Finding Your Spine
In a time when courage feels increasingly rare, Finding Your Spine challenges the status quo. Hosted by Dr. Chase Spears, this weekly podcast explores how Christians—and even secular conservatives—can stand firm in their values amid the pressures of cancel culture. With insightful commentary and bold conversations, Dr. Spears examines the tradeoff many make between conscience and comfort, reminding listeners that true freedom requires the spine to defend it. Tune in each week for thought-provoking discussions that inspire moral courage in an age of compromise.
Finding Your Spine
Building Courage from the Founding Fathers to the Modern Military
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Dr. Franklin Annis, an active-duty military philosopher and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, to explore how education shapes courage and leadership. They trace Stoic influences on America’s founding and military traditions, examine Alden Partridge’s pioneering character-building at West Point, and contrast Renaissance ideals with the Prussian obedience model that still dominates today. Annis shares insights from his book Marching with Spartans (Vol. 1), battlefield lessons, and practical steps parents can take—classical reading, voluntary hardship, ruck marches—to raise resilient, virtuous children. You can follow Dr. Annis on X @EvolvingWar.
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:47 - Book & Credentials
00:04:31 - Founding Era Model
00:06:48 - Philosophy Decline
00:07:55 - Prussian Origins
00:11:31 - Dewey Influence
00:15:02 - Courage Grounding
00:16:57 - College Purpose
00:19:18 - Eudaimonia Happiness
00:23:35 - Self-Reliance Economy
00:28:39 - Prussian Eugenics
00:34:45 - Andragogy vs Pedagogy
00:38:24 - Citizen Duties Lost
00:40:19 - Conflicting Worldviews
00:45:51 - Stoic Philosophy
00:48:07 - Cato & Archetypes
00:51:32 - Modern Stories
00:56:17 - Parent Solutions
01:00:46 - Partridge Marches
01:02:26 - Follow Dr. Annis
01:03:00 - Closing
You can follow Chase Spears on X @DrChaseSpears. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite episodes to keep the conversation going.
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