Episodios

  • Freedom Over Fascism: Dr. Stephanie Wilson on Naming the Threat

    Freedom Over Fascism: Dr. Stephanie Wilson on Naming the Threat
    Feb 3 2026

    How do societies decide which stories to tell about themselves and which truths to soften or ignore?

    In this episode, historian, communications strategist, and Freedom Over Fascism host Dr. Stephanie Wilson joins Corey Nathan to discuss collective memory, historical narrative, and the language shaping American civic life right now.

    Drawing on her academic work on Jerusalem, her experience in political communications, and her current focus on democracy and messaging, Stephanie explores how myths take hold, why people instinctively place themselves on the “right side” of history, and what happens when cruelty and dehumanization become normalized tools of power. Along the way, the conversation wrestles with Israel and Palestine, fascism and language, media failure, activism, and what it actually takes to engage across deep disagreement without abandoning moral clarity.

    Calls to Action

    ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization.

    ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com

    ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics

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    ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

    Key Takeaways

    • Collective memory often says more about who is telling the story than about the past itself • People naturally imagine themselves as heroes or resisters rather than beneficiaries or bystanders • Museums, monuments, and national myths are political acts, whether acknowledged or not • Fascism is better understood through concrete behaviors than abstract labels • Language shapes what people are willing to see, justify, or ignore • Values based framing opens more space for dialogue than policy arguments alone • Curiosity and empathy are necessary skills for sustaining democracy, even when lines must be drawn • Engagement across difference does not require moral surrender or tolerance of cruelty

    About the Guest

    Dr. Stephanie Wilson is a historian, activist, and communications expert. She is the creator and host of Freedom Over Fascism, where she examines democracy, messaging, media ecosystems, and civic engagement through conversations with journalists, scholars, and organizers. Her academic work focuses on historical memory, museums, and narrative power, with particular attention to Jerusalem and contested histories.

    Links and Resources

    • Freedom Over Fascism on Substack: www.freedomoverfascism.us • Freedom Over Fascism on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@FreedomOverFascismPod

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    Proud members of The Democracy Group

    Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room.
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    1 h y 10 m
  • Where Do We Place Ourselves in Our Stories?

    Where Do We Place Ourselves in Our Stories?
    Jan 30 2026

    Where do we actually place ourselves in the stories we tell about courage, faith, and power?

    In this solo episode, Corey reflects on how individuals and communities locate themselves within history, scripture, and national memory. The temptation, especially among those shaped by religious or moral traditions, is to imagine oneself as prophetic rather than complicit, as a resister rather than an enabler. History, however, is rarely judged by intention or self identification. It is judged by outcomes, by who benefited, who was harmed, and who paid the price.

    Drawing on personal encounters, Christian history, and contemporary political examples, the episode examines how moral cosplay replaces moral courage, how grievance masquerades as righteousness, and how constitutional principles become conditional when filtered through tribal identity. The reflection closes with a sober question. Not who we admire in the story, but who we actually resemble when power, fear, and consequence converge.

    Calls to Action:

    ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization.

    ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com

    ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics

    ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform.

    ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

    Key Takeaways:

    • History judges alignment, not intention • Moral identity is often shaped by selective memory • Grievance can become a substitute for courage • Constitutional rights lose meaning when applied selectively • Every generation inherits responsibility, not just stories

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    History does not ask who we admired. It asks who we resembled.
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    15 m
  • Enduring Disorder and the High Stakes Gamble of Modern Politics with Jason Pack

    Enduring Disorder and the High Stakes Gamble of Modern Politics with Jason Pack
    Jan 27 2026

    What does it mean to live in an age where disorder is no longer a temporary crisis but a permanent condition?

    Corey is joined by Jason Pack, a geopolitical analyst and founder of Libya Analysis, to discuss global instability, institutional decay, and what Jason calls the Enduring Disorder. Drawing on experiences spanning post-9/11 Middle East policy, Libya’s fragile political landscape, and years of work with NATO affiliated institutions, Jason argues that the world has moved beyond the post Cold War order into something far more volatile and fragmented.

    The conversation weaves together geopolitics, psychology, religion, and even gambling theory. Jason explains how games like backgammon and poker illuminate leadership, risk, empathy, and decision making under uncertainty, offering metaphors for diplomacy and democratic governance alike. From Russia’s strategy of chaos to the erosion of institutional trust at home, the episode explores how disorder benefits those seeking power without responsibility and what it will take to rebuild shared standards of truth, accountability, and civic trust.

    Calls to Action

    ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization.

    ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com

    ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics

    ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform.

    ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

    Key Takeaways

    • The world has entered an era of enduring disorder rather than cyclical instability • Many modern power players seek chaos rather than a coherent alternative order • Geopolitics requires empathy, psychological insight, and strategic risk taking • Institutional decay mirrors the “enshittification” seen in digital platforms • Democratic renewal depends on honesty, expertise, and resisting simplistic solutions

    About the Guest

    Jason Pack is a geopolitical analyst, writer, and consultant focused on global disorder, conflict, and institutional resilience. He is the founder of Libya Analysis, host of the Disorder podcast, and the creator of the Enduring Disorder framework. Jason has served as an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and as Senior Analyst for Emerging Challenges at the NATO Defense College Foundation in Rome. His work spans Libya, the Middle East, Russia, Ukraine, and the future of democratic governance.

    www.jasonpack.org

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    Proud members of The Democracy Group

    Can democracy survive in a world where disorder is rewarded and institutions are no longer trusted to tell the truth?
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    1 h y 15 m
  • A Ballgame. A Ritual. And What We Carry Forward.

    A Ballgame. A Ritual. And What We Carry Forward.
    Jan 23 2026

    Why a ballgame can become a ritual and how shared attention carries meaning across generations.

    In this solo episode, Corey reflects on a conversation with his oldest child that began with skepticism about sports and opened into something deeper.

    Calls to Action:

    ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization.

    ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com

    ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics

    ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform.

    ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

    From the civility of organized competition to the ways human beings channel conflict, from watching games with his brother to feeling the presence of his grandfather and uncle long after they are gone, this is a meditation on why sports can matter without needing to justify themselves.

    Being a fan of the New York Mets becomes a case study in disciplined hope, inherited memory, and the quiet work of staying present with one another. Not because anyone is convinced. But because something is shared.

    This episode also offers a window into why Corey co-hosts East Meets West Sports with Rick Garcia and why sports, at their best, are not an escape from the world but another way of understanding it.

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    Proud members of The Democracy Group

    This is Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other as lived practice. Staying in the room. Sharing attention. Letting ritual carry some of the weight when words are not enough.
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    12 m
  • Matt Lewis on Too Dumb to Fail, Ten Years Later

    Matt Lewis on Too Dumb to Fail, Ten Years Later
    Jan 20 2026

    What happens when political labels lose their meaning and institutions begin to forfeit public trust?

    Corey is joined by Matt Lewis to reflect on how American politics arrived at its current moment and why many of the warnings raised a decade ago now feel unavoidable. The conversation coincides with the ten year anniversary of Matt’s book Too Dumb to Fail, which examined the rise of populism, intellectual decay, and the erosion of conservative principles long before Trump reshaped the political landscape.

    Corey and Matt discuss how conservatism has been reduced less to a philosophy than a posture, why grievance has replaced governing vision, and how former ideological opponents increasingly find themselves aligned around the defense of democratic norms. They explore the shift from the early blogosphere to today’s media environment, where platforms like Substack and YouTube have reopened space for longer form thinking and sustained dialogue.

    The episode also examines institutional credibility in an age of selective outrage. From Christianity to law enforcement, Matt argues that Trump’s politics do not merely divide but actively corrode public trust, reshaping how Americans interpret power, legitimacy, and state authority. The conversation closes with reflections on elections, incentives, and the unglamorous discipline required to write and think clearly in public.

    Calls to Action:

    ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization.

    ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com

    ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics

    ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform.

    ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

    About the Guest:

    Matt Lewis is a columnist, author, and political commentator. He is the author of Too Dumb to Fail and Filthy Rich Politicians, co host of The DMZ with Bill Scher, and host of Matt Lewis Can’t Lose. He writes regularly on Substack at mattklewis.substack.com and contributes opinion pieces to The Hill.

    Matt writes regular at mattklewis.substack.com and for The Hill. You can also find his podcast on all the major apps as well as on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@mattlewis.

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    Proud members of The Democracy Group

    What remains when political identity becomes tribal? Can democracy survive without shared standards of truth, restraint, and responsibility?
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    1 h y 22 m
  • East Meets West Sports: NFL Playoffs, College Football, and Leadership with Fred Kalil

    East Meets West Sports: NFL Playoffs, College Football, and Leadership with Fred Kalil
    Jan 16 2026
    Today’s episode is a little different. From time to time on Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other, it feels right to widen the lens and explore the cultural spaces where identity, community, leadership, and rivalry show up in everyday life. Sports is one of those spaces. In this crossover episode, Corey shares a conversation from his new weekly show, East Meets West Sports, co-hosted with longtime broadcast journalist Rick Garcia. The discussion blends NFL playoff analysis, college football insight, and cultural reflection, featuring veteran sportscaster and former Indiana Hoosier Fred Kalil. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out and subscribe to East Meets West Sports on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. From NFL playoff pressure and coaching dominoes to Indiana’s unlikely championship run, Rick Garcia and Corey Nathan are joined by longtime sportscaster and former Hoosier Fred Kalil for sharp analysis, great stories, and old-school perspective. The fellas break down a wild opening round of the NFL playoffs, preview the divisional matchups, and sort through the ever-spinning coaching carousel before turning to college football’s biggest stage. With Kalil’s firsthand insight as a former Indiana football player, they explore locker-room culture, leadership, and what makes this Hoosiers run so improbable—and so compelling. They close by popping the culture, asking what it says about wealth, status, and excess when luxury car brands start building skyscrapers designed for people and their cars. Episode Highlights NFL Wild Card Weekend — What We Learned Bears stun the Packers with another late comeback 49ers survive the Eagles despite mounting injuries Rams edge Carolina in a tight matchup-driven battle Patriots expose Chargers’ roster flaws Bills escape Jacksonville—and raise bigger questions Divisional Round Picks 49ers vs. Seahawks — turnover battle decides it Rams vs. Bears — weather, Stafford, and discipline Bills vs. Broncos — elite defense vs. playoff nerves Texans vs. Patriots — defense wins the day Coaching Carousel Chaos Why quarterbacks dictate coaching success—fair or not John Harbaugh as the league’s top domino Why the Giants may be the most attractive opening Evaluating Kubiak, LaFleur, and other rising candidates College Football Championship Preview Indiana vs. Miami: toughness, depth, and discipline Why Indiana’s rushing attack may decide it Extended playoffs and the toll on programs Special Guest: Fred Kalil Former Indiana walk-on on the Hoosiers’ title run Old-school coaching vs. modern player culture Walk-ons, locker-room hierarchy, and earning reps SEC dominance, NIL money, and recruiting myths Bobby Knight stories, broadcast war stories, and sharp elbows Pop That Culture Luxury car brands building residential skyscrapers Parking your supercar in your living room—progress or excess? Big Picture Takeaways Playoff football still rewards defense and discipline Coaches rise and fall with their quarterbacks Culture matters—from locker rooms to ownership suites College football’s success may be breaking its own structure Some traditions (and personalities) never go out of style Find Us On Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow Rick Garcia: @RickGarciaNews on X (Twitter) Follow Corey Nathan: @coreysnathan on Substack, Threads, Instagram, X & more Thanks to Our Sponsors: Pew Research Center: pewresearch.org The Village Square: villagesquare.us Meza Wealth Management: mezawealth.com Proud members of The Democracy Group Talking across differences doesn’t require agreement. It requires courage, curiosity, and the willingness to stay human.
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    49 m
  • H.W. Brands: America First — Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh and the Fight for America’s Role in the World

    H.W. Brands: America First — Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh and the Fight for America’s Role in the World
    Jan 13 2026
    What happens when a nation debates whether it has a moral obligation to intervene in the suffering of others — and who gets to decide? Corey is joined by Pulitzer Prize–finalist historian and bestselling author H.W. Brands, Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, to explore the moral, political, and human tensions behind one of the most consequential debates in American history. The conversation centers on Professor Brands’ latest book, America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War, which examines the clash between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh as the United States wrestled with whether to enter World War II — and what role America should play in the world. Professor Brands unpacks how personal biography shapes public history, introducing his framework of “big history” and “little history” — the intersection between sweeping geopolitical forces and the intimate human decisions that quietly steer them. From Lindbergh’s unlikely rise as a celebrity political figure to Roosevelt’s strategic ambiguity and political maneuvering, the discussion reveals how persuasion, fear, power, and moral reasoning collide in moments of national consequence. Corey and Dr. Brands explore the ethical tension at the heart of American leadership: When does power create responsibility? Is it moral for leaders to deceive in pursuit of what they believe is the greater good? How should a nation weigh human suffering abroad against the risks borne by its own citizens? The conversation also examines Lindbergh’s controversial views on race, antisemitism, and isolationism — resisting caricature while reckoning honestly with their implications. Along the way, Brands reflects on his craft as a historian — how he uses diaries, speeches, correspondence, and press transcripts to reconstruct interior lives while remaining faithful to documented sources — and why narrative storytelling remains essential to understanding political power and human choice. The episode closes by turning forward: What questions should we be asking now that future historians will use to understand our moment? How should Americans grapple with a changing global balance of power, rising geopolitical instability, and the enduring tension between national interest and moral responsibility? Calls to Action: ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization. ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion About the Guest: H.W. Brands holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin and is the author of numerous acclaimed histories and biographies, including Founding Partisans, The First American, Traitor to His Class, and America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War. Two of his biographies were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. Brands writes regularly on Substack at hwbrands.substack.com, where he publishes A User’s Guide to History. His forthcoming biography of George Washington, American Patriarch, will be released this spring. Connect on Social Media: Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials... SubstackLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterThreadsBlueskyTikTok Thanks to Our Sponsors: Pew Research Center: pewresearch.org The Village Square: villagesquare.us Meza Wealth Management: mezawealth.com Proud members of The Democracy Group Talking across differences doesn’t require agreement. It requires courage, curiosity, and the willingness to stay human.
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    1 h y 6 m
  • Listening to Venezuela — Power, Trauma, and Moral Responsibility with Lori Adams-Brown

    Listening to Venezuela — Power, Trauma, and Moral Responsibility with Lori Adams-Brown
    Jan 9 2026
    What happens when global power politics collide with lived human suffering — and who gets centered in the story? This conversation was recorded in the immediate aftermath of dramatic U.S. military action in Venezuela and amid rising concerns about immigration enforcement and political violence in the United States. If you’re joining us via Pocket Casts, welcome — this show brings journalists, scholars, and public thinkers together for conversations across disagreement without turning each other into caricatures or shouting past one another. Corey is joined once again by leadership consultant, writer, and podcast host Lori Adams-Brown, who grew up in Venezuela and maintains deep personal ties to the country. Together, they explore what it means to witness global events not as abstractions, but as realities carried “in the bones.” Lori shares what Venezuela was like before decades of authoritarian rule reshaped everyday life — the culture, beauty, resilience, humor, and communal spirit that defined her childhood. She reflects on how collective trauma reshapes societies, how hyper-vigilance becomes normalized, and why resilience often comes with hidden costs. The conversation examines the recent removal of Nicolás Maduro, the geopolitical motivations behind U.S. involvement, and the danger of centering American political narratives over Venezuelan voices. Lori challenges listeners to resist ideological shortcuts and instead listen directly to those most affected — recognizing that Venezuelans are not a monolith, and that their responses blend relief, fear, grief, hope, and exhaustion all at once. Corey and Lori also explore how trauma — whether national, communal, or personal — can drive dogmatism, flatten nuance, and harden political identities. Drawing from Lori’s background in trauma-informed leadership and cross-cultural work, they discuss how curiosity, humility, and self-regulation are essential if we’re going to talk about politics and religion without dehumanizing one another. This is not a tidy conversation. It’s not meant to be. It’s an invitation to slow down, listen more carefully, and remember the human cost behind every headline. Calls to Action: ✅ If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean dehumanization. ✅ Check out our Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion ✅ Support Venezuelan-owned businesses in your community and seek out Venezuelan voices and journalists when following this story. About the Guest: Lori Adams-Brown is a leadership consultant who helps global leaders build innovative and inclusive organizations. She is the host of the podcast A World of Difference, where she interviews leaders across cultures and industries, and the author of a thoughtful Substack exploring leadership, difference, trauma, and human connection. Lori grew up in Venezuela and brings a deeply personal perspective to conversations about democracy, power, and collective resilience. 🌍 Podcast: A World of Difference — aworldofdifferencepodcast.com ✍️ Substack & Writing: loriadamsbrown.com Recommended Voices: 📌 Mariana Atencio (marianaatencio.substack.com) — Venezuelan journalist and storyteller covering Venezuelan affairs in both English and Spanish. Connect on Social Media: Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials... SubstackLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterThreadsBlueskyTikTok Thanks to Our Sponsors: Pew Research Center: pewresearch.org The Village Square: villagesquare.us Meza Wealth Management: mezawealth.com Proud members of The Democracy Group Talking across differences doesn’t require agreement. It requires courage, curiosity, and the willingness to stay human.
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    1 h y 9 m