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Finding Your Spine

Finding Your Spine

Written by: Herzog Foundation
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In a time when courage feels increasingly rare, Finding Your Spine challenges the status quo. Hosted by Dr. Chase Spears, this weekly podcast explores how Christians—and even secular conservatives—can stand firm in their values amid the pressures of cancel culture. With insightful commentary and bold conversations, Dr. Spears examines the tradeoff many make between conscience and comfort, reminding listeners that true freedom requires the spine to defend it. Tune in each week for thought-provoking discussions that inspire moral courage in an age of compromise.

© 2026 Herzog Foundation
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Episodes
  • Operating Under the Consent of the Governed
    Jun 29 2026

    Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Josiah Lippincott back to Finding Your Spine for a candid follow-up discussion on how the two first connected. Lippincott recounts his viral 2021 Twitter exchange with a general over COVID policies and rising military suicides, which thrust him into the national spotlight. The conversation dives deep into institutional decay within the military — from “Mil Twitter” activism and ideological capture to senior leaders disconnected from the public they serve. They examine the founders’ skepticism of large standing armies, the bloat of endless briefings, and whether today’s institutions can be reformed or must be reset from core principles. Topics include accountability, the consent of the governed, parallel institutions, and what real national defense should look like in a republic. This episode offers sharp analysis on reclaiming military purpose, restoring constitutional focus, and why speaking truth remains essential even when facing institutional pushback.


    00:00:00 – Introduction

    00:01:05 – The Viral Twitter Clash

    00:03:37 – Going Viral and Fox News

    00:06:50 – Mil Twitter and Institutional Rot

    00:11:06 – Regime as a Choir

    00:12:23 – What Happened to the Critics

    00:15:20 – Burn It Down or Reform

    00:19:06 – Founders and Standing Armies

    00:23:46 – Resetting Institutions

    00:26:11 – Pentagon as a Sovereign City

    00:30:33 – Consent of the Governed

    You can follow Chase Spears on X @DrChaseSpears. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite episodes to keep the conversation going.


    To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.


    #Faith #ChristianLiving #Military #Discipline #Morality #Politics #BiblicalMasculinity #Masculinity #ChristianPodcast #American #America #Army #Navy #AirForce #Marines #CoastGuard #SpaceForce #NationalGuard #ChristianMen

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    40 mins
  • Questioning Wars of Choice
    Jun 22 2026

    Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Marine veteran and scholar Josiah Lippincott to discuss courage, intellectual independence, and the need to challenge institutional orthodoxies. Lippincott shares his journey from questioning U.S. presence in Okinawa to pursuing a PhD at Hillsdale College while openly critiquing leftist dominance in academia and moralistic foreign policy.

    The conversation explores the progressive shift in American warfare from defensive necessity to crusading interventions, the true costs of endless conflicts, and why the last genuine existential foreign threat was the War of 1812.

    They examine trade-offs in foreign policy, the domestic price of overseas engagements, the failures in Afghanistan, and the importance of prioritizing threats at home over nation-building abroad. Lippincott emphasizes connecting scholarship to real life, the value of popular writing, and maintaining principled consistency over partisan loyalty. This episode offers thoughtful reflections on military service, legitimate authority in war, and reorienting national focus toward American prosperity and security.


    00:00:00 – Introduction

    00:00:39 – Standing Against the Tide

    00:01:58 – Courage in Academia

    00:05:06 – Okinawa Questions

    00:06:47 – Popular Writing Discipline

    00:12:03 – Folly in the Pacific

    00:16:49 – Existential Threats

    00:18:30 – Costs of Crusading Wars

    00:24:58 – Afghanistan Reflections

    00:31:14 – Domestic Priorities First

    00:38:23 – Reclaiming Sovereignty

    You can follow Chase Spears on X @DrChaseSpears. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite episodes to keep the conversation going.


    To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.


    #Faith #ChristianLiving #Military #Discipline #Morality #Politics #BiblicalMasculinity #Masculinity #ChristianPodcast #American #America #Army #Navy #AirForce #Marines #CoastGuard #SpaceForce #NationalGuard #ChristianMen

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    45 mins
  • Navy Chaplain Forced into Homelessness?
    Jun 15 2026

    Dr. Chase Spears sits down with Navy Chaplain Jonathan Shour to discuss his courageous stand against the military’s COVID vaccine mandate. Shour shares the intense pressure he faced during chaplain training, the personal toll on his family—including months of technical homelessness while his wife was pregnant—and the moral challenges within the Chaplain Corps.

    They explore the film Duty to Disobey, in which Shour appears, and what it reveals about institutional failures, unlawful orders, and the duty to resist when conscience and constitutional rights are at stake. The conversation covers religious accommodations, the role of chaplains under pressure, the balance between faith and military duty, and the lasting impact on trust in institutions. Shour also discusses the Alvarado v. Austin lawsuit filed by dozens of chaplains and reflects on legitimate versus illegitimate authority.

    This episode highlights stories of moral courage, the importance of medical freedom in the military, and why chaplains must prioritize their calling to support service members’ constitutional rights. Viewers will gain insight into a pivotal chapter in recent military history and the personal costs of standing firm.


    00:00:00 – Introduction

    00:00:33 – Standing Against the Mandate

    00:02:03 – Duty to Disobey Trailer

    00:03:12 – Seeing Himself in the Film

    00:04:19 – Jonathan’s Military Background

    00:05:37 – Children’s Health Defense Role

    00:07:46 – Moral Failure in the Military

    00:13:53 – Pressure on Chaplains

    00:18:07 – Religious Accommodation Concerns

    00:24:35 – Family Homelessness Experience

    00:35:34 – Alvarado v Austin Lawsuit

    00:39:53 – Legitimate vs Illegitimate Authority

    You can follow Chase Spears on X @DrChaseSpears. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite episodes to keep the conversation going.


    To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.


    #Faith #ChristianLiving #Military #Discipline #Morality #Politics #BiblicalMasculinity #Masculinity #ChristianPodcast #American #America #Army #Navy #AirForce #Marines #CoastGuard #SpaceForce #NationalGuard #ChristianMen

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
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