Best About Schoolchoice Podcasts (2025)

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Okay, But Why Are People Drawn To Conspiracy Theories? 12:07

Play Pause

10h ago12:07

12:07

Conspiracy theories might be having a moment, but they’re as old as civilization itself. In 64 AD, for example, the Great Fire of Rome sparked competing theories over who started the fire and why. And just like many of today’s conspiracy theories, it resulted in suffering and innocent deaths — Emperor Nero accused Christians of lighting the fire, w…

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How Public Schools Took On The Statehouse 42:01

1d ago42:01

42:01

Public education supporters across the nation have watched one community’s battle against unfair state legislation, a battle led by Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson. In this episode, featuring guest host Paige Walkup, Dr. Johnson shares how she fought a bill that aimed to dismantle the state’s public school districts. …

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Stockholm Syndrome in the Church (with Dr. John West) 15:01

2d ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Dr. John West, Vice President of the Discovery Institute, to discuss his new book Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and how the Church is being held captive by secular culture.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Dr. John West

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Combating Sexual Exploitation with Dr. Marcel van der Watt 42:12

6d ago42:12

42:12

Join Peter Gentala, President of the Center for Arizona Policy, as he engages in a powerful conversation with Dr. Marcel van der Watt, President of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. With over 20 years of experience in fighting against sexual exploitation, Dr. van der Watt shares his unique journey from police investigator to academic lead…

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Fighting Woke Indoctrination in Schools with Christie Slape 45:56

7d ago45:56

45:56

Join Mandy Drogin on Parent Empowerment as she sits down with Christie Slape, Texas Ambassador for Moms for Liberty, to discuss the battle for parental rights and quality education in Texas public schools. From exposing inappropriate library books and advocating for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to challenging woke indoctrination and fighting a…

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Why Public School Districts Are Suing Social Media Companies 28:08

8d ago28:08

28:08

Across the country, public school districts are taking tech giants like Meta and TikTok to court, blaming them for a mental health crisis unfolding in America's classrooms. This episode dives into the details behind local school district’s lawsuits against today’s largest social media platforms, citing their addictive properties as the cause of dec…

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Okay, But Why Do Billionaires Have Our Data? 10:30

7d ago10:30

10:30

Since January, Americans have had serious concerns about Elon Musk’s DOGE (the “Department of Government Efficiency”) and the privacy of our personal data. The government used to have careful guardrails in place to protect our information. Only certain people, after careful background checks, were given access. But DOGE was given unprecedented acce…

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A Smart Approach to Drug Policy (with Dr. Kevin Sabet) 15:01

10d ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Dr. Kevin Sabet, President and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, to discuss the importance of effective drug policies.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Dr. Kevin Sabet

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Should Public School Districts Outsource? 25:43

13d ago25:43

25:43

As more public schools face budget shortfalls, many districts are considering outsourcing school services to cut costs, but is it the right move? This episode clarifies the conversation around outsourcing in public school districts, covering common reasons for outsourcing, when it can be effective, and when it may be risky. Through real-world examp…

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Okay, But Why Does Your Garden Matter? 10:40

15d ago10:40

10:40

Climate change is a lot of things: big, scary, scientifically-accurate. And as we just saw in Texas, it’s not just a matter of principles or talking points. It’s causing tragedies in our own country and around the globe. In the face of such an overwhelming issue, it can be hard to know what we as individuals can do. Of course we can donate to envir…

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What Every Public School Leader Needs to Know About DEI 24:13

16d ago24:13

24:13

The Department of Education's decision to eliminate DEI initiatives will have lasting effects on public school districts. This episode dives into the legal landscape surrounding public education and DEI by breaking down what is currently permitted, which practices face increasing restrictions, and the potential consequences for districts that do no…

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A Christian Approach to Transgenderism (with Walt Heyer and Dr. Jennifer Bauwens) 15:01

17d ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, NC Family President welcomes Walt Heyer and Dr. Jennifer Bauwens to discuss their new book Embracing God's Design: Addressing the Spiritual and Psychological Crisis Behind Transgender Identity and how Christians can approach transgenderism.By John Rustin, Walt Heyer, and Dr. Jennifer Bauwens

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The Impact of Immigration Policies on Student Attendance 23:51

22d ago23:51

23:51

This episode examines how immigration enforcement and recent ICE raids are impacting public school attendance and dismantling safe spaces for students. It explores the decline in attendance among undocumented students, widespread walkouts, and the real-world consequences of these policy changes. Listen to learn what some schools are doing to protec…

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Okay, But Why Do We Celebrate the 4th of July? 9:29

22d ago9:29

9:29

This week is the 4th of July, which means we’re celebrating American independence. But what exactly is it that we’re celebrating? What’s so special about American democracy, and how does it work? And with everything going on in politics, should we be celebrating at all? In a word: yes. America was founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and …

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How Should Christians Think About Embryo Adoption? (with Dr. Kent Lasnoski) 15:00

24d ago15:00

15:00

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Dr. Kent Lasnoski, author of the book Human Embryo Adoption, vol. 2, Catholic Arguments For and Against, to discuss the theological implications involved in embryo adoption.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Dr. Kent Lasnoski

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MSCS Board Member Tamarques Porter on District Success 43:47

27d ago43:47

43:47

This episode features a candid conversation with Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Tamarques Porter, who shares his perspective on the district’s success and potential challenges. The discussion covers the heated debate around school closures and building innovation, the dismissal of the former superintendent, and the potential for a state…

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Okay, But Why Are So Many People Talking About Trans Kids? 9:49

29d ago9:49

9:49

There’s a lot to be stressed about right now. We’re seeing the dissolution of our democratic norms and ideals before our very eyes. But extremists don’t want us thinking about democracy. They want us thinking about the 5 trans kids who wanted to play soccer this year. Just so far this year, over 900 anti-trans bills are under consideration across t…

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Can Public Schools Display The Ten Commandments? 7:49

30d ago7:49

7:49

This episode dives into the legal and legislative battle over religious displays in U.S. public school classrooms. We unpack why the Ten Commandments were originally banned, explore the efforts to reverse that decision in prominent Supreme Court cases like Stone v. Graham, and examine what’s at stake for public school districts nationwide. You’ll a…

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Freeing Our School Boards from Woke Influences 1:12:18

1M ago1:12:18

1:12:18

The Left has been waging a decades-long war to take over our school boards and grant their authority to unelected administrators. Luckily, courageous school board members like our guest, Brandon Hodges from Midland ISD, are looking for alternatives to the associations that are robbing school boards of their power - and they're finding them in organ…

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Rediscovering America Through the Words of Its Leaders (with Allison Ellis) 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Allison Ellis to discuss her new book, Finding Our Words: Words That Made America, and the importance of studying the words and documents that were foundational in the creation of America.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Allison Ellis

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Is Texas Trying To Destroy Public Schools? 19:24

1M ago19:24

19:24

Learn who benefits and who gets left behind in the education budget recently passed by the Texas Legislature. From promised teacher raises for only 50% of staff to missed opportunities for traditional public schools, the universal voucher program in Texas raises questions about its impact and the future. With an increasing number of traditional pub…

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Are Vouchers Designed To Destroy Public Schools? 17:47

1M ago17:47

17:47

School choice is gaining momentum across the country, with initiatives like vouchers, education savings accounts, and charter school expansions moving quickly through state and federal legislatures. Supporters say these programs empower parents and promote healthy competition, but the real impact on public schools is more complicated. In this episo…

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Protecting Parents' Medical Rights in North Carolina (with Rep. Jennifer Balkcom) 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Representative Jennifer Balkcom to discuss HB 519—Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights, a bill she sponsored that would affirm the rights of North Carolina parents to oversee the medical care of their children.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Rep Jennifer Balkcom

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Classical Education, Reading Lists, and Learning to Read 59:33

1M ago59:33

59:33

Mandy sits down with Erin Fonner, a mother of three and Development Director at Valor Education, to chat about Valor’s classical curriculum. Erin shares insights on the school’s rigorous approach to education and its commitment to parent partnership.By Texas Public Policy Foundation

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Supreme Court Ruling On The ADA & The Impact On Public Schools 11:01

1M ago11:01

11:01

A recent Supreme Court decision has reshaped how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is applied— and public school districts across the country will feel the impact. In this episode, we break down what the ruling means, why it matters, and how it raises the legal standards schools must meet in serving students with disabilities. Throu…

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Okay, But Why Is Minimum Wage So Low? 10:23

1M ago10:23

10:23

The federal minimum wage right now is $7.25. For someone working full-time, that translates to $15,060 per year, just $20 over the national poverty line. The US minimum wage has been hotly debated since its beginning, so this week, we’re taking a closer look at its history, exactly who is making it, and dispelling some misinformation. In 2023, almo…

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Dad Academy: Helping Men Become Great Dads (with Jeff Hamilton) 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Jeff Hamilton, Founder of Dad Academy, to discuss the importance of intentional fathers and how men can become great dads.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Jeff Hamilton

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Grade Inflation & Texas Public School Accountability 36:11

2M ago36:11

36:11

Join Mandy Drogin on Parent Empowerment as she sits down with Mary Lynn Pruneda, Senior Policy Advisor at Texas 2036 and mother of three, to dive into the truth about grade inflation, the importance of the STAAR exam, and the A-F accountability system.By Texas Public Policy Foundation

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Okay, But Why Are Kids Struggling With Their Mental Health? 9:42

2M ago9:42

9:42

Kids today have a lot to worry about. Getting through adolescence was hard enough in generations past, but these days, kids have more anxieties than ever. And who can blame them? There were 83 school shootings in 2024 and gun violence is now the number one cause of death for kids. In 2023, 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of…

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How to Raise Your Kids "Different" (with Dr. John Cuddeback) 15:01

2M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Dr. John Cuddeback, Professor of Philosophy at Christendom College, to discuss the benefits and challenges of raising children "different."By Traci DeVette Griggs and Dr. John Cuddeback

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Okay, But Why Don't Abortion Law "Exceptions" Work? 10:46

2M ago10:46

10:46

Few issues polarize this country like abortion. Most Americans believe these intensely personal decisions should be made by families and doctors, not politicians. But even those who call themselves “pro-life” usually believe some exceptions should be made — in the case of rape, when it’s a matter of saving the mother’s life, or when doctors determi…

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Don't Put Your Hope in Politics (with Nathanael Blake) 15:01

2M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Nathanael Blake, a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to discuss why Christians should put their hopes in something greater than politics.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Nathanael Blake

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Teachers' Bill of Rights 27:13

2M ago27:13

27:13

Mandy brings on TPPF's K-12 Education Policy Director, Jorge Borrego, to chat about the Teachers' Bill of Rights in House Bill 2.By Texas Public Policy Foundation

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Okay, But Why Is No-Fault Divorce At Risk? 10:19

2M ago10:19

10:19

You may have seen headlines recently about extremists going after no-fault divorce. “Yeah, okay, I’ve seen those stories,” your friends might say, “but… why would they do that?” The answer, of course, is simple: it’s about controlling women. Critics of no-fault divorce, like JD Vance, claim that it’s bad for couples and especially bad for kids. But…

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How Gambling Hurts Your Family (with Autumn Leva) 15:01

2M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Autumn Leva, Director of Strategy & Campaigns for Stop Predatory Gambling, to discuss the damage that gambling does to families.By Traci DeVette Griggs and Autumn Leva

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How the Progressive Agenda Gets into Our Schools 41:07

2M ago41:07

41:07

Our teachers are being bombarded by the leftist agendas long before they enter the classroom. TPPF's Kate Bierly breaks down how her professors and courses pushed DEI, Social Emotional Learning, and other progressive agendas.By Texas Public Policy Foundation

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Okay, But Why is ICE Detaining Children? 11:53

2M ago11:53

11:53

Donald Trump promised to be “tough” on immigration on the campaign trail, vowing to “launch the largest deportation program of criminals in American history.” “Criminals,” he said. So why is ICE detaining children? And why do half of the adults held in ICE detention facilities have no criminal record? In New York, a mom and her three kids—including…

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1916 and the Rise of the Sexual Revolution, Abortion, and Eugenics in America (with Seth Gruber) (Re-Air) 15:01

2M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, we are re-airing a show from November, 2024 where host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomed Seth Gruber to discuss his new documentary entitled The 1916 Project and how Margaret Sanger’s work is still causing damage and destruction in people’s lives today. Seth Gruber is the founder of The White Rose Resistance.…

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Okay, But Why Are We Still Talking About Racism? 11:46

3M ago11:46

11:46

When James Baldwin went on the Dick Cavett Show in 1969, he was asked a very loaded question: why aren’t Black people more optimistic? Jim Crow laws had been outlawed, Black people were becoming mayors and successful businesspeople… so why was he still talking about race? Obviously racism didn’t “end” with the Civil War, or the Civil Rights Act, or…

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PART 2: Impact of the Department of Education on Public Schools 28:41

3M ago28:41

28:41

We are continuing the conversation about the impact and future of the Department of Education. This is the second part to Public Education Unfiltered’s episode on the potential ED shutdown. Discover the misplaced blame that often gets cast on the wrong groups and how critics are focusing on the wrong issues. Hear why we need to be rewarding results…

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How To Combat A Family-Unfriendly Culture (With Timothy Carney) (Re-Air) 15:00

3M ago15:00

15:00

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Timothy Carney, author of Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be, to discuss how America has created an increasingly family-unfriendly culture and what parents can do to combat it. This episode originally aired in March of 2024.…

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Ari Weisenfeld & Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield 46:16

3M ago46:16

46:16

Mandy chats with Ari Weisenfeld from Agudath Israel of America and Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield of the Yeshiva Torat Emet Jewish Day School to discuss the support in the Jewish community of Texas for school choice.By Texas Public Policy Foundation

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Okay, But Why are they Defunding the Weather Service? 9:00

3M ago9:00

9:00

Last year, extreme weather cost us hundreds of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. So… why is the Trump Administration defunding the Weather Service? The Weather Service is part of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We need NOAA to help us predict storms and warn people when they need to evacuate. The data is…

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Cassandra Posey, Homeschool Mom & Former Teacher 47:43

3M ago47:43

47:43

Mandy chats with Cassandra Posey, homeschool mom and former public school teacher, about her experiences in the classroom and what parent empowerment means for all Texans.By Texas Public Policy Foundation

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PART 1: Impact of the Department of Education on Public Schools 33:51

3M ago33:51

33:51

What actually is the department of education? A question many are asking recently, so learn what the department of education does and does not do, along with what the impacts of its “shutdown” will be. In the face of speculation and fear, find out what all of this means for public school districts across the country and what the future may look lik…

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An OB/GYN Corrects Abortion Myths (with Dr. Susan Bane) (Re-Air) 15:01

3M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, we are re-airing a show from October 2022, where host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Dr. Susan Bane to discuss (and correct) some of the myths surrounding abortion. Dr. Bane is an OB/GYN, and is currently the Medical Director at Choices Women’s Center in Wilson, North Carolina.…

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Episode 66: Raising Kids With Purpose. A Conversation with Adriane Thompson. 1:02:22

3M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Adriane Thompson, founder of Raising Kids With Purpose, shares her transformative journey from controlling parenting to creating an environment that meets children's developmental needs through intentional family culture. • Shifting from viewing parenting as controlling children to understanding and meeting their developmental needs • Creating stro…

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Okay, But Why Do We Need Community More Than Ever? 7:58

3M ago7:58

7:58

Right now, most of us are feeling stress and anxiety. On top of everything else in our lives, the political chaos seems too much to bear. A 2024 survey from the American Psychological Association found that over 70% of adults consider the country’s future a significant source of stress — and even though we’re only four months into 2025, if our grou…

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Why We Need Phone-Free Schools (with Clare Morell) (Re-Air) 15:01

3M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Clare Morell, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and director of their Technology and Human Flourishing Project, to discuss how phone-free schools work and their potential to improve the health and education of students. This episode originally aired in September of…

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In God’s Image: Science, Morality, and the IVF Question (with Dr. Stacy Trasancos) 15:01

3M ago15:01

15:01

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Adamo Manfra welcomes Dr. Stacy Trasancos, a professor and author of the book IVF is Not the Way: The False Promises of Artificial Procreation, to discuss the ethical considerations involved in in vitro fertilization (IVF).By Adamo Manfra and Dr. Stacy Trasancos