Defending Ideas

There's a growing national discussion about how men are doing — economically, socially, and emotionally — and whether they face unique challenges related to purpose, connection, and opportunity in American life.

In this episode, host Nic Dunn sits down with contributor Beth Akers to discuss new Sutherland/Y2 Analytics survey findings on the well‑being of men in America. While most men report satisfaction with health, work, family, and faith, the data reveals that a sizable subset struggle across each of these domains. They explore what the findings suggest about mental health, stigma, isolation, and the “anchors” that help men thrive — work, family, faith, and community — and what leaders and communities can do next.

Show notes:

• Missing Anchors: How some men drift from health, vocation, and purpose

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

College is often treated as the default path to success — but there are other successful paths that are underused. In this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn sits down with Zach Boren of Apprenticeships for America to explore how expanding work-based training can open new doors to upward mobility, especially for men and boys who are struggling to find solid footing in today’s economy. 

We dig into why apprenticeships remain one of the most effective yet underutilized tools for building skills, boosting earnings, and launching young people into good, meaningful careers. And we examine how policymakers can treat apprenticeships not as a niche alternative, but as a core strategy for strengthening the workforce and expanding access to the middle class. Together, Nic and Zach make the case that revitalizing the skilled trades and modern work-based learning isn’t just good workforce policy — it’s essential to restoring opportunity, purpose, and economic hope for a rising generation.

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

Utah’s redistricting battle has reached a breaking point, and the stakes go far beyond political outcomes. In this episode, Nic Dunn sits down with public affairs expert Taylor Morgan of Morgan May Public Affairs and Bill Duncan to unpack how one judicially selected congressional map reshaped Utah’s political landscape, sidelined the constitutional role of the legislature, and triggered a deeply consequential fight over who holds redistricting power in our state. From the intentions behind Proposition 4 to the Utah Constitution’s clear assignment of authority, this conversation explains what really happened, and what it means for voters, elections, and the future of policymaking in Utah.

Show notes:

• Survey: Utah voters think elected officials, not judges, should choose congressional maps – Sutherland Institute
  
  
   
  
  

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

As families gather for Thanksgiving, disagreements about politics and culture can feel unavoidable. In this episode, Nic Dunn explains why the best way to lower the temperature is to lead with your deeply held principles, not partisan talking points, and how doing so strengthens both relationships and our civic life. 

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

A 43-day federal shutdown exposed how fragile state programs become when Washington can’t keep the lights on. In this episode, Nic Dunn is joined by Jennifer Butler, Senior Policy Advisor for the Center for Practical Federalism at the State Policy Network, along with Sutherland’s Bill Duncan and Christine Cooke Fairbanks. They unpack what the shutdown reveals about over-reliance on federal dollars, the hidden power of federal “guidance” letters, and how states can reclaim control in education, constitutional governance, and core safety-net programs. The panel also explores why federalism is common sense, why some states succeed while others fail, and how to make the case for a bipartisan revival of state-led innovation.

Show notes:

• Center for Practical Federalism
• Measuring the cost of federal guidance in Utah
• Government shutdown and the demise of the U.S. Department of Education

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

Utah’s new state superintendent, Dr. Molly Hart, joins Nic Dunn alongside Christine Cooke Fairbanks to discuss the future of education in Utah. From strengthening local control to harnessing innovation in the classroom, they explore how Utah can lead the nation in rethinking public education and empower parents, teachers, and students to thrive.


Show notes:

• Examining school “capacity” in Utah’s open enrollment law

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

What parent would take a raise if it meant their family would be worse off? That’s the reality for many families facing the “benefits cliff.”

Nic Dunn sits down with Keith Barnes of the Beyond the Cliff Coalition to discuss how government policies can unintentionally punish work — and how states can innovate for smarter, family-centered reforms to help restore the promise of upward mobility and the American dream.

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

The federal government shutdown isn’t just a budget story, it’s a reflection of deeper challenges in how Congress governs. On this episode of Defending Ideas, Nic Dunn talks with Matt Weidinger of the American Enterprise Institute about what led to the latest shutdown, how it’s affecting key programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and what it says about the state of policymaking in Washington.

Show notes:

• Democrats Fear Their Liberal Base If They Vote to Reopen Government

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

In today’s cultural climate, religion is often treated as a purely private matter — something best kept out of public life. But what if that assumption is missing the bigger picture?
 
On this episode of Defending Ideas, host Nic Dunn sits down with two leading experts to review new research showing that religious participation offers powerful public benefits. Bill Duncan is the Sutherland Institute Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow, and Sam Abrams is a Sutherland visiting scholar and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
 
From strengthening families and improving education outcomes to promoting health and well-being, faith communities play a vital role in the fabric of a flourishing society. Drawing on data and real-world examples, this conversation highlights how religion contributes to social stability, civic virtue, and personal resilience — regardless of individual beliefs. And it invites listeners to consider how we can protect both the freedom and the public presence of religion in a pluralistic America.
 
Show notes:

• Religious Contributions to the Family
• Religious Contributions to Mental Health
• Religious Contributions to Education

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.

It’s rivalry week in Utah, but before the battle on the gridiron, the presidents of Brigham Young University and the University of Utah join the show to discuss collaboration.

Host Nic Dunn sits down with BYU President Shane Reese and UofU President Taylor Randall for a joint interview. Together, they discuss how these two major universities are partnering on research, medical innovation, and civic renewal, and what it means to bring faith and pluralism into public life. They also explore how humility, listening, and “disagreeing better” can help strengthen higher education and our shared civic culture.

Defending Ideas is a weekly podcast produced by Sutherland Institute. On this show, we are committed to renewing the principles of common sense conservatism, making you a better champion of sound ideas. Visit defendingideas.org.