In this episode I speak with a childhood friend who is a West Point graduate and most recently served as an Executive Officer in the US Army. We discuss a variety of topics related to his military career and the overall role of the US armed forces. See below for a rough outline of our conversation: 3:00 – Will’s decision to join the military and his early career 20:00 – The Afghanistan withdrawal and being enlisted during COVID 40:00  – Reflecting on Will's career and view of US military role 50:00 – Partisanship & the military's independence from domestic politics 1:07:00 – Progressive changes/accommodating transgender soldiers 1:13:00 – Ukraine, China and our future role in the region 1:39:00 – Adapting to climate change and Will’s future Army plans

For anyone currently living in Denver, you've probably seen my guest for this episode standing outside of the Capitol building on any given weekend protesting the Iranian regime. I recently spoke with him to gain a better understanding of why young people in Iran have been risking their lives by demonstrating on the streets for the last few months. Enjoy!

My quick reflection on this week's shooting and why I think politicians aren't the only ones who deserve our scrutiny. Email me at [email protected] if you want to share your thoughts. 

In this second half of my conversation with Corey Nathan, a born-again-Christian, we delve deeper into what we believe separates Democrats from Republicans and how best to confront those we disagree with (among other topics). Enjoy!

What makes a disagreement over politics worthwhile and constructive, as opposed to counterproductive and contentious? In this episode, I am joined by Corey Nathan to discuss the value in having honest dialogue with individuals of opposing views. He draws from his experience with religion and seeking out difficult conversations in his podcast Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killin' Each Other to share with me his insights. Part II of our conversation coming soon -- enjoy! 

In this episode I am joined by a former NSA Analyst and National Intelligence professional to talk about Russia, cybersecurity, and protecting American democracy. Listen to the end if you want to know the truth about aliens -- enjoy! 

I'm joined by a Brit to talk about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and whether or not US foreign policy is incoherent, corrupt, or both. He also challenges my assumption that generally speaking, the benefits of America's role as a global superpower over the last 80ish years have outweighed the costs. 

Join me as I talk with a moderate conservative about whether or not the modern Republican party is a fraudulent organization. I strongly believe that what they market themselves as (fiscally responsible, defenders of the working man, pro-democracy, etc.) is completely at odds with what their actions suggest, but my guest doesn’t entirely agree. What do you think?

In this second half of my conversation with Paul, a conservative-minded veteran from the midwest, we discuss the topic of gun control and the January 6th insurrection, among other topics. Enjoy!

I believe that a key component of a healthy democracy is collective trust in the institutions that were designed to balance power and reflect the interests of the people. But in today's society, that trust has eroded, as have many democratic norms that made this country great. In this episode, my guest Paul, who I met randomly online, discusses with me his interest in politics and how he would answer the question: should our federal government be trusted? Enjoy!