Dad Saves America

John Papola
  • 4.6 (87)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our kids, our communities, and our country through the lens of fatherhood. We produce powerful stories, exclusive interviews, mini-documentaries, and deep dives on a weekly basis. Our goal is to build a movement of dads and could-be dads who embrace our heroic calling to raise a new generation ready to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. We’ve had all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla. www.dadsavesamerica.com

  1. Why We Hate the Healthcare System: Obamacare, Lobbyists, and Fraud - Michael Cannon

    3D AGO

    Why We Hate the Healthcare System: Obamacare, Lobbyists, and Fraud - Michael Cannon

    I sat down with healthcare policy expert Michael Cannon to unpack why the U.S. healthcare system drives everyone crazy. From exploding costs and rampant fraud to government shutdowns over Obamacare subsidies, healthcare issues continue to monopolize our politics and our everyday lives. Contrary to what Bernie Sanders might think, government intervention—not capitalism—has rigged the healthcare system to benefit insurers, hospitals, and politicians at the expense of patients. We dig into how moral hazard fuels waste and overconsumption, why lobbyists undermine smart reforms in favor of policies that make the problem worse, and the coming fiscal reckoning for Medicaid and Medicare. _____________________________________ Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mfcannon?s=20 Read Michael’s work on Substack: https://mfcannon.substack.com/ Learn more about Michael’s work at the Cato Institute: https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] What’s behind the Somali fraud scandal? [8:31] Why is Medicare fraud so rampant? [12:42] How laws and lobbyists obstructed DOGE [18:33] The Obamacare subsidy government shutdown [25:58] The argument for Obamacare vs its actual results [32:31] The Oregon study debunks the health insurance myth [42:19] Does cheap health insurance make people less healthy? [58:22] How do you know that a medical treatment is worth it? [1:03:19] The tax code disincentivizes price transparency [1:15:12] Why does health insurance stop at state lines? [1:21:34] Do Americans really spend more on healthcare? [1:28:28] The U.S. subsidizes the global pharmaceutical market [1:36:32] The problem with pharmaceutical patents [1:42:53] Why do so many Americans idolize Luigi Mangione? [1:53:02] Death panels are an inevitable part of health insurance [2:00:35] Overconsumption and monopoly pricing in healthcare [2:06:33] Will the demographic cliff destroy Medicaid and Medicare? [2:17:59] Will Medicare-For-All end up winning the political fight? [2:23:39] The ideal solution vs realistic improvements to healthcare [2:32:18] Which country has the best healthcare system? _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nPnUI0OhMeA Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 44m
  2. Michael Shellenberger on ICE Protests, Censorship Threats, and His Radical Past in Venezuela

    JAN 16

    Michael Shellenberger on ICE Protests, Censorship Threats, and His Radical Past in Venezuela

    I sat down with journalist and author Michael Shellenberger to unpack the psychology of modern radicalism and why anti-ICE activists seem more interested in perpetual agitation than problem-solving. Michael reflects on his own radical past, including his experiences in Nicaragua, Brazil, and Venezuela, where socialist idealism gave way to corruption, gangsterism, and societal collapse. We also discuss his ongoing fight for free speech and the potential global impacts of recent European regulatory attacks on Elon Musk and X (Twitter). _____________________________________ Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/shellenberger?s=20 Read Michael’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@shellenberger Preorder a copy of “The Left’s War on Reality”: https://a.co/d/cnMuOGy _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] ICE protest chaos [13:06] Female psychology and left-wing activism [30:19] Why Michael got involved in radical politics [39:54] Interviewing the future President of Brazil [42:44] Is Marxism a colonial project? [47:46] What is “radicalism”? [55:53] Working for Hugo Chávez in Venezuela [1:01:41] Communism always devolves into gangsterism [1:10:58] Liberalism, globalism, and nationalism [1:18:02] Is “international law” a myth? [1:22:08] Why Michael is skeptical of the Venezuela intervention [1:31:48] The counterintuitive danger of natural resources [1:37:13] Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural speech should scare you [1:52:34] How elites keep mass democracy under control [1:58:30] The Twitter Files and the next social media crackdown [2:05:21] Free speech is a cause worth dying for [2:13:58] Antisemitism, cancellation, and the conservative civil war [2:24:19] Trump 2.0 proved that censorship can be overcome [2:29:36] What Michael has learned from teaching _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0z_KzE0OXaE Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 33m
  3. AI Data Centers, Nuclear Power, and the Limits of Capitalism - Robert Bryce

    JAN 8

    AI Data Centers, Nuclear Power, and the Limits of Capitalism - Robert Bryce

    I sat down with author and energy journalist Robert Bryce to unpack our society’s dependence on the electric grid and what that means for American security and prosperity in the future. The electric grid is far more fragile than most people realize—even more so given the so-called “clean energy transition” pushed throughout the 21st century. As we saw in Spain last spring, excessive reliance on renewable energy sources significantly raises the possibility of systemic collapse during electricity demand peaks. Now, with AI data centers driving up electricity demand, and therefore prices, a reckoning is overdue. Robert lays out the tradeoffs of renewable energy, the potential for a nuclear renaissance, and how energy policy challenges the assumptions of the free market and decentralized government in a world of geopolitical adversaries. _____________________________________ Follow Robert Bryce on X (Twitter): https://x.com/pwrhungry?s=20 Watch Robert Bryce on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@robertbryce?si=FKjtFk1G3WMudQw1 Read Robert Bryce’s work on Substack: https://robertbryce.substack.com/ _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] Will AI data centers break the power grid? [10:46 11:00] The electric grid is the most important system in our society [21:10 21:24] Why is the electric grid so fragile? [34:18 34:32] The forgotten innovations that reshaped society [42:54] What is “base load” and why does it matter? [52:58] The “clean energy transition” has always been fake [1:03:17] Will solar power ever be viable for a whole country? [1:12:28] Why would Germany kneecap its own energy capacity? [1:21:22] A society run by engineers vs lawyers [1:26:24] The Trump administration’s energy policies [1:31:00] What are the real safety risks of nuclear energy? [1:38:52] What are “small modular reactors” (SMRs)? [1:45:43] Nuclear waste is a political, not technical, problem [1:55:06] Does the US have access to enough uranium for nuclear power? [2:00:13] What are the limits to capitalism and small government? _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jAfGUUAvGBA Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 14m
  4. We Broke Childhood. Here’s How to Fix It - Peter Gray

    JAN 1

    We Broke Childhood. Here’s How to Fix It - Peter Gray

    I sat down with psychologist and author Peter Gray to unpack why anxiety, depression, and immaturity are rising at the exact moment kids have more “support” than ever. Peter explains how we stripped childhood of the one ingredient that actually builds competence: real freedom. We talk about the collapse of free, self-directed play, the fear-driven culture that keeps kids under constant adult management, and how modern schooling turns learning into compliance and metrics—resulting in bad habits and chronic stress. Play isn’t a “bonus” part of childhood; it’s how children learn judgment, resilience, social intelligence, and self-control. The path back to healthier kids starts with letting them take risks, solve problems, and grow up the way humans evolved to. _____________________________________ Check out Peter’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@petergray _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] Intro [1:06] Essential skills for a successful adult life [6:52] Education vs. schooling [19:40] Anxiety, depression, and immaturity [33:12] Is high school stress anything new? [36:48] Why parents to over-manage their kids [47:26] Are we training kids to accept authority and control? [55:58] The history of the school system [1:11:13] The policies shaping modern classrooms [1:19:01] The seven sins of the education system [1:38:58] What Peter learned from Ruby Lou [1:43:37] Play literally is education [1:51:04] Why trustful parenting works best _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8iRrZHUnB4E Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    1h 57m
  5. We Feminized Psychology, Parenting, and Society - Dr. Camilo Ortiz

    12/25/2025

    We Feminized Psychology, Parenting, and Society - Dr. Camilo Ortiz

    I sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Camilo Ortiz to unpack why modern parenting has become so exhausting—and why it’s also making kids more anxious, not less. Dr. Ortiz explains why kids need daily exposure to the four D’s—discomfort, distress, disappointment, and danger—and how natural consequences teach better than nagging or punishment ever will. We explore the limits and potential harms of today’s feminized therapy culture and how we can rebuild real-world independence through risky play, mixed-age freedom, and even early work. _____________________________________ Follow Dr. Ortiz on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DrCamiloOrtiz Visit Dr. Ortiz’s website: http://drcamiloortiz.com/ Learn more about “independence therapy”: https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12566881823&gbraid=0AAAAACiZd3IWu23qJsSxpn65U7GX9fkVZ&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0p7KBhCkARIsAE6Xlam-UlbNorBHFogiD9_yToVLHOcEIJaxqI86ql2tEa_EKyKbQkbimREaAomwEALw_wcB Dr. Ortiz’s article in “The Free Press”: https://www.thefp.com/p/the-secret-to-parenting-do-less-of-it _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] How parenting went wrong [5:45] The feminization of parenting and psychology [15:25] Abigail Shrier’s “Bad Therapy” [15:56] Therapy isn’t the solution to every problem [24:02] What are “mindfulness practices”? [31:25] Are mental health issues really that common? [36:13] Moms vs dads on childhood independence [43:19] Why is evolutionary psychology ignored? [54:19] Is academia biased by ideology or personality? [1:01:17] Nagging your kids doesn’t work [1:09:29] The collective action problem of childhood [1:12:42] Parents shouldn’t try to win every battle [1:23:15] What is “independence therapy”? [1:27:40] Are kids lacking freedom or authority, or both? [1:33:49] Focus on productive behavior, not identity [1:50:47] “Gentle parenting” is the worst of both worlds [1:54:06] How can you address real trauma? [2:02:58] The case for child labor [2:08:16] A lighthouse for sanity in psychology _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLouj8Hgvbg Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 15m
  6. Build America Up—Don’t Burn It To the Ground - Doug DeVos

    12/18/2025

    Build America Up—Don’t Burn It To the Ground - Doug DeVos

    I sat down with former Amway CEO Doug DeVos to talk about what it means to believe in the American way in an era defined by cynicism. Prosperity doesn’t come from slogans or politics—it comes from families, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who take responsibility and create real value. We unpack why pessimism has become a cultural default, how that mindset quietly erodes ambition and gratitude, and why faith in America must be rooted in action, not nostalgia. _____________________________________ Follow Doug on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Doug_DeVos?s=20 Read “Believe! Journal” on Substack: https://www.thebelievejournal.com/ Purchase a copy of “Believe!”: https://a.co/d/8SfMYUV _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] Elite influence or philanthropic leadership? [7:48] The Midwest’s community culture [11:19] Does online polarization represent real life? [21:53] American idealism vs. “burn it all down” [28:43] How did family formation become political? [36:37] Trust fund kids and generational wealth [42:38] The history of Amway [49:18] Criticisms of multi-level marketing [51:11] Sales is the most underrated career path [1:03:17] Free enterprise as a moral system [1:08:54] How do successful large organizations work? [1:14:43] Is the optimistic American spirit fading? [1:19:17] Life, liberty, and the pursuit of virtue [1:23:41] Building trust in a post-truth world [1:26:51] The Founding Fathers’ skepticism of power [1:34:40] The internet, social media, and AI [1:38:18] Does anything shake Doug’s optimism? [1:43:17] America is the comeback nation [1:46:27] How becoming a parent frees you from ego [1:50:01] Take on the responsibility of citizenship _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R2wk_QgvBwA Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    1h 54m
  7. Bridget Phetasy on Hookup Culture, Divorce, and Healing Our Culture

    12/11/2025

    Bridget Phetasy on Hookup Culture, Divorce, and Healing Our Culture

    I sat down with comedian, writer, and host of “Walk-Ins Welcome,” Bridget Phetasy to talk about how she recovered from divorce, hookup culture, and addiction—and how those experiences shaped her views on our current cultural crisis. Writing for Playboy in the 2010s gave her a front-row seat to a society going mad. Bridget’s previously mainstream liberal beliefs were shattered one by one, eventually leading to the realization that marriage and parenthood were right for her all along. _____________________________________ Follow Bridget on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/BridgetPhetasy?s=20 Watch Bridget on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@phetasy?si=vocDzLaTe0_885Nz Watch “Walk-Ins Welcome”: https://youtube.com/@morebridgetphetasy?si=xkIAzwIDvtMP3rKQ Follow Bridget on Substack: https://www.phetasy.com/ _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] What parenting teaches you [14:01] Start your family early [18:10] Where feminism goes too far [23:02] Hookup culture isn’t empowerment [34:53] Divorce triggers a dark spiral for kids [45:43] How pop culture shapes your beliefs [50:21] “Staying together for the kids” and real love [1:02:51] Having kids resets your ambitions [1:08:49] How broken people get lost in darkness [1:20:25] Identity is way more than your superficial traits [1:25:16] Trans surgeries and the power of sex [1:41:49] Is Islam incompatible with the West? [1:53:42] Group differences vs individual treatment [1:59:18] Can the 12 Steps heal America? [2:08:28] Institutional trust and the AI revolution [2:14:09] Psychological, ideological, and technological crises [2:28:19] Focus on creation, not destruction _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TwdnGWyjmUc Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 39m
  8. Dr. Drew on Narcissism, Childhood Trauma, and the Sexual Revolution

    12/04/2025

    Dr. Drew on Narcissism, Childhood Trauma, and the Sexual Revolution

    I sat down with Dr. Drew Pinsky to unpack how a culture of narcissism is warping our relationships, our politics, and the way we raise our kids. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr. Drew explains how collapsing family structures create adults who are fragile on the inside but obsessed with curating a perfect image on the outside. We talk about how social media rewards performative outrage and mob “justice,” why so many young people now filter everything through a lens of victimhood, and how the sexual revolution reshaped intimacy in ways most people still don’t fully understand. _____________________________________ Follow Dr. Drew on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/drdrew Subscribe to Dr. Drew’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@DrDrew?si=ep1LT1yWvqUKxrYW _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] Intro [0:53] What is narcissism? [15:17] Activist mobs, false empathy, and free speech [22:42] Narcissism vs sociopathy vs psychopathy [29:18] The impacts of social media [30:59] What is adulthood? [39:05] Family breakdown and the psychological crisis [51:38] “It Doesn’t Have To Be Awkward” [56:38] Grappling with gender identity confusion [1:05:53] The lasting effects of trauma [1:12:51] Marriage, divorce, and relationships [1:20:40] Why are gay and transgender issues lumped together? [1:23:18] Do Americans just need to toughen up? [1:25:18] Mental health impacts of COVID lockdowns [1:27:16] Social media hits girls and boys are differently [1:30:53] Homelessness, fatherlessness, and foster care _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RV0dnLFbu-k Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    1h 37m
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4.6
out of 5
87 Ratings

About

Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our kids, our communities, and our country through the lens of fatherhood. We produce powerful stories, exclusive interviews, mini-documentaries, and deep dives on a weekly basis. Our goal is to build a movement of dads and could-be dads who embrace our heroic calling to raise a new generation ready to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. We’ve had all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla. www.dadsavesamerica.com

Information

  • Creator
    John Papola
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    173
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Papola
  • Show Website
    Dad Saves America

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