EmpowerU America Podcast

rtificial intelligence is changing at the speed of light.  Indeed, a speech given today about AI’s impact on our economy, culture, and humanity itself will be outdated the day after it is written.  Instead, Breitbart News Tech Editor Colin Madine will share what he believes are the key concepts to understanding the confusing and often contradictory news about AI, how to manage its impact on your family and career, and the most important ideas for the conservative movement to master as we enter the age of AI.

It was delicious irony when Jesse Owens, a black American track and field sensation from Cleveland, Ohio, collected four gold medals in 1936 at what was ironically called “The Nazi Olympics.”

Owens famously dominated the Berlin Olympics which had been used by Hitler to propagate Aryan supremacy. His victories stood out as a bold statement against the prevailing culture of racism in the 1930’s.

When EmpowerU’s guest speaker John Kerezy was 15, he met Jesse Owens, launching a lifelong fascination about the Olympic great. Kerezy prepared a speech about Owens and his ties to Cleveland in 2022, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Owens’ family coming to Cleveland. That eventually morphed into a book project, “Jesse Owens: Sensation, Superstar, Survivor, Symbol” which will be published by Kent State University Press later in 2026.

Experience the sensational story in-studio with Cleveland author and speaker John Kerezy as he reveals the story of great Ohioan Jesse Owens and his rebuke of racist ideology.

ABOUT JOHN KEREZYJohn Kerezy is a writer, former public relations practitioner, and a professor at Cuyahoga Community College in the Cleveland area for the past 23 years. He also writes stories and posts about people and events in Northeast Ohio on his web blog site www.eyeoncleveland.com.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Wabash College, a master’s degree from Ohio State, and an Ed.S. Degree from Kent State. He also writes a web blog www.eyeoncleveland.com.

NEW CONCEALED CARRY LAWS THAT MAY AFFECT YOU

A lot has changed since Ohio first enacted concealed carry in 2004. Numerous new laws have been passed, as well as court rulings across the United States that further clarify the right of a law-abiding citizen to use deadly force in self-defense.The landscape is changing even further now that 29 states have adopted constitutional carry. Bob Jewell will provide you with information regarding:* Recent changes to concealed carry laws and how they may affect you
* Some important lessons that have been learned over the past twenty years
* How to respond to law enforcement if you’ve had to use deadly force
* Information associated with concealed carry in places of worship
* The two incidents concealed carriers get in the most trouble with Traveling with a handgun
* Do you need self-defense insurance coverage

FRAUD IN MINNESOTA

Minnesota has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent months, ranging from massive Somali fraud scandals to protesters violently clashing with federal immigration officers.Janice Hisle senior reporter for The Epoch Times, will share insights gleaned from several reporting trips to Minnesota. She will offer insights that attempt to answer: Why Minnesota? And could Ohio have similar fraud problems, too.

ABOUT BOB JEWELL

Bob Jewell is a Rangemaster Advanced certified handgun instructor, a graduate of the FBI’s Citizens Academy, and a graduate of the Law of Self Defense Instructor Program. He annually participates in firearms training from top national instructors and has taught over 600 hours of concealed carry and advanced concealed carry classes. He was also influential in writing two Ohio self-defense laws and has authored numerous articles on tactical shooting and self-defense for national publications. Bob is also the leader of his church’s safety team.

ABOUT JANICE HISLE

Janice Hisle mainly writes in-depth reports based on U.S. political news and cultural trends, following a two-year stint covering President Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign. Before joining The Epoch Times in 2022, she worked more than two decades as a reporter for newspapers in Ohio and authored several books. She is a graduate of Kent State University’s journalism program.

Spencer Tallbridge an assistant prosecutor, makes his debut in the book The Farrier’s Son where the unforeseen realities of life and death for those facing the ultimate penalty collide with his early idealism and country wisdom.

The character’s journey continues in the legal thriller Spencer’s Law, which centers on Tallbridge himself.

Both books are authored by Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser based on his own experiences as a prosecutor. During this evening’s event, Prosecutor Gmoser will share the story of how he came to author these books and offer a unique perspective on the daily life of a prosecutor. His presentation will provide an inside look into the challenges and realities that define his profession, bridging the gap between fiction and real-world legal practice.

Prosecutor Gmoser will define "Prosecutorial Discretion," discuss its use in cases, and explain the timing, purpose, and process of "Plea Bargains."  Attendees will learn the procedural steps involved in taking a case to trial and why cases require substantial time to go through the legal system. Gmoser will clarify the boundaries of what prosecutors are permitted to do and highlight certain limitations within their roles.

Prosecutor Gmoser will discuss whether jurors harbor unrealistic expectations of prosecutors, often influenced by portrayals in television shows. He will also address the frustration prosecutors sometimes experience when they are confident in a suspect’s guilt but are unable to bring the case to trial. An example, Gmoser will provide an in-depth look into the criminal case against Jon Carter involving the death of Katelyn Markham.

About Mike Gmoser

Michael Gmoser has dedicated a significant portion of his legal career to public service in Butler County. He served as Chief Trial Counsel and Assistant Butler County Prosecuting Attorney for nearly eight years during the 70's and 80's. In 1981, he served as the Prosecuting Attorney by special appointment of the County Commissioners during the absence of the Prosecutor due to health reasons. For the past 15 years he has been serving as the elected Butler County Prosecutor where he and his staff of assistants present criminal cases against defendants and advocate for victims.

Gmoser is a lifelong conservative Republican and maintained a successful trial practice for thirty-seven years. In addition to his legal achievements, he is an accomplished writer and a lifelong musician who currently plays in a band called Reasonable Doubt. His diverse interests also include beekeeping and duck hunting. As the son of an airline captain, Gmoser became an expert aviator who has flown for nearly 50 years.

Sebastian Junger’s Reflection on Death and What Might Follow…

Sebastian Junger, author of the blockbuster, "The Perfect Storm," will discuss his latest book, "In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife."

This book is Mr. Junger’s powerful reflection on death — and what might follow — inspired by his near-fatal health emergency.  In the summer of 2020, Mr. Junger became crippled by abdominal pain and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Once there, he began slipping away. As blackness encroached, he was visited by his dead father, inviting Mr. Junger to join him. “It’s okay,” his father said. “There’s nothing to be scared of. I’ll take care of you.” That was the last thing he remembered until he came to the next day when he was told he had suffered a ruptured aneurysm that he should not have survived.

This experience spurred Junger—a confirmed atheist—to undertake a scientific, philosophical, and deeply personal examination of mortality and what happens after we die. "In My Time of Dying" is part drama, part autobiography, and part scientific inquiry into the mystery of death. We’ll take audience questions.