Podcast
Them Before Us Podcast
Hosted by Them Before Us · EN
Join host Jennifer Friesen, Training Director at Them Before Us, along with the TBU team, as they cover politics, current events, and policy updates affecting children's rights. Featuring top experts in politics, bioethics, law, reproductive technology, research, and culture, this podcast equips listeners to defend children's rights in debates on legislation, family, and technology. With thought-provoking discussions and expert insights, the TBU Podcast is your go-to resource for advocating a child-centric approach in today's world.
52episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Them Before Us #106 | Fathers Are Essential and Women Cannot Father
2w ago01:50:22Summary readyJoin the TBU team for our great big Father's Day episode! We've got interviews with Robin Porter from LoveLife, Roland Warren, the CEO of CareNet, a "Here for the Comments" segment on the best dads in media, and all our staff join together to share about their own mothers and fathers and the positive impact they made on each, growing up.Pastor Robin Porter has served in church ministry for over twenty years in various roles, including as lead pastor of Eastside Bible Fellowship in Bellevue, WA. He was introduced to the ministry of LOVE LIFE two years ago and was deeply impacted by the ministry's church and gospel focus to serve the most vulnerable. God continues to grow Robin's boldness to stand for life even as He equips Robin to mobilize and unite the church around the issue of life. See more: https://lovelife.org/Roland C. Warren is an accomplished author and serves as president and CEO of Care net. His first two books, Bad Dads of the Bible: 8 Mistakes Every Good Dad Can Avoid (Zondervan) and Raising Sons of Promise: A Guide for Single Mothers of Boys (InterVarsity Press), have helped fathers and mothers apply biblical principles to their parenting journeys. His latest book, The Alternative to Abortion: Why We Must Be Pro Abundant Life, guides Christians on a new way forward for the pro-life movement in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. See more: https://care-net.org/roland-warren/
SummaryThem Before Us #105 | We Graded Every State and only ONE Got an A
May 2200:47:06Summary readyWe just graded all 50 states on how well — or how badly — their laws protect children when it comes to parentage, surrogacy, donor conception, and marriage. Two-thirds of states got a C or below. One state got an A. In this episode, you'll meet the man whose state earned it — and the team that built the tool every family advocate in America needs right now.Go explore the Children's Rights Scorecard and find your state's grade at thembeforeus.comIN THIS EPISODENate Grasz — Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance, the largest Christian public policy organization in Nebraska. Nate led the passage of the First Freedom Act, one of the strongest religious freedom laws in the country, and has spent years successfully fighting to keep the words mother, father, husband, and wife in Nebraska's statutes — helping earn Nebraska the only A on the Children's Rights Scorecard.Learn more about Nebraska Family Alliance at nebraskafamilyalliance.orgWe also hear from Them Before Us founder Katy Faust and Engagement Director Patience Sunne on how the scorecard was built, what they found, and how you can use it to protect children in your state.
SummaryThem Before Us #104 | Mothers and Fathers are NOT Interchangable w/ the TBU Staff
May 800:37:49Summary readyIt's a special Them Before Us staff takeover as the gang gets together, in Brady Bunch style boxes, to share favorite mom and dad moments. Then Jenn and Sam go through some of the amazing moms in the movies as we round out the end of our Greater Than week of celebrating moms. What's a favorite memory you have of your mom and dad?And if you think every child deserves the mom and dad they came from, join us at greaterthancampaign.com.
SummaryThem Before Us #103 | Are Gen Z Men Having a "Crisis of Purpose"? | Micah Kunkle
Apr 2400:35:58Summary readyIf you've caught Micah Kunkle debating "Progressive" ideas on Jubilee or other platforms, you already know he's the real deal. Micah joins the TBU podcast to talk debate strategy, why so many young men are drawn to "strong male" influencers pushing harmful ideas, and how we can engage Gen Z in the fight for children's rights. He's one of those rare voices who's both a rigorous thinker and genuinely kind in disagreement, there's a lot to learn just from watching him.📺 Find Micah: Youtube @micahkunkle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahkunkle/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@micahkunkleAnd more about Maven: https://maventruth.com/
SummaryThem Before Us #102 | How to Restore "What Really Matters" with Tim Goeglein
Apr 1000:27:07Summary readyWhat actually holds a nation together when everything feels like it’s coming apart?This week, Jenn sits down with Tim Goeglein to unpack the convictions behind his new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and FamilyDrawing from history, culture, and personal experience, Goeglein makes a clear case: the future of freedom rises or falls on the strength of faith, family, and character.He challenges the quiet erosion of the American family, pointing out that when marriage weakens, everything downstream feels it. Strong families don’t just benefit children. They stabilize communities, shape responsible men, and preserve the conditions where liberty can survive.You’ll hear why restoring fatherhood is central to rebuilding culture, how faith once anchored public life in ways we’ve largely forgotten, and what it takes to recover a legacy worth handing down.If you’re looking for clarity in a noisy moment and a vision that looks beyond headlines to long-term cultural health, this conversation delivers.Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/4moiGsa---------------------------------------------------------Bio: Tim Goeglein is Vice President of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family. Formerly, he served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and as a deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. He was the President’s principal outreach contact for conservative and faith-based groups. Tim’s extensive resumé includes serving as a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation and as a communications director for U.S. Senator Dan Coats of Indiana and Gary Bauer at the Campaign for Working Families. Tim has authored a memoir, The Man in the Middle: Faith and Politics in the George W. Bush Era, and his latest book is titled American Restoration. He and his wife, Jenny, have two sons.
SummaryThem Before Us #100 | Making Fertility Fraud a Felony & Retaking the Arts
Mar 1300:51:35Summary readyBig news out of South Dakota, fertility fraud is now a felony! Learn more about how Them Before Us played a part in inspiring this legislation, sponsored by SD Representative Terri Jorgenson, and what it means for children's rights. See more from Rep. Jorgenson at her substack here:https://sdcapitoldiary.substack.com/Terri is a proud South Dakotan with a deep-rooted connection to her community. With a strong background in military operations and public affairs, she is committed to fighting for conservative values and protecting liberties in District 29. Terri's experience as a State Committeewoman and active role in the Republican party demonstrate her dedication to serving the people of South Dakota. ---------------------In the next part of this episode, Jenn interviews Caitlyn Scott of the instagram/youtube account @WhiteSquirrelMagic on why Christians and Conservatives need to retake the arts with truth, beauty, and HUMOR to share the truth.
SummaryThem Before Us Podcast #099 | Katy Talento Talks Trump and how to Life Hack the Healthcare System
Feb 2700:56:14Summary readyFriend of Them Before Us, Katy Talento is a Harvard-trained epidemiologist, naturopathic doctor, and former Trump White House health policy advisor who spent two decades inside the DC healthcare machine — then left to help everyday people and employers outsmart it. She writes about health policy, natural medicine, and how to live like a human — from real food and hormonal health to how to cut your medical bills in half using rules she personally helped write. All of it's at KatyTalento.com.For some of her recent articles, check out:Infertile, her guest post for our TBU substack - https://thembeforeus.substack.com/p/infertileOutsmart the Medical Billing Trap — a free step-by-step playbook for patients to fight back against medical bills, using rules she personally helped write in the White House https://www.katytalento.com/p/outsmart-the-medical-billing-trap?r=158d0wHospitals are Soviet-style Hellscapes Unfit for Humans - A Patient, Caregiver and Policy Manifestohttps://www.katytalento.com/p/hospitals-are-soviet-style-hellscapesSee more from Katy at @katytalento for IG, X, LinkedIn and https://www.facebook.com/katytalento.nd/
SummaryThem Before Us Podcast #098 | Patriotism isn't Political with Katie Broussard
Feb 2100:24:35Summary readyWhat are we teaching our children about America, and what are we neglecting?Jenn is joined by Katie Broussard, founder of The Littlest Statesmen and author of The Great George Washington, the first book in a seven-part series that introduces young children to the lives and characters of America’s Founders. A simple question from her three-year-old daughter about the Fourth of July led Katie to recognize how few resources exist to teach young children about the nation’s history, ideals, and sacrifices. That realization became a calling.In this conversation, Katie explains why the early years matter in shaping a child’s understanding of country, responsibility, and gratitude. She shares why stories of figures like George Washington and Betsy Ross belong alongside the fairy tales children already know. The discussion also examines why expressing appreciation for America’s founding principles has become divisive and what that shift means for families.Find more from her at https://www.thelittleststatesmen.comMake sure you're following Them Before Us across all of our social media platforms, subscribe on thembeforeus.substack.com and consider joining our TBU Ambassador program!
SummaryThem Before Us Podcast #097 | #GreaterThan Launches and a NY Photographer Wins against Bullying
Jan 3000:59:18Summary readyKaty and Jenn talk about the #GreaterThan launch, a coalition of most major Christian and conservative groups and thought leaders, to retake marriage and restore it to the institution that best protects children in society. Learn more at greaterthancampaign.comThen Jenn has a conversation with Emilee Carpenter, an NY photographer who took the state to court over her objections to using her creative voice in violation of her conscience regarding marriage. Learn more about her and see her work at https://www.emileecarpenter.com/
SummaryThem Before Us Bonus | Is Katy Faust Anti-Adoption?
Jan 1500:10:17Summary readyKaty's recent post promoting the #LiveAction Young Leader summit, where she is speaking this year, garnered some comments from someone claiming Katy is anti-adoption. Katy goes on the record with her controversial take on adoption and answers the question once and for all, where she stands on the topic.
Summary