"I'm Glad You Said That" - Jim Minnery Talks Faith & Politics

To say that Terrisa Bukovinac is a unicorn might be an understatement. As former President of Democrats for Life of America and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. President in 2024, Terrisa is now putting her hat in the ring against U.S. House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She's on the show today and is one of our speakers for the 2026 Alaska March for Life taking place in Anchorage on Saturday, April 25th. The day before, on Friday, April 24th, she'll be one of our trainers at a seminar called "Growing the Culture of Life in Alaska - Being a Better Communicator and Advocate" taking place at the Petroleum Club from 2pm to 5pm.  Alaska Family Council is pleased to be hosting this important training in collaboration with our longtime friends at the Leadership Institute. On the show today, we'll discuss how she became pro life, why she remains a Democrat and what we can do to reach people of all political stripes with the greatest civil rights issue of our time. Please accept this invitation to tune in. Support the show

Campbell STEM, Alaska's first school specifically focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, and one of the top performing schools in the Anchorage School District has been scheduled to be shut down. There is a lot of outrage and disbelief.  Today, I chat with two parents of students at Campbell STEM to share their concerns, describe what actually transpired and give some opportunities, however slim, to help stop this from happening.  Support the show

I am honored to have a discussion on the podcast/broadcast today with Rabbi Mendy Greenberg with the Mat-Su Jewish Center - a Chabad Lubavitch cultural center created for every Jew in the Valley to celebrate their heritage and have shalom. Click HERE to see how this Chabad House, one of thousands across the globe, was launched with help from across religious traditions. Chabad, is an acronym for Chochmoh, Binah, Da'at (wisdom, understanding and knowledge); the name of a chassidic movement – predicated on the concept of studying and understanding God and His relationship with the world. Rabbi Mendy is a gentle soul and made history back in 2022 as the youngest rabbi ever to deliver the daily opening prayer in the United States Senate. Support the show

Honored to have Jennie Bradley Lichter on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. Jennie is President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, the iconic organization committed to restoring a culture of life in the United States, most notably through the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. – the world’s largest annual human rights event – and through the growing State March for Life program. Click HERE for Jennie's very impressive resume that includes, among other things, serving in the first Trump Administration as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Support the show

My guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That" is Terri Hasdorff, a Government relations expert, Oxford University grad, political strategist, and author of a book called -  Running into the Fire…Why More Christians Need To Be Involved in Politics, an issue Alaska Family Council has been advocating for since our founding 20 years ago. It will be a good conversation with someone who lives it. Support the show

Chaplain James Duncan, better known as just JD, is a remarkably impactful Alaskan. Raised in Juneau, JD is a former pastor now serving as the Statewide Chaplaincy Coordinator for the Alaska Department of Corrections. Although I haven't yet started visiting the prisons, I took the class he leads to train those who want to serve those who are incarcerated. It is intense and eye opening and very necessary. It is also radically Biblical. Click HERE to see how we are called to reach those behind bars. I am deeply grateful to have JD on "I'm Glad You Said That" to discuss this important ministry and to chat about other prayer groups he is a part of including the Governor's Prayer Breakfast. We'll get more out on that soon.  Support the show

"Greater Than is a coalition of pastors, parents, influencers, policy makers, theologians, lawyers, students, and normie Americans who are all speaking with one voice. What are we saying? "Don't touch the kids." Marriage does not exist as a tool for adult validation. It is God's Plan A for child protection, and we intend to retake it on their behalf. " Katie Faust Founder of Them Before Us and the Greater Than Campaign Support the show

Danny Funt, a Washington Post contributor, has written a book called "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling" and it's getting people's attention. From an on-line description..."In Everybody Loses, sportsbook employees divulge the perks they offer their biggest losers to keep them hooked, from courtside seats to tossing the first pitch at an MLB game. Oddsmakers spill their methods of skewing the numbers in their favor. Lobbyists detail how they converted skeptical politicians into gambling industry cheerleaders. Professional gamblers describe the network of “beards” they use to circumvent the industry’s attempts to block them from winning. Insiders recall their secret meetings with NBA, NFL, and MLB executives, where they laid out how much money the leagues stood to make by partnering with sportsbooks. Athletes describe the tireless harassment they get from gamblers. Addicts talk about their attempts to hide their habit. Students who are legally too young to gamble talk about how easy it is to get on the apps." This will be an interesting interview. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Senator Cathy Tilton, former Alaska House Speaker, is on the show today. A stellar ministry friend and ally from the Mat Su Valley, Senator Tilton and I will discuss the gas pipeline, education, Governor Dunleavy's proposed fiscal plan and anything else we can fit in.  Thanks for tuning in. Support the show

Kevin McCabe is a Representative in the Alaska House serving Big Lake and surrounding areas. He wrote an article recently in the Alaska Watchman about the Black Robed Regiment...those pastors during the founding of our nation whose words laid the foundations of our Declaration of Independence and ultimately who took of the clerical robes and carried muskets into battle.  Excited to chew on this with a man who understands his place in history. Support the show

In this episode, Joel Davidson, Editor of the Alaska Watchman and a good friend, discusses the reality of how a few Republicans have thwarted the will of conservatives and what can be done about it. Support the show

Happy New Year ! We hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and were able to zero in on the Christ child with purpose and focus. On today's final 2025 episode of "I'm Glad You Said That", I get to be the one interviewed. KyLeah Mindala, our Donor Relations team member will be asking me about my background, how & why Alaska Family Council was started and what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. I'm really looking forward to it and am so grateful for KyLeah's passion, commitment and young energy she has infused into the ministry. Support the show

Many Alaskans are unaware of how public education unfolded in the history of the Great Land. Russian influences and a man named Sheldon Jackson created an environment that eventually led to a clause in our State Constitution intended to stop forced religious assimilation and unequal treatment of students. As you can read here, there was indeed justification for such language.  Today however, in an ironic turn of events, the forced assimilation is still occurring but in a way the founders of our state likely could not have seen or understood. Today, I'm fortunate to have a discussion with Greg Sarber on this history along with where we might be headed. Change is coming. Like it or not. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Lisa Ekman joins me on "I'm Glad You Said That" today to discuss her transformation from a leftist Democrat to a conservative patriot. She's no dummy with a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University, a master’s in social work from the University of Denver, and a bachelor’s in communication and rhetoric from Northwestern University. For more than 20 years, Lisa worked as a Democrat lobbyist and operative in Washington, D.C. She even cried on the night Donald Trump was elected in 2016. We'll discuss the events that opened her eyes to what she now describes as the "progressive cult." Lisa escaped, and now she is showing the way for other liberals. Lisa is the author of "Deprogramming Democrats and unEducating the Elites." I hope you can tune in. Support the show

When one of the most liberal countries in the world bans puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and surgical mutilation of minors, you have to wonder when states like Alaska will join the mix. Bob McCoskrie, founder of Family First, the equivalent of a nationwide Alaska Family Council in New Zealand, is on the show today to discuss how that just happened and how the Kiwis are doing battle in other areas for life, family and culture. Bob is a good "mate" and I love how he calls me "Jimmah" when we're at conferences together. He's usually my biggest and only karaoke fan as well. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

The more you peel back the layers on Jarrett Freeman...the more you like him. Wrestled at Penn State. Uh...can you say discipline and strength. Has 117,000 followers on Instagram. Has influence and charisma and knows how to build networks. Newly elected Chair of the Young Republicans of Alaska. Ready and willing to inject some much needed energy and young blood into the conservative side of the aisle. Super excited and privileged to chat with Jarrett today. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

After a visit to the Great Land a few years ago, Cat Cushway, her husband and her parents, all from Michigan, felt the pull to make Alaska their home. Settling in Homer, Cat, now with 2 young toddlers, started feeling another tug, this time from God about the impact she should have in Homer with the strengths and passions she had been blessed with. With an extensive background in education, Cat knew it was going to be something related to schooling but when her husband said, "Go for it. Why don't you start a school? Our community needs it. Our kids need it.", she was overwhelmed. That is no small task when you're in the middle of changing diapers and managing a household. But God started giving her reassurances. Things just began falling in place. Today, I'm privileged to chat with Cat about the establishment of yet another school option opening up in Alaska. Revive Academy, proudly affiliated with the Charlie Kirk's TurningPoint Education, is enrolling students now for a September 2026 launch. More than 10% of Homer's K-8th grade public school students have signed up. And that number is growing. Mic drop. I hope you can tune in for the good news. Support the show

Voted #1 as the best private school on many different levels, Holy Rosary Academy in Anchorage is a beacon of hope, excellence and virtue. I'm thrilled to get to visit today with Principal Marie-Louise Schirda about the role of classical education and why it is needed more today than ever before. From the HRA website, Marie-Louise is "rooted in Alaskan soil, not only by virtue of her family's work as the state's largest producer of farm-to-table produce, but also in her long-term commitment to delivering a classical K-12 curriculum in the Catholic tradition to Holy Rosary Academy students. Mrs. Schirda adventured around the globe to achieve her distinctly Catholic education. She attended high school at Trivium School in Massachusetts and then graduated from Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire. While at Thomas More, she spent one semester in Rome, steeped in the art and architecture of many magnificent Catholic churches, backdropped by the grandeur and beauty of the ancient ruins. She earned her master's degree in Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama from University College Dublin, Ireland, and came back to the States to attend Gonzaga University, where she completed her state licensure to teach. " I hope you can tune in. Support the show

The ending of nearly $1 billion in taxpayer funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been greatly celebrated by many of us and seen as a devastating and political blow by those on the Left. Today I'm speaking with Ed Ulman, the President & CEO of Alaska Public Media (AKPM), Alaska’s largest PBS, NPR and statewide news organization. We'll certainly have our disagreements but I'm looking forward to a lively, civil discussion. Hope you can tune in.  Support the show

From a review of Pastor Levi Secord's book "Servant Not Savior" - "God’s design is for the state to be a servant, not our savior. Sadly, as we’ve abandoned God’s instructions, people across the political spectrum treat the state as a potential savior. Today is the day of big government as people consistently cry out to the state for salvation. Politicians take on Messiah-like personas, yet time and again they fail to deliver on their promises. Both history and Scripture teach us that the state makes a terrible savior. Christians, of all people, must recognize the frightful implications of turning the state into a savior. To counteract this trend, the church needs a robust political theology." Levi is the founding pastor of Christ Bible Church in Roseville, Minn. A graduate with both an M.Div and a Doctorate of Educational Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Levi has written for Front Porch Republic, the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Christ Over All, and the Fight, Laugh, Feast Network. Hope you can tune in for our deliberation on his latest book, Servant Not Savior. Support the show

- Nativity scenes on the lawn at a City Hall. - In God We Trust displayed prominently in public courthouses. - A Ten Commandments poster in public schoolrooms across Alaska. Sound like a memory from the past ? Can't imagine it coming to fruition in today's climate ? Think again.  Thanks in large part to the Coach Kennedy case (you can read about that HERE) where six (6) United States Supreme Court Justices clarified that the so-called Lemon test had long ago been abandoned, there are more opportunities now than ever to bring about public displays of our faith in the public marketplace. On the show today, I'm pleased to chat with Andrea Justus & Matt Krause with First Liberty Institute, one of the country's most impactful legal teams focused on religious freedom. Through their Restoring Faith in America initiative, they're leading communities across America to proactively exercise and celebrate religious liberty. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

I'm thrilled to have Garry Sigle, Central Regional Director, and Sharon Nelson, Sr. Director of Legal Services for the Association of American Educators (AAE) on the show today. AAE provides professional benefits public school employees desire, like liability insurance and job protection, without funding partisan politics or non-education issues. The cost is $234 per year that includes $2 million in liability coverage. In contrast, the NEA cost is more than $1,400 per year that includes just half the liability coverage. In addition, rather than a group policy, AAE offers a per member, per instance policy, which guarantees each member will receive the benefits they are paying for. It's time to get the word out. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Jack Thompson came on board as President of the Turning Point USA Chapter at the University of Alaska Anchorage about a week before its founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated. It has been, as you can imagine, a bit of a whirlwind for the Freshman from Anchorage. I'm humbled and fortunate to have Jack on the show today to discuss his journey, thoughts he has on his generation in light of the significance of this moment in time and why, despite evil being real and present, there is hope. Please tune in and be inspired. Support the show

Absolutely blessed to have Stacey Jewel on the show today. Her production, 7 Layers Captive, will be in Anchorage on Sunday, October 5th at 5pm in the Discovery Theatre of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.  Here's the story...I hope you can tune in. "Written and performed by award-winning artist Stacy Jewell, 7 Layers Captive is a globally acclaimed, one-woman theatrical experience based on her real-life abduction into sex trafficking. Mesmerizing and unexpectedly entertaining, this award-winning play delivers poetic truth and unforgettable storytelling that has earned standing ovations around the world. With original sound design and fierce monologues, Stacy commands the stage with humor, power, and grace—leaving audiences moved, inspired, and uplifted. Named a Top Scene Stealer by DC Theater Arts—placing second only to The Lion King’s “Hakuna Matata” at the Kennedy Center—7 Layers Captive proves that even the heaviest truths can be told with artistry, charisma, and healing joy. Winner of Best Actress, Best Stage Play (2015), and DC Theater Arts’ Scene Stealers Award, this play is not a story of pity—it’s an unflinching celebration of survival, resilience, and redemption." Support the show

Going from fighting with Muslims in the Bosnian civil war along with a Pakistani militant group that ultimately had him being convicted and imprisoned for nearly 14 years on weapons charges for violating U.S. neutrality laws is not a background you'd expect for a recently appointed member of President Trump's White House’s Religious Liberty Commission. But that is the story of Ismail Royer. While in prison, Royer abandoned Islamist radicalism and now works with nonprofits to promote peace and combat religious extremism. As the Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute, Royer was instrumental in galvanizing Muslims and people of other faiths to stand up to the Montgomery County School District in Maryland that had refused to let parents opt their children out of LGBTQ indoctrination. Ultimately, the case (Mahmoud v Taylor) went to the U.S. Supreme Court where they ruled in favor of the parents.  Great precedent. Fascinating story. Hope you can join us for my discussion with Ismail. Support the show

Former Legislator Ben Carpenter is on the show today to discuss how Grand Juries in Alaska are being prevented from a Constitutional duty they have been given. The Alaska Constitution grants grand juries broad powers to investigate public welfare and safety matters, but a 2022 Alaska Supreme Court ruling introduced restrictions on these powers, limiting their ability to investigate corrupt officials. This is a big issue. And it's time to shed light on it. Hope you can join us. Support the show

Hillsdale College could and should be what you see when you look up the word exemplary. They are...on every level. If you haven't heard of this school, I can't recommend highly enough that you check them out and subscribe to Imprimis - their free monthly publication with nearly 7 million readers. If you are a Hillsdale enthusiast, you'll be thrilled to know a Hillsdale-affiliated K-6 school is making roots in Anchorage. Thomas More Classical Academy will be opening in the Fall of 2026. From their website -  "Embracing the time-tested classical education model, intellectual rigor, and strong Christian values, we strive to be the preferred school for families in Anchorage who appreciate education’s true purpose: to train students in virtue. By cultivating the gifts and charisms of each student and fostering a culture of excellence and faith, Thomas More will stand out as a beacon of hope and quality in Anchorage’s educational landscape." On today's "I'm Glad You Said That", I'm privileged to chat with Sarah Spaulding, the recently hired Headmaster of Thomas More Classical Academy.  Mrs. Spaulding has a remarkable track record in education and we're blessed as a community and state to have her join us as an Alaskan resident. Support the show

John Stonestreet loves a fine cigar coupled with deep dives into theology, philosophy and the meaning of life. I've had the distinct pleasure of enjoying both with him in year's past. As head of the Colson Center, John will be on the show today to chat about how to "Go beyond inviting Jesus into your life, to taking your place in His." John is an intellectual on a grand scale and will also be discussing the Colson Center's latest project in partnership with Focus on the Family called Truth Rising.  He is a much sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson and is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues. What a thrill to have him on the show today. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Time To Get Rid of Ranked Choice Voting For Good ! Bethany Marcum is on the show today talking about the 2nd effort to repeal the highly political and disturbingly complicated ranked choice voting method that Alaskans approved in 2020 after millions of dollars of dark outside funds poured into the state to confuse voters. The former head of Alaska Policy Forum and Americans for Prosperity in Alaska, Marcum has extensive political capabilities and experience having served as legislative aide for then-Sen. Mike Dunleavy, was appointed by Gov. Dunleavy to serve on the Alaska Redistricting Board and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Alaska. An avid hunter, Marcum is also a master sergeant in the Alaska Air National Guard and has worked in the corporate world for several years as a business systems analyst for AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union and at MAC Tel. In her new role leading up the effort to repeal ranked choice voting, CLICK HERE for more info on that group, Marcum will be engaged with a battle-tested electorate that nearly shot down RCV the first time it was challenged losing only by a few hundred votes despite being outspent $15 million to $150,000.  Let's get it done this time. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Dr. Deena Bishop, Commissioner of Education and Early Development in the Dunleavy Administration, is on the show talking about what's good and what's bad in the current educational environment in Alaska. With the recent override of Dunleavy's veto by a crazy number of Republicans who voted to disregard accountability, this is a hot topic. Tune in and stay informed. Support the show

Abortion Has Just Changed ADF Attorney Denise Burke on the Show Today A decision recently from the U.S. Supreme Court allows states to redirect taxpayer dollars away from abortion facilities like Planned Parenthood. In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represented the director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The high court’s ruling means that the state can direct Medicaid funding—funds intended to help low-income individuals obtain necessary medical assistance—to comprehensive health care rather than entities that exist primarily to perform abortions. What that means in Alaska is complicated by the fact that the Supreme Court here, one of the most radical in the country, has consistently manufactured a "right to abortion" in our State Constitution. That being said, there is still a road map to protecting unborn and their mothers. The Medina case provides great leverage for employing strategies to redirect the State portion of Medicaid, which is a Federal/State collaborative program, toward real community health care centers that outnumber Planned Parenthood in Alaska 88 to 2. Don't believe the lies about less access to healthcare. What this really means is less access to abortion. On the Legislative front, the Big Beautiful Bill, that narrowly passed the U.S. Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance, has, for the first time in history, stripped Planned Parenthood of some $500 million. The BBB still has to go back to the U.S. House for a vote on the changes made by the Senate. The provision, originally proposed as a ten year measure to defund the abortion giant, was modified to just one year but it is a phenomenal first step in redistributing Federal funds to the more than 8,800 federally qualified community health care centers around the nation. Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Denise Burke at Alliance Defending Freedom on these two critical measures that have changed the pro life landscape. As senior counsel Denise is a member of the Center for Public Policy at ADF. In this role, her efforts are directed toward protecting life from conception to natural death and defending the conscience rights of healthcare professionals. Prior to joining ADF, Burke served as vice president of legal affairs for Americans United for Life, where she routinely advised legislators, policy groups, and state attorneys general on life issues.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Plaintiff in Mahmoud v Taylor Case on Show Today In 2022, a Washington, DC public school district told parents they were introducing a bundle of LGBTQIA+ affirming books to students to be more "inclusive." One of the books tasked three- and four-year-olds to search for images from a word list that includes “intersex flag,” “[drag] queen,” “underwear,” “leather,” and the name of a celebrated LGBTQ activist and sex worker. Turns out the school district kicked a bee hive and droves of parents took advantage of a Maryland law allowing them to opt their kids out. The school district then decided to double down and take another kick at the hive by refusing parents their right to opt out. Parents sued and lower courts stood with the school district's intent to "advocate a child-knows-best approach to gender transitioning, telling students that a decision to transition doesn’t have to “make sense” and that doctors only “guess” when identifying a newborn’s sex anyway." and "suppress free speech and independent thinking by having teachers tell students they are “hurtful” if they question these controversial ideologies." Ultimately, the United States Supreme Court took up the case (Mahmoud v Taylor) and on June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the parents have the right to opt their children out of the storybooks. In the Court’s decision, Justice Alito writing for the majority said, “Today’s decision recognizes that the right of parents ‘to direct the religious upbringing of their’ children would be an empty promise if it did not follow those children into the public school classroom.” Jeff Roman, one of the plaintiffs in this historical parental rights legal victory, is on the show today.. In a declaration, Roman noted that “We believe that much of what is taught via the pride storybooks is false religiously and scientifically. Issues of sexuality and gender identity are complex and sensitive. Our son is not old enough to be thinking about many of the issues presented in the books MCPS is requiring him to read, and would find them confusing.” I hope you can tune in. Support the show

I'm privileged to chat with my friend Chloe Cole on the show today. We'll discuss the recent landmark victory for children’s health and science-based medicine when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law protecting minors from harmful and life-altering drugs and surgeries. From personal experience, Chloe has become the leading voice for protecting minors and families from having to go through the trauma of so called "gender affirming care." She is a very special person and her intellect, curiosity and passion have helped her to become a transformative voice in our nation and beyond. Her recent full conversion to faith in Christ has given her even more perspective and motivation to keep pressing. As the Board of Medicine in Alaska continues looking at strategies to put an end to this practice in the Great Land, Chloe will continue to be a treasured asset and resource. Support the show

Parents need all the help they can get to raise resilient, God-honoring, community-contributing kids. In 2010, Eleanor Rodriguez, an elementary school principal in Santa Ana, California, reached out to community leaders for help. Rising poverty, gang violence, drugs, and other high-risk behaviors were impacting the education and well-being of the city’s children. The city’s youth were being lost. Parents and leaders were desperate for long-term solutions. Ultimately, out of her desire to change the trajectory of her own little slice of earth, Rezilient Kidz was formed. Today on the show, I get to converse with David Frush who helps communities throughout the West Coast establish Rezilient Kidz programs to give parents the tools needed to help their children stand up and take responsibility for themselves and those around them. He hopes Alaska will be the next state. Support the show

Education seems to always be on the public mind. School Choice. School Funding. School Politics. School Performance. And on and on it goes. Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I'm privileged to chat with Dr. Jessica Parker, the Superintendent of Mountain City Christian Academy about many of these important issues. Dr. Parker is an educational leader with 25+ years of public school experience. She has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Communication and Administration from Dallas Baptist University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Dr. Parker stays actively involved in the ASL teaching field and serves as the National ASL Honor Society Coordinator along with being an executive board member of the American Sign Language Teacher Association (ASLTA). She and her husband, Jeremy, have 3 children. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Can Christians know with certainty if a seminary or Christian college is adhering to fundamental tenets of the faith ? Have Christians entered into a new role politically where "preserving the moral architecture" is more important than elections ? Big questions that are related. I'll converse with Andrew Walker about these and other topics on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. Dr. Walker serves as Associate Dean in the School of Theology, and Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement and a fellow in Christian Political Thought at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Walker also serves as the Managing Editor of Opinions for WORLD Magazine, one of my all time favorite publications. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Congress passed a major piece of legislation on the evening of Wednesday, May 21—the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (HR1) was voted out of the US House of Representatives and moved on to the US Senate. Eric Teetsel, President of Center for Renewing America, joins AFC President Jim Minnery on today's episode of "I'm Glad You Said That" to unpack what the passage of this bill means for families, faith, and freedom. Teetsel also served as Vice President of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation. He has a long track record of experience in government at the federal, state, and local levels. He was Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri where he also held the roles of Legislative Director and Special Assistant. Teetsel previously served as President of the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, Director of Faith Outreach for the Marco Rubio presidential campaign, and Executive Director of the Manhattan Declaration for life, marriage, and religious freedom, and more. Hope you can tune in Support the show

John Daniel Davidson has a wonderfully grounded sense of what is most important. Climbing up the ladder of influence in the literary world on a national stage, he realized that "careerism" isn't what makes us tick as much as finding a place to till and produce and live off the fat of the land with your family. It was Thomas Jefferson who said "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness." Davidson took that to heart and moved his family from Austin, Texas back to the family homestead in Wasilla where he was raised. He still writes prolifically as a Senior Editor for The Federalist and speaks around the country but his roots are getting deeper in the soil of the Mat Su Valley. I am blessed to chat with him on today's show and thrilled to remind readers that he will be our keynote speaker for our 2025 Spring Dinners in Anchorage next Thursday, May 29th at Main Event Grill and on Saturday, May 31st at his mom's horse barn called At the Barn MatSu, a beautiful venue nestled on their homestead. Please CLICK HERE to get your tickets and join us. For a taste of John's intellect and passion, I hope you can tune in today. Support the show

 I love Bob Bird's intellect. I love his feistiness. I love his passion for his ancestry and his family. Have we had our disagreements through the years? Yep. But we're both quick to recognize that we have way more in common than not and we are cut from much the same mold. Speak up with passion about the things that matter. Place your feet firmly on the rock of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. Be quick to forgive. Today, Alaska's recognized Catholic history expert joins me on the show today to talk about the legacy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known across the globe as Pope Francis.  The Pope chose St Francis of Assisi for his title because of the shared deep connection with the poor, love for peace, and reverence for nature. But there is a disconnect with quotes St Francis made about our own sin crucifying Jesus and how Pope Francis glossed over certain sins. Bob would agree.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Republicans yesterday were able to uphold Governor Dunleavy's appropriate veto of HB69, the massive education funding increase passed by Democrat-led majorities in both Legislative chambers that included absolutely no measurable outcomes to ensure that public school students would benefit. Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Senator Mike Shower, a MatSu legislator who leads the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus. Shower, a long time friend of AFC and one who emanates common sense, is not falling for the mainstream media line that the veto and subsequent vote by the Legislature to uphold it, pits pro-education policy makers against those who don't want our public schools to succeed.  And you shouldn't either. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

In a fun article in The Imaginative Conservative, that had me admiring C.S. Lewis more than I already did, we learn about how the Mere Christianity author emulated in his life what he wrote and spoke about so eloquently. From that article... "Lewis relished disagreement and debate. George Watson, who attended Lewis’s lectures at Oxford and later worked alongside him at Cambridge, recalls how “Lewis was a Christian conservative from around the age of thirty, which is to say before I knew him; and since I am neither one nor the other, there was never any question of doctrinal influence. If I was not exactly a friend, still less was I a disciple. That in no way altered my sense of admiration and affection…. We both thrived on dissent…. The best teacher I ever had, and the best colleague, he did not ask or expect me to share his convictions.” In that vein, I'm happy to have a discussion today with Jeff Landfield with The Alaska Landmine. Although we don't agree on everything, we have been acquaintances, you might even say friends, for a long while. I have called him a unicorn and he took to it. By that, I meant he doesn't fit into a box very neatly. Makes for interesting dialogue. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

David Boyle has spent as much time as anyone thinking about and writing on the issue of education in Alaska. As the former Executive Director of the Alaska Policy Forum, he and his wife, Linda, have a total of 45 years in the Air Force and have three children. We talk education today on the show and he has a lot of insight.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

You know his voice. He's been doing Christian radio forever. Now you get to meet the man behind the voice. Tom Stigelman with Christian Broadcasting Incorporated on the show today. Let's go. Support the show

I get to chat with Scott Baker on today's show. Scott is the Chief Strategist for Cojency Strategic, a nationally recognized public relations agency dedicated to helping pro-life advocacy groups win critical campaigns for life. From their website - Through innovative, data-driven digital strategies, they amplify life-affirming messages, mobilize voters, and increase donor support. With a team of 70 experts, they craft bold, targeted campaigns that outmaneuver the opposition and drive public policy victories, creating lasting cultural change for the pro-life movement. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

According to Wikipedia (cool side note on their founder below), abolitionism is "the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world." So, an abortion abolitionist would be the political movement to end abortion and liberate unborn children around the world...right ? I'm on that team. Alaska Family Council has been working in the world of ending abortion politically, legally and culturally since our founding. So what's the issue ? As you might know, abortion abolitionists, generally speaking, do not think incremental approaches to ending abortion are effective or even moral. Oftentimes, they are actively opposing efforts to put any safeguards up unless it is total eradication. There's a lot to chew on with this issue and I'm privileged to sit down with Daniel Cooper, an Alaskan abortion abolitionist, to examine and dissect it.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Although Rachel in Scripture did not have an abortion, we know she experienced deep pain on many levels. Click HERE for a wonderful summary of her story and how God worked through it to give her strength and hope in a future that is unblemished. The angst and loss Rachel had is applicable to all of us who make decisions counter to what God has in mind for our own flourishing. And yet...there is Jesus. My guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That" is Tara Haughey with Project Rachel, a ministry within the Archdiocese of Anchorage & Juneau that provides compassion and care for people who have experienced the trauma of abortion. To be pro life is so much more than just preventing abortions. We serve as ambassadors of God best in this arena when we not only work at rescuing those being led to slaughter but also reach out to those who need love and forgiveness and support after a decision to end the life of a pre-born has been made. To stand alongside them not with judgement but with sincere humility and empathy. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

My good friend Loren Leman is on the show today. Fisherman. Engineer. Christ-follower. Musician. Former Lt. Governor and Senator. Exemplary husband, father and grandfather. Loren and I will chew the fat on ranked choice voting, abortion and the horrific judicial selection process that has kept our Superior and Supreme Court in the hands of liberals. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Erin Getz, Senior Director of State Walks with the National March for Life, is on the show today. She is young and really enthusiastic about Alaska becoming the 16th state to host a March for Life. Alaska Family Council is privileged to do so with ProLife Alaska on Saturday, February 22nd in Anchorage. Support the show

A very short time ago, to think there would be an Executive Order from the United State President entitled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation", would be unfathomable. How times have changed. That we have to protect children from this but more to the point of my interview today, that we are now going all in to try and stop it. The speed of history is, at times, baffling. Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I have the privilege of speaking with Matt Sharp, a Senior Counsel and Director of the Center for Public Policy at Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF has 13 U.S. Supreme Court victories. They are as good as it gets legally. Matt will go into detail on why this Executive Order is so profoundly impactful and what states can expect from this strong Federal stand to lift up that which is good and punish evil. In Alaska, where no laws are in place to protect children from chemical and surgical mutilation and where these medical malpractices are occurring, this EO opens doors for us to make a difference. It's time to act. Support the show

Dr. Ashton-Lazaroae is a pediatrician who takes the issue of gender ideology and it's harms to children, families and communities very seriously. She was a panel speaker in October of last year at The Christian Post's seminar "Unmasking Gender Ideology" speaking on topics including: I'm super grateful to have her on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. Hope you can tune in. Dr. Ashton-Lazaroae has practiced general pediatrics since 1996. She received her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed a general pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University Children's Hospital. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Northern Virginia Pediatric Society and the Christian Medical and Dental Society. She recently joined the American College of Pediatricians and assisted with launching the Biological Integrity website. She was commissioned as a Colson Fellow in 2022, after completing a teaching practicum "Transgenderism: Unraveling the Confusion." Support the show

My good friend Senator Shelley Hughes with the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus is on the show today. We discuss education funding, defined benefits, election legislation and more. It's always a pleasure chatting with such an engaged, thoughtful and Christ honoring woman. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Sarah Vance, the Alaska House Representative from Homer, is on the show today talking sex trafficking and minors accessing porn online. Despite the Democrats in charge this session, she is pushing forward.  Support the show

David Fowler has always been thinking outside of the box. As a former State Senator, choir director, author and my friend and colleague at Family Action Council of Tennessee, David has always challenged current dialogue and jurisprudence that ignores the fundamental definition of what it means to be human. Today, on "I'm Glad You Said That", I get to speak with him about the landmark case heard at the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the Constitution requires medical experimentation on children. As our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom have noted, the United States of America v. Skrmett case is about "the ability of states (Tennessee in this instance) to govern the practice of medicine—a responsibility that states have exercised since our nation’s founding." Support the show

How often have you felt like you defiled yourself ? I did again myself this morning with my wife. Said something that I wish I could put "back in the tube" but toothpaste, and words, don't work that way. Thankfully, my wife, and my God, offer forgiveness. But that is most attributed to the fact that I am in relationship with them. What about words we use that harm others that we have never even met or have no real relationship with ? As is often said, the world of politics is a full contact sport. Emotions often run high around beliefs that run deep. Words are used all the time that make assumptions, cast broad nets and have direct and collateral damage. At a recent State Policy Network training event I attended, I came across a session presenting a way of analyzing speech. It wasn't focused on policy or politics or party. It was highlighting the reality that much of the divide in our nation right now has as much to do with how we address disagreements as it does with the disagreement itself. It's called The Dignity Index and it hit me pretty hard. Scripture, as you likely know, is full of words about how we use words. Jesus Himself is called, "the Word of God."  He is the personification of the written and spoken word. The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh. We are image bearers and when we talk about other image bearers, we are to be like Christ.  Not easy and a very high calling but the more we can do it...the more we will be witnesses to the Truth. Tami Pyfer is one of the creators of The Dignity Index and is my guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That". The show is a podcast you can access on most of the standard platforms and it's also broadcasted on Wednesdays at 1pm on KATB (89.3 FM) and at 5pm on KVNT (1020 AM, 92.5 FM & 104.5 FM). Support the show

John Daniel Davidson is a senior editor at The Federalist. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Claremont Review of Books, The New York Post, and elsewhere. Raised in the MatSu Valley, he graduated from Hillsdale College, spent time overseas and lived in Austin, Texas before retracing his family's journey back to the Great Land where he now resides in a log home on the Davidson Homestead. His brother Joel, a good friend and fellow master of words, is Editor for the Alaska Watchman. Their family is really good stock. We'll chat on the show today about John's take on the Presidential election as well as the bigger canvas of what has made America great and how it is crumbling. John is the author of Pagan America: the Decline of Christianity and the Dark Age to Come. Follow him on Twitter, @johnddavidson. Support the show

I'm grateful to sit down with former Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty today to discuss the judicial selection and retention process in the Great Land. As Co-Chair for Alaskans for Fair Courts, Geraghty has spent a lot of time defending the current system of judges having to go through the Alaska Judicial Council, a quasi-Governmental agency, to get appointed by the Governor. He is passionate and sincere in believing that our process is the envy of the country.  I argue that the Alaska Judicial Council’s retention evaluation process is severely deficient because it includes no analysis of a judge or justice’s overall “judicial philosophy” regarding the proper methodology for interpreting statutory and constitutional provisions. This is a fatal flaw, because no other aspect of judicial performance has a greater potential to impact the lives of all Alaskans – not just those who happen to find themselves in a courtroom at some point in their lives. Hope you can tune in. It's a cordial and necessary conversation. Support the show

Michael Jamieson Williams intrigued and inspired me almost immediately when I met him for the first time at my church in Anchorage this past Sunday. He's someone who attends Holy Family Cathedral downtown but is close friends with members of our congregation and was there to tell his story. It was intense and disturbing and beautiful and not unlike what many Christ followers have gone through. The battle against our fleshly inclinations manifests itself in so many different ways. John Piper has called it "sacred schizophrenia" and every member of The Way struggles with it. Michael's has to do with same-sex attraction. And as he notes, overcoming our desires is not about will power or discipline. It's about complete surrender to the will of God. Yes God loves us but in turn...he wants us to love Him and to do so, we need to listen to what He has to say about true human flourishing. We need to deny ourselves and pick up our cross. I'm honored to speak with Michael on the show today. Support the show

Ben Carpenter is a peony farmer and former soldier on the Kenai Peninsula who has served several terms in the Alaska House. He's fed up with how the Alaska State Senate can't organize around conservative principles of developing our natural resources and managing how much we spend as a Government. Tune in today to hear more. Support the show

Mikaela Emswiler is on the program again because I listened to another horribly deceptive ad from the NO on Ballot Measure 2 folks and realized we may not be able to compete against their dark, outside money pouring in to our state (something they ironically pretend they are fighting against) but we CAN proclaim the truth as loud as we are able. Mikaela is running the Yes on 2 campaign to end rank voting and although she is facing a Goliath who is a lying, pile of money...we might just have the smooth stone to end this madness. Tune in. Support the show

David Hoyt started a classical education academy in Florida but has realized that no matter how strong the school choice options are in the foreseeable future, we can't let public schools continue to rot. As Executive Director of School Boards for Academic Excellence, David is all in on their mission of ... "cultivating and empowering a nationwide network of state-based professional school board associations dedicated to ensuring that every school board member in their state has access to the training, tools, and resources needed to advance achievement-focused educational policies and equip them to serve as strong, competent advocates for the children and parents in their district." That's a big mission but one that is worthy of our time and attention. Hope you can tune in to my chat with David today. Support the show

Bunni Pounds is a bundle of energy. After running a very successful political consulting firm, she founded Christians Engaged to awaken, educate and empower Christians to pray, vote and engage regularly in efforts to improve the nation's well being. Most Christians would agree that our government would be in better shape if more Christians were involved. However, polling tells us that in many places up to a third of the Christian community sits out key elections. Many of the people who share our values simply don’t vote. Alaska Family Council has worked hard over the years to increase voter turnout in the pews. But we've lacked a dedicated staff person and solid technology to truly have as great of an impact as we'd like. Until now. Family Policy Alliance, our national partner we've worked side by side with since our founding in 2006, and Christians Engaged (CE), the nation’s leading Christian-based, voter turnout operation, have united to form a powerful alliance dedicated to advancing biblical values in our nation’s political landscape for generations to come. Bunni and I will chat about it on today's show. For more info about this strategic merger, watch this video. In short, Christians Engaged has developed the technology and tools we need as a movement to inspire and activate Christ-followers to get to the polls. However, CE lacked the national presence to effectively bring the program before the larger Christian community. Family Policy Alliance, and its network of state-based organizations like Alaska Family Council, has the footprint across the nation but lacked the right technological tools. Together, with FPA and CE now fully merged, Alaska Family Council is prepared to immediately implement this program. The goal is to educate and equip one million Christians across the nation—many of them from right here in Alaska—ahead of the November 2024 Elections. Stand by for more details and take a few minutes to tune in today. Support the show

Dr. Guy Golan is an Associate Professor of Strategic Communication at Texas Christian University, speaker and author on issues of public diplomacy, geopolitics and social media. His latest book, called My Brother's Keeper ? The Complicated Relationship Between American Jews and Israel, is as hot of a topic as it gets today. Addressing such questions as... Who will American Jews vote for in the next elections?Why are American Jews liberals and Israeli Jews conservative?How has Zionism become a litmus test for American Jews on the progressive left?What gave rise to the new antisemitism on college campuses? And what can be done about it?Why do Evangelical Christians love Jews, while American Jews distrust them?...his book is a must read. I'm very honored to have him on I'm Glad You Said That today. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

When ranked choice voting was being thrust on Alaskans, the advocates for it, if you remember, used the horrible analogy of ice cream preferences. Go to the shop and they don't have your favorite chocolate peanut butter ? Easy. You just choose rocky road or vanilla or rainbow unicorn. The problem ?  They didn't tell you that ultimately, you had to choose diesel or manure or acid flavored ice cream.  Sounds yummy right ? They also said it all had to do with getting rid of "dark money" when in fact, the progressives LOVE dark money. The more the better. Between now and November, expect dump loads to come into the Great Land. Today, I get to chat with Mikaela Enswiler, Chair of the Yes on 2 Campaign, an effort to end ranked choice voting in Alaska and get rid of ice cream we never wanted in the first place. Support the show

Sue Swayze Liebel with the Susan B. Anthony List is on the show today to chat about what's relevant now in the pro-life arena. The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America was founded in 1992 as the political arm of the pro-life movement.  Since their founding, SBA Pro-Life America has grown into a nationwide network of more than 1,000,000 Americans committed to serving women and saving babies.  Hope you can tune in.  Support the show

Gabby Ide is one of the nicest people I've met. With a great smile and a ready hug every time we see each other, she has truly become a friend. But don't doubt her tenacity. As a former champion mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Gabby knows we are in a battle not just physically with our flesh against our spirit. We are fighting against principalities. Evil forces that want to separate the influence of parents over their own children. Not on her watch. And that's why she's the head of the Anchorage chapter of Moms for Liberty. As she notes though, as an athlete getting in the cage, if you are angry with your opponent, you've already lost. She epitomizes the Moms for Liberty brand calling their members to be "Joyful Warriors." Super grateful to have her on the show today. Support the show

Why did the Alaska Superior Court undermine tens of thousands of Alaskan families utilizing educational choice options other than Government-run schools ? What does the latest Alaska Supreme Court decision upholding the private and homeschool allotment program mean ? Joel Davidson, my good friend at the Alaska Watchman, is one of the most educated and articulated citizens I know regarding this issue. I'm blessed to have him as a brother in Christ and to have him on the show today.  Support the show

We live in extraordinary times as Christ-followers. Not that there hasn't been chaos and antagonism or being marginalized for holding to scriptural truth. People of the Way have always been a minority. As C.S. Lewis noted, we are in..."Enemy-occupied territory---that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” What is new, and is one of the central themes in local author and influencer Leigh Sloan's new book Pride and Privilege is that words and their meanings have changed.  The book's title is in fact a play on words that in today's context, mean something far different than in another era not that long ago.  Leigh gives sound advice on what it means to put on the "glove of cultivation" in terms of how we engage with those around us with different realities, different assumptions, even different vocabularies. We are each placed in a particular place at a particular time to engage with particular people. Are we doing more than complaining ?  Leigh has provided clarity for those of us who really want to be salt and light as Jesus asks. I'm honored to call her a friend and grateful she's on the show today. Support the show

Shishmaref, as the crow flies, is about 100 miles north of Nome on the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, known in some circles as the "nose" of Alaska. Tyler Ivanoff, a school teacher, community leader and basketball coach, among other vocations, took a break from hunting seals and sea bird eggs recently to chat with me about his campaign to represent District 39 as a House member. He's running as a Nonpartisan candidate against Democrat Neil Foster who has served in the House since 2009 after he was appointed to the House to replace his father, Richard Foster, who had died in office the previous month. In 2022, Foster edged out Ivanoff by less than 100 votes. Ivanoff has said he is unwilling to join a coalition majority in which the opposite political party controls a majority of seats. He's also noted that his priorities include "safeguarding our children and their futures, enacting legislation to protect salmon, preserving the Permanent Fund Dividend, and ensuring the integrity of girls' sports." In legislation passed by the House last month, Foster joined with all the other Democrat lawmakers voting to allow biological males to compete against girls. Grateful to have the opportunity to visit with Alaskans from the farthest corners of our state.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Zeke Kaleo Thompson is a discipler of students at Cru...and a killer drummer. Join me today for a chat with a young influencer in the college arena in Alaska. You'll be encouraged about the baton of faith being passed. Support the show

Joel Penton knows what it means to tackle things. As a former defensive end for THE Ohio State University Buckeye football team, he has plenty experience identifying a target and wrapping it up. For now though, he's tackling much bigger issues. Joel is the CEO of LifeWise Academy, a religious education program that provides Bible studies to public school students DURING SCHOOL HOURS. And this ministry is literally exploding all across the country ! CLICK HERE to join the effort in the Anchorage School District that is already in the planning stages. A U.S. Supreme Court opinion has long ago clarified the legality of such programs as long as they are 1) off school property 2) privately funded and 3) opted in by parents.  Alaska Family Council is working closely with LifeWise Academy to bring this exemplary program to every school district in the Great Land. Their proven record of significant improvements in the areas of character education, mental health, academic outcomes and community involvement has created massive interest from schools and families. We're excited to ride the wave and I'm thrilled to shoot the breeze with a fellow Buckeye :-) I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Joel Penton knows what it means to tackle things. As a former defensive end for THE Ohio State University Buckeye football team, he has plenty experience identifying a target and wrapping it up. For now though, he's tackling much bigger issues. Joel is the CEO of LifeWise Academy, a religious education program that provides Bible studies to public school students DURING SCHOOL HOURS. And this ministry is literally exploding all across the country ! CLICK HERE to join the effort in the Anchorage School District that is already in the planning stages. A U.S. Supreme Court opinion has long ago clarified the legality of such programs as long as they are 1) off school property 2) privately funded and 3) opted in by parents.  Alaska Family Council is working closely with LifeWise Academy to bring this exemplary program to every school district in the Great Land. Their proven record of significant improvements in the areas of character education, mental health, academic outcomes and community involvement has created massive interest from schools and families. We're excited to ride the wave and I'm thrilled to shoot the breeze with a fellow Buckeye :-) I hope you can tune in. Support the show

PragerU Kids is all about nourishing your child's mind...values...and character. You know, things public education providers should be very interested in. And Jill Simonian, Director of Outreach for PragerU Kids, is passionate about her job as the face and creative talent behind this exemplary resource that is utilized by hundreds of thousands of parents, homeschoolers and now...public schools across the fruited plains. Yes...PragerU Kids videos are now available in public schools as an approved resource to help teachers. Alaska might be next. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Rick Smith is a long time Eagle River resident who is one of MANY residents in that spectacular setting who are saying it's time to say goodbye to Los Anchorage. Tune in and find out what the buzz is all about. Support the show

Much has been written about Biblical Citizenship but what does it really mean ? How are we as Christ-followers called to engage with our leaders who implement laws and regulations influencing our lives ? We have dual-citizenship according to Philippians 1:27-2:4 but how does that manifest itself in our walk? Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I get to chat with Loran Baxter, an Alaskan working with the Patriot Academy to reach the Body of Christ in our state with how to apply Biblical Citizenship principles in order to transform culture and glorify God. Loran is a quiet, passionate and committed influencer who is making a mark in the Great Land. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

In many respects, when people think of Seattle, what comes to mind is progressive politics, homelessness and tent cities and protesters taking over city blocks to create police-free 'autonomous zones. Turns out that didn't work so out so well after all. But we're called to seek the welfare of our city where God has placed us (Jer 29:7) and for Brian Noble, Seattle and the state of Washington is that place. As a former pastor and now head honcho at the Family Policy Institute of Washington, Brian knows what it's like to face a legislature that is just shy of holding a super-majority against all that our movement stands for.  But he hasn't let that reality stop him and his team from setting very specific and purposeful goals to transform the Evergreen State into a place where God is honored and Biblical values are lifted up high.   It's my blessing to chat with my friend and colleague today on I'm Glad you Said That. Support the show

For many of us who are unapologetically Christian and believe that America has been blessed by God as a general influence for good in the world, the term Christian Nationalist is seen as pejorative. For other Christ followers, they wear the label as a badge of honor. But definitions matter. What leftist Rob Reiner portrayed in his recent, and abysmally received documentary, God & Country, is a movement of Neanderthal simpletons intent on creating a theocracy in America. Nothing new under the sun. Politically active Christians are offensive and should stay in their churches. Others, like Douglas Wilson write books like Mere Christendom, “encouraging the transformation of American culture into a Christian nation.” Wilson, a prominent Reformed theologian, prolific author, and pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, has helped found several Christian institutions and claims Christian nationalism “is a position that all consistent Christians need to take.” Today on I'm Glad You Said That, I'm privileged to speak with Sharon Dierberger, Senior Writer at World Magazine, about her cover story on what Christian nationalism means in different circles and how the Body of Christ needs to wrestle with this label. Hope you can join us.  Support the show

Patricia Silva's Planet Fitness membership in Fairbanks got cancelled. Her crime ? Reporting on a male who was shaving in the female locker room. She took a photo of him in the locker room and made a video in the parking lot that went viral. In light of the incident catapulting into social media, Planet Fitness stock dove, members cancelled their membership in droves and once again, we're at a cultural moment where people still believe the Emperor has clothes on. I'm honored to have this conversation with Patricia on I'm Glad You Said That today because we cannot remain silent and we shall not live by lies. As importantly, as Patricia brings up in our chat, people who identify in this manner are made in the image of God. They need truth and they need love and counseling.  It's a frightening reality we live in today but also an opportunity to draw people to the foot of the cross. It's always been that way. Balancing truth with grace. Support the show

The issue of birth control has a wide range of opinions within Christendom. To be sure, as my friend Bob Bird pointed out in this article, "as casual sex springs up, along with divorce and STD rates, and new pressures placed upon women: not only to succumb to seduction but also to take care of the undesired results of sexual union." And...as he notes in the same article, "Malcolm Potts, Planned Parenthood’s thoroughly accurate and honest medical statistician, said in the 1970s during a speech at their annual gala convention: “Contrary to what you might think, when a nation legalizes contraception, the abortion rate goes up, not down." More people having sex, more unintended pregnancies. Even when birth control is used. At the same time, many Christ followers, including John Piper and others, believe there is a place for thoughtful regulation of when children come and how many come. The issue I discuss today with Democrat Alaska House of Representative member Ashley Carrick has to do with whether insurers, including Medicaid, should be required to cover 12-month prescriptions of birth control. Alaska Family Council is absolutely opposed to legislation that opens the door to abortifacients and morning after medication like Plan B that prevent fertilized eggs, also known as embryos or human beings, from attaching to the uterine wall. Carrick maintains that her bill, HB17, does not in fact, open that door up and, to my great surprise, states that she believes the old Democrat line coined by President Bill Clinton that abortion should be "safe, legal and rare." That view is archaic now in the Democrat world where women are encouraged to "shout their abortion" in celebration. I was absolutely thrilled to converse with Carrick as she demonstrated true humility, kindness and a genuine desire to close the chasm when it comes to discussing this divisive issue. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Dr. Douglas Frank would rather be working on gadgets in his home laboratory than shining a bright light on election fraud across the country. But duty called. Frank earned a Ph.D. in Surface Electroanalytical Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1990, has 60 peer-reviewed publications, and has feature articles in Science, Nature and other journals. He discovered and developed a new type of microscopy capable of producing three-dimensional images of molecules resting on metal surfaces. This gave him international credibility and his work is prominently featured in college textbooks. After leaving university academics in 1996, he began consulting and manufacturing surface analytical devices for national defense and various industries, where his custom electronics, software, inventions, and products continue to be widely used. Most recently, he has dedicated his energies to identifying, exposing and addressing election fraud across the nation. His mind is sharp and his friendly but persistent demeanor is something that has driven progressives wild. I'm thrilled to have him on I'm Glad You Said That today. Hope you can join us. Support the show

A Catholic couple in Indiana has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hold the state accountable for removing their son from their home because they wouldn't identify him as a girl. I'm privileged to speak with their attorney, Josh Hersberger, today on "I'm Glad You Said That". Josh is the lead counsel on the case and works with our sister organization, the Indiana Family Institute. In M.C. and J.C. v. Indiana Department of Child Services, Indiana investigated Mary and Jeremy Cox because they would not refer to their son using pronouns and a name inconsistent with his biological sex. State courts allowed Indiana to keep the child from their home because of their disagreement with their child—motivated by their religious beliefs—about human sexuality. With the help of Becket and Hershberger, the Coxes filed their reply brief at the Supreme Court, asking the Justices to take their case.  Mary and Jeremy Cox are a faithful Catholic couple living in Indiana. In 2019, their son informed them that he identified as a girl. Because of their religious belief that God creates human beings with immutable sex—male or female—they could not refer to him using pronouns and a name inconsistent with his biology. The Coxes also believed that he needed help for underlying mental health concerns, including an eating disorder.  To address both issues, they provided therapeutic care for their child’s gender dysphoria and scheduled appointments with a specialist to help him with the eating disorder. In 2021, Indiana began investigating the Coxes after a report that they were not referring to their child by his preferred gender identity. Indiana then removed the teen from the parents’ custody and placed him in a home that would affirm his preferred identity.  I'll chat with Josh about why this case is so important for parental rights today in America. Hope you can join us. Support the show

Isabel Brown is a Gen Z influencer on a grand scale. As a full-time streamer and independent content creator, author, and speaker, this 27 year old has figured out her Generation has to accept the baton at breakneck pace. And she's joyfully and ambitiously embraced that challenge. In her latest work, The End of the Alphabet - How Gen Z Can Save America, she says these "young and often underestimated Americans are here to fight for a better future—and we won’t wait for permission to lead." Amen. Hope you can join us. Support the show

As Vice President of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation, Eric Teetsel has a long track record of experience in government at the federal, state, and local levels. Most recently, he was Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, where he also held the roles of Legislative Director and Special Assistant.  Teetsel previously served as President of the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, Director of Faith Outreach for the Marco Rubio presidential campaign, Executive Director of the Manhattan Declaration for life, marriage, and religious freedom, and more. Teetsel graduated from Wheaton College and holds a master’s in Education from Azusa Pacific University. Originally from Kansas, he and his wife live in Virginia with their four children. So grateful to have my friend Eric Teetsel on the show today. Support the show

Jon Faulkner is a lifelong Alaskan, graduate of Harvard, husband, father of five, and pilot. In addition to owning the spectacular Lands End Resort in Homer, he's invested in real estate projects on the Kenai River and in Girdwood. He's been in the political arena and has always been a voice for building Alaska into a place where people can dream and creating an economy where those dreams can flourish. Faulkner recently purchased the ubiquitous MustRead Alaska and in all likelihood, will carry it places that Suzanne Downing, the founder and top journalist in the state, will be proud of. Jon Faulkner is on the show today.  Hope you can join us. Support the show

I've worked alongside and have had the privilege of being friends with Bernadette Wilson for a long time.  When she told me she was getting out of politics for awhile to go make "real money" in the private sector, I knew she could thrive in the business world.  I didn't think she's be gone long for the world of civic engagement. It's in her blood. She's still building her business but her real passion, a love for our state and it's ability to be a prosperous home for future generations, has been re-ignited...again. This time leading the Alaska Policy Forum, our state's think tank zeroed in on expanding freedom and reining in Government.  Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Mike Shower is a no-nonsense, former fighter pilot who speaks with the kind of confidence and clarity that is as refreshing as it is rare. He is existing right now in a three-member Alaska State Senate Minority because, once again, the Republicans in Juneau couldn't play together in the sand box. Despite having a majority, they gave power to the Democrats and sequestered the most conservative members to a small island. At least we know who is willing to stand for what they campaigned on and hold the line on conservative principles that the party platform articulates. Showers along with Senators Shelley Hughes (Palmer) and Robert Meyers (North Pole) are in a very small minority but because of an allied Governor and House Majority, they have plenty to do in terms of stopping some of the worst legislation and possibly even getting some things across the finish line. Senator Shower is on the show today and, as always, has a lot of energy.  Hope you can join us. Support the show

Alaska Senate Minority member Shelley Hughes, a Republican from Palmer, has always been someone I have deeply respected. She articulates her position with passion and clarity and grace whether sitting as the Senate Majority Leader or as a member of a micro-minority of just three (3) as she is now. Today, on "I'm Glad You Said That", we'll chat about what she has in store for this second half of the Alaska legislative session including bills she has introduced regarding concealed carry in public schools, artificial intelligence, sex trafficking and how she will be holding Senators accountable for simply throwing more public funds into public education without any accountability for improvements. Hope you can join us. Support the show

Tami Jo Watson and Victoria Ross, Executive Director and Deputy Director of Alaska Adoption Services, know first hand of the challenges and joys of adoption. They both have adopted children and are engaged in that arena every work day. I'm thrilled to have both of them on the show today. Every year in Alaska, somewhere between 1,200 and 1,900 pre-born children are aborted primarily because of inconvenience. It is hard to estimate how many of those children would be alive today had the mothers and families involved had more information about adoption as an alternative. I think it's safe to say many. Adoption has an enormous role in how God laid out His plan to redeem humanity. As John Piper describes, "Adoption is one of the most profound realities in the universe. I say “universe” and not “world” because adoption goes beyond the world. It is greater than the world, and it is before the world in the plan of God, and it will outlast the world as we know it. Indeed it is greater than the “universe” and is rooted in God’s own nature." CLICK HERE to read the compelling piece by Piper as to how integral adoption is to God's good work.  Support the show

Excited to talk today with Sarah Montalbano about two recent articles she wrote about education - "How We Spend Matters More Than What We Spend" "Charter Schools Are Public Schools" Sarah hails from Wasilla and is the Policy Manager for Alaska Policy Forum. where she writes about education, healthcare, state fiscal issues, and more. She is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum and also the Northwest Regional Leader and writer with Young Voices. Graduating from Montana State University with a B.S. in computer science with minors in economics and data science, she was a 2022 Robert L. Bartley Fellow in editorial features at The Wall Street Journal. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Examiner, and The American Spectator. Support the show

Michael Dowling has a story to tell. His own and through the books he now publishes. While holding an MBA degree from Columbia Business School in New York and an engineering degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, MIchael is also a professional "ghost-writer" and has written several children's books, including  "Frog's Rainy-Day Story and Other Fables" that World Magazine has called one of the 6 best Christian picture books of the 21st century! From Michael...“When I was in my thirties and living in Boston, I was into cults like Silva Mind Control and EST (Erhard Seminars Training),” says Michael. “I went to psychics, studied A Course in Miracles, and practiced positive thinking, extrasensory perception, visualization, and meditation. The generally accepted beliefs in these circles were that all spiritual paths are equally valid, truth is what you experience, and Jesus was an enlightened teacher who came to show us the path to enlightenment. Back then, the thought systems that captured my attention were on the fringe of the culture, but today they are even infiltrating many churches. That’s a major reason why I wrote Frog’s Rainy-Day Story." So privileged to sit down and visit with Michael on the show today. As always, if you can't tune in live on radio, be sure to go wherever you get your podcasts and listen at your convenience. Support the show

Josie A is on the show today. It's a pseudonym. Jodie is the compiler of a recent book, Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans. (PITT)  She also helps to manage a substack with the same name. From their site... "We publish stories written and edited exclusively by parents with first-hand experience in the upside down world of gender ideology. Send your story to [email protected]. PITT is a space for parents that have been impacted by gender ideology to share their uncensored stories, experiences, and thoughts, while remaining anonymous to protect themselves and their families. Our objective is to inform the public about the devastating impact of gender ideology on our families through our personal experiences. We believe that, when people understand the true picture, they will join us in ending the medicalization of identity for children, teens and young people." As always, if you can't tune in live on radio, be sure to go wherever you get your podcasts and listen at your convenience. Support the show

Ole Larson is a salt of the earth guy who is running for MatSu School Board as an incumbent and former Board President. He worked in an arena, prisons and youth detention facilities, for decades and has a refreshing no-nonsense style free of pretension and manure you'll often find on school boards. I get to interview Ole today on the show but in many ways, it's as much about his opponent, Diane Shibe, as it is about Ole. As my friends Suzanne Downing in MustRead Alaska (HERE) and Joel Davidson in The Alaska Watchman (HERE) have reported, Shibe is banking on Valley residents being dimwitted. While casting herself in conservative red campaign colors and school choice slogans, Shibe is rolling in dough, the most in MatSu Valley School Board race history, from a legion of liberals including outside DC funding groups, the NEA, Anchorage School Board President Margo Bellamy, former Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Pat Chesbro, Tom Klaameyer, the current president the National Education Association in Alaska and Ted Swanson, the only current progressive, woke member of the Mat Su School Board. She even has the gall to say on her campaign website that she's in favor of school choice. The NEA, Shibe served as President of the local chapter in the Valley, is without a doubt the biggest opponent of school choice in America today. President Abraham Lincoln noted with wonderful clarity that "No man (or woman) has a good enough memory to be a successful liar." Oh Diane and your donors, the tangled web of deceit you weave. Valley voters...beware. Support the show

Peter Murphy and the group he represents called Invest In Education believes that school choice is something that is beneficial to all children. The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a federal piece of legislation he is working hard to advance, is a $10 billion scholarship tax credit to expand educational freedom and opportunity for up to two million students throughout the nation. Under the bill, individuals and businesses contribute to non-profit scholarship granting organizations who make scholarship awards for tuition, tutoring to address learning loss, special needs services, and education technology among other uses. Scholarships are funded with private donations, not federal money, and donors receive a federal tax credit. The ECCA respects federalism, protects religious liberty, and ensures private school autonomy. I am honored to chat with Peter today on the show. Support the show

Did you know that the Greek word for “sin” is hamartia, an archery term for “missing the mark”? Making Christ the Target of Our Lives is the slogan and vision of a wonderful group I've come to discover called CenterShot Ministries.  Using archery as a means of reaching more people for Christ, CenterShot Ministries, when asked why, says... It is affordable. It levels the playing field. It can be done year-round. It is completely safe.It promotes a growth mindset. It is fun, exciting, and adventurous.It promotes fitness and endurance.It is inclusive of all ages and abilities.I am blessed to have Kim Welch, the State Director of CenterShot Ministries on the show today. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her spirit is overflowing. It will be a joy to converse with her and I hope you can join us. Support the show

Jonathan Keller is one of the nicest guys I know working in one of the most difficult places to advance pro-family, pro-life, pro-liberty measures. He heads up our sister organization, California Family Council, and does an unbelievable job in one of the most socialist leaning locales in all the country. At the same time, he reminds me, there were more Republicans who voted for President Trump in California than in all of Texas. In other words, that's quite a "remnant" of Truth followers to work with and Jonathan has engaged hundreds of thousands of them. On today's show, we'll focus most on the absurdly rational and common sense notion that parents have the inherent right to know if their children are "socially transitioning" in public schools. Despite what you might think of and know about California politics, a lot of good things are coming out of the Golden State.  Support the show

One of the great realities often overlooked is how people and groups don't fit as nice and tidy together in perceived boxes as we think. Gays Against Groomers is a fairly accurate example of that. If you have a mindset that everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community is supportive of sexually charged curricula in public schools, Drag Queen Story hours and 13 year old girls getting double masectomies because they feel as though they are boys...you would be wrong. From their website... "Our community that once preached love and acceptance of others has been hijacked by radical activists who are now pushing extreme concepts onto society, specifically targeting children in recent years. The overwhelming majority of gay people are against what the community has transformed into, and we do not accept the political movement pushing their agenda in our name. Gays Against Groomers directly opposes the sexualization and indoctrination of children. This includes drag queen story hours, drag shows involving children, the transitioning and medicalization of minors, and gender theory being taught in the classroom. The activists, backed by school boards, government, woke media, and corporations, have been speaking on our behalf for too long. When fighting for equality, our goal was to successfully integrate ourselves into society, but now these radicals aim to restructure it entirely in order to accommodate a fringe minority, as well as seek to indoctrinate children into their ideology. We’re saying NO."  I'm grateful to chat with Robert Wallace on the show today who works out of Arizona with Gays Against Groomers. We'll dive into why the issue of parental rights and the innocence of children is resonating much farther than most people know. Support the show

Moms for Liberty has landed in the Great Land and they're on the show today. Their founders are former school board members, who witnessed how short-sighted and destructive policies directly hurt children and families. Now, with their growing organization, they're uniting parents across the country to fight those who stand in the way of liberty. Today, we'll chat with Melissa Wilkins & Kali Ponder who are leading the Mat Su Chapter and are hopeful other chapters will get going across the state soon. Alaska Family Council couldn't be more thankful to have another group to stand shoulder to shoulder with in standing for truth. Support the show

The number 40 appears in the Bible over 150 times. Of those times, the words 40 days and 40 nights are found 24 times. Each time, they denote a significance for God and his people. The 40 Days for Life campaign, the world’s largest grassroots movement to end abortion, starts on Wednesday, September 27th and pro lifers across the globe, including here in Alaska, are gearing up. Mary Kemper, a local nurse in Anchorage and coordinator of the campaign, is on the show today to discuss this remarkable ministry that has over 1,000,000 volunteers in 64 nations. To date, 23,525 lives have been saved, 251 abortion workers have left the industry and 145 abortion centers have been closed due to their vigiance. Tune in today to find out more about the movement and how YOU can engage Support the show

With nearly 350,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter) Chris Elston, now known internationally as Billboard Chris, has made quite a splash. A Canadian from Vancouver, BC, Chris simply calls himself a "Father of two girls. Traveling the world to expose gender ideology and why children cannot consent to medical transition." On "I'm Glad You Said That" today, I get the privilege of interviewing Chris about his journey to educate the world on the distinct harms of the "gender affirming care" movement. Currently, I'm in Chicago at the State Policy Network Annual Conference and while walking down Michigan Avenue in the Windy City, I randomly ran into Chris doing his thing. My wife encouraged me to get his card to interview him. I'm glad she did. This man deserves accolades in abundance. I hope you can listen in. Support the show

Ari DeWolf describes himself as somewhat of a "Unicorn" being gay, black and Jewish while leading the effort to expose "gender affirming" health care as fraudulent and harmful. Ari cut his political teeth through ten years of battling the Chicago political machine, first as an outspoken student activist and then as a lobbyist in the state legislature.  For a season, he was an education outreach manager at Reason Foundation, working on legislative outreach and coalition building to advance Reason's education policy agenda. Prior to joining Reason, Ari was a government affairs specialist at the Illinois Policy Institute, where he advocated for budget, tax, ethics, education, labor, and criminal justice reforms. Today, Ari is the Director of Outreach for Do No Harm Medicine, a diverse group of physicians, healthcare professionals, medical students, patients, and policymakers united by a mission to protect healthcare from a radical, divisive, and discriminatory ideologies. It's a shame that politics has become so embedded in medicine but we celebrate groups like Do No Harm Medicine for standing in the gap to right the ship. I am privileged to chat with Ari today and hope you can tune in. As always, if you can't tune in live on radio, be sure to go wherever you get your podcasts and listen at your convenience. Support the show

It is always a big-time treat to chat with my good friend Suzanne Downing with MustRead Alaska. Her insight, wisdom and clarity are a blessing to the Great Land. Today, we'll chat on everything from Chloe Cole to Riley Gaines to Ben Carson. All with a common theme.  Keep speaking truth and never give up. Support the show

Dig deep on Dr. Jay Richards bio and your eyes keep widening. He's written more than a dozen books covering everything from physics to fasting to money to The Hobbit. He has produced multiple documentaries including The Call of the Entrepreneur, The Birth of Freedom, and The Privileged Planet. In addition to his current role as William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, he is also a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute, Executive Editor of The Stream, Assistant Research Professor in the Busch School of Business and Fellow of the Institute for Human Ecology at The Catholic University of America. Today, I am privileged to converse with Dr. Richards about how gender ideology has infiltrated so many aspects of our society today. Ever the scientist, he likens how quickly this lie has hardened into culture today to phase change - a physical process of transition between one state of a medium and another like water turning to ice. Fortunately, he believes, a phase change in the other direction may be evident as even liberals are beginning to question the madness. I am privileged to chat with Jay today and hope you can tune in. As always, if you can't tune in live on radio, be sure to go wherever you get your podcasts and listen at your convenience. Support the show

Priscilla likes to say God saved her three times. As a Christ follower, she knows that your soul is saved once and for all but her story is different than most. She is a survivor of an attempted abortion, with her twin sister dying in the process. She had two abortions herself and while working at an abortion clinic in Southern California, was in a horrific car accident that should have killed her. And finally, through God's everlasting grace and mercy, she found salvation, forgiveness and freedom after surrendering to Jesus at age 31. In addition to running one of the largest abstinence education programs in California, Priscilla established a ministry called Choice to Choose.  She is an active member of the Abortion Survivor's Network and is true treasure nationally, as well as here in Alaska where she now resides. I am privileged to chat with her today and hope you can tune in. As always, if you can't tune in live on radio, be sure to go wherever you get your podcasts and listen at your convenience. Support the show

Dr. Jim Garlow is a good friend and is my guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That." In addition to writing 15 books, including the New York Times best-seller Cracking DaVinci's Code, Dr. Garlow is a former Senior Pastor at Skyline Church in La Mesa, California and is founder of Well Versed, an international ministry that brings biblical principles of governance to government leaders. Jim is a joy to speak with on so many levels and I'm honored to call him a brother in Christ. Hope you can tune in today. Thanks for your interest in "I'm Glad You Said That" and to John & Sandy Powers for their generous sponsorship of the show. We couldn't do it without them. Support the show

Pat Trompeter is Director of Advancement of Regent University School of Law. That means he meets with people of influence every day to connect them with his school's mission. He is passionate about the fact that at Regent School of Law, they are serious about Christ. From their website, Regent's "commitment to faith-law integration is woven into our curriculum, as our faculty, dedicated to Christ’s call both personally and professionally, provide a caring and nurturing environment in which students gain an understanding of the foundations of law and learn to develop the ethical and moral code required for the recognition and resolution of ethical dilemmas. Additionally, students are encouraged to explore the call of God on their lives, the gifts God has given them and discover how this translates into the practice of law." As the only state in the nation without a law school, Alaska needs more graduates from Regent coming to the Great Land to be influencers.  Hope you can tune in today. Support the show

Katie Faust is one of those humans that when I first met her, it felt like she was the sister I never had. She is brilliant. Hilarious. Bold. Scattered. Deep. And so relevant. The ministry she founded and runs, Them Before Us, says this on their website. "There’s nothing exceptional about the people behind Them Before Us. We aren’t professional writers or pedigreed activists. We are just people who think that children deserve to be the primary consideration when considering what is best for, well, children. We are ordinary people willing to state the cost that children, as well as society, pay when children are deprived of their fundamental needs." Isn't that what needs to be said out loud more often ? Oh...and she's also on the Organising (that's European for organizing) Committee of a new group called the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship - created as a counter to the World Economic Forum. She's in good company on that Committee with the likes of Jordan Peterson, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Victor Davis Hanson, Riva Melissa Tez, and Vivek Ramaswamy among others. The right response to the formation of this group would seem to be - "It's About Time!" Hope you can tune in today. Support the show

Maybe it's because he's from Texas where quiet confidence reigns. Maybe it's because he's a Principal in Golovin, an Inupiat Eskimo village on the Seward Peninsula where respect for elders is generational. Whatever the reason, Alan Davis, Principal of Martin L. Olson School in Golovin, has given a desperately needed boost of confidence in the public school system by recently coming out in support of Governor Dunleavy's parental rights bill, HB 105. Public school teachers, counselors, administrators and Board members have been relentless in advancing sexual orientation and gender confusion ideologies and very purposefully withholding that from parents. HB105, that shouldn't even be necessary, would require public schools to obtain parental consent before they teach anything related to sex, and those classes could not be taught to kids in K-3rd grade. The bill also mandates that parents must be informed if kids begin identifying as a different gender in school. Finally, the legislation creates safe locker rooms and restrooms by separating those facilities by biological sex. Alan Davis, who joins me on "I'm Glad You Said That" today, is one of, if not the only public school employee, who has stepped forward to support this eminently reasonable legislation. Unbelievably, a large percentage of those opposing HB105 have been teachers and counselors who are actually standing against parents. Principal Davis, his letter is shown below, should be commended and should inspire what is hopefully a large number of reasonably minded, parent-focused public school employees to also step up and take a stand ! Hope you can tune in today Support the show

Zach Young is a life long Alaska with strong roots in conservative politics. He enjoys being involved with political activism all over Alaska. As the president of the Anchorage Young Republicans, Zach is uniquely equipped to help conservatives refine their messaging to attract young skulls full of mush to see how Government needs to be reigned in. As a local Anchorage Realtor, he knows the town like the back of his hand and when he's not engaged in the political arena, he enjoys fishing, hiking, and spending time outside. I've been blessed to know Zach since he was young and am honored to have him on the show today.  Support the show

After yesterday's election results confirmed that Anchorage would be continuing down the road toward higher taxes, more rampant crime, homelessness and disgrace, I began wondering if I needed counseling. Suzanne Downing came to mind. As someone who always can put a smile on my face, I'm honored to have Suzanne on "I'm Glad You Said That" today to digest the Anchorage elections results and keep a proper perspective. This is not the end folks.Very frustrating yes but there is still much good work to be done. We'll also chat about Governor Dunleavy's parental rights bill that has caused an LGBTQIA+ storm and why it's so important to move this legislation, and the associated public dialogue, as far as possible.  Support the show

Join us on "I'm Glad You Said That" today for a chat with Spencer Moore who is running for Anchorage Assembly in District 5. As you likely know, although supposedly a "non-partisan" body, the Assembly is dominated by progressives with only two of the eleven members even remotely conservative. Much of that has to do with anemic voter turnout. Will we be able to recapture any of the several seats up for grabs this election cycle ? Spencer Moore is doing his part to answer that in the affirmative. Hope you can join us for the conversation. Support the show

Tune in today for "I'm Glad You Said That" to learn about the Help Not Harm movement ! "A young girl who feels she is a boy – or a boy who feels he is a girl – may feel that way for any number of reasons. Perhaps she feels she doesn’t fit in socially with other girls, and would fit in better if she were a boy. Perhaps she is generally uncomfortable in her body or with the changes it’s going through, and she is reacting to that in a similar way to someone who, for example, has an eating disorder. She may have heard teachers talk about identifying as transgender in school, or watched videos online about transitioning, and that led her to believe it was a solution to the depression or anxiety she faced. Or, she may have more organically developed these feelings as a child. Whatever the cause, one thing is crystal clear: a child who believes they must alter their body in order to be comfortable in it is a child who is deeply hurting. The last thing we should do? Hurt them even more. When a child is struggling to accept his or her biological sex, transgender activists will send that child a message to “be yourself.” In reality it’s a message that says: Be Yourself except - - Change your body chemistry makeup - Change or amputate healthy body parts - Change your appearance through surgery Many states are now pushing back and providing much needed legal protections for children who are being directed toward unnecessary, life altering procedures that many now, in the thousands, are regretting. Join me today on "I'm Glad You Said That" for an important and enlightening conversation with Joseph Kohm III, Esq, the Director of Public Policy for our national partner, the Family Policy Alliance Foundation.  Joseph is a good friend and is traveling across the country testifying and providing expertise on this issue to lawmakers and others to stand in the gap for sensible measures to protect children.  We will be doing everything in our power to get legislation in Alaska toward this end. I hope you can join us for the show. Support the show

Many of us in the conservative movement in Alaska were surprised when the Alaska State House was finally able to organize around the Republican majority that had been elected. For too many legislative sessions, members of the Grand Old Party were not able to play in the sandbox together. Usually, that meant giving the power to the Democrats who then sat in the powerful positions determining what bills were heard and not heard. It was always bad for Alaska Family Council's legislative agenda. This year, praise be to God, the Republicans in the House (the State Senate is another matter), were able to work with some rural Independent legislators and create a functioning Republican Majority. And they elected Representative Cathy Tilton as the first Mat-Su legislator to hold the position since Jalmar Kerttula in the 1960s. We couldn't be happier about having her in this important position of influence. Cathy has been a friend and ally for many years. She is grounded in her faith and will be an incredible asset for the next two years.   Please join me today on "I'm Glad You Said That" as I have the pleasure of chatting with House Speaker Cathy Tilton - a good friend, woman of God and steady leader with wonderful convictions. Support the show

If you know Kelly Tshibaka, you know it wasn't going to take long for her to rebound from her loss to Lisa Murkowski and get back in the fight. For liberty-minded, small government conservatives in the Great Land, that is a positive. In addition to raising her family, she is advancing a movement across the country to stop the cancer of ranked choice voting from metastasizing into other states. As dark, big money once again leads the charge to convince Americans that Alaskans couldn't be happier about the "rank" new election process, something even liberal pollster Ivan Moore has shown is not the case, Kelly is engaging with a group called Preserve Democracy to expose RCV as "a political weapon and emerging threat to our democracy. It is a complex, multi-step process that confuses voters, escalates negativity, increases costs, and results in voter suppression." Please join me today on "I'm Glad You Said That" and learn how and why Alaska does indeed need to lead on this issue - by sending it to the graveyard of bad ideas. Support the show

Bethany Marcum is a fierce defender of school choice. As the leader of Alaska Policy Forum, (APF) her steadfast voice has fought for freedom on many fronts. But today, the battle before her and others like her is defending the rights of parents and kids to choose the school option that is most suitable for their needs. Scott Kendall, who brought us ranked choice voting, has teamed up with the NEA to decrease the educational options for kids in Alaska. APF released the following press release recently. "Yesterday, the Institute for Justice (IJ) teamed with a group of Alaska families to defend the state’s Correspondence School Allotment Program (CSAP) against an NEA-funded lawsuit that seeks to end parents’ ability to use their correspondence school allotments for private educational services. IJ, a nonprofit public interest law firm, has filed a motion to join the case, to defend Alaska families and the current school choice program. Alaska Policy Forum (APF) is not a party to this legal action, but strongly supports school choice, and commends Institute for Justice (IJ) for standing with Alaskan families." I am privileged to chat with Bethany today on "I'm Glad You Said That" and hope you can tune in. Support the show

Parental rights are under attack across the country. In Indiana, my friend and colleague Ryan McCann with the Indiana Family Institute, is at the tip of the spear in what is turning into an almost unbelievable violation of the State into the inherent right of a parent to, well, parent, their children. Ryan is introducing legislation that strengthens parental rights by stating in clear language that parental rights are fundamental and that refusing to affirm your child as anything other than their biological sex is not a reason for the state to remove your child from your care. As you can see for yourself in this video, this is actually happening and there is no reason it isn't or won't happen as well right here in Alaska. If courts and the bureaucracy in Indiana are interpreting laws in a way that ignores parental rights regarding kids struggling with gender dysphoria, there is no doubt in my mind it can happen here. And that's why Alaska Family Action is looking at introducing similar legislation that will add clear and concise language that cannot be misinterpreted or ignored. The Cox family, the plaintiffs in this case, have lost so much in this struggle against government overreach, but their sacrifice has highlighted a danger that all parents in Indiana and across the country need to be aware of.   I'm honored to have Ryan on the show today and hope you can tune in.  Support the show

Joel Davidson is very gifted at speaking and writing and he has a lot to say about politics in Alaska and what the lay of the land is.  Support the show

Growing up in Seldovia, a tiny hamlet across from Homer in Kachemak Bay, Ron Hoffman suffered tragedy early with the loss of both his parents at a young age. Coming to Anchorage and being raised by a family friend, Hoffman became part of the community of Anchorage Baptist Temple. As teacher, administrator and eventually as lead pastor when Dr. Jerry Prevo left to take the helm of Liberty University, Hoffman is a big thinker wanting everyone to know about the grace and truth that a relationship with Christ brings. In line with that thinking, Pastor Ron and his team at Anchorage Baptist Temple have launched a new chapter for this ubiquitous house of God through a rebranding and new vision they are calling Mountain City Church. I couldn't be more privileged to chat with my good friend Pastor Ron about this wonderful new beginning. God is in the business of fresh starts on many different levels. CLICK HERE to be refreshed by some of those Scriptures now. Alaska is blessed to have people like Ron and Mountain City Church in it. Praise God for His goodness. Support the show

At Regent University, Alexandra McPhee was the Executive Director of the Law Review and President of the Hispanic Law Students Association. Following work as the Director of Religious Freedom Advocacy at Family Research Council and Legislative Counsel for U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO),McPhee now serves as the Director of Government Relations for Concerned Women for America. On today's "I'm Glad You Said That" radio show/podcast, I have the pleasure of chatting with Alexandra about the Standing With Moms Act introduced by Senator Marco Rubio that would create a website that will list federal, state, local, and private resources available for expectant moms and families. Many states like South Dakota, have already launched. Eighty-five percent of women who had abortions in 2019 were unmarried. Mothers with unexpected pregnancies suffer fear of whether they can get support during pregnancy and after the child is born. In a post-Roe America, this information is more vital than ever. Hope you can tune in.  Support the show

Senator Dan Sullivan, along with 11 other Republican Senators, voted recently to enshrine same-sex "marriage" into Federal law. The consequences are real and forthcoming. As my guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That", Travis Weber, has described what Sullivan and others like him did in terms of a giant boulder and a few pebbles. Republicans who claim they were protecting people of faith in voting for this law opened the floodgate for litigation and harassment that will be like an enormous rock rolling downhill onto those with traditional, Biblical views on marriage. The supposed protections ? Those are the pebbles. And Travis knows this subject well.  Travis Weber, J.D., LL.M., is Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council, where he oversees policy development and engagement with federal and state government officials on issues related to life, family, and religious liberty. Before joining FRC, Travis practiced law in the areas of civil rights, criminal defense, and military law. He holds a J.D. from Regent University School of Law, where he served as the Notes & Comments Editor on Law Review. Travis also graduated with an LL.M. in International Law (with distinction) and a Certificate in International Human Rights Law from Georgetown University Law Center. Travis previously served as a Navy pilot after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was captain of the Intercollegiate Sailing Team and a two-time College Sailing All-American. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Ken Breivik loves the quote from Charles Spurgeon that says "The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” As National Executive Director of School Ministries, Ken has done a lot of unleashing over the past several decades. The program creates opportunities for public school students to spend part of their school day studying the Bible not just academically, but devotionally. Released Time Bible Education (RTBE) as it is called, is the only legal means to teach the Bible's content and life-application in the time between the first and last bell. From School Ministries website, "RTBE programs bring hope to youth. Too many of our nation’s children and young adults have never been to church, much less read the Bible. But things can be different in your community. School Ministries serves to educate, equip and encourage as you bring together Christian leaders and volunteers to offer the option of RTBE to your public school students." Alaska Family Action is working with Ken and School Ministries to make this a very real opportunity for public school students right here in the Great Land. Stay tuned and tune in today. Support the show

Jake Libbey is a deep thinker. He's intense, opinionated and unbelievably hard working. As owner of Crystal Clear Creative C3, a highly successful ad agency, Jake is also the founder and publisher of the Alaska Watchman. If you've followed Alaska Family Council, you know I am a huge fan of the Watchman that has quickly become a powerhouse in exemplary, on-line news reporting in Alaska with a distinctive, unapologetic Judeo Christian approach to journalism. More than anything else though, Jake is a family man and a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. I am honored to call him a friend and to chat with him on today's show. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

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Some people you meet are very intelligent and you walk away knowing it.  Others are brilliant but you leave the conversation thinking you were the smartest guy in the room. Dr. Mark Newcomb is one of those latter guys. As the Headmaster of Holy Rosary Academy in Anchorage, recently ranked for the second time in consecutive years as the top ranked private school in the Great Land, Dr. Newcomb has the credentials. With his undergraduate studies at the prestigious Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, he earned a Master of Theological Studies degree at Duke University, and completed both a Master’s degree and doctorate in Historical Theology at Fordham University. He is the author of The Ark, the Covenant, and the Poor Men’s Chest, on the interpretation of the Christian Scriptures during the English Reformation. Before taking the helm at Holy Rosary, Dr. Newcomb served as Executive Vice President at Mount Saint Mary College in New York and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Belmont Abbey College. He is not only a Renaissance and Reformation scholar but also a leader in classical education in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. All that being said, he is a humble, dedicated servant of Christ who puts others above himself. I am indeed privileged to chat with Dr. Newcomb today on "I'm Glad You Said That" and hope you can lean into our conversation. Support the show

Joyce Moropolous has an infectious smile and incredible heart for those who are facing unplanned pregnancies. It's why she started volunteering for HeartReach Center in the MatSu Valley, a pregnancy care center offering FREE and confidential services to men, women, and families in need of pregnancy testing, pregnancy options information, limited obstetric ultrasounds, emotional support, material items, and prenatal/childbirth/parenting support classes. You know, one of the "fake clinics" as abortion activists like to call them because they don't happen to provide or recommend the termination of babies as part of their services. Most importantly, as their website describes, "While the support we provide meets tangible needs, the impact of our services in the form of prevention, intervention, and sharing the gospel is exponential. Our focus is both short-term and long-term, generational and eternal." The HeartReach Center also has Alaska's ONLY Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) they just purchased to greatly expand their services to remote areas in the MatSu Valley for clients who live in areas where access is a real challenge. I was able to visit with Joyce at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer and spend some time with her in the brand new, beautiful MMU.  What a blessing to have that in the state's fastest growing community. If you are interested in having the Mobile Medical Unit come to your business or church or other place with good visibility, click HERE to fill out their form.  Joyce is my guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That" and I invite you to join in. Support the show

Daniel Suhr is waiting on the Alaska Supreme Court. And he's not the only one. As a Managing Attorney for the Liberty Justice Center, a public interest law firm tasked with defending constitutional freedoms, Daniel recently spoke at the Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage to a group of legal minded Federalist Society members and others about Alaska's recently enacted ranked choice voting (RCV) system. Having attended the luncheon, I thought he'd be a great guest on the show. Despite Daniel's youthful, invigorating and even jovial presentation, the content was disconcerting.  Having litigated on RCV in Alaska and other places, Daniel has a wealth of knowledge about how this monster has infiltrated our precious right of voting and how it should animate everyone to get rid of it as soon as possible. We'll discuss dark money and how the proponents of Ballot Measure 2, the beast that brought RCV to the Great Land, manipulated Alaskans on that issue with an end goal to washout citizen's rights to cast a single vote for a single candidate. A question I keep hearing from people after Mary Peltola's recent march to DC, despite 60% of the vote going to Republican candidates Nick Begich and Sarah Palin is "How did we let this happen?" A more important question is..."How can we end it ?"  Hope you can tune in today. Support the show

Jim Crawford is a third-generation Alaskan whose been in the banking business and political arena for over forty years. Appointed by former Alaska Governor Jay Hammond, Crawford served on the Investment Advisory Committee, charged with putting structure, systems, accountability and safety into the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. He currently serves as President of Capital Alaska, LLC. Crawford has strong opinions about the sanctity of life, judicial reform and the Constitutional Convention question Alaskans will be voting on in November.   I am delighted to have him on the show today to discuss each of those issues and hope you can tune in. Support the show

Darathea Lathan knows what women need when they're facing an unexpected pregnancy. They need love. They need space to breathe and room to relax and sort out the complicated and anxious emotions and thoughts running through their hearts and minds. And she knows that God has given her a passion for that in Anchorage, Alaska where she calls home. Healing Under Gods Miracle Expectancy (HUG ME) is a ministry dream Darathea has to reach women with compassion, grace and service by providing a physical space for them to get beyond the coercion and cultural pressure they often face to end the life of their pre-born child and make it just go away. She knows that is a short term fix that causes real long term pain and regret. Darathea is my guest on the podcast/broadcast and I'd be grateful if you could join in.  Now, as much as ever, women with unexpected pregnancies need a place to reflect and lean into the reality that the Body of Christ is there for them...and their child. Support the show

As first century churches were established by followers of Christ, it didn’t take long for false teachings to creep in through people with persuasive personalities and ideologies. In response, Paul and others needed to constantly point out to churches those things that misrepresented God and His Word to keep professing Christians from going astray. Paul wrote, “…mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” Romans 16:17. Today, a tidal wave of false teaching has flooded evangelical churches, seminaries, colleges, schools and bookstores. Some of the most notable evangelical leaders are propagating a Christian-sounding version of Critical Theory, known colloquially as Woke-ism. This is the false idea that oppressive “systemic injustice”—by whites toward blacks, men toward women, heterosexuals toward homosexuals and those struggling with gender identity—is the rule and reason for the ills that afflict the nation and church and therefore “equity” or “social justice” must be enacted. Today, on "I'm Glad You Said That", I'm joined by Chris Prosch whose firm helped produce and distribute the documentary called Enemies Within The Church.  Although Solomon tells us there is nothing new under the sun, and false teachers have been with us since the Garden, it is important to understand the times we are in and be able to engage and discern where and when we have been placed by God. This documentary provides insight for that high calling and is definitely worth the watch.  Support the show

Nick Begich III, or NB3 as many nowadays are referring to him, is certainly in his element when speaking individually to someone or on a bigger stage. He most definitely inherited that casual, folksy, even keeled tempo from the Begich family tree. His Uncle Mark is legendary for it. But NB3 fell far from the family tree when it comes to his political leanings. Growing up in Florida with his maternal grandparents in a Christian environment shaped Nick in a way that has propelled him to a neck and neck race with the one and only Sarah Palin for Alaska's sole Congressional seat. I'm honored and excited to chat with him on I'm Glad You Said That tomorrow. I also love how he has made it clear, in our interview, that "Alaskans shouldn't fear a Constitutional Convention."  That's a mantra we need to get out statewide between now and November 8th. Support the show

Bethany Marcum heads up the Alaska Policy Forum and is a state treasure in terms of what it means to be an exemplary leader. Principled. Articulate. Well Prepared. Grounded. Strategic. We need more Bethany Marcums in the Great Land and toward that end, the Alaska Policy Forum is launching its inaugural leadership academy. CLICK HERE to learn more about it. I'm thrilled to have Bethany on "I'm Glad You Said That" today to discuss why this program is needed. According to their website, the Academy "will train, inform, equip and connect experienced and emerging leaders in Alaska on the founding principles of our country, and explore how those apply to the challenges our state and nation face today. Graduates will be positioned to grow as visionary and principled thought leaders who can guide Alaska’s freedom and future. Outstanding instructors from around the country will facilitate the monthly sessions and and present on topics such as the free market, ethical leadership, on-camera media training, Alaska’s constitution, crisis management, and much more." If you or someone you know wants to make a difference for Alaska, this program will provide the tools needed. Support the show

Did you know that more than 40,000 Alaskans have signed a petition calling for the Convention of States to place restrictions on the Federal Government ? Or how about that Alaska was one of the first states to pass a resolution calling for the Convention ? Is there a tie in to what is going on with the Federal Convention of States and the current effort to call for an Alaska State Constitutional Convention ? Most certainly. My guest today on "I'm Glad you Said That" is Keith Heim who is the State Director for the Convention of States. CLICK HERE to download the podcast and listen now to our conversation. Although Alaska has joined the ranks of states that have said we need to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and impose term limits on its officials and members of Congress, there is still work to be done. Tune in to find out what that is.  Support the show

Jubilee Underwood was an engaged Mom enjoying her kids athletic activities and life in the MatSu Valley, one of the most conservative, family friendly spots in the Great Land. She hadn't been involved in any political or public speaking engagements to speak of. And then Covid hit. As the mask mandates got more and more severe, requiring school athletes to wear them even during games, she had had enough. During her first moment testifying in front of the MatSu School Board, she was visibly shaking. But, she was compelled to give a voice to the countless parents and students who were negatively impacted and concerned about how the mandates had shackled and confounded their lives. After the initial feeling of uncomfortableness, Jubilee decided, with some encouragement from others, that it was time to step up more substantially. She is now serving a three (3) year term as a Member of the MatSu School Board. On today's episode of "I'm Glad You Said That" I have the privilege of conversing with Jubilee about the MatSu Board's recent vote protecting female athletes from having to compete against biological males, the first school board in Alaska to do so. We'll also touch base on her views regarding CRT, the LGBTQIA agenda and why it's so important for parents to stay engaged. Hope you can join us. Support the show

Craig Campbell is as pleasant as he is incredibly gifted and diverse in his vocations. On a recent episode of our weekly podcast/broadcast, "I'm Glad you Said That", I was blessed to converse with Craig about numerous issues including his support for a constitutional convention this November that Alaskans will be voting on as they do every 10 years.   Craig Campbell is a multi-talented Alaskan. He currently is the Interim Airport Manager for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and has also served as -  - Lieutenant Governor of Alaska - President and CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation - Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs - Chief of Staff and Director of Policy and Programs for Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson - Chair (twice) for the Anchorage Assembly - Vice Chair of the Alaska Republican Party - Adjunct professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Commander of the 168th Logistics Squadron at the Eielson Air Force Base and was promoted        to Lieutenant Colonel Quite a resume. And he has a beautiful family. It is indeed my privilege to get caught up with Craig.  Thanks for tuning in and to John & Sandy Powers for their generous sponsorship of the show. Support the show

On a smoky, sultry summer day in Alaska, who better to chat with about politics than Suzanne Downing ? I'm honored to have Suzanne with MustRead Alaska on "I'm Glad You Said That" today.  We'll dive into the results, surprises and confusion of the recent U.S. Congressional Special Primary Election in Alaska that currently has Sarah Palin holding a 10 point lead over Nick Begich. We'll also touch on the recent radical abortion worshippers who are waging war against the pro life movement. Suzanne is truly a state and national treasure.  Hope you can join us. Support the show

Denise Harle (pronounced like the motorcycle) is a college football fanatic as am I. She named her boy after a former Ohio State Buckeye quarterback (Kirk Herbstreet) and if you know me, that is something that makes me smile. She went to Florida State University, as did my mom, so we have a lot in common but for today's episode of I'm Glad You Said That, we're not talking football. Denise Harle serves as Senior Counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is the director of the Center for Life. She has a master’s degree in political science from Stanford University, and a Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law. In her role with ADF, Harle leads her team’s litigation and advocacy efforts to defend pro-life legislation around the nation. She also networks with pro-life allies, speaks publicly on behalf of ADF, and works to defend the First Amendment freedoms of pro-life health care professionals and pregnancy resource centers. What an amazing time to be defending life legally ! With the Dobbs decision coming out literally any day, this is as hot a topic, and of critical importance, as it gets right now.  Hope you can tune in. Support the show

Chad Hufford is a guy who thinks about wealth creation and management as much from a Biblical perspective as a financial perspective. The two are actually intimately aligned. Money and possessions are mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible and the message is fairly clear: Nowhere in Scripture is debt viewed in a positive way. On today's show of "I'm Glad you Said That", Chad and I will discuss - - How Christians should respond to a bad economy - Why Christians should be concerned about inflation, national debt and a possible global monetary crash - Is “retirement” scriptural? - Is “giving it all away” scriptural? Hope you can join us. Support the show

Katy Talento is a veteran policy advisor, health care reformer, epidemiologist and thought leader.  A compelling communicator, Katy has served as Director of Speechwriting for the Republican National Committee. She spent two years as a Catholic nun and has worked with the poorest of the poor from East Africa, to industrial Russia and inner-city America. Talenko now serves as Executive Director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries.  The mission of AHCSM is to -  Protect the liberty of member ministries to practice their religious convictions in health care.Inform legislators of the important work and benefit of health care sharing ministries.Seek exemptions from mandates requiring our members to purchase health insurance, in that they are already served in this area by the ministries which they participate in.Seek parity with other health care solutions with respect to federal and state tax codesI'm honored to have Katy on "I'm Glad You Said That" as my guest today. Hope you can tune in. Support the show

When Mike Robbins was running for Mayor of Anchorage, the liberal newspaper, Anchorage Press, did a story on him calling him "Trump Lite" presumably because of Robbins involvement as State Chair of the Trump Presidential campaign and his foray into pageants and fast times in his younger days. Mike has become a good friend and brother in Christ over the years and he is as interesting as he is pro-active in taking life by the horns. Currently, Robbins serves as Executive Director of the Anchorage Community Development Authority and was also recently elected as the Vice Chair of the Alaska Republican Party at their convention in Fairbanks. In addition to the many hats Mike wears, he is also orchestrating a massive effort to bring 600 Ukrainians to Alaska in what will ultimately be three filled up commercial jets doing round trips from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to Poland to "facilitate their transport and acceptance as refugees into the United States, specifically Alaska, and to support their integration into our country." Click HERE to learn more about this beautiful act of kindness. I'm beyond privileged to welcome Mike Robbins on "I'm Glad you Said That" today to discuss politics, economic opportunities in Anchorage and looking out for the least of these by bringing hope to war savaged, Ukrainian families. Support the show

Bernadette Wilson is fiercely committed. Whether she's coaching figure and hockey skaters on how to more effectively use their edges, lambasting and educating the Anchorage Assembly on freedoms they've trampled or rallying conservatives on any number of issues, Bernadette is passionate. Her latest adventure is State Director of the Alaska Chapter of Americans for Prosperity and you can bet that she's taking the bull by the horns. AFP's legislative agenda includes eliminating the Certificate of Need program which has created needless bureaucracy and rising costs for healthcare in Alaska and across the nation. She has the resources available to rattle a lot of cages down in Juneau and she is doing just that. As my longtime friend and ally, it is indeed my treat to chat with Bernadette Wilson on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. I hope you can join us for an interesting visit on freedom in the Last Frontier. Support the show

How do we take our Biblical knowledge and convictions into every sphere of our life including our jobs and relationships and entertainment and hobbies and politics and education ? In education today in particular, it seems as though there is an extremely overt, direct assault on our children by the academic elite set on undermining Biblical truth. As believers, is it our responsibility to put kids into private schools ? To homeschool ? Do we also have a responsibility to the majority of youth who remain in Government-run schools ? Can we expect our youth to have enough of a foundation in their Biblical worldview that they can be credible influencers to their friends who are lost ? Dr. Roger C. S. Erdvig thinks deeply about these issues as an author, leader, and scholar who finds his greatest joy in helping to develop emerging leaders. I am honored to speak with Dr. Erdvig on "I'm Glad You Said That" today and am hopeful you can be a fly on the wall for our conversation. Support the show

Do parents have any rights regarding concerns they have about their children being forced to mask up for 8-10 hours at a time in public schools ? Do you find it ironic and frustrating that nobody was masked at the Super Bowl, including celebrities and political influencers, and yet children the very next day were mandated to mask up all day at school ? Are there real studies that show masks are not only ineffective in preventing the transmission of the Wuhan virus but actually harm people, especially young children, physiologically and psychologically ? Are children in public schools being intimidated and looked down upon for not aligning with teachers and administrators who are advancing the covid experimental jab ? Great questions. Questions we'll discuss with an Anchorage individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. She is involved in an effort locally to hold Anchorage School Board members accountable for mandating, what she says, are unconstitutional, unscientific and harmful policies on children in public schools. She is serous about this and is taking legal measures. Her and others have created a Facebook site called Learn, Play, Breathe. If you wonder why she wants to remain anonymous, just think "cancel culture", Canadian truckers and doxing. The vitriol and willingness from the Left to come after those who speak up against the established mantra is real. Tune in today to hear what's happening with her effort on Facebook, get a phone number to participate, and get inspired to make a difference. Support the show

Do parents have any rights regarding concerns they have about their children being forced to mask up for 8-10 hours at a time in public schools ? Do you find it ironic and frustrating that nobody was masked at the Super Bowl, including celebrities and political influencers, and yet children the very next day were mandated to mask up all day at school ? Are there real studies that show masks are not only ineffective in preventing the transmission of the Wuhan virus but actually harm people, especially young children, physiologically and psychologically ? Are children in public schools being intimidated and looked down upon for not aligning with teachers and administrators who are advancing the covid experimental jab ? Great questions. Questions we'll discuss with an Anchorage individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. She is involved in an effort locally to hold Anchorage School Board members accountable for mandating, what she says, are unconstitutional, unscientific and harmful policies on children in public schools. She is serous about this and is taking legal measures. Her and others have created a Facebook site called Learn, Play, Breathe. If you wonder why she wants to remain anonymous, just think "cancel culture", Canadian truckers and doxing. The vitriol and willingness from the Left to come after those who speak up against the established mantra is real. Tune in today to hear what's happening with her effort on Facebook, get a phone number to participate, and get inspired to make a difference. Support the show

Michael Thiessen has taken a very prominent role in his native Canada to stand up for the rights of Christians and for freedoms in general that Prime Minister Trudeau and others are more than willing to eviscerate. With a heart for training and mentoring young adults and pastors, and advancing both church and cultural renewal, Michael Thiessen serves Liberty Coalition Canada as the Founder and President as well as a Fellow at the prestigious Ezra Institute whose vision is that - "God's kingdom people become a reservoir of strength out of which successive generations of church and cultural leaders will emerge, able to formulate, articulate and credibly defend a truly scriptural view of life as the sole source of truth, freedom and beauty, thereby shaping the future to the glory of God." (Phil. 1:7; Col. 1:15-20). Michael earned his Master's degree with a focus in New Testament and Ethics (Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary) and holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School).  He has served in the GTA as a pastor for over 20 years.  He also served in Mozambique as a director of a small Bible college.  He now serves as Lead Pastor of Christ the King Fellowship, just north of Toronto, ON, Canada. Michael's D. Min major research project is entitled: Responding to our Hemorrhaging Faith in Canada by Exploring a Family-Integrated Church Model as a Solution. All in all, Michael is a fascinating person to interview eh? I hope you can tune in. Support the show

If there is one thing liberals in this state are afraid of, it's losing control of the judges and how they are selected. As has been written about countless times, see HERE, HERE and HERE for three examples, the Alaska Judicial Council and the Alaska Bar Association simply do not represent Alaska's political, social and cultural make up.   In my conversation with Alaska State Senator Mike Shower today on "I'm Glad You Said That", we'll dive into a few pieces of legislation he has introduced to put some balance back into the judiciary despite the long odds of getting such measures through. As a Lieutenant Colonel who piloted F-22 Raptors, Shower doesn't pull any punches and is delightfully to the point. He is most definitely zeroed in on the target. Ultimately, in addition to much needed judicial reform, such as school choice and protecting innocent unborn Alaskans, all roads are now leading to the need for a Constitutional Convention. Something Alaskans will be voting on in November of this year as we have every decade since statehood.  Very tellingly, the Alaska Democrat Party has actually adopted a platform (see page 5 HERE) opposing a Constitutional Convention. The nearly 70% of Alaskans who do not affiliate with the Democrat Party should be very suspect of that stand.  Alaska Family Council says trust the people and that's why calling for the Convention is one of our biggest priorities of 2022 ! Please spread the word and pray for discernment as we prepare for that monumental undertaking. I encourage you to tune in today and educate yourself on how and why the judicial system in Alaska needs to be fixed and what people like Mike Shower are doing toward that end. Support the show

Jonathan Quick lives up to his name in many ways. He's quick to engage on a wide assortment of vocational adventures that are pretty impressive. From serving as Chief of Staff to Mayor Charlie Pierce, who is currently running for Governor, to running an eclectic hardware store in Nikiski (click HERE for that) to launching an organic, vegan skin care line with his daughter (click HERE for that)  to working with my friend Suzanne Downing at MustRead Alaska and my friend Bernadette Wilson at Americans for Prosperity and my friend Jon Faulkner on the Kenai Home Port project ( a fascinating new development on the Kenai River) to once having served with his wife as a short term missionary in the San Juan Islands of Washington for Young Life. Let's just say we have a ton of things to talk about and I'm privileged to have him today on "I'm Glad Your Said That", our weekly podcast/broadcast.  I hope you can tune in Support the show

"Unleash Your Citizenship" Over $30 million in revenueMore than 300 staff membersAt least 25 attorneys on staffNearly 650K on mailing lists; 750K on email listsDefeated nearly 350 bills in the last yearPassed more than 200 bills in the last yearImpressive statistics for a movement Alaska Family Council & Action is privileged to be a part of. The "movement" I'm referring to are the family policy council organizations just like us all over the country working day in and day out to stand fo...

My good friend Jonathan Keller has been in the pro life arena since he was in high school. He is truly a gem in the movement and as President of the California Family Council, our sister organization, he's about to experience an unprecedented, almost unimaginable scenario. In light of abortion likely coming back to the states following the Dobbs decision in the summer of 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom along with dozens of abortion providers have proposed a plan to encourage Americans...

Dr. Josephine Glaser is a naturalized Filipina American who felt called into medicine in early childhood while growing up in a loving, faith-based home in a resource poor area of the Philippines. Her family immigrated to the US and settled in St Louis during her early adolescence. The lessons she learned from her experiences of culture shock helps inform her approach into each patient encounter to value & esteem each human being with love, respect, humility, sensitivity, & dignity. I met Dr. Glaser last week in Virginia while we were both in the area for the US Supreme Court hearing regarding the Dobbs case that will likely bring the issue of protecting innocent unborn lives back to each state. I knew I wanted to interview Dr. Glaser the first time I heard her speak at an Alliance Defending Freedom training we both attended to strengthen our resolve and knowledge about healthcare issues related to right of conscience, protection of unborn lives and other critical matters related to liberty and freedom. I knew I had to interview her when she told me Alaska was just one of eight states that do not currently have a single doctor who is part of the American Association of Family Physicians - Physicians for LIFE Member Interest Group of which she is Co-Chair. I am thrilled to chat with Dr. Glaser and learn more about how the medical community is taking up their shields to defend fundamental rights - especially for those who have yet to take their first breath.  Support the show

Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, Jr really cares about people. All people. You can sense it in his sincerity and passion when he speaks. As a clinical psychologist based in California, Dr. Nicolosi runs the BreakThrough Clinic specializing in drug and alcohol addictions, binge eating, sexual addictions, and many other addiction-related disorders. Reinitegrative Therapy, a form of treatment Nicolosi pioneered, has made national news lately. "A new large-scale, peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Human Sexuality demonstrates that sexual attraction fluidity exploration in therapy significantly decreases unwanted sexual behaviors while improving psychological well-being." As one patient commented, “My therapist never tried to get me to change my sexuality, or who I was attracted to, but instead helped me to process traumatic memories from my past that had brought me shame and fear,” said one client, a 30-year-old male with unwanted same-sex attractions. “It was difficult to work through my memories, but after some time, I started noticing my attractions beginning to shift." Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Dr Nicolosi has come under fire. LGBTQ activists use hard to grasp logic that it's perfectly normal and even commendable to shift from a heterosexual or biologically-based lifestyle to an LGBTQ-affirming lifestyle but are irate and dogmatically opposed to the reality that people might shift the other direction. Nicolosi, with the help of the Thomas More Society, has brought a lawsuit against such activists for making "false and defamatory statements that improperly characterize such voluntary treatments as coercive “conversion therapy,” misleading the public and policy makers on the topic of sexuality change." It's a case in the 9th Circuit parental rights and patient rights proponents should follow closely.  I'm honored to sit down with Dr. Nicolosi, Jr and invite you to join us today on "I'm Glad You Said That" Support the show

Leigh Sloan is a podcaster, coach and consultant at "Brave Nation" where she empowers leaders to create significant cultural reform in their spheres of influence. Recently, she took on the role of overseeing a group called Alaska Parents' Rights in Education, part of a national movement to engage and equip Moms and Dads to counter some of the leftist indoctrination that's happening with greater frequency and overtness in our schools and culture.  If there was a picture of someone next to the words "force multiplier" in your dictionary, it would be Leigh Sloan. I'm honored to sit down with her today and invite you to join us on Family Matters. Spread the word ! Support the show

Pastor Ron Hoffman, shown here with his wife Crystal, had some big shoes to fill. The church he now leads, Anchorage Baptist Temple, has been an influential presence in Alaska for decades.   ABT's founder and former lead pastor, Dr. Jerry Prevo, is now President of Liberty University, one of the largest Christian schools of higher education in the world. Based in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty was founded by Dr. Jerry Falwell, credited with establishing the "Moral Majority" in 1979. Pastor Ron's humble beginnings in Seldovia, a small coastal community in Kachemak Bay, and his difficult journey that brought him to Anchorage, have made him uniquely gifted to guide ABT well into the future. His passion to bring people to Christ is infectious.  I am honored to sit down with ABT Pastor Ron Hoffman and invite you to join us today on Family Matters.  Support the show

Pete Talbott is so much more than one of the founders of Relief Factor, one of the most successful dietary supplement companies in U.S. history. He started off his early career as a professional singer in his late teens, hosted his own cable talk show at the age of 18, founded Five Loaves and Two Fish, Co in 1974, followed by 12 Baskets Restaurants in 1976, 12 Baskets Catering in 1977, and 12 Baskets Distributors in 1978. Pete then founded the Talbott Group as a boutique advertising and production agency. He has nearly 50 years of entrepreneurial experience in starting and successfully managing numerous businesses…from retail and professional services to healthcare products and services. More than anything though, Pete loves the Lord. And, he sees this moment in time as critical for Christ followers to engage in every sphere of life. For His glory.  We couldn't agree more.  I'm honored to sit down with Pete Talbott and invite you to join us today on Family Matters today. Support the show

Maggie Gallagher doesn't know when to stop. In a wonderful way. A syndicated columnist, Gallagher is a founder of the National Organization for Marriage as well as the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy. Most recently, she has been charged by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to expand and promote the work of the archdiocese's Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship. That group, with a mission of "opening the door of Beauty to God", provides practical resources for more beautiful and reverent liturgies while energizing a Catholic culture of the arts. Today, on Family Matters, I'm privileged to chat with Maggie about a nationwide effort she's leading to pray for and send roses to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic in Archbishop Cordileone's diocese. Pelosi is leading the charge to push through the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021, legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade and significantly expand the practice of abortions in the United States. Although it passed the House, the bill has yet to make it through the U.S. Senate. I invite you to join us today on Family Matters.  Support the show

Ben Carpenter served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey and Kuwait as a member of the United States military. He has a few opinions on what just transpired in our country's 20 year engagement in that part of the world.  Raised on an Eastern Washington apple orchard, Ben never thought he'd go back into farming. Turns out he was wrong. In addition to representing, as an Alaska House Member, the communities of Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Sterling, Funny River, Salamatof, and Nikiski, where he graduated from high school, he is now a peony farmer. The quiet, rhythmic, hard labor, it turns out, has been a nice contrast to the grueling and divisive environment of the Alaska Legislature.  Rep. Ben Carpenter is my guest today and I hope you can join us. Click on the link below for previous episodes of Family Matters as podcasts. Support the show

As a Secondary Teacher at Anchorage Christian Schools (ACS), Spencer Moore has a unique view on how today's youth are impacted by corporate, media, political and other "woke" establishments. And as a young parent, he knew he had to get involved to advocate for his kids and their future. Now he's a Region 3 Representative for the Alaska Republican Party and is bringing salt and light into an arena that impacts all citizens - whether they engage or not.   Anchorage Baptist Temple, the church ACS is affiliated with, has a long and storied history of influencing the political scene in Alaska and it looks as though, at least in many aspects, Spencer has accepted that impressive and influential baton. Spencer is my guest today and I hope you can join us. Click on the link below for previous episodes of Family Matters as podcasts.  Support the show

As a member of the Armed Services, Eagle River resident Ted Smith had the intensely cool job of training pilots how to survive in the wilderness of Alaska if their planes came down. It happens. And when it does, they needed to be prepared to respond with confidence in the harsh new environment. The obstacles were plenty but the training equipped them to make the best decisions. Later in life, Smith realized that as a Christ-follower, he didn't feel as equipped himself to deal with the cultural and spiritual darkness we've all been dropped in to as sojourners (1 Peter 2:11). And yet we are each called to be prepared to give an account to the hope that is in us. 1 Peter 3:15 As a graduate of the Colson Fellows Program, a Christian worldview 10-month immersion experience, Smith found what he was looking for and is now directing others across the state to embrace their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength to be serious salt and light. Ted is my guest on Family Matters today and I'm privileged to make his acquaintance.  Support the show

Chris Gatch is a soft spoken man with a hard core passion for reaching youth here in Alaska. With mask mandates, critical race theory and LGBTQ ideologies being force fed to students, suicide rates doubling, test scores plummeting despite funds continuing to explode, the school climate in the Great Land seems bleak. Until you open your eyes to ministries like Youth For Christ led by Chris. With extensive outreach to the Bush, public high school teacher sponsors standing boldly and students embracing the Gospel so they can share it, we realize that God remains sovereign and that His plans will not be thwarted.  In our schools. In our communities. In our nations.  Support the show

The saga, and the opportunities, continue. Join us today on Family Matters for Part 2 of my interview with the affable couple, Paul and Marilyn Hueper. As you might recall, the FBI broke down their door, pointed multiple firearms at the Huepers and their Homer Inn and Spa guests (including a 17 yr old minor), handcuffed and interrogated them for hours because Marilyn resembled someone who was inside the Capitol on January 6th. More recently, Marilyn was pulled over by a Homer police officer who had no just cause but decided she needed to spend a night in jail. Did I mention that Paul now has to get to airports FOUR HOURS early to deal with TSA because of the FBI blunder ? To their absolute credit and faith in a God who controls the Universe, the Huepers have not only persevered, they have made this journey an opportunity to inform themselves and others about their rights and Glorify our Creator in the process. Pretty cool. Hope you can join us. Click on the link below for previous episodes of Family Matters as podcasts.  Support the show

When Paul and Marilyn Hueper, owners of the beautiful Homer Inn and Spa, heard the crash of their door being broken down and saw the barrels of multiple guns pointed at them in their home, their minds remained on the Spirit that gave them life and peace. Was it frightening ? Yes. Was it startling ? Certainly. But they remained calm knowing their Savior was front and center and that they had nothing to hide. Marilyn even found it somewhat amusing. "They (the FBI) said, ‘Well, we’re here for Nancy Pelosi’s laptop.’ And I said, ‘Oh, so it was stolen and it’s at large, good to know. I thought maybe it was just conspiracy theory, so thanks for the intel.'" She was also asked who she was working for, and she instead responded with laughter stating "I don’t mean to be disrespectful and laughing, but this is really surreal and strange." Join us today on Family Matters for a fascinating and encouraging discussion about Government overstep, an FBI bumbling on a hard to believe level and a couple using the opportunity to be light and salt on a national stage.  Hope you can join us. Support the show

Joel Davidson has so much to offer this great state. In addition to raising a huge, educated, God-fearing family out in the MatSu Valley who will almost certainly keep critical American traditions and love of country alive in the Great Land, Joel runs the ever-growing Alaska Watchman - a superbly written on-line news source reporting from an unabashedly Judeo-Christian perspective. Ironically, he does it with more fairness and balance than the mainstream media. It's just who Joel is.   We'll talk Critical Race Theory, smoking fresh, lake-caught trout and other essentials on the broadcast/podcast today. Hope you can join.  Support the show

Alaskans and even those outside the Great Land have been hearing, reading and seeing a lot about Kelly Tshibaka. I'm so grateful to have another opportunity to visit with her on Family Matters today. - Was there a specific moment when she felt compelled to put her hat in the ring for U.S. Senate ? - What does she believe about protecting women from having to compete against men in sports ? - How does her faith animate her decisions ? - How does her experience working at a crisis pregnancy center impact her views on the sanctity of life ? We'll discuss these and other questions on the show today. I invite you to tune in by broadcast or podcast.  Support the show

Leigh Sloan's Facebook page says she likes to "influence pioneers with brave wisdom to create significant cultural reform." Heavy stuff. As is the issue of critical race theory (CRT) being debated heavily across our state and nation now. What is CRT and why is there such a heated discussion about it ? Can we do anything to stop it from being a part of the public education curriculum ? Should we ? Hope you can join Leigh and I as we dive into this very controversial and interesting subject on Family Matters today.  Support the show

It's a moment those of us in the pro-life community have waited a long time for. The United States Supreme Court has elected to take up a case directly related to the viability of pre-born babies.  The case involves a Mississippi bill that preserves the human right to life and limits abortion when “the probable gestational age of the unborn human being” is “greater than” 15 weeks, “except in a medical emergency or in the case of a severe fetal abnormality….” The case is a "generational opportunity" for the U.S. Supreme Court to reign itself in with the U.S. as one of only seven nations across the globe that allow abortion for any reason after twenty weeks of gestation. “That the Supreme Court is considering this Mississippi law is a promising signal that perhaps a majority of Justices wish to give states greater power to regulate abortion,” said Steven H. Aden, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel for Americans United for Life. “At the same time, if the Court rejects Mississippi’s common sense HB 1510 protections, the pro-life movement will face a fundamental reckoning. Aden is my guest on Family Matters. I invite you to tune in. Support the show

Did you know there was a Christian-centered baseball team competing in the Alaska Baseball League ? The Eagle River/Chugiak Chinooks is a group of men's college players, most of whom attend and play baseball at Christian schools like Biola, The Masters College and Arizona Christian University. They compete against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Anchorage Bucs, MatSu Miners and Kenai Peninsula Oilers. Those teams have some of the top college baseball players in the country. My guest on Family Matters is Tim Barto who is the President of the Booster Club for the Chinooks.  We'll chat about what it takes to put together a team, identify host families and how this group of young men influence and are influenced by their 2 month season in the Great Land.  I invite you to tune in. Support the show

Isn't it tiring how many aspects of our lives have been needlessly and blatantly politicized ? From "woke" American corporate Board rooms to national anthem kneeling in pro sports to mainstream media actively choosing sides in stories they sell to the public to LGBTQ activism and critical race theory being forced upon students at public schools. It seems as if there is very little neutral ground anymore. In today's Family Matters show, we'll show how this incessant "progressive" bias and agenda has exploded at the AARP - the largest interest group in America focused on issues for people over the age of fifty.  If you don't know already, AARP is aggressively liberal. Thankfully, there is an alternative to AARP known as the Association of Mature Americans or AMAC. Robert Coulter heads up AMAC efforts in the Anchorage area and he is my guest today on Family Matters. Tune in and learn how to stop supporting AARP (click HERE to do that now) and to learn more about a group that more closely aligns with your worldview. Support the show

As Vice President of Strategy for Family Policy Alliance, our national partner, Autumn Leva is an attorney who has spent the last decade advocating for families at both the state and national levels of government—and from both within and outside government. She has a breadth of political experience with a heart for the Gospel. On Family Matters today, Autumn and I will discuss the national discussion taking place now to protect women sports, the Equality Act and what is being called the Equality Act Light as well as how Alaska Family Council is connected to a vibrant, effective and pro-active network of advocacy groups that makes our mission successful. I hope you can join Autumn and I on Family Matters today.  Support the show

Corinthians Wiley is a big guy with a big laugh who loves everybody. He is an intimidating presence and has served in the Department of Corrections where he monitored inmates and gained their respect because he believes every person has value. Wiley knows that every person makes mistakes and that each should be treated with dignity and respect. He is also the newest State Director in Alaska of BLEXIT, a national movement started in 2018 by Candace Owens "to encourage African Americans (plus Latinos and other minorities) to abandon the Democratic Party and register as Republicans with the promise of freedom. At the time, 8% of Black Americans identified as Republicans. Blexit is the term created out of "Black" and "exit" which mimics Brexit, the word used to describe the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. This will be a very interesting discussion and I hope you can join Corinthians and I on Family Matters today.  Support the show

Rod Dreher describes himself as a Conservative, Orthodox Christian, Southerner, Europhile, and Eclecticist.  He is a senior editor and blogger at The American Conservative and author of several books, including How Dante Can Save Your Life, The Benedict Option, and Live Not by Lies. He has written about religion, politics, film, and culture in National Review and National Review Online, The Weekly Standard, The Wall Street Journal, Touchstone, Men's Health, the Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He was a film reviewer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and chief film critic for the New York Post. Rod is my guest on Family Matters today. Let's wake up and carpe diem my friends. For His glory. Hope you can join us. Support the show

Kevin McGary grew up in the "hood" in San Francisco. He has seen and experienced racism and yet the organization he founded, Every Black Life Matters, stands outside of the mainstream Black Life Matters movement that has taken our nation by storm. As he has noted, "If we are complicit with precipitating foundations of injustice when life actually begins, it is impossible to assert we are for “justice” in any domain or instances throughout life." Those kind of unapologetically pro-life statements have not made him popular in today's cancel culture. Neither has his blistering resistance to critical race theory, his belief that there is only one race or that he supports free markets and educational choice. But Kevin McGary is not looking for endorsements from culture. He is looking to be an ambassador for Jesus. I hope you can join us as I have the pleasure of speaking with Kevin today on Family Matters. Support the show

Craig DeRoche knows what it means to nearly lose everything. Except his relationship with Jesus Christ. As the current President and CEO of Family Policy Alliance, Craig fell hard into the trap of addiction. His life story is a wonderful testimony to the power of the Gospel and of a God of mercy and reconciliation. As the former Speaker of the House of the Michigan Legislature, Craig has served as the former President of the Justice Fellowship, founded by Chuck Colson. His book, Highly Functional, is a personal account of his "collision of addiction, justice and grace." I'm honored to call Craig a colleague. I hope you can join us for today's episode of Family Matters. Support the show

Emilie Kao is in the right place at the right time. As Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion & Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation, Kao is an attorney who has defended religious freedom for the last 14 years. She has worked on behalf of victims of religious freedom violations in East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South Asia at the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom and Becket Law. Previously she worked at the United Nations and Latham & Watkins. Kao also taught international human rights law at George Mason University Law School as an adjunct law professor. She earned an A.B. degree in Near Eastern Civilizations and Languages at Harvard-Radcliffe College and a J.D. at Harvard Law School. She is a member of the Supreme Court Bar and the bar associations of California and the District of Columbia. Today, she is serving as a critical buffer between the Biden Administration and fundamental rights of Americans like you and I. On today's episode of Family Matters, we'll talk with Emilie about the Equality Act and the response to it called the Promise to America's Children. I hope you can join us. Support the show

Kelly Tshibaka knows what it means to live in a tent when your family has no other option at the time and she knows what it means to hang out in the upper echelons of the Ivy League. As a lifelong Alaskan, Tshibaka is a strong-willed, self-subscribed lover of efficiencies who serves as the Commissioner of the Department of Administration for Governor Dunleavy. In addition to her Harvard Law degree, Tshibaka has a heart for ministry having experience in the community pregnancy resource arena as well as planting churches in D.C.  Alaskans are fortunate to have her in a position to implement efficiencies in how State Government operates and steward public resources more wisely.  She is my guest today on Family Matters and I hope you can join us. Support the show

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse is the founder of the Ruth Institute, a global non-profit organization that defends the family at home and in the public square and equips others to do the same. In addition to writing numerous books, Dr. Morse earned her Ph.D. at the University of Rochester and taught economics at Yale and George Mason Universities. I am honored to have her on the show today to discuss where the sexual revolution has brought us and how transgender activists have much more in mind than opening up bathrooms and locker rooms or allowing biological males to compete against women in sports. Support the show

Jeanne Gawdun & Brittany Jones know as well as anyone that the Courts have usurped their role when it comes to the issue of protecting innocent, unborn human life. Gawdun, the Kansans For Life Director of Government Relations and Jones, the Director of Advocacy for Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, have just cleared a monumental hurdle in their state to clarify that the Kansas State Constitution does not include a fundamental right to abortion or the funding thereof. The effort is called the Value Them Both Amendment. It is a strategy at least 7 states have employed to effectively remove activist judges from making up meanings and language in state constitutions about abortion. And, God willing, it is a strategy Alaska Family Action will implement in the Great Land in the near future. Join me today on Family Matters with Jeanne and Brittany as we share some good news about what's happening in the pro-life movement despite who currently occupies the White House and controls both chambers of the U.S. Congress. Support the show

Senator Pete Micciche from Kenai was not going to allow the Alaska State Senate to go back to a bi-partisan coalition again. He knew that is not what Alaskans wanted as they had just elected 13 Republicans out of 20 and that was more than enough for a majority. Despite the wide divergence of views within members on nearly every issue, he stuck to his guns that the platforms were worth fighting for and ultimately, it came together. Micciche is now the Alaska Senate President residing over a Republican Majority and he is our guest today on Family Matters.   Support the show

Suzanne Downing is a force to be reckoned with. Her pen, or laptop, is as formidable a weapon as you will find in the Alaska media. And with today's unbelievable torrent of breaking stories and rumors flooding our i-phones and minds, she has been locked and loaded. From Big Tech tightening the screws to eliminate the views and voices of an entire population of right-minded Americans to Alaska Republican lawmakers ineptness to play in the political sandbox effectively, she has had her hands full and her fingers dancing to keep up. And, as we've come to expect and so appreciate, she has done an exemplary job. Tune in today on Family Matters for a casual and engaging visit I'm privileged to have with MustRead Alaska's architect. Support the show

Andrew Beckwith heads up the Massachusetts Family Institute, loves his country as a member of the Armed Services and sings some mean karaoke. Ok I have to admit sometimes I join him on stage but that's another story. Despite the total domination of the Massachusetts legislature by liberal Democrats (surprise, surprise), Andrew gets things done for family, faith and freedom in the Bay State. The church is engaged and much can be learned from this dedicated warrior doing his part as an Ambassador for Christ in the public marketplace of ideas. I'm honored to call him a friend. Hope you can join us for our last show of 2020. Support the show

Mario Bird is one of those guys who makes you feel smarter than you really are. He listens so well and is complimentary but not in a contrived way. He is passionate about the Constitution and knows a lot about it on the Federal and State level. He quotes people like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Mario is a local attorney and he's one of the good guys.  I get to talk with him today on Family Matters, our weekly radio show/podcast about how the Anchorage Assembly is violating the Open Meetings Act and how the Court is packed with agenda-minded attorneys and other interesting items. I hope you can tune in.  Support the show

Today, I'll be interviewing a young, Generation Z, 20-year old, college Junior who started a podcast on the intersection of faith and politics. That should sound familiar given Family Matters modus operandi. The Levi Erickson Show, hosted by, you guessed it, Levi Erickson, is pretty impressive in terms of his knowledge and ability to articulate a thoughtful, measured and conservative, liberty-focused message. Levi is a family friend attending school at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and is a shining example of something we can be proud of despite all the young people tearing down statues and demanding more free stuff from the Government.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

What a night ! Alaska not only affirmed itself as a solid RED state but we overwhelmed the State House with a pro-family majority and likely picked up a crucial seat in the State Senate. Dan and Don won big and Donald is still battling it out with those playing games in swing states but the Great Land remains a solid place for the elephant :-} Join Suzanne Downing of MustRead Alaska and I on Family Matters today for a fun, in-depth analysis of what just happened with the 2020 General Election.  Support the show

Cynthia Erickson is a legend in Alaska whether you've heard of her or not. Senator Dan Sullivan, in honoring her as Alaskan of the Week called her "a woman who is a leader and a woman of spirit and a woman of energy and a woman of passion." That sums it up pretty nicely. In addition to her tireless work on things like the Iron Dog Race, suicide prevention and starting a nonprofit called "Setsoo ‘Yeh”  Athabaskan for “My Grandmother's House", Cynthia has taken on the issue of judicial activism by serving on the Alaskans for Judicial Reform Leadership Team. It is my honor to have her on Family Matters today. It's going to be a great conversation. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

On Tuesday of last week, we came a bit closer to bringing our state back to a place where conservative policies and values can be advanced to free up our lives so we can all flourish. If the Primary election taught us anything, it revealed the very real desire by the electorate for candidates to keep their word, especially if they have an R next to their name. Although the election was a wonderful step forward, we still have a lot of work ahead with key General Election battles shaping up all across the Great Land. One of those races involves Leslie Becker in Ketchikan who is running against Dan Ortiz who claims to be an "independent" but always organizes and votes with hard core Democrats who generally fight against everything Alaska Family Council stands and fights for. Leslie is an Alaska Family Council Board member, a remarkable woman of faith, prayer, passion and accomplishment and is my guest today on Family Matters. I hope you can listen in on our conversation. Support the show

Elections have consequences. And as of now, it looks like Alaska has turned a brighter shade of red.  Lots to discuss regarding Tueday's Primary Election results and I'm honored to once again have my good friend Suzanne Downing with MustRead Alaska on Family Matters today to go over some of the nuances and more than meets the eye details.  She is an Alaskan gem and you won't want to miss our chat. Support the show

Jesse Sumner has been a consistent voice on the Mat Su Borough Assembly standing for conservative policies. As a lifelong Valley resident and successful business owner, Jesse has proven he can work with other people to get things down. His opponent, David Eastman, has proven he knows how to alienate and divide. That is not the way to pass pro family, pro life legislation. And that is why Jesse Sumner has our endorsement in this Primary Election. Jesse is my guest today on Family Matters and I hope you can tune in. Support the show

With big endorsements coming from a former Anchorage Republican Mayor, a sizable cadre of resource development leaders as well as party leadership within the District he is running in, Tom McKay's race has attracted a lot of attention.  Incumbent Chuck Kopp was installed as Rules Chair following a drawn out battle among Republicans last legislative session that ended with Kopp and several other Republicans linking arms with Democrats to form a coalition led by long-time Democrat Bryce Edgmon. That decision effectively killed all pro-life, pro-family issues Alaska Family Council works on. It has also reverberated long after the session ended and is a key campaign theme in McKay's and others efforts to unseat Republicans who joined with Democrats. Tom McKay is my guest today on Family Matters. I hope you can join us. Support the show

Keith Kurber is not someone you can dismiss as just another candidate for public office. As a retired Army Colonel of Special Forces (the Green Berets) with 30 years of service between Active Duty, National Guard, and the Army Reserves, Keith is a West Point Graduate with West Point who also holds a Doctor of Ministry. He worked 6+ years as a Police and Fire officer and is a graduate of the State Trooper Academy. He founded Harvest Church in Fairbanks and is now ready to bring his substantial background into Juneau as an Alaska State House member and put an exclamation point on the intersection of faith and politics.  Keith is a friend and is our guest on today's show. You won't want to miss it. Support the show

June 1st was the filing deadline for Alaskans to run for political office. Without a doubt, lots of intrigue is headed down the track this election season. Today on Family Matters, I have the privilege of sitting down with my good friend Suzanne Downing of Must Read Alaska to get her thoughtful input on what we can expect.  As one of the most consequential and ubiquitous voices in the Great Land, Suzanne is a joy to converse with. I hope you can join us. Support the show

I'm thrilled to have my good friend Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson on Family Matters today. In addition to discussing what he has done to address balancing religious liberty and public safety during this COVID crisis, we'll talk about his decision to join several attorneys general across the country in a brief about Lt. General Michael Flynn and how his case has brought to light issues on separation of powers.  We'll also spend a few minutes on another case of national significance involving the right of religious groups to operate freely and have "full autonomy in choosing the individuals who teach their beliefs and embody their faith."   It's sure to be a great conversation and I hope you can listen in. Support the show

John Stemberger is a name that people across the country have come to respect and cherish. As a leader of the Florida Family Policy Council, John's influence stretches from his home state across the entire country. He is an influencer in the truest sense of the word and I am privileged to call him my friend and have him as my guest today on Family Matters.  I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Very few organizations have as much impact on saving innocent human life than Americans United for Life.  Not surprisingly, the Washington Post called them "the most significant anti-abortion group you've never heard of."  Steven Aden is their Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel and is my guest today on Family Matters. Aden is a highly experienced litigator, having appeared in court against Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry dozens of times and appointed by the attorneys general of six states to defend prolife laws.  There is much to be celebrated in the pro-life movement today and AUL is a part of nearly every piece of good news.  Support the show

The Bible is filled with Scripture about how we are to interact with our neighbors. We are to love them as ourselves, to please them, to build them up, to do no harm and to not covet their house or their spouse. The list goes on. Jesus tells us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor is often someone we may not readily identify with. In every neighborhood, there are people we may be hesitant to approach much less love as ourselves. Dave Runyon, who heads up CityUnite in Denver, Colorado has thought long and hard about this issue and he's written a book called The Art of Neighboring. I'll chat with Dave today on Family Matters about being a good neighbor now during our current state of "hunkering down" and beyond. I hope you can join us. Support the show

Out of the 211,189 confirmed Covid-19 U.S. cases, nearly 84,000 are in New York. That is nearly 40%. Almost half of all U.S. deaths have been in New York. My guest today on Family Matters is my friend and colleague Rev. Jason McGuire, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms. We'll dive into details about what his group is doing and how New Yorkers are dealing with this crisis of incredible proportions. And we'll see where the Rock is amidst the storm. Support the show

Among other things, Harvard Law grad, Niki Tshibaka has been a Senior Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, a pastor for a church just outside of D.C. and a Co-Founder/Owner of an agricultural company in Ghana, Africa. His vast travels eventually brought him and his wife, Kelly Tshibaka, the current Commissioner of Administration for the Dunleavy Administration, and their family to Alaska where Kelly is from. Niki currently serves as the Assistant Commissioner at the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development. He is also responsible for organizing the Alaska Faith Leaders COVID-19 Task Force and the State Day of Prayer & Hope taking place this Friday, April 10th. I am pleased to welcome Niki to the show today. Support the show

Rick Castillo has a fascinating background and very strong interest in re-establishing some of the principles that made Anchorage great. Join me for a chat with who will hopefully be South Anchorage's next Assembly Member. Support the show

On today's show, I chat with Monty Dyson who is running against Pete Peterson for a seat on the Anchorage Assembly. Support the show

What a privilege I have to chat with President Donald Trump's national spokesperson for his 2016 Presidential Election and a top level strategist for his 2020 Re-Election Campaign. Katrina Pierson, who was in Alaska last week for the Anchorage Republican Women's Club Lincoln Day Dinner, is the quintessential American story lived out. Born out of wedlock to a 15 year old mother who chose life for her daughter, Pierson grew up on welfare and gave birth to a child of her own at a young age, raising him as a single mother. Although she voted for Barack Obama in 2008, her instincts eventually won out as she became an avid Tea Party enthusiast eventually approaching The Donald at a rally and encouraging him to run. She is a force to be reckoned with and for what it's worth, has more than a 1/2 million followers on Twitter. Support the show

Bethany Marcum is a long-time friend, avid big game hunter, political strategist and Executive Director of the Alaska Policy Forum. Now, more than ever, we need intellectual energy applied to make our great state more efficient, effective and liberty-minded. That's what the Alaska Policy Forum is all about. Bethany is an incredible asset to the Great Land. I hope you can tune in.  Support the show

Ever since we started this program, I have wanted to chat with my good friend Portia Noble on the show. Today is that day. Portia is a razor sharp, kind-hearted staff member of Americans for Prosperity Alaska and as most people in political circles know, is over the moon involved in all shapes and sizes of advocacy in the Great Land.  I am blessed to chat with Portia about AFP priorities and her own thoughts on many issues. I hope you can tune in. Support the show

Webster's defines firebrand as "a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action." Out of everyone I've known and worked with in the conservative movement in Alaska, I can think of nobody who fits that description more than my good friend Judy Eledge. As President of the Anchorage Republican Women's Club and now working with the Dunleavy Administration on childhood literacy in Alaska, Judy is as staunchly pro-life and pro-family as she is Republican. She understands and is guided by the issues that matter most. And she is an absolute hoot ! I hope you'll join me today and come to appreciate her Texas charm and energy many of us have loved for a long time.  Please join us today for another episode of Family Matters Support the show

Lance Roberts is a lifelong Alaskan, Fairbanks resident, engineer, staunchly conservative political activist and he is my guest today on Family Matters. We cover a wide variety of issues including the election last October that shocked the progressives. Tune in and stay engaged. Support the show

Mark Miloscia has been a Republican State Senator, a Democrat State Representative, a B-52 pilot with an Engineering degree from the Air Force Academy. With a Masters in Clinical Psychology and an MBA to boot, he's lobbied for the Washington Catholic Conference, served as a Director for Goodwill Industries and as the Executive Director of Federal Way Youth and Family Services. So what's he doing as head of a pro-family, pro-life, policy group in one of the most liberal states in America ? Lots. Please join us today for another episode of Family Matters Support the show