PODCAST · history
From Our Generation
by Crom Carmichael and Mike Hassell
From Our Generation is all about making sense of history, economics, and politics through real conversations. We dive into the ideas and events that shaped the world, how they still affect us today, and what they mean for the future. No lectures, just honest discussions about where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.
Episodes
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WHAT WE WISH WE KNEW AT 30
What do you know now that you wish you knew at 30? The question sounds soft until you try to answer it honestly. Health compounds in one direction. The damage done in your 30s and 40s cannot be fully reversed in your 60s. Smoking was the obvious destroyer a generation ago. Today it is…
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$40 TRILLION
The national debt crossed $40 trillion this week. Divided across 340 million Americans, that is roughly $110,000 per person. At a 3% interest rate, each person's share of the debt costs about $3,000 a year in reduced standard of living. For a family of four making $100,000, the burden is 10 to…
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FAUCI FLOPS
Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions about his conduct during COVID. The irony is difficult to overstate. While he had power, he suppressed free speech, shut down churches, banned public assembly, and pressured media to silence dissenting voices. Every right...
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SOCIALIST FAILS
The word visionary gets applied to people who have not earned it. A visionary, in any meaningful sense, is someone whose ideas produce a better future. Someone whose ideas have already been tested and failed is not a visionary. They are repeating a mistake. Every major policy position of the...
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THE SOVIET PLAYBOOK
Democratic Socialists are winning primaries in deep blue districts and now testing whether their platform can survive swing-state voters. Three bellwether races will answer the question. In Maine, Susan Collins faces a socialist replacement candidate after Graham Platner's exit. Collins is one of...
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69 TRILLION DOLLARS
The Democratic Socialists of America want to "take democracy beyond the ballot box." The phrase sounds like an expansion of fairness. It is the opposite. Democracy has a specific meaning: representation through elected government. Taking it "beyond" that means using state power to equalize…
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SELF-EVIDENT TRUTHS
Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic primary with 72% of the vote. Twelve days later, his own party is pushing him out. The reason has nothing to do with the Nazi tattoo, the abuse allegations, or the sexting claims. All of that was known before the primary. What changed is that he fell behind...
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THE OLDEST QUESTION
Barack Obama opened his Presidential Center with a speech that denigrated the Declaration of Independence and praised the Constitution in the vaguest possible terms. He skipped "endowed by our Creator," as he always does, and framed the Constitution as a document designed to "change with the...
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29% PATRIOT
A CNN poll on July 4th attitudes reveals a divide that did not exist a generation ago. In January 2001, 85% of Democrats said they were extremely or very proud to be American. In 2026, that number is 29%. Republican pride held steady at 90% across the same period. Only 27% of Democrats plan to...
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OLIGAHCHY
Every dollar spent on government is a dollar somebody else had to earn. That math never changes, no matter how large the economy gets. On a ten-person island, adding one government worker forces the remaining nine to work 11% longer to cover the same output. Add a retiree and the burden climbs...
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BUREAUCRACIES
Bureaucracies don't die quietly. When Reagan tried to eliminate the EPA, radon suddenly became a national crisis: odorless, tasteless, colorless, and conveniently undetectable without government-approved machines. Cities sitting on limestone, the supposed source, showed no elevated cancer rates....
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RIGHTS BEFORE GOVERNMENT
The Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution, is the founding document that defines what America is. Clarence Thomas made this distinction in a recent speech at the University of Texas, and the argument holds. George Washington said he fought for sovereignty, not for a governing…
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WHEN INSTITUTIONS FAIL
Trust in institutions is at an all-time low, and the question is whether that's a crisis or a correction. Government, media, Congress: the erosion is measurable. But the people who say they distrust Congress keep reelecting their own representatives. The people who distrust the media keep…
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WHAT MAKES AMERICA DIFFERENT
The United States has 11 companies worth more than a trillion dollars. No other country has one. The most valuable company in Europe is worth $600 billion. Japan's is $250 billion. Something about how this country operates produces outcomes no other system has matched, and the question of what…
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RULES ON PAPER
Redistricting battles across multiple states expose the tension between constitutional process and partisan ambition. Virginia's legislature pushed through a redistricting referendum without following its own constitutional requirements, ignoring the fact that voters were already casting early...
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SUBJECT OR CITIZEN
The distinction between a subject and a citizen sits at the foundation of American law, and most people have never thought about it. A subject under British common law owes perpetual allegiance to the crown by birth. Blackstone described it as feudal: a debt of gratitude that cannot be forfeited,...
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SELECTIVE ALLEGIANCE
Pope Leo XIV called military action in Iran absurd and inhumane, said no cause justifies the shedding of innocent blood, and made the statement a day after meeting with David Axelrod. Trump told him to get his act together. The collision raises a real question about moral authority. The same Pope...
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IRAN, NATO, & THE FINE PRINT
The Iran conflict resists easy labels. A ceasefire brokered through Pakistan unraveled almost immediately when Lebanon attacked Israel and Israel struck back hard. The ceasefire may have served a different purpose entirely: time to rearm, refine strategy, and clear civilians from targets that…
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INSTITUTIONAL DRIFT
Executive power finds its limits not in law but in leverage. When a president pays federal workers without congressional appropriation by invoking national security, the legal gray area matters less than the political reality: no one with standing wants to challenge it. That dynamic, where...
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NO KINGS? NO PROBLEM
The development of democracy is not a sudden transformation but a gradual shift in where authority resides. The translation of the Bible into English in the 16th century marked a critical turning point, moving interpretive power from centralized religious institutions to individuals. This change...
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STALEMATE POLITICS
Major political conflicts often reveal more than their immediate stakes. They expose the underlying mechanics of power, incentives, and institutional design. Three simultaneous standoffs (federal funding for homeland security, voter authentication legislation, and a military confrontation with...
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THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING
Economic prosperity does not emerge from a single policy. It requires a structure of reinforcing conditions: low taxation, limited regulation, sound money, low corruption, and equal treatment under the law. When these principles align, markets function and opportunity expands. When they weaken,...
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THE FIVE PILLARS OF PROSPERITY
Five foundational principles determine whether a society grows stronger or slowly undermines its own prosperity: low taxes, sensible regulation, low corruption, sound money, and laws designed to treat people equally. Like a five-legged table, stability depends on each support holding firm. The...
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BUILT, NOT BOUGHT
Financial independence is not the same as appearing wealthy. A high income, luxury cars, and an expensive lifestyle can vanish the moment paychecks stop. True independence comes from owning assets that generate income, investments that work even when you don’t. The central contrast is between...
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POVERTY POLITICS
Wealth inequality is often blamed on billionaires, but never on government policy that systematically diverts workers’ income away from private ownership and into non-inheritable entitlement programs. Payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, combined with rising healthcare mandates, remove...
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SAINTS, SINNERS & SUBPOENAS
Immigration enforcement fractures further as state officials in Minnesota refuse cooperation with ICE, even in cases involving criminal convictions or formal deportation orders. The killing of Alex Pretti during an ICE confrontation becomes a political flashpoint, with legacy media altering…
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GREENLAND, DAVOS & THE GOLDEN DOME
What makes a political leader? Not just a head of state, but someone who changes the trajectory of history? From Davos to New York City, new battle lines emerge between technocrats who preserve the status quo and disruptors who define their leadership by promises kept, not polls followed. While...
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RULES FOR THEE, BILLIONS FOR ME
As new revelations surface about large-scale fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid system, a broader pattern of government-enabled corruption comes into view. Federally reimbursed programs, designed to help the vulnerable, are now cash machines for politically connected networks. Phantom ride-share...
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MADURO, MEDICAID & MONEY TRAILS
State-level fraud is becoming a feature of the system. States like Minnesota and California are exploiting federal matching programs (especially Medicaid) through systemic abuse masked as public service. From fake rideshare companies to inflated daycare operations, billions in federal dollars are...
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SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION
Federal spending is surging, accountability is vanishing, and the rule of law is increasingly applied by political preference. Medicaid costs have exploded in states like New York and California, driven by policies that openly defy federal law, particularly around healthcare access for illegal...
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THE BATTLE OVER WORDS
America’s divisions often stem not just from values, but from language itself. Words like liberal, justice, federal, and freedom once carried widely understood meanings, but today, they’re used by opposing sides to mean nearly opposite things. This episode dives into a crucial but often…
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INDIVIDUALISM: GOOD OR BAD?
The American experiment began with a revolutionary idea: that the individual, not the state, is sovereign. But what happens when the meaning of individualism expands beyond self-reliance and liberty, into personal entitlement at others’ expense? This episode traces the cultural and political…
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THE FOUNDER'S CONSTITUTION
The Constitution was designed to restrain government and prevent tyranny, but what happens when those in power claim the right to rewrite the rules? One vision, rooted in the Founders’ Constitution, limits federal authority to clearly defined powers. The other, emerging from Woodrow Wilson’s…
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THE LIVING CONSTITUTION
Two competing interpretations of the Constitution shape nearly every national debate: one that limits federal power to its original design, and another that expands it to meet the perceived needs of the present. What began with Woodrow Wilson’s “Darwinian” vision of government evolved into a...
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AFFORDABILITY
A political wave in New York City puts affordability at the center of the national conversation, as Mayor Mamdani’s sweeping promises (free childcare, rent freezes, and 200,000 housing units) collide with legal limits and economic realities. In Congress, leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Bernie…
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ARCTIC FROST
The extermination of sparrows in Maoist China triggered a famine that killed millions, exposing how expert-driven policy, untethered from market feedback, can lead to catastrophic unintended consequences. In the U.S., similar logic surfaces in progressive promises like free buses, a $30 minimum...
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SHUTDOWNS & TREATIES
A sweeping treaty between Israel and Hamas signals a potential turning point in the region, driven by credible American pressure and a clear threat of consequences. In Washington, a prolonged government shutdown highlights deep structural issues, from entrenched union power to runaway spending....
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VIRTUE, VICE, & THE FUTURE OF AMERICA
Is America still striving toward virtue, or drifting deeper into vice? Through the lens of classical morality, this episode examines how pride, greed, and sloth increasingly show up in policy, politics, and culture. From expanded subsidies for the wealthy to AI-driven escapism and institutional...
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A TURNING POINT
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s passing, the future of Turning Point USA raises questions larger than leadership. Is its growth the product of design, or destiny? This episode explores the intersection of faith and politics, where divine providence and secular reason often collide. As centralized...
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INSTITUTIONS & PRINCIPLES
As Turning Point USA rises in influence, the national response to threats against its leaders reveals deeper discomfort with free expression. This episode examines the cultural and institutional forces that increasingly view dissent as harm, and persuasion as provocation. From generational shifts...
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CHARLIE KIRK
Political movements rarely emerge from institutions: they grow from individuals willing to challenge them. Through a provocative reflection on the rhetoric surrounding Charlie Kirk and the consequences for those who confront entrenched power, this episode examines why voices rooted in persuasion...
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CLASH OF CULTURES
What happens when a nation no longer agrees on its core values? From self-evident truths to shared respect for the Constitution, the cultural foundations that once unified Americans are increasingly fragmented. This episode explores whether a common American culture ever truly existed... and…
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PUBLIC VS PRIVATE SECTOR
Citizenship, representation, and jurisdiction sit at the heart of today’s most volatile political fights. From potential Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship to Trump’s evolving use of executive authority, this episode explores the legal lines that shape nationhood. As fragmented media...
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GERRYMANDERING
Redistricting, migration, and economic incentives are redrawing the American political map faster than Congress can keep up. This episode unpacks the history and future of gerrymandering, the battle over the census, and the rising influence of fast-growing states like Texas. Meanwhile, permanent...
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ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL
The legal and political meaning of citizenship is under renewed scrutiny. From Civil War-era interpretations of the 14th Amendment to modern immigration policy, this episode explores how America defines who belongs... and what that definition costs. The conversation extends to sovereignty…
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TJ FERRARA
The playbook for reaching consumers has been rewritten. From '90s skate culture to Gen Z telehealth startups, this episode explores how social platforms, influencer dynamics, and shifting expectations have transformed American commerce. As business moves toward personalization and privacy…
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THE END OF PATRIOTISM
Patriotism is rising on the right and falling on the left. This episode unpacks what that divergence reveals about generational change, media influence, and the growing tension over what it means to be American. From Civil War divisions to postwar unity, the search for a shared national identity…
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WHAT IS PRIMACY?
Power concentrated is power at risk of overreach. Whether on the battlefield, in markets, or within cultures, primacy can stabilize (or destabilize) entire systems. From the Marshall Plan to modern tech monopolies, this episode examines how dominance takes hold, how it’s challenged, and whether...
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POWER & ITS COUSINS
Power without responsibility breeds resentment. Responsibility without authority leads to failure. This episode examines how America’s founders balanced both through limited government and federalist design, and how that balance is eroding under regulatory sprawl, rising taxation, and a culture…
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THE AMERICAN DREAM
The promise of prosperity through hard work once defined American life. Today, that dream faces mounting costs, from regulation and healthcare to housing and higher education. This episode explores how equal opportunity has been confused with equal outcomes... and why the difference is more than...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
From Our Generation is all about making sense of history, economics, and politics through real conversations. We dive into the ideas and events that shaped the world, how they still affect us today, and what they mean for the future. No lectures, just honest discussions about where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.
HOSTED BY
Crom Carmichael and Mike Hassell
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does From Our Generation have?
From Our Generation currently has 69 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is From Our Generation about?
From Our Generation is all about making sense of history, economics, and politics through real conversations. We dive into the ideas and events that shaped the world, how they still affect us today, and what they mean for the future. No lectures, just honest discussions about where we’ve been,...
How often does From Our Generation release new episodes?
From Our Generation has 69 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to From Our Generation?
You can listen to From Our Generation on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts From Our Generation?
From Our Generation is created and hosted by Crom Carmichael and Mike Hassell.
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