Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The Saving Elephants Podcast features engaging conversations about conservative values with a mercifully modern twist. Tired of political shock-talk and rank punditry on your radio and TV? Curious about what conservative thinkers of yesteryear had to say but don't have time to read some terribly long, boring book they wrote? Want to learn why conservatism still holds value for Millennials today? Join us as we re-ignite conservatism for Millennials!

182 – Partying Like It’s 1776 07/15/2025

182 – Partying Like It’s 1776 On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9! With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most exceptional of nations. Meet the panelists: Lura Forcum Lura Forcum leads the , the nation’s go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, representing those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. Lura holds a PhD in marketing and consumer psychology from Indiana University (Kelley School of Business). She’s studied social cognition and brands, focusing on the factors that lead consumers to respond to brands as if they were people and the outcomes of doing so. Prior to becoming president of the Independent Center, Lura was the Director of Marketing and Communications at the . Jeffery Tyler Syck From Jeffery Tyler Syck is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pikeville. Tyler’s academic research focuses on the development of American democracy and the history of political ideologies. He is the editor of the forthcoming book “A Republic of Virtue: The Political Essays of John Quincy Adams” and is completing a second book manuscript entitled “The Untold Origins of American Democracy.” This second book describes how the political debates between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson forever altered the republic created by the American founders – leaving behind an increasingly majoritarian democracy. His essays and articles on politics, philosophy, and history have appeared in several public facing publications including Law and Liberty, Persuasion, and the Louisville Courier-Journal. Tyler’s academic work has recently been published in the journal . A native of Pike County Kentucky, Tyler’s political thought and writing are strongly shaped by the culture of Appalachia. With their tightly knit communities, the mountains of Appalachia have instilled in him a love of all things local. As such his writing most often advocates for a rejuvenation of local democracy and a renaissance of rural culture. Tyler received a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Government from the University of Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and History from Morehead State University where he graduated with honors. About Eric Kohn From Eric Kohn is Chief Executive Officer at , the premier nationwide network of liberty-minded young leaders. For more than 10 years, he led the organization’s Chicago chapter. Prior to joining AF, Eric was Chief Marketing Officer at Empower Illinois. He has also previously served as Director of Marketing & Communications at the , and Director of Community Management at the Illinois Policy Institute. He was also the Founder and CEO of Curious Task Strategies, a public affairs consulting firm. Eric is a producer of the award-winning film , the 2022 documentary feature from the Acton Institute. From 2019 to 2021, he co-hosted Sources with Knowledge along with Joe Kaiser on AM 560 The Answer in Chicago. From 2022 to 2023, he was the interim host of the nationally syndicated radio program Beyond the Beltway with Bruce DuMont, on which he was also a regular program guest and guest host. He previously hosted The Eric Kohn Program on AM 1530 WJJG, and has guest-hosted the nationally syndicated The Guy Benson Show, Illinois Watchdog Radio, and Chicago’s Morning Answer. Eric grew up in Belleville, Ill., and is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he enjoys (or attempts to enjoy) watching New York Rangers hockey, which he also writes and podcasts about for Blueshirt Banter. /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/37408740

181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn 07/01/2025

180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh 06/17/2025

179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief 06/03/2025

179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief What if the real division in America isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us? Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we think and how federalism holds the solution to many of the policy battles of the moment. About Tony Woodlief Excerpts from Tony’s bio in the and on his : Tony Woodlief is State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow for SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism. He helps oversee SPN operations, supports SPN’s president in her guidance of the leadership team, and helps ensure the organization’s projects and programs measure success, evolve as SPN grows, and maintain alignment with our vision and mission. Tony previously served as president of the Bill of Rights Institute, and before that the Market-Based Management Institute. He has also served as president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, he has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from Wichita State University. Tony has appeared in media outlets including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, National Review, and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. Tony Woodlief is also an author. His short fiction has appeared in Image, Reckon Review, Ruminate, Dappled Things, and elsewhere. His story “” received a Pushcart Honorable Mention in 2010, and was included in Image Journal’s 25th anniversary anthology. Tony’s spiritual memoir, , was listed among Image’s top ten works of 2010. His most recent book is the novel . Tony is also the author of . In writing I, Citizen, Tony conducted extensive research on American public opinion to find out what Americans believe and uncover the source of their political animosities. Through his research, Tony discovered that America is more united than divided, despite what the pundits tell us, and traced the source of our perceived animosity to a small minority of dedicated partisans within the political establishment of Washington, DC. I, Citizen tells the story of how these partisans have created the myth of a divided America and how they’ve concentrated power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats and partisan elites, and offers practical solutions for how we can reclaim our right to self-governance by focusing on solutions and commonalities closer to home. /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/36829335

178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum 05/20/2025

177 – Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards 05/06/2025

176 – Consuming News Responsibly 04/15/2025

176 – Consuming News Responsibly In this era of information overload it’s easy to join the ranks of the too online, filtering our every thought through the latest thing Trump tweeted or how the resistance is reacting. And it’s just as easy to check out entirely and pretend like the news doesn’t matter or, if it does, it’ll have to be someone else’s problem for now. Are there healthier ways to approach the news? How can we maintain sanity in a seemingly endless supply of hot takes and outrage-of-the-moments? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Avi Woolf, JB Shreve, and Blake Fischer as they discuss how to consume the news responsibly. About the Panelists Avi Woolf is a writer, editor, translator, and podcaster whose work has been published in Arc Digital, Commentary, National Review, The Bulwark, and The Dispatch. He was chief editor of the online Medium publication , and he—in his words—"hopes to help forge a path for a conservatism which is relevant for the 21st century while not abandoning the best of past wisdom.” Avi hosts his own podcast entitled , a podcast on culture, history, and politics in a broad perspective. You can find Avi on Twitter @AviWoolf JB Shreve hosts two podcasts and blogs. includes devotionals and bible studies, while looks at our generation's current events, history, and socio-political issues. JB has written two books: published in 2019 and his latest book . Blake Fischer is a political junkie, so you don't necessarily have to be. A lifelong conservative, Blake covers conservative policies, current politics, and the historical context of today's events. With a unique blend of media critique and a focus on the big issues that often go unaddressed, Blake offers insightful solutions to pressing problems without the fear-mongering or populist outrage used in mainstream political media. Blake lives in Oklahoma and is the creator of . Listener Mail Josh responds to listener mail from two fellow podcasters both asking whether it’s time to ditch the GOP for good. Dennis Sanders is host of the podcast, exploring where religion intersects with 21st-century public life with a focus on the story of Mainline Protestantism. Calvin Moore’s and follows the historical accounts of the many people who ran for president and came up short. /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/36143870

175 – The Two James Burnhams with David Byrne 04/01/2025

174 – Triggering Straussians with Greg Collins 03/18/2025

173 – The Fertility Gap with Clara Piano 03/04/2025

Roundtable - Conversing Across the Political Divide 02/25/2025

172 – The History of American Conservatism with George Nash 02/18/2025

172 – The History of American Conservatism with George Nash In 1976 historian George H. Nash wrote , a celebrated historical accounting that established much of the narrative for how we think about the development of modern conservatism even today. George Nash joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss the various strands of thought that emerged after the Second World War that eventually evolved into a political movement on the Right. Along the way, Dr. Nash shares his insights on the colorful individuals who shaped the debate, how they fought one another, and how an eventual loose consensus was brought forth. Finally, he offers some thoughts on what a lifetime of studying the history of conservatism can teach aspiring conservatives today. About George H. Nash George H. Nash is the epitome of a gentleman and a scholar. A graduate from Amherst College who received his Ph.D. in History from Harvard University, Dr. Nash is an authority on the histories of American conservatism and the life of President Herbert Hoover. Dr. Nash is an independent scholar, historian, and lecturer. He speaks and writes frequently about the history and present direction of American conservatism, the life of Herbert Hoover, the legacy of Ronald Reagan, the education of the Founding Fathers, and other subjects. His writings have appeared in the American Spectator, Claremont Review of Books, Intercollegiate Review, Modern Age, National Review, New York Times Book Review, Policy Review, University Bookman, Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He has lectured at the Library of Congress; the National Archives; the Herbert Hoover, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson presidential libraries; the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum; the Hoover Institution; the Heritage Foundation; the McConnell Center; and at various universities and conferences in the United States and Europe. Several of his lectures have been featured on C-SPAN. He has also been interviewed by C-SPAN, National Public Radio, numerous radio stations, and the print media. Dr. Nash lives in Massachusetts. Listener Mail At the end of the episode, Josh responds to a listener’s question about a comment he made in the episode that dropped on Election Day 2020. Josh had expressed his views at that time that neither major party candidate represented an existential threat to the United States and the listener askes, given what we now know about the election aftermath, accusations of widespread election fraud, the incursion on January 6, and the subsequent white washing of the Republican party, would Josh now view Trump as an existential threat to the country? /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/35323885

171 – Reality Therapy Redux 02/04/2025

Roundtable - Trump's 1st Week on the Job 01/28/2025

170 – Tribalism is Dumb with Andrew Heaton 01/21/2025

170 – Tribalism is Dumb with Andrew Heaton Comedian, author, and political satirist joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to explore where our political tribalism comes from, why it’s gotten out of hand, and what to do about it. About Andrew Heaton Andrew Heaton is a comedian, author, and political satirist. He’s the host of “The Political Orphanage” comedy and news podcast, and scifi deep dive podcast “Alienating the Audience.” He’s a frequent Reason TV contributor and hosted the popular webseries “Mostly Weekly.” He’s performed standup comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as a finalist in the China International Standup Competition, and throughout the United States and Europe. A former congressional staffer, he’s the best-selling author of “Laughter is Better Than Communism,” as well as two funny novels. He once opened for William Shatner, who said he’s “very funny.” So there. As a UCB-trained sketch writer and improviser Andrew Heaton comprises half of the comedy duo , which has performed improvised historical reenactments at the Del Close Marathon and . He’s a founding member of the popular New York indie improv team , and an alumni of the sketch troupes and First Runner Up. As a political comedian Andrew Heaton has entertained numerous think tanks and advocacy groups, student associations, and sinister political action committees. He’s a regular at Electoral Dysfunction at the People’s Improv Theater in New York, and the Totally Dishonest Media Show at Stand Up New York. He hosted the award-winning series , a comedy show which explained economics through popular culture. Andrew Heaton is the author of the best-selling work of political satire , and two funny paranormal novels: (about aliens) and (a tender coming of age novel involving werewolves). His latest book is , detailed below. About Tribalism is Dumb Tribalism has made politics so awful I was forced to write a book about it. Well, fine. Fine. This book explores the evolutionary roots of loving our team and hating the enemy team, and why groupish caveman instincts linger in our minds today. It answers: If tribalism is hardwired into us, what changed in the last twenty years? How did partisanship get so loud, toxic, and obnoxious, and ruin last Thanksgiving? Finally, it says what we can do about it as individuals navigating relationships, and as society as a whole. "Tribalism is Dumb" will make you less flummoxed by partisanship, political loudmouths, and dogmatic pundits. It will make you taller, slimmer, and more attractive to everyone you could legally hit on. And it will make you better equipped to navigate tribalism in the wild. /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/34936265

169 – Unsolicited Advice with Blake Fischer 01/07/2025

169 – Unsolicited Advice with Blake Fischer With the 2024 elections in rearview both parties are trying to grapple with what lessons they should learn. Who better to offer unsolicited advice than Josh Lewis and Blake Fischer, the respective hosts of the and podcasts? As two Trump-skeptical conservatives on the outside looking in, sure both parties are eager to hear their thoughts on how both parties should proceed in the elections ahead. In this episode, Josh and Blake take a deep dive into what went wrong and what went right for the Republicans in 2024 and what might help them secure their newfound majorities for elections to come. But wait, there’s more! This episode is the first in a two-part series. In part 2 Blake puts Josh on the hot seat to ask what lessons the Democratic party should take from their 2024 losses. But you won’t find that conversation on the Saving Elephants podcast. Instead, it appears as a special cross-over episode on Blake’s , which you can . About Blake Fischer and the Homeless Conservative Blake Fischer is a political junkie, so you don't necessarily have to be. A lifelong conservative, Blake covers conservative policies, current politics, and the historical context of today's events. With a unique blend of media critique and a focus on the big issues that often go unaddressed, Blake offers insightful solutions to pressing problems without the fear-mongering or populist outrage used in mainstream political media. Blake says, “I know a lot of people who would consider themselves more conservative than liberal, but don’t like Trump and feel like there’s nowhere for them in the Republican party. Welcome to the club! But if that’s you, I’d encourage you to not check out completely because we need reasonable citizens in this country to pay attention and vote accordingly if we want to change the direction of government and politics.” Blake lives in Oklahoma and is the creator of . /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/34728460

Roundtable - 2024 - A Year in Review 12/31/2024

168 – The Perennial Burke with Daniel Klein 12/17/2024

168 – The Perennial Burke with Daniel Klein As Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is wont to do, here is yet another episode exploring the political and philosophical brilliance of Edmund Burke. But this time he is aided by scholar and professor Daniel Klein to examine the late writings of Burke’s life as Europe was descending into revolutionary chaos. What was Burke’s understanding of liberty and natural rights, and how did it differ from many of his more radical contemporaries? How did Burke distinguish between reforms that were constructive or destructive, and why did he seem so reluctant to use them in some circumstances and so adamant they should be employed in others? In what way did Burke inspire his audience to reinvigorate the “magic” of their world? And how might all this be applied to the politics of today? About Daniel Klein Daniel Klein is a Professor of Economics and JIN Chair at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University. He leads the at GMU Economics and is the chief editor of . Dr. Klein holds degrees from George Mason University and New York University, where in both cases he studied the classical liberal traditions of economics. His teaching focuses on economic principles and public policy issues. Professor Klein has published research on policy issues including toll roads, urban transit, auto emission, credit reporting, and the Food and Drug Administration. He has also written on spontaneous order, the discovery of opportunity, the demand and supply of assurance, why government officials believe in the goodness of bad policy, and the relationship between liberty, dignity, and responsibility. Klein is the author of , , and , as well as coauthor of Curb Rights: A Foundation for Free Enterprise in Urban Transit, editor of Reputation: Studies in the Voluntary Elicitation of Good Conduct, editor of What Do Economists Contribute?, and coeditor of and three volumes on . /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/34458245

167 – The Woke Mind with Ryan Rogers 12/03/2024

Roundtable - Bullish or Bearish on Trump 2.0? 11/27/2024

166 – Independent Idiosyncrasies with Brett Loyd 11/19/2024

166 – Independent Idiosyncrasies with Brett Loyd “The biggest takeaway from the 2024 election,” , is that “independents have officially broken the duopoly and now share the title of America’s largest political group with Republicans.” But what is an independent, exactly? What do they want and how are they different from those who proudly affiliate with the Republican or Democratic parties? And what might this portend for the future of American politics? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by pollster Brett Loyd to make sense of the rise of the independents in the electorate. About Brett Loyd President and CEO of The Bullfinch Group, Brett Loyd is a leading researcher and campaign strategist, being one of the few political operatives to accurately forecast the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections. With his methods unswayed by external influences, Brett has built a reputation as a trusted and insightful partner to presidential, senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial candidates; national political committees; and corporate and issue campaigns. His unbiased and data-first approach has delivered research, insights, analysis, and recommendations that have led to wins from the highest levels of U.S. campaign politics to local policy initiatives, and among his trade association, NGO, and Fortune 500 clients’ efforts. This extensive experience also allows Brett to serve as a reputable advisor to DC’s embassy and foreign relations community, advising international government relations firms as well as ambassadors and their diplomatic staff in Washington and abroad. Brett Loyd began his career in statistics and political science after graduating from Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Following his start in state politics, Brett moved to Washington, DC in 2007 where he and his wife still reside with their dog Falkor and goldfish Doug. About The Independence Center is an organization dedicated to building a movement of independent-thinkers with Leaders who support centrist common sense compromise. The Independent Center’s mission is advocate for the millions of Americans who believe we share common ground and to promote and support candidates who share those values through research and outreach. Have you heard? Saving Elephants is now on YouTube! Saving Elephants now has YouTube channel, featuring full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Check it out here: /episode/index/show/savingelephants/id/33962462