This week I have a very special and accomplished guest, Randall Susan Mandracchia, the family dog, who has important lessons about what it means to be human in a highly divided political landscape. Stress is killing us. Take 15min to laugh. You'll feel better. In case it isn't clear, this interview is satire. But the stats on political stress and the negative health impacts are very real. It's time to take our "political health" very seriously in this country.

In this episode the fabulous Dr. Gerdsen offers us a workable framework for a new kind of populist politics - one that's centered on finding common ground and working towards productive goals, to replace current versions rooted in anger, division, and violence. The first party to unlock "Costco Politics" will have an electoral monopoly for the next generation.

With the federal government under the Trump administration revising or deleting over 8000 government webpages and over 3000 data sets from the internet, not only do we have to do a lot of extra work to fill those information gaps and perspective gaps: we need to become keepers of national memory. In this episode I'm joined by fellow "keeper of memory" Kevin Durkin. Join us as we talk about and remember the things the government wants us to forget.

In this bonus episode with Rev. Becca we discuss reasons why church attendance has been slipping in recent decades, Mr. Rogers, and Christen discusses her recent attempt to listen to the entire Bible on Audiobook and what she is learning and healing in the process.

In this episode I'm joined by immigration advocate Reverend Becca Putman to discuss how immigration policy in the US has changed since Jan 20, 2025. We discuss how ordinary people can speak up and change how this moment plays out.

In this episode, Christen breaks down the recent chaotic news cycle with Jojo Siwa and how its become a contentious political and culture war battlefield. Christen offers a useful method for cutting through the noise. Researched by Christen Mandracchia and Stevie Reynolds Delivered by Christen MandracchiaVideo Editing by Stevie Reynolds

In this episode I am joined by entrepreneur, combat veteran, innovator and fellow UMD alum Bill Kassay. Bill shares his story of his three times in Iraq in 2004, 2007, and 2010. We talk about current events with Iran, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe through the lens of lessons the past, and Bill discusses how he started a puppet theatre company after he left the military. And we end by talking about the best way to support our troops in 2025, knowing what we know now.

In the wake of the National Endowment for the Arts canceling grants around the country, this emergency advance preview of the #ChristenCommentary podcast elevates the conversation around the topic of NEA arts funding and seeks to escape the usual partisan talking points on this issue. Christen makes the case that NEA funding is a matter of national interest for cultural diplomacy and soft power. She offers robust history and context on this issue and answers counter points especially those around transferring the burden to the private sector.

Welcome to the very first preview of the #ChristenCommentary podcast. Listen and hear the values that define us and our goals are. This is just the beginning.