Professor von Heyking just left Lethbridge Alberta and moved to Arizona to help lead the Civics program at ASU. Our discussion pivoted around differences between USA and Canada, civics education, and how constitutions differ on each side of the border.

This episode ran more like a visit between friends. We jumped between topics too much, laughed too much, and were probably too open about our opinions. 

In my opinion, this is precisely when magic happens.

Check out the ASU homepage.

And here's a piece John wrote for The Hub: Canada’s universities are failing to provide proper civic education. Here’s how Alberta can correct course

Thanks again for listening!

Shawn

Chapters and AI summary

Host Shawn Whatley interviews Professor John von Heyking, now associate director and professor at Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, about its legislature-initiated mission to address America’s civic literacy and viewpoint-diversity gaps through teaching classics (Plato, Aristotle), constitutionalism, and political history while maintaining academic freedom. They discuss differences between American and Canadian political systems, including Westminster party government, responsible government, confidence, and Bagehot’s “dignified” vs “efficient” constitution, contrasting with U.S. separation of powers and elections as key “venting points” for civic efficacy. The conversation ranges over written vs unwritten constitutional “preludes,” the Declaration’s “self-evident” truths, the moral warrant for dignity, and debates over liberalism’s meaning and origins. Von Heyking argues CBC portrayals are misleading and that America is not a fascist state, noting more Canadians move to the U.S. than vice versa.

00:00 Is America Great?

00:57 Meet John von Heyking

04:17 Inside ASU Civics School

07:50 Funding and Legislature Support

10:14 Academic Freedom and Curriculum

11:35 Student Demand and Recruiting

14:36 Wokeness and Civics Funding

19:32 Patriotism and Civic Efficacy

24:29 Bagehot and Parliament Debate

30:05 Cabinet Government Metaphors

33:18 Responsible Government Touching Power

35:57 Westminster Boot Versus Impeachment

38:14 Written and Unwritten Constitutions

43:18 Self Evident Truths and Equality

48:29 Warrant Dignity and Christian Roots

54:19 Walsh Liberalism and Its Origins

01:00:52 Media Myths and Closing Thoughts