Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It (September 9, 2025)

Overview

In this episode, hosts Mary Reichert and Nick Eicher cover three main stories:

• The complexities and controversies of casting proxy votes as Christian investors
• Ongoing debates within the conservative movement about the true meaning and future of conservatism at the National Conservatism (NatCon) Conference
• Efforts to reduce light pollution and restore natural darkness for people, wildlife, and the environment

The episode features field reporting, expert interviews, and thoughtful commentary, all with the aim of exploring how faith, politics, and science intersect with current events.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Hidden Power of Proxy Votes in Christian Investing

(07:15–16:28)

The Issue:

• Many Christian investors are unaware that their money—held in mutual funds, ETFs, or managed accounts—can be used by fund managers to cast proxy votes that frequently support social and political agendas contrary to biblical values.
• Large proxy voting firms and asset managers (such as BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street) dominate the process, often defaulting to "faith-based" guidelines that poorly reflect actual Christian values.

Notable Insights:

• Misleading Faith-Based Options:
  Ruth Poglitch, a Catholic investor, receives an offer to adopt a Catholic voting policy for her ETF, only to discover the fine print supports policies she opposes, such as pro-LGBTQ initiatives and employee benefits for homosexual partners (08:41).
• Proxy Advisory Firms' Influence:
  Tim Schwarzenberger, investment portfolio manager, emphasizes, "These guidelines have been voting in a way that is very much co-ESG... basically just using the same thing, they just throw in a couple of Catholic words here or there." (09:05, 09:39)
• Lack of Transparency:
  Jerry Boyer (CEO, Boyer Research) explains:

  “Proxy voting is one of those obscure things in finance that almost nobody understands ...but is incredibly culturally and financially important. So the way it works... if you own investments through a mutual fund or an ETF…you have given away your vote to that asset manager.” (10:38) “Those proxy advisory services have long been the subject of activism from people in the ESG and DEI movements and so they've been pulled to the left of where the country is and where most of the shareholders are.” (12:08)

• Advice for Investors:
  • Insist that financial advisors explain and respect your proxy voting rights.
  • “If they cannot tell you how you should vote or how you're already voting, including with your money...insist.” (13:13)
  • Boyer urges, “Well, be demanding clients. Make sure that your money is not being used to fight against everything you believe in.” (16:21)

2. Defining Conservatism: Debates Within the National Conservative Movement

(16:38–22:45)

The Issue:

• The conservative movement, especially at the NatCon Conference, is grappling with internal divisions and evolving away from traditional libertarian roots.
• Key questions revolve around foreign policy (especially U.S. intervention), national identity, and post-Trump leadership.

Notable Insights:

• NatCon as a Conservative Melting Pot:
  “NATCON is sort of this United Nations of the right wing, and I think that that's very encouraging.” – David Carlson, conservative strategist (17:11, 17:48)
• Trump’s Influence:
  “There are so many overlapping aspects of the rise of Trump, President Trump's agenda, the America First movement, and the rise of the national conservative movement.” – Nick Eicher (18:14)
• Keynote Tensions:
  The movement's founder, Yoram Hazoni, calls for less in-fighting and more constructive debate:

  “This is not just a sideshow. I want to know how is JD Vance going to win the next election if what we're doing outside for four years is tearing each other apart, accusing one another of the most horrible things, smashing one another in public.” (21:49)

• Debate Over U.S. Foreign Policy:
  “Why are these our wars? Why are Israel’s endless problems America's liabilities?... Why should we accept America First Israel?” – Kurt Mills, The American Conservative (20:39)
• Looking Beyond Trump:
  “The real threat is electoral probability post Trump…Figuring out how we can continue to win without the sort of superhuman charisma that Trump has is a difficult one because the ideas are good. But sometimes elections aren't just about ideas.” – David Carlson (22:14)

3. Efforts to Dim the Lights: Night Sky Advocacy and Light Pollution

(24:56–31:52)

The Issue:

• Most Americans no longer see the Milky Way; excessive artificial lighting is harming ecosystems, human health, and spiritual reflection.

Notable Insights:

• Impact on Wildlife:
  Diane Knudsen, Dark Sky International:

  “If it's too bright, [fireflies] can't find each other and they don't leave their place, so they just die.” (25:22) “Songbirds...can't differentiate the difference of artificial light and natural light sources.” (26:36)

• Ecological Consequences:
  Sea turtle hatchlings and coral reef reproduction are also at risk due to altered night environments.
• Personal Reflection & Biblical Perspective:
  Knudsen relates stargazing to Psalm 19:

  “God declares His knowledge in the heavens, and it’s such a powerful way that he can communicate to us.” (27:51)

• Practical Solutions:
  Use off switches, timers, dimmers, motion sensors, and direct lighting only where needed.
  “Well placed lighting helps too. Beams aimed where needed to serve a clear purpose. Warm colored bulbs that are not too bright.” (29:13)
• Urban and Natural Solutions:
  National parks like Badlands are certified dark sky places; cities like Flagstaff, Arizona, set municipal policies to reclaim darkness for communities.
• Big Picture:

  “Not only the health of our bodies, the health of our souls, it zooms us out of our daily problems in a beautiful way that draws us out of ourselves into a connectedness over ages…” (31:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Proxy Voting:
  “So basically what they do for their Catholic policies, they just throw in a couple of Catholic words here or there.” – Brad Littlejohn (09:39)
• On NatCon’s Role:
  “Natcon is not really serving as a place for developing a substantive policy agenda, but it is a kind of convening where every year we sort of find out what is the Overton window within which the conservative movement can operate...” – Brad Littlejohn (21:16)
• On the Night Sky:
  “We use the off switch a lot.” – Diane Knudsen (28:41)

  “The stars haven't gone anywhere. They're not endangered or extinct. They're simply waiting for us to flip off our switches and shift our gaze.” – Jenny Ruff (31:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• News Update & International Headlines: 01:02–07:07
• Casting Proxy Votes & Christian Investing: 07:15–16:28
• Defining Conservatism at NatCon: 16:38–22:45
• Efforts to Dim the Lights – Light Pollution & Night Skies: 24:56–31:52
• Opinion/Reflection – Dorm Rooms & Expectations: 32:12–35:56

Tone & Language

The episode maintains an informative, earnest, and thoughtful tone. Through interviews and first-person accounts, the hosts and guests blend personal stories, practical advice, and analysis, all centered around the intersection of faith, culture, and public life.

This summary captures the episode’s main stories and provides direct quotes, timestamps, and clear attributions, making it accessible and insightful even for those who haven't listened.