The Aaron Renn Show

In this powerful conversation, Delano Squires, Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Flourishing at The Heritage Foundation and author of The Vanishing Black Family, breaks down the dramatic collapse of the Black family — from stable two-parent homes in the 1940s-1950s to today’s 70% out-of-wedlock birth rate. Delano explains how slavery deformed but did not destroy the Black family, but how the combination of 1960s welfare policies and new ideologies worked to undermine it...

In this return appearance on the podcast, demographer Lyman Stone joins Aaron Renn to discuss the latest global fertility and marriage trends as of 2026. While U.S. birth rates and marriage rates have shown relative stability at low levels, the picture elsewhere is far bleaker—sharp declines in East Asia and Eastern Europe, with South Korea hitting historic lows. They explore the long-term consequences: aging societies, loss of dynamism, military vulnerabilities, and whether the United State...

In this episode, Aaron welcomes men’s style influencer O.W. Root for a deep dive into the dramatic decline of men's dress over the past 30 years. From the universal suit-wearing era of the 1990s to today's pajama pants in public, they explore how tech culture, Silicon Valley, and the shift to digital life contributed to the rise of "slob culture." Root shares why classic menswear is fun, dignified, and accessible—even on a budget via eBay thrifts—and offers practical advice for any man wantin...

A special Christmastime podcast reflecting on some of the guests I've hosted this year, along with a special fundraising appeal during my limited time only discount window. Through December 12, you can support the podcast and get great benefits by becoming a Member at a special rate of 30-40% off. You'll not only help me work, but also get paid subscriber access to Substack, an exclusive monthly solo podcast, Member-only Zooms, and access to a private Slack community discussion group. You c...

Doug DeVos, former President and current co-chair of Amway, joins Aaron Renn to discuss the 50th-anniversary re-release of his father Rich DeVos’ 1975 classic book Believe! In an era of cynicism and drift, Rich’s unapologetic optimism, faith in people, love of America, and defense of free enterprise feel more urgent than ever. From sinking boats off Cuba to building one of the world’s largest private companies, this is a conversation about risk, patriotism, and perseverance. CHAPTERS (00:00...

Joseph Holmes—film critic, culture writer, and contributing film critic on my newsletter—joins the show to talk about his debut feature film Jim vs. the Future, releasing November 11, 2025 on digital and DVD. An ordinary guy, a Christmas Eve breakup, and time-traveling kidnappers from competing futures all fighting to force one decision that will save their timeline…and erase the rest. Think Primer meets It’s a Wonderful Life—with theology, multiverse genocide, and a guy who’s tired o...

Join Aaron Renn as he sits down with Dr. Mark David Hall, Director of the Religious Liberty in the States Project at First Liberty's Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy. In this episode, they dive into the critical role of state-level laws in protecting religious freedom, the surprisingly high ranking of states like Illinois, and why some red states like Indiana and West Virginia lag behind. Learn how you can advocate for stronger religious liberty protections in your state. CHAPTERS...