American Thought Leaders - podcast cover

American Thought Leaders

The Epoch Timeswww.theepochtimes.com
At a time when our nation is portrayed as increasingly polarized, media often ignore viewpoints and stories that are worthy of attention. American Thought Leaders, hosted by The Epoch Times Senior Editor Jan Jekielek, features in-depth discussions with some of America’s most influential thought leaders on pertinent issues facing our nation today.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Secretary Doug Burgum: Inside Our Strategy to End China’s Stranglehold on Critical Minerals

“President Trump talks about ‘drill, baby, drill.’ We’ve also got to mine, baby, mine. We’ve got to get back into this business,” says U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. China has a stranglehold on rare earths and critical minerals, controlling at least 85 percent of the refining of the 20 most important rare earth minerals, Burgum says. As secretary of the interior, Burgum oversees nearly half a billion acres of federal land and plays a key role in the Trump administration’s energy dom...

Oct 08, 202526 min

Dr. Joseph Ladapo Breaks Down Decision to Remove All Vaccines Mandates in Florida

In early September, during a joint press conference with Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo publicly announced the decision to eliminate all state vaccine mandates—including those required for schools. In this episode, Dr. Ladapo explains the decision, how it will take shape, and his response to critics of the announcement who say there will be increased outbreaks of infectious disease. “It’s just not appropriate for someone else to be able to dictate or force you...

Oct 04, 202540 min

How the CCP Monetizes the Bodies of Its Prisoners | Matthew Robertson

The Chinese communist regime has “created a market in the organs of their political enemies,” says Matthew Robertson, a researcher who has been investigating China’s organ transplant system for more than a decade. Fluent in Mandarin, Robertson is a China studies research fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and co-author of a number of research papers on China’s organ transplant system including, “Execution by organ procurement: Breaching the dead donor rule in China.” After co...

Oct 03, 20251 hr 5 min

Why Small Farmers Are Disappearing | Joel Salatin

Family farms in America are slowly disappearing, with a 2022 USDA census reporting that America lost 142,000 farms over just five years. The average farmer in America is now nearly 60 years old. But it’s not government subsidies that farmers need to stay afloat, says Joel Salatin. What small farmers really need is the freedom to innovate and sell directly to local consumers—without facing a morass of red tape, regulations, and mandates. Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms in Virginia, is widely ...

Oct 02, 20251 hr 18 min

From Cultural Revolution to Cultural Revival: Spencer Klavan on ‘How to Save the West’

For decades, there has been an assault on the Western classical tradition and the core values, arts, and philosophy at the bedrock of Western civilization, says classicist Spencer Klavan. Are we now witnessing a shift in this tide? Klavan is the author of multiple books, including “How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for Five Modern Crises.” He is also an associate editor at The Claremont Review of Books and host of the “Young Heretics” podcast. “People are starting to realize that you can only...

Oct 01, 20251 hr 3 min

Eric Trump Opens Up About How Relentless Attacks Impacted Him and His Family

How did the last nine years change Eric Trump? How did the second son of President Donald Trump react to the assassination attempt on his father’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania? And does he plan to run for political office in the future? His new memoir is titled “Under Siege: My Family’s Fight to Save Our Nation.” “It’s the thousands of stories behind the scenes of how they try to dismantle our family and the greatest political movement in American history,” Trump says. Views expressed in this vi...

Sep 27, 202519 min

Dr. Ryan Cole: NIH Should Fund Research into Rise in Cancer

Since mRNA technology was deployed widely in the COVID-19 vaccines, developers have rapidly accelerated research into more mRNA products. Moderna alone has more than two dozen mRNA products in development. But is the mRNA platform really the revolutionary breakthrough that its champions claim? Since early 2021, Cole has been at the forefront of alerting the public to an unusual spike in cancer diagnoses following the widespread adoption of the COVID-19 genetic vaccines. In this episode, Cole exp...

Sep 26, 202540 min

How Race-Based Policies Are Harming South Africa: Ernst Roets

“South Africa moved from one race-based system to another race-based system. ... We need to move away from race-based systems,” argues Ernst Roets. He’s the Founder and Executive Director of Lex Libertas, an organization that advocates for constitutional reform and more decentralized governance in South Africa. While many have highlighted the killings of farmers in recent years, this violence is emblematic of broader problems in South Africa, he says. South Africa’s murder rate is among the high...

Sep 24, 202558 min

Why Charlie Kirk’s Approach Matters Now More Than Ever | Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer

What happens when a nation loses one of its most influential voices—and what can we learn from the legacy he leaves behind? What is the role of faith in shaping America’s future, and how should we move forward? In this episode, I sit down with pastor Jackson Lahmeyer to reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the work of the Trump administration to strengthen religious liberty in America. “We have a lot to learn from Charlie’s methodology,” Lahmeyer said. “Charlie would reach you in you...

Sep 20, 202543 min

The Battle Over Alligator Alcatraz, the US Census, and CCP Surveillance | Florida AG James Uthmeier

Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility in the Everglades has generated considerable buzz and controversy since it was first proposed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. In this episode, we sat down with Uthmeier to discuss Florida’s aggressive efforts to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, what he sees as the politicization of the U.S. census, and his investigations into surveillance technology. “In Florida, the most recent investigation we launched ...

Sep 19, 202534 min

Xi and Putin’s Hot Mic Moment on Immortality and Why It Matters | Joshua Philipp

In a moment that stunned the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping were recently caught on a hot mic talking about increasing longevity and even achieving immortality through repeated organ transplants. For the last two decades, we’ve been reporting how the CCP kills prisoners of conscience, the main body of them being Falun Gong practitioners, for their organs. Joining me today to unpack the significance of this moment and what it teaches us...

Sep 17, 202551 min

‘We’re at an Inflection Point’: What’s Next for America? | Robert George

As America has reeled from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, many have wondered what the future holds. How will this tragedy transform America? Will political violence continue to escalate? What is the path forward? To understand our current political and cultural moment, I sat down with legal scholar and political philosopher Robert George. He’s a professor and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. “We’re at an inflection point, and ...

Sep 13, 202557 min

Smartphones Are Rewiring Our Brains—Here’s How Parents Can Say No | Clare Morell

How have screens and social media altered the brains of children? What is the long-term impact on their happiness and ability to be prosperous, fulfilled adults later on? “Looking at the brain science, we really have to treat screens more in the category of a highly addictive drug like digital fentanyl than sugar,” argues Clare Morell, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of “The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones.” “These companies are ...

Sep 12, 202553 min

How Gut Bacteria Shape Your Brain, Immunity, and Mental Wellness | Dr. Sabine Hazan

Is it possible that autism, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder, and other major health challenges might all be related to the gut? That’s the question Dr. Sabine Hazan, a gastroenterologist and CEO of Progenabiome, has been probing for years. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of fecal transplants for research into the treatment of autism, and Dr. Hazan says this may open the door to real breakthroughs. She hopes to compare the microbiomes of autistic children with their neuro...

Sep 10, 20251 hr 18 min

Jeffrey Tucker: Everything You Need to Know About the Fed

In this episode, Jeffrey Tucker unpacks President Donald Trump’s growing dispute with the Federal Reserve and his efforts to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook for alleged mortgage fraud. “There’s a lot more at stake than just this one regulation about residences and mortgages. It has to do with whether and to what extent the Fed is actually accountable to the President of the United States,” says Tucker. He’s the founder and president of the Brownstone Institute and senior economics colu...

Sep 06, 202557 min

What’s Really Happening at the CDC? | Dr. Robert Malone

With President Donald Trump recently challenging pharmaceutical companies to “justify success” of their COVID-19 products, I’m sitting down with scientist, physician, and author Dr. Robert Malone to get his insights into what’s going on behind the scenes. Dr. Malone is currently serving as a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and also as a medical advisor for MAHA Action. The recent firing of CDC director Susan Monarez w...

Sep 04, 20251 hr 5 min

How Euthanasia Became an Epidemic in Canada | Amanda Achtman

In less than a decade, euthanasia has become tied for the fifth leading cause of death in Canada, accounting for one in every 20 deaths since it was first legalized in 2016. Over 60,000 Canadians have died via euthanasia. “This marks a massive cultural shift in how we live and die in Canada,” says Amanda Achtman, a leading critic of the practice and the founder of the Dying to Meet You Project. Patients no longer need to be terminally ill to request euthanasia, and there are ongoing debates abou...

Sep 03, 20251 hr 3 min

John Rich Explains Story Behind ‘The Devil and the TVA’

When an 88‑year‑old Tennessee woman confronted representatives of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) when they came to survey her land for a methane gas plant project, her words—“you think you own something, you don’t own nothing”—left a lasting impression on country artist John Rich. That moment became the spark for his new song “The Devil and the TVA” and the starting point for this conversation on “American Thought Leaders.” In this episode, Rich reflects on his journey from Texas family si...

Aug 30, 20251 hr 8 min

Why Isolationists and Interventionists Are Both Wrong | Yoram Hazony

For years, U.S. strategic missteps have empowered Tehran and Beijing, according to political theorist Yoram Hazony. Now, as a new strain of isolationism grows in America, Hazony says, both isolationism and hyper-interventionism have key flaws. In this episode, we dive into President Donald Trump’s distinct foreign policy approach as well as what Hazony sees as an assault on nation-states and their right to independent decision-making. Nationalism has been falsely vilified, and global governance ...

Aug 29, 20251 hr 6 min

How the CCP Dupes the West—and We Keep Falling for It | Chenggang Xu

Political economist Chenggang Xu grew up amid the upheaval of China’s Cultural Revolution and in the 1970s was beaten, imprisoned, and subjected to years of forced labor by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Today, he is a senior research scholar at the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions, a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and author of the new book, “Institutional Genes: Origins of China’s Institutions and Totalitarianism.” For decades, Beijing ...

Aug 27, 20251 hr 21 min

9 Years Later, Here’s What We Know About the Origins of the Russia Probe | John Solomon

In this episode, I’m sitting down with award-winning investigative journalist John Solomon, founder and editor-in-chief of Just the News, for a deep dive into what we now know—nine years later—about the origins of the Russia collusion probe. How did these events change America? “We'll never know what history was stolen from us, what opportunities diplomatically were stolen from us, what security opportunities were thwarted because this dirty trick was allowed to extend so far,” Solomon says. Vie...

Aug 23, 202543 min

How Hollywood Alienated Middle America—And What’s Next | Nick Searcy

How has Hollywood changed in the last several decades, and why are film productions leaving Los Angeles and increasingly going abroad? Where is the industry headed, and what role should Trump’s “special ambassadors” to Hollywood play? “Hollywood spent probably the last 15 or 20 years basically telling half of its audience that they don’t want them to watch, that they hate them, that they’re deplorables,” says actor and filmmaker Nick Searcy. “They’ve driven half the audience away.” Searcy played...

Aug 22, 202559 min

I Met the Syrian President, and Here’s What I Learned | Rabbi Abraham Cooper

A few weeks ago, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, a prominent advocate for religious freedom and human rights, was invited to the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, alongside fellow religious freedom advocate Johnnie Moore. They had an intimate meeting with the new president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa. In this episode, the rabbi shares what he learned about al-Sharaa and whether he believes a peace between Syria and Israel is possible in the near future. “There’s a term in Hebrew: It’s called Kabdehu v...

Aug 20, 202543 min

These Are the Signs Xi Is Losing Power in China | Gordon Chang

As the Trump administration gives China another 90-day extension on elevated tariffs, I’m sitting down with China analyst Gordon Chang to get his read on U.S.–China trade talks, signs of infighting in Beijing and trouble for Xi Jinping, and the recent destruction of a Chinese coast guard vessel by a Chinese navy warship. Chang is the author of “Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America.” Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the v...

Aug 16, 202547 min

The Movie Beijing Doesn’t Want You to See | Yan Ma

Canadian-Chinese filmmaker Yan Ma knew from the outset that he was putting himself at risk for making a political thriller about a lab leak in China. “The Unrestricted War” is a movie that was inspired by the cover-up and outbreak of COVID-19 and spotlights how the Chinese Communist Party coerces its citizens, and even foreigners living within China, to achieve its ends. Officials pressured Ma’s family members back in China in attempts to coerce him to stop the project. His Chinese team members ...

Aug 15, 202540 min

Impact of Trump’s Trade, Tax, Energy Policies | Mark Skousen

“As an economist, it’s extremely important to look at the data, rather than just on a theoretical basis,” says Mark Skousen. “We should be in a recession. Well, we’re not in a recession; looks like we’re coming out of slow growth, which is really important.” In this episode, I sit down with economist Mark Skousen to discuss taxes, tariffs, trade, and energy. “I think somewhere in between what the Fed wants and what Trump wants is a more reasonable approach to keep this economy on an even keel,” ...

Aug 13, 202533 min

The Silent War of Cyber, Resources, and Opinion | Gen. Robert Spalding

How does the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) cognitive warfare manifest in the West? How prevalent is it? And how can Americans recognize it? Few understand this elusive subject better than Robert Spalding. The CEO of Sempre, Spalding is a retired Air Force brigadier general and B-2 stealth bomber pilot, former senior director of strategy at the National Security Council, and author of “War Without Rules: China’s Playbook for Global Domination.” “We have these enormous political warfare and psyc...

Aug 09, 20251 hr 28 min

Is Overprescription Fueling Veteran Suicides? | Derek Blumke

“Veterans are not being told the risk of their medications,“ says Derek Blumke. “Doctors themselves are not aware of the risks of those medications.” Derek Blumke served 12 years in the US Air Force and Michigan Air National Guard and is a longtime advocate for veterans. A bad experience with psychiatric drugs changed his life trajectory. He has been sounding the alarm about suicide and the overprescription of psychiatric drugs among veterans. “If we’re going to treat a firearm with respect that...

Aug 08, 202545 min

How Clay Clark Helped Small Businesses Survive—and Thrive—During the Pandemic and Beyond

Bob Healey was in his 60s battling terminal cancer with only a product prototype when he sought advice from business coach Clay Clark. Now, his company is booming. It’s never too late to succeed, Clark says. After building several multi-million dollar businesses, Clark developed a 14-step system to help budding entrepreneurs turbocharge their ideas. During the pandemic, he helped his clients not just stay afloat but even thrive. In this episode, we dive into how to grow a small business, what bu...

Aug 06, 202546 min

How Money Interests Influence the Newsroom: Sharyl Attkisson

For years, award-winning investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson has been tracking the rise of censorship, biased “fact-checkers,” and what she describes as narrative-enforcing journalism. How has today’s information landscape transformed? What does she make of the recent releases of new documents surrounding the Russia investigation? And will Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration be able to fulfill their campaign promises to reform the various health-related agencies? Attkisson i...

Aug 03, 202555 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android