More with Marc Istook

Democracy rarely disappears all at once. It erodes through attacks on truth, the weakening of institutions, the spread of fear, and the silence of ordinary people who believe their individual choices do not matter.

Melissa draws on the work of political philosopher Hannah Arendt to examine the “banality of evil,” the danger of losing our ability to distinguish fact from fiction, and the complicity of those who simply go along. She and Marc discuss why speaking up can carry a real social and professional cost, especially when political divisions reach into our families, friendships, and communities.

But this conversation is not simply a warning. Melissa’s book pairs 11 hallmarks of authoritarianism with specific action plans for people who have a few minutes, a few hours, or an ongoing commitment to give. Her message is direct: action dispels despair.

They also explore how to talk with people across political divides, why questions can be more effective than accusations, and how language built around liberty, accountability, safety, and constitutional government can create common ground. Melissa argues that rebuilding democracy begins by rebuilding the “we,” finding people with whom we can act, and refusing the isolation on which fear depends.

The conversation also examines online radicalization, the vulnerability of young people growing up in algorithm-driven communities, the network of powerful figures surrounding Donald Trump, and the difference between genuine moral strength and the performance of a political strongman.

Ultimately, Melissa believes defending democracy is not a partisan project. It belongs to anyone who values truth, human dignity, constitutional government, and the responsibility to leave something better for the generations that follow.

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Dr. Jessica Hawk spent 32 years in public education before retiring from the classroom and becoming a full-time content creator. Known online as @MyTeacherFace, she now uses humor, experience, and a growing social-media platform to speak candidly about the challenges facing teachers and public schools.

Jessica joins Marc to explain why she misses her students but not the stress, unpaid labor, and expanding responsibilities that came with the job. She describes the “time poverty” teachers experience as new obligations are continually added without additional time or compensation, and she explains why good administrators can determine whether a teacher builds a long career or leaves after only a few years.

The conversation also examines the transformation Jessica witnessed after smartphones and social media entered the classroom. Students became more isolated, less willing to participate, and increasingly eager to retreat to their screens. Jessica and Marc discuss phone-free schools, parental resistance to device restrictions, the role of technology in emergencies, and the importance of giving children opportunities to interact with one another in person.

They also explore the growing political pressure on public education, the relationship between school funding and student outcomes, the limitations of standardized testing, and the danger of expecting teachers to solve problems rooted in poverty, housing instability, hunger, and family circumstances.

Finally, Jessica explains why children need a foundation of knowledge and critical-thinking skills before turning to artificial intelligence. She shares her concerns about excessive classroom technology, her support for universal pre-K and equitable school funding, and the freedom she has found as an “unfettered teacher” who can now say publicly what many working educators cannot.

Timestamps

00:00 - Why teachers have become society’s soft target

Connect with Jessica Hawk

Follow My Teacher Face on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or find all of Jessica’s current links on her official Linktree.

Resources mentioned

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Dave Holmes became one of the most recognizable faces on MTV after losing the network’s Wanna Be a VJ competition to Jesse Camp. But losing the contest was only the beginning.

That opportunity did not happen automatically. Dave left the wrap party with a stack of business cards and one thought: “They will forget if you let them forget.” He began calling MTV executives at 9:01 the following Monday morning, landed meetings and eventually turned a writing opportunity into an on-camera role.

Dave and Marc also compare their experiences in traditional television and examine how dramatically the media business has changed. They discuss the decline of the professional television host, the increasing demand for established celebrities, the return of live programming and the creative freedom offered by social media and independent publishing.

Later, the conversation turns to political and cultural commentary. Dave explains why he has stopped watching programs that make him feel like he is “being yelled at by someone I agree with,” and why he tries to approach difficult subjects with humor and perspective. He also shares how growing up in a conservative family influences the way he communicates, especially when he asks himself how he would explain an issue to his mother.

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Few reporters know the Dallas Cowboys better than Ed Werder.

The veteran NFL insider joins Marc for a candid conversation about the Cowboys’ three-decade absence from the NFC Championship Game, whether this year’s team can finally change the story and why Ed believes Dallas could finish 11-6.

The offense, led by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, should be capable of competing with almost anyone. The defense is another matter. Ed explains what new defensive coordinator Christian Parker inherits, what veterans like Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary and Von Miller could bring, and why the Cowboys’ weaknesses along both edges of the line give him pause.

But this conversation goes beyond schemes and personnel. Marc and Ed examine the culture Jerry Jones has created, the accountability problems that have followed the team since Jimmy Johnson left and whether Cowboys players receive the rewards of winning without actually having to win. Ed also explains why this offseason may represent a meaningful change in the way Jerry and Stephen Jones allow their coaches to operate.

Then the conversation turns to Ed’s remarkable career. He reflects on covering 32 Super Bowls, watching John Elway engineer “The Drive,” walking off the field with Troy Aikman after a championship and missing his brother’s wedding for his first Super Bowl assignment.

Ed and Marc also discuss the changing sports-media business, ESPN’s growing emphasis on opinions and personalities, and why reporting from locker rooms and sidelines still produces insight that can’t be replicated from a studio.

And yes, despite 30 years of evidence to the contrary, hope remains.

This is our year. Right?

Listen to Ed and Matt Mosley on The Doomsday Podcast

Because there’s always more to the story.

Watch full episodes: YouTube

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Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Threads

Read more: More with Marc Istook on Substack

Website: MarcIstook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Find More with Marc Istook wherever you get your podcasts.

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Attorney Mark Lyda has built a rapidly growing social media audience by doing something deceptively simple: reading the law, digging into the details, and explaining what they actually mean.

In this episode of MORE with Marc Istook, Marc (Istook) talks with Mark (Lyda) about his unexpected evolution from practicing attorney to online legal commentator - and why he believes social media has become an important place for serious conversations about law, politics and democracy.

They dig into the challenge of creating thoughtful content in a medium that rewards speed and outrage, why Mark says he normally wouldn’t even discuss politics “in polite company,” and what finally convinced him that staying quiet wasn’t an option.

Then they turn to some of the biggest legal questions surrounding the Trump administration, including the SAVE America Act, immigration enforcement, executive power, birthright citizenship, the Supreme Court and what Mark sees as weaknesses being exposed in America’s legal and political systems.

Marc also reconnects with Mark for a special follow-up conversation after a new Supreme Court ruling involving President Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting. Mark explains why the Court’s decision did not declare the order constitutional, why litigation over it remains unresolved, and why he believes the uncertainty could create significant problems ahead of the midterm elections.

In this episode:

00:00 - Cold open: “They rule it’s illegal... but we’re going to let it proceed?”

BONUS: Supreme Court ruling on mail-in voting

Follow Marc:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcistook

Find more episodes of MORE, with Marc Istook wherever you get your podcasts.

Conversations. Context. Clarity. Because there’s always more to the story.

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For more than two decades, Trey Wingo was one of the most recognizable faces and voices at ESPN, anchoring SportsCenter, hosting NFL Live and covering everything from the NFL Draft to major golf championships.

Now, he’s doing things on his own terms.

In the inaugural episode of the revamped More with Marc Istook, Trey joins Marc for a wide-ranging conversation about ESPN’s heyday, the changing sports-media landscape, why he has little interest in manufactured hot takes, and what he enjoys about building an independent media business.

They also revisit some of the defining moments of Trey’s ESPN career, including helping turn NFL Live from an afterthought into appointment television, hosting the unprecedented 2020 NFL Draft during COVID, and anchoring SportsCenter alongside Bob Ley in the days after September 11.

And yes, Trey also explains why he is definitely not Mike Tirico.

You can find Trey’s latest work across The Wingo Network, including:

Trey also hosts Golf Live with Justin Ray, breaking down the biggest stories and developments from the world of golf.

Because there’s always more to the story.

Watch full episodes: YouTube

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A new name. A broader focus. The same curiosity.

In this short announcement, Marc shares why "Dream Job" is evolving into "More with Marc Istook." The show will continue going behind the scenes with interesting people from sports, entertainment and media, while also featuring experts and newsmakers who bring greater perspective and insight to the issues that affect us every day.

Conversations. Context. Clarity.

Because there’s always more to the story.

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What does it take to build a professional sports franchise around one of America’s oldest and most dangerous competitions?

In this episode of Dream Job, Marc Istook sits down with Chad Blankenship, President and General Manager of the Texas Rattlers, to explore the evolution of professional bull riding and the remarkable career path that prepared Chad to help lead it.

Chad explains how the PBR Teams league took a traditionally individual sport and added the hometown loyalty, shared responsibility, rivalries, and season-long storylines that make team sports so compelling. He also breaks down what fans experience at a live event, from world-class riders and bulls to music, lights, pyrotechnics, and a carefully designed pace that keeps the entire arena engaged.

The conversation expands into the resurgence of Western culture across sports, television, music, and fashion. Chad discusses why values such as perseverance, self-reliance, community, and respect for the land continue to resonate with modern audiences.

Then Marc and Chad retrace a career journey that was anything but predictable. Chad shares stories from his early years in advertising, being laid off from one of the world’s most prestigious agencies, working on New York City’s bid for the 2012 Olympics, spending seven years at ESPN, launching a television network with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, and helping create the PBR Teams league.

He also recounts leaving his career behind for nearly a year to travel through China, Tibet, Nepal, and Thailand, including trekking to Everest Base Camp and unexpectedly taking a job at a resort on a Thai island.

The episode concludes with a conversation about failure, personal responsibility, community, and one of Chad’s most enduring life lessons: wherever you go, you remain the same person. The real opportunity is learning to be fully present and make the most of where you are now.

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The Quiet Dismantling of Texas Public Schools, with Dan Dawer

Texas has taken over more school districts than any other state in the country, and a majority of those takeovers have happened in the last ten years under Governor Greg Abbott and Education Commissioner Mike Morath. The official story is accountability. The real story, according to this week's guest, is the construction of an entirely new model for public education in Texas, one designed to be cheaper, more regimented, and built on a workforce of uncertified, inexperienced teachers reading from scripted curriculum.

Marc sits down with Dan Dawer, a former classroom teacher of 11 years and a PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Austin, whose dissertation research has put him on the ground inside the Houston ISD takeover for nearly four years. Dan has interviewed close to 140 stakeholders across the district and has emerged with one of the most comprehensive views of what state takeovers actually do to communities, students, and teachers.

This conversation covers:

. Why the research overwhelmingly shows takeovers do not improve student outcomes, and which communities they disproportionately target

If you care about public education, your property taxes, your kids' classrooms, or the long-term direction of this state, this is the conversation. Dan brings the data. We dig into what it actually means.

Recommended reading from this episode: Takeover: Race, Education, and Democracy in America by Domingo Morel.

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Award-winning filmmaker, activist, and founder of Women Rising, Sara Hirsh Bordo joins the Dream Job Podcast to discuss her debut book Autoimmunity and the Good Girls — a groundbreaking exploration of how women raised to self-silence and caretake are disproportionately likely to develop autoimmune disease, and how reclaiming your own voice may be the most powerful medicine of all.

EPISODE NOTES

Sara Hirsh Bordo has spent her career building stages for other people's stories — directing award-winning documentaries, founding the women's empowerment production company Women Rising, and being named an Architect of Change by Maria Shriver. But while she was busy lifting up everyone else, her own body was sending a message she couldn't ignore.

In this conversation, Marc and Sara — friends since their days as undergrads at TCU — go deep on her debut book, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls: How Permission to Put Ourselves First Has the Power to Keep Us Well, published by HarperOne/HarperCollins.

Topics covered in this episode:

Timestamps:

About Sara Hirsh Bordo: Sara is a 20-time award-winning filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Women Rising. Her documentary debut, A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, won the Audience Award at SXSW and qualified for the Academy Award. She has directed campaigns for Toyota and ESPN, consulted on the Wonder Woman franchise for Warner Bros., and produced the first TEDxAustinWomen — the most-viewed TEDxWomen event in the world that year. A percentage of her author proceeds are being donated to the Society for Women's Health Research.

Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, and the audiobook — read by Sara herself — is available on Audible.

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