116 – Fifty Conservative Thinkers
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Release Date: 10/04/2022
120 – Why Associations Matter with Luke Sheahan
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
In 1953 sociologist Robert Nisbet published his most famous work , arguing for the necessity of association to the human experience and the harm inflicted upon communities when they are deprived of their function. Traditional conservatism has long upheld Nisbet’s teachings as a reminder that we are not purely material beings with strictly economic interests. Josh welcomes Luke Sheahan to this episode to discuss his efforts to pick up where Nisbet left off in fighting for the viability and flourishing of human associations, how the courts have gotten off-kilter in rulings...
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119 – Inflating the Apocalypse with David Bahnsen
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
What is the great economic challenge of our times? Is it inflation? Rising inequality? Artificially low interest rates? Economist David Bahnsen joins Josh to discuss why excessive government debt and our slow-growth or no-growth economy risks the Japanification of the United States. While some warn of a financial apocalypse, David argues that a more realistic threat is continued lack of productive output and increasing discontents if we don’t reverse course. Also discussed are how supply side economists can respond to the Left’s critiques of the free...
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118 – Fearlessly Curious with Mónica Guzmán
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Mónica Guzmán joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis as they reach across the political divide to explore how the Left and Right might better engage one another in respectful debate. Mónica shares her experiences as a liberal living in deep, blue Seattle yet grappling with her immigrant parent’s support for Trump. They also discuss the limitations of reason to resolve our differences, why viewing people as complex and not merely complicated helps us bridge divides, and why Mónica has hope for a brighter future. About Mónica Guzmán Per her , Mónica Guzmán is Senior...
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117 – Conservatism Down Under with Jonathan Cole
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
American conservatism has long struggled to reconcile the American Revolution with a worldview that defers to the slow accretion of cultural and historical development over generations. Yet some nations followed this more “conservative” path. How might American conservatism appear to them? Joining Josh in this episode is bona fide conservative and Australian Jonathan Cole to discuss how Australian conservatism differs from both the American and British models and what each of us might learn from the other. Also discussed are how Jonathan defines conservatism,...
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116 – Fifty Conservative Thinkers
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
In an age where what passes for the archetype conservative are the likes of , , , , , and Donald Trump, it can be discouraging for those of us who take pride in the rich legacy and colorful history of thinkers on the Right to be associated with such grifters, demagogues, and charlatans. Trying to define conservatism is challenging and trying to compile a list of individuals who best exemplify conservatism is problematic. Yet this is becoming increasingly important in a world where “conservatism” is quickly being coopted by reactionary nationalist populists who have little to...
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115 – A Post-Roe World with Kimberly Ross
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
With the end of Roe, the pro-life movement scores a major victory in the fight to protect the life of the unborn. But does this victory signify the end or is it merely the beginning of a new set of challenges and uncertainty in a world that doesn’t always embrace life? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Kimberly Ross to discuss what a post-Roe world looks like for the pro-life movement and where to go from here. About Kimberly Ross Kimberly Ross is a freelance conservative writer. Her work regularly appears in The Washington Examiner, both online and the print...
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114 – Are We Right? - Crossover Podcast
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Earlier this summer, Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis joined three other veteran podcasters to launch a new show: Are We Right? Cal Davenport, Brooke Medina, and Calvin Moore, and Josh debate a wide range of topics from politics to religion to culture and invite the audience to weigh in on whether or not they’re right. A recent episode featured Calvin quizzing Josh and Cal on why they embrace a conservative worldview. And even though Cal and Josh are in violent agreement during much of the conversation, there’s plenty of nuance and jargon to satiate the politically...
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113 – It's Greek to Me with Christopher Chesny
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
The Orthodox Christian faith is a growing yet tiny minority in the Christendom body in the United States. Yet they are growing in strength and numbers on the broader American Right. Which suggests that Orthodoxy may exert its influence on the conservative movement of the future. What traditions does the faith hold that may bolster and modify conservatism? What challenges are there in seeking to fuse a predominantly Eastern religion with the politics of the West? How do practicing Orthodox view Russia’s war in Ukraine? Can Orthodoxy be a gateway for those...
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112 – Geriatric Millennials with Eric Kohn
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Fellow geriatric millennial Eric Kohn joins Josh to discuss what keeps the Acton Institute anchored in turbulent political waters, the proper role for libertarian ideas in conservatism, the dangers of religious zeal in political ideologies, and what’s wrong with conservative kids these days. About Eric Kohn From Acton Institute's website: Eric Kohn is director of marketing and communications at the . In that role, he works to bring Acton's vision of a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles to a wider audience....
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111 – What Hath Conservatism Conserved? with Avi Woolf
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Matthew Continetti’s new book has instigated a vigorous conversation around the best way to understand the historical phenomenon of modern conservatism in the United States. Returning guest Avi Woolf joins Josh for a discussion on what Continetti’s depiction gets right and not-so-right about American conservatism, what has conservatism conserved, and what ought conservatism to conserve in the future. About Avi Woolf Avi Woolf is a writer, editor, translator, and podcaster whose work has been published in Arc Digital, Commentary, National Review, The Bulwark, Ordinary...
info_outlineIn an age where what passes for the archetype conservative are the likes of Candace Owens, Bill Mitchell, Sean Hannity, Matt Gaetz, Tomi Lahren, and Donald Trump, it can be discouraging for those of us who take pride in the rich legacy and colorful history of thinkers on the Right to be associated with such grifters, demagogues, and charlatans.
Trying to define conservatism is challenging and trying to compile a list of individuals who best exemplify conservatism is problematic. Yet this is becoming increasingly important in a world where “conservatism” is quickly being coopted by reactionary nationalist populists who have little to nothing in common with the namesake.
In this episode Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis offers his list of conservative thinkers well worthy of your time and attention.
Disclaimer
This list is imperfect and incomplete. If I were to revisit the list next year or possibly even next week, I’m sure there are plenty of names I’d believe should supplant the names here. Some of these individuals may even be uncomfortable with the label “conservative”, though they all share aspects of the broader conservative worldview. The names below are not listed in order of preference or importance, but they are all insightful and noteworthy.
The fifty individuals discussed in this episode are noted below. If you’d like to learn more about each one you can check out the original blog post of Fifty Conservative Thinkers for a brief bio and links.
Josh’s (Incomplete) List of Fifty Conservative Thinkers Worth Your Time
Edmund Burke
Milton Friedman
Wilhelm Röpke
David Bahnsen
F.A. Hayek
John Adams
Frederick Douglass
Thomas Sowell
James Madison
Barry Goldwater
Ronald Reagan
Bradley J. Birzer
Russell Kirk
Matthew Continetti
David French
Gertrude Himmelfarb
George Nash
Stephen J. Tonsor
Roger Scruton
Jacques Ellul
Whittaker Chambers
Michael Oakeshott
Eric Voegelin
Timothy Carney
C.S. Lewis
G.K. Chesterton
Jonah Goldberg
Wendell Berry
T.S. Eliot
Ross Douthat
Mary Eberstadt
- Stanton Evans
Irving Kristol
George Will
William F. Buckley
Kristen Soltis Anderson
Robert Nisbet
Carly Fiorina
Arthur Brooks
Marian Tupy
Charles Marohn
Patrick Deneen
Harry Jaffa
Walter Williams
Frank S. Meyer
Alexis de Tocqueville
Lord Acton
Leo Stauss
Willmoore Kendall
Yuval Levin