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.
Episodes
45 episodes
Courage in the Ranks
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Army veteran Sam Shoemate—creator of Terminal CWO, whistleblower who exposed military misconduct, and Chief of Staff for Pete Chambers' Texas Governor campaign. Sam shares how his page started as humor but became a pla...
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Episode 44
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1:12:51
Standing in Honor Against Tyranny
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Air Force Reserve Major Kim Bitter, a 20-year veteran flight nurse, mother, and midwife, to share her ongoing battle with the military over vaccine policies. Kim details her distinguished service, including a 2016 depl...
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Episode 43
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1:03:57
Fired Professor Exposes DEI Fraud in Florida
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Dr. Rick Addante—former NASA scientist, astronaut finalist, tenured professor, and whistleblower fired from Florida Tech after exposing the university president’s plan to secretly continue DEI programs despite state ba...
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Episode 42
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1:27:19
What's a Classical Farm School?
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Air Force reserve officer Jace Yarbrough—combat vet, founder of Saint Francis Academy (a classical Christian farm school), and plaintiff suing the Air Force for free speech rights after a reprimand for his retirement s...
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Episode 41
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1:21:03
Forging the Next Generation of Young Conservatives
Dr. Chase Spears sits down with Adam Josefczyk, president of Forge Leadership Network, to explore how they're identifying, training, and launching hundreds of young Christian conservatives into public service.From summer intensives in state cap...
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Episode 40
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52:33
A Year of Courage
In this special year-end episode, Dr. Chase Spears is joined by his wife Lori for an intimate conversation reflecting on 2025—a year of unexpected changes, trials, triumphs, and growth.From the launch of Finding Your Spine to navigating persona...
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Episode 39
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56:01
SEAL Veteran Takes on Woke Law Firms
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes retired Navy SEAL Bill Brown—combat veteran, founder of the NYC SEAL Swim, and fearless advocate for veterans’ rights. From war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan to battling “woke” cancel culture inside a major law firm, B...
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Episode 38
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1:05:22
He Spent 18 Years Inside the CIA
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Pedro Orta—18-year CIA veteran, undercover case officer, Iraq/Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of The Broken Whistle. From escaping Cuban communism to exposing waste, fraud, harassment, and life-threatening misma...
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Episode 37
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1:17:56
Taming Dopamine: The Neuroscience of Boldness
Dr. Chase Spears reunites with his former Georgetown professor, award-winning speechwriter, and bestselling author Mike Long (The Molecule of More, Taming the Molecule of More) for a wide-ranging conversation on dopamine—the brain chemical that...
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Episode 36
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1:24:46
Have Yourself A Merry Little G. K. Chesterton Christmas
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes filmmaker and author Ryan Whitaker Smith—known for Surprised by Oxford, The Pendragon Cycle, and the beautifully crafted Winter Fire—to explore why G.K. Chesterton remains one of the most joyful, insightful, and courag...
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Episode 35
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50:57
False Accusations in the Military
THIS EPISODE DEALS WITH HEAVY AND SENSITIVE TOPICS. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.Dr. Chase Spears welcomes back retired Navy CDR Theresa Carpenter—30-year PAO, Stories of Service host, and military justice advocate. She reve...
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Episode 34
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1:13:21
Navy Public Affairs Officer Speaks Out
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Navy Commander Theresa Carpenter—30-year public affairs veteran, Stories of Service podcast host, and advocate for military justice reform. Ten days post-retirement, she shares her journey from aviation electrician to ...
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Episode 33
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1:00:23
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 tradit...
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Episode 32
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1:04:08
Getting Involved in Local Governance
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Vanessa Reid, a Leavenworth County commissioner, to Finding Your Spine. Vanessa shares her 2020 awakening to political involvement, from challenging school policies on masks and critical race theory to running for offi...
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Episode 31
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54:40
Navy Veteran Discusses His PTSD Journey
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Navy veteran Chris Pierce to Finding Your Spine, sharing his 22-year career in boarding operations and combat systems. Chris discusses intercepting smuggling vessels in the Persian Gulf, the USS Cole bombing aftermath,...
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Episode 30
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1:35:08
Workplaces for Christians: Meet RedBalloon
Join Dr. Chase Spears on Finding Your Spine as he welcomes Andrew Crapuchettes, CEO of RedBalloon, a job board connecting conservative-minded individuals with values-aligned employers. Andrew shares his journey from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs...
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Episode 29
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57:56
He Was Pardoned by the President After Standing Up for Liberty
Join host Chase Spears on the Finding Your Spine podcast as he welcomes Mark Bashaw, a former military officer pardoned by President Trump. Mark shares his 17-year military career, including his court martial on April 29, 2022, for resisting Co...
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Episode 28
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1:13:59
No Compromise
Dr. Chase Spears sits down with Brendan Regan, a former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, to unpack his bold stand against the Army’s unlawful COVID vaccine mandate at Fort Leavenworth in 2021. Regan shares his grueling administrative battle unde...
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Episode 27
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1:05:38
Theology Driven Missions
Dr. Chase Spears welcomes Alex Kocman, co-host of The Missions Podcast, to explore a bold, theological approach to missions. As Director of Communication at the Association of Baptists for World Evange...
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Episode 26
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58:28
SHOCKING: Servicemen Celebrate Charlie Kirk's Murder
Dr. Chase Spears confronts the shocking aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, diving into a disturbing trend of extremism within the U.S. military. Joined by R. Davis Younts and Caleb Byrd of Younts Law, Spears unpacks reports of military ...
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Episode 25
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1:05:37
Living as Salt and Light
Chase Spears welcomes back Dr. Owen Anderson, ASU Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, for a second episode exploring how Christians can live boldly in a pagan culture. Building on Samson’s story, they discuss serving as salt and ligh...
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Episode 24
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1:04:48
Having the Moral Strength to Conquer Doubt
Chase Spears hosts Dr. Owen Anderson, ASU Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, to explore Samson’s biblical story as a model of moral strength. They discuss how Samson’s fight against unbelief offers lessons for living boldly in faith...
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Episode 23
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1:09:52
State Senator Stands His Ground Against Worldly Policies
Chase Spears hosts Dusty Deevers, a pastor and Oklahoma State Senator who blends faith with governance. A biology graduate from Oklahoma City University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary alum, he represents Senate District 32, pushi...
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Episode 22
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1:09:57
Canadian Soldier Advocates for Change
Chase Spears hosts Brian Isted, a Canadian military veteran who stood against toxic military culture and faced mental health struggles. Brian shares his 11 years as an officer, resisting harmful norms, and advocating for change. His story inspi...
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Episode 21
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1:36:50
Faith Drives a Businessman to Take a Stand
Chase Spears hosts Michael Young, a Christian businessman who shares his journey of standing firm in faith through decades in construction and aviation. From St. Louis to Angola’s petroleum industry, Michael discusses leading with principle, me...
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Episode 20
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53:09