The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

In Part 2 of The Simple Math of the 2016 Election, Stephen continues to argue that the electoral math has changed in recent years and not in the favor of Republicans. The Democratic Party is 5% larger than the Republican party now. This means that a Republican presidential candidate must win a significant portion of independents in order to take the White House. Stephen argues that if Republicans want to win in 2016, they cannot do so from the extreme right edge of their party. They will have to appeal to the center. That is where most great public policy originates—Republican candidates need to get there quickly in order to capture the presidency. [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘'] [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 Theshibboleth on Wikimedia[/custom_font]

Politics is about many things and math is one of them. Sometimes, the numbers tell the tale. Though Stephen admits he isn’t good at math, some of the numbers that tell the story of the 2016 election are remarkably stark and simple. The bottom line is that Republicans can’t win in 2016 without winning a significant number of independents. This means their candidate cannot appeal only to the extremes. He or she will have to have "centrist appeal.” That’s a problem for the current slate of Republican candidates, and Stephen explains why in this essential podcast. Opinion: Trump and Cruz Have Trouble in the Middle   [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘'] [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 Theshibboleth on Wikimedia[/custom_font]

Only 62% of Americans have life insurance and 40% of all Americans suspect they don’t have enough life insurance. These statistics confirm Stephen’s experience in recent years. He’s witnessed dozens of situations in which death nearly impoverished entire families, in which little preparation was made for the most certain of all eventualities—the end of life. In this podcast, Stephen argues forcefully for the virtue of life insurance, wills, estate planning, and other means of preparation for death—particularly in the case of the death of the family breadwinner. Stephen also recommends Dave Ramsey’s The Legacy Journey as a guide making sure the next generation is cared for. Though he happily admits he is neither a financial planner nor a lawyer, Stephen fiercely urges wisdom, compassion, and planning for the certainty of death. Listen to the episode "Owning 2016" here: http://stephenmansfield.tv/owning-2016 [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘'] [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 mrhayata on Flickr[/custom_font]

Time and again in American history, a misunderstanding of the world’s religions has led to disastrous policies. The lesson is that what our national leaders know about religion does impact our nation’s role in the world. What light does this shine upon our current slate of presidential candidates? Do they know what they need to know? Are any of them ready for the roiling religious conflicts that dot the globe? Or will these candidates merely repeat the errors of the past should they get to the Oval Office? In this hard-hitting podcast, Stephen once again insists that we must “Ask the Question,” that we must make sure that we know our candidates’ faiths and that we know what they know about faith before any of them step into the world’s most powerful leadership position. Pre-order the book: http://amzn.to/1YkNRmx Listen to the previous episode of this series: http://stephenmansfield.tv/make-the-candidates-explain-their-faith [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘']

A new year is upon us. In this last podcast of 2015, Stephen offers a guide for storming the new year prepared for all it might bring. Though it is sure to be a year of challenges, 2016 is also going to offer stunning opportunities for those who are ready and eager to lead. Stephen explains how we can get ready to "own" 2016.   [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘'] [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 Giampaolo Macorig on Flickr[/custom_font]

T’is (almost) the night before Christmas: Stephen finishes up a two-part historical series on the lore and traditions behind our nation’s most beloved holiday. Who is “Santa Claus,” and where did he come from? Listen to part 1 here: http://stephenmansfield.tv/the-story-of-christmas [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘'] [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']Merry Old Santa Claus by Thomas Nast[/custom_font]

In our era of religious confusion and error, it’s easy to become confused about Christmas. Is it a religious fabrication? Did the early church celebrate it? Is it an invention of corporate America? In this calm, reasoned podcast, Stephen tells the history of Christmas and makes some recommendations for your own celebration.   [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘']   [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: The Adoration of the Shepherds - Gerard van Honthorst[/custom_font]

Recently, politicians including President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush have mentioned their religious beliefs as a basis for legislation they either passed or supported. Yet none of these have offered details about their personal faith. Do we as voters deserve to know what these and other politicians believe before they take office? In Ask The Question: Why We Must Demand Religious Clarity From Our Presidential Candidates (available February 2nd, 2016), Stephen makes the case for transparency in the arena of religion and politics. In this second episode of an ongoing series, he discusses the candidates' reactions to the Syrian refugee crisis, same-sex marriage and more. Pre-order the book: http://amzn.to/1YkNRmx Listen to the first episode of this series: http://stephenmansfield.tv/time-to-ask-the-question   [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘']

December 2, 2015: It is the 336th day of the year, and as this episode is published, news is coming in of another mass-shooting, this time in San Bernardino, CA. It is (at least) the 352nd of the year, meaning that in 2015, more of these incidents have occurred than days of the year. Last week in Colorado Springs, CO, Robert Dear killed three people outside of a Planned Parenthood facility, in an apparently politically-motivated act of aggression against the facility's abortion services. Unfortunately, some pro-life activists have endorsed his actions in the media. Stephen breaks down the details of the Colorado Springs shooting, his case as a Pro-Life activist and the disturbing error of connecting physical violence to the anti-abortion movement. [button size='large' style='' text='SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES' icon='' icon_color='' link='https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='normal' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin=‘'] [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 Ben Schumin on Wikimedia[/custom_font]

In this special Thanksgiving podcast, Stephen simply tells the thrilling story of the First Thanksgiving. He recounts the tale of that dissenter congregation in England almost four centuries ago, the congregation that lived in exile in Holland for twelve years before sailing to the New World aboard the Mayflower. Do you think you know this story well? You’ll be surprised at some of the hidden details and moving side stories that Stephen surfaces. Listen to this podcast and then share it with others this Thanksgiving week. It is a story that delights and inspires. It is also a story with a meaning we need to reclaim in our own troubled times. Listen to part 1: StephenMansfield.TV/journey-to-thanksgiving-day-part-1 [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']Landing of the Pilgrims by Michele Felice Cornè, circa 1805[/custom_font]