American Thought Leaders

Filmmaker Natalya Murakhver, co-founder of Restore Childhood and director of the documentary '15 Days,' explores the lasting effects of pandemic school closures. She reveals how remote learning severely hampered student engagement and led to tragic mental health declines. Natalya discusses her advocacy efforts in New York, including filing a lawsuit for in-person schooling and mobilizing parents. She also highlights the importance of preserving stories from this turbulent time and warns of ongoing challenges in education governance.

Patrick Girondi is an author, musician, and the founder of San Rocco Therapeutics, established after his son Rocco was diagnosed with thalassemia. In this engaging conversation, he shares his journey from high school dropout to successful entrepreneur, driven by a father's love. Girondi discusses developing gene therapies, navigating challenges in the pharmaceutical world, and the importance of accessible treatments for rare diseases. He reveals exciting advancements with patients, including his son, and outlines a vision for universal access to innovative cures.

Michael Shellenberger, author of "Apocalypse Never" and founder of Environmental Progress, argues against prevailing climate change narratives. He discusses manipulated data on sea level rise, asserting no long-term acceleration exists. Shellenberger reveals how improved human resilience and better disaster management are often overlooked. He champions nuclear energy's growing acceptance while critiquing alarmist claims about extreme weather, emphasizing that recent evidence shows many disasters are misrepresented. He calls for truth and free speech amidst a shifting cultural landscape.

Congressman Neal Dunn, a former U.S. Army surgeon and current Florida representative, dives into urgent topics including the illicit organ trade in China and his BLOCK Act aimed at banning transplant tourism. He highlights alarming practices like forced organ harvesting, stressing the need for U.S. legislative action. Dunn also explores China's biowarfare threats, its economic strategies concerning rare earth minerals, and the geopolitical significance of Pacific islands. His insights shed light on America's strategic competition with China.

Join John Miller, co-founder of the Food Independence Summit, as he dives into the resurgence of homesteading and self-sufficiency, especially post-COVID. He discusses transforming food systems and local community roots. Meet canning expert Sarah Thrush, who shares pressure-canning techniques for ingredient control and economic savings. Plus, physician Julian Douwes highlights his innovative whole-body hyperthermia therapy for chronic Lyme disease, drawing significant interest from attendees eager for alternative treatments.

Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a leading sexual health physician and director of San Diego Sexual Medicine, sheds light on the troubling phenomenon of post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). He reveals that SSRIs can cause lasting sexual issues like erectile dysfunction and loss of libido, even after treatment stops. Goldstein discusses the lack of awareness among clinicians about PSSD risks and the potential for permanent damage. He emphasizes the need for informed consent and further research into genetic predispositions, challenging the belief that these side effects are purely psychological.

David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, and Bill High, CEO of Legacy Stone, discuss their unique faith-driven approach to business. They share how Hobby Lobby, which prioritizes ethics over profit, grew from a $600 garage start to over a thousand stores. The duo explores the reasons behind their controversial business decisions, such as closing on Sundays and not selling Halloween products. They emphasize the importance of developing family governance and a strong legacy, advocating for stewardship and giving half of profits to charity.

Join former U.S. senator and international human rights advocate Sam Brownback, who highlights how America's strongest weapon against the Chinese Communist Party isn't military, but the fight for human rights. He urges confronting the CCP on its human rights abuses, including the treatment of Uyghurs and Tibetans. Brownback also calls for symbolic actions to embarrass the regime and emphasizes the importance of religious groups as a form of civil society. He believes that leveraging moral ideals can significantly impact U.S.–China relations.

Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Taper Clinic, challenges the myth that depression stems from a chemical imbalance. He discusses how antidepressants often mask symptoms rather than address underlying issues. The conversation explores the risks and realities of using these medications, especially in vulnerable populations like pregnant women. Witt-Doerring emphasizes the need for careful tapering off medications to avoid severe withdrawal and raises concerns about potential links between antidepressants and violent behavior, citing real-life cases.

Charles Murray, a prominent political scientist and author, dives into his unexpected journey exploring religion in his latest book. He candidly reveals how his wife's spiritual transformation sparked his curiosity, leading him to confront profound questions about existence and the consequences of secularization. Murray discusses the dangers of a society lacking moral foundations, critiques artistic nihilism, and reflects on the potential for a religious revival among intellectuals. Ultimately, he encourages skeptics to engage with faith, finding personal fulfillment in the process.