Dad Saves America

I sat down with journalist and author Michael Shellenberger to unpack the psychology of modern radicalism and why anti-ICE activists seem more interested in perpetual agitation than problem-solving. Michael reflects on his own radical past, including his experiences in Nicaragua, Brazil, and Venezuela, where socialist idealism gave way to corruption, gangsterism, and societal collapse. We also discuss his ongoing fight for free speech and the potential global impacts of recent European regulatory attacks on Elon Musk and X (Twitter)._____________________________________Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/shellenberger?s=20Read Michael’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@shellenbergerPreorder a copy of “The Left’s War on Reality”: https://a.co/d/cnMuOGy_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] ICE protest chaos[13:06] Female psychology and left-wing activism[30:19] Why Michael got involved in radical politics[39:54] Interviewing the future President of Brazil[42:44] Is Marxism a colonial project?[47:46] What is “radicalism”?[55:53] Working for Hugo Chávez in Venezuela[1:01:41] Communism always devolves into gangsterism[1:10:58] Liberalism, globalism, and nationalism[1:18:02] Is “international law” a myth?[1:22:08] Why Michael is skeptical of the Venezuela intervention[1:31:48] The counterintuitive danger of natural resources[1:37:13] Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural speech should scare you[1:52:34] How elites keep mass democracy under control[1:58:30] The Twitter Files and the next social media crackdown[2:05:21] Free speech is a cause worth dying for[2:13:58] Antisemitism, cancellation, and the conservative civil war[2:24:19] Trump 2.0 proved that censorship can be overcome[2:29:36] What Michael has learned from teaching_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0z_KzE0OXaEMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

I sat down with author and energy journalist Robert Bryce to unpack our society’s dependence on the electric grid and what that means for American security and prosperity in the future. The electric grid is far more fragile than most people realize—even more so given the so-called “clean energy transition” pushed throughout the 21st century. As we saw in Spain last spring, excessive reliance on renewable energy sources significantly raises the possibility of systemic collapse during electricity demand peaks. Now, with AI data centers driving up electricity demand, and therefore prices, a reckoning is overdue. Robert lays out the tradeoffs of renewable energy, the potential for a nuclear renaissance, and how energy policy challenges the assumptions of the free market and decentralized government in a world of geopolitical adversaries._____________________________________Follow Robert Bryce on X (Twitter): https://x.com/pwrhungry?s=20Watch Robert Bryce on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@robertbryce?si=FKjtFk1G3WMudQw1Read Robert Bryce’s work on Substack: https://robertbryce.substack.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Will AI data centers break the power grid?[10:46 11:00] The electric grid is the most important system in our society[21:10 21:24] Why is the electric grid so fragile?[34:18 34:32] The forgotten innovations that reshaped society[42:54] What is “base load” and why does it matter?[52:58] The “clean energy transition” has always been fake[1:03:17] Will solar power ever be viable for a whole country?[1:12:28] Why would Germany kneecap its own energy capacity?[1:21:22] A society run by engineers vs lawyers[1:26:24] The Trump administration’s energy policies[1:31:00] What are the real safety risks of nuclear energy?[1:38:52] What are “small modular reactors” (SMRs)?[1:45:43] Nuclear waste is a political, not technical, problem[1:55:06] Does the US have access to enough uranium for nuclear power?[2:00:13] What are the limits to capitalism and small government?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jAfGUUAvGBAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

I sat down with psychologist and author Peter Gray to unpack why anxiety, depression, and immaturity are rising at the exact moment kids have more “support” than ever. Peter explains how we stripped childhood of the one ingredient that actually builds competence: real freedom. We talk about the collapse of free, self-directed play, the fear-driven culture that keeps kids under constant adult management, and how modern schooling turns learning into compliance and metrics—resulting in bad habits and chronic stress. Play isn’t a “bonus” part of childhood; it’s how children learn judgment, resilience, social intelligence, and self-control. The path back to healthier kids starts with letting them take risks, solve problems, and grow up the way humans evolved to._____________________________________Check out Peter’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@petergray_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Intro[1:06] Essential skills for a successful adult life[6:52] Education vs. schooling[19:40] Anxiety, depression, and immaturity[33:12] Is high school stress anything new?[36:48] Why parents to over-manage their kids[47:26] Are we training kids to accept authority and control?[55:58] The history of the school system[1:11:13] The policies shaping modern classrooms[1:19:01] The seven sins of the education system[1:38:58] What Peter learned from Ruby Lou[1:43:37] Play literally is education[1:51:04] Why trustful parenting works best_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8iRrZHUnB4EMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

I sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Camilo Ortiz to unpack why modern parenting has become so exhausting—and why it’s also making kids more anxious, not less. Dr. Ortiz explains why kids need daily exposure to the four D’s—discomfort, distress, disappointment, and danger—and how natural consequences teach better than nagging or punishment ever will. We explore the limits and potential harms of today’s feminized therapy culture and how we can rebuild real-world independence through risky play, mixed-age freedom, and even early work._____________________________________Follow Dr. Ortiz on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DrCamiloOrtizVisit Dr. Ortiz’s website: http://drcamiloortiz.com/Learn more about “independence therapy”: https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12566881823&gbraid=0AAAAACiZd3IWu23qJsSxpn65U7GX9fkVZ&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0p7KBhCkARIsAE6Xlam-UlbNorBHFogiD9_yToVLHOcEIJaxqI86ql2tEa_EKyKbQkbimREaAomwEALw_wcBDr. Ortiz’s article in “The Free Press”: https://www.thefp.com/p/the-secret-to-parenting-do-less-of-it_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] How parenting went wrong[5:45] The feminization of parenting and psychology[15:25] Abigail Shrier’s “Bad Therapy”[15:56] Therapy isn’t the solution to every problem[24:02] What are “mindfulness practices”?[31:25] Are mental health issues really that common?[36:13] Moms vs dads on childhood independence[43:19] Why is evolutionary psychology ignored?[54:19] Is academia biased by ideology or personality?[1:01:17] Nagging your kids doesn’t work[1:09:29] The collective action problem of childhood[1:12:42] Parents shouldn’t try to win every battle[1:23:15] What is “independence therapy”?[1:27:40] Are kids lacking freedom or authority, or both?[1:33:49] Focus on productive behavior, not identity[1:50:47] “Gentle parenting” is the worst of both worlds[1:54:06] How can you address real trauma?[2:02:58] The case for child labor[2:08:16] A lighthouse for sanity in psychology_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLouj8HgvbgMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

I sat down with former Amway CEO Doug DeVos to talk about what it means to believe in the American way in an era defined by cynicism. Prosperity doesn’t come from slogans or politics—it comes from families, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who take responsibility and create real value. We unpack why pessimism has become a cultural default, how that mindset quietly erodes ambition and gratitude, and why faith in America must be rooted in action, not nostalgia._____________________________________Follow Doug on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Doug_DeVos?s=20Read “Believe! Journal” on Substack: https://www.thebelievejournal.com/Purchase a copy of “Believe!”: https://a.co/d/8SfMYUV_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Elite influence or philanthropic leadership?[7:48] The Midwest’s community culture[11:19] Does online polarization represent real life?[21:53] American idealism vs. “burn it all down”[28:43] How did family formation become political?[36:37] Trust fund kids and generational wealth[42:38] The history of Amway[49:18] Criticisms of multi-level marketing[51:11] Sales is the most underrated career path[1:03:17] Free enterprise as a moral system[1:08:54] How do successful large organizations work?[1:14:43] Is the optimistic American spirit fading?[1:19:17] Life, liberty, and the pursuit of virtue[1:23:41] Building trust in a post-truth world[1:26:51] The Founding Fathers’ skepticism of power[1:34:40] The internet, social media, and AI[1:38:18] Does anything shake Doug’s optimism?[1:43:17] America is the comeback nation[1:46:27] How becoming a parent frees you from ego[1:50:01] Take on the responsibility of citizenship_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R2wk_QgvBwAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe