The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

During this coronavirus season, the Christian church is being forced to change. With crowd limits in place, church is going online. Some are thriving. Some are floundering. In this episode, Stephen speaks directly to church leaders. Because some version of this disaster will happen again, churches need to develop a plan for the future. This coronavirus season is an opportunity to realize what we n...

We are in the middle of the coronavirus crisis as I record this. It is a difficult season punctuated by deaths and economic hardship. But we will get through this. The question to ask yourself is, “Who am I going to be in the crisis?” Take this time to deepen with God, simplify your life, and determine what kind of person you will be when we emerge together on the other side. Previous generations...

“Is America ready to embrace socialism?” This is one of the questions broadly pondered in recent months. It seems to have been answered with a resounding, “No.” Following the South Carolina and Super Tuesday primaries, we are beginning to see a return to normalcy. The United States is a centrist country. The wingnuts get a lot of attention, but the main debates take place in the center.

Not sure what to think about coronavirus and its potential implications here in the U.S. and throughout the world? Don’t miss this episode! Stephen shares seven points, from the historical and practical to the philosophical. Tough times may be ahead, but we can weather this storm together.

Benjamin Franklin once said that when the people realize they can vote themselves money, that will be the beginning of the end for the republic. As we stand witness today to a rising trend of socialism in the U.S., Stephen asks the “why” and “how” questions that every voter must consider. Stephen also proposes a fair plan that reduces the gap between the haves and the have-nots. As the 2020 electi...

You are likely to live longer than you expect. Perhaps you have thought of retirement as something that happens around the age of 60 to 65. In reality, many of us today could easily live well into our 90s. In this episode, Stephen encourages a new way of thinking about retirement and old age, while also cautioning against the rising tide of ageism.

The rate of extreme poverty in the world has been cut in half over the past decade from 15.7% in 2010 to 7.7% today. Extreme poverty has been all but eradicated in China. The world is changing for the better. More than half the world is in the middle class or above. Mortality rates for women and infants have been halved since 1990, and youth literacy is on the rise. Let’s celebrate the good and ea...

The impeachment process is being shaped by those who speak well. Whether you’re a senator or a junior employee, you need to learn the art of public speaking. In this episode, Stephen comments on the rhetoric on display in the recent impeachment proceedings. Listen, evaluate, and make a plan to improve your own technique. Excellent speaking tactics, as well as knowing your content, will win the fut...

Today on the podcast, Stephen tackles the impeachment trial from an angle you have probably not heard in the news. Demographics and political leanings are shifting in the U.S., and the GOP must think generationally in everything they do publicly. Learn why the Senate’s refusal to hear certain witnesses could be a very bad decision with a ripple effect that spreads for years. Now, more than ever, t...

This past July, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported the results of a survey regarding the American people’s trust of government institutions. The most trusted people are scientists (83%), while trust of politicians hovers around 37%. At this point in history, the American people don’t trust government institutions and leaders enough to deal with large crises. The 2020 Presidential e...

With an average age of 24, Iran is a young country. In this episode, Stephen pulls back the curtain and provides some background information about what’s taking place in Iran culturally and spiritually. Beneath the crust of the nation’s older Islamic men there is a young and vibrant group of people. Furthermore, the growth of Christianity is booming. (The Christian population is estimated to be be...

Qasem Soleimani was undoubtedly a terrorist who cost many hundreds of American lives. He was an enemy of the United States and the tip of the spear in the Shiite and Iranian takeover of Iraq. It is good that he has gone. But the Trump administration’s reckless dancing-in-the-endzone approach will bring trouble for years to come. In this episode, Stephen discusses the Soleimani assassination (and w...

How did “evangelical,” which has its roots in the Greek word for “good news,” come to have a largely negative association with right-wing politics? In this episode, Stephen briefly traces the history and usage of the word, discussing along the way: the ancient church, John Wesley and the Methodist movement, Billy Graham and Richard Nixon’s friendship, and our own age – an era that saw 81% of white...

Merry Christmas! Reading is on many listeners’ minds this time of the year. In this episode, Stephen shares some of the top reading habits he’s developed over the years. Listen in to discover tactics that will make you a better and more accomplished reader. This episode is a must-listen for veteran readers and would-be readers alike! This episode originally aired on July 4, 2018.

Whether you’re a Christian or not, the Christmas season is an excellent time to allow the humanity, warmth, love, and graciousness of the Christmas season wash over you. In this podcast, Stephen recommends some books and movies through which you might allow yourself to be transformed… Joyeux Noel (watch the trailer) It’s a Wonderful Life (watch the trailer) A Christmas Carol (watch the trailer) Th...

The political middle has been abandoned. The mainstream may talk about the “middle” as a place for those with weak, undecided opinions, but Stephen sees the “radical middle” as a place for thoughtful voters with convictions and morals. In this episode, Stephen gives some examples of what a right-of-center political viewpoint looks like. This episode originally aired on December 6, 2017.

Politically speaking, Stephen finds himself right of center – what he’s come to call “the radical middle.” While this podcast is not about Stephen’s political beliefs, he believes that his experience and viewpoint may help listeners make sense of our current political climate. This episode originally aired on November 29, 2017.

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks, for despite what the negative news cycle may tend to portray, we live in the most remarkable time of human history. No, the world’s not perfect. But in this episode, Stephen celebrates the good with a bounty of uplifting facts. Did you know the global illiteracy rate has dropped form 46% to 18% since 1970? Or that 720 million fewer people lived in extreme poverty i...

In what has become a Stephen Mansfield Podcast Thanksgiving tradition, Stephen tells the story of the Pilgrim Thanksgiving, the one that has inspired the American holiday. So gather the family and listen to this brief, exciting account of an episode from our nation’s history and from our heritage of faith. (This episode has appeared previously on the Stephen Mansfield Podcast.)

It’s sad to see Americans become increasingly disconnected from their military. Veteran’s Day may be the least observed federal holiday. In this episode (recorded on Veteran’s Day 2019), Stephen urges for a restoration of honor for those who serve in the U.S. military. Though America has been receding as of late, she is still a large force on the world’s stage. Those who safeguard our nation deser...

Iraq is being overtaken by Iran. The government in Baghdad is essentially a puppet of the Iranian government. There is a massive restructuring underway in the Middle East. And because the U.S. is retreating from its responsibilities, the Iranians are feeling emboldened. This is what the U.S. abandonment of the Kurds has signaled to the Middle East, and it is one of the most pressing issues of our...

The poet John Donne wrote, “Any man's death diminishes me.” Perhaps not in the case of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Look at what can happen when the U.S. stays in the game, pairing its military might and technology with Kurdish courage and fortitude. In this episode, Stephen reflects on the death of Baghdadi, as well as what it will mean for the Kurds, Turkey, Iraq, and the Middle East as a w...

At the end of World War II, much of what we think of as third-world countries were not developed enough to be global powers. The U.S. was the superpower on the world’s stage, owned 90 percent of the world’s gold, and had robust industries, technologies, and innovations. Like it or not, the U.S. was the world’s policeman. Now, new players like Russia and China are emerging onto the world’s stage. A...

Donald Trump’s betrayal of the Kurds may be one of the most important events to happen in our lifetime. Having just returned from Iraqi Kurdistan, Stephen shares his knowledge and personal experience regarding U.S. policy and matters involving the Kurds and Turks. The Kurds are some of the most gracious, loving, and generous people in the world. Sadly, they have a long history of being betrayed. I...

On top of serious international problems, trade wars, and a looming recession, division in the U.S. is increasing with the very likely possibility of President Trump’s impeachment. President Trump has so fully declared war on the Left, and so foolishly left himself open to these charges, that it is highly probable he will be impeached by the House. Stephen explains the impeachment process and pred...