Sanity Check

Latest Episodes:

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

What wiped out the great American Chestnut Tree—human industry or nature itself? The answer might surprise you.

In this episode, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner revisits one of North America’s greatest ecological losses to reveal how the near-extinction of the American Chestnut wasn’t caused by human greed or deforestation, but by a natural fungal blight. He explores how this “Redwood of the East” once shaped American life, and how its disappearance challenges the common environmentalist claim that humanity is always to blame for nature’s tragedies.

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What You Need to Know About Natural Asset Companies Dec 12, 2025

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What are Natural Asset Companies, and why did 24 states fight to stop them? In this episode of Created to Reign, David R. Legates explains how NACs would turn the ecological “value” of forests, watersheds, and other natural areas into tradable corporate assets—placing control of land use in the hands of investors rather than owners.

Proponents claim NACs unlock new money for conservation. Critics warn they threaten property rights, restrict access to land, raise food and energy prices, and open the door to globalist overreach.

Join us as we unpack why the New York Stock Exchange withdrew its proposal, why the idea isn’t dead, and what NACs could mean for the future of sovereignty and stewardship.

Links:

https://www.eenews.net/articles/invest-in-nature-might-be-possible-with-natural-asset-companies/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/18/business/economy/natural-assets.html

https://www.cpac.org/post/the-troubling-rise-of-natural-asset-companies

https://hageman.house.gov/media/in-the-news/natural-asset-companies-proposed-rule-threatens-property-right

Try This Life-Changing Christmas Experience Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

In this special Christmas episode of Created to Reign, Cal Beisner steps away from the usual discussions of environmental stewardship and economic wisdom to explore a different kind of wonder. Drawing on Virgil’s Eclogue IV—a poem early Christians saw as foreshadowing the birth and kingdom of Christ—Cal traces how its imagery of peace, abundance, and restored creation resonates through history and culminates in one of the greatest musical works ever composed: Handel’s Messiah.

From Virgil’s prophetic verses to the scriptural epigrams that inspired Handel’s masterpiece, this episode invites you to “sing of great things” by reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation and the beauty of the gospel proclaimed through music. Cal walks through the structure of Messiah, highlights its most powerful movements, and shares how generations—from early church fathers to John Newton—have used this oratorio as a tool for worship and evangelism.

Whether you’ve sung Messiah in a choir or never listened to it start-to-finish, this episode offers a heartfelt invitation: experience a performance of Messiah this Christmas, follow the text, and let its sweeping narrative of prophecy, redemption, and triumph draw you into deeper awe of Christ.

Listen in—and may this season fill you with joy, gratitude, and hope in the One whose birth changed the world.

Messiah performance, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3T6YwwU9s&t=6s

Messiah libretto (text), https://jubalslyre.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dicke-Text-Study-of-Handels-Messiah-rev.-230912.pdf

Roman Catholics Speak Out On Climate Change... Again. Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

Roman Catholic leaders are sounding the climate alarm again—but are their claims grounded in reality? In this episode of Created to Reign, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner takes a hard look at the latest warnings, from Laudato Sí to the Claretian Missionaries’ “Glad You Asked” podcast, and tests them against the actual data on natural disasters, global temperatures, and the world’s energy use.

The episode breaks down why dire predictions of worsening hurricanes, droughts, floods, and fires don’t match long-term observational records, and why trillions spent on renewables have barely budged global dependence on fossil fuels. It also challenges the notion that rejecting climate catastrophism means rejecting care for creation, and revisits the Cornwall Alliance’s Open Letter to Pope Francis as a call for clearer thinking and better stewardship.

A compelling, evidence-driven challenge to the dominant narrative—inviting listeners to rethink what faithful creation care really requires.

“Glad You Asked” podcast: https://uscatholic.org/articles/202511/what-does-the-church-really-teach-about-climate-change-lorna-gold/

Open Letter to Pope Francis on Climate Change, https://cornwallalliance.org/anopenlettertopopefrancisonclimatechange/

Climate and Energy: The Case for Realism, https://cornwallalliance.org/product/climate-and-energy-a-case-for-realism/

The German Idi-oddessy Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Germany has long been considered an industrial powerhouse—but in recent years, its energy policies have charted a path that looks less like progress and more like self-inflicted decline. From shuttering reliable energy sources to binding one of its most prosperous cities to an aggressive net-zero mandate, Germany’s “energy transition” raises a serious question: is this bold environmental leadership, or a slow-motion economic unraveling?

In this episode of Created to Reign, Dr. David Legates examines Germany’s rapid de-development—what led to it, why citizens of Hamburg voted to accelerate it, and what these decisions mean for industry, energy security, and everyday people. As Europe’s wealthiest nation grapples with soaring costs and shrinking energy supply, Dr. Legates explores whether Germany’s path offers a cautionary tale for the United States.

Stay with us as we consider what happens when well-intended climate goals collide with the realities of energy, economics, and human flourishing.

Did Bill Gates Do a 180 or a 360? Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Did Bill Gates really change his mind about climate change—or did he simply repackage the same old alarmism with softer language? In this episode of Created to Reign, Cal Beisner revisits Gates’s much-discussed COP30 “memo” and explains why the tech billionaire’s supposed turnaround may be less of a 180 and more of a full 360. From Gates’s past rhetoric to the fine print in his latest statements, Cal uncovers the qualifiers, the quiet continuities, and the strategic reframing behind the hype. Tune in for a clear-eyed look at what Gates actually said, what it really means, and why climate activists and skeptics alike might be celebrating—or worrying—too soon.

Richard and Jane's Second Podcast Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. David Legates turns the microphone back over to Richard and Jane—the AI duo created with Google Notebook LM—for their second appearance on Created to Reign. This time, they tackle the Genesis creation account, exploring its literal interpretation and relationship to scientific inquiry. Based on a dialogue generated from Dr. Gregory Rummo’s essay, “Graciously Making the Case for a Literal Account of Creation,” this episode shows that when AI is grounded in biblical truth, even the “artificial” can sound remarkably authentic.

Should the EPA Do Away with the Carbon Dioxide Endangerment Finding? With Will Happer Nov 08, 2025

Show notes

Should the EPA repeal its 2009 ruling that declared carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a danger to public health? The answer could reshape America’s entire climate policy.

In this episode, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner sits down with renowned physicist Dr. Will Happer—emeritus professor at Princeton University and former JASON advisor to the U.S. government—to discuss the EPA’s proposal to rescind the so-called “Endangerment Finding.” Together, they unpack the scientific uncertainties, legal arguments, and economic implications behind the debate, exploring what’s really at stake for energy policy, environmental regulation, and human flourishing.

Bill Gates Does a 180 Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Has Bill Gates had a change of heart on climate change? In this episode of Created to Reign, Dr. David Legates explores the tech billionaire’s surprising “strategic pivot” — from alarmist rhetoric to emphasizing poverty reduction, innovation, and human welfare. Drawing on Gates’ own words and reactions from figures like Michael Mann and The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Legates asks: has Gates truly joined the ranks of climate realists, or is this just a softer shade of alarmism? Tune in for a thoughtful look at shifting narratives and what they mean for the future of the climate debate.

Sources:

https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/three-tough-truths-about-climate

https://apnews.com/article/bill-gates-climate-change-united-nations-4108f76e746d1e3e13845f33b8ae7007

https://thebulletin.org/2025/10/you-cant-reboot-the-planet-if-you-crash-it/

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/bill-gates-climate-change-bjorn-lomborg-e3fe6d24

Is Climate Change Responsible for Hurricane Melissa? Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

When Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean as a Category 5 storm, many rushed to blame its strength on manmade climate change. But is that claim supported by the data? In this episode of Created to Reign, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, President of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, examines what history and science actually reveal about hurricanes and climate change. Join him as he challenges popular narratives, offers a Biblical perspective on God’s sovereignty over the weather, and reminds us that fear should never replace facts—or faith.

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