Best Jeffery Lewis Podcasts (2024)

1
153 – Full-Time with David Bahnsen 56:21

3d ago56:21

56:21

David Bahnsen returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book: Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life. David holds a high view of work and, in an era where self-help gurus are teaching us how to work less to achieve a work/life balance, David wants to shift the paradigm to work/rest and celebrate the productive nature of our being. Also discusse…

1
152 – Humanist Conservatives with Jeffery Tyler Syck 1:03:31

17d ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Fusionism—the viewpoint advocated by the likes of William F. Buckley and Frank Meyer of order and liberty mutually reinforcing each other—has been the dominant form of conservatism in the United States for a generation. In the era of Trump and the rise of nationalist populism on the Right, however, fusionism has steadily lost influence. Should cons…

1
151 – The God of This Lower World 55:32

1M ago55:32

55:32

What is the single most important virtue for a leader to possess? What quality can make the run-of-the-mill politician into a statesman? Is it integrity, communication skills, resilience, courage, empathy, or wisdom? All of these things are important, of course, and if any are sufficiently lacking we wouldn’t call that a good leader. But what would…

1
150 – We Don't Need No Indoctrination with Luke Sheahan 59:16

2M ago59:16

59:16

What is the purpose of higher education? Is it primarily to prepare us for the jobs of the future? Is it to ensure the leaders of tomorrow hold the right opinions on important issues? Is it to provide a safe haven for the pursuit of Truth? Thinkers on the Right have held differing—sometimes incompatible—views on the purpose of higher education. Joi…

1
149 – The Legacy of Roger Scruton with Fisher Derderian 1:17:44

2M ago1:17:44

1:17:44

Having published more than forty books on an astoundingly wide range of topics and holding noteworthy positions at the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature, the University of Oxford, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and the University of Buckingham, Sir Roger Scruton was the quintessential British gentleman and scholar. He was al…

1
148 – Conservatism in Practice with Gov Mitch Daniels 48:20

2M ago48:20

48:20

The Saving Elephants podcast has welcomed a wide array of incredible guests who are on forefront of the conservative political movement. But most of the guests discuss conservatism from the perspective of a theory or set of principles or idea. Few have had the opportunity to enact political conservatism as a practice. And few ex-politicians have be…

1
147 – Where the Religious Right Went Wrong with JB Shreve 59:53

3M ago59:53

59:53

One of the strangest political developments over the past several decades has been the devolution of the Religious Right and large swaths of politically active Evangelicals as they morphed from character counts moralists of the 1990s to MAGA Trumplicans. Regardless of the merits of where the Religious Right stands today, one could be forgiven for b…

1
146 – The Myth of Nationalism with Samuel Goldman 1:22:37

4M ago1:22:37

1:22:37

What does is mean to be an American? And why do we Americans obsess so much over the question of what it means to be an American? This nagging question has plagued our nation since its birth and various national “myths” have been advanced to offer some form of national identity and cohesion. At times one myth has proven stronger than the others, on…

1
145 – Smoking Yule Logs and Donning Gay Apparel 1:01:49

4M ago1:01:49

1:01:49

In 2021, Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis joined three other veteran podcasters on a new podcast endeavor: Are We Right? Cal Davenport, Brooke Medina, and Calvin Moore, and Josh debated a wide range of topics from politics to religion to culture and invited the audience to weigh in on whether or not they’re right. While the show was tragically shor…

1
144 – Conservative Historian Redux with AD Tippet 1:07:01

5M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

Earlier this year Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis was on AD Tippet’s podcast, Conservative Historian. This episode is a re-podcast of that conversation that covered a wide variety of conservative topics from both the past and today. About AD Tippet AD Tippet (the podcast formerly known as Belisarius Aves) is the founder and publisher of the Conser…

1
143 – The Conservative Mind at 70 with Michael Lucchese 1:11:35

5M ago1:11:35

1:11:35

In 1953 a little-known political theorist Russell Kirk repurposed his doctoral dissertation as a book for publication. His book, The Conservative Mind, would quickly become a bestseller, give the nascent conservative movement its name and intellectual moorings, be reviewed and debated in respectable publications across the country, and launch its a…

1
142 – Jiving with Jaffa with Seth Root 58:44

6M ago58:44

58:44

While Leo Strauss was famous for influencing men and women who became intellectual heavyweights in the conservative movement—names like Allan Bloom, Irving Kristol, Harvey Mansfield, Thomas Pangle barely scratch the surface—few stand as tall as Harry Jaffa. A cantankerous and quarrelsome debater to some and a beloved architect of restoring conserva…

1
141 – The Soul of Civility with Alexandra Hudson 55:23

6M ago55:23

55:23

Everyone supports civility, in theory, when the “other side” is behaving themselves. But what is the role of civility in an era of growing political division? Is civility a weakness that can be exploited by our political opponents? Is it simply being well-mannered and exceedingly nice, or is there more to it? Those are the very questions Alexandra …

1
140 – Back to Burke 1:17:13

7M ago1:17:13

1:17:13

The name Edmund Burke is used quite liberally on the Saving Elephants podcast as host Josh Lewis makes no bones about being a “Burkean” conservative. But who was this Irish statesman, economist, and philosopher? What were his contributions to conservative thought? Why does Josh hold him in such high regard? And why do some conservatives argue there…

1
139 – Perspectives from Across the Pond with Sarah Stook 1:09:37

7M ago1:09:37

1:09:37

The United States and United Kingdom have enjoyed and, at times, endured a symbiotic history, culture, politics, and global relationship. Often understanding the quirks of one nation helps us better understand our own. Sarah Stook, journalist of American politics and history, joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss what Americans and Brit…

1
138 – The Conservative Historian with Belisarius Aves 1:16:52

8M ago1:16:52

1:16:52

“History offers not simply a chronicle of events but, more importantly, opportunities to gain insights about the human condition from the experience of other times and places,” writes Thomas Sowell in his provocatively titled book Black Rednecks and White Liberals. “That is, it offers not merely facts but explanations.” Yet history’s capacity to be…

1
137 – Political Theology with Jonathan Cole – Part 2 1:09:17

8M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Christian or not, it’s undeniable that Western civilization, and the United States in particular, has deep historical roots in Judeo-Christian teachings. Scripture has shaped much of our culture, thought, values, and politics. But while plenty of Biblical passages appear to have political implications, there’s little consensus among the general pop…

1
136 – Political Theology with Jonathan Cole – Part 1 1:05:09

9M ago1:05:09

1:05:09

“I never discuss anything else except politics and religion,” English writer, philosopher, and Christian apologist G. K. Chesterton once quipped. “There is nothing else to discuss.” For some sensible, genteel Americans, politics and religion are precisely what you don’t discuss in public and—perhaps even—in private company. Others discuss both with…

1
135 – Cool Ellul with Jason Thacker 53:16

9M ago53:16

53:16

Modern views on how future technology is likely to change our lives range from bloviatingly aspirational visions of utopia to musings on whether the latest advancement in AI will destroy humankind in our lifetime or merely enslave us all in Matrix-style battery capillaries. Yet debates on whether technology is a neutral tool for our benefit or a ne…

1
134 – Gilding a Mess with Avi Woolf 58:02

10M ago58:02

58:02

In the aftermath of the Civil War and prior to the first World War lies an often overlooked era in American history known as the Gilded Age. This was an extraordinarily “messy” period where it’s often difficult to identify the heroes to extol or villains to condemn. But it is also a period that has unusually similar parallels to our own times from …

1
133 – Grappling with Hate Speech with Brooke Medina 48:05

10M ago48:05

48:05

In this brave new digital world, opportunities for hate speech seem ubiquitous and increasingly dangerous. How should a conservative balance their values of limited-government and protection of the vulnerable in social media? How do we answer the charges of “silence is violence”, or that speech and equal violence from a legal, cultural, and moral f…

1
132 – Classical Period Non-Perverts with Jack Butler 1:08:27

11M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Among the very-online, relatively young, and mostly male cohorts of the Right is a movement growing in popularity and intensity that valorizes the very excesses the Left criticizes as toxic masculinity. This movement, promulgated by the likes of Bronze Age Pervert and Mencius Moldbug and defended or even praised by a surprising array of mainstream …

1
131 – Witnessing Whittaker with Sam Tanenhaus 1:20:34

12M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

In 1948 Whittaker Chambers shocked the nation when, while testifying before Congress, he gave the names of individuals he claimed were working within the United States government as Communist spies for the Soviet Union. Among those named was Alger Hiss, Chamber’s close friend and former Communist comrade. The ensuing trial quickly divided the natio…

1
130 – Cultivating Kirk with Jeff Nelson 1:06:30

12M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

Perhaps no other individual (or person, for the benefit of the Kirkian insider) was more responsible for resuscitating intellectual conservatism back to life in the mid Twentieth century than Russell Kirk. Today, Kirk’s efforts to recover and conserve the “Permanent Things” lives on at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. Co-founder and Vi…

1
129 – Epistemological Musings with Bonnie Kristian 54:31

1y ago54:31

54:31

Our digital world is saturated in “facts” but there’s little agreement on what constitutes “truth”. If we can no longer agree on what sources of information can be reliable, is civil debate even possible? To what degree is the problem exacerbated by social media? To what degree is this simply a problem of human nature? Bonnie Kristian joins Saving …

1
128 – Reconciling Kirk and King with John Wood Jr 1:00:49

1y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

What do Russell Kirk and Martin Luther King Jr. have in common? Though they’re traditionally depicted as coming from opposing political orientations, National Ambassador for Braver Angels John Wood Jr. believes a deeper understanding of their religious convictions and societal aspirations reveals an important commonality between these two men. And …

1
127 – 40 Must-Read Conservative Books – Part 2 1:06:08

1y ago1:06:08

1:06:08

The conservative tradition embodies centuries of accumulated wisdom from some of the brightest and most inspiring thinkers you’ll find. Yet for the young conservative eager to learn more about this tradition, choosing which books to read can be a daunting task. Most online lists of top conservative books contain familiar titles of classic tomes tha…

1
126 – 40 Must-Read Conservative Books – Part 1 1:07:25

1y ago1:07:25

1:07:25

The conservative tradition embodies centuries of accumulated wisdom from some of the brightest and most inspiring thinkers you’ll find. Yet for the young conservative eager to learn more about this tradition, choosing which books to read can be a daunting task. Most online lists of top conservative books contain familiar titles of classic tomes tha…

1
125 – Braver Angels with Elizabeth Doll 1:12:19

1y ago1:12:19

1:12:19

In response to America’s rapidly polarizing political divide a number of organizations have developed to try and turn down the heat. Braver Angels is the nation’s largest movement dedicated to bridging the partisan gap. Their website boasts that they are “equally balanced between conservatives and progressives at every level of leadership”. Back in…

1
124 – The Unpopulists and the New Right with Shikha Dalmia 1:36:45

1y ago1:36:45

1:36:45

Populism is on the rise today—or so we’re told. But what is populism? Is it something to be feared or should it only be concerning to those dastardly elites? Is populism a political movement of the Left or the Right? Is it only a phenomenon of the politics of today, or has populism existed in some form throughout our nation’s history? Does populism…

1
123 – Judging Lord Acton with Dan Hugger 1:16:22

1+ y ago1:16:22

1:16:22

1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli, John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton who, for obvious reasons, is more commonly referred to as simply Lord Acton, was a 19th century writer, historian, and member of the British parliament whose contributions to history, faith, and politics are largely forgotten beyond his most famous quote: “Power tends to …

1
122 – The Political Animals with Jonathan Cole 1:50:22

1+ y ago1:50:22

1:50:22

Late last year Jonathan Cole had Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis on his podcast, The Political Animals, to talk about the quirkiness of American conservatism, the rise of the NatCons, and whether there’s any hope for Josh’s brand of fusionist conservatism in the future. The conversation was simply too good not to share, so here is a re-podcast of …

1
121 – Kids These Days with Scott Howard 1:12:28

1+ y ago1:12:28

1:12:28

While Saving Elephants is targeted to younger Americans, more and more Millennials cannot be counted among “the kids these days”. Today’s college students belong to Gen Z, and they are coming of age in one of the most turbulent political shifts and ideological realignments over the past half century. What are conservatives to make of this next gene…

1
120 – Why Associations Matter with Luke Sheahan 58:31

1+ y ago58:31

58:31

In 1953 sociologist Robert Nisbet published his most famous work The Quest for Community, arguing for the necessity of association to the human experience and the harm inflicted upon communities when they are deprived of their function. Traditional conservatism has long upheld Nisbet’s teachings as a reminder that we are not purely material beings …

1
119 – Inflating the Apocalypse with David Bahnsen 1:13:23

1+ y ago1:13:23

1:13:23

What is the great economic challenge of our times? Is it inflation? Rising inequality? Artificially low interest rates? Economist David Bahnsen joins Josh to discuss why excessive government debt and our slow-growth or no-growth economy risks the Japanification of the United States. While some warn of a financial apocalypse, David argues that a mor…

1
118 – Fearlessly Curious with Mónica Guzmán 55:26

1+ y ago55:26

55:26

Mónica Guzmán joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis as they reach across the political divide to explore how the Left and Right might better engage one another in respectful debate. Mónica shares her experiences as a liberal living in deep, blue Seattle yet grappling with her immigrant parent’s support for Trump. They also discuss the limitations …

1
117 – Conservatism Down Under with Jonathan Cole 1:27:51

1+ y ago1:27:51

1:27:51

American conservatism has long struggled to reconcile the American Revolution with a worldview that defers to the slow accretion of cultural and historical development over generations. Yet some nations followed this more “conservative” path. How might American conservatism appear to them? Joining Josh in this episode is bona fide conservative and …

1
116 – Fifty Conservative Thinkers 1:24:33

1+ y ago1:24:33

1:24:33

In an age where what passes for the archetype conservative are the likes of Candace Owens, Bill Mitchell, Sean Hannity, Matt Gaetz, Tomi Lahren, and Donald Trump, it can be discouraging for those of us who take pride in the rich legacy and colorful history of thinkers on the Right to be associated with such grifters, demagogues, and charlatans. Try…

1
115 – A Post-Roe World with Kimberly Ross 1:08:12

1+ y ago1:08:12

1:08:12

With the end of Roe, the pro-life movement scores a major victory in the fight to protect the life of the unborn. But does this victory signify the end or is it merely the beginning of a new set of challenges and uncertainty in a world that doesn’t always embrace life? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Kimberly Ross to discuss what a po…

1
114 – Are We Right? - Crossover Podcast 59:33

1+ y ago59:33

59:33

Earlier this summer, Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis joined three other veteran podcasters to launch a new show: Are We Right? Cal Davenport, Brooke Medina, and Calvin Moore, and Josh debate a wide range of topics from politics to religion to culture and invite the audience to weigh in on whether or not they’re right. A recent episode featured Cal…

1
113 – It's Greek to Me with Christopher Chesny 1:18:30

1+ y ago1:18:30

1:18:30

The Orthodox Christian faith is a growing yet tiny minority in the Christendom body in the United States. Yet they are growing in strength and numbers on the broader American Right. Which suggests that Orthodoxy may exert its influence on the conservative movement of the future. What traditions does the faith hold that may bolster and modify conser…

1
112 – Geriatric Millennials with Eric Kohn 1:10:43

1+ y ago1:10:43

1:10:43

Fellow geriatric millennial Eric Kohn joins Josh to discuss what keeps the Acton Institute anchored in turbulent political waters, the proper role for libertarian ideas in conservatism, the dangers of religious zeal in political ideologies, and what’s wrong with conservative kids these days. About Eric Kohn From Acton Institute's website: Eric Kohn…

1
111 – What Hath Conservatism Conserved? with Avi Woolf 1:00:50

2y ago1:00:50

1:00:50

Matthew Continetti’s new book The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism has instigated a vigorous conversation around the best way to understand the historical phenomenon of modern conservatism in the United States. Returning guest Avi Woolf joins Josh for a discussion on what Continetti’s depiction gets right and not-so-right about…

1
110 – Reaching the Future with Marlo Slayback 57:05

2y ago57:05

57:05

Founded in the early 1950s, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) sought to fill the gaping void in higher education where progressive ideas were in vogue and conservative ones were ignored or attacked. Under the leadership of their first president, a young journalist named William F. Buckley Jr., ISI began mentoring young men and women to be…

1
109 – The Right with Matthew Continetti 58:09

2y ago58:09

58:09

Esteemed AEI scholar Matthew Continetti returns to the podcast for a woefully brief overview of his latest book, The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism From the book’s description: When most people think of the history of modern conservatism, they think of Ronald Reagan. Yet this narrow view leaves many to question: How did Donal…

1
108 – Following Up with Bo Winegard 1:34:17

2y ago1:34:17

1:34:17

Bo Winegard returns to the show to talk about controversies surrounding the science of human variation, his experience with cancel culture, and the growing problems of cognitive distribution. It’s another in-the-weeds wonkfest of alarmingly nerdish proportions. About Bo Winegard Bo Winegard obtained his PhD in social psychology from Florida State U…

1
107 – Right to Work with Christopher Chesny 1:37:07

2y ago1:37:07

1:37:07

As more and more working-class Americans join the Republican party some voices on the Right are advocating the GOP become the worker’s party—a role that has traditionally been held by various movements and parties of the Left. Is there any merit to this idea? What is the history of labor relations and the Right and Left in the United States? How ha…

1
106 – Reappraising Herbert Hoover with George Nash 1:38:27

2y ago1:38:27

1:38:27

Historian George Nash returns to the show to discuss the life and legacy of Herbert Hoover. Few American presidents are as decried by voices on both the Left and Right as Herbert Hoover. His name has become synonymous with economic suffering and callous Federal response. But Dr. Nash contends that the popular narrative linking Hoover to the catastr…

1
105 – AllSides with Julie Mastrine 1:13:13

2y ago1:13:13

1:13:13

Julie Mastrine of AllSides joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis in a freewheeling conversation about the media. Conservatives love to complain of the liberal media bias, but are their complaints founded or over exaggerated? Do “both sides” have a bias problem? How do they differ and how are they similar? Are there times when bias is acceptable an…

1
104 – Armchair Burkeans with Bo Winegard 1:37:20

2y ago1:37:20

1:37:20

Josh engages in a Cannonball Run conversation with Bo Winegard across a wide variety of subjects from how Bo found himself migrating from the political Left to the Right, whether Edmund Burke believed in natural rights, how one might approach Burke from both a religious and secular angle, the curious tendency of the academic Left to erect strawman …

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Jeffery Lewis Podcasts

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