Hosts Adam Binkerd and Erika Crabtree open season three of Leading Adam with a deeply personal conversation with Chris Spangle—director of digital content at IBJ, former Bob & Tom digital lead, and longtime host of The Chris Spangle Show. Spangle shares his journey from early success in radio and podcasting to a season of loss, depression, and faith that reshaped his life. He talks candidly about therapy, breaking unhealthy cycles, and choosing family over workaholism. A podcast editor, co-host of The Patdown and featured juror on BET’s Ms. Pat Settles It, he shares where he thinks media is heading. This episode sets the tone for a season focused on “leading inward,” exploring grit, resilience, and the quiet work of building an “ordered life” brick by brick. Follow him on YouTube here: @ChrisSpangleShow

https://youtu.be/S0LA9jqS7v0

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

00:00 Intro & New Season Kickoff

01:07 New Set, New Energy

02:04 Introducing Chris Spangle

05:56 Why Chris? Production & Connection

08:30 Season 3: Leading Inward

13:01 Chris's Journey: Podcasting & Growth

20:53 The Granular Skills That Built a Career

24:53 Getting Personal: Lessons from Childhood

31:31 Finding Grit in Insecurity

38:56 Faith, Recovery, and Second Chances

44:52 Formulas for Values & the Ordered Life

50:59 Balance, Vocational Choices & Family

01:00:10 Building Community & The Future of Relationships

01:13:02 Parenting, Role Models & Generational Growth

01:18:10 Authenticity, Judgment, and Social Barriers

01:21:31 Lessons Learned & Season Wrap-up

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What are natural rights, and how do they differ from legal rights? In this episode of Foundations of Liberty on The Chris Spangle Show, Chris breaks down core Libertarian principles on rights, freedom, and government power. Learn about natural rights, legal rights, negative vs. positive rights, property rights, and why Libertarians argue that rights come from our nature—not the state. This deep dive explores thinkers like John Locke, Cicero, and Thomas Aquinas, plus key moments in history that shaped America’s founding ideas of liberty and self-government.

https://youtu.be/ZaxSF5tooL8

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

00:00 Penn and Meade: The Trial for Religious Freedom

01:12 Bushel's Case and Jury Independence

01:47 Do Rights Come From Government?

02:52 Foundations of Liberty: Introducing Rights

03:43 Natural Rights vs. Legal Rights Explained

04:45 Brief History of Natural Rights

06:48 Examples of Natural Rights in Daily Life

07:03 What Are Legal Rights?

09:41 How Rights Philosophies Evolved

11:12 Natural Rights in Ancient and Medieval Times

13:24 Magna Carta, the Crown, and Pre-Existing Rights

14:53 Enlightenment Thinkers and the Spread of Natural Rights

15:54 Property, Assembly, and Libertarian Principles

17:12 Natural Rights Aren't Handed Out—They're Inherent

18:03 Positive vs. Negative Rights

19:31 Negative Rights: The Libertarian Standard

21:10 Trade-offs and the Limits of Government Intervention

22:28 Why Libertarians Prioritize Natural & Negative Rights

25:36 Limiting Power: Sphere Sovereignty and Social Checks

27:02 Government, Morality, and Personal Autonomy

28:34 Government Dependency vs. Private Solutions

29:52 Why Rights Matter in a Free Society

31:02 Rights as Fundamentals of U.S. Society

32:22 Learning from History: Rights, Stories, and Systems

32:56 Modern Challenges and Demanding Your Rights

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Agustina Vergara Cid, a former immigrant from Argentina and now a U.S. citizen, joins host Chris Spangle to share her powerful story of becoming American. She describes her July 3 naturalization ceremony, the emotional oath of allegiance, and why she has dreamed of America since childhood. Agustina explains how growing up in Argentina shaped her views on freedom, individualism, and government, and why she believes America’s founding values are still worth defending. This conversation offers a unique immigrant perspective on citizenship, immigration policy, and what makes the United States different.

https://youtu.be/9aaLDBkw6B0

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

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Chris Spangle launches a new series exploring the foundational ideas behind libertarianism. In this episode, he outlines eight core principles—individualism, individual rights, spontaneous order, limited government, free markets, the virtue of production, the natural harmony of interests, and peace. Chris reflects on how these ideas shape a free society and wrestles with the tensions between liberty, the common good, and his Christian worldview.

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at ⁠Chris-Spangle.com⁠.

⁠https://youtu.be/K8VX7BW4UvY⁠

00:00 Welcome & Series Overview

01:00 Chris Spangle's Background & Purpose

03:00 Why Libertarian Philosophy Matters

07:00 Rediscovering the Basics of Libertarianism

09:00 Core Ideas: Individualism Explained

13:00 Individual Rights & Natural Rights

17:00 Spontaneous Order & Hayek's Insight

19:00 Limited Government & Checks on Power

22:00 Free Markets: Voluntary Exchange & Prosperity

23:30 The Virtue of Production & Property Rights

24:30 Harmony of Interests: Cooperation over Conflict

25:30 The Importance of Peace

27:30 The Power and Impact of These Principles

29:00 No Perfect Ideology: Wrestling with Libertarianism

31:00 Conclusion & Call to Engagement

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Chris Spangle returns to share why he’s been away and what’s next for the show. He opens up about fatherhood, intellectual shifts since the pandemic, and his desire to rethink libertarianism and faith in public. Chris also introduces two upcoming themes: the Foundations of Liberty series and reflections on personal formation.

⁠https://youtu.be/9OIPaHHnrjU⁠

Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at Chris-Spangle.com.

00:00 Show Returns & Life Update

02:00 Coping with Change & New Beginnings

04:00 Reflecting on Growth & Regrets

06:30 Speaking Up vs. Staying Quiet

09:00 Political Disillusionment and Evolving Beliefs

11:30 A New Direction for the Show

14:00 Exploring Foundations of Liberty

17:00 Faith, Family, and Personal Growth

19:30 Balancing Ambition and Family

21:00 Two Core Themes: Society & The Individual

22:30 Plans for Future Episodes & Listener Involvement

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I was honored to (and surprised) to be asked as a guest on Jacob Winograd's show The LCI Green Room over at the Libertarian Christian Institute to talk about the “Grill Pill”—a mindset that’s all about stepping back from the chaos of national politics to focus on what really matters: faith, family, community, and yes, sometimes literally grilling. He and I unpack the emotional toll of constant political engagement, why many of us are disillusioned with activism, and how to reorder our lives around what God has actually called us to. We talk about libertarianism, Christian cultural engagement, and the dangers of making politics an idol. This one’s honest, raw, and full of hard-won wisdom. Hope it helps you recalibrate.

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Senior policy analyst James Czerniawski of Americans for Prosperity joins The Chris Spangle Show to break down the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025 and why it’s crucial for America’s digital future. From unlicensed spectrum access for startups to restoring FCC auction authority, Czerniawski explains how wireless innovation impacts everyday life—and why keeping pace with China matters.

⁠https://youtu.be/Kujolbpm9W4⁠

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Join Chris Spangle and Alejandro Ramos as they discuss why civics education is crucial for America's future. Alejandro outlines his Citizenship Empowerment Framework, emphasizing foundational documents, media literacy, courageous dialogue, and community engagement to combat polarization and misinformation. Ramos, a second-generation immigrant, shares personal insights on immigration, birthright citizenship, and the importance of civics in creating informed, engaged citizens.

Why Civic Education Must Be at the Forefront of Reform - https://dcjournal.com/why-civic-education-must-be-at-the-forefront-of-reform/

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Chris Spangle is joined by Alex Rosado, professional programs assistant at the Alexander Hamilton Society, to unpack the complexities of U.S.-China trade relations. They break down the legacy of Trump’s “Phase One” deal, why China fulfilled only 57% of its commitments, and how tactics like invoice manipulation and transshipment undermine global trade norms. The conversation also explores reshoring U.S. manufacturing, the AI and semiconductor arms race, and China’s internal demographic and economic challenges. Together, they examine how America can balance skepticism with strategy in navigating future trade.

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I was honored to give the commencement address at a homeschool high school graduation. In this speech, I encouraged graduates to resist the pull of shallow success and instead pursue lives rooted in faith, service, and meaningful relationships. Drawing inspiration from Jane Addams and Abraham Kuyper, I highlighted how small, faithful choices—made consistently—can transform communities and leave a lasting legacy.

⁠https://youtu.be/o7rT4hY4s7k⁠

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