I wasn't sure I would make the trip to be honest. My friend Tom Woods is about to publish the 2000th (!) episode of his super popular podcast, The Tom Woods Show.

If you don't know of Tom, he's a legit rock star in the world of libertarian culture and politics. Which essentially means he's got more than 3 followers, but I digress - and that's an inside joke for people familiar with libertarian culture and politics.

I began following Tom's show around 2013, probably around episode #40 or so. I had known of Tom for many years prior to that while I was far more immersed in libertarian culture and politics than I am now. Many people don't know I was once employed by the John Birch Society as a field coordinator for the state of Minnesota, and I participated in a number of events and rallies supporting Ron Paul when he ran for president in 2008 and 2012.

So that might explain my values and political leanings a wee bit.

Well, Tom and his show helped me get through some dark days, particularly my last year in the military, circa 2015, while I struggled mightily with my conscience and my involvement in what I had grown to believe was a highly immoral activity. I'm referring to war in general here. I know and respect many people who are in the military and take no issue with their own personal decisions. What I'm referring to is my own beliefs and conscientious objections to the practice of war.

Anyway, I was in Vietnam living with my wife Sana earlier this year when Tom announced on his show and newsletter that he was approaching episode #2000 and was throwing a huge party in Orlando, FL to celebrate it. I immediately got a couple of free tickets, hoping against hope Sana would be with me in the U.S. to make the trip. But when I was compelled to return to the U.S. this past summer, sans Sana, I thought I might not make the trip after all.

Who wants to go to a huge party all by himself, right?

But as the date October 16th approached, I couldn't shake the thought. Of course I want to support and congratulate the man who's played a pivotal role in my thinking over the last decade or so, but I've got a child to take care of, I've got a business to run, etc.

Then some serendipitous circumstances occurred which convinced me I should go ahead and make the trip - and I'm really glad I did.

It was a short trip. I arrived in Orlando around 6 pm, for an event that began at 8 pm. And I was out of the hotel the following morning around 9 am. So I didn't exactly get to see the sights of the city. I was there for one purpose and that was it.

The event itself was definitely not the typical podcast episode. For one thing it was over 4 hours long, so I wonder how long the actual podcast will be after editing. Then Tom himself said at the beginning of his speech, "Y'all aren't going to learn a damn thing tonight!" to raucous approval from the audience.

I suppose you could call it a variety show, with a bunch of libertarians who are more libertarian than comedian putting on their comedian pants for an evening and just making the best of it. Which is to say I give them an E for effort.

Each of the segments in the show could have been about half the length and would have been equally as entertaining, but I digress.

The entertainment wasn't the reason I made the trip, nor did it make up even a fraction of the real value of the event.

What made it special was we were celebrating not just an individual who has persevered and stuck it out to make it to 2000 episodes of his show, which is reason to celebrate to be sure, but the huge community of folks who listen to his show, identify with it and gather inner strength by gathering together.

That's the secret sauce of any successful podcast: community. People ask me all the time, "How do you make money with a podcast?" My answer is always the same: "You get people to listen, then you sell stuff to 'em."

Easier said than done.

Getting people to listen to a show

Check out The Easy School of Hard Knocks. easyschool-hardknocks.com

https://committedmedia.org/savethe1

-How Rebecca came to know the circumstances in which she was conceived...01:30Feeling targeted by society due to the "rape exception" clause in most abortion laws

-A brief history of abortion law and activism in the United States...05:10Physicians and feminists originally fought to make abortion illegal in the mid-Nineteenth Century

"Rape exception" clause was added in a few states in the late 1960's

5 states still have anti-abortion laws on the books, but are superseded by Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973

Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe) never had an abortion as it was denied in Texas courts

"Retroactive death penalty" for the child that Ms. McCorvey bore

-The journey to becoming an internationally-known pro-life advocate...08:05Wanted to be an attorney from the age of 10

Inspired by The Verdict w/ Paul Newman

Loved superhero movies

Notable cases in her early career:

Frozen embryo case in Michigan

Woman sued for breach of contract by not having an abortion

12 year old girl raped by 14 year old brother

Woman raped in a group home

Abortion is used to destroy evidence of rape

Clients found her in the Yellow Pages; not aware of her history and convictions

Terminating parental rights of rapists

-Rebecca's spiritual redemption, and how it affected her self-perception...15:30Became saved at age 15, but fell away after feeling unwelcome by friends at church, as well as learning her history

Got back into the church after a fight w/ her boyfriend while in law school

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=adoptionandversion=NKJV (Scriptures that speak of adoption): Rom. 8:15, 8:23, 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5

James 1:27 "Pure religion" is to care for the orphans and widows

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+16andversion=NKJV (Ezekiel 16) depiction of a castaway orphan showing God's heart toward what man has rejected

-Spiritual warfare in Rebecca's cases...19:45Objections from opposing counsel similar to vampires shrieking at the sign of a crucifix

-How Rebecca's words are received by those who claim to care for women's rights...26:45"If I don't have the right to life, what right do I have?"

Put it out there up front, it's disarming

-Changing hearts and minds of influential policymakers...32:26Most prominent are Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Newt Gingrich

Citizens United

"The Gift of Life w/ Gov. Mike Huckabee" film

Personhood org

"Such as a time as this" re: Queen Esther from the Bible

Resources mentioned in this episode:https://savethe1.com (Save the 1 Organization founded by Rebecca)

https://rebeccakiessling.com (Rebecca's personal website)

This episode was sponsored by https://podcastartistry.com (Podcast Artistry). If you're considering starting a podcast, it's a very popular and powerful medium that's just now beginning to pick up steam. Book an explanatory call today and see if it's right for you!

"I've got it made."That phrase means different things to different people. To you and me, it might mean everything is exactly how we want it, and our cares in this life are over.

To others, it means you're in the inner circle of some pretty sordid company.

While Robert Borelli was never officially "made" in the Gambino crime family of New York City, he was pretty well connected in those circles. Ultimately a bad crack habit caused him to fall from grace, and it was "angels with guns", or U.S. warrant officers that finally caught up with him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Testify against your former associates (some of whom were close friends) in exchange for a reduced prison sentence and enrollment in the witness protection program.

Tough pill to swallow. But it led Robert to question his decisions, and to embrace an intimate relationship with his Maker, Jesus Christ.

Now he shares his story of redemption, both in this podcast, as well as his outstanding book, https://amzn.to/3t4fuoh (The Witness: A Tale of the Life and Death of a Mafia Madman).

Regrets from the past? Of course. Who doesn't have them.

Although he was never officially "made" with the mafia, Robert is "made" fresh by God - for all who are in Christ Jesus are a new creation.

(Click on the time next to each headline to skip directly to that section)

In this conversation w/ Robert Borelli, you'll hear:-What's the reaction "civilians" give when they hear Robert was involved w/ the mafia...04:00-Why it's difficult for Robert to reconcile his past w/ the grace he's received...06:15-Angels with guns, and time to face the music...08:25-Virtues we can learn from the mafia lifestyle...14:15-Why Robert was able to relate to the elderly more than others...18:10-Testifying against former comrades the turning point in Robert's spiritual journey...23:35-What kept Robert from going back to his old lifestyle after embracing Jesus...28:15-We're all sinners in need of grace, even if we haven't committed any atrocities...31:55-And much more...Resources mentioned:-https://robertborelli.com (Robert's website) (get a signed copy of the book from the website)

-https://amzn.to/3t4fuoh (The Witness: A Tale of the Life and Death of a Mafia Madman by Robert Borelli and H. Scott Hunt) (via Amazon, signed copy not available)