The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show Episode: Hour 3 - Talking Left and Living Right Release Date: August 7, 2025

In the third hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosted by iHeartPodcasts, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve deep into pressing societal issues, including the decline of fatherhood, violent crime, and the intersection of race and policy. The episode weaves through listener interactions, expert insights, and heated discussions, all underscored by the hosts' characteristic intelligence and humor.

1. Book Recommendations and Personal Interests

Timestamp: [00:05]

Buck Sexton begins the hour by celebrating a milestone—over 100,000 subscribers on the show's YouTube channel. He introduces a book review segment exclusive to YouTube, highlighting his passion for American history and thrillers.

• American History: Buck discusses The Fate of the Day, the second volume of an American Revolution trilogy, emphasizing its engaging narrative and historical significance.

  "I'm halfway through it, and it's incredible." – Buck Sexton [00:05]

• Thriller Literature: He praises Mick Herron's espionage series, recommending fans of the genre to explore Herron's work, particularly the adaptation of Slow Horses on Apple TV.

  "These books are great. There are eight of them. I love mysteries, thrillers." – Buck Sexton [00:05]

2. The Decline of Fatherhood and Its Impact on Violent Crime

Timestamp: [05:00 - 15:00]

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the root causes of rising violent crime rates in America, pinpointing absent fathers as a pivotal factor across all racial groups.

• Absent Fathers as a Root Cause: Clay asserts that the absence of fathers—regardless of race—leads to increased violent crime.

  "If you had to go to one root cause, absent fathers, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, absent fathers... lead to violent crime." – Clay Travis [05:00]

• Listener Email from Eric: A VIP listener named Eric shares his perspective, agreeing with Clay's viewpoint and criticizing government policies that inadvertently discourage fatherhood.

  "The government dictates on the programs essentially force dads out in order to access the so-called benefits." – Eric [08:00]

3. Addressing Race in the Context of Crime

Timestamp: [16:11 - 20:40]

The conversation shifts to the sensitive topic of race and crime, sparked by a listener's email.

• Buck's Response to Racialization: Buck criticizes the tendency to racialize crime statistics, arguing that focusing on race divides communities and detracts from solving the underlying issues.

  "If the Hispanic crime rate was 0 and the white crime rate was 100, I wouldn't be like, man, that's great. Go Hispanic people." – Clay Travis [12:23]

  "Violent crime in America should be considered a problem for everyone." – Clay Travis [17:12]

4. Listener Call: Custody Challenges for Fathers

Timestamp: [10:05 - 16:11]

Ralph from Cincinnati calls in to discuss the systemic bias in family courts that favor mothers over fathers in custody battles.

• Challenges Faced by Fathers: Ralph highlights the financial and emotional toll of custody battles, emphasizing the need for equitable sharing of parental responsibilities.

  "The mothers always get custody regardless. So if we're going to talk about fatherless homes, we need to dig deeper." – Ralph [10:05]

• Buck and Clay's Empathy: Both hosts express strong support for fathers striving to be involved in their children's lives, calling for reforms in the family court system.

  "I have a great deal of empathy for anybody involved in that process." – Buck Sexton [13:54]

5. WNBA Pay Inequality and Societal Values

Timestamp: [17:12 - 28:02]

A segment featuring Diana Taurasi's complaint about inadequate pay in the WNBA serves as a springboard for discussing societal values and economic disparities.

• Taurasi's Complaint: Diana Taurasi voices frustration over low wages, comparing her earnings to those of janitors.

  "The janitor was making more money than me. This is unacceptable." – Diana Taurasi [35:08]

• Hosts' Critique: Buck criticizes Taurasi's remarks, arguing that the WNBA's financial struggles are the root cause of the pay disparity.

  "The WNBA to this day has never made a dollar. Lecturing us that you are not being paid enough... is not the way to convince me that I should be a fan of the WNBA." – Buck Sexton [35:20]

6. Interview with Senator Tim Scott: Fatherhood and Faith

Timestamp: [30:46 - 30:40]

Senator Tim Scott joins the show to discuss his new book, One Nation Always Under God: Profiles in Christian Courage, emphasizing the role of fatherhood and faith in combating societal decline.

• Importance of Father Figures: Senator Scott underscores the significance of male role models and faith in strengthening family structures.

  "The best way to raise a family is a nuclear family. Mom, dad, both at home with kids. This is what the data says." – Senator Tim Scott [25:31]

• Personal Reflections: He shares his personal journey into fatherhood and how it has reshaped his understanding of responsibility and value systems.

  "I got to tell you, it changes your focus to the future. It reminds you of the importance of a value system." – Senator Tim Scott [25:31]

7. Sports Rivalry: South Carolina vs. Clemson

Timestamp: [27:24 - 30:46]

The hosts engage in a light-hearted debate over the upcoming South Carolina vs. Clemson football game, reflecting regional pride and playful rivalry.

• Clay's Prediction: As a lifelong Gamecock fan, Clay confidently predicts South Carolina will have a better season under Coach Shane Beamer.

  "The Gamecocks are going to have a better season. Shane Beamer... will coach his team to a 9-3 record." – Clay Travis [28:02]

• Buck's Admiration for Coaches: Buck expresses his support for both coaches but ultimately sides with Clay's prediction.

  "I love Shane Beamer... that's the Carolina Gamecocks." – Buck Sexton [29:12]

8. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [32:27 - 38:56]

The episode wraps up with humorous clips and final interactions, maintaining the show's blend of serious discussion and levity.

• CBS Morning News Clip: The hosts critique a segment on colonizing the moon, highlighting perceived flaws in the narrative surrounding Western colonialism.

  "To start, first of all, I don't know who watches these morning shows... Colonialism worked out poorly... but Western civilization is actually a really good thing." – Buck Sexton and Clay Travis [35:08 - 37:44]

• Final Listener Call: Lewis from Birmingham humorously teases Clay about mispronouncing "Addis Ababa," showcasing the show's personable dynamic.

  "I get tickled whenever I hear you try to pronounce things and you don't get it right." – Lewis [38:33]

Key Takeaways:

1. Fatherhood as a Pillar of Society: Both hosts emphasize the critical role of fathers in reducing violent crime and fostering strong family units across all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

2. Systemic Bias in Custody Laws: The show highlights the challenges fathers face in gaining equitable custody, urging reforms to support involved fatherhood.

3. Combating Racial Divides: By avoiding the racialization of crime, Clay and Buck advocate for a unified approach to addressing societal issues, promoting solutions that benefit all Americans.

4. Economic Disparities in Professional Sports: The discussion on WNBA pay inequality serves as a critique of how financial viability impacts athletes' compensation and the broader implications for women's sports.

5. Faith and Family: Through Senator Tim Scott's insights, the episode connects faith-based principles with the importance of nuclear families, suggesting that these foundations are essential for societal flourishing.

6. Engaging Community: Listener interactions, whether through emails or calls, enrich the conversation, providing real-world perspectives and fostering a sense of community among the audience.

This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show offers a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary societal challenges, blending earnest discussion with the hosts' signature wit and engagement.