The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

Good news from the Middle East? Yes! And the Kurds are making it happen. In this week’s podcast, Stephen describes the good news—the liberation of Mosul!—and some of the challenges facing the Kurds. Then, he prepares us for what might be some of the biggest news yet—the move toward an independent Kurdistan. All in this exciting update on the Kurds.   [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']CC image courtesy of Kurdishstruggle on Flickr[/custom_font]

In this fast-paced episode, Stephen answers questions from his listeners. From theology to the election, from books to Stephen’s political aspirations, no topic is off-limits in these lightning-round free-for-alls! [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']CC image courtesy of Michael Hernan on Flickr[/custom_font]

Some men and women come home from war and find themselves missing an important part of their lives: mission. The purpose, belonging and accountability that is a natural part of military life is often absent from civilian life, but that does not have to be the case. In this episode, Stephen recounts a discussion with former soldiers and urges all of us to build lives of passion and purpose. [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']CC image courtesy of US Army Africa on Flickr[/custom_font]

After the American Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, our country's problems with racism remained subtle but persistent. But since the advent of the internet and our first African-American president, racial tension has stolen the stage and bigotry has reared its ugly head once more. In this important episode, Stephen reminds us of the righteous, redemptive side of our nation and challenges us to make a difference on a personal level.   CC image courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation on Flickr

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the two least-liked presidential candidates in American memory. So how did we get to this point and what does it mean for America? [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']CC image courtesy of Robert Lyle Bolton on Flickr[/custom_font]

Stephen’s concern for the state of men today led to him write Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men, a book that has inspired men’s gatherings around the world. Now, Stephen has written a companion for that book. It’s called Building Your Band of Brothers. He describes this little book, and its intended impact, in this podcast. After you’ve heard it you can order Building Your Band of Brothers at a discount here: http://squ.re/2aWDVBW Learn about Mansfield's Book of Manly Men: www.MansfieldsBookOfManlyMen.com

The petty quarrels of the infamous 2016 presidential election continue to invade the airwaves, but what about the bigger picture? Clearly, our culture is at an alarming crossroads. Sometimes, the best way to interpret the difficulties of the present moment is through the numbers. [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']Image courtesy of NASA[/custom_font]

When Khizr Khan and his wife appeared at a recent political convention and spoke of their son, U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq, it was a reminder to us all. While there are extremist and violent Muslims in the world, thousands of patriotic Muslims serve in America’s armed forces and government. Tens of thousands more live democracy-loving lives in this nation. Drawing from his own experience in the Middle East, Stephen reinforces the Khans' vital message to our country. [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons[/custom_font]

With echoes of 1968 ringing clearly, there is sure to be a lot to see in this election season’s National Conventions. Stephen offers this unique political and media trail map to guide you through the chaos and show you what to watch out for along the way. [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']CC image courtesy of Krassotkin and Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia[/custom_font]

Our nation is in upheaval over issues of race and police misconduct—and it should be. We need to heal. We need to restore. In this podcast, Stephen speaks in typically blunt, hard-hitting terms about racism and the recent events torturing our nation. He also reports the surprising things he learned from some friends who are black law enforcement officials in DC. [custom_font font_family='Open Sans' font_size='11' line_height='26' font_style='none' text_align='left' font_weight='300' color='' background_color='' text_decoration='none' text_shadow='no' padding='0px' margin='0px']CC image courtesy of Vox Efx on Flickr[/custom_font]