Real America’s Voice – American Sunrise

Special Thanksgiving Edition
Air Date: November 27, 2025 | Podcast: Real America’s Voice | Hosts: David Brody, Dr. Gina, Terrence Bates, Emily Finn

Episode Overview

This special Thanksgiving edition of American Sunrise brings a spirited, lighthearted, and occasionally heartfelt roundtable of Real America's Voice personalities reflecting on gratitude, Thanksgiving traditions, American values, rising costs of the holiday meal, national security, and the importance of faith and family. Through humor, heated debates on menu choices (empanadas vs. turkey), and expert guests, the episode explores the meaning behind the holiday and current cultural and political topics.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

Thanksgiving Gratitude and American Resilience

• Opening Tone: Hosts express gratitude for the audience, their team, and each other.

• Faith and Prayer: Dr. Gina offers a Thanksgiving prayer (Colossians 3:15), underscoring unity and being thankful, while setting a thankful, faith-forward tone. (07:38)

  “Let the peace of God, Terrence, rule in your hearts, to which you also were called in one body. And be thankful for crying out loud, it says right there.”—Dr. Gina

• Gratitude for Country: Discussion centers on the perceived resurgence of American strength under President Trump (reflecting the show’s conservative orientation).

• Holiday Meals Debate: Debate erupts about the role of marshmallows on sweet potatoes and the interchangeable usage of “yams” and “sweet potatoes,” with ChatGPT humorously cited as an authority. (05:49)

Economic Pressures & Thanksgiving Costs

• Rising Prices: Thanksgiving dinner is reported to be 18% more expensive than last year; the average meal for ten now costs $60–$70, with some families able to shop strategically for less. (19:01, 77:05)

  “For 2025, the average at-home meal for ten people will cost around $60 to $70. Here’s the good news...some smart shoppers were able to find a complete holiday feast for under $40 at major stores like Walmart, even Aldi.”—Terrence Bates (19:01)

• Smart Shopping: Advice to shop early, compare deals, and use hotlines (Butterball) for meal prep emergencies.

Thanksgiving Table Debates

• Turkey or Empanadas?: David Brody shocks the group by revealing he’s serving empanadas instead of turkey, sparking running jokes. *

  “We’re not having turkey tonight… I’m bringing empanadas.”—David Brody (74:01)

• Guest Participation: Frequent guest Joe Bob admits to preferring alternatives to turkey due to disappointing experiences, reinforcing “America is a free country.” (79:45)

National Security & Patriotism

• Border and Terror Threats:
  • Former CIA covert ops officer Mike Baker discusses improved border security, decreasing illegal migration, and continuing threats of homegrown terror and “lone wolf” attacks with international connections.

    “When you enforce your immigration laws and create a secure border…you get less traffic illegally crossing… That’s not rocket science.”—Mike Baker (28:51)

  • Emphasis on vigilance: radical Islam remains a threat and authorities remain alert to sleeper cells.

    “They haven’t let their guard down, and they are monitoring. It’s a difficult lift… but there are a lot of people working hard to keep this country safe.”—Mike Baker (35:00)

Family Dynamics & Holiday Harmony

• Expert Advice: Dr. Carol Lieberman offers ways to minimize family conflict at Thanksgiving:
  • Declaring the table a “politics-free zone” and using fun penalties (e.g., “turkey jar” for every political comment),
  • Focusing on gratitude by having each person share something they’re thankful for about other guests,
  • Playing relaxing music or using neutral conversation topics to deescalate potential spats. (46:27)

    “When you’re inviting people to your dinner, you can tell them that it is a politics free zone… every time a person mentions something political, you can make them pay, put a dollar… into a jar and at the end...bring that money to some charity.”—Dr. Carol Lieberman (46:27)

Health & Nutrition

• Thanksgiving “Food Coma” Myth: Dr. Gina dispels the myth that turkey and tryptophan alone cause sleepiness—overeating carbs, portion size, and alcohol are the bigger culprits. (42:06)

  “Turkey has actually only modest amounts of tryptophan, far below a dose that would actually cause drowsiness... More likely culprits are carb-heavy sides and alcohol.”

• Calorie Breakdown: Contributor Emily Finn gives a fun rundown of the most caloric dishes—pecan pie (450 cal/slice), mashed potatoes with gravy (~265 cal), stuffing (~200 cal/half cup), turkey (180 cal/serving). (57:12)

American History & “The Real Thanksgiving Story”

• Moment of Faith: Author Jim Mosley shares a retelling of the Pilgrims’ struggle for religious freedom, their near-impossible journey to the New World, and the hardship that led to the first Thanksgiving—a reminder that thankfulness is rooted in survival and faith, not comfort. (64:27–68:13)

  “Their Thanksgiving in 1621 was not the celebration of easy times. It was the gratitude of survivors who had seen God carry them through the storm.”—Jim Mosley (67:26)

Media, Politics & Culture

• CBS News Shakeup: Panel discusses the hiring of Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief. Skepticism reigns over whether the network will truly become less partisan, citing entrenched culture and likely staff resistance. (103:16–108:42)
• Media Bias: ABC and BBC are singled out as particularly egregious offenders in “editing scandals,” notably omitting key context from President Trump’s speeches in their reporting. (109:04–111:57)

  “We’re just asking them…to view conservatives as people with good ideas…and not being the subject of ridicule.”—Curtis Hauck, NewsBusters (107:01)

Humor, Traditions, & Quirks

• Turkey Pardon: Emily Finn shares the official story and quirky origins of the annual presidential turkey pardon, a now-beloved White House tradition. The pardoned turkeys live out their days at sanctuaries. (114:47)

  “Today the White House presents two turkeys each year and officially pardons them...to symbolize gratitude, agricultural heritage and American bounty.”—Emily Finn (114:47)

• Fun Facts/Trivia:

  • The average Thanksgiving gathering has 11 guests. (117:22)
  • Audience poll: most viewers (and hosts) prefer keeping Thanksgiving “traditional”—turkey over empanadas.
  • Lighthearted running gags about mailing moldy empanadas to co-hosts and “empanada Thanksgiving music.” (119:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You have to protect the American family. The American dream is still alive.” —Terrence Bates & Dr. Gina (04:07–04:10)

• “I can't stand it. Am I the only person in America that doesn't like marshmallows on their sweet potato?” —David Brody (06:27)

• “We just need to deliver, and I think we can.” —Bobby Eberly, on MAGA/Trump policies (10:16)

• “It’s an overwhelming amount of sadness and sorrow and gratefulness and thankfulness to Charlie and the Kirk family over…But I hold them tighter than I ever have, and I’m more thankful for them and my family.” —Joe Bob, reflecting on loss, gratitude, and remembering Charlie Kirk (82:28)

• “Thanksgiving, then and now isn’t about pretending life is perfect. It’s the quiet and courageous act of recognizing that God has been faithful to us on the journey.” —Jim Mosley (68:00)

• “If you bought it in a US Store and it is orange inside, it is a sweet potato, not a yam. Buyer beware.” —Dr. Gina (36:42)

• “We have to tell the truth. But you felt like you were crazy…a lone voice in the wilderness out there trying to tell the truth while all of the lamestream media was in this chorus of lies to try to change an election.” —Dr. Gina (111:57)

• “Go boldly now and live the truth.” —Dr. Gina, closing the show (121:41)

Timestamps: Important Segments & Guests

| Time | Segment Topic | |--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:13 | Host introductions and Thanksgiving greetings | | 07:38 | Dr. Gina’s Thanksgiving prayer and introduction of Bobby Eberly | | 08:23 | Bobby Eberly on gratitude for Trump and political stability | | 19:01 & 77:05| Terrence Bates on Thanksgiving meal cost & money-saving tips | | 28:51 | Mike Baker on border security and “net negative migration” | | 35:00 | Mike Baker on managing internal terror threats and “sleeper cells” | | 42:06 | Dr. Gina on Thanksgiving drowsiness myths | | 46:27 | Dr. Carol Lieberman (psychiatrist) on managing family tension| | 57:12 | Emily Finn’s Thanksgiving calorie breakdown | | 64:27 | Jim Mosley, “Moment of Faith”—True story of the Pilgrims | | 103:16 | CBS news and Bari Weiss discussion with Curtis Hauck | | 114:47 | Emily Finn on the origins of the presidential turkey pardon | | 121:41 | Hosts share personal gratitude reflections and final thoughts|

Final Reflections: What Are You Thankful For?

Each host shares their gratitude, with a consensus on the preciousness of family, faith, and freedom.

• “Can I just tell you, and Joe Bob was saying this earlier, which really hit me… My family. I just… you hold them closer.”—David Brody (120:13)
• “This year has been such a journey. My Catholic faith is so important to me, and I’m so thankful I’ve been able to grow closer to God this year.” —Emily Finn (121:18)

Summary: Takeaways for Listeners

• Holiday Message: The episode encourages listeners to reflect on gratitude, family, faith, and the enduring spirit of America, even amid political and economic upheaval.
• Practical Help: Tips for managing rising food costs, handling family tension, and enjoying the day with humor and perspective.
• Community: A strong sense of camaraderie among hosts and guests, making for an uplifting and relatable listen.

For more lively, unfiltered conversation and the latest Real America's Voice commentary, subscribe to the RAV podcast. Happy Thanksgiving!