Approach the Bench

WEEK 15 (Part 1): In front of the Harvard Law library, we sit down with Larissa Truchan — a Harvard Law student and viral leftist political influencer — for the first part of a two-part conversation across ideology, faith, morality, and power. We start by getting to know Larissa: her background, family, and path to Harvard Law, as well as how she built a large political following online — includin...

WEEK 14: Returning from a trip to Israel, we sit down with Shanee Markovitz Kay — an Israeli American and fellow Harvard Law student — for a deeply personal conversation about Israel, identity, and what it has meant to be Jewish at Harvard Law in the aftermath of October 7.We begin by getting to know Shanee — her background, her path to Harvard Law, and her (as well as our) involvement with the Ha...

WEEK 13 (NEW YEAR’S EPISODE): It’s January 1st — a new year, new resolutions, and the usual promises of change. In this episode, we look back at 2025, make rapid-fire predictions about 2026, and ask a harder question underneath all the optimism: Why does it feel like our generation is still waiting for the promises of past generations to come true for us? We open with a bit of reflection on how we...

WEEK 12, THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: This episode was filmed in Israel, overlooking the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, just steps from where Christianity began. We start by walking through some classic Christmas questions — everything from whether you tell your kids about Santa to our favorite Christmas movies and hymns. From there, we talk about what Christianity looks like in the Holy Land today: ancient...

WEEK 11: Harvard carries unmatched prestige — but what is it actually like on the inside? In this episode, two Harvard Law students sit down to give an unfiltered look at the most powerful university in the world: the opportunities it creates, the tradeoffs it demands, and the realities that never make it into admissions brochures. We start with a simple but revealing question: Do you tell people...

WEEK 10: Freedom is fragile — and the cultural battles shaping America today aren’t coming from where most people think. In this episode, Mason Laney, Harvard Law ‘26, and Will Johnson, Harvard Law ‘27, sit down with Ryan Keane, Harvard Law ‘26, to break down the ideological confusion of our moment: from Hasan Piker’s pro-China escapades… to the romantic drought among young men… to the unraveling...

WEEK 9: America is in the midst of a historic immigration clash — from a rising foreign-born population to surging ICE removals and detention numbers. In this episode, we sit down in the historic Mount Auburn Cemetery to ask the question many avoid: Is mass deportation moral? And what does Christian ethics demand from us on borders, justice, and compassion? We dive into the scale of the challenge...

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL: In this episode of Approach the Bench, we travel to historic Plymouth, Massachusetts — the birthplace of the American Thanksgiving tradition — to talk about the Pilgrims, gratitude, politics at the dinner table, and Thanksgiving girl problems. Filmed right by Plymouth Rock, we break down the real Christian roots of Thanksgiving and why this holiday is more theologically impor...

WEEK 7: Young men in America are struggling — in school, in dating, in work, in purpose, in faith, and in mental health. In this episode, we sit down in Cambridge Common with Lindsay, an Army intelligence officer turned Harvard Law 2L, to talk about the crisis facing modern men and the cultural forces shaping young men today. We dive into why boys are falling behind in education, why young men fee...

The women are moving, and so are the men, just not in the same direction. How do we reconcile the gender political divide, if at all? Mason and Will tackle several of these big questions in this episode, but the biggest question of all: who was their childhood celebrity crush? Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com...

Rodrigo Estrada joins Mason and Will to discuss Spanking, MAGA Dating, Conservatism, and some very interesting Girl Problems. Mason has strong opinions on handholding, and Will doesn't --- so the usual! Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! 00:16 Intro 1:20...

In the longest episode to date, Mason and Will debate arranged marriage, tattoos, love for America, and 30 minutes worth of Girl Problems. They also dabble in a bit of role-playing.  Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show!

Mason and Will debate the next Great Awakening (circa 2025) and analyze whether conservatives should have "enemies to the Right." Plus, they take on many, many, many of the audience's girl problems. Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show!

Mason and Will try to figure out why anyone could have disliked episode 1, and Will wonders why people have to wear clothes. Email approachthebenchh@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! 00:19 Intro 03:43 Why we’re suffering at Boston College 06:24 Our One-Star Reviews… 11:19 We say NO to...

Mason and Will inaugurate the podcast at the Old North Bridge — the site of the Battle of Concord.  Email approachthebenchh@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! 00:21 Introduction 03:10 Why we’re doing this 08:00 The Battle of Concord 12:21 Can you be a Christian at Harvard Law? 23:38 Ch...