Crux Of The Matter with Riley Stansberry & Landen Conner

This is a short announcement from the Crux. One of our hosts is launching a new article-writing & podcast-recording project called "Cast Your Nets," which can be found at the following link:castyournets.substack.comA fuller introduction to the subject matter of this new podcast can be found here:https://castyournets.substack.com/p/coming-soon-cast-your-nets-with-bigtunaThanks for following the Crux of the Matter! New episodes are on the way, so don't worry...

Landen and Riley return after the election, switching gears to talk about the Renaissance of American Literature. This week, the boys were joined by Brian Wilson, the Founder of Montana Classical College, a new institution that is focused on promoting excellence for the human body & soul; especially by educating people on the thought & sayings of history’s greatest thinkers & writers. The three of them talk about how & why Brian started MCC, what the great thinkers can teach us about virtue and our own moral imaginations, the values expressed by the writers of the American Renaissance, the emergence of the American identity during the nineteenth century, the importance of knowing one’s own tradition, whether there are any Great Works in America’s future, and much more. Landen, Riley, and Brian draw on a huge array of talented thinkers and writers like Homer, Plato, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Russell Kirk, and CS Lewis. Tune in to catch it all! Brian’s Links: Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTClassical Substack: https://montanaclassicalcollege.substack.com Directly Referenced Works: Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick” Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” -----Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ -----For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] -----

Landen and Riley return for their first episode in 282 days, breaking the ice by discussing the stakes of the 2024 election & the importance of voting in local elections. They discuss how voting is a nonviolent contest for sovereignty, and address concerns about the security and meaningfulness of elections. They also examine how the American Founders designed the electorate, and how their views are still relevant to today's vastly changed voting landscape. Tune in for all of this and more! -----Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ -----For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] -----

The President who carried America into the 20th century has a lot to teach us about qualities particular to American leadership- and offers a blueprint for Donald Trump to follow. Riley offers a look into the biography, personal character, and policies of President William McKinley- showing us how McKinley is the leadership blueprint that Donald Trump must follow, if we are to return America to its former glory. ----- Substack Link: https://thecruxofthematter.substack.com/p/americas-forgotten-statesman ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on... https://thecruxofthematter.substack.com ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] -----

Landen and Riley return for the first full episode of the Crux of the Matter since September 10th, 2023, to ask 'what is the value of work?' They discuss recent trends around "hustle culture" & "quiet quitting," how the modern world views work, how work has evolved throughout history, and whether present attitudes surrounding work are beneficial- using wisdom from Marcus Aurelius, Abraham Kuyper, and the Biblical worldview. Tune in for all of this and more! ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] ----- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-crux-of-the-matter

Many think that they are familiar with the thought of 20th century Christian apologist and literary giant, Clive Staples Lewis. Most aren't. Riley takes the time to explain why CS Lewis is so often misread, and shows the audience the correct way to read the works of the famous author, who offers hidden messages to unlikely allies. ----- Substack Link: https://thecruxofthematter.substack.com/p/cs-lewis-modern-prophet-and-secret ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on... Substack: https://thecruxofthematter.substack.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] -----

This is a critique of The Shift — the first original film produced by Angel Studios, creators of the global sensation The Chosen.  Is THIS FILM a positive direction for Christian cinema? Is entertainment or the message the #1 priority? Landen & Riley break down each of its core components, giving you their unfiltered opinions on the acting, storyline, allegorical themes, execution, structure, realism, and humanity of the movie. ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ   ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]  ----- Riley's Twitter Handle: @TunaRJS ----- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-crux-of-the-matter

Landen and Riley return to the Crux of the Matter- this week, they are joined by Kruptos, an anonymous Twitter poster (@_kruptos) and prolific Substack writer at the Substack Seeking the Hidden Thing. The trio discuss how community works in the modern technical age, the rise of the State in opposition to both Community and Church, how the Internet became a new community, how Christians should (or shouldn't!) interact with the Internet, and Christians' right relation to politics- all while drawing on thinkers like Jacques Ellul, Carl Schmitt, Augusto del Noce, Alan Ehernhalt, Hans Georg Gadamer, Oswald Spengler, and- of course- C.S. Lewis. Join them for this and more, as they seek the Crux of Christian Community! Kruptos' Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/_kruptos?s=20 Substack: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@_kruptos?si=QSUBL1NbJh8fIGEO ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ   ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail; contact: [email protected]  ----- Riley's Twitter: https://twitter.com/TunaRJS -----

Landen and Riley return for a special in-person podcast at the Stansberry residence, discussing the state of modern education in the United States. What is the state of education today? What led to the dire conditions higher education finds itself in now? Where did the idea of the university come from in the first place? What role does education now effectively play in our society? And what are the next steps for Education writ large? Join us for these questions and more as we seek the crux of Education's matter! ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ   ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]  ----- Riley's Twitter Handle: @TunaRJS ----- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-crux-of-the-matter

Christ or Chaos: The Right & Permanent Things (Nietzsche, Power, and the Problem of the Political) is an essay focused on the line between political friend and enemy for Christians, and where Christians are on the political Right. Riley tussles with these questions and takes several paths to prove his point- relying on Romans 13, The Screwtape Letters, and GK Chesterton to help illustrate why he believes that "all political conflict is spiritual." ----- The Original Article can be found here: https://thecruxofthematter.substack.c... ----- Other links: - HRC article "Majority of American Muslims Now Support Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People" https://www.hrc.org/news/majority-of-... - Riley's Atheism Tweet: https://twitter.com/TunaRJS/status/16... ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube and follow us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts! ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley return after a month-and-a-half long break since the last episode- and they come back with a bang! In this episode, they are joined by special guest Ella Kuenzli, who is majoring in Political Science. The trio discuss what role Feminism has played in shaping modern society- what is Feminism? Why did the movement happen in waves; and what were the central tenets of each wave? How did power politics and industrialization play a role in Feminist movements? And what is the Biblical perspective on male-female relationship? Tune in for this and more, as we pursue Feminism's crux of the matter! Yale Study: https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/Stevenson_ParadoxDecliningFemaleHappiness_Dec08.pdf?trk=public_post_comment-text ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ   ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]  ----- Riley's Twitter Handle: @TunaRJS

Landen and Riley officially cross the double-digit episode barrier with a bang; and discuss questions surrounding the often used (but also often misunderstood) word, "Woke." They dive into questions like where did the word "Woke" come from? How has its meaning changed over time? What are some examples of Wokeness that we see in media and culture? More importantly, Landen and Riley wrestle with questions about what the underlying philosophy of Wokeness actually is. How does it relate to Progressivism and the Left/Right divide? What are the main branches of thought within the Woke philosophy? How does Wokeness relate to the Spirit of the Age? How did we get to the point we are now? And is there a way to better define the movement we see in front of us? Be sure to tune in as we search & discover the Crux of Wokeness. ----- Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley are joined by Joe Taylor, a cadet who is commissioned to join the US Army after his senior year at college. The 3 of them discuss the military's past, present and future; moral values like discipline, duty, honor, and brotherhood; and other issues like the Global War on Terror, America as an idea, Hierarchy, Meritocracy, the recruiting crisis, and why the military appears to be the last trusted public institution. Be sure to tune into this wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation that should provoke, entertain, and inform, as we search for the military's crux of the matter! Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] ----- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-crux-of-the-matter/support --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-crux-of-the-matter/support

The debate over FREEDOM vs SAFETY is superficial! What lies beneath? Fusionism is a political philosophy commonly called "Reagan Fusionism" that unites various factions by pitting them against a common enemy (i.e., the USSR) and focuses on individual freedom. However, 40 years later, is Fusionism still active in the United States? Has it been a net positive or net negative? Why has Fusionism crippled the modern Conservative Right? What is "New Fusionism?" What is William F. Buckley's role in all this? Why does knowing about Fusionism matter??? We discuss those thought-provoking questions and hopefully pursue the crux of this matter. Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ  ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]  ----- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-crux-of-the-matter/support

Landen and Riley are joined by a special guest, Arthur Ryan, who is a sophomore at the University of Montana studying Vocal Performance. The three of them discuss the nature of Music, whether it is a social construct or inherent in nature, Music's influence in religion and society, and its relation to our culture today. They also debate whether Rap counts as Music! These ideas and more are examined in the seventh installment of the Crux of the Matter. -----  Subscribe to the Crux of the Matter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ ----- For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected] ----- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-crux-of-the-matter/support

Landen and Riley discuss emerging questions and ethical concerns regarding the digital realm of cybersecurity with a computer genius, Ethan Rabe, who works in cybersecurity. Will cyberattacks' extensive reach alter the course of politics in the U.S. and abroad? What are some ways you can protect yourself from digital dangers? When should cyberattacks be considered acts of war? Those questions and more are examined in this episode. Want to support Eastern Washington University students as they enhance their skills to protect the US from cyber threats? Email [email protected] There is a Crux of the Matter YouTube Channel! Click here and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley discuss emerging questions and ethical concerns regarding the digital realm of cybersecurity with a computer genius, Ethan Rabe, who works in cybersecurity. Will cyberattacks' extensive reach alter the course of politics in the U.S. and abroad? What are some ways you can protect yourself from digital dangers? When should cyberattacks be considered acts of war? Those questions and more are examined in this episode.  Want to support Eastern Washington University students as they enhance their skills to protect the US from cyber threats? Email [email protected] There is a Crux of the Matter YouTube Channel! Click here and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley return after a short hiatus to discuss the American Dream with special guests Luke and Ryan from The Bull Truth Podcast. The four of them discuss some historical definitions of what the American Dream actually is, which definitions they prefer, how the American Dream is perceived today, and whether the American Dream is compatible with Christianity. To find out how the quartet answers these questions, tune in to the fifth episode of the Crux of the Matter! There is a Crux of the Matter YouTube Channel! Click here and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ Luke and Ryan’s podcast, The Bull Truth Podcast, can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3RLsf3AnxX1jK2AYXtXzA1?si=b5f925ed6d424af1 For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley discovered the meaning to life! Listen to them discuss perennial truths that underlie the human condition. In this episode, they discuss the alternative (and exclusionary) answers to the meaning and origin of life—but which answer is best? To find out, you’ll have to tune in to the fourth episode of the Crux Of The Matter! Is Christianity the answer? What makes it true over other beliefs or lack of faith? Does religion serve any purpose in the endless search for the meaning to life? There is a Crux of the Matter YouTube Channel! Click here and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZV12DEH7FLtirpmNXS7pQ Landen and Riley will appear on The Bull Truth Podcast with friends Luke and Ryan on Nov. 14; you can find their podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3RLsf3AnxX1jK2AYXtXzA1 For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley discuss the idea and application of a democratic society, including its strengths and weaknesses. Why is understanding democracy important for everyone? Is America a pure democracy? How has American democracy transformed over time? Is America's democracy actually in danger? They answer these questions and discuss the root issues surrounding democracy and its effects. For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley introduce questions surrounding the nature of patriotism and nationalism, as well as the growing buzzword “Christian Nationalism.”  What do they mean in their original contexts? How has the public’s perception of those terms transformed over time? How does the narrative around patriotism and nationalism impact your country down to the community level? How does idolatry play into these words? They answer these questions and discuss the root issues surrounding these “isms.” They conclude the segment with a response to emails sent about the first episode. For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]

Landen and Riley debut the Crux Of The Matter podcast, a student-led podcast about politics, philosophy, history, and religion. They introduce themselves and the purpose for the podcast and delve into important questions, including What is conservatism? What is progressivism? Why does the United States seem more polarized than anytime since the Civil War? How does pursuing reason in our discussions help us gain clarity? Why should college students critically think about what they think they know?  These questions and more are addressed in the opening episode... For serious inquiries, questions, comments, and hate mail, contact: [email protected]