Struggles Today's Women Face
With the responsibilities of home, work and friends, today’s women are facing many challenges. In addition, the popular media’s depictions of beauty and womanhood have left many women feeling inadequate. This week’s guest, Sharon Jaynes is the vice president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, a ministry that offers spiritual encouragement to women. In part one of a two-part series, Sharon talks about some of the issues facing women today and how popular culture is misleading women into trying to be something that they are not. (December 30)

Legal Rights at Christmas
Each year as the Christmas season hits full swing, so do the stories of excluded nativity scenes on public property and students who are prevented from singing Christmas carols that reference the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth. But is it legal to exclude references to the Christian message of Christmas? This week’s guest, John Whitehead, sheds some light on the misunderstandings that arise during the holiday season about what is and is not legal concerning the public celebration of Christmas. John is the president and founder of The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties and human rights organization located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Rutherford Institute has recently published “The Twelve Rules of Christmas,” which offers guidelines for religious expression at Christmas. (December 17)

Hostility Toward Religion
In September 2004, a 51-page report was delivered to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, which outlined hundreds of religious freedom violations across the country. Senator John Cornyn asked the Liberty Legal Institute, a religious freedom organization, to compile the list after hearing testimony about widespread hostility toward religious freedom in America. On this week’s program, Chief Counsel of the Liberty Legal Institute, Kelly Shackelford, talks about some of the cases in the report and explains what rights students and teachers have when it come to religious activity in school. (December 10)

Confronting the World of Biotechnology
Modern technology is presenting a whole new set of possibilities for finding cures to many of today’s diseases. But along with the new technology has come a new set of ethical questions as well. In the first of a two-part series of programs, author and bioethics expert Wesley Smith discusses some of the findings in his book “Consumer’s Guide to a Brave New World,” which examines developments in the biotechnology field and what impact these developments could have on humanity. On the first week’s program, he defines biotechnology and explains what people need to know about stem cell research, particularly the differences between adult and the more controversial embryonic stem cells. The second week, he addresses the issue of human cloning and how it relates to the debate over stem cells. He also talks about some of the beneficial advances in biotechnology. (November 26 & December 3)

Change Possible for Homosexuals
Their stories are rarely heard, but there are many Americans who have come out of the homosexual lifestyle to lead normal and healthy lives. Though the homosexual “rights” movement has done its best to dismiss the testimony of those who have left this lifestyle, their stories are beginning to be told. This week’s guest, Dr. Warren Throckmorton is the author and producer of a new documentary called “I Do Exist,” which features the compelling stories of ex-homosexuals and addresses some important issues in the debate over the origin of homosexuality. On this week’s show, Dr. Throckmorton talks about some of the material in the documentary and the individuals he interviewed. (November 19)

Teen Virginity Pledges
Opponents of abstinence education have downplayed the impact of virginity pledges taken by teenagers who promise to delay sexual activity until marriage. However, a new study released by the Heritage Foundation has found that teenagers who make virginity pledges have reduced amounts of sexual activity and experience other beneficial life outcomes. This week’s guest, Melissa Pardue, is a social welfare policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation. She explains what this study reveals about teenagers who make virginity pledges and why it is important to the ongoing debate over abstinence-only education. (November 12)

The Impact of Abortion on Women
Pro-abortion advocates have worked hard to convince women that the right to abortion is in their best interest. However, as this week’s guest, Paige Comstock Cunningham, points out, abortion has not granted women the equality and freedom that promoters claim. As the senior fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, she has written, lectured and testified in Congress about the impact of abortion on women. On this week’s program, Paige talks about what the court decisions legalizing abortion and abortion itself have done to women. (November 5)

Why Gender Differences Matter
The politically correct view that permeates much of society teaches that the differences between men and women are socially constructed and that men and women have virtually interchangeable roles. However, this week’s guest has conducted extensive research and come to a very different conclusion. Steven Rhoads, a professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more than 30 years, has just released his latest book entitled “Taking Sex Differences Seriously.” In part one (the first in a two-part series), Professor Rhoads talks about the innate difference between men and women, why these differences are important and how the denial of these differences has contributed to many societal problems. In part two he discusses how the denial of natural differences between men and women has influenced public policy. He also explains the unique things that men and women bring to child rearing and interaction with children.(October 22 & 29)

Charter Schools: Innovation in Education
As discontent grows among traditional public school parents, many have been turning to an alternative educational option—charter schools. Authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1996, charter schools are public schools that offer an alternative to the traditional approach to public education. This week’s guest, Lindalyn Kakadelis, is the director of the North Carolina Education Alliance (NCAE), a project of the John Lock Foundation. The NCAE has just released a new report called “Charter Schools: Innovation in Education,” which highlights the benefits of these schools. Lindalyn discusses some of the key issues in the report and explains how charter schools are making a difference in North Carolina. (October 15)

TV Sex and Teen Behavior
A new RAND Corporation study has confirmed what many have said for years—sexual content on television can have an affect on the behavior of teenagers. The study found that adolescents who watch a large amount of sex on television are twice as likely as those who watch very little to initiate sexual intercourse. On this week’s program, Melissa Caldwell, the director of research and publications for the Parents Television Council, discusses the study’s findings and what can be done to protect young viewers from harmful programming on television. (October 8)

NCFPC Legal Intern Insights
Each summer the North Carolina Family Policy Council welcomes legal interns from the Alliance Defense Fund’s Blackstone Fellowship to assist the staff in research projects and legislative issues. On this week’s show, interns Dorrian Horsey and Paul Dye discuss what they have learned about public policy during their time with the Family Policy Council. They also explain some of the findings from their research regarding how constitutional and conflict law relate to North Carolina’s marriage laws, as well as the legality of domestic partnerships. (October 1)

The Freedom-Based Law Movement
When most people hear the term “public interest law,” they usually think of liberal groups. But a very different type of public interest law has been practiced in the United States for the past 30 years, something this week’s guest calls “freedom-based” public interest law. Edwin Meese III is the chairman of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation. He served as the 75th Attorney General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan. On this week’s program he discusses this legal movement the purpose of which is to defend the legal rights of Americans from government intrusion and judicial activism. (September 24)

Dating Practices and Links to Risky Behavior
A new study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) has found that teenagers who have sexually active friends and certain dating practices are at a higher risk of abusing drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol. This week’s guest, Joseph Califano, Jr. is the chairman and president of CASA. He discusses the study, as well as this year’s “Family Day: A Day To Eat Dinner With Your Children.” Mr. Califano also discusses how families eating dinner together can have a number of positive impacts on teen substance abuse and other behaviors. (September 17)

Christian Fraternity Files Suit Against UNC-Chapel Hill
The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has filed a lawsuit against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) on behalf of Alpha Iota Omega (AIO), a Christian fraternity. The action comes after the University withdrew official recognition of AIO when the fraternity’s leadership objected to signing the University’s non-discrimination policy, which forbids the use of religious affiliation as a criterion for membership. This week’s guest is Jordan Lorence, senior counsel for ADF, who specializes in constitutional law. On the program, he discusses the case, the constitutional questions involved, and how it could impact religious freedom on college campuses nationwide. (September 3)

Christian Worldview and the Public Square
As Christians continue to work to change today’s culture, many opponents claim that Christianity should remain a private matter outside the public arena of politics, business, law and education. But should it? This week’s guest, Nancy Pearcey doesn’t think so. In her new book, “Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity,” Nancy challenges this effort to keep the sacred and secular separate as the main force stifling Christianity’s effectiveness in redeeming the culture. On this week’s program, Nancy explains why it is important for everyone, including young people, to develop a strong Christian worldview. Nancy is the senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and the Francis A. Schaeffer scholar at the World Journalism Institute. (August 27)

Dr. James Dobson On Civic Responsibility
As the November election approaches, voter registration drives are being held in churches across the country to encourage more Christians to get out and vote. On this week’s show, Dr. James Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, speaks about the Biblical responsibility that Christians have to be involved in the public policy arena and to vote. Dr. Dobson challenges individuals and churches to take the time to be informed on the issues and to cast their ballot on election day. (August 20)

Advancing the Federal Marriage Amendment
On July 14th, 2004, the U.S. Senate voted against a procedural move to bring the Federal Marriage Amendment up for a floor vote. Though a temporary defeat in the effort to protect traditional marriage in the U.S. Constitution, it was only the first in a number of legislative battles that will be fought over the issue. This week’s guest, Matt Daniels, is the president of the Alliance for Marriage, the organization that is the principal drafter of the Federal Marriage Amendment. Matt will be talking about the historic vote in the Senate, what it means for efforts to protect marriage, and where we go from here in the battle to protect marriage from redefinition. (August 13)

Feminism's Opposition to School Choice
Normally known as the defenders of “choice,” most feminist organizations oppose parental choices in education. Instead, they criticize such plans as detrimental to education. On this week’s program, Carrie Lukas, the director of policy for the Independent Women’s Forum, explains school choice and its benefits. Referencing her report, “Recess from Reality: The Feminist Failure to Embrace School Choice,” Carrie responds to criticism from women’s groups and contends that education policies that give parents more control over their children’s schooling are beneficial for women. (August 5)

2004 Legislative Session Review
In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 18th, the 2004 “Short” Legislative Session of the North Carolina General Assembly officially ended. Unfortunately, pro-family initiatives (most notably a state marriage amendment) received little attention this year. On this week’s program, John Rustin, the director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council, will be talking about what happened during the short session and what we can expect when the General Assembly returns in January 2005. (July 30)

Myths of Working Mothers
In today’s society, women are told that they can have it all, including a full-time career while raising children. This week’s guest Suzanne Venker, a writer and full-time mother, discusses why society’s promotion of full-time career and full-time motherhood is regrettable. In her book “Seven Myths of Working Mothers: Why Children and (Most) Careers Just Don’t Mix,” Suzanne addresses many of the misconceptions about working motherhood presented by feminists and the media and explains how women can strike a balance between children and a career. (July 23)

"Sex and the Soul of a Woman"
In a culture that touts sex without intimacy and commitment, women have been paying a price. Instead of cultivating meaningful relationships, women have offered themselves sexually with few strings attached only to find heartbreak and a lack of fulfillment. As a Christian counselor in Raleigh who has been writing, speaking and ministering to women for more than 20 years, Paula Rinehart discusses how “sex that is not for keeps” hurts women and how they can find hope and restoration in addition to some of the findings in her new book "Sex and the Soul of a Woman." (July 16)

Same-Sex "Marriage" Debate
The fight to gain legal recognition for same-sex "marriage" is in full force on the federal level and in states across the country, including North Carolina. Jeff Ventrella, Senior Vice President of Strategic Training for the Alliance Defense Fund, uses his legal expertise to dissect the arguments made for same-sex "marriage" and explain why such action should be stopped. In the second week, Jeff continues his examination of the legal arguments surrounding same-sex “marriage” and offers his analysis of why it would be harmful both legally and socially to grant marital recognition to same-sex couples. (July 2 and 9)

Liberal Bias on the College Campus
Despite claiming to promote intellectual diversity, many of today’s college campuses actively suppress conservative and Christian voices from being heard. This week’s guest, Dr. Mike Adams, is a professor of Criminal Justice at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and author of the book Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel: Confessions of a Conservative College Professor. Dr. Adams draws from his own experience in academia to expose the liberal bias that exists in colleges and explains what students should know and how they should respond. (June 25)

Protecting Marriage in NC's Constitution
As threats to the definition of marriage continue, efforts are being made in the N.C. General Assembly to protect marriage by amending the State Constitution. Two bills, H1606—Defense of Marriage and S1057, call for an amendment to the State Constitution that clearly defines marriage as "the union of one man and one woman at one time." On this week’s program, Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), primary sponsor of H1606, talks about what the legislation does, why it is necessary, and how citizens can encourage lawmakers to support the bill. (June 18)

A Biblical Worldview—Part 2
This week’s program features part two of a discussion with Chuck Edwards, the Director of Bible Study Curriculum for Summit Ministries and the author of the Worldview in Focus Series. Chuck continues his discussion about the importance of a Biblical worldview, focusing particularly on the need for students to be well grounded before entering universities that often teach secular humanism. (June 11)

"Love Won Out"
On June 12th, Focus on the Family will be hosting their “Love Won Out” conference in Raleigh. This one-day conference is intended to promote the truth about homosexuality and is for anyone interested in learning how to deal with this important issue, including educators, parents, pastors, youth leaders, concerned citizens and even gay activists. It features a variety of experts on homosexuality who will be addressing some of the toughest questions facing society today, including: Is homosexuality genetic? Can it be prevented? How do I help my friend who is gay? and How should parents discuss this issue with their children? This week’s guest, Mike Haley, is the manager of the Homosexuality and Gender Issues Department at Focus on the Family and one of several presenters at the event. Mike discusses the purpose of Love Won Out and how the Christian community should respond to the issue of homosexuality. (June 4)

A Biblical Worldview
Recent polls show a disturbing lack of understanding in the church about what it means to have a Biblical worldview. This week’s guest, Chuck Edwards, explains what it means to have a Biblical worldview, why it is important, and how this worldview applies to various areas of life, including the positions we take on issues like abortion and homosexuality. Chuck is the Director of Bible Study Curriculum for Summit Ministries and the author of the Worldview in Focus Series, a Bible study curriculum that teaches Christians how Biblical principles relate to every area of life and how to defend and express these principles at school, work and in the public arena. (May 28)

Legal Limits of Church Political Activity
Throughout our nation’s history, the Church has played a critical role in shaping the laws and electing the leaders that guide our society. Sadly, today too many churches are not involved, and often it is because of the lack of knowledge about what they can and cannot legally do. This week’s show features Alliance Defense Fund litigation staff attorney Josh Carden who will explain why it is important for churches to be involved and clarify what the legal boundaries for churches are in the political process. (May 14)

Medical Consequences of STD's—2 Parts
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are rampant in our country, and most people are unaware of the medical risks and consequences that accompany them. Someone who knows a great deal about STDs is this week’s guest, Dr. Joe McIlhaney, an OBGYN who is the founder and chairman of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health. On the first of a two-part program, Dr. McIlhaney discusses the prevalence and consequences of the major STDs including Human Papillomavirus (the most common STD in America). He also explains the realities of condom effectiveness and how the abstinence message differs from comprehensive sex education. (April 30)

In part two, Dr. McIlhaney continues his discussion about the medical consequences of premarital sexual activity and offers his perspective on what it will take for the abstinence education movement to continue advancing. He also explains how, as a medical doctor, he would encourage his patients to remain abstinent until marriage. (May 7)

Judicial Activism
The term “judicial activism” has been used to describe the actions taken by many courts during recent years, but what does the term mean, and what is the proper role of the judiciary? These and other concerns are the topic of this week’s Family Policy Matters featuring the honorable Judge Robert Bork. Judge Bork, who has served as Solicitor General of the United States, acting Attorney General and Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, talks about issues raised in his new book entitled Coercing Virtue. In addition to the dangers of judicial activism, Judge Bork also talks about the growing influence that international law is having on our judiciary and the impact this could have on the future of American law. (April 23)

American Heritage Girls
A recent controversy surrounding the close relationship between the Girl Scouts of America and Planned Parenthood has once again raised questions about the increasingly liberal positions of the girl’s organization. As a result, more attention is being given to the American Heritage Girls, an alternative to the Girl Scouts that is dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family and country. This week’s interview features Patti Garibay, the founder and executive director of the American Heritage Girls, who explains how the organization began and how it compares the to Girl Scouts. She also gives some information about how parents can get an American Heritage Girls troop started in their community. (April 16)

Civil Rights and Homosexuals
As part of their effort to gain legitimacy for homosexual “marriage,” activists have begun claiming that their fundamental right to marry is being infringed upon. Furthermore, they claim that their struggle for legal recognition mirrors that of black Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. This week’s guest, Jan LaRue, the chief counsel for Concerned Women for America disagrees and in this interview explains some of the points made in her recent paper entitled “Homosexuals Hijack Civil Rights Bus: Claiming a ‘Civil Right’ to ‘Marry’ the Same Sex Demeans a Genuine Struggle for Liberty and Equality.” She explains why homosexual activists are attempting to compare their efforts to redefine marriage to the Civil Rights Movement, and why this comparison is wrong. (April 9)

Parental Involvment in Education
There was a time when parents could send their child off to school, confident about what they were learning in the classroom. Now, things have changed, and it is more important than ever for parents to be involved in their child’s school and aware of what is being taught. This week’s guest, Mark Fey, is an education analyst at Focus on the Family and a former teacher. On this program, he discusses some important questions parents need to ask about their child’s school, ways for parents to get involved and how to appropriately raise concerns about what is being taught. (April 2)

Defending the Pledge of Allegiance
The national outcry was swift and strong when the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared in June 2002 that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools was an unconstitutional establishment of religion. Now the case is before the U.S. Supreme Court and has the potential to be one of the most important religious freedom cases to go before the High Court in years. This week’s guest, Jordan Lorence, is the senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and an attorney who specializes in constitutional law. He will be discussing the details of the case, what the ADF argued in their brief to the Supreme Court, and how this case could impact religious freedom in the United States. (March 26)

Single-Sex Education
It has been the common practice in public schools to educate boys and girls together in the same classroom. However, research is showing that some students learn better when they are taught in all-boy or all-girl classrooms. The U.S. Department of Education has recently announced a proposed regulation that will make it easier for public schools to initiate single-sex education, if they choose to do so. This week’s guest, Carrie Lukas, the director of policy for the Independent Women’s Forum, talks about the proposed regulation, how single-sex education can benefit boys and girls, and how this relates to the issue of school choice. (March 19)

Motivating Teens to Stay Pure
Teenagers face enormous pressure to conform to the distorted images of sexuality in today’s culture. As a result of that pressure, parents, teachers and others face a greater responsibility to communicate the truth about sexual purity. Joe White, this week’s guest and a popular speaker at the annual Promise Keepers events, is president of Kanakuk Camps, eight nondenominational Christian athletics camps that host 20,000 kids every summer. Joe, who travels the country hosting youth rallies called “Pure Excitement,” talks about the issues of sexual purity, the pressure adolescents face today and his unique approach for motivating teens to stay pure. (March 11)

Homosexuality in American Schools
The continual push for homosexual “rights” goes on in America and it seems that no place is safe, including schools. Homosexual activists are intent on reaching the minds of today’s students in order to gain support for their movement and acceptance for their lifestyle. This week’s guest, Linda Harvey, is the founder of Mission: America, a nonprofit organization that equips citizens with accurate information about cultural issues, including homosexuality. On this week’s show, she explains the tactics used to promote homosexuality in schools, how the push for homosexual education infiltrates the curriculum and what parents can do to fight this agenda in their schools. (March 5)

The FCC and Television Indecency
The attention placed on indecency on television following the Super Bowl halftime show has renewed questions about what can be done to clean up what is broadcast on the television airwaves. On this week’s program, Robert Peters, the president of Morality in the Media talks about the growing amount of indecent material on television, the role of the Federal Communications Commission and steps that citizens can take to make a difference. (February 27)

The Economic Impact of Gambling
The social costs of gambling, such as crime and family breakdown, get a lot of attention in the debate on gambling, and deservedly so. But there are economic costs as well. On this week’s program (the first in a two-part series) John Kindt, professor of Business and Legal Policy at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and nationally known expert on the economic impact of gambling, discusses the issue from several angles including government regulation and Indian tribal gambling. In Part 2, Professor Kindt explains the ripple effect that casino gambling has on the consumer economy and advises lawmakers about why they should resist any attempts to expand gambling in North Carolina. (February 13 and 20)

Pro-Life Laws Reduce Abortions Nationwide
The number of abortions in the United States declined by about 17 percent during the 1990s. In North Carolina, abortions dropped 20 percent during the same period of time. Though many reasons are cited for the drop, one of the more directly related factors could be pieces of legislation passed by many states, including North Carolina that were intended to reduce abortions. This week’s guest, Dr. Michael New, a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard-MIT Data Center, explains his new report published by the Heritage Foundation, which analyzes the effects of state legislation on abortion during the 1990s. (February 6)

Federal Abstinence Spending
Pro-family advocates were pleased to hear President Bush during his State of the Union address propose doubling the current federal funding for abstinence programs in schools. These increased funds are welcome news, especially considering that for every dollar the government spends on programs to promote abstinence, $12 is spent on comprehensive sex education and contraception promotion programs, according to a new report from the Heritage Foundation. This week’s guest and author of the Heritage report, Melissa Pardue, explains how government spending on abstinence until marriage education compares to the money being spent on programs that promote contraception. (January 30)

National Day of Purity
Today’s teenagers are constantly bombarded with messages that pressure them to engage in premarital sexual activity. Yet many teens long to promote an alternative message that communicates their desire to remain abstinent until marriage. The National Day of Purity, scheduled for February 13, will offer just such an opportunity. This week’s guest, Rena Lindevaldsen, a litigation counsel for Liberty Counsel and the national coordinator for the Day of Purity, explains the event and how students and churches in North Carolina can get involved. (January 23)

Indian Casino Gambling
Indian casino gambling is nothing new to North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has operated a casino for years in the western part of the state. Now the tribe is seeking to expand into Las Vegas-style gambling. Also the possibility of a new and much larger casino along the I-95 corridor in Robeson County looms as the U.S. Congress considers a bill that would grant federal recognition to another Indian tribe—the Lumbee. If this legislation is approved, and if a Tribal-State Compact is granted to the Lumbee Tribe, then they could pursue their own casino in Robeson County. This week’s guest, Chad Hills, a research associate for gambling issues at Focus on the Family, talks about the social and economic impact a casino would have on eastern North Carolina. (January 16)

31 Years of Abortion—Part 1 & 2
January 2004 marks 31 years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand. Since then, over 40 million unborn babies have been lost to abortion. Barbara Holt, the president of North Carolina Right to Life is on the program this week (the first in a two-part series) to discuss abortion in North Carolina and what pro-life legislation may be coming up during the North Carolina General Assembly’s short session starting in May. She highlights some of the upcoming events to mark the 31st anniversary of Roe v. Wade. (January 2) and tells listners what they can do to be involved in the effort to get pro-life legislation passed in North Carolina. (January 9)

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