The Conservative Voice on WWDB AM 860 in Philadelphia

Gary Heasley

Gary and Ada explore national and local issues from a conservative, liberty focused standpoint. Each Friday during the noon hour, they speak with dynamic guests, including elected officials, political candidates, activists, business owners and everyday citizens to address matters that concern the rights and responsibilities of all Americans and that impact the future of our communities and our nation. The show not only provides interesting and thought-provoking analysis, but it also empowers citizens to take action, stand up for their principles, and make an impact.

  1. Jul 3

    The Founders’ Warning: Why the Constitution is at Risk

    Is the pursuit of happiness the key to saving our Republic? Gary Heasley is joined by Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, to explore the profound wisdom of the Founding Fathers. We dive into Rosen's latest book, The Pursuit of Happiness, and discuss how the classical definition of "happiness"—rooted in self-mastery and virtue—is essential for the survival of the American Constitution. In this episode: The Founder's Secret: Why "happiness" meant something very different in 1776 than it does today.The Classical Influence: How ancient philosophy shaped the minds of Washington, Jefferson, and Adams.Civil Discourse: The role of the National Constitution Center in fostering non-partisan constitutional education.Self-Mastery vs. Self-Indulgence: Why the Founders believed true freedom requires personal discipline.Restoring the Republic: Actionable insights on how we can return to a more virtuous and unified American society.The Founders warned that the Constitution only works for a virtuous people. It’s time to rediscover the values that built this nation. Support The Conservative Voice: ✅ Subscribe to join the fight for constitutional truth and education. 🔔 Hit the Bell to never miss an interview with America’s top thinkers. 👍 Like this! Timeline 01:27 - Guest Introduction: Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, joins the discussion.03:10 – The Pursuit of Happiness05:35 - Pursuit of Happiness vs. Pleasure: Exploring the classical meaning of "happiness" as virtue and self-mastery.06:43 - Ben Franklin’s List of Virtues: Jeffrey Rosen describes how Franklin used a grid to track his 13 virtues nightly.07:42 - Classical Philosophy and the Soul: A look at Pythagorean and Aristotelian influences on the founders' views.08:31 - Personal vs. Political Self-Government: How individual virtue was seen as the foundation for a stable republic.10:11 - Madison’s Nightmare: The challenge of modern social media and "online mobs"13:30 - Sovereignty and We the People: James Wilson and the idea that power belongs to the citizens, not the state.14:30 – Madison’s Warning: Why the Founders feared "mob rule".16:05 - The Blessings of Liberty Podcast: Rosen’s work with Ken Burns and the organization FIRE).18:17 - Free Speech in Journalism: The shift toward partisan interpretation in modern media.20:05 - The Legal Test for Free Speech: Discussion on the rigorous "imminent violence" standard in America.31:12 - Free Speech Rankings on Campus: Gary and Jeffrey discuss the poor free speech ratings of several Pennsylvania colleges.36:25 - The Fourth Amendment and Privacy: Analysis of a Supreme Court decision regarding geofencing and cell phone data privacy.44:03 - Recent Supreme Court Decisions: Discussion on rulings,• • 54:09 - Local History Spotlight: John Morton, the Pennsylvania delegate whose vote helped secure the Declaration of Independence.

    The Founders’ Warning: Why the Constitution is at Risk
  2. Jul 3

    The Swashbuckling Tale of James Forton: A 10-Year-Old Revolutionary Hero

    Celebrating the Semi-Quincentennial: A Deep Dive into Philadelphia’s Revolutionary History In this special episode of The Conservative Voice Philly, host Gary Heasley and guests Mina Corals and Caris Coker are joined by Tyler Putnam from the Museum of the American Revolution. Together, they explore the profound history literally embedded in the streets of Philadelphia as we approach the nation's 250th anniversary. Tyler shares the incredible "emotional" story behind one of the museum's centerpieces—George Washington's original field tent—and what its preservation tells us about the survival of the American Republic. We also discuss the often-forgotten heroes of the Revolution, including the remarkable story of James Forton, a 10-year-old freeborn African American who heard the first reading of the Declaration of Independence and went on to become a prisoner of war and a millionaire business leader. From the brutal conditions of British prison ships to the "time capsule" experience of walking through Old City, this episode is a masterclass in the sacrifices made to secure American liberty. Key Topics Discussed: The significance of the Semi-Quincentennial (250th Anniversary).The "hard sell" and emotional impact of George Washington’s tent.The "forgotten" founding fathers and common soldiers.The harrowing experience of American prisoners on the HMS Jersey.The evolution of the Declaration of Independence as America’s "greatest export."Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Heading into the Fourth of July & the Semi-Quincentennial02:37 - Guest Tyler Putnam: The Museum of the American Revolution03:29 - George Washington’s Tent: A metaphor for the Republic’s survival07:18 - Gouveneur Morris and the coining of "We the People"08:50 - The Smart Money: Why the Revolution was a "long shot" in 177612:45 - Historical Empathy: Engaging the next generation of students15:23 - James Forton: The 10-year-old boy who saw the birth of a nation18:14 - The HMS Jersey: Life and death on a British prison ship25:27 - From Powder Boy to Millionaire: The legacy of James Forton29:16 - Resident Historian Caris Coker joins the discussion32:25 - The Betsy Ross House & The Small Spaces of Early Philadelphia34:11 - The Roots of the Liberty Bell and William Penn’s Charter35:34 - The British Occupation of Philadelphia (1777-1778)38:36 - 1783: Why the war lasted much longer than most people think40:33 - The Suffering at Valley Forge: Disease vs. Battle42:01 - 17 Minutes: Modern military medicine vs. Revolutionary conditions44:18 - The 100-Year-Old Startup: History of the Museum's collection46:05 - The President’s House: Visiting the original "White House" in Philly48:13 - The Quagmire: Why the British finally gave up the fight51:55 - Property Rights and the Unique Success of the American System

    The Swashbuckling Tale of James Forton: A 10-Year-Old Revolutionary Hero

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Gary and Ada explore national and local issues from a conservative, liberty focused standpoint. Each Friday during the noon hour, they speak with dynamic guests, including elected officials, political candidates, activists, business owners and everyday citizens to address matters that concern the rights and responsibilities of all Americans and that impact the future of our communities and our nation. The show not only provides interesting and thought-provoking analysis, but it also empowers citizens to take action, stand up for their principles, and make an impact.

You Might Also Like