Conversations That Matter

The American cowboy was once the quintessential American hero. Courageous, independent, honorable, and willing to confront evil, he embodied virtues that generations of Americans admired. But somewhere along the way, the cowboy changed. Listen to "Old Cowboys Never Die" Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4qmHx7wuTGYbaXaDGCFNqR?si=4846e8b1e88e459a Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/song...

What happens when we put adult desires ahead of children's rights? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I speak with Katie Faust, founder of Them Before Us and author of several books on children, family, and pro-child politics. We discuss why children have a fundamental interest in being raised by their mother and father, how the debate over same-sex marriage affects children, and wh...

Why are more Christian families choosing to homeschool their children? And what should parents know before making the decision? On this episode of *Conversations That Matter*, Jon Harris speaks with Brad Stafford, father of eight and founder of Anyone Can Homeschool, about the growing interest in homeschooling, the shortcomings of conventional education, and the importance of parents taking respon...

This week on Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris covers the latest developments in Christian institutions, conservative politics, and the broader cultural landscape. Christianity Today faces questions about its leadership and direction. Point Loma Nazarene University draws criticism for inviting a controversial poet, while Vanderbilt Divinity School promotes solidarity circles and a solidarity e...

Substack article: https://jonharris.substack.com/p/standing-shoulder-to-shoulder?r=2j3qvv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Our Sponsors: * Check out Mars Men and use my code Mengotomars.com for a great deal: https://mengotomars.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What did the NatCon conference in Jerusalem reveal about the future of nationalism, liberalism, and the relationship between Israel and the West? In this episode of *Conversations That Matter*, Jon Harris speaks with Dr. Avital Levi, director of educational programs at the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem, about her presentation at the National Conservatism Conference and the controversies surrounding...

What happens when Christians bring their understanding of human nature, theology, and the good life into the worlds of business, technology, and politics? In this episode of *Conversations That Matter*, I sit down with Nate Fischer, co-founder of New Founding and a founding backer of American Reformer, to discuss how Christians can move beyond building niche alternatives and start shaping the futu...

Democratic candidates with pastoral backgrounds are running competitive campaigns in traditionally Republican states, using Christian language to promote progressive political positions. What does this development mean for American Christians, and how should we understand the rise of the religious left? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines four candidates running for f...

In this News Roundup, Jon Harris covers the latest developments in American politics, the Christian church, and the broader cultural landscape. From the controversy surrounding YouTube’s copyright complaint against *All Are Not Welcome* to the biblical case for capital punishment, this episode examines the ideas and institutions shaping America’s future. Jon discusses the United Nations’ pandemic...

Why is Northern Ireland still comparatively Christian while the Republic of Ireland has seen such a dramatic collapse in Christian practice and cultural influence? I talk with Pastor @j_bambrick about conversion, discipleship, Christian institutions, free speech, Enoch Burke, and what Christians in America can learn from Ireland. 00:00 — Why Talk About Christianity Outside America? 01:28 — Meet Pa...

What did the Mexican-American War have to do with the Civil War, Manifest Destiny, Texas, California, and the modern American Southwest? Jon Harris sits down with Thomas Wayne Riley of the American Southwest Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the Mexican-American War and the history that shaped the American Southwest. The discussion begins with the enormous territorial consequences of t...

Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuWSPoH3ncE Our Sponsors: * Check out Mars Men and use my code Mengotomars.com for a great deal: https://mengotomars.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What happened to the Episcopal Church and America's Protestant establishment? In this conversation, we trace the transformation of the Episcopal Church and other mainline Protestant institutions, from their historic place in American religious life to the rise of theological liberalism, institutional gatekeeping, managerialism, and progressive politics. Our guest shares his own journey into An...

This week on the Conversations That Matter podcast, Jon Harris covers a wide-ranging news roundup touching on the Southern Baptist Convention, Christian persecution, the Catholic Church, the Christian Nationalism debate, Steve Lawson, and what Jon calls the “true culture of death.” Jon begins with a personal update following a house fire in his wife’s family, along with reflections on the recent R...

What actually makes someone a strong Christian? A viral post claimed that the strongest Christians watch Disney movies, avoid politics, wear bikinis, drink alcohol, shop at Target, and celebrate Halloween. The argument was that Christians who impose restrictions on these things are essentially modern Pharisees. There is an important truth here: Christians should not invent laws and impose them on...

The Democratic Party appears to be changing its tune on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Politicians including Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and James Talarico have recently used the language of fairness and safety when discussing women’s sports. That represents a significant change from the rhetoric surrounding transgender rights and school sports during the Obama and Biden years...

Jon Harris sits down with William Wolfe of the Center for Baptist Leadership to discuss what has happened since Willie Rice became president of the SBC and what comes next. The conversation covers the Truth and Unity Amendment, the effort to prevent women from serving as pastors in the SBC, appointments to committees and trustee boards, financial transparency, restoring trust in the Cooperative Pr...

Dr. D. Millard Haskell joins Conversations That Matter to explain what happened to Christianity's influence in Canada and why Americans should pay attention. Haskell, a sociologist and author of Christ or Collapse: The Case Against Godless Government, argues that the evidence points toward the social benefits of traditional Christianity. His research led him from liberal Christianity toward a...

The 2026 midterms are approaching, and there is growing pressure on conservatives to sit out elections, reject Republican candidates, or pursue some kind of political accelerationism because Republicans have not accomplished everything conservatives hoped they would. In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I make the case for why Christian conservatives should generally vote Republican in th...

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I examine the Presbyterian Church in America, Covenant College, and the broader question of whether Christian institutions are actually moving away from the ideas associated with the social justice movement or simply giving them new names. I begin with several pieces of evangelical news, including the latest Southern Baptist compensation data for pasto...

In this news roundup, I look at the controversy surrounding H-1B visas, the viral University of Texas football footage, and the argument over immigration, assimilation, race, culture, and the future of American identity. I also revisit the Lindsay Clancy jury and what the case reveals about the way people increasingly interpret moral questions through racial categories. Then we get to Tucker Carls...

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, what has happened to the country that came together in the aftermath of the attacks? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris reflects on his memories of 9/11 as a twelve-year-old living north of New York City, the fear and patriotism that followed, and the way the attacks transformed American politics and culture. He discusses the wars i...

Are white people really dying out? Is the West facing demographic collapse? And why are birth rates falling throughout the developed world? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris is joined by statistician William M. Briggs to examine the numbers behind population decline, fertility rates, demographic change, and the future of Western civilization. William Briggs discusses his exp...

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris tackles a wide-ranging news roundup touching on Christian persecution, the future of the American right, immigration, Islam, JD Vance, and the growing tensions within conservative politics. Jon begins with the 2026 Open Doors World Watch List and the persecution of Christians around the world, with particular attention to Nigeria and the que...

What is happening to American women? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris sits down with Bethany Miller to discuss the Lindsay Clancy case, toxic empathy, social media, the radicalization of Gen Z, and the growing divide between young men and women. The conversation begins with the surprising public response to the Lindsay Clancy trial and asks a larger question: Why are so man...