For more than four years, one of the greatest entrepreneurs in Hong Kong’s history has been in solitary confinement on sham charges that could lead to imprisonment for life. Despite being held in a small cell, 77-year-old Jimmy Lai has become one of Beijing’s greatest threats and one of the world’s most courageous leaders in the fight for freedom.

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Mark L. Clifford, Lai’s close friend and an advocate for freedom in Hong Kong. He shares Lai’s remarkable story, from his childhood in poverty, to his rise as a successful business owner and newspaper publisher, to his stand against tyranny.

This year, The Bradley Foundation has awarded Lai with an Honorary Bradley Prize for his unwavering commitment to the ideals of freedom.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• Lai’s childhood on mainland China and why he fled to Hong Kong
• How Lai was able to quickly rise above his circumstances
• The influence of free market ideas on Lai’s career and life
• The impact of Tiananmen Square and the massacre of 1989
• Lai’s introduction to Catholicism and how religion shaped his belief system
• Lai’s decision to stay in Hong Kong and take a stand for freedom
• Lai’s state of mind after more than four years in prison
• Why the Chinese Communist Party fears Lai
• Whether there’s hope for Hong Kong’s democratic movement

About Mark L. Clifford:

Clifford is president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, the former executive director of the Asia Business Council, and a former board member at Next Digital. He is editorial chair of the Asian Review of Books and served as editor in chief of both English-language papers in Hong Kong, The Standard and the South China Morning Post.

An Interview with Christopher Rufo, Writer, Filmmaker and Commentator

For more than half a century, many of America’s most revered institutions have been infiltrated with ideas that run counter to the country’s founding principles. This ideological capture has been acute within prestigious universities, to the point where the opportunity for viewpoint diversity continues to be under severe threat. 

Yet, according to our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom, all is not lost. In fact, he believes that there has been an ideological shift not only within higher education, but in society, politics, culture and in civic institutions. And, he says, it’s only beginning.  

Christ Rufo discusses how his unique background, which is rooted in both scholarship and filmmaking, has led him to believe that it’s possible and vital to restore the principles of American exceptionalism. 

Topics Discussed on this Episode

• Why Chris went into documentary filmmaking upon graduation from Georgetown University.
• What Chris learned directing documentaries and why he focused on urban areas
• How Chris’ filmmaking experience turned him into an advocate for solutions to the problems he was seeing
• Reversing the ideological capture of higher universities and how to turn ideas rooted in scholarship into reality.
• Opportunities to change the culture in institutions that seem permanently captured, such as government, higher education, and entertainment
• Why the younger generation is gravitating towards values and ideals traditionally tied to free enterprise, liberty and free speech
• The rise of independent media and how it has contributed to the cultural shift
• What it means to receive a Bradley Prize

About Christopher Rufo  Rufo is a bestselling author, filmmaker and commentator, whose work has significantly influenced contemporary American culture and policies. He’s also a senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.

Rufo is a 2025 Bradley Prize winner.

An Interview with Barry Strauss, Esteemed Classicist, Military and Naval Historian, and Best-selling Author

Different civilizations, cultures and countries have experienced the rise of remarkable leaders. While these leaders may have ruled under vastly different circumstances, they often share similar characteristics. Many too, have made the same costly mistakes.

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Barry Strauss, a leading historian who has explored many fascinating leaders, particularly from ancient classical times. He deepens our understanding about the universal qualities of leadership and shares lessons of the ancient world that remain applicable today.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• What drew Barry to the study of the ancient world and the leaders who shaped it
• Universal qualities of a capable and effective leader
• Common mistakes that great leaders have made and what can be learned from them
• The ancient leader that fascinates Barry the most
• Barry’s experiences in promoting free speech within the academy
• Why free speech has been restricted within higher education
• What previous civilizations tell us about free speech, including who had the privilege or right to practice it
• The history of disinformation and how it was used in the ancient world
• Barry’s process of bringing ancient leaders to life through his writing
• How to get young people to engage with the classical world
• Whether the ideals of the Western tradition are at threat of being lost
• Reaction to winning a Bradley Prize

About Barry Strauss

Barry Strauss is a bestselling author, and an esteemed military and naval historian.  He is currently the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Series Editor of Princeton’s Turning Points in Ancient History. Barry is also the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he was the Chair of the Department of History as well as Professor of History and Classics.   

In addition, he is a 2025 Bradley Prize winner.

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An Interview with James Piereson, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute, and Trustee, Thomas W. Smith Foundation

The vigorous forces shaping American society, politics, and the economy today could have a transformative impact on the country’s future. Even amidst a sea of change and political realignments, our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom, says that the Constitution will be an enduring structure that continues to guide us. 

James Piereson has dedicated his career to American history, Constitutional thought, and philanthropy. He shares his thoughts on the current environment in the US, the role of ideas in politics today, the state of the Constitution, and more.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• Jim’s path to the study of American history and constitutional thought
• The current political and ideological realignment in the U.S.
• Whether the center right needs a “new fusionism”
• Areas around which conservatives can coalesce today
• The state of the Constitution
• How universities should be responding to the realities of today’s environment
• Philanthropy’s role in a polarized climate
• Ways in which philanthropy can address societal problems
• Reaction to receiving a Bradley Prize

About James Piereson:

James Piereson is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy, where he writes on philanthropy, higher education, and general political subjects.

Previously, he was president and trustee of the William E. Simon Foundation, which was a private grant-making foundation with interests in education and religion. Before that, Jim was the executive director of the John M. Olin Foundation, also a private grant-making foundation, which worked to advance conservative ideals.

He has served on the political science faculties of several prominent universities, serves on the board of many non-profit organizations, and is a distinguished published author.

He is also a 2025 Bradley Prize winner.

An Interview with Mark Klug, Chief Executive Officer, Christian Family Solutions

Public awareness about mental health has never been greater, but barriers to treatment remain.

According to our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom, integrating faith with proven therapeutic treatment can have a transformational impact on those who are dealing with anxiety, depression or who are healing from trauma.

Mark Klug, CEO of Christian Family Solutions (CFS), says that a faith-based approach to addressing mental health can build a level of hope and sense of inherent worth in every individual. He shares these insights and more.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

·         Mark’s background in the behavioral health field and what drives him to serve people

·         The impact of Christian-based counseling on those who use it

·         The underlying issues contributing to the rise in mental health issues among youth.

·         Redefinitions of mental health and how Social and Emotional Learning can undermine a child’s resilience

·         CFS’s onsite counseling services and how it works in schools

·         CFS’s new day treatment program, one of the first of its kind in the nation

·         Community Counseling Care Partnership, which works with congregations to identify and serve people in the community who are experiencing challenging personal issues

·         The key ingredients to leading a fulfilling life

About Mark Klug:

Mark Klug is the CEO of CFS, a position he’s held for ten years. Founded in 1965, CFS offers a range of counseling services from a Christian perspective to people of all ages. Specifically, CFS has developed a robust school-based counseling program to reach children who would otherwise have difficulty accessing mental health services. 

It’s a magical sight when a once lifeless plant begins to blossom because of the right conditions. According to one of our guests on this episode of Voices of Freedom, working with young people from challenging circumstances is analogous to tending a garden. When someone is struggling or hopeless, it can be hard to see the possibilities ahead for them. Yet with nurturing, understanding and patience, change can take root that allows them to bloom.

For four decades, Running Rebels has intervened in the lives of thousands of young people, helping them become thriving, engaged, contributing citizens. Victor and Dawn Barnett lead Running Rebels together. They share what youth need to thrive and why they’re optimistic about the next generation.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• What led Victor and Dawn to dedicate their lives to working with young people
• How Running Rebels filled a void in the Milwaukee area
• The challenges kids face today versus in the 1980s and 90s
• The qualities that make someone a good mentor and how to find mentors
• Organizations across the country that mentor young people
• How to connect with kids who are tough to reach and how to deal with kids who fall back into destructive behaviors
• Running Rebels’ program to help kids succeed while in college
• The biggest misconception about the kids Running Rebels helps
• What gives Dawn and Victor hope for the future

About Victor and Dawn Barnett:

At the age of 19, Victor Barnett saw many of the young people of Milwaukee being pulled into the street life of gangs, crime, and violence. He used basketball as the tool to engage, mentor, and guide youth towards an alternative path that would ensure their future success. From this vision and action, Running Rebels Community Organization was born.

Dawn Barnett’s career began over 20 years ago when she saw a boy playing with a basketball in front of her house. Impressed by his skills, she learned that he was a member of the Running Rebels basketball team. She soon met Victor and was inspired to become involved. Since that time, she has helped turn Running Rebels into an organization that now serves 2,500 youth annually in Milwaukee.

An Interview with Laura Sumner-Coon, Executive Director of Racine Literacy Council (RLC)

It might seem counterintuitive for leaders of nonprofit organizations to try to work themselves out of their jobs. Yet our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom believes that should in fact be their goal.

Laura Sumner-Coon, Executive Director of Racine Literacy Council (RLC), has spent her career starting and leading organizations that are driven to help individuals build better lives.

As she shares on this episode, non-profits should not be afraid to work themselves out of existence. It’s an approach Sumner-Coon carries with her at RLC, an organization that supports the literacy needs of residents who seek to reach their full potential and become engaged citizens.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• Laura’s experience working with non-profits and in education reform
• Why she started, and decided to shut down Racine SOAR, an organization that helped parents and schools navigate the area’s first parental choice program
• RLC’s importance to an industrial community like Racine
• The circumstances of those who use RLC’s services, how it helps them achieve their goals, and how they become more engaged citizens
• The extent of RLC’s reach beyond its brick-and-mortar building
• RLC’s 60th anniversary and its future plans

Laura Sumner-Coon started out her career as a reporter and editor for various newspapers, including the former Milwaukee Journal and the Journal Times. She then held communication and development roles with the Racine Dominican Sisters and from there, began a career in education reform, including founding and leading a grassroots effort to establish the first parental choice program in Racine, Wisconsin. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in the teacher preparation program.

An Interview with Anthony McHenry, Chief Executive Officer, Milwaukee Academy of Science

When it comes to urban education, the news is almost always negative. Poor academic performance, abysmal graduation rates and unruly classrooms have become the norm. Students have suffered because of these failures, often falling through the cracks.

Yet there are schools in Milwaukee that defy the odds, showing that success is not only possible, but should be the expectation - even for schools that cater to students facing significant obstacles outside the classroom.  One of those schools is Milwaukee Academy of Science (MAS).

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Anthony McHenry, CEO of MAS, a STEM-focused, K4-12 charter school whose mission is to graduate urban students prepared to compete at the post-secondary level. McHenry discusses what’s behind MAS’s success and how to offer more opportunities for students to get ahead.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• McHenry’s story and how it drives him to be a leader
• Why society has failed kids, and the opportunities squandered because of it
• The circumstances causing students to be in volatile situations
• How MAS addresses the challenges its students face, particularly when it comes to transportation
• How MAS encourages students to imagine the possibilities for their lives
• How to get kids excited about and engaged in science
• MAS’s efforts to keep high quality teachers and administrators
• What MAS’s new addition will allow it to do and what will it mean for the families it serves
• What needs to be done so that there are more opportunities for kids to succeed

Anthony McHenry has been CEO of MAS since 2016. Under his leadership, MAS has increased enrollment, entered into new partnerships and improved academic outcomes.  MAS has also developed one of the area’s top school athletic programs. Prior to joining MAS, McHenry served for nearly 20 years as executive director of the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center in Milwaukee’s Westlawn neighborhood.

An Interview with Paul Clement, Appellate Lawyer and Distinguished Lecturer in Law

The US Constitution has long been revered by its citizens, yet also robustly challenged. Knowing that it would be tested, the founders created the judiciary to serve as an independent bulwark that would protect Americans’ rights. 

Yet the judiciary’s independence has often been called into question lately, in part due to the country’s ideological divide. Further, until recently, some of its authority had been ceded to the executive branch, creating an explosion of government regulation and intrusion into citizens’ daily lives. 

Few understand the state of the judiciary and the US Constitution better than Paul Clement, our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom. Clement has argued more cases before the Supreme Court than anyone in recent history, giving him distinct insights into future of the Court and the most impactful rulings of our time. 

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

·         How Clement’s midwestern roots have influenced his approach with the Court

·         The significance of the rule of law in America and how it’s distinctive from other countries

·         The danger in straying from the US Constitution’s intent

·         State of the US Supreme Court

·         Court packing  - its impact on the rule of law and the Court’s make up

·         How the reversal of Chevron will impact government regulation

·         What universities should do to protect free speech and counter anti-Semitism

·         The legal profession distancing itself from controversial cases

·         How Americans can understand and uphold the rule of law

Paul Clement served as the 43rd Solicitor General of the United States between 2005 and 2008. Prior to that, he served as Acting Solicitor General and as Principal Deputy Solicitor General. He is a partner at Clement & Murphy and a Bradley Foundation director. Clement is a 2013 Bradley Prize recipient.

An Interview with Victor Davis Hanson

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation The principles enshrined in the US Constitution have historically united us as Americans. We may have different customs, backgrounds or religious beliefs from our fellow citizens, but we share the values of freedom and the rule of law that are afforded to us as citizens. 

Increasingly however, people are gravitating towards tribalism and identity politics, undermining the foundational beliefs that have traditionally brought us together. That division is sowing seeds of discord and preventing us from solving the country’s greatest challenges.

Can America course correct? Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is scholar and author Victor Davis Hanson. He addresses that question and shares his thoughts on the events that will influence the US for decades to come. 

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

·         How Victor’s experience growing up on a California fruit farm shaped his life

·         Victor’s path from farmer to academic and why he chooses to remain on the farm

·         The danger of identity politics and the move away from a multiracial single culture

·         The end game for the clash of cultures

·         How the revolutionary events of the past few years will impact the US

·         Whether American society is in the midst of decline

·         What gives Victor hope for the future of US and Western civilization 

Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is the author of several books and hundreds of articles, book reviews, and newspaper editorials about classical military history and its many lessons.

Victor was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 and a Bradley Prize in 2008.  He is also a member of the Bradley Foundation board of directors.