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The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour

Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Donald Trump
Christmas
Education
Artificial Intelligence
Christianity
Declaration Of Independence
Covid-19
Administrative State
A Christmas Carol
Israel
Slavery
Kamala Harris
Biden Administration
Mental Health
Gender Ideology
Joe Biden
Winston Churchill
Journalism
Communism

The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour is a one-hour, weekly radio show/podcast advancing the efforts of Hillsdale College in radiating its knowledge and teaching to the world outside of campus. Listeners will hear the arguments and debates that make up the liberal arts education and will experience the learning and teaching that happens on campus. Hosted by Scot Bertram.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes398Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour

Latest Episodes

Guest: Victoria Coates

Host Scot Bertram talks with Victoria Coates, vice president of The Heritage Foundation’s Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, about the Trump administration’s National Security ... more

Guest: Miles Smith IV

Host Scot Bertram talks with Miles Smith IV, associate professor of history at Hillsdale College, about the lost American idea of the Christian soldier, the questions raised by faith and warfare, and his new book, Valiant & Pi... more

YouTube

Guest: Roger Kimball

Host Scot Bertram talks with Roger Kimball, editor and publisher of The New Criterion and president and publisher of Encounter Books, about finding joy as a conservative, the history of conservative thought, and his recent essa... more

YouTube

Guest: Matthew Mehan

Host Scot Bertram talks with Matthew Mehan, associate dean and associate professor at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College in Washington, D.C., about building character in K-12 education, the growing... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Miles Smith IV
Associate professor of history at Hillsdale College and author
Hillsdale College
Episode: The Idea of the Christian Soldier
Roger Kimball
Editor and publisher of The New Criterion and president and publisher of Encounter Books.
The New Criterion
Episode: The Case for Cheerful Conservatism
Matthew Mehan
Associate dean and associate professor at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College.
Hillsdale College
Episode: A Rebirth of American Education
Delano Squires
Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Flourishing at The Heritage Foundation and author.
The Heritage Foundation
Episode: The Vanishing Black Family
Glenn Ellmers
Salvatori Research Fellow in the American Founding at the Claremont Institute and author
Claremont Institute
Episode: Is America a Culture or a Creed?
Darrell Hart
Professor of history at Hillsdale College; author of Independence Hall, The History of an American Icon
Hillsdale College
Episode: The History of an American Icon
Patrick Timmis
Assistant Professor of English at Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Episode: The Great English Poet Edmund Spenser
Robert Livingston
Former U.S. Congressman, founder of the Livingston Group, author
The Livingston Group
Episode: Lawfare and the Tyranny of the Deep State
Nathan Herring
Associate Professor of Physics at Hillsdale College, guest discussing Boltzmann
Hillsdale College
Episode: The Life and Work of Ludwig Boltzmann

Host

Scott Bertram
Host of The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 723 ratings
  • “Right?”, Uhhhh

    This show, and many other errs from Hillsdale, can’t get through a sentence without the constant overuse of the verbal tics, “Right?” and Ummm. Perhaps it flows from President Arndt. This has made many of the podcast shows unlistenable. These are supposed to be educated scholars, but they sound like unprepared high schoolers. It is insulting, lazy, and unprofessional. We expect more from Hillsdale. So, PLEASE set and demonstrate higher standards!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FrostyRucks
    United States9 months ago
  • “Right?”, the New “Umm” Replacement

    So disappointed thatJonathan Butcher, on the

    The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour: Americans Are More United Than We Think, Jan 8, 2026 cannot get through a segment without constant overuse of the new contemporary verbal tic, “Right?” It is nothing more than a replacement for the equally unprofessional, “umm”. This not the first occasion on this podcast that I had to stop listening because the speakers repeated “right?” so frequently. It is obnoxious and unprofessional. The previous occasion was an Ass... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    FrostyRucks
    United States10 months ago
  • Quality guests every week

    A recent must-listen to my podcast listening schedule. Host Scott is a reassuring voice who asks great questions of the external guests and members of the faculty such as James Webb who seemed like a genuine teacher of accounting who really explained why young people would become CPAs and ACAs - a genuine pleasure.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stuart Walton
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Lincoln Lovers

    I can’t speak for all of the episodes, but at least the episode on Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence has an extraordinarily misguided favorable view of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was a killer of Americans. A duplicitous politician that waged an unnecessary war.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    William M S
    United Statesa year ago
  • Right?!

    So disappointed that Patricia R. Bart, an associate professor of English at Hillsdale College cannot even begin nor get through a segment without constant overuse of the verbal tic and “uhm” replacement, “Right?!” This is an English professor who cannot even engage in basic elementary effective communication! Please stop with “Right?!”- the invasive cultural rubbish of the ENGLISH language! Do better!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    FrostyRucks
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is seen as a solid intellectual resource, though production polish varies by episode.
Audience feedback highlights strong guest quality and meaningful discussions of foundational texts.
Some critics note repetitive vocal tics in interviews, calling for higher production standards.
Listeners appreciate the depth and scholarly rigor of guests and topics.
Listeners value the educational value and quality of guest expertise, often praising authors and professors.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#207
United States/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Case for Cheerful Conservatism
Q: What did Buckley understand about the value of saying no, and perhaps why has change not necessarily the great fact of human life?
Kimball says Buckley meant his call to stand athwart history seriously: change can be necessary, but continuity and tradition also matter. Resisting the assumption that progressive change is automatically virtuous is not the same as opposing all change.
The Case for Cheerful Conservatism
Q: Where do you make that delineation between realism and pessimism and gloominess?
Kimball says conservatives can be realistic about society's failings without becoming gloomy. He argues they should also affirm what is good in the world and recognize that imperfection is not necessarily a moral affront.
The Idea of the Christian Soldier
Q: Would George Washington or James Madison recognize the way that Americans talked about war after Woodrow Wilson?
Smith says their view would likely differ from later arguments for fighting to promote democracy abroad. He describes early American wars as more often framed around tangible national interests and identifies Wilson as a major influence on the shift toward ideological purposes.
The Idea of the Christian Soldier
Q: Why do so many Americans now instinctively think it's difficult to be both a faithful Christian and an American soldier?
Smith says this view often comes from a reductionist reading of Christian teaching, especially the commandment against killing. He points to historical examples of Americans who considered Christian faith and military service compatible.
The Vanishing Black Family
Q: So what might a genuinely father-inclusive approach to fighting poverty look like?
Squires recommends designing family-strengthening programs to include co-parents, emphasizing marriage in public messaging, and collecting data on outcomes by family structure. He also proposes a commission to study and advise on how family structure affects policy outcomes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour

What is The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on liberal-arts-informed discussions that blend policy, history, and culture, featuring a steady stream of academics, authors, and public servants. Conversations typically juxtapose contemporary policy debates with deep historical context, often anchored by Hillsdale College faculty or affiliates and highlighted by book-focused segments. Notable strengths include a rigorous, idea-forward approach and a clear educational mission, with frequent guests who are recognizable scholars or policy experts. Potential listeners—especially those in academia, policy, and civic education—will likely find thoughtful analysis, well-sourced arguments, and opportunities to hear classical perspectives applied to modern issues.

A distinctive ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour:

1. Hillsdale Dialogues
2. The Larry Arnn Show
3. Imprimis
4. The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast
5. Hillsdale College Podcast Network Superfeed

How many episodes of The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour are there?

The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour launched 8 years ago and published 398 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour?

Recent guests on The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour include:

1. Miles Smith IV
2. Roger Kimball
3. Matthew Mehan
4. Delano Squires
5. Glenn Ellmers
6. Darrell Hart
7. Patrick Timmis
8. Robert Livingston

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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