-digital-influencers-far-right-republicans-trolling
Washington Post: Indicted Chinese exile controls Gettr social media site - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/26/gettr-guo-wengui-social-media/
The standard self-improvement advice is to say No more often. That's frequently good advice. A lot of times we want to say No but are just too scared to do it. Sometimes other people are taking advantage of us. Or maybe we just neglect our own affairs to say No when we shouldn't.
But there's a case for saying Yes too. Yes has much more optionality than No. Saying yes to opportunities, even when they don't seem like they can amount to much, often has payoffs much bigger than we can imaging. Managing for positive optionality and opportunity is a key part of becoming antifragile and positioning ourselves to capture the upside from events.
Michael Foster tweet thread on saying No: https://twitter.com/thisisfoster/status/1636016109617856513
People involved in the arts, literature, or other creative fields are generally politically left wing - even far left. It’s much rarer to see someone who is explicitly and openly to the right, though it does happen occasionally.
But there’s another way to look at it. Our ideas of left and right in politics descend from the French Revolution. But what if we defined them differently than we currently do?
My preferred definition of the right, properly understood, is discerning and aligning oneself and the world around him with the truth. Thus, because great art often expresses Truth, that art is implicitly right wing regardless of the politics of its creator. The best art, journalism, etc. often overflows the intentions of its creator.
But many of those who have the greatest insights about today’s world are not Christian at all. Sometimes this makes their work offensive to American Christian readers. But those who pay careful attention will often find incredible truth, particularly about the deformed nature of contemporary society, hiding in plain sight. Today I want to give some examples of this in the form of three contemporary European literary figures: Hanne Orstavik, Karl Ove Knausgaard, and Michel Houellebecq.
We see any articles about the so-called shortage of good men. That is, we've seen many articles in the major media about how women are delaying or foregoing marriage because they can't find the right man to marry. If that's true, what are the implications for men? It means that if they do have their act together, then they are a hot commodity in the marketplace, and need to internalize that understanding.
The estate of Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), has engaged so-called "sensitivity readers" to re-write portions of the text to be compliant with today's ideologies. I discuss this trend, the idea of editing old books in general, and a practical response we can take to mitigate against this trend.
It's a free country and people are entitled to live however they want. But it's important to put forth and advocate for general patterns of life that are mostly likely to lead to flourishing - particularly when we've been following them ourselves. In that light, this month's newsletter contains ten of these theses about marriage and family.
In the mid-century era from World War II (or even before that) to around 1990, America had a mass market common consumer culture. With the fragmentation of that culture accelerating post-1990s, the upper middle class and middle class began to develop distinct cultures and folkways. Even removing race and politics as factors of division would not address this, because even among whites, the upper middle class and middle class now have different and incompatible definitions of the good life. This creates local political dissension and perverse incentives in areas like land use.
Eric Brende spent a year living with the Amish, and also time trying to live a similar homesteader life in a small town environment. He decided that that there is no place quite like the city to build a productive household environment that is less dependent on the industrialized, technological economy for day to day life. He joined me to talk about his journey and how to get started with the productive urban household life.
Eric Brende's web site: https://thehappyhouseholder.com/
Eric Brende/WSJ: How to Beat the High Cost of Working: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-beat-the-high-cost-of-working-1535747253
Eric Brende: Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Flipping-Switch-Technology-ebook/dp/B000FC1VAG/
President Nate Fischer and Executive Director Josh Abbotoy join me to talk about American Reformer, a non-profit focused on reinvigorating Protestant Christianity in American life.
In pro wrestling, the "face" is the hero and the "heel" is the villain. The incentive structures of our society are willing to personally reward people, especially conservatives, who engage in heel behavior in real life. This is because by acting the heel, people serve as a foil to the hero the media wishes to build up. Even Peter Thiel fell prey to this, helping to propel Rigoberta Menchu to the Nobel Peace Prize. While heel behavior can be effective at times, and is a tool everyone should have in their tool chest, we should think long and hard before engaging in these tactics.
Heel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel_(professional_wrestling)
Peter Thiel speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibR_ULHYirs
With remote work giving people flexibility on where to live, and people moving because of politics and other social factors, where should we live personally? I will examine different types of communities, and share some thoughts on their pros and cons.
I will look forward at potential trends for 2023, including the theme of the return to normal.
Returning to the theme of deficits in the American leadership and elite classes, I will examine some of the reasons why evangelicals in particular seem not be high impact leaders in our institutions and in society. In particular, I will discuss evangelicalism's weak sense of "calling" and it's low view of the created order.
Doxxing is the internet practice of revealing the identity of an anonymous social media account and/or digging up controversial or offensive social media content in order to get someone fired or worse. It's nearly universally viewed as a shady practice, but is a common technique for cancellation today.
In this month's newsletter I provide a primer on doxxing: what it is, who does it, what the consequences are, and how it is perceived. I also provide some practical insights about how to respond to a world where doxxing is common.
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/
Change, whether in personal self-improvement or social evolution, is not linear. There are quantum leaps and discontinuities. This can be deeply unsettling and render obsolete previous ways of doing business and operating in the world.
Companies have long used aggressive sales tactics to maximize units sold and prices charged. Customers have long tried to get the best deal. With the rise of digital technology and financial disparities, these conflicts are highly asymmetric to the disadvantage of ordinary consumers. It's similar in competition for many essential goods like housing, where the equation for the average consumer has been re-written to favor those with large amounts of money.
WSJ: If the Price Ended in 99, You Probably Overpaid - https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-the-price-ended-in-99-you-probably-overpaid-11669293972
WSJ: The Sinister Logic of Hidden Online Fees - https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-sinister-logic-of-hidden-online-fees-11669229205
NYT: It’s Public Land. But the Public Can’t Reach It - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/business/hunting-wyoming-elk-mountain-access.html
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Gambling, drugs, loan sharking, and sex used to be the province of the mob and other shady characters. Now they are big business, legally sanctioned by governments which often profit from them, and in which even major institutions and respectable figures profit. This is a perfect microcosm of the decline of American leadership.
NYT: Key Findings From The Times’ Investigation of Sports Betting: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/sports-betting-investigation.html
The Observer: Game, set, bankrupt: how an addiction to gambling on tennis lost me £40,000: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/20/gambling-addiction-tennis-bet365-online-betting-hannah-jane-parkinson
LA Times: The reality of legal weed in California: Huge illegal grows, violence, worker exploitation and deaths: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-08/reality-of-legal-weed-in-california-illegal-grows-deaths
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Online or other criticism, combined with receiving support from unexpected quarters, is one of the most powerful dynamics promoting political realignment today. I discuss these, why you need to protect yourself from them, and why you should be careful about how you criticize people on your own "team" online.
Twitter thread on career selection: https://twitter.com/aaron_renn/status/1590715709612433408
Twitter thread on presentations: https://twitter.com/aaron_renn/status/1589635724164288512
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With the ongoing flight from the label "evangelical", I will discuss the various meanings of this term and why, rightfully understood, there is no escape from the name.
There's an increasing consensus that elements of the Covid response went way too far - especially long term school closures. It's also clear now that many things that were said turned out to be untrue. For example, vaccine efficacy was clearly overstated. That may have been an honest error, but it was still a serious one.
Our society seldom holds people in leadership positions to account for their screwups or the failures that occur on their watch. I share thoughts on this, including a specific look at pastors and Covid.
AP: Online school put US kids behind. Some adults have regrets: https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae
Daily Wire: How Church Leaders Aligned With Fauci To Discredit Experts Opposed To COVID Mandates: https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-church-leaders-aligned-with-fauci-to-discredit-experts-opposed-to-covid-mandates
The question of the vocation of masculinity today is not what it is but whether it exists. I examine how traditional societies, and texts like the Bible, assumed pervasive gender polarity that's greatly attenuated today. I discuss what would have traditionally been common attributes of masculine vocation, and how they relate to contemporary society and ideology. The key point of conflict is over the traditional idea that men needed to over-produce in order to provide a surplus beyond their own needs that would benefit family and community. But so long as we live in a wealthy, prosperous society, weak gender differentiation will likely be the norm.
Videos from the 1980s show a vanished America. You see the near total absence of the detached, ironic, cynical tone that characterizes the country today and which came to the fore in the 1990s. It's largely a pre-obesity. And it's still a mass culture America. Despite its flaws, the median American today might actually be better off in that era than today.
Conservatives bristled when President Obama said "You didn't build that." But they should understand that theologically and practically, we did not actually build all that we've accomplished by ourselves. We benefitted from good fortune, and often especially from networks and access to capital. Paying it forward in terms of helping be the network for others is one of the way we show gratitude for what we've achieved and been given.
Conservatives tend to view the media as leftist. Due to certain experiences of the Reagan and Bush II administrations, they also seem to believe the media tries to undermine a muscular foreign and defense policy. In fact, on matters of foreign policy and reporting on foreign countries, the media should largely be seen as supporting whatever the US policy towards those nations might be, policy that is typically quite bi-partisan in nature.
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There's an element of social contagion in divorce. We are more likely to get divorced if our friends and associates are divorced. Hence, we should carefully monitor both our own and our spouse's friend networks, keeping an eye out for divorces.
A Dutch soldier in Indianapolis for training exercises was murdered downtown, creating an international incident with global press and cabinet level officials in both the Netherlands and the US having to address it. And yet local Indianapolis leaders, in contrast to the abortion issue, can't talk about the role of crimes like this in our business climate and reputation.
From crime to the water crisis in Jackson to drug abuse to our electric grid to elections to health care, Americas leaders cannot muster the will and ability to address serious problems. They are imprisoned by the ideological constraints of managerialism and hobbled by the increasing complexity of our systems.
Andrew Tate, Kevin Samuels (RIP), the FaZe Clan and many others online figures most Americans have never heard of have no become the decisive influence on Gen Z. While all of us know this at some level, few appreciate the full reality of it in practice. This feeds off of, and accelerates, the decline of trust in institutions.
NYT: Can FaZe Clan Build a Billion-Dollar Business? - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/style/faze-clan-house.html
Some observations on the way evangelicals leaders have been speaking of "violence" as distinct from injustice, and present it as if it were a natural force like thunderstorms rather than a product of human agency.
Dr. Benjamin Mabry joins me to discuss his essay on anti-managerial aesthetics. We will discuss what aesthetics are, why the approach promoted by "dissident right" figures like Curtis Yarvin won't work, and why we should reject the idea of a top 20% vs. bottom 80% of society in favor of an aesthetic scaled to speak to both the elite and the average citizen.
Anti-Mangerial Aesthetics Essay: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/p/newsletter-67-anti-managerial-aesthetics
Premium Mediocre: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2017/08/17/the-premium-mediocre-life-of-maya-millennial/
In this month's newsletter, Dr. Benjamin L. Mabry discusses the importance of aesthetics, as well as sharing perspectives on what an aesthetic that would provide a genuine alternative and rival to the dominant managerial aesthetics of our culture today.
He describes the aesthetic mode of managerial society, which is based on an imperial mode in which there's a sharp boundary between ruler and subject, in this case the top 20% managerial class vs. the 80% of everybody else. He notes that a top 20% aesthetic is not that of a true elite in any case, as genuine elites are a very small share of the population, not 20%. He also argues that we should aspire to have an aesthetic that both the elites and the average citizen can relate to and admire, rooted in a genuine notion of excellence.
He also talks a bit about what such an aesthetic is and and is not. It is not a "mania for newness", or is it a retro-aesthetic that treats the past as just another style element to mix and match at real. Rather, it is the aesthetic and genuine culture of a particular people or subculture, not cosmopolitanism. For the American, this in part means unpacking and expressing the full sense of the aesthetic signifier "Made in America."
I have listeners and readers who have joined at various points along the journey. In this episode I help reset and anchor everyone in the mission and guiding principles I've set out and try to live up to in my work.
Mission: I want to be a leading public intellectual so that through my writing and speaking I can help conservative American Christians successfully adapt to today and tomorrow’s world.
Values:
- Honesty
- Fairness
- Independence
- Rigor
- Excellence
- Authenticity
Guiding Principles:
- Live not by lies
- Build up, don't just tear down
- Have skin in the same
- Give compelling insight people can't get anywhere else
- Pay it forward
NYT: Is Scott Galloway the Howard Stern of the Business World? - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/style/scott-galloway.html
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Much of the language we use today can be divided into two categories: compliant and defiant. Compliant language - like DEI or ESG - signals agreement with the current elite consensus. Defiant signals some level of disagreement or rejection of that consensus.
Defiant language today often uses terms and imagery that are alien to American to American political and cultural tradition. "Nationalism," for example, does not appear to be a way that Americans have understood their relationship to their country. Catholic integralism and Continental philosophy and themes often seem bizarre to the average American.
These phrase, such as nationalism, can be perfectly appropriate to use in some contexts, but we should be evaluating the language we use to think about whether it is consonant with the cultural mainstream of our country.
As an example of an organization that did this well, consider the Claremont Institute's DC operation, which was called the "Center for the American Way of Life." The idea of the American way of life is one that resonates with the average man on the street.
This month's newsletter explains why American Christians, in particular evangelicals, having been reduced to a disfavored minority in the negative world, need to start acting like minority. That is, they need to focus much more on their own internal community strength and health - their private good. This is how all minority groups have always behaved.
This doesn't mean ignoring mission, the common good, etc. But you can't give somebody something you don't have yourself. I examine several case studies, including black Americans, Hispanics in Chicago, Catholic in the early to mid-20th century, and the Mormons. Additionally, I provide some starter ideas for what this new focus on community well-being might look like.
Above all, the important thing is to make the shift to a minority mindset.
I review a few perspectives on strategic decision making, including Jim Wilson's application of the "strategic point." As a bonus, we'll talk about what you can learn from the Big 10 conference signing on USC and UCLA.
Some thoughts about the reversal of Roe. vs. Wade. This includes observations on the unintended consequences of violating norms, why the moral vision of the pro-life movement has been more effective than the utilitarian arguments advanced by conservatism generally, the power and importance of a generational perspective, and why a total abortion ban may not be as popular with the American public as some believe.
Online men's gurus typically use a version of the "hero's journey" or the "rags to riches" to sell you on their products. They tell you how they hit rock bottom, then transformed themselves, then created the amazing life they have today. You too can have that life - if you follow the same script. This is a powerful narrative structure and completely legitimate to use in marketing, yet it has always left me cold. My personal life does follow something of that storyline, but it was not my efforts and plan but rather random events (or, if you prefer, God's sovereign control) that seem more dominant in determining the outcome. We are not always the hero. We have to remember that "unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." While there's nothing wrong with using a hero's journey storyline, we should be humble in recognizing but that for incredible good fortune, we would not have achieved whatever success we have.
This month's newsletter is a repost from a new Substack called Kennaquhair on the missing heroic feminine. The author explores the nature of archetypal stories and explains why the feminine heroic archetypal story has been under-developed. He also explores the nature of the heroic feminine through the character of the Biblical Miriam, and gives other examples of this archetype. The failure to have a well articulated heroic feminine has caused problems in our society, and rectifying this is an important to-do for addressing many of our cultural problems.
Subscribe to Kennaquahair's Substack: https://kennaquhair.substack.com/
Paul Vanderklay and Bethel McGrew join me to discuss my three worlds of evangelicalism framework and their perspectives on the current state of the evangelical church in the US. This interview will be streamed live in front of an audience at an event in Wheaton, Illinois.
Paul Vanderklay's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGsD...
Bethel McGrew's Substack: https://bethelmcgrew.substack.com/
Note: This episode may have audio problems in some spots.
The desire for a transcendent connection to the past and future is a primal human desire. We want to know where we came from. We want to know that we will be remembered in the future, that the experience and possessions we've accumulated will live on in and with others. Our world, which is explicitly liberationist, attempts to destroy these longings and organic connection to a lineage beyond ourselves. But it hasn't succeeded, as the rise of people doing 23 & Me or researching their family tree shows. Thus our world will continue to create dissatisfactions and anxieties in the people.
Michael Anton has a new essay talking about conservative funding of art and journalism. I discuss this, as well as reiterate my points about conservative organizations not being especially interested in primary or ethographic research either. But even with funding or institutional support, there also has to be the talent to take these projects on, and the desire to seek truth, not just confirm pre-existing biases or dogmas.
Michael Anton: The Tom Wolfe Model - https://im1776.com/2022/05/13/the-tom-wolfe-model/
My Review of "American Made" - https://americancompass.org/the-commons/coming-apart-hoosier-state/
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The idea of American exceptionalism has long blinded us to our country's legitimate faults. Having said that, activists attempt to use America's faults to morally debilitate its people in order to accomplish their own agenda. As Americans, this is our country. We can love it for that alone, without any further justification. We don't have to apologize for America and how we feel about it anymore than a Han Chinese immigrant has to feel shame over what his people are doing to the Uighurs back in China. No ethnic group or nationality should be subjected to this type of moral debilitation. We just rejected attempts to morally debilitate us. Yet we must also be willing to acknowledge America's faults where they exist, and work to correct them in the ways that we are positioned and feel called to do so. To riff off of Chesterton, we don't love America because she is great, but her greatness comes from our love of her.
Reflections on the differing perspectives of people at the cultural center and the cultural periphery. Very successful people and those in the cultural center tend to have a more positive view of society and are less likely to support fundamental or outside the Overton Window change.
The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/02/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism
Evangelicals often take a dismissive or even smug attitude towards the decline of the mainline denominations. They'd be will served instead to ask themselves some tough questions like, "Why isn't the same thing going to happen to us?"
If, as I laid out in newsletter #63, we live in a managerial society in which power resides in large institutions, how should we think about localism and localist movements? I examine this question in the latest podcast.
Newsletter #63: Understanding the Managerial Revolution - https://aaronrenn.substack.com/p/newsletter-63-understanding-the-managerial
County Before Country Conference: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/county-before-country-22-tickets-317725755287
Andrew Crapuchettes founded the job board Red Balloon to connect employees with jobs at companies that did not have a Covid vaccine mandates. It's grown rapidly and become a place for both companies and employees looking to focus on business and avoid politics in the workplace. He joins to discuss today's job market and how workers can navigate it.
Visit Red Balloon: https://www.redballoon.work/
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Many people subscribe to James Davison Hunter's view that cultural change is driven by elites and institutions in the cultural center. That's a generally true statement, but can easily mislead us into thinking that all change must originate with elites. While elite buy-in may be necessary to institutionalize change, the ideas themselves can originate on the margins. I explore this by looking at the views of Eric Hoffer, who puts forth a view almost completely opposite of Hunter, arguing that the new almost always originates with outcasts, misfits, and failures rather than highly successful elites.
Eric Hoffer's The Ordeal of Change: https://www.amazon.com/Ordeal-Change-Eric-Hoffer/dp/1933435100/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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An introduction to James Burnham's concept of the managerial revolution, or how managers and bureaucrats came to dominate society (vs. old school business owners or political leaders). We discuss industrialization's revolution in scale that created the managerial class and the transformations wrought by managerialism. We also cover managerialism's limits and weaknesses, and key lessons that an understanding of the managerial nature of our regime can teach us.
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Many things in life are a product of dualisms like chaos and order, yin and yang, hot and cold, change and preservation. Unlike with good vs. evil, these are not simple opposites, but principles that need to be integrated. The right balance is not a static one for all time, but depends upon the needs of the time. I discuss this principle using immigration as a case study. Immigration is not a matter of simply good or bad, but finding the right balance of dynamism and rootedness for the times.
Stephen B. Clark, author of the landmark book Man and Woman in Christ, joins me to talk about that work and its creation. We will also discuss the Catholic charismatic renewal movement and the Sword of the Spirit intentional communities that Clark helped create and which have informed his work.
Buy Man and Woman in Christ: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Woman-Christ-Examination-Scripture-ebook/dp/B098XQQDFW/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Sword of the Spirit Community: https://swordofthespirit.net/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://aaronrenn.substack.com/
New Census Bureau population estimates for 2021 show the lowest year of population growth on record, with 3/4ths of counties having more deaths than birth, and around a third of metro areas losing population. In this podcast I discuss how the US has entered what appears to be a "demographic winter," what the drivers are, and what it means for the country.
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A reader who lives in cities and likes living in the city wrote to ask whether it is possible to be a conservative in the city given all the rhetoric about conservatives moving away from the city, homesteading, etc. I explain why the answer is Yes, and why a rural life is not suitable for most conservatives.
This podcast is the audio edition of the March 2022 newsletter. It is about the oft-overlooked virtue of self-mastery. We cannot allow ourselves to be enslaved to appetites, tossed here and there by the waves, or manipulated into pursuing other men's missions rather than our own.
This week's short podcast looks at one of the biggest "gotchas" people try to use in response to criticism, namely that it's impossible to know the motives of the person being criticized. I discussed why it's valid (if imperfect) to infer motives from actions, but also suggest some alternatives to avoid this common comeback.
People frequently say, obviously with hyperbole, that America is becoming a Third World country. Yet if we look at one of the stereotypes of the Third World - as places with unreliable electricity - are are indeed becoming more Third World like. Our electric grid is increasingly unreliable, and larger numbers of Americans are installing backup generators to deal with it. This episode explores the matter of the third worldization through the lens of our decaying electricity system.
WSJ: America’s Power Grid Is Increasingly Unreliable - https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-power-grid-is-increasingly-unreliable-11645196772
WSJ: Wary of Being Left in the Dark, Americans Produce Their Own Power - https://www.wsj.com/articles/amid-power-outages-americans-buying-generators-solar-plus-battery-microgrids-11645207261
Texas Monthly: The Texas Electric Grid Failure Was a Warm-up - https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-electric-grid-failure-warm-up/
David and Jason Benham, entrepreneurs and investors, join to discuss their book Expert Ownership - and their own journey to business success after being cancelled by HGTV.
Buy Expert Ownership: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1736807005/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Creating community and social capital is a frequent topic of conversation in our world, one in which we sense the decline of our existing community building structures. This podcast provides practical examples that you as an individual can use to start building community where you live. It's focused around various forms of institutionalized hospitality, ranging from Sunday night dinners to porch parties to in home concerts.
My writeup on the Sunday night dinner concept: https://www.aaronrenn.com/2014/03/09/sunday-night-dinner-in-indianapolis/
This episode sponsored by Gold River Trading Co. teas: https://goldriverco.com/ (Use discount code RENN10 for 10% off your oder).
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Generation X has been something of a lost generation. Sandwiched between the much larger Baby Boomer and Millennial generations, Generation X has often been overlooked. It has also preferred standing aloof, ironically critiquing society rather than seeking to take the reins and reshape it. Today, as American struggles under aging Boomer leadership, and Millennials and Gen Z get absorbed into technology, what role should America's last analog generation play?
The Wall Street Journal's Matt Hennessey, author of the book Zero Hour for Gen X, joins me live to discuss these and other questions related to the enigma that is Generation X.
Buy Matt Hennessey's book Zero Hour for Gen X: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641770643/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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Julius Krein is the editor of American Affairs magazine, a reformist conservative policy journal, joins me to discuss why the Republican Party as currently constituted can't succeed, what's untrue in conservative dogma, and what conservatives should do next to be more successful and to genuinely help the country.
American Affairs Journal: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/
Julius Krein's essay Can Conservatism Be More Than a Grudge? https://ksr.hkspublications.org/2021/05/18/can-conservatism-be-more-than-a-grudge/
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This month's newsletter is about how America has witnessed a profound decline of the exercise of authority by those who legitimately possess it in order to promote the public welfare. The evangelical church in particular seems to have defective process of elite formation, and is implicitly hostile to Christians exercising authority, especially doing so as Christians. This needs to change both for the sake of the church and America.
Demographer and Lutheran Lyman Stone joins us to discuss Lutheranism in America. What are the distinctives of Lutheranism? How did Lutheranism get established in the United States? What are the unique features of how it is organized? Why is the profile of American Lutheranism lower than some smaller denominations like Presbyterianism?
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Since listeners expressed an interest in hearing about this, I revisit the sexual harassment and abuse accusations made against against former Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels. In contrast to those many against many others, which were heavily substantiated, very little evidence was publicly presented demonstrating that the accusations were true. This is not to say that Hybels is innocent, merely that that the case against him that's been presented is not especially strong. I also examine the case of Canadian radio personality Jian Ghomeshi, who was also credibly accused of sexual misconduct by multiple credible accusers and was event put on trial for it. Ghomeshi was exonerated when he produced evidence showing that this accusers lied.
Willow Creek Investigative Report on Bill Hybels: https://globalleadership.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IAGReport_022819.pdf
New York Times article on Bill Hybels: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/us/bill-hybels-willow-creek-pat-baranowski.html
Subscribe to my newsletter at: https://aaronrenn.substack.com
Leading cultural analyst and policy maven Joel Kotkin will join me to discuss his book The Coming of Neo-Feudalism, as well as the state of California vs. Texas and more. Kotkin will help provide a map to understand the today's geopolitical and economic realities in America.
Buy Joel Kotkin's The Coming of Neofeudalism: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641770945/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Visit my Substack at: https://aaronrenn.substack.com
Our Sponsor: Gold River Trading Co. speciality teas: https://goldriverco.com/ (Use discount code RENN10 for 10% off your order).
Many Republicans love to criticize the "Chamber of Commerce." But what is the chamber of commerce? In this podcast I answer that question, as well as describing the different types of chambers of commerce (there are many of them). I examine what they do, their basic political orientations, and why they will always oppose social conservative ideas.
Article Referenced: Indiana under Republican Rule - https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/11/indiana-under-republican-rule-pro-business-policy-disappoints-outside-the-sunbelt/
This episode sponsored by Gold River Trading Co. teas: https://goldriverco.com/ (Use discount code RENN10 for 10% off your oder).
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Conservatives haven't tended to oppose things. As William F. Buckley famously put it, to "stand athwart history yelling Stop!" But purely oppositional or defensive approached tend to get steamrolled in the long term. You can't be something with nothing. You can't be someone else's proposal, even a bad proposal, to fix a real problem with no proposal. This is seen most notably in the Republican Party's approach to health care. What is the Republican health care plan? There isn't one and never has been.
If you are someone who does not like ideas that other people are pushing, an important question to ask yourself is: what's my alternative?
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A new video from a pro-life group about "pro-choice men" exposes once again the conservative Christian world's penchant for blaming men even for the things women do. We see this clearly on display in the pro-life movement in how, while they say abortion is murder and the worst social evil in the country, they describe women who abort their babies as victims, even casting blame at men as in this video. Men are also blamed for women in combat in the military, any martial or family problems, etc.
This is a form of moral doublespeak, and was identified in part as far by as 1987 by no less than famed sociologist James Davison Hunter. It's a big reason why men should exercise extreme caution in believing and acting on anything these conservative ministers tell them on gender.
Video: Abortion Rights Are Pro-Choice Men's Rights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o950k2HffWw
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So many arguments today de facto reduce the definition of societal flourishing to some economic definition such as GDP growth, per capita GDP, or per capita income. While economic growth is important, there are other dimensions of life that matter to most people. For example: how socially intact a community is (drugs, crime, out of wedlock birth rates, etc), the political functioning of the country, and whether a particular place is expressing people's cultural preferences. We can't allow the economy to become the sole measure of a nation's success or prosperity.
A listener asked how people who don't live on homestead farms can start creating a productive household. I share some thoughts about how people who live in urban environments can do that, primarily through in-sourcing things we presently pay people to do. And also through hospitality.
Returning to the theme of passing on our patrimony, I discuss the great patriotic and folks song of America, using Columbia the Gem of the Ocean as an example. Contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Christopher Columbus in America did not originate with Italian-Americans in the early 20th century. Instead, Columbus has a very long history of association with the United States. In fact, Columbia is simply an alternative name for the United States, as in the District of Columbia. Columbia is also the name of the female symbol of the United States.
I learned patriotic songs like Columbia the Gem of the Ocean in music class in elementary school. But today you can't rely on school or organizations like the Boy Scouts to teach this part of our American patrimony to your children. Instead, you need to make sure they learn these great patriotic and folks songs that are part of our cultural treasury.
A list of American patriotic songs from Scout Songs: https://www.scoutsongs.com/categories/patriotic-songs.html
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Catholic integralism is a political philosophy that advocates for America to become a Catholic state, with no separation of church and state, and policy and law informed by Catholic teaching.
Despite having a minuscule number of supporters, Catholic integralism has received a lot of press, and gets prime booking as part of the post-liberal movement. Also, despite being an extremist ideology, Catholic integralism and its advocates are treated as totally legitimate in a way that even much more moderate advocates of political change in the US.
The best way to view Catholic integralism is as a movement that's useful to established power and sucking the oxygen out of the room for dissident. Its functional purpose is to collect and harmlessly discharge dissatisfaction with the political status quo. It is very useful to established power in the way it functions to limit the reach of other approaches that are more practical in America and more realistic to bring into being.
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What happens when you are a grandparent but never get to really be the grandparent at Christmas because your own parents are still alive? What happens to people like poor Prince Charles who sit in the waiting room for decades because generational turnover never happened? This newsletter contains reflections on how generational turnover got stuck as a result of lengthening life spans and what we can start doing about it. Also: Related observations on how people are even starting to politicize their own deaths.
Sean Clifford is the CEO of Canopy, a company that produces software for blocking pornography on phones and other devices. We'll discuss the problem of porn today, how today's porn differs from yesterday's, how Canopy works to block porn, and how we can create a broader cultural pushback against pornography.
Visit Canopy's Web Site at: https://canopy.us/
TGC: The Most Effective Technology on the Planet to Block Pornography: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-most-effective-technology-on-the-planet-to-block-pornography/
EPPC: How Social Media Harms Children and Families: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0C_wHt7LK4
Arthur Kwon Lee is the rare combo of a conservative Christian who also received acclaim and solo gallery exhibitions in the New York City art world. He joins us to discuss how, despite being the son of a Presbyterian minister, he was once an atheist; why he is a conservative for aesthetic reasons; what's wrong with art and aesthetics in modern day America (and in the church), what needs to be changed; and his own efforts in the Genesis Council to move in a better direction.
Watch this interview on Youtube to see the art at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VifM8XB09A
Web Site: https://www.arthurkwonlee.com/
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Everybody today likes to complain about the failures of elites. There's a lot to complain about. But are we willing to be elites ourselves? Are we willing to step into elite roles and change things for the better? We have to be the elite we want to see in the world if we want better leadership in today's world.
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Occupations are regularly created and destroyed in modern industrial America. But Rory Groves went back to the jobs that existed at the founding of the country to see which ones have stood the test of time for over 200 years, compiling them into his book Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time. From farmer to midwife to coachman to brewer, Rory and I talk about trades that have proven themselves durable and how they are still alive in the world today. And how many of them still support creating functional, productive households in the 21st century.
Buy Durable Trades on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1725274140/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
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Following on the heels of a hit job in Vice, the Guardian has published three articles in the past month attacking Christ Church and the Moscow, Idaho community around Doug Wilson. I examine the latest hit piece, using it to show how the media operates in these situations and the likely objectives of the Guardian's crusade, namely to sever the relationship between the Moscow people and their media partners. I also show why high quality work of the type Moscow produces freaks the left out. And give a few reasons why the latest hit piece is a very low quality trash journalism.
The Guardian: US Christian right group wages culture war with books, cartoon and nature doc - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/28/christ-church-us-christian-right-group-books-cartoon-nature-doc
Tell people you are starting a church to reach the homeless, a new immigrant ethnic group in town, a neighborhood, etc. and you'll be praised. But people would look at you sideways if you said you wanted to start a church to reach the elite.
This episode discusses the need for more Protestant elite formation, why existing elites who are still theologically orthodox continue to stay with mainline denominations like Episcopalianism, the functions of elite institutions, what conservative Protestants needs to change in their elite formation approaches, and why they should study Catholic approaches.
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As we approach the US Thanksgiving holiday, I again remind people not to give into despair, to apocalyptic thinking, etc. Things are in some ways far worse than people think in the US, but there's more room for hope than people believe. Deliberately going through all that we have to be thankful for is a good way to avoid giving into apocalyptic thinking and stay hopeful.
Also: Indiana under Republican rule and the controversies at World magazine.
My article on Indiana under Republican rule: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/11/indiana-under-republican-rule-pro-business-policy-disappoints-outside-the-sunbelt/
Michael Foster and Dominic "Bnonn" Tennant join me to discuss their web project and forthcoming book It's Good to Be a Man. We discuss:
- How they got interested in men's issues
- How they met and launched It's Good to Be a Man
- The "war of the patriarchies"
- The relationship of Fatherhood to manhood
- Gravitas
- Fraternity
- Mission
- The manosphere and pagan masculinity movement.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1954887051/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Religion is in decline in America, but there's an exception: the Mormon church. Mormonism is growing, has strong family formation dynamics, healthy communities, good aesthetics, and strong finances.
One factor in Mormon outperformance is the way Mormons choose elites. Rather than relying on a self-selected professional leadership pool, Mormons screen for, identify, develop, and promote people who have demonstrated leadership competence and skin in the game. They also rely largely on unpaid lay leader instead of a paid, professional clergy.
A result of this has been a church whose leaderships ranks are staffed with highly talented and accomplished people. Mitt Romney, for example, served as the equivalent of a parish priest for several years while also running Bain Capital, something unthinkable in the Christian church.
While Christianity has its own theological and ecclesiastical reasons for the way it chooses elites, there are some lessons that could be learned by analysis of the Mormon case study.
In the November newsletter I discuss the loyalty and its discontents. Historically, disloyalty or treachery was considered the vilest of crimes. Fidelity in relationships at one point even constituted the organizing structure of Western society. But as we've shifted to a consent based culture, loyalty is now too frequently non-existent. Christians will even explicitly disparage loyalty as a form of ungodliness. This bizarre state of affairs must be rectified at some level as part of any restoration of healthy functioning to society or the church. For the individual Christian man, finding a band of brothers, perhaps a very small one to start, in which one is joined in common purpose and common loyalty is critical.
John Moody is Kentucky a homesteader with an M.Div. who founded an organic food buying club in Louisville. He joins the show to talk about equipping your family for the 21st century world through creating a fertile and productive household by acquiring skills, growing food, etc.
Using the recent celebrations of Reformation Day and All Saints Day, I discuss why the church (especially the Protestant evangelical church) needs to be more attuned to its history and cultural patrimony. This includes things like the great English language hymns, but also simply a greater awareness of the incredible legacy of faithfulness and sacrifice that previous generations made to bring us into being and enable us to be Christians today.
Links:
American Reformer: Evangelicalism's Second-Class Status in Conservatism - https://americanreformer.org/evangelicalisms-second-class-status-in-conservatism/
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9uGNb8Zfic
For All the Saints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPjCQ_SRGqM
The Lion King: "You Don't Even Know Who You Are" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmWKvvXzlyg
There's been a recent flurry of articles and podcasts discussing the failure of evangelical elites, whether they have in fact failed, wondering who these so-called elites are, disclaiming that people are elites, etc.
This week I look at the question of who the evangelical elite are, and whether or not they are doing a good job. I start by reprising the elite theory of E. Digby Baltzell, and also the views of others elite theorists like James Burnham, Robert Michels, C. Wright Mills, and Robert Dahl.
From this I create a definition of what an elite is and how elite power functions and apply it to America as a whole. Then I apply it to evangelicalism to show how the elites of various evangelical subdomains can be identified.
Looking specifically at the group often labeled Big Eva, I name names in terms of who is doing poorly, who is doing well, and who is struggling to adapt to the times.
I also examine and apply a different definition of the elite adapted from Kevin DeYoung, and discuss institutional constraints elites operate under, as well as virtues and perils of being inside vs. outside of institutions.
American Reformer: The Evangelical Embarrassment Reflex - https://americanreformer.org/the-embarrassment-reflex-evangelicals-and-culture/
The American Conservative: Church, State, and the Future of American Evangelicalism - https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/church-state-and-the-future-of-evangelicalism/
Mark Galli on Evangelical Elites: https://markgalli.substack.com/p/the-galli-report-100821
Carl Trueman: The Failure of Evangelical Elites - https://www.firstthings.com/article/2021/11/the-failure-of-evangelical-elites
Life Books and Everything Podcast on Evangelical Elites (segments starts at 29:00) - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/life-and-books-and-everything-evangelical-elites/
Mere Fidelity on Evangelical Elites - https://soundcloud.com/mere-fidelity/evangelical-elites
American Affairs: E. Digby Baltzell's Sociology of Elites - https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/02/rediscovering-e-digby-baltzells-sociology-of-elites/
There's a low grade moral panic about the state of Generation Z, fueled by bizarre Tik Tok videos, stories of teen girls suffering depression from not getting enough likes on Instagram, etc. But moral panics over the degeneracy of the youth are recurring features of our society. The hippies, the goths, etc. surely inspired similar reactions.
This is not to say that all is well with Generation Z. They have had too much unfiltered, unrestricted access to social media technology, but if the past is a guide, there will be something of a correction going forward as parents and societies try to foster a healthier relationship between kids and technology. Just as many of the hippies ended as yuppies, many of these Generation Z kids will surely end up much different in mature adulthood than they are today.
Women initiate the vast majority of divorces. It used to be that women felt the need to give a justification for divorcing their husbands. For example, they might say that he was emotionally abusive or neglectful. But today they increasingly no longer feel compelled to do that. Recent articles in the New York Times from Lara Bazelon and Vogue about the British singer Adele feature women proudly stating that they divorced husbands who did nothing wrong for purely selfish reasons. These powerful culture shaping organs are broadcasting to women that openly divorcing for selfish reasons is acceptable. They no longer need have a reason to dump their husbands.
Lara Bazelon: Divorce Can Be an Act of Radical Self-Love: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/opinion/divorce-children.html
Vogue: Adele on the Other Side: https://www.vogue.com/article/adele-cover-november-2021
Amazon Alexa Superbowl Ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxNxqveseyI
There are many aspects of life that are unfair. Often these take the form of hidden rules about how the world really works that can be in conflict with the nominal rules about how it is supposed to work.
As men, we need to be aware of these rules and they ways that some of them can put us as a disadvantage. This is not so that we can cower in fear, but rather so that we can be smartly and strategically courageous.
In my previous podcast series on American conservatism, I observed that they have a pattern of jumping into the breach to try to defend their opponents from the consequences of those opponents' own ideology. For example, they defended the school administrators against the student radicals of the 60s when the administrators themselves were liberals implacable hostile to conservatism. In fact, some of those university leaders had previously trashed William F. Buckley over God and Man at Yale.
We see this pattern persist into the present, most recently on display last week when New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would eliminate gifted and talented programs in the city's public schools. Conservatives were outraged. I discuss this reaction and what it reveals about conservative patterns of behavior.
Once More Into the Breach Podcast: https://themasculinist.buzzsprout.com/1330924/8060365-once-more-into-the-breach
The upper class and the intellectuals have always particularly loathed the middle class. The novels of Sinclair Lewis or the essays of H. L. Mencken exhibit this mindset. Conservatives, whose social base and principal character is middle class, have pushed back against this, celebrating middle class values. It's worth considering, however, whether there is something to the critique of the middle class. Middle class values too often revolve around small pleasures and respectability that fatally compromise their ability to politically or culturally engage with the world.
My article on Grand Rapids: https://www.city-journal.org/html/manufacturing-comeback-15833.html
American conservatives rarely read or engage with leftist thought outside of the mass media. This is a weakness because if they did do so, they'd find that serious thinkers on the left are often very smart and have important insights about our world. This includes people often stigmatized as bogeymen (by people who have never read them) like the postmodernists or the Frankfurt School.
This podcast talks briefly about a couple of insights from Herbert Marcuse's book One Dimensional Man. Although an extremely difficult read, this 1950s work makes many observations about Western society that remain as relevant as ever and must be confronted by anyone seeking to change the system.
This week's podcast is the audio of a presentation I gave at a conference on Christian localism called County Before Country. It discusses my positive/neutral/negative world framework for understanding the church's current situation. It then covers a strategy for achieving owned spaces as a possible response to this. The material is largely derived from Masc #13 and Masc #43, but in an accessible, presentation style format.
A video of this presentation can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0knvBZ5FlgI
Masc #13: The Lost World of American Evangelicalism: https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-13-the-lost-world-of-american-evangelicalism/
Masc #43: The Importance of Owned Space: https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-43-the-importance-of-owned-space/
Social capital is the relationships, identities, etc. we can draw on in building a life. This issue discusses social capital and provided a diagnostic you can use to assess the amounts of social capital you can draw on across the dimensions of family, friendships, location, and church.
If you made a list of what a right wing fantasy utopia would look like for someone with localist leanings, you'll discover that the only people who have successfully produced those environments are on the left. In this podcast I examine the cultural contradictions of conservative values, showing how in practice the values of conservatives themselves have produced some - not all, but some - of the dysfunction in which they live.
Americans are relocating, for economic, political, religious, or lifestyle reasons. But what should we think about when we think about moving? This podcast examines a number of factors to consider: whether you having a historic connection to or family in a place, economic prospects, costs and whether you can really afford to live there, whether you actually like it (not just think you'll like it), and whether you can find a church you like there.
Mars Hill Church collapsed suddenly. The American backed Afghan regime collapsed almost instantly as America withdrew. The Berlin Wall fell unexpectedly in 1989 and the Soviet Union collapsed at a time when few expected it.
Sudden collapse of organizations and countries does happen. Could it happen to the United States? In this episode I examine both sides of the question and how to think about the dynamics of collapse.
Dietrich Dörner: The Logic of Failure - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201479486/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Lionel Shriver: The Mandibles - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006232828X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
This week I weigh in with some initial thoughts on the Christianity Today podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Although there are some legitimate critiques of the way CT has positioned the materials, complementarians need to accept that Mark Driscoll legitimately does reflect poorly on the movement as a whole.
Freddie deBoer: Who Tells Them Things They Don't Want to Hear? - https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/who-tells-them-what-they-dont-want
Masc #7: Accountability for Failure - https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-7-accountability-for-failure/
This month concluded a three part series on the Dissident Right, the mostly online world of right wing politics that has attracted millions of followers. It describes the Dissident Right's views on race. At least some people in the Dissident Right argue for a genetic basis of race differences. In addition to discussing their views, it covers the state of science on genetics (with a skeptical take on genetic explanations for human outcomes), four societal forces pushing people in a Dissident Right direction, and how the church should respond to the challenges of race relations.
What are people saying about you when you aren't in the room? Everybody has a rap sheet. The only question is whether we know what's on ours. Unless we know what people really think of us, we have no opportunity to improve on our weaknesses.
In this podcast I share some of the personal, painful feedback I received. I also discuss ways you can look for good feedback for yourself. And philosophies about how to deal with our weaknesses.
In 2013 Bill Hybels foretold a looming succession crisis for churches. He ended up being more right than he knew. He observed that there had been an explosion of mega-churches, many still led by a founding pastor approaching retirement age.
His prophecy has very much come true. Not only did his own succession not go well, we've seen several succession plans unravel recently. John Piper's successor at Bethlehem Baptist recently resigned. There are pastoral searches underway for two of the three major locations at the spin off churches of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City. And the challenges facing David Platt and McLean Bible Church likely also have some roots in succession.
There are three major models of succession: the internal successor, the external peer successor, and the unofficial interim. In this podcast I discuss these models, as well as other considerations of succession. Given high profile succession challenges we've seen at churches run by world class leaders, this is an area requiring significant attention.
A recent controversy over the election of elders at McLean Bible Church shows that power politics rule in the religious world as much as the secular one. It's an illustration of what people in power are willing to do to win.
Christianity Today: Platt’s McLean Bible Church Hit With Attempted Takeover, Lawsuit from Opposition: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/july/david-platt-mclean-bible-church-elder-race-politics-critics.html
The media glamorizes people making the choice to defer marriage and children in order to focus on other priorities like career. While this is a free country and people absolutely have the right to live their lives how they want, the longer term consequences of this for many is not as well advertised. The proliferation of older singles in the pews is in part a downstream consequence of these decisions. The church should not simply become an underwriter of other people's choices to live life on their own terms. While the church absolutely be adjusting to the new realities of more singles in congregations, it should also make sure the role of individual choice in how people ended up where they are is fully acknowledged. And people should be challenged to make different choices going forward.
I also look back at a famous sermon on abuse by Jason Meyer, the successor to superstar evangelical John Piper as senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Blog post on Jason Meyer's sermon: https://themasculinist.com/bethlehem-baptist-churchs-jason-meyer-thinks-kathy-keller-is-a-severe-physical-abuser/
Text and video f Jason Meyer's sermon: https://bethlehem.church/sermon/fooled-by-false-leadership/
NYT article on deferring marriage: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/us/declining-birthrate-motherhood.html
Are the top people in the evangelical world really elite? Are they elite evangelicals or evangelical elites? In reality, they are a sort of sub-elite, more adjacent to than part of the genuine American elite. This episode looks at how to think about and talk about the top people within evangelicalism. It also examines the roots of progressive energy in red states in the "progressive yokel."
This is the second installment in a series looking at the Dissident Right. This series is covering five major commonalities of Dissident Right groups, with this issue covering red pill sexuality and transgressive affect.
Red pill sexuality is a model of intersexual dynamics based on evolutionary psychology, and a library of techniques for picking up or interacting with women known as "Game." Transgressive affect refers to the use of provocative or offensive images or rhetoric as a shock tactic.
The email version of this issue, which has the images of sample memes and links to further resources, is available at: https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-54-taking-the-red-pill/
It's been 70 years since Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of spying for the Soviets and sentenced to death. The left continues to discuss this case and argue that the Rosenbergs (or at least Ethel) were victims of injustice. We can learn patterns of left-wing behavior from observing this case, including that they are relentless and never give up, that they are loyal, and that they use ever shifting rhetoric that often "disguises their power levels." I discuss these patterns and then apply them to show how we might expect the sexuality debates in the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) to play out over time (in part).
Links to articles about the Rosenberg case.
London Review of Books: How Utterly Depraved - https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v43/n13/deborah-friedell/how-utterly-depraved
NYT: The Rosenbergs, 50 Years Later; Yes, They Were Guilty. But of What Exactly? - https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/weekinreview/nation-rosenbergs-50-years-later-yes-they-were-guilty-but-what-exactly.html
The Guardian: The Rosenbergs were executed for spying in 1953. Can their sons reveal the truth? - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/19/rosenbergs-executed-for-spying-1953-can-sons-reveal-truth
NPR Boston: Why Ethel Rosenberg Should Not Be Exonerated - https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2017/01/05/julius-rosenberg-soviet-spying-mark-kramer
Wikipedia: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_and_Ethel_Rosenberg
Conservatives and Christians are very enamored of classical education. Studying the classics, the American founding, etc. are important things to do. But there are other important areas that people living in today's world. These items, including intersexual dynamics, the impact of industrialization, the revolution in scale, and the implications of mass media are often understudied. This leaves conservatives with key blind spots.
This episode also includes further thoughts on playing for keeps and whether or not pastors should use packaged sermons, research assistants, or other help.
Darren Beattie once noted that "there is a profound psychological gulf between playing for scraps and playing for keeps." This podcast is a short discussion of how people on the left play for keeps while too often conservatives seem to be playing for scraps.
People on the internet throw the term "red pilled" around a lot. It obviously derives from the film the Matrix. But how should we think about the term and what it means? I discuss in using the examples of the statistics I've highlighted about how women initiate around 70% of divorces, doomsday cults, the Matrix, and Plato's Republic. To be red pilled involves some sort of painful disconnecting from beliefs that have shaped our reality or identity. This is difficult to do, which is why we need to think as much about how we deliver information as what information we are delivering.
Why do young men today turn to online men's gurus instead of to the church for identity, meaning, belonging, and guidance in the current age? This issue looks at the "Dissident Right," a large grouping of people and movements that accounts for a good chunk of these online gurus.
I discuss what the Dissident Right is, how it differs from a different group the New Right, what groups of people constitute it, and what some of its major characteristics are. This issue in particular discussed the atheist metaphysics and Nietzschean ethics shared by many of these figures.
Books and other items referenced in this issue.
George Hawley: Making Sense of the Alt-Right - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231185138/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Jordan Peterson: 12 Rules for Life - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141988517/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Mike Cernovich: Gorilla Mindset - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1514672111/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Mike Cernovich: Hoaxed Documentary - https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/hoaxed/id1498889845
Paul Gottfried: Multiculturalism and the Politics of Guilt - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826215203/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Vox Day: SJWs Always Lie - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9527065682/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
In this final podcast installment looking at the fall of the old WASP establishment, we'll compare sociologist E. Digby Baltzell's conservative defense of organic social hierarchy with today's movement conservative that rejects social distinctions.
This episode looks at the implications of the fall of the WASP establishment by looking at the life and career of J. Irwin Miller, a WASP industrialist whose commitment to and investment in his town of Columbus, Indiana helped make it the Rust Belt city that never rusted. The town never went into decline and remains a top architectural destination in the United States due to Miller's leadership.
Miller was also an important national figure. The first lay leader of the National Council of Churches, an advocate for the Civil Rights Act, a leader in divestment from South Africa over Apartheid, and board member of AT&T, Yale, the Ford Foundation, and the Museum of Modern Art.
Recognizing his caliber of leadership, Esquire magazine featured Miller on its cover with the caption, "This man ought to be the next president of the United States."
Miller's life illustrates a tradition of leadership and community service that's largely disappeared in the wake of the collapse of the establishment.
The Atlantic (written by me): The Rust Belt Didn't Have to Happen - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/the-rust-belt-didnt-have-to-happen/603523/
Esquire: Is it too late for a man of honesty, high purpose, and intelligence to be elected President of the United States in 1968? - https://classic.esquire.com/article/1967/10/1/is-it-too-late-for-a-man-of-honesty-high-purpose-and-intelligence-to-be-elected-president-of-the-uni
Nancy Kriplen: J. Irwin Miller: The Shaping of an American Town - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0253043816/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Conservatives today bemoan the fact that men no longer behave as gentlemen. Yet their exhortations on the topic are without effect.
E. Digby Baltzell's writings on the American upper class shed light on this decline of the gentleman. He notes that an upper class establishment, as American had until the 1960s, made the social, moral, and behavioral codes of the upper class normative, or at least aspirational for society at large. The end of the establishment meant that those standards also went out the window.
It's also the case that the gentleman's code as we understand it was a product of the Anglo-American upper class and especially the Victorian era. It was not universal. This period had organic social hierarchy, patriarchal families, and significant restrictions on female behavior, all of which those who argue men should behave like the gentlemen of that era reject.
The largely Boomer social conservatives bleating about being a gentleman should be ignored. Instead, we as men should start thinking about the social norms that we want to have in our groups in the 21st century.
Rediscovering E. Digby Baltzell's Sociology of Elites: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/02/rediscovering-e-digby-baltzells-sociology-of-elites/
Trad Cons Are the Enemy of the American Man: https://themasculinist.com/tradcons-are-the-enemy-of-the-american-man/
The End of the Gentleman: https://themasculinist.com/the-end-of-the-gentleman/
This episode in my series on the historic Protestant Establishment in the United States looks at the role the collapse of that establishment played in many of the dysfunctions of our age. These include the erosion of political norms, the decline of the gentleman, the fading away of the ethos of "fair play," the rise of charismatic politicians like Trump, and the decline of trust in institutions.
Rediscovering E. Digby Baltzell's Sociology of Elites: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/02/rediscovering-e-digby-baltzells-sociology-of-elites/
This episode discusses the evolution of the American upper class from a local and familial to a national and associational community. It describes the nationalization and industrialization of the US in the post-Civil War era. And it explains the challenges faced by the old WASP establishment leading up to its demise in the 1960s: managerialism, ethno-religious exclusion, and the failure to take up leadership positions in society.
Rediscovering E. Digby Baltzell's Sociology of Elites: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/02/rediscovering-e-digby-baltzells-sociology-of-elites/
Henry Kissinger quipped, "No one will ever win the battle of the sexes. There's too much fraternizing with the enemy." This encapsulates the broader truth about the relationship between the sexes. We are in this boat together. When men struggle, it affects men's relational prospects. But that's also true the other way around. We should want to see women flourish. So in working to build up men, we should not look to tear down women.
Also, in this issue I provide an extended excerpt from my major retrospective on the old White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) establishment, and the implications of its collapse. As a product of Catholic peasant stock on both sides of my family, this was an interesting one to research. It is also a critical topic to understand the dynamics of our contemporary world.
Social class has fallen off the radar in America, but remains key to understanding many of the problems we face today in society. This includes everything from the erosion of political norms to men no longer behaving as gentlemen.
These problems are traceable in part to the fall of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) establishment. Sociologist E. Digby Baltzell, who popularized the term WASP, predicted many of these problems years ago. In a new podcast series starting today, we will examine his work and what it tells us about America.
In this episode we will define and distinguish between the elite, the wealthy and the upper class. We well also talk about what it means to be a well-functioning (aristocratic) vs. poorly-functioning (caste) upper class. And we'll define authority and establishment, looking at what makes for a well-structured (establishment) and poorly-structured (caste) elite. Finally, we'll talk about the very specific meaning that the term WASP itself has.
These categories are fundamental to understanding what has happened to America since the decline of the establishment. In future episodes we'll trace some of the consequences of this.
Rediscovering E. Digby Baltzell's Sociology of Elites: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2021/02/rediscovering-e-digby-baltzells-sociology-of-elites/
The Rise of the “Establishment,” and Its Impact Today: https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-rise-of-the-establishment-and-its-impact-today-with-aaron-m-renn/
The decline of Mainline Protestantism, that is the historically prominent American Protestant denominations, had profound consequences for America and American Christianity. Mainline Protestantism was how Christianity was integrated with and represented in society as a whole. With the decline of the mainline denominations, America ceased to be a Protestant, and ultimately Christian nation.
This podcasts describes what Mainline Protestantism is, the origins of the term "mainline", the nature of their decline, their role in the sacred order of society, what may have led to their decline, and the consequences for the church and society.
David A. Hollinger, "After Cloven Tongues of Fire: Ecumenical Protestantism and the Modern American Encounter with Diversity": https://academic.oup.com/jah/article-abstract/98/1/21/873365
Everybody likes to beat up on fundamentalists. I grew up in a rural, fundamentalist, pentecostal church. And while I am not a fundamentalist today and think they get a lot of things wrong, they also have some virtues we should appreciate. In this episode is discuss the power of a simple, naive faith, and the willingness to embrace and teach unpopular doctrines.
Rational, logical argument is often a recipe for losing debates today. Rather, winning battled depends heavily on emotional appeals and above all seizing the cultural high ground. James Davison Hunter showed the importance of networks and institutions at the cultural center in determining society outcomes.
The New Calvinism movement is an example of an instantiation of Hunter's idea, with celebrity preachers and other key figures creating networks and institutions to achieve power over their subdomain of Evangelicalism. The debates over the Statement on Social Justice show the futility of logical argumentation in the face of superior cultural power.
Those engaged in debates and disputes within the church and society must understand the full spectrum of considerations around power and persuasion, not just make logical arguments.
The Gospel Coalition is the flagship organization of the New Calvinism movement. They hold their major conference every two years in Indianapolis. Since I'm now back in Indy and they were meeting in person here despite Covid-19, I decided to attend and check it out.
This podcast was recorded in the middle of the conference to share a few observations about it, and the New Calvinism movement generally. The conference showcases two of the great strengths of the movement: its intellectual orientation (serious people talking seriously about serious things) and their excellence in public speaking.
For further reference:
Noah Smith on experts who lie: https://noahpinion.substack.com/p/yes-experts-will-lie-to-you-sometimes
My interview with sociologist Brad Vermurlen on New Calvinism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNA0ic1asbw
In their book Metaphors We Live By, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson noted how our language, and very way of perceiving the world, is saturated with metaphor. We use the metaphor "Love is war," for example, when describing someone as a relational "conquest."
Metaphors, analogies, etc. are a helpful and essential way of making sense of the world. But the metaphors we live by can, as with "love is war," import ways of thinking about issues that may not be entirely healthy.
In this podcast we examine metaphors used for understanding race relations in America, and how we might be able to positively reframe our challenges using a different metaphor for thinking about them.
Buy Metaphors We Live By: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226468011/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
In our 24x7 media and social media saturated world, it's very easy for us to spend too much time engaging in the controversies of the day and not focusing on what's important to our own long term agenda. It's said that the media can't tell you what to think, but they can tell you what to think about. Merely focusing on something elevates its importance in our mind. We need to be careful where we are putting our focus so that we don't end up letting the media subtly rewire our agenda without us even noticing it.
Our relationships in life can often be characterized as organic or inorganic, as naturally occurring or as artificial, consciously chosen or constructed. Organic relationship tends to represent strong ties, inorganic relationship weak ties. Inorganic relationships are very powerful, but often can't be relied on when we need them. Organic relationships are the foundational base of social capital.
More on community: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Sociology/Book%3A_Sociology_(Boundless)/17%3A_Population_and_Urbanization/17.04%3A_Urban_Life/17.4G%3A_Community
Studies from the JEC Social Capital Project: https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/socialcapitalproject
Alan Ehrenhalt's The Lost City: The Forgotten Virtues of Community in America: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465041930/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
People tend to look at the compositions of bodies like legislatures or boards of directors based on attributes like party affiliation or race and gender. But there are other characteristics like professional background, geographic origin, and educational experience that are often even more revealing of how people think about the world. This can give important insights into organizational dynamics.
This is the audio edition of Masculinist newsletter #50, all about online dating. It reviews the facts revealed through various studies of online dating markets. (This issue is very chart intensive, so it is worth looking at online even though I describe the contents of the charts in this audiocast.
I also discuss how online dating represents the "globalization" of the dating market, with similar impacts to economic globalization in producing high levels of inequality. And I note how the way these sites are skewed towards looks, and the dynamics of responses to women can make online dating an unfavorable environment to men who are not in the top 10-20% of men in terms of looks.
Online dating is a tool and there's no shame in using it. The point is that to make intelligent choices around online dating, we need to be aware of the dynamics of how it actually functions.
Read the newsletter online at: https://themasculinist.com/the-truth-about-online-dating/
Our perception of time and relation to it radically shifts over the course of our lives. Our perception of the flow of time accelerates as we age, for example.
It's not until around age 35 that we get the ability to intellectually and emotionally relate to the future story arc of our lives. That's when we start being able to realize that not only have we changed in the past, we will continue to change in the future. This has profound consequences for our lives, including helping to drive the onset of the midlife crisis.
Also, our perception of events is heavily dependent on whether or not they are within our living memory. Any event within our living memory seems like it happened just yesterday, while any that happened before that seems like the distant past.
Conservatives have long rushed to the defense of institutions and people who are threatened, even when those people and institutions were hostile to Christianity. This was true even when conservatives were a minority movement despised by all the major organs of society. They defended the university administrators during the campus unrest of the 1960s, for example, at a time when the universities were very hostile to conservatism.
Christians also behave this way. It's rooted in an identification with the mainstream of society and its institutions. But Christianity today is socially marginalized and seen as a threat to the social order and the new public morality. In that environment, American Christians need to reconcile themselves to being a minority, and start acting like it. That means letting nature take it course with many of the problems of our society. Christians need to be willing to suffer for their beliefs. Now they have to be willing to let other people suffer for theirs.
Geoffrey Kabaservice, The Guardians - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LRXCF66/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
In this episode I wrap up my series on conservatism, summarizing the previous installments and encouraging conservative Evangelicals to rethink their deal with the Republican Party. Evangelicals have been the largest and most loyal voting block of the Republican Party, but have not received a return commensurate with what they've brought to the table.
While the Democratic Party may not be a viable alternative, conservative Evangelicals need to force the Republican Party to reformulate itself to better align with Evangelical priorities. And to insist on having a genuine seat at the table in defining the conservative agenda.
NBER Paper" Does Private Equity Investment in Healthcare Benefit Patients? - https://www.nber.org/papers/w28474
Brian Alexander, Glass House - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250165776/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Continuing with my series on conservatism, I note again that far from standing firm on timeless principles, conservatives have in fact changed their mind on many of the most basic elements of society. This includes civil rights and the nature of gender and the family.
If they themselves say that they were wrong about such fundamental things, why would anyone believe they are right about anything else? Certainly, we should be open to rethinking many other conservative dogmas, including free trade.
Economists have long argued that free trade is close to a free lunch, an unambiguous win-win in which any negative disruptions it causes will be modest and short lived. In this podcast I look at those arguments, going back in time to the era in which NAFTA and the Uruguay Round of global trade talks were taking place, and China was preparing for entry into the global trading framework.
The economic predictions of the free traders were wrong and the critics completely vindicated. The future course of events was accurately predicted by critics of dogmatic free trade, something it look nearly two decades for the economists to admit was true.
Global Squeeze: The Coming Crisis for First World Nations (1998): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809229749/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
The China Shock: https://www.nber.org/papers/w21906
Vox interview with an author of the China Shock study: https://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/3/29/15035498/autor-trump-china-trade-election
This is the premier installment of the audio edition of the Masculinist newsletter. Each month, a special episode with an audio version of the newsletter will be included along with regular podcast originals.
The Masculinist #49, Defending Institutional Integrity, is about managing for institutional credibility in an age of declining trust in institutions. This includes managing for trustworthiness, competence, and missional integrity. And doing so for the long haul.
Also included in information on homeschooling for college credit, and how to use the FIRE model (financial independence, retire early) to facilitate mission. And a quote from Karl Ove Knausgaard.
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Are conservative pundits just shills for donors? We'll look a bit at the role of money in the conservative intellectual world. While money plays an important role in boundary setting, the cynical view that conservative intellectuals are just shills for donors is not true.
This podcast will give multiple examples of where money did matter, where there are potential conflicts of interests, and questions to ask about organizational structures to help understand where people who work there are coming from.
NYT: Foreign Powers Buy Influence at Think Tanks: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/us/politics/foreign-powers-buy-influence-at-think-tanks.html
For some critics of conservatism, the neoconservatives are a sort of bogeyman to which they often attribute conservatisms' flaws and failings. This portrait is often unfair, despite neoconservatism emerging as the dominant strain with conservatism.
This episode provides a basic overview of neoconservatism's origin and debunks certain myths about them. It explains that domestic policy, not foreign policy was its original main concern, for example. And how neoconservative foreign policy today is largely a bipartisan, mainstream consensus view in many cases.
The neoconservatives had a number of consequential wins, such as their intellectual underpinning of Mayor Giuliani's turnaround of New York City. However, there are fair critiques that can be leveled at them, including their disproportionate secularism and a weak sense of America as a historic nation that underpinned failures in Iraq and elsewhere.
The Masculinist Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMasculinist/
Arguing the World documentary: https://www.kanopy.com/product/arguing-world
The Neoconservative Persuasion by Irving Kristol: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465022235/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Who financed the rise of conservatism? A large amount of funding came from independent oil producers who were keen to avoid government regulation of their industry. They were at war with the major oil companies that descended from the Rockefeller Standard Oil monopoly, and were rightly concerned that the government might de facto cartelize oil again at their expense.
Christianity, both liberal and fundamentalist, was also heavily funded by oil money. The overlaps between the economic interest of the different camps of the oil industry with theology and politics raises profound, and frankly troubling questions that we should ponder more deeply today.
Bryan Burrough, The Big Rich: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143116827/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?tag=theurban-20
Darren Dochuk, Anointed With Oil: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465060862/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?tag=theurban-20
On HL Hunt supporting Barry Goldwater in 1964: https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/01/archives/goldwater-gets-h-l-huntbacking-but-texas-rightist-wont-criticize.html
The Kennedys and Sen. Joseph McCarthy: https://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/progjfk2.htm
The American conservative movement was founded by people who were largely socially outside the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) establishment of America at the time. William F. Buckely's book God and Man and Yale and the reaction to it cannot be understood without looking at this social dimension. He was an Irish Catholic criticizing the citadel of the Protestant Establishment that had graciously allowed him in the door. At the same time, the conservative movement was also unrepresentative of its current voting base of Evangelicals.
The Christian side of conservative intellectualism has always been heavily Catholic dominated, from William F. Buckley at its founding to people like Ross Douthat today. The large number of people within conservative intellectual circles that are Catholic converts (both historically and today) attests to the normative status of Catholicism within the conservative movement.
Evangelicals, while constituting perhaps the largest and most loyal voting block within conservatism, have never played a material role in its leadership, particularly at the intellectual level. When Evangelical leaders or voters have asserted themselves (as in the person of Pat Robertson in the 1980s or by supporting Trump today), the incumbent conservative establishment has frequently been appalled.
Conservatism's social origins and continued existence on the social margins helps explain its lack of cultural success in the country. And the social difference between the Catholic dominated intellectual leadership class and the Protestant dominated voting base with different preferences is a key fault line that enabled Trump's victory. The fact that the conservative elite are a leadership group without a natural constituency in the country is a big challenge for them in a post-Trump world. For Evangelicals, their lack of input at the leadership level of conservative intellectualism is a key reason they need to rewrite their relationship with the conservative movement and Republican Party.
Links:
First Things on Samuel Francis: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/10/the-outsider
Michael Lind's "resignation letter" from conservatism: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/pdfs/lind.pdf
How the WASPs betrayed the country to communism: https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/18/weekinreview/witching-hour-rethinking-mccarthyism-if-not-mccarthy.html
Many if not most conservatives in the United States have very little idea where the conservative movement originated and how it developed. This episode provides an extremely condensed summary of the founding of conservatism in the wake of World War II, as well as a bit about its history since then. Key points include:
· American conservatism is a modern political movement with postwar origins. It does not extend back to the founding, Edmund Burke, etc.
· Contrary to its stated commitment to timeless principles, the beliefs of conservatism have continuously and even radically changed over time.
· Conservatism was originally a tiny movement of people on the margins who achieved successes that were probably inconceivable to their founders.
· Conservatism was originally separate from the Republican Party, then one faction within, and now today has become indistinguishable from it. The Republican Party is monolithically conservative today.
· Social conservatives, as we understand the term today, were not originally part of the conservative movement and joined it much later in the 1970s and 80s.
Further reading for those interested in the history of conservatism:
George Nash, The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 (considered the canonical history of the movement up through the mid-1970s)
George Hawley, Right Wing Critics of American Conservatism (written by a University of Alabama professor)
Paul Gottfried, Conservatism in America (the "loser's history" from a paleoconservative, written on an academic press).
Evangelical Protestants and socially conservative Catholics have been among the most loyal voting blocks for the Republican Party. The electoral base of the Republican Party is increasingly non-college educated, middle to working class whites. Yet it does very little for either of these constituencies in terms of delivering on their policy preferences.
Instead, the Republican Party, its donor class, and its movement conservative intellectuals largely have their own set of preferences. These are not necessarily bad or nefarious preferences, but they are out of sync with the preferences of the voting base of the Republican Party. They utilize that voting base to achieve political power but predominantly for the purpose of implementing their own agenda. Quite frequently, they actually betray their voters. A few even seem to hate the actual people who vote for their party.
This episode kicks off a series examining conservatism and the Republican Party, its history, and dynamics that few Christians actually understand.
Bill Kristol on Immigrants Being Better than Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zks6WK1Hsok
Ross Douthat on conservative manipulation of populism: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/opinion/campaign-stops/what-the-rights-intellectuals-did-wrong.html
NYT on racial slurs and the University of Tennessee: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/26/us/mimi-groves-jimmy-galligan-racial-slurs.html
Horrific Indianapolis rental housing: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2019/06/27/ex-fox-friends-host-clayton-morris-partner-bert-whalen-got-rich-tenants-lived-horrible/1351737001/
Findings from nursing home investigation: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2020/12/31/indiana-nursing-homes-takeaways-indystars-investigation/6545944002/
Too many Christians today evince an attitude of hopelessness and despair. Such attitudes can drain your morale and make it likely that you will preemptively surrender or sell out your posterity without a fight. It's very important that the Christian avoid hopelessness and not give in to the counsels of despair. While we should be realistic in our diagnostics, we should also understand that expected help or even victory can come from quarters we never expected.
The Last Christian Generation: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/final-christian-generation-jeremiah/
Westminster Larger Catechism Q129: https://www.opc.org/lc.html
The Testosterone-Cortisol Ratio (Masc #29): https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-29-the-testosterone-cortisol-ratio/
Tweet regarding Nick Kristof and porn: https://twitter.com/aaron_renn/status/1337191256431144965
The superiority of the tit for tat strategy: https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/soco/projects/1998-99/game-theory/axelrod.html
Liberal groups have always treated non-incumbent conservative positions as illegitimate. Thus they do not substantively engage with them, debate or engage with their practitioners, provide platforms or space in their publications, etc.
Conservatives, by contrast, frequently give respectful hearings to liberal views, engage in substantive debates, etc. They fail to appreciate that even engaging with heterodox views in order to refute them bestows a kind of legitimacy on them. If those ideas ever achieve supremacy, however, conservatives will soon find that their own long held views will be deemed illegitimate. All debate and engagement will be ended.
We should be very thoughtful about how we engage with opponents and situations in order to avoid accidentally legitimizing the illegitimate.
John Piper, "Prayers Cause Things": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krzwmhDMvv8
Rod Dreher on Dialogue: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/the-orthodox-left-wails-schmemann-lecture-orthodoxy-rod-dreher/
On Sam Nunberg's drunk TV interviews: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/former-trump-adviser-says-screw-mueller-subpoena-in-intense
If you are debating substance, you've already lost: https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-45-flattery-will-get-you-everywhere/
The most consequential conservative Protestant victory of the last 100 years was likely the battle to expel liberal theology from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
Concordia Seminary was the center of modernist theology in the LCMS, and its faculty ignored numerous denominational resolutions against their position. When a newly elected conservative leadership in the denomination suspended Concordia Seminary's president, 90% of the faculty and most of the students walked out. The LCMS let them go and rebuilt the seminary from nearly nothing. The liberals created their own institution, the Concordia Seminary in Exile, or Seminex, which failed after only about a decade. Also, 200 liberal congregations left the LCMS and created a new, liberal denomination that ultimately merged with today's Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
In this battle, the opposite of every similar episode to date, the conservatives won and the liberals departed, leaving the LCMS the conservative denomination we know today. This battle was a key inspiration for the similar conservative resurgence effort in the SBC.
Rather than studying institutional losers like Gresham Machen, today's conservative Christians would be better served to study examples like Seminex where conservatives actually won.
The Concordia-Seminex Affair: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminex
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Conservatives have long tended to underestimate the value of institutions, and to get out maneuvered by liberals in institutional battles. As a result, it's usually conservatives who exit from institutions in order to form new ones. But because nothing has changed with them, their new institutions frequently undergo a reprise of the same problems that plagued the original ones they left.
The proposed United Methodist Church split is a good example of conservative thinking on institutions. Although the conservatives won the previous rounds of denominational votes, it is they are who are heading for the exists and leaving all the denominational infrastructure in the hands of the liberals.
Their split protocol is also a terrible deal for conservatives. It establishes the liberal position by default, and sets possible supermajority thresholds at every level to get out. This suggests many fundamentally conservative congregations will end up trapped in a now officially liberal denomination with no way out.
On conservatives and institutions: https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-42-why-you-should-be-on-the-advance-not-the-retreat/
United Methodist Split Protocol: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/diverse-leaders-group-offers-separation-plan
Indianapolis Plan for Separation: https://indyplanumc.org/
This week's episode is a look at how major coastal elite cities have created an economic model that depends on the exploitation of a largely immigrant labor class who serve the wants and needs of the upper middle class in these cities.
Urban dwellers heavily rely on minority or immigrant nannies, nail technicians, maids, Uber drivers, food delivery workers, laundry people, etc. Rarely are these people paid a living wage. Many of them are not even employees, with zero benefits, and who are illegally paid cash under the table. And unlike with the Ellis Island generation of immigrants, many, perhaps even a majority, of their children and grandchildren will not experience upward economic mobility. The growth of this model with an upscale class at one end and an exploited labor class at the other has fueled political discontent, with rising left-wing populist politics and the election of people like NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio who explicitly campaigned on a theme of "two New Yorks," one rich, one poor.
Members of upscale churches in these cities often depend on and profit from this system of labor exploitation. And their pastors talking about justice do not often speak against this system.
No one is more associated with the rise of the urban church than Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. Increasingly, however, Keller has been a source of controversy and target of criticism online. What accounts for this? Is Tim Keller selling out?
Tim Keller's actions today need to be seen in the context of his entire ministry. Keller has proven himself over many decades by serving faithfully in a small town church for seven years early in his career, not publishing any books until his 50s, being willing to start Redeemer at a time when every rational person would have said he was crazy, and demonstrating high levels of competence in what he's doing. He's also shown generosity to those less famous than himself.
The root of Keller's problems today stem from a change in the times. The link below talks about the three eras of Christianity in modern America, the positive, neutral, and negative world. His ministry was perfectly tailored to the neutral world, but after the transition to the negative world he's become increasingly ineffective as he keeps pushing his neutral world formulas into a negative world context.
Keller will hopefully survive his fight with cancer. Assuming he does, he has many years of fruitful work ahead of him as a minister. But should he continue pushing neutral world themes as a public intellectual in today's world, there's a risk he could damage his reputation. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and former Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar provide cautionary examples of what could go wrong. Hopefully Keller manages to avoid their missteps.
The positive, neutral, and negative world: https://themasculinist.com/the-masculinist-13-the-lost-world-of-american-evangelicalism/
Catholic neoreactionary writer The Social Pathologist drew on the work of G.K. Chesterton to note how and de facto form of Buddhism had grown in the Christian church, more as a result of a loss of balance or a particular temperament or feeling than outright theological error.
This manifests itself concretely in many parts of both the Catholic and Protestant Churches today, including the urban church. We see it in how any desire that causes people to become upset can be defined as a form of idolatry. This is true especially for the supposed "idolatry of the family." A large number of people, especially women, in churches who deeply desired to be married and have children did not. Their grief over this is not evidence of idolatry but of legitimate loss. Similar things are true of teachings about dealing with things such as career failures or not getting into someone's desired college.
In essence, to be very hurt or upset by desires unfulfilled is treated as evidence that we've put our hope in something other than Christ. The answer is thus to purge ourselves or desire or to moderate them to low levels so that this does not happen. Thus the path of righteousness is similar to the Buddhist emptying oneself of desire
The Social Pathologist on Christian Buddhism
Part One: https://socialpathology.blogspot.com/2019/06/christian-buddhism.html
Part Two: https://socialpathology.blogspot.com/2019/07/christian-buddhism-ii.html
Part Three: https://socialpathology.blogspot.com/2019/07/christian-buddhism-iii.html
Part Four: https://socialpathology.blogspot.com/2019/07/christian-buddhism-iv.html
The Litany of Humility: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/christianity-rachel-held-evans-the-power-of-being-wronged/
In this concluding episode of the series "Urban World, Urban Church" we look at several odd things about the urban church.
The first is how nationalism is increasingly disparaged in Christian circles today, while urban church people want us to strongly identify with our city. How many sermons or articles have warned about making an idol out of the city vs. making one of your nation? They seem to be encouraging us to transfer our allegiance from our country to our city.
The second is how the urban church world is very focused on starting new churches, while rarely trying to renew old ones. This is very odd in light of how they often explicitly transform an entire city. Can you transform a city of you can't transform a church? The Catholic Church is an exception in this regard, having successfully transformed many parishes as neighborhood demographics changed.
The third is how tribal these urban church groups seem to be. At the elite levels, they seem to have virtually nothing to do with each other (e.g., Redeemer NYC and Hillsong NYC) and avoid even commenting on each other. They argue against nationalism by saying that our identity as fellow Christians should trump other loyalties, yet they seem to not even be in active fellowship with the church down the street.
Donald Trump shined a light that exposed a fundamental rift inside Evangelical Christianity which was previously hidden to most people. This shows the value of events that divide people in unexpected ways; they allow us to gain unexpected insights.
In identifying himself with the anti-Trump Evangelicals, Christianity Today CEO Tim Dalrymple acknowledges that the urban church elites, although they have achieved high socio-economic status, have failed to achieve cultural influence.
Contra Dalrymple, these churches have frequently explicitly sought to obtain cultural influence, which is revealed in their transformationalist vision statements around bringing "cultural renewal," "wholeness," etc to cities. While they've achieved a lot in other areas, they have not made much progress here. Instead, they have primarily acquired power and influence over the rest of Evangelicalism, which they are using to remake it in their own image.
Tim Dalrymple: Why Evangelicals Disagree on the President: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/november-web-only/trump-election-politics-church-kingdom.html
Tim Dalrymple Tweet: https://twitter.com/TimDalrymple_/status/1323025271226847234 (archived at: https://archive.is/FEBR1 )
The Testosterone-Cortisol Ratio: http://www.aaronrenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The-Masculinist-29-The-Testosterone-Cortisol-Ratio.pdf
Contrary to the popular belief that elite global cities are extremely secular, they are often much more religion-friendly than commonly advertised. New York City in particular is very friendly to religion and may be what journalist Tony Carnes has labeled "the first post-secular city." In particular, there large Christian populations in immigrant and ethnic communities that can go completely unnoticed by many. There may be as many as 1.2-1.6 million Evangelical Christians in NYC, mostly in these under the radar groups.
The religious heritage and environment of each city is distinct, so blanket conclusions can't be drawn about their friendliness to Christianity. But it's a mistake to assume that these places must be highly secularized.
A Journey Through NYC Religions: http://nycreligion.info/
An Evangelical Revival in the Heart of New York: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/10/nyregion/central-park-festival-to-highlight-new-yorks-vibrant-evangelical-movement.html
Christian Cultural Center: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/style/reverend-ar-bernard-new-york-megachurch.html
One characteristic of large coastal, elite cities, and their international brethren, is high population churn in their gentrified precincts. People are constantly moving out, with new arrivals coming in behind them.
This high turnover has several implications for the churches there. One is that they have to be constantly attracting new members in order to avoid shrinking. Another is that it's very difficult for them to sustain community.
In general, it's more difficult for people to make an sustain long term, deep friendships and personal connections in those cities than it is in most places. They are good places to move for certain kinds of people: the young, people originally from there or from a nearby town, wealthy people, and people with personality types that allow them to live mostly autonomously.
The people in these cities are shallowly rooted, as we saw during the pandemic when large numbers of their most affluent residents abandoned them. This calls into question how real the notion of "in the city for the city" really is.
Escape from New York: https://arpitrage.substack.com/p/escape-from-new-york
Joan Didion's essay "Goodbye to All That" can be found in her book Slouching Toward Bethlehem.
Because elite cities have such a big role in creating and shaping culture, it's easy for Christians in them to fall into a theology of pride. They can end up believing not only that they are doing more important work than Christians but that they are better in many ways too.
We'll examine this by looking at how James Davison Hunter's book To Change the World flatters the urban church world, how the urban church uses "third way" rhetoric to implicitly position themselves as better people than flyover country Christians, how the church church validates rather than challenges the way people in big cities are living their lives, and how seldom the church ever speaks prophetically about the sins of elite city industries like finance or entertainment.
Works referenced:
Kathy Keller on lessons learned from 30 years of ministry in New York: https://medium.com/redeemer-city-to-city/lessons-learned-from-30-years-in-ministry-e580d4afb846
James Davison Hunter, To Change the World: https://www.amazon.com/Change-World-Tragedy-Possibility-Christianity-ebook/dp/B003TWNDVY/
Preachers 'N Sneakers: https://www.instagram.com/preachersnsneakers/
American cities looked like they were headed for the scrap heap in the 1970s and 80s, but some of them, particularly the elite cities of the American coasts (and their peers in other countries) came roaring back. Thanks to globalization, deregulation, and other factors, places like New York and San Francisco now control the commanding heights of the economy. They also control the culture because they are the places where the elite institutions and networks that create culture are concentrated.
The church must be present in these cities lest it abandon the economic and cultural centers of the nation. What's more, the cultural pressures facing the church come first and most intensely in these places, so it is there that the church's response to them can be developed.
The importance of these elite cities means that the church their can fall prey to pride, something that will be explored in the next episode.
Books Referenced:
Saskia Sassen - The Global City
James Davison Hunter - To Change the World
This episode begins a series called "Urban World, Urban Church" looking at the trends in global urbanization and the church's response to them. This first installment looks at the great shift underway from a planet that was almost entirely rural a century ago to one that will be overwhelming urban at the end of this century. As cities and megacities growth, this will require a complete shift in the way that the church approaches evangelization and missions.
The very first episode in the Masculinst Podcast, welcoming and explaining how we will be providing deep cultural diagnostics for how to live in the "negative world." That is today's world in which Christianity is increasing seen as a social negative and which will lower your status in secular elite culture if you practice it. How can we make sense of the times? How can we create ministry strategies appropriate to the times? The Masculinist podcast is the place where we together will go on a journey to answer those questions.
For more on the "positive", "neutral", and "negative" worlds, read:
https://www.aaronrenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Masculinist-13-The-Lost-World-of-American-Evangelicalism.pdf