The FreeWay Populist: Recent Episodes
JW Shears
The FreeWay is dedicated to pursuing American unity through values and policies that bring its people together. While extremes, left and right, get attention from mass and social media, neither represents how most Americans think or what they want. What do Americans desire? They want a country that keeps them safe, provides a fair way to make a living, offers hope for their children, and reflects values they hold. There’s no question the country is divided, but not nearly as much as pundits believe. A growing popular majority is ready to assert its values in practical ways—for the sake of national oneness. The FreeWay is our shared journey toward freedom and unity! You are invited to join us. Listen to our regular podcasts for insights on the populist life, and you’ll quickly find you too are helping heal a nation. Visit www.freewaypopulist.com to learn more.
Every nation has its enemies. Some are foreign, while some are internal. The United States has both, but never before has the internal held so much power. In this episode we talk about the enemy who is against the people and how the people can regain control.
Good health is a treasure and we should want more of it. That’s been my pursuit the past year, which has led to a much better me. I want to share my journey with you, hopefully inspiring some to act. A prosperous nation needs a healthy population in order to grow and function.
Making change is tough, especially if it’s one we really need to make. But, we know change is part of getting and staying healthy, part of a full life. In a people-centered society we need to embrace times of change when it’s for our good. In this episode, we talk about how to begin a change journey and see it through.
We learned a lot during the pandemic. We especially learned we live in a globalist society, which is ruled by elites who want to rule us. This episode explains how globalism was unmasked and what we must do to prevent its resurgence.
Free speech is the most important of all our rights. Without it, there is no democracy. Free speech has been under attack from cancel culture the past decade, which is a threat to everyone. Good news: the tide is turning! In this episode, we focus on recent events freeing speech from those who would rob us of it.
Matters of sexual practice and orientation have dominated the public forum lately. Much of the dialogue has been contentious and divisive. That means we need to talk about it, especially if our goal is unity. This episode begins a healthy conversation about the public approach to sex.
There is a crisis at the border that’s been going on since the inception of the Biden administration. With talk of a new migrant caravan moving toward the border, the crisis only deepens. In this episode, we discuss the problem with illegal border crossings and how to address the issue in a helpful way for America.
There is no doubt the US is in an inflation crisis, reaching to once-in-a-generation status. The damage inflation does to the people is hard to overstate, particularly the poor. In this episode, we take a look at the damage being done and corrective steps needed to relieve the situation.
There is no other word to describe the Biden presidency than disaster, a disaster that seems to be continuing. In this episode we examine what’s wrong and who is hurt most by the damage being done. And how this may help America in the long run...
Is the US education system working? Does it serve the people well? That’s a question much debated in recent decades. What isn’t debatable is that America’s leadership in education has waned over the past several generations. That needs to change. This episode is the beginning of that dialogue.
Cancel culture is an insidious threat to democracy and has done much to weaken dialogue in America. However, things are beginning to change. In this episode, we’ll examine two recent instances and how these point to the coming end of cancel culture.
The world seems to be falling apart around us, which is a cause for concern. Of course, if you understand what’s behind the turmoil, the concern is much less worrisome. In this episode we examine what's driving the upheaval around us and why it’s a good thing.
The world is full of bad advice. Prosperous people and nations refuse bad advice and listen to wisdom. This episode focuses on the worst advice so often given to people and how to replace it with better counsel.
No one likes to talk about death, even though it’s all around us. Too many westerners live lives without any thought of dying—or any conversation about it. The lack of conversation leads to unhealthy perspectives and bad policy. It’s time to change that—time to talk about death openly.
As race relations continue to dominate certain quarters of American life, we should contemplate the impact black Americans have had on this nation. Additionally, we should consider how the past can shape our future—for the better.
With President Biden’s vax mandate having been found unconstitutional, it’s time to consider the importance of this decision by the Supreme Court. The issue of executive action intersects what it means to be a free nation of populists.
Democrats are in trouble. It’s not just because there’s a shift away from the ruling party, but because a larger split is taking place. The party is losing touch with Americans and risks being out of power for a long time if it doesn’t make changes. This current event episode focuses on the problem and solution for the Democratic party.
There’s nothing more insidious and harmful to a people-centric nation than Cancel Culture, which seeks to stifle free and open speech. For a nation to rebuild, it must protect the public square and the equitable exchange of ideas. This episode focuses on how to cancel Cancel Culture—for good.
Happy New Year! Are you making a resolution this year? If so, will you keep it? We hope the best for all and love to see the impact resolutions have. In this current event episode, we’ll talking about how to make a good New Year resolution.
As we conclude our first year, we wish you a wonderful Christmas season! It’s been a troubling two years and a bit of joy and hope is needed for all. In this short episode, we highlight the importance of the Christmas season for our nation and our future. Merry Christmas All!
As we move through the holiday season our minds are fixed on so much! Family, friends, shopping, travel... It’s hard to take a critical look at the things we do and ask if this is how it should be. In this episode, we take a look at the effect of consumerism and how it affects our liberty. And if there’s a freer way.
Corporations play a critical role in the American economy. Their structure and legal standing allow for aggregation of capital and steady expansion. However, there is plenty of room for critique concerning the relationship of the corporation to the nation. This episode explores how the relationship might be shaped differently to protect the country and its people.
It is good to give thanks to those who’ve made us what we are. In fact, we’re not truly populists unless we recognize how important people are, past and present. This episode is a gentle reminder to consider how much we owe others.
Everyone wants to be happy. It’s so important the Founding Fathers mentioned it as a fundamental right. What did they mean by it and how can it be achieved? We examine happiness in this episode and how it fits into a populist nation.
Is a Red Wave overtaking America? Is it good for America if one is? In this episode, we take a look at the November 2021 election implications for upcoming election cycles. We also examine what makes up a true Red Wave, a wave that actually helps.
Every nation needs good relations with the international community. Good relations are managed through the diplomatic mission, which expresses the intentions and goals of their nation. The United States has struggled to maintain an effective diplomatic mission the past two generations. This episode examines how to restore good relations with the world.
The Left has dominated much of the political and popular discussion in the US the past ten years. For most on the Right, their positions are impossible to understand. This episode explains why the Left is so different from the Right and why the two can’t be reconciled.
If we know no joy, we will never be free. For many people in western culture today, they haven't found the joy they’re looking for. The frustrating search poses a risk to the populist society we’re seeking. This episode focuses on the search for joy and where one might look.
Columbus Day is not much of a holiday when compared to others, but it does mark how world history changed. As with all changes, there was good and bad that came with it. What do we make of Columbus’ legacy, or more importantly, the entire advance of Europeans across the globe? This episode outlines an approach for populists who understand the past and present still intersect.
Sports are an integral part of American life. We love sports! Nothing gets our attention like the big game. For all that, the arena has turned in recent years—and for the worse. It’s become an extension of the divisions we see in politics and society. That’s not good for us as we rebuild American unity. In this episode, we focus on the good use of sports and how they’ve helped us in the past and can do so again in the future.
We’ve talked a lot about freedom, it’s importance in a populist society. Yet, we haven’t called out the underlying principle that makes freedom work. In this episode we focus on the essential foundation of true freedom, vital to our nation’s future.
It is good to reflect on the past, especially events that define the nation. We remember 9/11 because it changed our view of the world and how we interact with it. In this episode, we take time to remember that fateful day and how its impact can lead us to greater unity.
The problem with common sense is that it’s not that common—that's the way the saying goes. In some ways that’s true, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good ideas out there. For populism to succeed, we need lots of people with common sense. This episode is a collection of suggestions and ideas that might bring a bit more of that to us.
Another holiday weekend! We don’t spend much time talking about the value of American workers, but we should. Our workforce is our greatest resource. This episode focuses on the importance of building worker equity, a vital component of a populist society.
Usually, the arts are considered for the sake of what is produced or displayed, for the effect on the world. Certainly, music and painting can inspire wonder, causing us to pause and revel for a moment. The arts, however, can do so much more than that, serving not just individuals, but whole peoples. This episode looks at the role of the arts in American life and how this points to a bright future.
The unfolding events in Afghanistan have been fast-paced and dramatic. In the fury, there has finger-pointing and justification from all sides. The immediate drama aside, there are important lessons to be drawn from Kabul’s fall. This episode highlights learnings every populist needs to take to heart.
Whenever a politician resigns due to personal indiscretion, the effects extend beyond the immediately involved. There are implications for other leaders and officials, the jurisdiction, and the people. In this episode we discuss the short-term and lingering impact of Andrew Cuomo’s resignation and how populists can hold leaders accountable in the future.
Everyone knows there is a separation of church and state, each existing and operating independently. But anyone who’s taken time to study the relationship knows it’s not that simple. In many cases they serve the same people, which means there is a relationship to define. This episode focuses on that relationship and how it can be improved, so everyone benefits from the work of both.
In this current event review, we’ll take a look at the effect of wokeness on the US Olympic team and how that influences the populist future.
There is no harder or more important job than parenting. The future of our nation—indeed, every nation—depends on effective parenting. As we parent, we need all the help and advice we can get. This episode addresses why parenting is so important and thoughts about how to do it better.
The social safety net is a staple of modern western society. Its merits have been debated since the first welfare programs made their debut. Of course, populists must address the issue of having and maintaining a social safety net. This episode highlights the good and bad of such programs as well as how to use them to help the entire nation.
All societies must have order to function—even more so for democracies. The way leaders and people view their laws says a lot about how they view their future. No democracy can survive if it allows its public order to be dismantled by those who work outside the people. This episode focuses on the importance of law and order and how Americans maintain both today.
What does it mean to put America first? Does it mean Americans are better than other people? No, nothing like that. America First is an approach to policymaking, which focuses on one goal in plotting a path forward: how do we make life better for the greatest number of American people? This episode highlights the importance of this “true north” for elected leaders and officials.
Tyranny comes in many forms, but every instance is the opportunist taking advantage of the vulnerable. This is true of individual people and nation-states. It is the duty of all free people to fight the advance of tyranny no matter its form. In this episode, we discover what tyranny needs to thrive and how to curb its approach.
The relationship between citizen and government is complex. Sometimes it’s healthy, sometimes the opposite. Our country’s history is an ongoing debate in how the two should or could relate, the debate being at one of its hottest points today. In this episode, we address ways the relationship between the people and their leaders might improve substantially.
What is the value of a person living in the United States? From a policy perspective we need to understand the worth of citizens so we can provide opportunities for each to achieve their full potential. The value we assign people will determine what kind of investments we’re willing to make in them. In this episode we’ll delve into the question of human value.
No one likes paying taxes, but they are a necessary part of a free and secure state. Taxes support the government and institutions which safeguard the country we love. Yet, that doesn’t mean we do taxes well, that we have a system we trust. In this episode we’ll explore the process of taxation and how we might adopt a better system, one that’s easier to use and understand.
Memorial Day weekend is an important weekend for Americans, comprised of remembrance and lots of fun. In recent decades the fun has eclipsed remembrance to the point we hardly know what the holiday means. In this episode we’ll take a look at the importance of this solemn observance and how it might bring us close together as a nation.
For sixty years the American flag has been praised and derided, respected and mocked. It evokes strong emotions from friends and enemies alike. In recent years it’s become the subject of intense debate. How should the flag be treated? Should one kneel in protest? This episode addresses the flag’s meaning and how best to use it in the task of rebuilding American unity.
Financial freedom is as important to liberty and populism as any right granted in the Constitution. As a nation, and as individuals, Americans need to manage their financial resources more efficiently—particularly in terms of reducing debt and thinking about the future. This episode explores ideas, which can help both government and households protect their wealth.
The Second Amendment guarantees protection for an American’s right to bear arms. It’s a hotly debated issue in light of mass shootings. Guns will not disappear, which means we need to settle their place in society and how best to use them. This episode plots a course to improve safety and security for all people.
The news media is vital for our existence as a democratic society. It must be free and truthful at all times. The past twenty years have shown a measurable decline in the freedom and quality of media as profit pressure has mounted. It’s time to reform how the media works.
Americans struggle to eat well and it shows in our waistlines. An unhealthy society will never reach its full potential, especially when it comes to liberty. It’s time to break the food addiction and find the path to a healthy and freer life.
The fight over abortion has consumed Americans for fifty years, leading to stark divisions. There is a path through the tortuous debate that preserves individual rights, while affirming the value of every life. It’s time to approach abortion from a populist perspective.
The first and greatest of constitutional rights is freedom of speech. Every right Americans enjoy today and will have tomorrow rests on this foundation. Explore why and how this right can be protected during this difficult period in American history.
In this episode host JW Shears introduces The FreeWay, a new podcast dedicated to populist values and policies, aimed at rebuilding American unity.