The Aaron Renn Show

By Aaron Renn

What's The Aaron Renn Show about?

Aaron Renn's commentary and insights on our 21st century world, along with his conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers on the issues of today. Covering culture, media, economics, politics, Christianity and men's issues.

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The Aaron Renn Show episodes:

04.22.2024
LUKE ROBSON: Revitalizing Hillsdale, Michigan
Luke Robson is on a mission to revitalize the downtown of Hillsdale, Michigan, the small town where Hillsdale College is located. He joins us to discuss his efforts and why he believes this is important. Subscribe to Luke's Hillsdale Renaissance Newsletter:...
04.15.2024
Identity Is the Foundation of Everything (Newsletter #87)
Your identity is the foundation and the heart of everything. Because if you don’t know who you are, you don’t know what to do. In this month's newsletter I discuss the importance of identity, and why many people in power...
04.08.2024
LEON PODLES: The Deep Roots of Men's Alienation from Church
Leon Podles joins me today to discuss the deep roots of why men don't go to church, focusing on the male quest for honor. He is the author of The Church Impotent and Losing the Good Portion: Why Men Are...
04.01.2024
PETER OSTAPKO: Curating Conversations on Faith, Fatherhood, and Work at Kinsmen Journal
Peter Ostapko joins us to discuss his project Kinsmen Journal, a high quality print magazine for Christian men and broader project to curate conversations around faith, fatherhood, and work. Kinsmen Journal featured original commissioned photography and writing, and the highest...
03.25.2024
DAVID MURROW: Why Men Hate Going to Church
This is my interview from two years ago with David Murrow, author of the influential book Why Men Hate Going to Church. Why does the American church skew female? How did he get interested in this topic? How did people...
03.18.2024
Cultural Insurgency (Newsletter #86)
Paleoconservative military writer William Lind developed a concept he calls "4th Generation War," which is an insurgency conflict similar to Afghanistan or Iraq. 4GW is rooted in a decline of the legitimacy of the state, a fundamentally asymmetric conflict, and...
03.11.2024
BRAD WILCOX: Get Married
Sociologist Brad Wilcox joins to discuss his new book "Get Married." He explains why, despite its decline in our society, marriage remains the best path to success in flourishing in life. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/0063210851/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
03.04.2024
JOSEPH HARTMAN: Why Reinhold Niebuhr Matters Today
Georgetown University professor Joseph Hartman joins me to discuss the 20th century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, and why he still matters today.
02.26.2024
BRAD VERMURLEN: The Reformed Resurgence
Sociologist Brad Vermurlen will join me to discuss his new book Reformed Resurgence: The New Calvinist Movement and the Battle Over American Evangelicalism. Vermurlen's book is an excellent overview of the New Calvinist movement, the backdrop of Evangelical fracture in...
02.19.2024
JOSH ABBOTOY: The Big Sort
Josh Abbotoy joins me to discuss his projects to built intentional communities of likeminded people in Kentucky and Tennessee. Ridgerunner USA: https://ridgerunnerusa.com/ Highland Rim Project: https://www.newfounding.com/highland Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
02.12.2024
Smashing the Status Hierarchy (Newsletter #85)
One of the key events in the Christianization of the Roman Empire was when the children of the existing Roman elites turned aside from the status system of the Roman imperium in favor of new ways of pursuing and achieving...
02.05.2024
DWIGHT GIBSON: How to Be an Explorer
Management is about the known. Exploration is about the unknown. Dwight Gibson has studied the techniques of the explorers from the great age of exploration. He will discuss how people and organizations can make use of those oft-forgotten methods to...
01.29.2024
JOHN BURTKA: Statesmanship and Masculinity
John Burtka, president of ISI, joins me to discuss his new book Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill. It's a collection of some of the best writing in history about the nature of the statesman. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Statesmanship-Selections-Xenophon-Churchill/dp/1684515432/ Subscribe...
01.22.2024
ALEXANDRA HUDSON: The Soul of Civility
Lexi Hudson joins me to discuss her recent book The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Civility-Timeless-Principles-Ourselves-ebook/dp/B0B9KTF7BP/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
01.15.2024
Why You Need a Positive Vision (Newsletter #84)
Too many people today have negative identities - they are defined by what they oppose not by what they are for or hope to create. Negative identities create asymmetries in which you are vulnerable to people with morally expansionist visions....
01.08.2024
DARREN DOCHUK: How Christianity and Crude Oil Made Modern America
Notre Dame professor Darren Dochuk joins me to discuss his book Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America. Every aspect of modern political, economic, and cultural development of the 20th century was bound up with various strains...
12.18.2023
The Case Against Pragmatism (Newsletter #83)
Pragmatism is about what we can do with our own two hands with the material we see in front of us. It's an important perspective on the world - but very limiting as well. Too much devotion to pragmatism can...
12.11.2023
BRAD LITTLEJOHN and CHRIS CASTALDO: Why Protestants Convert to Catholicism
Brad Littlejohn and Chris Castaldo join me to discuss their book Why Do Protestants Convert?, which examines the psychological, theological, and sociological reasons that evangelical intellectuals often convert to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Buy the book: https://davenantinstitute.org/why-do-protestants-convert Subscribe to my newsletter:...
12.04.2023
BEN MERKLE: Is Big Ed Too Big to Fail?
Ben Merkle, president of New St. Andrews College, joins me to discuss the broken financial model of higher education in America. Read Big Ed, Too Big to Fail: https://nsa.edu/blog/big-ed-too-big-to-fail Subscribe to my newspaper: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
11.27.2023
NANCY PEARCEY: The Toxic War on Masculinity
Nancy Pearcey, a professor at Houston Christian University, joins me to discuss her book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Pearcey was named one of the top five women apologists by Christianity Today and hailed in...
11.20.2023
A Handyman's Guide to Masculinity (Newsletter #82)
For this month's newsletter, John Seel shares an essay on masculinity and the quest to become a "holy man." He examines who a holy man is, the tools he uses, and the product he produces. Subscribe to my newsletter at: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
11.07.2023
JOHN SEEL: Cultural Engagement in the Negative World
John Seel joins me to discuss his thoughts on cultural engagement in today's negative world. Dr. Seel holds a Ph.D from the University of Maryland, and is a cultural renewal entrepreneur. Download Dr. Seel's white paper on The Challenge of Cultural...
10.30.2023
ANDREW BRUNSON: God's Faithfulness While Suffering Unjustly
Long time missionary Andrew Brunson joins me to talk about his two year nightmare in a Turkish jail after being falsely imprisoned by the government for spying. Wavestarters, a Ministry of Andrew and Norine Brunson: https://www.wavestarters.org/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
10.23.2023
JOHN LOVELL: The Warrior Poet Way
John Lovell joins me to discuss his new book The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well. Lovell is a former Army Ranger, combat veteran, and missionary. He runs the popular Youtube channel The Warrior Poet...
10.16.2023
The Problem With Servant Leadership (Newsletter #81)
Why do men turn to online influencers instead of the church? One reason is that evangelicals promote a vision of masculinity that is so bleak and unappealing it turns men off. They sum this up under the heading “servant leadership” Properly...
10.09.2023
REDEEMED ZOOMER: Can Mainline Denominations Be Saved?
Gen Z Youtuber "Redeemed Zoomer," a member of the PCUSA, joins me to discuss his case for why Christians should not abandon mainline denominations. Visit Redeemed Zoomer's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@redeemedzoomer6053 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
10.03.2023
ERIC LEFEVRE: When Lutherans Reversed Liberalism
Eric Lefevre joins us to discuss the Concordia-Seminex Affair, in which the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod reversed a trend towards liberal theology in its flagship seminary and the denomination as a whole.
09.25.2023
SEN. MARCO RUBIO: The Importance of Working Men
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida joins me to discuss his new report, "The State of the Working (and Non-Working) Man," issued by his office as part of his Project for Strong Labor Markets and National Development. Read the report: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-releases-labor-report-the-state-of-the-working-and-non-working-man/ ...
09.18.2023
DANIEL HOWE: The Christian Sabbath
Presbyterian minister Daniel Howe joins us to discuss his new book Worship, Feasting, Rest, Mercy: The Christian Sabbath. Link to Buy: https://crownandcovenant.com/products/worship-feasting-rest-mercy-the-christian-sabbath Aaron Renn's Newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
09.11.2023
The Maternal Instinct Will Not Be Suppressed (Newsletter #80)
This month's newsletter looks at lessons from two contemporary novels, Guadalupe Nettel's Still Born and Vigdis Hjorth's Will and Testament. Buy Still Born: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Born-Guadalupe-Nettel-ebook/dp/B0BQ3ZRSK1 Buy Will and Testament: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Testament-Vigdis-Hjorth-ebook/dp/B07LDSXBTD/ Newsletter #39 on forged families: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/newsletter-39-we-can-only-go-forward My thoughts on the film "The Worst Person in...
08.28.2023
SOHRAB AHMARI: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty
Sohrab Ahmari joins me to discuss his book Tyranny, Inc: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty - and What To Do About It. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Inc-Private-American-Liberty/dp/0593443462/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.aaronrenn.com/
08.21.2023
CHRISTINE EMBA: Man Troubles
Washington Post columnist Christine Emba joins me to discuss her viral feature essay, "Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness." "Men Are Lost" Article link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/10/christine-emba-masculinity-new-model/ Reader feedback on how to be a man article link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/14/readers-react-christine-emba-masculinity/ Subscribe to Christine...
08.14.2023
The Teachings of Neo-Pagan Masculinity (Newsletter #79)
This month's audio newsletter looks at the teachings of two online men's influencers whose work reflects something of a neo-pagan sensibility, Jack Donovan and his book The Way of Men, and Ryan Landry and his book Masculinity Amidst Madness. The Way...
07.31.2023
DENNY BURK: Evangelical Gender Wars
Denny Burk is the President of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, the organization charted with advancing complementarian gender theology. Complementarianism holds that only men can be pastors, and that husbands are the head of the home. The main...
07.24.2023
AARON GINN: Recovering from Nice Guy Syndrome
Aaron Ginn joins me to discuss his recent viral essays on male friendship and how to recovery from the dysfunctions of "nice guy syndrome." Aaron Ginn's Substack: https://aginn.substack.com/
07.17.2023
Big Eva Says Out with Complementarianism, In with Anti-Fundamentalism (Newsletter #78)
As the evangelical world begins to crack up and realign, a segment of "big eva" elites is promoting the idea of redefining the boundary of their community. They want to eliminate complementarianism (a male only pastorate) and replace it with...
07.10.2023
PAUL VANDERKLAY: What is the Future of the Christian Reformed Church?
The Christian Reformed Church (CRC), a quasi-mainline denomination originating in the Dutch Reformed tradition, had been trending in a more liberal direction. It approved of ordaining women and its Calvin University took a more progressive tack. But recently the denomination...
06.26.2023
You Have to Be Able to Speak Up For Yourself
Conservatives have a strong preference to have other people make their points for them. Hence they love liberals who criticize wokeness, or Muslims who argue for religious freedom. There's nothing wrong with partnering with or promoting others who share your...
06.19.2023
"Structural" Forces Do Affect Individual and Group Outcomes
The left frequently argues that "structural racism" and other factors dominate our societies. While conservatives rightly recognize these as code words for left ideology, they often react in ways that fail to recognize the way structural forces really do affect...
06.12.2023
Mark Driscoll's Gender Teachings (Newsletter #77)
The now disgraced Mark Driscoll was once one of America's hottest "bad boy" pastors. His church had 14,000 attendees, and he had a massive following on social media. Although his empire imploded in a cascade of scandals a few years...
06.05.2023
Culture Warring Is Also Obsolete
There's been a lot of discussion of the limits of the "winsome" model of cultural engagement in the evangelical world, and how it is no longer as effective as it once was and is even counter-productive in some ways. But...
05.30.2023
Why Conservative Boycotts Don't Work - And Why the Bud Light One Did
Liberal pressure campaigns frequently work. Conservative ones are typically a failure. But the largely spontaneous Bud Light boycott was an exception. I look at why it was an exception - but one that most likely just proves the rule.
05.23.2023
Mainline Reconquista?
A mainline presbyterian Gen-Z videocaster and Episcopal priest recently discussed whether mainline denominations can ever be retaken by the theologically orthodox. I share one example that shows at least some level of institutional recapture is possible, though the risks remain...
05.15.2023
A Critical Shortfall of Courage (Newsletter #76)
Peter Thiel says that "brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius." We see that on display in the way the leadership of the Gospel Coalition threw pastor and TGC Keller Center fellow Josh Butler...
05.08.2023
Conservatives Need to Learn How to Govern
Conservative insurgents have won elections in a number of places. But as we've seen in cases ranging from Ottawa County, Michigan to North Idaho College to the Hamilton East Library, they often lack detailed knowledge of the governments they are...
05.01.2023
Understanding How the American System Is Different
American's view of what an oppressive, authoritarian society looks like is shaped by models like Naziism, Communism, George Orwell's 1984, or perhaps the persecution of the early church. These systems are both formally repressive, relying on hard government power. And...
04.24.2023
Kathy Keller's Skin in the Game
Very few people have sacrificed as much personally or absorbed as much pain for the sake of defending and living their life in alignment with their gender theology as Kathy Keller has. She has demonstrated major skin in the game,...
04.17.2023
The Toxic Dynamics of a Post-Familial Society (Newsletter #75)
This month's newsletter is a look at what post-familialism hath wrought in South Korea: toxic gender relations, roiled politics, and an emerging conflict between those with kids and without.
04.10.2023
DR. NICHOLAS ELLIS: Christian Halls and the Future of Christian Higher Education
Dr. Nicholas Ellis was raised and home schooled on the mission field in Brazil. He then went to England, where he obtained his doctorate at Oxford. Now back in the United States, he has launched Christian Halls, an effort to...
04.03.2023
America's Unjust and Illegitimate System
Recent events such as the school shooting in Nashville, the indictment of President Trump, and the conviction of Douglas Mackey shouldn't surprise us, or cause us to give into despair or hate. But it should cause us to change the...

What's The Aaron Renn Show about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Aaron Renn Show episodes:

LUKE ROBSON: Revitalizing Hillsdale, Michigan

Identity Is the Foundation of Everything (Newsletter #87)

LEON PODLES: The Deep Roots of Men's Alienation from Church

PETER OSTAPKO: Curating Conversations on Faith, Fatherhood, and Work at Kinsmen Journal

DAVID MURROW: Why Men Hate Going to Church

Cultural Insurgency (Newsletter #86)

BRAD WILCOX: Get Married

JOSEPH HARTMAN: Why Reinhold Niebuhr Matters Today

BRAD VERMURLEN: The Reformed Resurgence

JOSH ABBOTOY: The Big Sort

Smashing the Status Hierarchy (Newsletter #85)

DWIGHT GIBSON: How to Be an Explorer

JOHN BURTKA: Statesmanship and Masculinity

ALEXANDRA HUDSON: The Soul of Civility

Why You Need a Positive Vision (Newsletter #84)

DARREN DOCHUK: How Christianity and Crude Oil Made Modern America

The Case Against Pragmatism (Newsletter #83)

BRAD LITTLEJOHN and CHRIS CASTALDO: Why Protestants Convert to Catholicism

BEN MERKLE: Is Big Ed Too Big to Fail?

NANCY PEARCEY: The Toxic War on Masculinity

A Handyman's Guide to Masculinity (Newsletter #82)

JOHN SEEL: Cultural Engagement in the Negative World

ANDREW BRUNSON: God's Faithfulness While Suffering Unjustly

JOHN LOVELL: The Warrior Poet Way

The Problem With Servant Leadership (Newsletter #81)

REDEEMED ZOOMER: Can Mainline Denominations Be Saved?

ERIC LEFEVRE: When Lutherans Reversed Liberalism

SEN. MARCO RUBIO: The Importance of Working Men

DANIEL HOWE: The Christian Sabbath

The Maternal Instinct Will Not Be Suppressed (Newsletter #80)

SOHRAB AHMARI: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty

CHRISTINE EMBA: Man Troubles

The Teachings of Neo-Pagan Masculinity (Newsletter #79)

DENNY BURK: Evangelical Gender Wars

AARON GINN: Recovering from Nice Guy Syndrome

Big Eva Says Out with Complementarianism, In with Anti-Fundamentalism (Newsletter #78)

PAUL VANDERKLAY: What is the Future of the Christian Reformed Church?

You Have to Be Able to Speak Up For Yourself

"Structural" Forces Do Affect Individual and Group Outcomes

Mark Driscoll's Gender Teachings (Newsletter #77)

Culture Warring Is Also Obsolete

Why Conservative Boycotts Don't Work - And Why the Bud Light One Did

Mainline Reconquista?

A Critical Shortfall of Courage (Newsletter #76)

Conservatives Need to Learn How to Govern

Understanding How the American System Is Different

Kathy Keller's Skin in the Game

The Toxic Dynamics of a Post-Familial Society (Newsletter #75)

DR. NICHOLAS ELLIS: Christian Halls and the Future of Christian Higher Education

America's Unjust and Illegitimate System