In a cultural and political moment defined by outrage, division, and uncertainty, hope can feel naïve—or even impossible. But what if hope isn't wishful thinking? What if it's an act of courage?

In this episode, Bill and Scott explore why hope matters now more than ever. Together, they wrestle with the temptation to give in to cynicism, the exhaustion of living through constant political conflict, and the challenge of remaining compassionate in a deeply polarized society. Drawing from faith, history, and personal experience, they discuss how hope isn't about denying reality but finding the strength to face it honestly while believing that a better future is still possible.

Whether you're feeling discouraged by the headlines, weary from cultural battles, or simply looking for a reason to keep believing in people, this conversation offers an invitation to reclaim hope—not as optimism, but as a practice that can sustain us through uncertain times.

In this episode of New Persuasive Words, Scott and Bill wade into the moral fog of war, asking an old question that never quite stays settled: when, if ever, is war justified? Using the framework of Just War Theory, they unpack the escalating conflict between Donald Trump and Iran, and the public tension between Trump and Pope Leo.

Is this war defensible under traditional criteria like just cause, proportionality, and last resort—or are those categories breaking down in real time? And what happens when political power collides with spiritual authority over the meaning of justice itself?

Expect sharp analysis, a few irreverent detours, and a conversation that refuses easy answers. Because if Just War Theory is supposed to clarify our moral vision, this moment might be testing its limits.

What happens when Jesus Christ and Genghis Khan get dragged into the same geopolitical argument? You get one wild quote from Benjamin Netanyahu—and one even wilder episode of New Persuasive Words.

This week, Scott and Bill react to Netanyahu’s eyebrow-raising claim that history suggests goodness doesn’t really have an edge over ruthless power. In other words: nice guys…don’t finish first. Or second. Or maybe even at all.

Naturally, the guys introduce a new moral framework for our troubled times: WWGD — What Would Genghis Do? (Spoiler: it’s not “turn the other cheek.”)
Along the way, they wrestle with some uncomfortable questions:

• Is history just a scoreboard for the strong?
• Does moral goodness actually “win,” or does it just write better memoirs afterward?
• And are we supposed to take geopolitical advice from a 13th-century warlord now?

It’s sharp, a little irreverent, and just self-aware enough to know that comparing Jesus and Genghis Khan might say more about us than about history itself.
Come for the hot take. Stay for the existential crisis.