The Stakscast with Erick Stakelbeck

The West is dying to be kind. Dr. Gad Saad joins Erick Stakelbeck to expose the dangerous ideology behind his explosive new book, Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind—and why America and the West are destroying themselves in the name of compassion. From anti-Semitism and open borders to radical gender ideology, Islamist migration, socialism, and the collapse of common sense, Dr. Saad warns that the West is being infected by “parasitic ideas” that lead not to kindness—but to civilizational suicide. As a Lebanese-born immigrant who fled chaos and found freedom in the West, Dr. Saad brings a powerful warning: America is not the default setting of history. Freedom is rare. Civilization is fragile. And if we don’t fight for it, we can lose it. This is a clarion call for courage, truth, and moral sanity in an age of madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is science finally catching up to Scripture? David Rives joins Erick Stakelbeck to break down what’s really happening at the intersection of NASA, space exploration, and faith—and why astronauts returning from missions like Artemis II are boldly proclaiming what many in the scientific establishment have tried to suppress: the evidence for God is undeniable. From cutting-edge discoveries in paleontology, archaeology, and AI—this episode pulls back the curtain on a stunning reality: The deeper we explore the universe… the clearer God’s design becomes. David Rives tackles the toughest questions: Does space exploration actually point to a Creator? Is evolution beginning to collapse under scientific scrutiny? What do dinosaurs and the fossil record REALLY say about the Bible? Is AI accelerating discovery—or opening dangerous doors? Are scientists replacing God with aliens and false narratives? Plus, a look inside the groundbreaking Wonder Center & Science Museum, where faith and science collide in a powerful way for the next generation. This is more than a debate—it’s a battle for truth, identity, and purpose in a culture that’s desperate for answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was one of the most recognizable women on the planet—gracing magazine covers, starring in films, and rising to global fame almost overnight. But behind the spotlight… there was a deeper story. Kathy Ireland opens up about her unexpected rise to fame—and the moment everything changed when she encountered the truth of God’s Word alone in a room in Paris. From reading a Bible left in her suitcase…To boldly following Jesus in industries hostile to faith…To building a billion-dollar business rooted in purpose and integrity. This is a story about transformation. Kathy shares: Her radical salvation moment through Scripture Navigating faith in the modeling and entertainment world Her journey from supermodel to CEO and entrepreneur Standing boldly for life, Israel, and biblical truth How faith sustains her through trials—even now At a time when truth is under attack and culture is shifting fast… her message is clear: Put God first & Stand for truth—no matter the cost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trials are part of the Christian life. Pain. Waiting. Setbacks. Prayers that seem unanswered. But even in the darkest valleys, God is present — and often far closer than we realize. On this episode of Stakscast, Fox News chief legal correspondent and Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream joins Erick Stakelbeck to discuss her powerful new book, Nothing Is Impossible With God: 11 Heroes, One God, Endless Lessons in Overcoming. Shannon opens up about her own deeply personal journey — from career rejection and professional setbacks to a painful genetic eye condition that left her searching for answers and clinging to God in the middle of suffering. She shares how biblical figures like Noah, Moses, Daniel, Elijah, and Gideon reveal what it looks like to trust God when life makes no sense, when fear sets in, and when the road ahead feels impossible. This is a conversation about perseverance. About pain with purpose. About faith in the middle of uncertainty. And about the truth that even when God doesn’t change the situation immediately, He is still working. If you’re walking through a hard season, this episode is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Revelation is one of the most talked about — andcmisunderstood — books in the entire Bible. For many, it sparks fear. Confusion. Even dread. But what if the message of Revelation isn’t about panic… but preparation? Not chaos… but clarity. Not fear… but hope. On this episode of the Stakscast, Pastor James Kaddis joins Erick Stakelbeck to break down what the Bible REALLY says about the end times and why Israel remains at the center of God’s unfolding story. Are we living in the days of Noah — where the world mocks the warning signs while judgment looms? Why is anti-Semitism exploding globally after October 7? Are the geopolitical shifts in the Middle East aligning with patterns the Bible described thousands of years ago? Pastor James Kaddis new book The Last Book explains why today’s geopolitical chaos isn’t random —and why understanding the Bible’s final book matters now more than ever. It’s about being awake.It’s about standing firm.It’s about understanding the times we’re living in. The world is changing rapidly.The pieces are moving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

War with Iran is no longer a distant possibility. It’s a looming reality. As tensions reach a boiling point, the question is no longer if the Middle East will shift, but when. In this urgent and eye-opening episode of Stakscast, Jonathan Conricus — Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former international spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces — lays out what a potential U.S. strike on Iran could actually look like. We examine the growing threat from Tehran, the expanding shadow war encircling Israel, and what a full-scale conflict could mean not just for the region, but for the entire world. From Hamas’ grip on Gaza to the strategic alignment between Qatar and Turkey, new power blocs are forming behind the scenes — and they could dramatically reshape the balance of power across the Middle East. The lines are being drawn. The alliances are forming. And the world is watching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With global tensions rising, Israel back in the headlines, and America facing a profound spiritual crisis, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year. In this timely and sobering episode of The Stakscast, Erick Stakelbeck is joined by Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, host of the Jack Hibbs Podcast, and author of the new book Watching & Waiting: A 40-Day End Times Devotional—Living Today in Light of Tomorrow. Pastor Hibbs delivers biblical clarity for a confusing moment, explaining why the rise of Islam in the West, the explosion of antisemitism across the political spectrum, and the growing hostility toward Israel are all unmistakable signs of the times. From Muslim mayors governing major Western cities to the unholy alliance between Islamists and the radical left, Hibbs warns that Judeo-Christian civilization is under direct assault—just as Scripture foretold. The discussion ranges far and wide, connecting today’s headlines to timeless biblical truth, including: Why Islamism and radical leftism are joining forces against the West How antisemitism has gone mainstream—and why it’s spiritually driven Why Israel remains the centerpiece of God’s prophetic timeline The Trump–Netanyahu alliance California as a frontline battlefield for America’s future Why political and economic revival isn’t enough without spiritual revival Pastor Hibbs reminds viewers that Bible prophecy was not given to scare us—but to prepare us. As deception spreads and discernment fades, this is a powerful call for believers to return to God’s Word, stand with Israel, and live with eternal perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A dangerous deception is spreading inside the conservative movement—and it could cost America everything. In this urgent episode of The Stakscast, Erick Stakelbeck sits down with Brooke Goldstein—human rights attorney, founder of The Lawfare Project, and one of the most fearless voices confronting antisemitism and Islamist lawfare in the West. Goldstein exposes how Israel and the Jewish people are being weaponized as a wedge issue to divide conservatives, fracture Christian unity, and weaken America at the exact moment the West needs moral clarity and strength. She warns that isolationist narratives and anti-Israel conspiracy theories aren’t just wrong—they’re a deliberate diversion tactic that distracts from the real threat: Islamism’s war on Judeo-Christian civilization. Goldstein makes a shocking but clarifying point: How the “woke right” mirrors the radical left in targeting Israel Why Islamists don’t distinguish between Jews and Christians: we’re all “infidels” The chilling reality of Christian persecution worldwide—from Nigeria to Sudan Qatar’s influence campaign and why education is the battlefield for America’s future Goldstein’s warning is unmistakable: first the Saturday people… then the Sunday people.If the Jewish-Christian alliance fractures, the West fractures—and our enemies win Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Western civilization sleepwalking into a crisis it refuses to name? In this powerful episode of The StaksCast, Erick Stakelbeck sits down with BlazeTV nationally syndicated host and commentator, Steve Deace, at Turning Point USA's annual AmFest 2025 for a no-holds-barred conversation about the growing Islamic challenge to Western civilization. Deace breaks down why Islam is fundamentally incompatible with the West, how mass migration is reshaping Europe and America, and why the U.S. must stop exporting Western values abroad — while importing radical ideologies at home. The conversation also tackles: - President Trump’s Middle East strategy and why it worked - Why Israel serves as a “canary in the coal mine” for the West - Qatar, Hamas, and the danger of Islamic propaganda This is a must-watch discussion about faith, freedom, geopolitics, and the future of the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isik Abla’s journey to Christ began in tjhe Muslim nation of Turkey, where she grew up under the teachings of Islam. By age 12, she was a radical with dreams of becoming a suicide bomber. But a chance encounter with the Gospel transfomed her life. Now, she shares the hope of God with millions worldwide through her ministry and has even led terrorists to Jesus Christ. Abla joins Erick Stakelbeck to discuss her faith journey, the importance of breaking away from dangerous ideology, and her new book of devotionals, Heavenly Whispers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new Middle East is taking shape and Israel is at the center of it. Erick Stakelbeck sits down with Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, to break down the latest on Israel’s war against Hamas, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, and what it will take to finally bring the terror group to heel. Ambassador Leiter exposes the harsh truth about Gaza’s underground terror city, Iran’s rearmament attempts, and the global misinformation campaign that continues to demonize Israel while ignoring the real threats. Plus, he brings powerful perspective on Israel’s enduring bond with the United States and how President Trump’s leadership has reshaped the Middle East, brining peace through strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we witnessing a world information war—and a revival—at the same time? Johnnie Moore, former faith advisor to President Trump, joins Erick to unpack rising antisemitism on the left and right, the surge of replacement theology, Gen Z’s hunger for truth, and why bold U.S.–Israel leadership could unlock a new wave of Middle East peace. Get a front-row view of the Abraham Accords’ next chapter, the “world information war” targeting Israel and its allies, and Johnnie's on-the-ground work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation delivering food to civilians while calling out UN failures. Moore also sounds the alarm on the Nigeria Christian genocide and the famine in Sudan that too many ignore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Stakscast, I sit down with Victor Marx—USMC veteran, high-risk missionary, and founder of All Things Possible Ministries—who just launched his 2026 campaign for Governor of Colorado. His story reads like a novel: molested and left in a commercial cooler at age 5…years of brutal abuse, rage, drugs, and PTSD…then a radical encounter with Jesus that set him free. Victor went on to rescue more than 45,000 women and children from trafficking and terror across Syria, Iraq, Cambodia, and beyond. Now he says Colorado is at a crossroads—and he’s running to put faith, family and freedom back at the center. We cover: The turning point: from a closet standoff with a violent stepfather to surrendering his life to Christ Forgiveness that heals: the face-to-face with his abuser—and what finally broke the chains Why he’s running: parents over bureaucrats, courage over politics, people over special interests If Colorado chooses Victor Marx, it won’t just be electing a governor—it’ll be choosing a leader forged in fire who knows how to fight for the vulnerable and lead with courage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices