Approach the Bench

WEEK 25: The Singleness SpecialWelcome to Will’s house. This week, we slow things down after a run of politics-heavy episodes to ask a different kind of question: what if singleness isn’t just a temporary inconvenience—but actually a meaningful, even good, way to live? We kick things off with some spring break recap and listener feedback. Then we jump into a fun but revealing appetizer: Green Flag or Red Flag? From texting habits to family closeness to political intensity, we test our instincts on what actually matters in dating—and where people might be overthinking it.From there, we turn to the core topic: should you just stay single? We take a serious look at whether modern Christian culture has overpromised marriage—especially in the wake of purity culture—and whether that has set people up for disappointment. We walk through the biblical tension: marriage as a creational good, singleness as a real and sometimes advantageous calling, and the reality that neither is guaranteed.We break down the real advantages of singleness—time, flexibility, risk tolerance, and undivided focus—and distinguish between temporary and lifelong singleness. We also push back where needed: when “the gift of singleness” becomes an excuse to avoid growth, vulnerability, or rejection.Along the way, we tackle some uncomfortable but necessary questions: Are Christians subtly equating marriage with maturity? Why does Christian dating feel so intense and high-stakes? In what situations might someone actually be called to remain single long-term?We close by reframing the goal: not “find a spouse,” but “become a faithful, integrated Christian adult”—whether that leads to marriage or not.Then, of course, we finish with Girl Problems:How to handle it when someone seems interested—but they’re already in a relationshipDo girls actually like nice guys? (what the data says vs. reality)Do guys really have “types”?And one question we probably shouldn’t have answeredEmail approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction, Spring Break, Homeless People08:16 Where are We? And Feedback.10:19 Red, Yellow, or Green Flag?14:08 Singleness44:52 Girl Problems

Week 24: The Spring Break SpecialShooting at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Mason and Will take a bit of a break from the typical content flow to have a heart-to-heart on the bench. They discuss the positives and negatives of podcasting in a social media age and open up about their active debates about what to focus on, how to share their views, and whether to continue doing the podcast at all. If you want an inside look at the Christian Conservative Harvard Bachelor podcasting space, this episode is for you.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction1:17 Problems with Podcasting and Priorities13:01 Reflecting on ‘Political Podcasting’24:10 Spring Break Plans!25:50 Girl Problems: The Thirty-Three Percent Rule

WEEK 23: American Empire & Progressive Christian Nationalism.This week, we take the bench to the Radcliffe Gardens across from Cambridge Common and are joined by Frank, another Harvard student with a sharp interest in politics, law, and the role of religion in public life. We open with a quick introduction to Frank’s background — from Bates College to Harvard — and talk about what drew him into debates about politics, faith, and American power. For the appetizer, we come prepared with a classic law-student exercise: our top three best and worst Supreme Court decisions. We debate cases ranging from Brown v. Board and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to infamous decisions like Dred Scott, Buck v. Bell, and Wickard v. Filburn, arguing about which rulings most strengthened — or most damaged — the American constitutional system.The main topic turns to one of the most urgent geopolitical questions right now: Iran, U.S. power, and the rules of international law. We walk through the basic legal framework governing war between states under the United Nations Charter, including the prohibition on the use of force, the doctrine of self-defense under Article 51, and the principles of necessity and proportionality that are supposed to limit military action. Using the latest escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States as a case study, we ask whether American involvement fits within international law — or whether the modern system has simply broken down when major powers decide to act.From there, we pivot to the growing political figure James Talarico, the Texas Democrat whose viral speeches combine progressive politics with overtly theological language. We unpack the idea of “progressive Christian nationalism,” look at some of Talarico’s more controversial statements about faith and identity, and debate whether his approach represents a genuine theological vision or a political repackaging of Christianity.We then turn briefly to the Texas Senate race, breaking down the contrast between John Cornyn’s institutional Republican career and Ken Paxton’s confrontational, populist brand of conservatism, and what that fight says about the future direction of the GOP.Finally, we close with Girl Problems, where things get a little more personal: Should you ever settle for anything less than the best in a spouse? What are the top traits to look for in a husband or wife — and which traits are the biggest red flags? We each give our lists and debate what actually matters when choosing someone to build a life with.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introducing Frank12:27 Best and Worst Supreme Court Opinions22:56 Iran and the American Empire51:05 Progressive Christian Nationalism1:08:32 Girl Problems: Best and Worst Traits in a Spouse

WEEK 22: The Pastor Calling Harvard Law Back to ChristianityRecorded in Hastings Hall, the oldest dorm at Harvard Law School, this week we sit down with Justin Yim — the pastor serving HLS students — to talk about something that may be quietly happening across American campuses: a renewed hunger for Christianity.We begin with a quick introduction to Justin and how he ended up doing ministry at one of the most elite and intellectually intense law schools in the world. But before getting into it too much, we open with a rapid-fire parenting debate: at what age should kids be allowed to do various things? Smartphones, social media, dating, R-rated movies, alcohol, jobs, and sleepovers — we each give a number and defend it. It’s a surprisingly revealing way to talk about authority, maturity, and how modern culture has changed childhood.From there, we dive deeper into Justin’s story. How did he enter ministry? Where did he begin? And how did he end up pastoring students at Harvard Law specifically?That leads to bigger questions about evangelism in elite institutions. How do you share the gospel with students trained to interrogate every claim? Is Harvard Law spiritually darker than other places — or just intellectually honest? What does the daily life of a Christian law student look like compared to their peers? And what does it mean to faithfully preach the gospel when persuasion is never guaranteed?Then we turn to the big question: Is a revival beginning among young people?We play a voice memo from a woman in ministry describing a surge in campus ministry participation and discuss broader signs pointing in the same direction. After decades of decline, new data suggests the rise of the religiously unaffiliated has slowed. Ministries like Cru and InterVarsity report growing attendance, the Asbury revival drew tens of thousands of primarily young worshippers, and Bible sales and Christian content engagement online have surged. We ask Justin what he’s seeing firsthand at Harvard Law: are students actually searching for faith?Finally, we close with one of the most thoughtful Girl Problems segments we’ve had yet. Several female listeners wrote in responding to our conversation about dating and careers. They raise a serious concern: many women today aren’t choosing ambitious careers out of ideology, but out of necessity. If marriage isn’t guaranteed and dating culture is dysfunctional, financial independence becomes survival. We wrestle with the tension between traditional aspirations for family and the practical realities of modern life.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction3:45 Parenting Advice from a Dad and Two Bachelors28:31 Justin’s Ministry at Harvard Law53:40 Is There a Revival Happening?1:00:05 Girl Problems

WEEK 21: Is Modern Dating Rigged? (With Luis Penichet, HBS & Former Marine)This week we’re joined by Luis Penichet — second-year Harvard Business School student, former U.S. Marine, and founder working on a new kind of dating app. And we go straight at one of the biggest cultural questions facing our generation:Is the American dating system fundamentally broken?We begin with a blunt diagnosis. Dating apps reward dopamine, novelty, and endless optionality — not long-term bonding, sacrifice, or family formation. Swiping trains people to treat each other as consumable profiles rather than covenantal possibilities. We discuss why both men and women are struggling — women facing overwhelming choice and rising expectations, men shaped by pornography and comparison culture — and whether our standards are too high, too low, or just disordered.Luis then shares the idea behind the app he’s building: instead of scrolling through photos, you scroll through simulated conversations. Users create AI agents trained on their views, personality, and values. Those agents interact with other users’ agents first — and you review the conversations before ever seeing a photo. The goal? Shift attraction toward worldview, communication style, humor, and compatibility before physical filtering takes over. We debate whether this could actually rewire incentives — or whether technology will always drift toward superficiality.From there, we pivot to Luis’s family story. As the son of Cuban immigrants, he explains why identity politics and Marxist frameworks are so dangerous — not in theory, but in lived history. We discuss how grievance-based politics corrodes gratitude, how America differs from Latin American revolutionary culture, and why economic resentment can quietly become moral justification for state overreach.Then things get fun.We run through a lightning round of conspiracy theories — which ones are obviously false, which ones are plausible, and which ones we genuinely don’t know what to do with. Instead of dismissing or embracing them wholesale, we talk about epistemic humility, institutional trust, and how to think without becoming paranoid or naïve.Finally, we close with Girl Problems:- Luis speaks for the short kings (he is one):How should women think about height preferences?- Biological clocks and delayed adulthood- And the infamous Alabama HypotheticalEmail approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction2:24 Problems with Dating Culture18:22 Are the Issues with Dating More Deep-Rooted?37:54 Luis's Cuban Heritage and the Essence of America57:27 Conspiracy Theories...1:10:02 Feedback, real quick!1:13:22 Girl Problems: Short Kings1:21:05 Girl Problems: Biological Clock1:24:34 Girl Problems: The Alabama Hypothetical

WEEK 20: Inside the Life of Three Protestants at HarvardWelcome to Brian’s apartment. This week, we bring Brian Rath, Harvard Business School student, into the mix and step back from pure politics to talk about something deeper: what it actually looks like to live as Protestants at Harvard.We begin with a breakdown of the differences between Harvard Law and Harvard Business School — the culture, the people, and the academics. We then move into introductions and testimony — what brought Brian to Harvard, how faith shapes each of our lives, and what spiritual life looks like in a place known more for ambition than confession. We respond to strong listener feedback on our birth control discussion, including a passionate Catholic critique of Protestant sexual ethics, and we wrestle seriously with the differences in moral authority, conscience, and how Christians reason through hard questions.From there, we answer a thoughtful question from a law student about sharing the Gospel in academic settings: when is it bold witness, when is it unwise, and how should Christians think about appropriateness in professional environments?In the appetizer, in the spirit of Presidents’ Day, we rank the best and worst Presidents. We’ve got some controversial takes on those (now viewed and debated by over 400,000 people on Instagram). Highly recommend listening to this section!Then we move to the core topic: what makes Protestant life distinct. We walk through authority (sola Scriptura), conscience, personal responsibility before God, how we confess sin, how we think about moral reasoning, and why Protestantism emphasizes disciplined disagreement over moral delegation. We discuss life issues, dignity, and the difference between intrinsic moral wrongs and matters of prudential judgment.We close with the classic: Girl Problems.- Thoughts on pre-nups- Dating a non-Christian you genuinely love- And advice for the hopeless romantics who don’t want to settle but don’t want to be alone foreverHere are the links to Brian's Protestant resources:Gavin Ortlund/Truth Unites - https://www.youtube.com/@TruthUnites  https://open.spotify.com/show/5pwOh3BIp7rQaeZpmy8SF8?si=3744ff49a1994446Anglican Aesthetics - https://www.youtube.com/@anglicanaesthetics  https://open.spotify.com/show/1U8TF897KNNea8PTXpvIsD?si=f84bc76f5e3b4341Sola Media/White Horse Inn - https://www.youtube.com/@solamediaorghttps://open.spotify.com/show/11CeAFKB1ZF7pAmhGv4fMA?si=bf326f01138949efThe Daily Office - https://open.spotify.com/show/7ABjzy7Tumx5tczT8LBqX5?si=cd458d56ff1642a0Mike Winger - https://www.youtube.com/@MikeWingerhttps://open.spotify.com/show/57uF3G2X0cUJnUMLyRp5HY?si=8e56eada734a4e35Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction1:30 Harvard Business v. Harvard Law School6:46 Getting to Know Brian13:50 Feedback!21:32 Ranking the Best and Worst Presidents43:49 Very Interesting Discussion of Nuclear Energy!54:27 The Secret Lives of Protestant Guys1:34:00 GIRL PROBLEMS

WEEK 19: Can You Love Your Country in a Divided Age?This week, we open by reacting to this year’s Super Bowl commercials — what they reveal about American culture, corporate messaging, and the stories companies think will resonate with young people today.From there, we turn to the Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision and its long-term cultural and legal consequences. We discuss how marriage has been redefined in American law, what that shift has meant for religious liberty, family formation, and public morality, and why these questions remain unresolved a decade later.The centerpiece of the episode is a deeper conversation about patriotism, cynicism, and national identity. In light of recent comments from U.S. Olympic athletes and growing distrust toward political institutions, we ask: Can you love your country while being deeply critical of its leaders? Is modern “activist patriotism” compatible with gratitude and loyalty? And has Gen Z been taught to see America primarily as something to apologize for rather than steward?We wrestle with whether healthy love of country requires honesty about injustice without collapsing into permanent resentment — and how Christian ethics shape our understanding of citizenship, responsibility, and public life.We close with Girl Problems, responding to listener questions about modern dating pressures, political compatibility in relationships, and realistic timelines for engagement and marriage in a high-pressure professional environment.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction07:48 Rating Super Bowl Commercials24:42 The Gay Marriage Supreme Court Case36:41 Can You Love Your Country?54:10 Girl Problems: Hoeflation1:01:09 Girl Problems: Do Politics Matter in Dating?1:04:40 Girl Problems: Ideal Timeline for Dating/Engagement

WEEK 18: In this episode, we sit by the frozen-over Charles River and work through listener feedback, campus reactions to the show, and what it’s been like navigating growing recognition — both positive and negative — at Harvard Law.We respond to a thoughtful listener challenge on free will, causality, and moral responsibility, exploring whether human choice can be meaningful in a world shaped by causes — and how Christianity understands freedom, agency, and accountability.From there, we turn to one of the most sensitive and important topics we’ve tackled so far: birth control, emergency contraception, and IVF. Beginning from a conception-based moral framework, we walk through the biological and ethical questions behind fertilization, implantation, and different contraceptive methods. We lay out clear categories, practical decision rules, and how Christians can think carefully and consistently about conscience, medical mechanisms, and moral responsibility — without outsourcing moral reasoning to labels or institutions.The second half of the episode shifts to foreign policy and civilizational questions, as we ask whether Europe has reached an inflection point. Using current tensions over Greenland, NATO, and American leadership as a starting point, we zoom out to examine Europe’s Christian roots, its process of secularization, demographic decline, migration pressures, and political backlash. We discuss whether a civilization can preserve moral ideals after cutting itself off from the spiritual foundations that produced them — the “flower and stem” problem.We close by offering a realistic path forward for Europe and the West, balancing strategic realism, cultural sobriety, and spiritual clarity — and what Americans should learn before repeating the same mistakes.Finally, in Girl Problems, we respond to listener questions about new faith, past relationships, dating intentionally in law school, and navigating long-distance relationships with wisdom and honesty.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction02:37 Quick Feedback04:03 Immigration Update05:13 Meta Narrative on the Podcast08:43 Free Will vs. Predestination14:34 Should This Engineer Go to Law School?17:38 Birth Control42:54 European-American Relations and the Future of Europe1:03:46 A Very Personal Girl Problems Segment

WEEK 17: Welcome to Will’s home. In the snow. This week, we open with a long overdue feedback segment — responding to some of the strongest reactions we’ve gotten all season (including the Israel episodes, Larissa Part 1 & 2, and the Gen Z/Ozempic debate). We read comments ranging from thoughtful critiques to outright hostile takes, and we talk about what it means to have real disagreement online without turning into either cowards or flamethrowers.Then we hit an appetizer we keep getting asked: Does Harvard have a serious Christian community? And does it help or hurt to be a conservative Christian applying to — or surviving at — Harvard Law?The main course is the episode title: we rate Year One of the Trump administration across five categories, from F to A+:- National Security / Foreign Policy (Rubio at State, NATO pressure, China tariffs, Ukraine strategy, Israel/Iran posture, global institutions)- Immigration (border emergency posture, asylum policy changes, interior enforcement, detention levels, and the moral tradeoffs)- Culture War (DEI rollback, Title IX/sex-and-gender policy, religion/parental rights, Department of Education and foreign aid, Planned Parenthood funding fights)- Economy (GDP swings, inflation, wages, jobs, debt, youth unemployment, and whether tariffs are strategy or self-harm)- Moral + Effective Leadership (executive power, staffing, DOJ posture, special counsel policy, and the administration’s aggressive use of pardons)We try to do what most commentary won’t: give the best version of the case for each move and the most serious objections — then land on a grade.And because we can’t help ourselves, we close with Girl Problems:- Dating across Christian denominations- Do you date one person at a time?- Promise rings: sweet, cringe, or situational?- How do you plan to raise kids in this modern era?Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction2:54 Reviewing ALL the Feedback13:17 Being Christian and Conservative at Harvard Law19:45 Grading Trump’s First Year Back57:51 Girl Problems

WEEK 15 (PART TWO): We’re back at Harvard Law with Larissa Truchan for part two of our conversation, and the discussion gets even sharper.We start by sketching out our ideal third parties, debating what’s missing from the current political landscape, and whether America is locked into a permanent two-party system. From there, we make early predictions for the 2028 election, breaking down who we think will win the Democratic and Republican primaries — and why.The second half of the episode turns to Girl Problems, where we tackle listener questions and cultural flashpoints: Can guys tell girls what to wear? Should couples prioritize having kids? Are stereotypes about liberal women and conservative men fair or completely off base? And who should pay on the first date?We close by each offering a piece of hard advice to our own side and to the other, even if it’s uncomfortable. Give it a listen!Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction00:40 Our Ideal Third Parties12:45 Who Will Win in 2028?34:05 Girl Problems: Stereotypes about Liberal Guys42:11: Girl Problems: Not Having Kids50:25 Girl Problems: Stereotypes about Conservative Guys54:47 Girl Problems: Are Will and Mason Feminists?58:40 Girl Problems: Modesty!1:05:04 Our Parting Advice for a Better Political Future

WEEK 15 (Part 1): In front of the Harvard Law library, we sit down with Larissa Truchan — a Harvard Law student and viral leftist political influencer — for the first part of a two-part conversation across ideology, faith, morality, and power.We start by getting to know Larissa: her background, family, and path to Harvard Law, as well as how she built a large political following online — including what it’s like to create content that doesn’t always land the way you expect. We also dig into the distinction between leftism and liberalism, and how Larissa understands that divide.From there, we talk faith. Larissa reflects on growing up Catholic, attending Boston College, and how she thinks about religion, morality, and justice today. We discuss how faith does — and doesn’t — shape political commitments, especially in elite academic spaces like Harvard.The heart of the episode centers on Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundations theory, as we walk through a series of provocative moral hypotheticals designed to test whether our disagreements are about right and wrong or simply about taste and culture. These scenarios reveal sharp contrasts and many similarities in how leftists and conservatives reason about morality, norms, and meaning.We close by turning to foreign policy and power: whether the United States should act as “the world’s policeman,” and how to think about American intervention abroad, including the recent U.S. operation in Venezuela and what it reveals about sovereignty, justice, and global order.This is Part 1 of a longer conversation. Part 2 continues with deeper disagreement, sharper exchanges, and higher stakes.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction01:30 Getting to Know Larissa02:57 Why She Came on the Show09:34 Distinguishing Leftism from Liberalism11:38 Faith, Christianity, and Morality24:13 How Larissa Got into the Social Media World27:05 Infighting on the Left and Right29:37 Differences Between the Left and Right at Harvard31:19 Moral Tastes Hypotheticals53:27 American Hegemony: Good or Bad?1:33:27 Next Week!

WEEK 14: Returning from a trip to Israel, we sit down with Shanee Markovitz Kay — an Israeli American and fellow Harvard Law student — for a deeply personal conversation about Israel, identity, and what it has meant to be Jewish at Harvard Law in the aftermath of October 7.We begin by getting to know Shanee — her background, her path to Harvard Law, and her (as well as our) involvement with the Harvard Law Alliance for Israel — before stepping back to talk about the wide spectrum of Jewish religious and cultural practice, both in Israel and in the United States.At the center of the episode is October 7th. Shanee shares her personal experience, how it affected her family, her community, and her sense of safety, and what it was like to process those events while being a student at Harvard. We talk candidly about the response to October 7th on campus: the protests, silence, hostility, support, and the emotional and social cost of navigating elite academic spaces during a moment of global attention and polarization.We then turn to Israel’s response — the moral, political, and strategic questions it raised — and Shanee reflects on what she believes the way forward looks like, both for Israel and for those trying to engage honestly across deep disagreement.After Shanee leaves, we stay on to offer immediate reactions to the conversation, reflect on our own recent trip to Israel, and zoom out to discuss the history of the modern Israeli state, U.S.–Israel relations, and the broader geopolitical stakes often missing from campus discourse.We close, as always, with Girl Problems: Israel edition.This episode is personal, serious, and at times difficult — but it’s an honest attempt to listen, understand, and speak clearly about Israel, identity, and truth in a moment when those things feel especially contested.00:00 Introduction01:43 Getting to Know Shanee09:20 Harvard Law Alliance for Israel12:37 The Spectrum of Jewish Practice15:42 How Shanee Ended Up at Harvard Law20:36 October 7th35:08 The Response to October 7th at Harvard51:49 Israel’s Response to October 7th55:24 The Way Forward (Shanee)1:00:13 Post-Interview Immediate Reactions1:12:53 Our Trip to Israel1:41:00 The History of Israel1:46:19 America–Israeli Relations2:00:04 The Way Forward (Will and Mason)2:13:02 Girl Problems: Israel Edition

WEEK 13 (NEW YEAR’S EPISODE): It’s January 1st — a new year, new resolutions, and the usual promises of change. In this episode, we look back at 2025, make rapid-fire predictions about 2026, and ask a harder question underneath all the optimism: Why does it feel like our generation is still waiting for the promises of past generations to come true for us? We open with a bit of reflection on how we shot this episode and why we’re doing it on a hotel bed in Tel Aviv, Israel. Then we run through rapid-fire New Year’s questions, from cultural and political predictions to lighter bets about where the country and economy are headed in 2026. The heart of the episode focuses on Gen Z’s stalled trajectory. We talk about how our generation compares to the Boomers at the same age — wages, homeownership, marriage, career stability, and social mobility — and why so many young people feel like they’re falling behind despite doing “everything right.” We discuss delayed adulthood, credential inflation, cultural pessimism, and the growing sense that the promises made to previous generations haven’t yet materialized for ours.Finally, we close with girl problems — New Year edition: Can you ask a girl to go on Ozempic? Can men and women actually be just friends? And what should New Year’s resolutions look like for couples, guys, and girls trying to build healthier, more intentional lives?Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction01:50 Best and Worst Movies of 202505:23 Predictions for 2026!19:14 Gen Z Is Falling Behind56:46 Girl Problems: Ozempic1:03:42 Girl Problems: Can Guys and Girls Be Friends?1:08:19 Girl Problems: Resolutions for Couples, Guys, and Girls

WEEK 12, THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: This episode was filmed in Israel, overlooking the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, just steps from where Christianity began.We start by walking through some classic Christmas questions — everything from whether you tell your kids about Santa to our favorite Christmas movies and hymns. From there, we talk about what Christianity looks like in the Holy Land today: ancient churches, modern Israel, religious pluralism, and the tension between sacred history and contemporary politics.We reflect on what it means to celebrate Christmas in a place where the Gospel was first proclaimed — and how proximity to holy ground sharpens questions about faith, tradition, and belief in a secular age.And because it wouldn’t be our podcast without it, we close with Christmas-themed girl problems. They’re delightful. We promise.Merry Christmas — and thank you for listening.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Intro08:58 Christmas Rapid Fire Questions29:30 Christianity in the Holy Land42:11 Girl Problems

WEEK 11: Harvard carries unmatched prestige — but what is it actually like on the inside? In this episode, two Harvard Law students sit down to give an unfiltered look at the most powerful university in the world: the opportunities it creates, the tradeoffs it demands, and the realities that never make it into admissions brochures.We start with a simple but revealing question: Do you tell people you go to Harvard? When do you say it, when do you dodge it, and what does the name signal — socially, professionally, and culturally?From there, we ask the question everyone is really wondering: Should you go to Harvard? We break down the numbers — outcomes, salaries, clerkships, BigLaw placement, public interest careers, debt, and Harvard Law’s unmatched alumni network — and then contrast the stats with the lived experience. Is the prestige worth the pressure? Is the price tag justified? And who actually benefits the most from the Harvard system?We also talk honestly about bias and campus culture — ideological homogeneity, academic freedom, self-censorship, and what it’s like to be conservative, Christian, or politically heterodox inside an institution that overwhelmingly leans left. We discuss admissions preferences, faculty politics, and why Harvard repeatedly ranks near the bottom of free-speech indices.Along the way, we touch on elite education in America and whether the federal government — including a possible future Trump administration — should challenge Harvard’s tax status, admissions practices, or ideological capture.Later in the episode, we pivot to broader cultural questions: whether Christians can appreciate art created by immoral artists, how to think about separating art from the artist, and how faith should shape consumption in a secular age.And, as always, we end with girl problems — dating norms, male passivity, pursuit, boundaries, exclusivity, the “Mike Pence rule,” and how young Christians should think about romance, intention, and courage in a confusing dating market.If you’re considering Harvard, curious about elite education, or wondering whether the prestige is actually worth the cost — this episode is for you.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Introduction05:04 Do We Tell People We Go to Harvard?11:11 Finding Out We Got into Harvard Law18:33 The Power of Harvard21:17 Our Weird Grading System29:10 Ideological Homogeneity43:01 October 7th Protests45:13 Should You Go to Harvard?49:23 The Trump Admin’s Anti-Harvard Campaign54:17 Separating Art from the Artist1:04:00 Girl Problems: Video Games1:09:42 Girl Problems: Azriel’s Two Questions1:22:33 Girl Problems: Dating Apps Including Weight1:23:31 Girl Problems: How to Tell That a Girl Likes You1:27:30 Girl Problems: The Mike Pence Rule

WEEK 10: Freedom is fragile — and the cultural battles shaping America today aren’t coming from where most people think. In this episode, Mason Laney, Harvard Law ‘26, and Will Johnson, Harvard Law ‘27, sit down with Ryan Keane, Harvard Law ‘26, to break down the ideological confusion of our moment: from Hasan Piker’s pro-China escapades… to the romantic drought among young men… to the unraveling of Christian orthodoxy in the West.We begin with Hasan’s recent trip to China — his livestream from Tiananmen Square, the “Mao meme” incident, and the claim that Western criticism of the CCP is just “misinformation.” We unpack what the Chinese state actually is: mass surveillance, re-education camps, censorship, and a Maoist legacy that killed tens of millions. Why are so many young Americans romanticizing authoritarianism? What cultural vacuum is driving them there?Then we take on socialism vs. capitalism — the promises, the myths, the trade-offs, and the “equality vs. freedom” tension behind every modern political movement. We talk incentives, innovation, Scandinavian welfare models, and why centralized power always drifts toward secrecy and control.From there, we dive into the theological side: Can a Christian be liberal? We look at the hermeneutical shifts inside the Anglican Communion, the rise of progressive Christianity, the fallout in TEC and the Church of England, and why interpretive method — literal, symbolic, or cultural — shapes doctrine more than any vote or bishop ever could.And finally… girl problems: Listener questions on dating, Christian courtship, red flags, and when it counts as ‘cheating.’ If you care about faith, freedom, culture, or modern dating — or you’re living through any of these tensions yourself — this episode is for you.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z80:00 Introduction3:39 Getting to know Ryan15:07 Feedback17:06 Hasan’s Treason33:02 Socialism vs. Capitalism45:14 Reacting to a Liberal Harvard Law Grad’s Take on the School1:02:35 Christian Liberals, an Oxymoron?1:26:09 GIRL PROBLEMS

WEEK 9: America is in the midst of a historic immigration clash — from a rising foreign-born population to surging ICE removals and detention numbers. In this episode, we sit down in the historic Mount Auburn Cemetery to ask the question many avoid: Is mass deportation moral? And what does Christian ethics demand from us on borders, justice, and compassion?We dive into the scale of the challenge — who is here, why they came, what contributions immigrants make to our economy and culture, and the real strains caused by a broken system. We talk about the emotional and spiritual fallout of deportation, including long-term family separation and the trauma faced by children when a parent is removed. And we debate whether a law-and-order approach requires uprooting millions who have lived here peacefully for a decade or more.We also wrestle with the moral tension at the heart of Christian debates over immigration: the duty to uphold lawful order and national boundaries… and the command to love the immigrant and the vulnerable. When does compassion without enforcement become cruelty — and when does enforcement without compassion become injustice?Later, we lighten things up with a rapid-fire round of date ideas (some good, some terrible), a conversation about Christian influencers and the algorithms that shape them, some very eclectic discussion of demonology, family group-chat etiquette gone wrong, and of course, girl problems.If you’ve ever wondered what “justice and mercy” look like in immigration policy — this episode is for you.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:29 Intro03:40 Reviewing YouTube Comments and Other Feedback!14:01 Girl Problems Jingle Competition15:21 Family Groupchat Etiquette19:25 Mass Deportation — the Debate.46:52 Good Date? Bad Date?53:15 Christian Onlineism59:23 Demonology1:10:14 Girl Problems!

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL: In this episode of Approach the Bench, we travel to historic Plymouth, Massachusetts — the birthplace of the American Thanksgiving tradition — to talk about the Pilgrims, gratitude, politics at the dinner table, and Thanksgiving girl problems. Filmed right by Plymouth Rock, we break down the real Christian roots of Thanksgiving and why this holiday is more theologically important than most Americans realize.We dive into the story of the Separatists, why the Pilgrims left England, how their faith shaped early America, and the unbelievable, providential journey of Squanto — from kidnapping and slavery to becoming the man who saved the Plymouth colony. We talk religious liberty, covenant community, and why the first Thanksgiving was fundamentally an act of worship and dependence on God.We also cover how Thanksgiving became a national holiday, George Washington’s original proclamation, Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving address during the Civil War, and how Christian gratitude grounds us in humility, grace, and trust in God’s provision.Later, we run through a rapid-fire Thanksgiving questionnaire: turkey vs. ham, stuffing vs. dressing, canned vs. homemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin vs. pecan pie, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, mac and cheese at Thanksgiving, Black Friday stories, dress codes, family traditions, and when Christmas actually begins.We then get into politics at the Thanksgiving table — whether Christians should engage or avoid it, how to love across the aisle, why most Americans dread political talk at the holidays, and what it looks like to bring grace, truth, and the image of God into every conversation.Finally, we tackle Thanksgiving girl problems: when to bring your girlfriend home for the holidays, sleeping arrangements, how much her family matters in dating, and whether you should reconnect with hometown exes when you’re back for Thanksgiving break.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z8

WEEK 7: Young men in America are struggling — in school, in dating, in work, in purpose, in faith, and in mental health. In this episode, we sit down in Cambridge Common with Lindsay, an Army intelligence officer turned Harvard Law 2L, to talk about the crisis facing modern men and the cultural forces shaping young men today.We dive into why boys are falling behind in education, why young men feel lost in dating and sexuality, why male church attendance has collapsed, why addiction and homelessness are overwhelmingly male, and why so many men lack mentors, role models, and direction.We also talk fatherlessness, pornography, arranged marriage, masculinity vs. “toxic masculinity,” male crying and emotional health, Scott Galloway’s advice for young men, and whether the rise of victim mentality is destroying a generation.Later, we discuss naming children, the pro-life question, red flags in dating, and listener questions about relationships, marriage, and masculinity.If you care about the future of young men — or you are one — this episode is for you.Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:29 Intro19:59 Should Men Cry?24:50 Young Men are Falling Behind — Why and What Can Be Done?51:14 The Amber Alert Daughter Name Hypothetical53:25 Why We’re Pro-Life1:08:56 Girl Problems: Red Flags, When He Buys You a Drink, Should You Marry Your GF?, Playing Hard to Get, Going through Your Loved One’s Phone, and Body Count. 

The women are moving, and so are the men, just not in the same direction. How do we reconcile the gender political divide, if at all? Mason and Will tackle several of these big questions in this episode, but the biggest question of all: who was their childhood celebrity crush?Email approachthebenchquestions@gmail.com with your questions/comments or submit a voice memo at https://www.speakpipe.com/approachthebench for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also submit anonymous comments through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/9Zjxzkpwajivx19z800:00 Intro03:14 Comments from the Audience08:48 Is Kissing a Skill Issue?17:05 Why the Girls Have Gone Left28:58 Pronouns vs. Christianity38:55 Girl Problems: Celebrity Crushes43:02 Girl Problems: Love Languages48:51 Girl Problems: Side Hugs vs. Front Hugs51:11 Girl Problems: Married Setting Up Singles52:15 Girl Problems: The Dating Prospects of Conservative Female Law Students