The Chris Spangle Show

Latest Episodes:

The promise of a conservative Gen Z, cultural chaos, and the centralization of power in the executive branch Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Join Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Rhinehold for an unfiltered conversation exploring everything from tech “enshittification” and the work-from-home debate to the dangers of centralized government power. The trio examines how political and cultural tension mirror the post-COVID era, why Gen Z’s values echo past generations, and what the “success sequence” reveals about personal responsibility. Chris closes with a passionate critique of executive overreach, historic preservation, and America’s fading respect for the rule of law.

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Who cares about political hypocrisy? Plus, The East Wing, Venezuelan Boats, and No Kings on WJOB Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Chris Spangle is interviewed by Chuck Pullen and Bob Starkey on "The Fall of Chuck And Bob" on WJOB 1230 AM for an in-depth discussion about libertarian views on Republicans and Democrats, the White House demolition, and the No Kings rallies. The conversation touches on hypocrisy in American politics, the role of power, and the increasing centralization of executive power. Key topics include Rand Paul's stance on drone strikes, the erosion of political standards, and the implications of gerrymandering and legislative immunity in Indiana.

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Christian Nationalism, Free Expression, and the Future of Liberty Sep 28, 2025

Show notes

Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Reinhold reunite for a new episode of We Are Libertarians. The hosts reintroduce themselves and reflect on the history of the show before diving into today’s big issues. They discuss the speed of the news cycle, public trust in media, right- and left-wing biases, and why local journalism still matters. The conversation also explores libertarian principles, cultural debates, Christian nationalism, and the role of free speech in a divided society. Tune in for sharp analysis, humor, and spirited discussion as three different libertarian perspectives come together to debate politics and culture.

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Foundations of Liberty 003: Individualism vs. Collectivism Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

In 1633, Galileo Galilei was condemned by the Roman Inquisition for teaching that the Earth revolves around the Sun. His defiance became a symbol of individual conscience against powerful institutions.

On this episode of The Chris Spangle Show, we explore the history of individualism versus collectivism — from Socrates to the Stoics, from Christianity and the Reformation to Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and John Stuart Mill, and into the American founding. We also explore libertarian principles of ethical individualism, free speech, and personal responsibility, contrasting them with the dangers of conformity, censorship, and control inherent in collectivism.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Galileo’s trial and its impact on science and freedom
How Christianity and the Reformation shaped individualism
The Enlightenment’s role in liberty and natural rights
Ethical individualism vs. collectivist control
Why libertarians defend conscience, speech, and voluntary cooperation

⁠https://youtu.be/q3Y7zGmoYaA⁠

00:00 Galileo vs. the Inquisition
01:49 The Rise of Heliocentrism
02:42 Courage, Individualism, & Libertarianism
03:33 What Is Individualism? Key Concepts
06:07 From Tribes to Individuals: History
07:36 Greek, Christian, and Enlightenment Roots
09:39 Individualism in America
10:39 Ethical Individualism Explained
13:39 Modern Challenges: Speech & Responsibility
15:31 Voluntary Association and Libertarianism
17:59 Political Individualism and Freedom
21:12 Collectivism vs. Individualism
24:03 Government Power and Group Identity
27:01 Case Study: Hong Kong’s Freedom Lost
28:59 Pros and Cons of Each Approach
30:06 Christian Critiques of Individualism
33:55 Expressive Individualism vs. Community
37:00 Individualism in Faith and Society
40:46 Voluntary Cooperation vs. Forced Conformity
41:45 The American Founding: A Radical Shift
45:42 Why Conscience and Principles Matter
47:00 Cancellations, Tribalism, and Consistency
51:00 Embracing Courage and Individual Thought
53:11 Be an Individual, Not Just a Follower
54:10 Outro & Final Thoughts

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Why the Charlie Kirk murder drove suburban America to church... And what to do if you're lukewarm Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

Chris Spangle reflects on the week following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the surprising impact on churches, and his own faith journey since September 11, 2001. He explores how tragedy shakes feelings of security, why people turn to church in uncertain times, and the role of parasocial relationships in amplifying grief. Spangle also shares practical steps for those seeking deeper faith, including church commitment, accountability, and daily spiritual disciplines.

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Start with the Gospel of John
Then read Romans
Afterward, read Genesis or continue through the New Testament

The Bible Project (website and YouTube channel)

Renewing Your Mind with R.C. Sproul
Tim Keller (Gospel in Life)
Matt Chandler – The Village Church Podcast
Insight for Living with Chuck Swindoll
Unashamed with Phil Robertson

00:00 Introduction & Charlie Kirk Incident 02:00 Surge in Church Attendance & Reflections on Security 06:00 Personal Faith Journey Post-9/11 10:00 Struggles with Lukewarm Faith 13:00 Marriage, Divorce, and Spiritual Drift 17:00 Self-Improvement and Facing Personal Struggles 21:00 Reigniting Active Faith & Practical Steps 25:00 Building Strong Church and Community Connections 30:00 Overcoming Stubborn Sins & Accountability 33:00 Fatherhood, Legacy, and Maturity 37:00 Finding Spiritual Role Models & Daily Routines 41:00 Being Open About Faith & Christian Community Today 44:00 Closing Advice: Commit, Connect, and Pursue Wisdom

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Civility Is Not Silence: How to Talk Politics with Courage with Project Civility's Jeff Worrell Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Chris Spangle sits down with Carmel City Councilor Jeff Worrell to discuss Project Civility and why disagreement is not something to avoid but a path toward stronger communities. They explore how civility is not about silence or politeness but about creating the groundwork for meaningful conversations on politics, religion, and tough issues. Worrell shares the core principles behind managing conflict, finding common ground, and staying in relationship—even when opinions clash. Learn why courage, listening, and respect are essential for building healthier dialogue in a divided time.

To learn more or attend the upcoming Project Civility Summit, visit projectcivility.com.

⁠https://youtu.be/_nLEIj-kBPY⁠

00:00 Introduction & Recent Events

02:16 What is Civility? Setting the Stage

05:20 Guest Introduction: Jeff Worrell

07:07 All About Carmel, Indiana

14:15 Building Community & Connection

17:36 Isolation, Fear, and Neighborly Issues

18:48 The Value of Disagreement

21:20 Courage, Empathy & Covenant Friendships

23:36 Techniques for Difficult Conversations

26:01 Listening, Pivoting, and Respect

29:00 Defining Civility & Handling Critiques

31:32 Civility is Not Weakness

34:08 Why People Retreat From Conversation

37:20 Navigating Disappointment & Speaking Boldly

40:12 Responding to Uncivil Politics

43:03 The Birth of Project Civility

46:39 The Civility Summit & Spreading the Message

48:23 How to Get Involved & Final Thoughts

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"Brick by brick": Building an ordered life through grit with Chris Spangle on Leading Adam Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Adam Binkerd and Erika Crabtree open season three of Leading Adam with a deeply personal conversation with Chris Spangle—director of digital content at IBJ, former Bob & Tom digital lead, and longtime host of The Chris Spangle Show. Spangle shares his journey from early success in radio and podcasting to a season of loss, depression, and faith that reshaped his life. He talks candidly about therapy, breaking unhealthy cycles, and choosing family over workaholism. A podcast editor, co-host of The Patdown and featured juror on BET’s Ms. Pat Settles It, he shares where he thinks media is heading. This episode sets the tone for a season focused on “leading inward,” exploring grit, resilience, and the quiet work of building an “ordered life” brick by brick. Follow him on YouTube here: @ChrisSpangleShow

https://youtu.be/S0LA9jqS7v0

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

00:00 Intro & New Season Kickoff

01:07 New Set, New Energy

02:04 Introducing Chris Spangle

05:56 Why Chris? Production & Connection

08:30 Season 3: Leading Inward

13:01 Chris's Journey: Podcasting & Growth

20:53 The Granular Skills That Built a Career

24:53 Getting Personal: Lessons from Childhood

31:31 Finding Grit in Insecurity

38:56 Faith, Recovery, and Second Chances

44:52 Formulas for Values & the Ordered Life

50:59 Balance, Vocational Choices & Family

01:00:10 Building Community & The Future of Relationships

01:13:02 Parenting, Role Models & Generational Growth

01:18:10 Authenticity, Judgment, and Social Barriers

01:21:31 Lessons Learned & Season Wrap-up

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Foundations of Liberty 002: Understanding Natural Rights vs. Legal Rights Aug 31, 2025

Show notes

What are natural rights, and how do they differ from legal rights? In this episode of Foundations of Liberty on The Chris Spangle Show, Chris breaks down core Libertarian principles on rights, freedom, and government power. Learn about natural rights, legal rights, negative vs. positive rights, property rights, and why Libertarians argue that rights come from our nature—not the state. This deep dive explores thinkers like John Locke, Cicero, and Thomas Aquinas, plus key moments in history that shaped America’s founding ideas of liberty and self-government.

https://youtu.be/ZaxSF5tooL8

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

00:00 Penn and Meade: The Trial for Religious Freedom

01:12 Bushel's Case and Jury Independence

01:47 Do Rights Come From Government?

02:52 Foundations of Liberty: Introducing Rights

03:43 Natural Rights vs. Legal Rights Explained

04:45 Brief History of Natural Rights

06:48 Examples of Natural Rights in Daily Life

07:03 What Are Legal Rights?

09:41 How Rights Philosophies Evolved

11:12 Natural Rights in Ancient and Medieval Times

13:24 Magna Carta, the Crown, and Pre-Existing Rights

14:53 Enlightenment Thinkers and the Spread of Natural Rights

15:54 Property, Assembly, and Libertarian Principles

17:12 Natural Rights Aren't Handed Out—They're Inherent

18:03 Positive vs. Negative Rights

19:31 Negative Rights: The Libertarian Standard

21:10 Trade-offs and the Limits of Government Intervention

22:28 Why Libertarians Prioritize Natural & Negative Rights

25:36 Limiting Power: Sphere Sovereignty and Social Checks

27:02 Government, Morality, and Personal Autonomy

28:34 Government Dependency vs. Private Solutions

29:52 Why Rights Matter in a Free Society

31:02 Rights as Fundamentals of U.S. Society

32:22 Learning from History: Rights, Stories, and Systems

32:56 Modern Challenges and Demanding Your Rights

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Why becoming American was “the best day of my life” for Agustina Vergara Cid Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Agustina Vergara Cid, a former immigrant from Argentina and now a U.S. citizen, joins host Chris Spangle to share her powerful story of becoming American. She describes her July 3 naturalization ceremony, the emotional oath of allegiance, and why she has dreamed of America since childhood. Agustina explains how growing up in Argentina shaped her views on freedom, individualism, and government, and why she believes America’s founding values are still worth defending. This conversation offers a unique immigrant perspective on citizenship, immigration policy, and what makes the United States different.

https://youtu.be/9aaLDBkw6B0

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

Despite anti-immigrant narratives, Americans still embrace immigrants - ⁠https://www.ocregister.com/2025/07/28/despite-anti-immigrant-narratives-americans-still-embrace-immigrants/?share=niagim2rshrngirsieop⁠
The Immorality of the U.S. Immigration System - ⁠https://youtu.be/1VOzKYDDkow⁠
Immigration Enforcement and the Betrayal of Due Process - ⁠https://youtu.be/mkOadbwUP5s⁠

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Foundations of Liberty 001: The 8 Core Principles of Libertarian Thought Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Chris Spangle launches a new series exploring the foundational ideas behind libertarianism. In this episode, he outlines eight core principles—individualism, individual rights, spontaneous order, limited government, free markets, the virtue of production, the natural harmony of interests, and peace. Chris reflects on how these ideas shape a free society and wrestles with the tensions between liberty, the common good, and his Christian worldview.

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

⁠https://youtu.be/K8VX7BW4UvY⁠

00:00 Welcome & Series Overview

01:00 Chris Spangle's Background & Purpose

03:00 Why Libertarian Philosophy Matters

07:00 Rediscovering the Basics of Libertarianism

09:00 Core Ideas: Individualism Explained

13:00 Individual Rights & Natural Rights

17:00 Spontaneous Order & Hayek's Insight

19:00 Limited Government & Checks on Power

22:00 Free Markets: Voluntary Exchange & Prosperity

23:30 The Virtue of Production & Property Rights