The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

Though the Democratic Party seems aligned behind Hillary Clinton as its frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race, Republicans are not nearly as unified. Some sixteen GOP candidates are likely to run, which could leave the party divided, weary and financially exhausted before the general election even begins. In this podcast, Stephen explains his concern for the current state of the Republican party. The 2016 presidential election could be a Republican victory. Given the looming Republican primary season, a GOP victory in 2016 is going to be very difficult. [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 DonkeyHotey on Flickr[/custom_font]

Americans have a tendency to think that anyone who commits an act of extreme violence is insane. It means we don’t have to deal with the causes of the violence, that the solution is an institution and keeping the criminally insane comfortably out of view. [vc_separator type='transparent' position='center' color='' thickness='' up='' down=''] Yet violence does not require insanity, nor does extreme hate. In the case of Dylann Roof and his killing of nine people in a Charleston church on June 17, 2015, the evidence so far indicates that he simply hates blacks and wants them all dead. Even his lawyer has said Roof knew right from wrong, knew the morality of what he was doing. This means we have an opportunity to examine the racial hatred that is an undercurrent of our society and to perhaps have a season of healing in America. [vc_separator type='transparent' position='center' color='' thickness='' up='' down=''] In this episode, Stephen provides a personal testament to the clear and present racism that has plagued American society for hundreds of years, and calls for the murder conviction of Dylann Roof. [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 CNN[/custom_font]

Having just arrived back home from the Middle East, Stephen gives a first-hand account of the situation facing Kurdistan today. This is the final episode of a two-part series. 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']Image courtesy of NBC News[/custom_font]

Having just arrived back home from the Middle East, Stephen gives a first-hand account of the situation facing Kurdistan today. [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 Nyaz Levi on WallpapersWide[/custom_font]

As of the release of this episode, Stephen is in Kurdistan meeting with Kurdish leaders and encouraging Kurdish troops and youth. In this episode, he explains why he has risked this trip and what he believes our “Kurdish moment” means to our generation. Adding to his descriptions of the Kurds in his book The Miracle of the Kurds, Stephen explains why the battle against ISIS should be of concern to all Americans and why the Kurds are to critical to it.

In 2008, Stephen Mansfield wrote The Faith of Barack Obama. It was an international bestseller, which followed his previous worldwide hit The Faith of George W. Bush. In his groundbreaking book, Stephen argued that Obama was a Christian, but was liberal theologically and politically. In an era when nearly 30% of Americans thought Obama was a Muslim, this was controversial. Was Stephen right? Find out what he says in this week's podcast. [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 Ash Carter on Flickr[/custom_font]

The role of mothers throughout history is often decisive and unrecognized. In this tender podcast, Stephen celebrates mothers in history and describes the profound role they can play in the lives of their children. This podcast is perfect preparation for Mother’s Day but it is also an important reminder about mothers and mothering for the whole year round. After you hear this, you’ll want to share it widely. Feel free. We provide all the social media tools you’ll need on this podcast page. CC image courtesy of Leo Reynolds on Flickr

We all have habits we wish we could break. Some of our habits may even have led us into addiction. We know what we ought to do yet find doing it nearly impossible. Drawing some helpful truths from the field of brain science, Stephen offers a new way to look at our habits. The insight he gives us can help us break bad habits and establish new and healthier ones. This podcast really could be a life changer! [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 _DJ_ on Flickr[/custom_font]

The news that reaches us about ISIS and its atrocities would lead us to conclude that this viscous terrorist force is winning its battle for control of the Middle East. The truth is that ISIS wins only headlines and only because it targets the helpless and unsuspecting. The beheading of kidnapped Christians and slaughter of Izidi children gets media attention but it means nothing about gains on the ground. Instead, the Kurds and their allies are defeating ISIS in nearly every engagement. This is a story far less reported in the western press. In this encouraging podcast, Stephen reports that the battle against ISIS is not what we have been told, and that victory could turn on the passage of a bill just recently proposed in the U.S. Congress. Learn more about H.R.1654 [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 DVIDSHUB on Flickr[/custom_font]

Everyone creates a culture around themselves. A culture is merely the result of what we encourage to grow. Some people create cultures of anger and bitterness. Some of sarcasm and insult. Others create cultures that encourage and inspire. Stephen believes that every man should be working to create a culture of righteous manhood in his life. By what he says, how he acts, what he surrounds himself with and what he encourages in the lives of others, he should be constantly creating a culture of manhood that is inviting, ennobling and transforming. In this podcast, Stephen talks about how this is done. [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 Hernán Piñera on Flickr[/custom_font]