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The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield (The Faith of George W. Bush, The Search for God and Guinness, Lincoln's Battle With God, Mansfield's Book of Manly Men, The Miracle of the Kurds) talks about today's cultural upheavals, trends and ironies, all while providing a fascinating look behind the scenes of his writing and travels.

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#622
Wednesday · 19 min
A Moment of Glory
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent address before the Acropolis may be one of the great speeches in American history. Rather than chest-thumping, Rubio honors Greece as the forebear of the West, tracing 25 centuries from Thermopylae and Plutarch to Augustine and Aquinas, and calls the West to stop apologizing for its heritage and rekindle its thumos. In this episode, Stephen explains what makes the speech so remarkable and urges you to watch it yourself to honor what will surely be recalled as "a moment of glory." Marco Rubio's remarks from the Acropolis: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eOv1DpML7I4&ra=m Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#621
October 14 · 20 min
A Leadership Revolution
It's been somewhat of an embarrassing year living in Nashville, Tennessee. From poor prep for winter storms, to a defunded symphony, to medical disasters altering patients for life, there is no shortage of failures to ruminate on in 2026. But at the core of all these happenings lies one simple principle: failed leadership. Accidents happen, but negligence begs a bigger question: Who is there to take responsibility for the unplanned? The hidden reality is that we all should. We need a leadership revolution. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#620
September 30 · 18 min
Make Babies Great Again
Our nation is in trouble. Our birthrate is dropping. Our immigration policy is too restrictive. And as dramatic as it sounds, our population headed toward collapse if things don't change. On top of various societal factors (some of them incredibly vain), there exist huge financial barriers that are scaring young adults away from having children. Stephen's plea: our government must begin to incentivize childbirth. Dive in to hear how we can save a shrinking nation. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#619
September 16 · 28 min
Reflecting: Dolly
Dolly Parton's passing has taken the world by storm. Why are tears being shed by people who never met her? Why are Stephen's friends in the middle east calling to wish him their condolences? As Stephen illustrates in this episode, it was her self-deprecation, her moderation, her generosity, and her love of family that set her apart in becoming one of the most successful artists, businesswomen, and cultural icons of our time. Together, let's reflect on the life of Dolly. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#618
September 2 · 24 min
American Cold War
Much like the Cold War of the 20th century, America today is in a battle for its ideals, and the stakes are only growing higher. We are living in a country who has forgotten its own history, leaving young and old Americans alike vulnerable to the influences of Marxism, socialism, and communism. Much like Stephen's experience living along the Berlin Wall in the 1970s, we are looking down a dividing wall between freedom and tyranny in our own country, and if we refuse to fight for our precious America, we may lose her altogether. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#617
August 19 · 20 min
Dead Pool World
For the first time in history, the federal government is stepping in to ration water in areas of the western United States. The reality of "dead pools" — when reservoirs drop too low to flow past a dam — is no longer a distant threat: 45 U.S. states are in drought, and 75% of humanity already lives in water-insecure countries. Today, Stephen examines the three ways water powers civilization — drinking, energy, and agriculture — and why its growing scarcity puts all three at risk simultaneously. From the urgent case for better desalination technology to the long-term payoff of energy independence, this is a conversation about solutions, not blame. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#616
August 5 · 23 min
Diplomacy Matters!
Eighteen months into Donald Trump's second term, more than half of all U.S. ambassadorships sit vacant — including 80% of Africa — leaving America without meaningful representation across most of the world as midterm elections approach. This isn't just bureaucratic neglect; it's a pattern of action without follow-through that weakens the very diplomatic infrastructure that keeps trade flowing and armies home. America is meant to be a gift shared with the world, but we can't share what we refuse to show up for. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#615
July 22 · 21 min
Our Crisis of Reading
People in today's age are consuming more words than ever; the problem is, they're empty words. Doomscrolling and short-form content have crowded out great literature, and fewer than half of all American adults read a single book in 2022. While the downward trajectory of long form reading may not be as big a crisis as we think in our informational age, reading forms our minds in ways that no other form of media can. Read on the subway. Read on the plane. Read banned books. Read new books. Read old books. Above all, read what interests you. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#614
July 8 · 21 min
Fun Learning in the 250th
Most Americans do not have the time nor the interest to open 1,000-page academic tomes on American history. Thus, it's crucial that we find meaningful, enjoyable, and reliable ways to take in our history. For this 250th year of our great nation, Stephen has 3 recommendations of high-quality, inspiring works that any American can access and appreciate: "John Adams" on HBO "America's God and Country" by William J. Federer "The Light and the Glory,” “From Sea to Shining Sea,” and “Sounding Forth the Trumpet” by Peter Marshall and David Manuel Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#613
June 24 · 15 min
Principles for Life
Carl von Clausewitz argued that the object of war is always the predetermined end state — not the battle itself. In the midst of peace negotiations with Iran, America has won militarily while fumbling the endgame: no regime change, no Strait of Hormuz renegotiation, no nuclear agreement, and a $300 billion rebuild check on the table. The same strategic clarity we demand of individuals has to govern superpowers — and right now, it doesn't. Unless negotiations take a different direction, what’s happening in Iran is shaping up to be a complete national embarrassment. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#612
June 10 · 20 min
Saving American History
Every nation's history contains both beauty and atrocity — America is no exception. Yet increasingly, the American story is being told through only one lens. Recent data suggests that young Americans are being shaped to view their country with contempt rather than complexity. But the root of our failures isn't oppression along lines of race, gender, religion, or class. It's something more fundamental: our shared humanity. There is no perfect system because there is no perfect people. If we’re going to keep our great Republic, we must know and learn from the dark periods of our history while lighting the way toward a brighter future. If we teach American history as an exercise in oppression, we will build a people who hate themselves. Dare to love America. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#611
May 27 · 18 min
In Defense of the Kurds
The Kurds have been loyal American allies for decades — so why are we getting them so wrong? In this episode, Stephen draws on his book "The Miracle of the Kurds" to set the record straight about one of the most misunderstood people in the world: a moderate, resilient ethnicity spread across the Middle East with no nation to call their own, yet fiercely devoted to their identity and their allies. The Kurds have earned America's friendship time and time again — and it's time we gave it to them. Let's reset our perception of the Kurds. Get a copy of "The Miracle of the Kurds:" https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Kurds-Remarkable-Reborn-Northern/dp/1617950793/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#610
May 13 · 16 min
Hear Ben Sasse!
Ben Sasse — Nebraskan, senator, university president, Harvard and Yale scholar — is dying of stage IV pancreatic cancer, and he is using his remaining time to speak truth to America. Staring death in the face, he's declared that Congress is asleep at the wheel, that our neighborhoods matter more than our political tribes, and that "there are no maverick molecules in the universe." You may not agree with everything he says — but a dying man speaking this boldly deserves your full attention. Watch Ben Sasse's interview on 60 Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcT9O5Sjmd0 Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#609
April 29 · 19 min
Whitefield and America
Names like Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, and Adams have become synonymous with the founding of America. But one name, often forgotten, holds just as much influence if we only read the pages of history. The name? Whitefield. George Whitefield, credited with unifying the colonies in the first intercolonial event, preaching the idea of a God-ordained destiny for the colonies, and warning of Parliament's encroachments on the colonies' liberties, was instrumental in tilling the soil for the American Revolution. In this episode, Stephen examines the life and legacy of Whitefield in this episode, drawing on themes from his book, "Forgotten Founding Father." Get "Forgotten Founding Father" today: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Founding-Father-Whitefield-Leaders/dp/1581821654/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#608
April 15 · 17 min
Religion is the Issue
To understand the tensions occurring today in Iran, we must first understand the religious background of the nation's Shiite Muslim leadership. While the U.S. State Department may view the Iranian conflict in political, geographic, and military terms, the nation's leaders interpret it through a profoundly religious and even apocalyptic lens. As a result, any U.S. administration—including that of Donald Trump—must recognize that negotiations with Iran are not grounded in Western values, but in an ideological and religious worldview that ultimately drives its decisions. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#607
April 1 · 13 min
Read the Declaration
As the 250th anniversary of America's founding approaches, it's prudent for us to turn back to the wisdom contained in our founding document. Even in the midst of the hellacious upheavals of our time, the eternal words of the Declaration of Independence serve as a foundation for freedom, faith, and revolution, not just in America, but around the world. Listen as Stephen sheds light on pivotal passages of the Declaration of Independence and issues a stirring personal challenge. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#606
March 18 · 23 min
The Tyranny of Utopia
Utopian dreams, though often clothed in the language of hope and progress, have brought profound suffering by denying the broken reality of the human condition. Rooted in the realism of the Judeo-Christian tradition, Stephen insists that we must see the world as it is—not as we wish it to be—recognizing that no perfect state exists on this side of eternity. By distinguishing between “utopia” (“nowhere”) and “eutopia” (“good place”), we can expose how the pursuit of perfection so often becomes tyrannical, and why wisdom, counsel, and humility remain the safer path forward. LEARN MORE: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#605
March 4 · 20 min
Thoughts on Iran
Since 1979, Iran has been under the control of a Shiite extremist Muslim government. As of February 28th, that regime is under direct attack due to targeted efforts by the United States and surrounding regions. What began as uprisings from Iran's young people is now a historical tipping point for both Iran and our own nation. Listen in to hear Stephen's thoughts about the disconnect between the president and Congress, the aftereffects of the initial attack, and what we can expect moving forward. LEARN MORE: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#604
February 25 · 21 min
Preserving Fire
Why do I call myself a conservative? The answer, despite what our current political landscape may tell you, is not that controversial. Fundamentally, I believe in a limited government, free markets, strong national defense, and an emphasis on individual responsibility. As a historian, I have studied the atrocities brought upon humanity by tyrannical and unrestrained governments. Our Founding Fathers gave us a framework to prevent this, and we should follow their lead in order to preserve our liberty. “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” - Gustav Mahler LEARN MORE: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
#603
February 11 · 14 min
The Coming Crisis: Water [From the Archives]
Following the latest episode about the macro threats shaping our world, Stephen is re-airing an episode from 2021 that speaks directly to one of the most critical: the growing fresh water crisis. Five years after originally publishing this episode, the danger of declining fresh water remains just as urgent. Note: The Lake Mead capacity figure cited in this episode has continued to decline since the episode was recorded, falling from 35% to 33%. LEARN MORE: Website: https://stephenmansfield.tv/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mansfieldwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/MansfieldWrites

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