Summary of "How to Fight Stupid" | The Glenn Beck Program featuring Jennifer Sey
Release Date: July 28, 2025
Guest: Jennifer Sey
Host: Glenn Beck
Podcast Network: Blaze Podcast Network
Introduction
In this episode of The Glenn Beck Program, titled "How to Fight Stupid," host Glenn Beck delves into personal reflections on fatherhood and the broader concept of combating societal stupidity. Joined by special guest Jennifer Sey, a marketing expert and founder of XXY Athletics, the discussion intertwines personal anecdotes with insightful strategies for personal and professional resilience.
Personal Reflections on Fatherhood
Glenn Beck opens the episode with heartfelt reflections on his evolving role as a father. He shares the emotional impact of his children moving out of the family home, emphasizing the profound sense of loss and the redefinition of his identity beyond his professional life.
Glenn Beck [12:34]: "Now that they're moved out and I walk around in this big house, all this stuff. I have spent so much time thinking none of this was worth it because it's just stuff. And I walk around that house and I feel like all I miss everything could be gone and all I miss are the kids."
Beck discusses the challenges of balancing a demanding career with family life, admitting the struggle to maintain meaningful relationships amidst professional obligations. He candidly addresses his own shortcomings as a father and expresses a desire to foster deeper connections with his children, highlighting the universal struggle many parents face.
Fighting Stupidity: Insights and Strategies
Transitioning from personal anecdotes, Beck introduces the central theme of the episode: fighting stupidity. Drawing inspiration from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian known for his resistance against the Nazi regime, Beck explores the idea that stupidity—defined as a willful surrender of independent thought—is a more insidious threat to societal good than malice.
Glenn Beck [45:22]: "Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. It's a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice."
Beck elaborates on Bonhoeffer's assertion, emphasizing that stupidity enables the unchecked spread of harmful ideologies by stifling critical thinking and fostering groupthink. He argues that combating stupidity requires more than rational debate; it demands moral awakening and authentic human connection.
Interview with Jennifer Sey: Navigating Marketing and Integrity
Jennifer Sey joins Beck to discuss her journey in the marketing industry, including her departure from Levi's due to disagreements over the company's stance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sey shares her experience of being ousted for advocating that schools should remain open, highlighting the tension between personal beliefs and corporate policies.
Jennifer Sey [112:22]: "We were pushed out of polite society essentially. And now that the consensus has changed, there's sort of no change for us. We're still considered heretics that no one should talk to, but that's okay because we make our own way."
Sey introduces her new venture, XXY Athletics, a brand dedicated to empowering female athletes. She critiques the superficial commitment of major brands like Nike and Lululemon to social causes, arguing that true empowerment requires genuine support rather than mere marketing strategies.
Jennifer Sey [113:31]: "There's a real opportunity in the market for a brand made by women for women that truly empowers female athletes and gives them a real platform and stands up for them no matter what."
Through her story, Sey underscores the importance of integrity in business and the necessity of standing firm in one's values, even in the face of adversity. Her transition from a corporate role to entrepreneurship exemplifies the episode's broader themes of resilience and combating societal complacency.
Insights and Conclusions
As the episode concludes, Beck reinforces the notion that fighting stupidity involves fostering genuine human connections and leading by example. He advocates for a shift from intellectual confrontation to moral engagement, suggesting that acts of kindness and authentic interactions can pierce through the barriers erected by entrenched ignorance.
Glenn Beck [116:24]: "You cannot debate a person out of the fog because they've chosen to live in the fog. It has to be words of moral liberation, an awakening, a shock, a call from within."
Beck and Sey leave listeners with actionable insights:
- Embrace Authenticity: Stand by your values genuinely, without succumbing to external pressures.
- Foster Connections: Build meaningful relationships that transcend ideological differences.
- Promote Moral Awakening: Encourage critical thinking and individual responsibility to counteract widespread stupidity.
Notable Quotes
- Glenn Beck [12:34]: "I feel like all I miss everything could be gone and all I miss are the kids."
- Glenn Beck [45:22]: "Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice."
- Jennifer Sey [112:22]: "We're still considered heretics that no one should talk to, but that's okay because we make our own way."
- Jennifer Sey [113:31]: "A brand made by women for women that truly empowers female athletes."
- Glenn Beck [116:24]: "It has to be words of moral liberation, an awakening, a shock, a call from within."
Conclusion
This episode of The Glenn Beck Program offers a profound exploration of personal growth, the perils of societal stupidity, and the importance of unwavering integrity in both personal and professional spheres. Through Beck's introspective narrative and Sey's entrepreneurial journey, listeners are encouraged to cultivate resilience, foster genuine connections, and champion moral awakening as essential tools in the fight against pervasive ignorance.
