The Aaron Renn Show

Latest Episodes:

Work Is the Meaning of Life | David Bahnsen Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

In this thought-provoking conversation, wealth manager and author David Bahnsen challenges conventional wisdom about work, retirement, and purpose. Managing $7.1 billion in assets hasn't stopped Bahnsen from questioning our culture's assumptions about work as something to escape from. His book "Full-Time: Work in the Meaning of Life" presents a radical rethinking of vocation as central to human flourishing. Bahnsen argues that our focus on consumption over production and our eagerness to retire represent fundamental misunderstandings of what gives life meaning. Whether you're planning for retirement, questioning your work-life balance, or searching for greater purpose, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on finding fulfillment through productive contribution.

Buy Bahnsen's book Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCMMFGJY/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20

Subscribe to my newsletter - https://www.aaronrenn.com/

New York: America's First Post-Secular City | Tony Carnes Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Tony Carnes, sociologist, journalist, and founder of "A Journey Through NYC Religions," joins us to explore how New York City has transformed from a secular metropolis into what he calls "America's first post-secular city."
Tony shares fascinating stories from his project documenting every religious site in New York City, revealing the vibrant religious communities that thrive in neighborhoods across all five boroughs. From Hasidic synagogues in Brooklyn to storefront churches in the Bronx, discover how faith communities have shaped the city's culture and politics.

Visit A Journey Through NYC Religions: https://nycreligion.info/

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Christian Liberty vs. Modern License: True Freedom in a Digital Age | Brad Littlejohn Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Join Aaron as he welcomes back Brad Littlejohn, author of "Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License" and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. In this thought-provoking conversation, they explore the true meaning of freedom from a Christian perspective and how it contrasts with modern society's understanding of liberty as unlimited choice. Brad unpacks how technology, despite promising greater freedom, often leads to new forms of enslavement, and explains why the Christian concept of freedom through service to Christ offers a more fulfilling path to genuine liberty.

Note: The audio levels on this podcast are unequal. I am migrating to a new podcasting system and still getting the hang of it. Bear with me as I learn the new software

Buy Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License: https://www.amazon.com/Called-Freedom-Retrieving-Christian-Everything/dp/1087779502?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Media Evolution and American Character | Titus Techera Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

In this wide-ranging conversation, writer and editor Titus Techera explores how media has evolved from America's founding to today's social media landscape. We discuss how different forms of media - from Revolutionary War pamphlets to modern podcasts - have shaped American democracy and character.
Techera breaks down how technological changes have repeatedly disrupted elite institutional control, and why legacy media's attempts to maintain power in the digital age keep backfiring. We explore the roles of figures like Joe Rogan, Christopher Rufo, and Elon Musk in transforming modern media dynamics.

The Third Wave of Journalism: https://lawliberty.org/the-third-wave-of-journalism/

The Postmodern Conservative: https://pomocon.substack.com/

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Making the Case for Religion in a Secular Age | Ross Douthat Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

NYT columnist Ross Douthat joins me to discuss his new book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. We explore why skeptics and non-believers should consider religious faith, examining evidence from science, philosophy, and human experience. Douthat makes the case that religious belief is not only reasonable but arguably obligatory for thinking people in our age.

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Why-Everyone-Should-Religious-ebook/dp/B0D8VNGWKL/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Classical Education's Civil War: Great Books vs Ancient Languages | Alex Petkas Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Princeton Classics PhD Alex Petkas argues against the "Great Books" model of classical education and makes the case for returning to traditional classical training focused on Greek and Latin languages. He explains why Plutarch's Lives was one of early America's most influential books and why it deserves renewed attention today.

Alex Petkas is host of the Cost of Glory podcast, exploring great thinkers and events in classical civilization.

Alex Petka's article in the American Mind: “Great Books” Is for Losers: https://americanmind.org/salvo/great-books-is-for-losers/

The Cost of Glory Podcast: https://www.costofglory.com/

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

How Democrats Lost the Working Class | Ruy Teixeira Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Ruy Teixeira, one of America's leading political analysts, discusses the dramatic realignment of American political coalitions and what it means for the future. A longtime Democratic insider and co-author of The Emerging Democratic Majority, Teixeira explains his journey from progressive think tanks to the American Enterprise Institute, unpacks the Democrats' struggles with working-class voters, and offers a three-point plan for rebuilding the Democratic coalition.
The Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/
Buy The Emerging Democratic Majority: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Democratic-Majority-John-Judis-ebook/dp/B0036QVPEU/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

The Ultimate Christian College Guide | Jesse Rine Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

P. Jesse Rine, director of the Center for Academic Faithfulness and Flourishing (CAFF), joins us to talk about the state of Christian higher education. He will also showcase CAFF's new online Christian college guide, which is the most comprehensive collection of information about Christian colleges available.
Note: This podcast may be best on Youtube because it involves a demonstration of a web site with beta data: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGoVYk06TwI
Christian College Guide: https://www.christiancollegeguide.com/
Center for Academic Faithfulness and Flourishing: https://www.faithfulcolleges.org/
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Populism, Elite Power, and the American Right | Matthew Continetti Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, a deep dive with Matthew Continetti on his book The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism. We explore how American conservatism developed, from its birth in in the 1920s and opposition to FDR's New Deal through today's populist resurgence. Continetti explains why conservative populism keeps returning, how elites lost their grip on the right, and what the future might hold for American conservatism.
Matthew Continetti is the Director of Domestic Policy Studies and the Patrick and Charlene Neal Chair in American Prosperity at the American Enterprise Institute.
Buy: The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism - https://www.amazon.com/Right-Hundred-Year-War-American-Conservatism/dp/1541600517/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Traditional Conservatism in a Populist Age | Tim Chapman Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Tim Chapman discusses how traditional conservatives are engaging with the Trump administration. He's the president of Advancing American Freedom, an advocacy group set up by former Vice President Mike Pence.
We discuss:

What traditional conservatism is and what it's future is in the age of populism and Trumpism
What Advancing American Freedom does
Engaging with the Trump administration: supporting China tariffs and a Tik Tok ban, tax cuts, deregulation
Why AAF opposes RFK, Jr.'s nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services over abortion.

Advancing American Freedom: https://advancingamericanfreedom.com/
Follow Tim Chapman on Twitter/X: https://x.com/TimChapman
Get my analysis of Christianity, family, cities, politics, society and economics: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

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