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Them Before Us Podcast

Them Before Us

Join host Jennifer Friesen, Training Director at Them Before Us, along with the TBU team, as they cover politics, current events, and policy updates affecting children's rights. Featuring top experts in politics, bioethics, law, reproductive technology, research, and culture, this podcast equips listeners to defend children's rights in debates on legislation, family, and technology. With thought-provoking discussions and expert insights, the TBU Podcast is your go-to resource for advocating a child-centric approach in today's world.

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  • October 23 · 34 min

    Them Before Us #111 | The fertility killers hiding in your house | Katy Talento

    Your LED bulbs, your underwear, and your toast might all be quietly working against your fertility. Harvard-trained epidemiologist Katy Talento is back on our podcast to explain why, and what you can actually do about it. At Them Before Us, we spend a lot of time on what happens downstream: a culture that tells women to delay, then an industry that sells their fertility back to them with another woman's eggs, another woman's womb, and a lab. In this episode, Katy and Jenn go upstream. We cover what modern life is doing to our bodies, why the "career first, babies later" script fails women, and how the choices you make at 19 shape the family your grandkids will grow up in. Children aren't a product to buy back after the fertile years are gone. This one will change how you think about light, college, and your grocery cart. About Katy: Katy Talento is a Harvard-trained epidemiologist, naturopathic doctor, and former Trump White House health policy advisor and Special Assistant to the President. She spent two decades inside the DC healthcare machine, then left to help everyday people and employers outsmart it. Chapters: 0:00 Katy Talento returns 0:57 Scurvy season and the winter slump 3:14 Blue light versus red light 5:08 How light affects sleep and fertility 6:25 Why you should ditch your LED bulbs 7:28 How culture flipped women's fertility upside down 10:37 Egg freezing and the ticking clock 11:47 Why you shouldn't wait once you find the one 12:37 Where you settle shapes future generations 14:00 Rethinking the value of college 20:04 Why the best men are going into the trades 21:50 What government can do about the birth rate 22:48 Microplastics and fertility-killing chemicals 24:31 The administration's step backward on glyphosate 27:05 Why MAHA messaging still matters 29:32 Industry pressure inside the White House 32:31 Where to find Katy Find Katy: Substack: https://katytalento.com Naturopathic practice: https://allbetter.life Employer health plans: https://allbetter.health Instagram, X, LinkedIn: @katytalento Facebook: https://facebook.com/katytalento.nd Mentioned in this episode: Katy's first appearance, episode 99: https://youtu.be/41qEL9H-CFU?si=AkUAP-7eEh9rtC8Y Katy's guest post for Them Before Us, "Infertile": Them Before Us: Website: thembeforeus.com Substack: thembeforeus.substack.com #fertility #infertility #MAHA

  • October 9 · 42 min

    Them Before Us #110 | Welfare, Feminism, and the Vanishing Black Family | Delano Squires

    In 1965, about 24% of Black children were born to unmarried parents, and today that number sits around 70%. Delano Squires [ @squire429⁩ ] is the author of The Vanishing Black Family and director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Flourishing at the Heritage Foundation. In his book, he explains how, through slavery and the aftermath, Black Americans demonstrated a great dedication to preserving their marriages and families, but welfare pushed fathers out, and feminism told mothers they didn’t need them. He also lays out a child-first plan to rebuild marriage through the church, the schoolhouse, the state house, and the culture. Get your copy of "The Vanishing Black Family: How Welfare and Feminism Made Marriage Optional and Children Vulnerable here: https://amzn.to/3VCXtkU Follow the author on X: @DelanoSquires

  • August 14 · 44 min

    Them Before Us #109 | C.S. Lewis Thought Gender was more Important than Sex?

    Dr. Josh Herring joins Jenn on the Them Before Us podcast to talk about his new book, Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve: C.S. Lewis' Images of Gender. Simone de Beauvoir said woman is made, not born. Judith Butler picked that up and ran it all the way to "gender is just a script — write your own." C.S. Lewis saw this coming decades before either of them published a word, and he said the opposite: gender isn't a costume to escape or a stereotype to perform, it's a gift to receive — and it's more fundamental than sex itself. Josh walks Jenn through what Lewis actually believed about masculinity and femininity across Narnia, his letters, and his nonfiction, and why it matters for anyone raising kids, teaching kids, or just tired of a culture that can't define what a woman is. Get the book: https://amzn.to/45pkQjF Learn more about Josh's work at the Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies: https://www.logresinstitute.org/ About Josh Herring, Ph.D. Dr. Josh Herring spent 13 years working for Thales Academy as a classical instructor, administrator, and college professor. He is the author of Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve: C.S. Lewis's Images of Gender. He loves helping students of all ages and stages discover their intellectual heritage; he is the founder of the Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies, a member of both the Ciceronian Society and the Academy of Philosophy and Letters, and a follower of Jesus. He and his wife Jennifer live in the Raleigh, NC area.

  • August 7 · 27 min

    Them Before Us #108 | The Powerful, the Weak, and Global Human Dignity | Life International

    Jenn sits down with Zac Kadau and Alissa Hollander from Life International, a global ministry equipping Christian leaders in over 170 countries, to talk about what defending human dignity actually looks like on the ground. They get into surrogacy recruitment overseas, polygamy, honor and shame cultures, and the story of a pastor whose public repentance changed 36 churches. Find Life International at lifeinternational.com. Get more resources to defend the rights of children: Web: thembeforeus.com Substack: thembeforeus.substack.com Instagram: @them_before_us X: @thembeforeus

  • July 10 · 33 min

    Them Before Us #107 | The three ways school shapes your kid's soul (whether you notice or not)

    This episode is for the teachers, the homeschool parents, and anyone with a kid in a classroom of any kind. Billy Hutchinson, director of Colson Educators at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, joins the show to break down a simple but powerful idea: nothing about education is neutral. Every teacher, every textbook, and every campus culture is shaped by a worldview, whether anyone says so out loud or not. Billy walks through the three places where worldview actually gets formed in a kid's education: the teacher, the curriculum, and the campus culture. He explains why a "Christian school" can still function just like a secular one, why a secular curriculum isn't automatically the enemy, and what parents should actually look for at graduation season if they want to know what a school truly values. We also get into phones, social media, and AI, and why Christian parents need to think beyond "how do I use this tool better" to the bigger question underneath: what is this doing to my kid's understanding of what it means to be human? If you're a teacher, a homeschool parent, or just someone raising kids in this cultural moment, this conversation will change how you look at every school day. Learn more and access free resources for educators at colsoneducators.org/tbu.

  • June 19 · 1 hr 50 min

    Them Before Us #106 | Fathers Are Essential and Women Cannot Father

    Join the TBU team for our great big Father's Day episode! We've got interviews with Robin Porter from LoveLife, Roland Warren, the CEO of CareNet, a "Here for the Comments" segment on the best dads in media, and all our staff join together to share about their own mothers and fathers and the positive impact they made on each, growing up. Pastor Robin Porter has served in church ministry for over twenty years in various roles, including as lead pastor of Eastside Bible Fellowship in Bellevue, WA. He was introduced to the ministry of LOVE LIFE two years ago and was deeply impacted by the ministry's church and gospel focus to serve the most vulnerable. God continues to grow Robin's boldness to stand for life even as He equips Robin to mobilize and unite the church around the issue of life. See more: https://lovelife.org/ Roland C. Warren is an accomplished author and serves as president and CEO of Care net. His first two books, Bad Dads of the Bible: 8 Mistakes Every Good Dad Can Avoid (Zondervan) and Raising Sons of Promise: A Guide for Single Mothers of Boys (InterVarsity Press), have helped fathers and mothers apply biblical principles to their parenting journeys. His latest book, The Alternative to Abortion: Why We Must Be Pro Abundant Life, guides Christians on a new way forward for the pro-life movement in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. See more: https://care-net.org/roland-warren/

  • May 22 · 47 min

    Them Before Us #105 | We Graded Every State and only ONE Got an A

    We just graded all 50 states on how well — or how badly — their laws protect children when it comes to parentage, surrogacy, donor conception, and marriage. Two-thirds of states got a C or below. One state got an A. In this episode, you'll meet the man whose state earned it — and the team that built the tool every family advocate in America needs right now. Go explore the Children's Rights Scorecard and find your state's grade at thembeforeus.comIN THIS EPISODENate Grasz — Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance, the largest Christian public policy organization in Nebraska. Nate led the passage of the First Freedom Act, one of the strongest religious freedom laws in the country, and has spent years successfully fighting to keep the words mother, father, husband, and wife in Nebraska's statutes — helping earn Nebraska the only A on the Children's Rights Scorecard.Learn more about Nebraska Family Alliance at nebraskafamilyalliance.org We also hear from Them Before Us founder Katy Faust and Engagement Director Patience Sunne on how the scorecard was built, what they found, and how you can use it to protect children in your state.

  • May 8 · 37 min

    Them Before Us #104 | Mothers and Fathers are NOT Interchangable w/ the TBU Staff

    It's a special Them Before Us staff takeover as the gang gets together, in Brady Bunch style boxes, to share favorite mom and dad moments. Then Jenn and Sam go through some of the amazing moms in the movies as we round out the end of our Greater Than week of celebrating moms. What's a favorite memory you have of your mom and dad? And if you think every child deserves the mom and dad they came from, join us at greaterthancampaign.com.

  • April 24 · 35 min

    Them Before Us #103 | Are Gen Z Men Having a "Crisis of Purpose"? | Micah Kunkle

    If you've caught Micah Kunkle debating "Progressive" ideas on Jubilee or other platforms, you already know he's the real deal. Micah joins the TBU podcast to talk debate strategy, why so many young men are drawn to "strong male" influencers pushing harmful ideas, and how we can engage Gen Z in the fight for children's rights. He's one of those rare voices who's both a rigorous thinker and genuinely kind in disagreement, there's a lot to learn just from watching him. 📺 Find Micah: Youtube ⁨@micahkunkle⁩ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahkunkle/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@micahkunkle And more about Maven: https://maventruth.com/

  • April 10 · 27 min

    Them Before Us #102 | How to Restore "What Really Matters" with Tim Goeglein

    What actually holds a nation together when everything feels like it’s coming apart?This week, Jenn sits down with Tim Goeglein to unpack the convictions behind his new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and FamilyDrawing from history, culture, and personal experience, Goeglein makes a clear case: the future of freedom rises or falls on the strength of faith, family, and character.He challenges the quiet erosion of the American family, pointing out that when marriage weakens, everything downstream feels it. Strong families don’t just benefit children. They stabilize communities, shape responsible men, and preserve the conditions where liberty can survive.You’ll hear why restoring fatherhood is central to rebuilding culture, how faith once anchored public life in ways we’ve largely forgotten, and what it takes to recover a legacy worth handing down.If you’re looking for clarity in a noisy moment and a vision that looks beyond headlines to long-term cultural health, this conversation delivers.Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/4moiGsa---------------------------------------------------------Bio: Tim Goeglein is Vice President of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family. Formerly, he served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and as a deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. He was the President’s principal outreach contact for conservative and faith-based groups. Tim’s extensive resumé includes serving as a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation and as a communications director for U.S. Senator Dan Coats of Indiana and Gary Bauer at the Campaign for Working Families. Tim has authored a memoir, The Man in the Middle: Faith and Politics in the George W. Bush Era, and his latest book is titled American Restoration. He and his wife, Jenny, have two sons.

  • March 13 · 51 min

    Them Before Us #100 | Making Fertility Fraud a Felony & Retaking the Arts

    Big news out of South Dakota, fertility fraud is now a felony! Learn more about how Them Before Us played a part in inspiring this legislation, sponsored by SD Representative Terri Jorgenson, and what it means for children's rights. See more from Rep. Jorgenson at her substack here: https://sdcapitoldiary.substack.com/ Terri is a proud South Dakotan with a deep-rooted connection to her community. With a strong background in military operations and public affairs, she is committed to fighting for conservative values and protecting liberties in District 29. Terri's experience as a State Committeewoman and active role in the Republican party demonstrate her dedication to serving the people of South Dakota. --------------------- In the next part of this episode, Jenn interviews Caitlyn Scott of the instagram/youtube account @WhiteSquirrelMagic on why Christians and Conservatives need to retake the arts with truth, beauty, and HUMOR to share the truth.

  • February 27 · 56 min

    Them Before Us Podcast #099 | Katy Talento Talks Trump and how to Life Hack the Healthcare System

    Friend of Them Before Us, Katy Talento is a Harvard-trained epidemiologist, naturopathic doctor, and former Trump White House health policy advisor who spent two decades inside the DC healthcare machine — then left to help everyday people and employers outsmart it. She writes about health policy, natural medicine, and how to live like a human — from real food and hormonal health to how to cut your medical bills in half using rules she personally helped write. All of it's at KatyTalento.com. For some of her recent articles, check out: Infertile, her guest post for our TBU substack - https://thembeforeus.substack.com/p/infertile Outsmart the Medical Billing Trap — a free step-by-step playbook for patients to fight back against medical bills, using rules she personally helped write in the White House https://www.katytalento.com/p/outsmart-the-medical-billing-trap?r=158d0w Hospitals are Soviet-style Hellscapes Unfit for Humans - A Patient, Caregiver and Policy Manifestohttps://www.katytalento.com/p/hospitals-are-soviet-style-hellscapes See more from Katy at @katytalento for IG, X, LinkedIn and https://www.facebook.com/katytalento.nd/

  • February 21 · 24 min

    Them Before Us Podcast #098 | Patriotism isn't Political with Katie Broussard

    What are we teaching our children about America, and what are we neglecting? Jenn is joined by Katie Broussard, founder of The Littlest Statesmen and author of The Great George Washington, the first book in a seven-part series that introduces young children to the lives and characters of America’s Founders. A simple question from her three-year-old daughter about the Fourth of July led Katie to recognize how few resources exist to teach young children about the nation’s history, ideals, and sacrifices. That realization became a calling. In this conversation, Katie explains why the early years matter in shaping a child’s understanding of country, responsibility, and gratitude. She shares why stories of figures like George Washington and Betsy Ross belong alongside the fairy tales children already know. The discussion also examines why expressing appreciation for America’s founding principles has become divisive and what that shift means for families. Find more from her at https://www.thelittleststatesmen.com Make sure you're following Them Before Us across all of our social media platforms, subscribe on thembeforeus.substack.com and consider joining our TBU Ambassador program!

  • January 30 · 59 min

    Them Before Us Podcast #097 | #GreaterThan Launches and a NY Photographer Wins against Bullying

    Katy and Jenn talk about the #GreaterThan launch, a coalition of most major Christian and conservative groups and thought leaders, to retake marriage and restore it to the institution that best protects children in society. Learn more at greaterthancampaign.comThen Jenn has a conversation with Emilee Carpenter, an NY photographer who took the state to court over her objections to using her creative voice in violation of her conscience regarding marriage. Learn more about her and see her work at https://www.emileecarpenter.com/

  • January 15 · 10 min

    Them Before Us Bonus | Is Katy Faust Anti-Adoption?

    Katy's recent post promoting the #LiveAction Young Leader summit, where she is speaking this year, garnered some comments from someone claiming Katy is anti-adoption. Katy goes on the record with her controversial take on adoption and answers the question once and for all, where she stands on the topic.

  • Nov 28, 2025 · 26 min

    Them Before Us Podcast #095 | Defending Pro-Life Speech at the U.S. Supreme Court

    In this episode, Jenn talks with Aimee Huber of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers and ADF attorney Gabriella McIntyre about how the New Jersey Attorney General has used his power to target a pro-life ministry that has never had a single complaint. First Choice has spent decades walking with women in their most vulnerable moments by offering real support, real resources, and real hope at no cost. Now the state is demanding years of private records, including donor names and addresses, while partnering with Planned Parenthood to undermine the work of those who actually help moms choose life. We look at what this kind of government intimidation means for women, for children, and for every nonprofit that depends on donor privacy and freedom from retaliation. And we talk about why ADF is taking this case to the Supreme Court to protect the rights of groups who refuse to bend to political pressure. Learn more at adflegal.org and join us in praying for Aimee and her team as they stand firm for the most vulnerable. https://adflegal.org/campaign/first-choice-womens-resource-centers-v-platkin/?sourcecode=11037542_r200

  • Nov 21, 2025 · 34 min

    Them Before Us Podcast #094 | How to Defend Young Minds

    The industry that promotes illicit sexual behavior targets children because it wants life-long customers. The reality is that it’s not a matter of if your kids will see pornography but when. This should not scare parents. It’s a chance to get prepared and to help your children be ready when the moment comes. Kristen A. Jenson is the founder of Defend Young Minds® and the #1 bestselling author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures. Good Pictures, Bad Pictures and Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. are read-aloud books that teach young children how to reject pornography. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and are supported by the Guidebook for Counseling Kids, which helps child therapists and educators. Kristen and her team have also created many resources for families, including the Brain Defense Digital Safety curriculum, downloadable guides, and timely articles that help parents raise confident, resilient, and screen-smart kids. Website: https://www.defendyoungminds.com/ Facebook: DefendYM Instagram: @DefendYoungMinds X: @DefendYM LinkedIn: @DefendYoungMinds

  • Oct 7, 2025 · 29 min

    Them Before Us #093 | A Journey from Orphanage to Advocacy | Promoting Healthy Citizens in Indiana

    In this episode, Jenn is joined by Birjan Crispin, the Deputy Director of the Good Citizen Project with the Indiana Family Institute, where they talk about his story of adoption and the best ways for Christians to be good citizens, promoting what is best for human flourishing.Learn more at https://www.goodcitizen.us/ and follow Birjan at https://www.instagram.com/birjancrispin98/-------------------------Bio: Born in Ruse, Bulgaria and adopted at the age of two, Birjan brings a powerful and personal narrative to the world of public policy, leadership, and faith. Raised in Wheaton, Illinois, and a graduate of Hope College with degrees in Business (Finance) and Political Science, Birjan’s story-rooted in resilience and redemption-connects deeply with audiences across the country. With formative experience in the Indiana House of Representatives as a legislative aide and Indiana Family Institute as a policy analyst, along with his experience as a graduate of The Heritage Foundation’s Leadership Academy, The Leadership Institute’s Young Leaders Program, Indiana Family Institute’s Hoosier Leadership Series Class of 2024 and his current service as Deputy Director of The Good Citizen Project, Birjan brings a passionate perspective on issues of culture, theology & policy today. Birjan and his wife, Brooke, live in Anderson, Indiana, where they are active members of Grace Baptist Church. Beyond policy and politics, Birjan is a classical violinist and avid golfer, bringing a creative and thoughtful presence to every stage.

  • Oct 3, 2025 · 27 min

    Them Before Us #092 | How Can We Save Families Before Tragedy | Upstream Collaborative

    In this episode, we sit down with Phil and Melody to talk about Family Preservation Ministries and their upcoming UNSHAKABLE 2026 Conference. Their mission is clear: to protect, preserve, and strengthen families through the local church—helping people before they reach crisis or end up in the foster care and adoption system. Grounded in the Gospel, this ministry is church-driven, professionally supported, financially healthy, and deeply collaborative. Through coaching, advocacy, and networking, they empower ministries to proclaim the Gospel, equip churches, steward resources wisely, and model generosity—all while making collaboration simple and effective. Learn more about this organization and their upcoming event at https://upstreamcollab.org/ Bios: Melody Marshall is the Co-Executive Director of My Village Ministries, a local initiative focused on family preservation, and the Co-Executive Director of Upstream Collaborative, a nationwide network of family preservation ministries. After receiving a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science, Melody has pursued work that aligns with God’s calling to serve vulnerable families. Melody’s professional journey has spanned various roles, from house parent for at-risk teens to paraprofessional for children with special needs. Her experiences have shaped her unwavering dedication to the marginalized, the orphan, and the widow. Guided by a deep faith, Melody has seen God’s hand at work in her life, leading her to a clear calling to mobilize the Church to preserve socially isolated families in crisis, helping them build sustainable support systems and pathways to healing. Phil Krause is happily married to his wife, Erin, of 16 years and a father of 4 lively kids, living in Columbus, Ohio. He has almost 20 years of experience serving vulnerable families/children, including being a foster, adoptive, and host parent. He is currently the Co-Executive Director of My Village Ministries out of central Ohio, where they seek to accomplish family preservation through biblical hospitality. He also serves as the Co-Executive Director of Upstream Collaborative, which is a national collaborative that seeks to further equip family preservation ministries to protect, preserve, and strengthen families through the local church. Additionally, Phil has served as an elder for 4 years at Awaken Church in Columbus, Ohio.

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