Right to Life Radio

Join the discussion at http://ProLifePodcast.net/187   Dr. Michael Buratovich is Professor of Biochemistry at Spring Arbor University and the faculty advisor for the SAU Students for Life club. Josh interviews him on what stem cell research is and how to respond to common arguments for embryonic stem cell research.   Purchase "The Stem Cell Epistles: Letters to my Students about Bioethics, Embryos, Stem Cells, and Fertility Treatments:" http://amzn.to/1f2rM3b   Read Dr. Buratovich's blog at http://BeyondTheDish.wordpress.com.   01:09 - How did this book come along?   04:10 - Can you explain for our listeners what a stem cell is, and why they are sought after in research for regenerative medicine?   11:03 - Can you talk about the differences between embryonic stem cell research, adult stem cell research and induced pluripotent stem cell research?     17:18 - Many people argue that the embryo is just a tiny clump of cells with no nervous system; no heart, no consciousness, no ability to feel pain. They think it's crazy to call that an intrinsically valuable human being. What do you say to them?   18:49 - Some people think we should use cloned embryos to solve the practical issues with embryonic stem cell research? Do you believe that to be an ethical alternative?   21:08 - Some people make a utilitarian argument that all those millions of embryos in storage units are going to die anyway. They argue that we should put them to good use instead of wasting them in a cold storage unit or flushing them down the drain. How would you respond to that utilitarian argument?   24:39 - What should pro-lifers be doing about stem cell research?   Stay tuned for bonus audio with Dr. Buratovich to be posted later this week at http://ProLifePodcast.net

Listen to Josh's speech at the Students for Life of America 2014 West Coast National Conference: Josh responds to these four common statements: 1: "I'm pro-life, but people tell me I come across like a jerk. What can I do about that?" 2: "I'm pro-life, but I don’t know how to convince people that abortion is wrong?" 3: "I'm pro-life, but I think it should be legal." 4: "I'm pro-life, but what about rape?"

We weren't able to cover everything I wanted to during the Life Report episode, but Dr. Poupard was gracious enough to spend some more time answering questions about this important topic. 1: How do birth control pllls and Plan B work, why do some people think that they are abortifacients and why do you think that they may not be? 2: Comment on article from Catholic Bioethics...Quarterly that cites studies indicating that Plan B is not an abortifacient and argues that the labels on Plan B may not mean anything. Is there a medical bias issue at play? 3: Question #1 from Dan: What about the studies cited in Randy Alcorn's book that breakthrough pregnancies while on oral contraceptives are more likely to be ectopic? 4: Question #2 from Dan: What is the state of the research on Progesterone-only pills like the mini pill and copper/hormonal IUD's?

We've been wanting to shoot an episode on this topic for several years, and it's finally done! It's sometimes a contentious topic among pro-life people, but it's an important one nonetheless. How should pro-life people think and talk about birth control, aside from the important religious debate about whether or not you should plan your family? Dr. Rich Poupard from Life Training Institute comes on the show to offer his expertise. 02:25 - Dr. Poupard summarizes what he's learned about the medical question of how birth control methods work. 04:55 - How does Plan B work according to the research and what does a woman's weight have to do with it's effectiveness? 08:45 - Do you think women are getting enough information about the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of Plan B? 09:25 - Why the new Plan B research will probably result in MORE abortifacient use, and not less. 12:32 - Were pro-abortion-choice advocates talking about the new Plan B/weight study when it came out, or have they been hesitant to discuss it publicly? 13:26 - What's the connection between abortifacient IUD's and implantables and Obamacare? 19:17 - Knowing everything you know, how would you train pro-life advocates to talk publicly about birth control? 23:24 - What should pro-lifers talk about when discussing the public policy side of this issue? Parental involvement? 26:05 - How would you answer in 60-seconds the direct question of whether Plan B causes abortions or not? We'll be posting bonus audio with Dr. Poupard answering more questions about birth control pills and Plan B later this week at http://ProLifePodcast.net. Life Training Institute: http://ProLifeTraining.com

We've got an unaired episode that was never published on YouTube for technical reasons that we recently resolved. Josh Brahm and Liz Goddard interview Bobby Schindler, the Executive Director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network which works to protect the lives of the medically vulnerable and disabled from the threat of euthanasia. Join the discussion at http://ProLifePodcast.net/185. 00:29 Can you give us a brief overview of your sister Terri's story? 04:18 Did Michael wait 30-45 minutes after Terri's collapse before calling 911? 05:27 Can you define "persistent vegetative state" for us, and whether you believe Terri was in a persistent vegetative state? 06:53 Is there an objective definition of PVS? 08:11 Did Terri fit that medical criteria for PVS? 09:04 What progress did Terri show in the first two years of rehab before Michael took her off of rehab? 10:15 What happened to the trust fund that was earmarked for Terri's therapy? 12:25 Why do you think that Michael refused to divorce Terri after moving in with Jody Centonze? 13:02 What is it that the medical professionals believed whom Judge Greer refused to allow to testify? 14:37 Is there anyway Terri could have survived without the feeding tube? 15:26 Do you know anything about recent research to determine the extent of someones brain injury? 17:01 Do you have any how often people are starved to death who are not in a PVS state? 18:30 What is the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network doing now, six years later? 19:49 What do you believe is still the number one misconception about Terri? 21:36 What kind of legislation could be passed that would prevent Terri's situation happening again? 22:21 How will the new healthcare law impact people with situations similar to Terri's? 23:36 Would you be in favor of legislation that would sever spousal rights on the behalf of an incapacitated person in the event where there's a clear conflict of interest, such as when the spouse acting as guardian begins a new relationship? 24:47 What would you say to people who try to frame Terri's situation as a "right-to-die issue?" 26:02 So the clear distinction for you is that food and water is basic care and that ventilators and respirators are medical care that in some cases can be stopped? Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network: http://www.terrisfight.org/

Rebecca Hashke from Justice For All joins Josh Brahm and Gabi Vehrs to discuss a question that pro-lifers often struggle with. After offering some thoughts on how pro-lifers should respond to this question, the discussion turns to another philosophical conundrum that pro-choice people often ask about: should the fact that abortion bans would be hard to enforce mean that we shouldn't try to make abortion illegal?

Our favorite Notre Dame Law grad John Gerardi joins us again, this time to discuss the Pope's recent confusing comments about abortion. Note from Josh: We recorded this episode in October, 2013. I'm grateful that yesterday (December 9th) Pope Francis made a clear pro-life statement to the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, a pro-life group in Rome.

Steve Wagner from Justice For All joins Josh Brahm and Gabi Vehrs to discuss what Students for Life clubs should do with their events. Steve argues that every event should create a debate about abortion that can be turned into a dialogue. Here's the list of typical pro-life campus club activities that Steve assesses in this episode: 1: Cupcakes For Life. 2: Poll table event - Debate2Dialogue.org for pics. 3: Bringing speakers (pro-life apologetics, post-abortion, etc.) or hosting a debate. 4: Screening movies like "It's a Girl," "180," "October Baby" and "Bella." 5: Volunteering for the local Pregnancy Resource Center. 6: Diaper drives. 7: Traveling to the March for Life. 8: Bound4Life events. (Red tape over mouth.)

Steve Wagner from Justice For All joins Josh Brahm and Gabi Vehrs for a two-episode discussion about common terms and labels used in the abortion debate.  In this episode they focus on the labels that both sides of the debate call the entity killed in an abortion: unborn, preborn, zygote, embryo, fetus, fetal human, baby and child. Steve uses the word "unborn" at the beginning of a dialogue with a pro-choice person so as not to add an unnecessary impediment to the conversation, and to avoid begging the question. Steve responds to the following challenges to his approach: "Aren't we humanizing the unborn by calling her a 'child' or by using male/female pronouns?" "What about when we're writing? Do we always need to make a case for the humanity of the unborn before we start calling her a 'baby' or using male/female pronouns?"

Steve Wagner from Justice For All joins Josh Brahm and Gabi Vehrs for a two-episode discussion about common terms and labels used in the abortion debate. In this episode they focus on the labels that both sides of the debate call each other: pro-choice, pro-abortion. pro-abort. pro-abortion-choice. pro-life. anti-abortion. anti-choice. Steve, Josh and Gabi explain why they are willing to use the term "pro-choice" when beginning a dialogue, even though many pro-life people see that as an inaccurate "weasel word."  Steve argues that he needs to ask the person in front of him a lot of questions to accurately understand what they think about abortion, and he doesn't want to create unnecessary impediments to the dialogue by using offensive terms that he doesn't even think accurately portrays most abortion advocates. Steve also responds to the following challenges to his approach: "But isn't 'pro-choice' the least accurate label for the other side?" "What about when it's just pro-life people hanging out? Should we call them 'pro-aborts' then?" "What if the entire pro-life movement decides to use gracious language while the other side uses rhetorically powerful labels? Are we giving up too much ground? What if unborn babies die because of this approach?" "What should I do when I see other pro-life people using terms on Facebook that I think are mean or inaccurate? Should I confront the pro-life person, or just let it go?" Finally, Steve, Josh and Gabi discuss the terms that pro-choice people often call pro-lifers: anti-abortion and anti-choice. In the next episode, they will discuss the terms used for the unborn. (Zygote, embryo, fetus, unborn, preborn, baby, child.)

Megan Almon from Life Training Institute joins Josh Brahm and Gabi Vehrs to discuss strawman fallacies. Josh starts the show by stating that both pro-life and pro-choice people strawman the other side all the time, and he shares several examples. They then discuss how people can avoid making strawman arguments. How can we intentionally listen to people and ask a LOT of clarification questions to determine what they actually believe?

Josh Brahm and Gabi Vehrs have a candid conversation about the state of the pro-life movement, and some of the most important things we need to do in the next ten years to set ourselves up in a good trajectory towards victory.

Josh, Gabi and Megan Almon from Life Training Institute discuss how pro-lifers can best respond to pro-choice people who argue that abortion should be legal because the world is overpopulated or because women will die in back-alleys if abortion became illegal. Note: Our strategy for responding to back-alley abortions relies heavily on the work of Steve Wagner from Justice For All.

The second part of Josh's interview with Brad Mattes, CEO of Life Issues Institute and host of the Emmy award-winning television show, "Facing Life Head-On." Brad answers the questions from the "Life Report Questionnaire" and more! Questions: What did you get in trouble for as a child? What is your favorite movie, and why? What has been the pro-life movement's greatest victory (or victories) so far? What has been the pro-life movement's greatest failing or weakness?  Does the pro-life movement need more unity, and if so, how can we accomplish that?  Graphic Pictures: Should we use them, and if so, how, when, and where?  What would you say to those who would argue that graphic pictures should be used in very public places because children don't seem to be too negatively effected by them?  Stem Cell Research & Human Cloning: What should pro-lifers be doing about this, and why?  What would you say to those who say it's unfair to compare the current successes of ESCR with adult stem cell research since ASCR has had more public funding until recently?  What should pro-lifers be doing about human cloning now that it might actually be a reality?  Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia: What should pro-lifers be doing about this, and why?  Is the Netherlands a lost cause on the end-of-life issues debate?  Respond to Americans who look at the problems with euthanasia in the Netherlands and respond, "That's them. We will do it better."  What do you say to someone who is for assisted suicide in certain hard cases?  How should pro-lifers interact with those who are pro-abortion-choice?  Respond to pro-lifers who would say that we should be shouting at pro-choice people because that shows we're taking baby killing seriously.  What single thing should pro-lifers be doing that most are NOT doing right now?  How can pro-lifers start conversations about such a dark issue without being weird?  How should pro-life people use Facebook?  If people went to LifeIssues.org what could they find there?

Josh interviews Brad Mattes, CEO of Life Issues Institute and host of the Emmy award-winning television show, "Facing Life Head-On."  Check back in two weeks for the second part of this interview, where Brad answers the questions from the "Life Report Questionnaire" and more! Questions: 1:11 - How did you get involved in the pro-life movement? 2:15 - How early was Dr. Wilke publishing pro-life literature and media? 2:54 - How do you think the pro-life movement has changed in the last 40 years, especially as it relates to media? 5:04 - What have you learned about how abortion affects men? 6:45 - What resources are available at http://LifeIssues.org? 7:32 - Tell us about your TV show, "Facing Life Head-On." 9:01 - What are some of the common themes on your show? 9:37 - How do you get Emmy nominations doing pro-life work? 10:38 - What were you hoping to accomplish by going to Ethiopia? 11:57 - What happened with the Ethiopian abortion worker you spoke to? 13:20 - Can you tell our audience about the woman you met who is suffering from leprosy? 14:14 - How has your life changed since you came back? 16:09 - What was the most difficult interview you did on Facing Life Head-On? 18:33 - Do you have a few favorite episodes looking back? 19:26 - How can we overturn Roe vs. Wade? 20:38 - Looking ahead, what will be very important for the pro-life movement to do differently as we work towards overturning Roe vs. Wade? 21:52 - Is there anti-intellectualism in the pro-life movement, and if so, how do we combat that? Check out the Life Issues Institute website and TV show: http://lifeissues.org Comment on this episode at: http://ProLifePodcast.net/175