The Narrative with Aaron Baer

Here is a perfectly formatted, plain-text version for Riverside. It is around 3,950 characters (safely under the 4,000-character limit), with clean formatting and paragraph breaks so you can copy and paste it directly into your podcast description box.

The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through the nation and forced every Christian to confront a sobering, inescapable question: How do we live faithfully when the culture around us grows increasingly hostile to objective truth? When tragedy strikes at the heart of the conservative movement, and when speaking foundational truths invites severe backlash or even physical danger, it is tempting for believers to retreat into the safety of silence. But silence is not an option. In a time marked by deep ideological divides, unprecedented political violence, and intense cultural hostility, the church cannot afford to step back. We must stand firm, but we need the right theological and practical tools to do so effectively.

On this highly anticipated week’s episode of The Narrative, Dr. Andrew Walker joins Center for Christian Virtue's Aaron Baer, David Mahan, and Mike Andrews for a profoundly candid and necessary conversation about Christian ethics in a world that seems determined to abandon them. This is not an episode filled with platitudes. Dr. Walker doesn’t offer easy, superficial answers to complex cultural problems. Instead, he lays out a robust framework for courage, clarity, and conviction rooted deeply in Scripture. He addresses how we can maintain our witness without compromising our values, how to speak truth in love when the world responds with anger, and how to raise the next generation to be resilient in their faith. This is the exact kind of framework believers desperately need in culturally turbulent moments like this. Whether you are a parent, a pastor, or a professional, this discussion will equip you to navigate the moral complexities of our day with unwavering faith and unyielding grace.

Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer shares a special tribute honoring Charlie Kirk’s life and how we answer the Lord’s call to move forward.

We look forward to our Cleveland Gala on Friday, September 26, where we will stand alongside you, pray together, and unite under Christ as we remember Charlie’s life and the impactful Kingdom work he dedicated his life to.

Join us as we continue to pray for the Kirk family.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's special episode of The Narrative, CCV President Aaron Baer, Policy Executive Director David Mahan, and Communications Executive Director Mike Andrews give a run-down on this week's hottest news topics:

• The latest report on the Minnesota school shooter reveals he previously worked at a marijuana dispensary, leading to the use and abuse of the drug, which he claimed led to his planning of the massacre.
• The Trump administration is floating around the idea of reclassifying transgenderism as a mental health issue, which could lead the administration to restrict gun purchases for individuals who claim they identify as transgender.
• Malcolm Gladwell, Canadian journalist and author, shared this week that he now regrets advocating for men to compete in women's sports, saying he felt pressured to do so at the time.
• Left-wing journalist Taylor Lorenz wrote an article sharing that a "dark money" group is secretly funding Democratic influencers.
• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has been in Senate committee hearings this week, answering questions about his public health agenda. The hearings grew heated, as questions flared regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, vaccine data, and more. RFK Jr. fired back, calling out senators for their involvement.

If public policy topics like this interest you, and you're curious to learn more or how you can get involved, join us for our upcoming events:

✨ Cleveland Celebration Gala, featuring Charlie Kirk, on Friday, September 26

🔥 The Essential Summit on Thursday, October 2

👣 Ohio March for Life on Friday, October 3

For many believers, patriotism has either been idolized or abandoned. But is there a better way forward—one that honors God and seeks the good of our nation? 

On this week's episode of The Narrative, Communications Executive Director Mike Andrews and Church Ambassador Network Executive Director Chris Lightfoot are joined by author and pastor Daniel Darling to discuss his new book, In Defense of Christian Patriotism.

At a time when faith and politics often collide, Daniel makes the case for patriotism that is rooted in gratitude, humility, and love for neighbor. One that honors God above all while still cherishing the blessings of living in America. 

Before Daniel joins the show, CCV President Aaron Baer joins Mike to run through this week's latest news:

• The Ohio Christian Education Network opened its fifth school, with two more opening next week after Labor Day.
• Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, passed away last week, Thursday, August 21.
• Breaking news from Minnesota: two children are dead and seventeen are injured after a gunman opens fire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. 

MORE ABOUT DANIEL DARLING

Daniel Darling is an author, pastor, and thought leader. He currently serves as the Director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College. 

Daniel is an author, co-author, or editor of 20 books, including The Original Jesus, The Dignity Revolution, The Characters of Christmas, The Characters of Easter,  A Way With Words, Agents of Grace: How to Bridge Divides and Love as Jesus Loves, and the forthcoming: In Defense of Christian Patriotism.  

Dan holds a bachelor's degree in pastoral ministry from Dayspring Bible College, has studied at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and holds a Master's degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Dan has served churches in Illinois and Tennessee. He and his wife, Angela, have four children and are members of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

What kind of future do we want for our children? Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith, with the federal Office of Early Childhood Development, has spent her career answering that question.

In this week's episode of The Narrative, CCV Communications Executive Director Mike Andrews and Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) Executive Director Troy McIntosh speak with Laurie as she shares real-time trends and statistics in American classrooms, what downsizing the Department of Education entails, and why school choice is essential to protecting parental rights and student success.

Before the guys sit down with Laurie, Troy shares exciting OCEN updates, including:

• Seven new Christian schools opened this year through the partnership of OCEN, CCV, and churches that felt called to serve the children in their communities. 
• The launch of the nationwide Christian Education Network brought in leaders to Ohio from three states to learn how they can build a network of their own.
• The recent Sidney Daily News article Troy wrote in response to school choice critics.

MORE ABOUT LAURIE TODD-SMITH

Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith is the Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Office of Early Childhood Development at the Administration for Children and Families at the US Department of Health and Human Services.

She most recently served as the America First Policy Institute as Director of the Center for Education Opportunity and the Center for the American Child where she focused on assisting states to advance evidence-based education policy reforms including the expansion of school choice, early literacy, foster care reform, online safety of children, as well as model policy for fentanyl curriculum in public schools. 

Dr. Todd-Smith served as Senior Education and Workforce Policy Advisor to Governor Phil Bryant as well as Executive Director of the State Early Childhood Council. Her work led to remarkable growth in reading and math achievement outcomes for Mississippi's students, earning the state the title of the "Mississippi Miracle."

President Trump appointed Dr. Todd-Smith as the Director of the Women’s Bureau at the United States Department of Labor in 2018. During her tenure at the Women’s Bureau, she focused the agency on childcare quality and access, paid family leave, and grants to support women in apprenticeships.  

Dr. Todd-Smith holds a doctorate in education from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree from Western New Mexico University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.

This week on The Narrative, CCV Policy Director Mike Andrews and Communications Director Mike Andrews sit down with Pavel Unguryan and Diyana Gabyak to hear firsthand what's happening inside Ukraine and why Christians there are facing some of the fiercest persecution in recent history.

From churches being shut down to believers being targeted for their faith, Ukraine's war is not only a battle for territory, it's a battle for the soul of a nation.

Before the conversation, the guys share about the recent launch of the Christian Education Network and the leaders who came to Ohio this week to learn more about launching their own state networks. They also talk about the recent Supreme Court rumblings of overturning the Obergefell decision that legalized same-sex "marriage." 

MORE ABOUT PAVEL UNGURYAN

Pavel Unguryan is a distinguished politician, public servant, and long-time leader within the Ukrainian Baptist Union.

Since 2019, he has served as the Executive Secretary of the Ukrainian Conservative Movement, a nationwide organization headquartered in Kyiv with branches across all 24 regions of Ukraine.

The movement unites hundreds of thousands of citizens and fosters partnerships among more than 20 national religious associations, including Protestant organizations, Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

MORE ABOUT DIYANA GABYAK

Diyana Gabyak is an entrepreneur, faith-driven leader, and unwavering advocate for strong families, conservative values, and transformative leadership.

With 25 years of experience as a worship leader, she has dedicated her life to faith, service, and uplifting others. She serves as a board member in multiple worldwide ministries, working tirelessly to support orphaned and foster children, rebuild lives, and create a future filled with hope and opportunity.

Diyana and her husband, Vladimir, live in northern Ohio with their five children.

We have reached a "civilizational moment" in the battle for truth. And it's past time for Christians to stand up and speak out. 

In this week's episode of The Narrative, CCV Policy Director David Mahan and Communications Director Mike Andrews sit down with John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center, to talk about the upcoming documentary, Truth Rising.

This powerful project confronts the crisis of truth in today's culture and calls believers to live courageously, rooted in the unchanging Word of God.

Before diving into the conversation with John, the guys break down some of the biggest stories making headlines this week:

📉 Trump announces plans to cut federal funding to PBS, NPR, and other woke media outlets — finally putting an end to taxpayer-funded propaganda.

📺 NBC4’s “Out in Ohio” segment — a blatant push to normalize radical gender ideology in Ohio’s heartland. The guys unpack why local news outlets are no longer neutral and what Christians need to know.

Gather friends and family and watch the release of Truth Rising on Friday, September 5!

MORE ABOUT JOHN STONESTREET

John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center. He’s a sought-after speaker and author on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education, and apologetics.

John is the daily voice of Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He has co-authored five books including, A Practical Guide to Culture and Restoring All Things.

Before joining the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College in Tennessee.

John is an ordained deacon in the Anglican Diocese of All Nations (Anglican Church of North America). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.

The future of the family depends on fathers who lead with conviction and faith. 

Kent Evans joins CCV Policy Director David Mahan and Communications Director Mike Andrews on this week's episode of The Narrative to talk about the joys and challenges of fatherhood—and how men can lead their homes with purpose, faith, and strength. 

Before they sit down with Kent, David and Mike touch on some news of the week, sharing about the surprising pro-life themes in Marvel's new Fantastic Four movie, and how a recent Cleveland Guardians sports betting incident poses the question: is betting more important than the game itself?

Whether you're a dad, mentor, pastor, or just care about the next generation, you won’t want to miss this episode!

MORE ABOUT KENT EVANS

Kent Evans is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Manhood Journey. He helps dads become disciple-makers by equipping them with biblical tools, practical wisdom, and a clear mission for leading their families with purpose. 

Kent is the author of several impactful books, including Don’t Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit; Wise Guys: Unlocking Hidden Wisdom from the Men Around You; Bring Your Hammer: 28 Tools Dads Can Grab From the Book of Nehemiah; and The Manhood Journey: Setting a Course for Godly Fatherhood.

Kent and his wife, April, have five sons and live in Louisville, Kentucky—where family and faith are at the center of it all.

What happens when one person refuses to stay silent in a culture obsessed with canceling the truth?

Ryan Bomberger joins CCV Policy Director David Mahan and Communications Director Mike Andrews on this week's episode of The Narrative for a powerful conversation on race, abortion, adoption, and identity in today’s upside-down world.

His personal story is nothing short of miraculous. Conceived in rape and adopted into a multi-racial family of 15, he’s become one of the most compelling pro-life voices in America.

Before the guys sit down with Ryan, CCV President Aaron Baer joins David and Mike to run through this week's news, including:

⚖️ Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost appeals the Franklin County EdChoice ruling.

 📺 Stephen Colbert's talk show is canceled, setting the tone for a cultural "vibe shift."

⛳ Golf professional Scottie Scheffler is highlighted in a new pro-fatherhood Nike ad.

✨ CCV's upcoming fall Gala in Cleveland, featuring Charlie Kirk

🔥 The Essential Summit is back, followed by the annual March for Life rally.

MORE ABOUT RYAN BOMBERGER

Ryan Bomberger is an Emmy® Award-winning creative professional, international public speaker, and columnist. He is the author of the powerful books, Not Equal: Civil Rights Gone Wrong, and ground-breaking illustrated children’s books, She Is She and He is He. Ryan is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of RadianceFoundation.org, a life-affirming organization that illuminates that every human life has purpose. 

As an adoptive father, Ryan has a rather unique perspective of the innate nature of purpose. He is one of ten children who were adopted in a diverse family of fifteen.

Ryan loves creating content that is fearless, factual and freeing. His work addresses abortion, adoption, fatherlessness, racism, sexuality, free speech, religious liberty and the war on common sense. His work has been extensively featured in the The New York Times, Fox News, MSNBC, The Washington Times, and many more news outlets. From keynotes at renown locations like Harvard, Princeton, Columbia Law School, Ireland’s Trinity College, March for Life DC, March for Life UK, Capitol Hill briefings, and hundreds more events local and abroad.

Ryan is dedicated, along with his amazing wife and four children, to building a culture that values Life in all of its stages.

With conviction rooted in faith and common sense, Senator Bernie Moreno joins The Narrative for a conversation on protecting life, strengthening families, and stewarding taxpayer dollars wisely.

On this week's episode, Senator Moreno sits down with CCV President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, and Communications Director Mike Andrews for a bold conversation that cuts through the noise and gets specific about the issues that matter most.

From fighting for life to fixing broken systems, Senator Moreno outlines a clear vision for American renewal:

✅ Plans to defund Planned Parenthood—once and for all.
✅ A smarter approach to the Child Tax Credit.
✅ Medicaid reform that actually serves families, not bureaucracy.

More About Senator Bernie Moreno

Bernie Moreno is the senior United States Senator of Ohio. He was born in Bogota, Colombia, and moved to the US with his family at age five and became an American citizen at age 18.

Senator Moreno purchased his first car dealership in 2005 and grew that one dealership into one of the largest dealership groups in America, eventually employing over 1,000 Ohioans.

More recently, in 2016, Bernie recognized the value and transformational potential of blockchain technology, before it received mainstream attention, and moved much of his volunteer time and investment dollars into the space.

Senator Moreno and his wife, Bridget, are parents to four children and reside in Westlake, Ohio.