The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

The statue version of history omits flaws. This view perpetuates a false belief that the great men and women of history had relatively little existence outside of the great acts for which they are known. The recent story of the university that wanted to remove a Lincoln statue because the Great Emancipator once said he would allow slavery to continue if it would preserve the Union tells us as much. Our society is waking up to the idea that great figures of history can be mixed. Not all aspects of their lives are “statue-worthy.”

In this episode, Stephen shares his candid review of Darkest Hour, the latest Hollywood blockbuster that delves into the life of Winston Churchill. Consider the leadership themes. Don’t be dissuaded by the ahistorical bits, which Stephen discusses here (spoiler-free). Also, check out a few of Stephen’s other Churchill recommendations, including his favorite Churchill film, Young Winston, which is based on the Prime Minister’s single-volume autobiography, My Early Life. Get your copy: The Character and Greatness of Winston Churchill by Stephen Mansfield

How did “evangelical,” which has its roots in the Greek word for “good news,” come to have a largely negative association with right-wing politics? In this episode, Stephen briefly traces the history and usage of the word, discussing along the way: the ancient church, John Wesley and the Methodist movement, Billy Graham and Richard Nixon’s friendship, and our own age – an era that saw 81% of white evangelicals vote for Donald Trump.

Whether you’re a Christian or not, the Christmas season is an excellent time to allow the humanity, warmth, love, and graciousness of the Christmas season wash over you. In this podcast, Stephen recommends some books and movies through which you might allow yourself to be transformed… Joyeux Noel (watch the trailer) It’s a Wonderful Life (watch the trailer) A Christmas Carol (watch the trailer) The Gospel of Luke (read) The Man Who Invented Christmas (watch the trailer) The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford In the Dark Streets Shineth: A 1941 Christmas Eve Story by David McCullough

We are constantly being bombarded with negative news. It’s easy to become disillusioned, our beliefs about ourselves, our people, and our country suffering along the way. In this podcast, Stephen offers a solution through recommending a few books and videos. May these restore your peace, hone your vision, and ennoble your soul. Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now by Peggy Noonan What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner Listen to David McCullough on YouTube (you pick the video!)

The political middle has been abandoned. The mainstream may talk about the “middle” as a place for those with weak, undecided opinions, but Stephen sees the “radical middle” as a place for thoughtful voters with convictions and morals. In this episode, Stephen gives some examples of what a right-of-center political viewpoint looks like.

Politically speaking, Stephen finds himself right of center – what he’s come to call “the radical middle.” While this podcast is not about Stephen’s political beliefs, he believes that his experience and viewpoint may help listeners make sense of our current political climate.

In what has become a Stephen Mansfield Podcast Thanksgiving tradition, Stephen tells the story of the Pilgrim Thanksgiving, the one that has inspired the American holiday. So gather the family and listen to this brief, exciting account of an episode from our nation’s history and from our heritage of faith. Landing of the Pilgrims by Michele Felice Cornè, circa 1805

In this podcast, Stephen addresses the rash of sexual abuse cases developing in our culture. First and foremost, Stephen firmly believes sexual abuse of any kind is both sin and criminal. Yet he’s also concerned about how some of these cases are developing – precisely because he is so opposed to any kind of sexual abuse. If light and frivolous allegations are used as a basis for destroying someone’s life, there will be backlash, which will ultimately result in legitimate claims being unheard as society becomes exhausted with unsubstantiated allegations. It’s beyond time for our society to have moral conversations. Stephen hopes this episode will help.

Many Americans are encouraged by Trump’s rough, unusual, and non-political style. And while there are certainly merits to this approach (a marked difference from the smooth, polished, teleprompter-backed Obama administration), Stephen’s noticed a loss of U.S. prestige around the globe. In this podcast, recorded in Jerusalem, Stephen shares some observations from his year of international travel: from seeing a group of ISIS warriors to watching Israel’s response to the rising tide of antisemitism in the U.S.