
The Aaron Renn Show
Aaron Renn's commentary and insights on our 21st century world, along with his conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers on the issues of today. Covering culture, media, economics, politics, Christianity and men's issues.
Latest episodes

Apr 21, 2025 • 30min
VP Mike Pence on Faith, Marriage, and Life in the Public Square
In this enlightening discussion, former Vice President Mike Pence shares his heartfelt journey to faith and the pillars of his enduring 40-year marriage to Karen. He delves into the controversial 'Mike Pence Rule' and its implications in today's world, especially in light of the Me Too movement. Pence also offers wisdom on how to navigate family values amidst media scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of character in public life. His inspiring message encourages those hesitant about entering politics to remain true to their faith.

Apr 14, 2025 • 1h 18min
What Killed America’s Can-Do Culture? | Tanner Greer
Why can't America build like it used to? What happened to our mojo? In this eye-opening episode, special guest Tanner Greer dives deep into the cultural and institutional decline that’s left America struggling to get things done. From building the Empire State Building in a year to endless delays today, we explore what’s gone wrong—comparing the decisive Spanish Flu response of 1918 to the chaos of COVID-19—and uncover solutions from high-agency groups like the U.S. Marine Corps, LDS Church, and Silicon Valley. If you’re curious about why our institutions feel broken and how we can rebuild a culture that gets results, this episode is a must-listen! Tanner Greer: "On Cultures That Build": https://scholars-stage.org/on-cultures-that-build/Tanner Greer: "A School of Strength and Character": https://www.palladiummag.com/2023/03/30/a-school-of-strength-and-character/Inc. Magazine: "Corps Values": https://www.inc.com/magazine/19980401/906.htmlTanner Greer's Homepage: https://scholars-stage.org/Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Apr 7, 2025 • 37min
Faith, Politics and Southern Baptists | William Wolfe
Join Aaron as he sits down with William Wolfe, Executive Director of the Center for Baptist Leadership (CBL), to discuss the future of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the fight against liberal drift in the church, and the intersection of faith and politics. From grassroots reform to meeting President Trump in the Oval Office, William shares CBL’s mission to revitalize Baptist identity and equip a new generation of leaders. 🌐 Center for Baptist Leadership: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/🌐 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Mar 31, 2025 • 58min
Jewish in America | Josh Hammer
In this episode of Aaron Renn's series on religious minorities in America, he speaks with Josh Hammer, senior editor-at-large at Newsweek Magazine and author of the book Israel and Civilization. Josh shares his personal journey from an assimilated Jewish upbringing to becoming fully observant, discusses the challenges of practicing Judaism in modern America, and offers insights on Jewish-Christian relations, contemporary anti-Semitism, and Israel's role in American foreign policy.Note: My audio level was poorly adjusted in this recording. GUEST LINKS:🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/josh_hammer📖 Buy Israel and Civilization: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1635769736/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20🌐 The Josh Hammer Show: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-josh-hammer-showCONNECT & FOLLOW:🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Mar 24, 2025 • 47min
Muslim in America | Haroon Moghul
In this first episode in a new series exploring the religious minority experience in America, I sit down with author, educator, and entrepreneur Haroon Mogul to discuss his experiences as a Muslim in the United States. Born to Pakistani immigrant parents in Connecticut and raised in New England, Haroon offers unique insights into navigating dual identities, building community across ethnic lines, and finding his place in a country where Muslims remain a small but diverse minority. From childhood memories of Christmas trees to raising his own children in Cincinnati, Haroon's story illuminates the challenges and opportunities of maintaining faith in a society that isn't built around you.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction to the series2:17 - Meeting Haroon Mogul3:33 - Growing up Muslim in New England7:56 - Navigating dual identities13:15 - Diversity of American Muslims20:45 - Ethnic diversity in American mosques27:23 - Moving from NYC to the Midwest28:23 - Facing opposition to mosque construction33:33 - American law and Muslim practices40:58 - Living in a "neutral world" as a religious minority47:13 - ConclusionHaroon Mogul was named as one of the 50 most influential Muslims in the Americas by EqualityX in 2023 and 2024.🌐 Haroon Moghul's Substack: https://sundayschooled.substack.com/🌐 Subscribe to my newsletter for in-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Mar 17, 2025 • 37min
The Managerial Revolution in American Churches | Christopher Schlect
Christopher Schlect, a Senior Fellow of History at New St. Andrews College, delves into the fascinating intersection of business management and religion. He discusses how managerial practices transformed American Protestant churches, reshaping church architecture and communication. Schlect highlights the evolution from personalism to systematic administration, the role of print technology in building community ties, and the changing dynamics of women's roles within church governance. The conversation reveals the lasting impacts of these trends on religious identity and community.

10 snips
Mar 10, 2025 • 40min
Work Is the Meaning of Life | David Bahnsen
David Bahnsen, a wealth manager and author of "Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life," redefines the role of work in our lives. He argues against the fixation on retirement and consumerism, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from production and meaningful contributions. Bahnsen challenges the work-life balance myth, suggesting work should enhance life rather than burden it. He calls for a cultural shift to value continuous engagement and reassesses what success means in the context of a fulfilling, purpose-driven life.

7 snips
Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 10min
New York: America's First Post-Secular City | Tony Carnes
Tony Carnes, a sociologist and founder of 'A Journey Through NYC Religions,' discusses New York City's evolution into America's first post-secular city. He reveals vibrant religious communities across the city, from Hasidic synagogues to storefront churches. The conversation touches on the impact of faith on local politics and the changing dynamics in urban governance. Carnes also highlights the role of empathy in journalism and the significance of documenting diverse spiritual narratives, showcasing how faith intertwines with urban identity.

Feb 24, 2025 • 35min
Christian Liberty vs. Modern License: True Freedom in a Digital Age | Brad Littlejohn
Join Aaron as he welcomes back Brad Littlejohn, author of "Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License" and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. In this thought-provoking conversation, they explore the true meaning of freedom from a Christian perspective and how it contrasts with modern society's understanding of liberty as unlimited choice. Brad unpacks how technology, despite promising greater freedom, often leads to new forms of enslavement, and explains why the Christian concept of freedom through service to Christ offers a more fulfilling path to genuine liberty.Note: The audio levels on this podcast are unequal. I am migrating to a new podcasting system and still getting the hang of it. Bear with me as I learn the new softwareBuy Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License: https://www.amazon.com/Called-Freedom-Retrieving-Christian-Everything/dp/1087779502?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=theurban-20Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/

Feb 17, 2025 • 53min
Media Evolution and American Character | Titus Techera
In this wide-ranging conversation, writer and editor Titus Techera explores how media has evolved from America's founding to today's social media landscape. We discuss how different forms of media - from Revolutionary War pamphlets to modern podcasts - have shaped American democracy and character.Techera breaks down how technological changes have repeatedly disrupted elite institutional control, and why legacy media's attempts to maintain power in the digital age keep backfiring. We explore the roles of figures like Joe Rogan, Christopher Rufo, and Elon Musk in transforming modern media dynamics.The Third Wave of Journalism: https://lawliberty.org/the-third-wave-of-journalism/The Postmodern Conservative: https://pomocon.substack.com/Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
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