Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, equipping listeners to become more effective champions of sound principle and good policy.
I Love You, Bro: Combating male suicide | Joe Tuia’ana
Men make up nearly 80% of suicide deaths, yet too often their struggles go unseen. We explore how to address the situation.
Absent fathers are America’s hidden crisis | Ian Rowe
Fatherhood is vanishing from American life, leaving boys and young men struggling with purpose, identity, and belonging.
Why young men are struggling and how to restore their purpose | Sam Abrams
We explore how changes in campus culture and the loss of brotherhood in many areas of public life have left many young men feeling adrift.
Is Trump’s DOJ pushing for a dangerous overreach? | Matt Germer and Derek Monson
The DOJ says it’s enforcing federal election laws. Critics call it a dangerous overreach that could erode privacy and weaken security.
Have we forgotten how to self-govern? | Sabrina L. Shaeffer
What if the root cause of America’s polarization isn’t just anger or partisanship, but the loss of a skill we’ve stopped practicing?
Should we reorient higher ed toward a skills-based economy?
How can we build a system that values all postsecondary pathways — whether academic or technical?
Rethinking charity to provide dignity over dependency | James Whitford
What if the way we’ve been “helping” those in poverty actually makes things worse?
What does patriotism require today?
In this special solo episode, host Nic Dunn reflects on the enduring responsibility of American citizens — not just to celebrate freedom, but to live it out.
Are men turning away from college? | Mike Kofoed and Melinda Brock
College has long been seen as a gateway to opportunity and upward mobility. But today, fewer young men are pursuing higher education, accounting for just two out of every five degrees in the U.S. – a reversal of trends seen a generation ago.
Can a return to federalism fix our politics? | Rep. Ken Ivory & Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost
In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn speaks with two Utah representatives, Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost and Rep. Ken Ivory, about polarization, congressional dysfunction, the role of states as laboratories of democracy, and why shifting more decisions to local communities could improve both governance and civic trust.
Who should protect kids online? | Joel Thayer & Chris Marchese
As lawmakers debate how to protect children online, a major legal and constitutional question is emerging: should app stores be required to verify users’ ages and involve parents before minors download apps?
Are we thinking about AI the wrong way? | Bennett Borden
Many conversations about artificial intelligence focus on fear, risk, and worst-case scenarios. But what if we’re asking the wrong questions?
