Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson

Where did the money go, and who was actually helped?

Money meant to help people without a home should change lives. HUD Secretary Scott Turner joins Dr. Ben Carson to question the results of homelessness spending in Los Angeles, discuss allegations that public funds paid for personal luxuries, and explain why he wants greater accountability.

For taxpayers footing the bill—and families still waiting for help—the stakes are personal. Turner makes the case for changing how homelessness is addressed, while Dr. Carson presses him on what went wrong and what needs to change.

The conversation also explores another challenge facing American families: buying a home. From factory-built housing and cutting red tape to respecting skilled trades, Turner shares his approach to expanding opportunity—and the faith he says guides his hardest decisions.

In this episode:

Turner’s criticisms of homelessness spending in Los Angeles; fraud allegations and accountability; his case for a treatment-first approach; housing affordability and regulatory barriers; factory-built homes; skilled trades and opportunity beyond college; disaster recovery; faith in public service.

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Why should starting a family mean leaving the community you love?

Dr. Ben Carson joins Bobby Fijan, co-founder of the American Housing Corporation, at HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall to explore missing starter homes, the cost of building where families want to live, and a new approach to making homeownership more attainable.

A first home can mean staying near the people, schools, and church that already anchor your life. Fijan describes the smaller starter homes he believes cities are missing, and the families who leave when marriage or children change what they need. His company is working to reduce construction costs through three-story row homes built for the places people want to live.

What if the path to your first home started on a factory floor? Fijan’s company builds large panels in Austin with electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems already inside, ready to ship to where homes are needed. The goal: bring construction costs down so more families can put down roots. And the stakes go beyond owning a house—it’s the chance to raise children near the family and community who help make it home.

In this episode:

The missing starter home; why cities lose young families; housing near jobs and schools; family and community support; three-story row homes; factory-built panels and freight transport; what first-time buyers really want.

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Could construction robots make homeownership more affordable? Dr. Ben Carson joins Nick Callegari, founder and CEO of Verustruct, at HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall to explore how robotics, reinforced concrete, and coordinated construction could lower housing costs.

Callegari explains why automating a single construction task may not change the economics of an entire project. His approach seeks to coordinate more of the work, use locally available materials, and reduce delays between subcontractors.

The conversation also explores robots that climb the walls they build, parallel work on electrical, plumbing, insulation, and finishes, and the role of local regulation. Based on full-scale device testing, Callegari projects that a 2,500-square-foot home’s wall system could be built in under 48 hours.

In this episode:

Coordinating construction trades; reinforced concrete and local materials; the 50% cost-reduction ambition; the under-48-hour wall-system projection; robots working in parallel; reducing waste; scaling robotic fleets; local rules and affordable housing.

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What would you give up to know God more deeply? Dr. Ben Carson welcomes Christian author, minister, and Bible teacher Rick Osborne for a conversation about faith, grace, and a personal relationship with God. Osborne shares his account of stepping away from his publishing and ministry work for a ten-year season of prayer and Scripture study, and what he believes that experience taught him. Osborne describes a conversion just before his 19th birthday and a later period that reshaped his understanding of the Bible. He explains how familiar teachings moved from head knowledge to personal transformation, and why he now emphasizes trusting God rather than trying to earn a relationship with Him. Carson and Osborne explore how parents can help children develop faith of their own, the role of quiet in prayer, and the hope they find in God’s love. Osborne also makes clear that his ten-year retreat was a personal calling, not a prescription for everyone. In this episode: Rick Osborne’s conversion; his account of a ten-year retreat; Bible knowledge and personal transformation; grace and Christian disciplines; nurturing children’s faith; listening in prayer; love and hope

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Dr. Ben Carson welcomes John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and a voice of BreakPoint, for a conversation about faith, family, and the ideas shaping our culture. They explore how Christians can grow in discernment, help their children think clearly, and put their convictions into practice.

Stonestreet explains why he sees Christianity as a way of understanding all of life. Drawing on Chuck Colson's influence, he describes a worldview as the lens through which we interpret reality, and asks whether we have examined the ideas we have absorbed from the culture around us.

The conversation turns to the home and classroom: how children form their beliefs, why parents matter, and how teaching discernment involves examining both true and false ideas. Carson and Stonestreet discuss their concerns about education, human dignity, and cultural change from a Christian perspective.

They also explore why believers sometimes hesitate to speak, what it takes to develop greater confidence, and how the documentary Truth Rising presents examples of acting on conviction. Stonestreet closes with an invitation to think about what Christians are saved for: helping repair what is broken in their families and communities.

In this episode: Christianity as a worldview; Chuck Colson's legacy; parents and education; discernment and human dignity; courage and Christian confidence; Truth Rising; reconciliation and everyday service.

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What happens when the circumstances in front of you seem to say there is no way forward?

Dr. Ben Carson sits down with author Wally Kassebaum for a conversation about faith, truth, the mind, and the hidden beliefs that can quietly take control of our lives.

Kassebaum, author of Reality Is Not the Truth: Breaking Free from the Idol We Don’t See, argues that the circumstances we see around us may describe where we are today without necessarily determining where our lives must end.

Dr. Carson shares a remarkable story from his years in medicine involving a critically ill child, a mother who did not believe in God and a moment he says changed both of their lives.

The conversation also explores anxiety, addiction, forgiveness, neuroplasticity, renewing the mind, willpower, community and Dr. Carson’s own transformation from an angry teenager into someone who learned to respond differently.

In this episode:

● Reality versus truth

● The hidden “idols” people may not recognize

● Dr. Carson’s remarkable hospital story

● Faith and uncertainty

● Neuroplasticity and changing mental patterns

● Why addiction creates deeply ingrained pathways

● How repetition can help establish new habits

● Forgiveness and letting go of the past

● Dr. Carson on overcoming his violent temper

● Why community matters when change is difficult

● Finding peace when circumstances feel overwhelming

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What happens when programs created to help children and families become buried under federal rules?

Dr. Ben Carson sits down with Assistant Secretary Alex Adams, who leads the Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services, for a wide-ranging conversation about Head Start, foster care, parental authority, family stability, and the proper role of government.

Adams explains why the administration is seeking to move away from prescriptive federal requirements and put parents and local communities back in the driver's seat. He discusses proposed Head Start reforms that he says would reduce regulatory burdens while expanding access, the nationwide Home for Every Child foster-care initiative, efforts to support young adults aging out of foster care, and what he calls the “orphan tax”— the use of foster children's Social Security survivor benefits by states to offset government costs.

Dr. Carson and Assistant Secretary Adams also discuss marriage, fatherhood, work, the “success sequence,” bipartisan welfare reform, and why strong families remain foundational to a strong country.

In this episode:

Head Start and parental control; federal regulation versus outcomes; foster-home shortages; faith-based foster families; support for children aging out of care; Social Security survivor benefits; family stability, marriage and fatherhood; work and welfare reform; and why both men remain hopeful about America's future.

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What keeps a calling alive through success, grief, reinvention, and age? Kathie Lee Gifford joins Dr. Ben Carson for a candid conversation about the dreams planted in childhood and the faith that gave those dreams direction.

Gifford recalls the Billy Graham film that changed her life, the advice that helped her navigate entertainment, her advocacy for children affected by HIV/AIDS, and the biblical stories that continue to shape her work. She also shares the simple conviction behind her next chapter: “If I have a pulse, I have a purpose.

The conversation turns to redemption, hearing God call us by name, and the hope Gifford finds in the promise that all things will be made new. Her comments about the Shroud of Turin, biblical translation, historical events, and public policy reflect her own views and recollections.

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How do you build a strong family in a culture that often pulls families apart? Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, joins Dr. Ben Carson to discuss why marriage still matters, what children need from parents and mentors, and how faith can help couples stay on the same team

Daly shares his own story of family instability, foster care, and the coach who modeled trustworthy leadership. He and Dr. Carson explore marriage as a path toward selflessness, the risks of fear-driven parenting, practical boundaries around smartphones and social media, and the importance of giving teenagers room to succeed and fail while they are still at home.

The conversation also addresses premarital counseling, late-life divorce, grandparents, and Daly’s account of Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored marriage intensives. Statistics and program outcomes mentioned in the episode are presented as Daly’s statements and have not been independently verified for this package.

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Therapy is more available and more culturally influential than ever. Yet anxiety, depression, loneliness, political fixation, and fractured relationships remain widespread.

In this episode, Dr. Ben Carson speaks with psychotherapist and Therapy Nation author Jonathan Alpert about the difference between feeling better in the moment and actually getting better.

They also examine what is commonly called “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” or TDS. While Alpert emphasizes that TDS is not an official diagnosis found in the DSM, he discusses the political hyper-fixation, anxiety, restlessness, and damaged relationships that can develop when any political figure becomes the focus of an unhealthy obsession.

Alpert argues for therapy that is goal-oriented, accountable, and designed to build resilience. The conversation explores diagnostic language in everyday life, endless therapy, political polarization, victimhood, faith, personal responsibility, and how Americans can rediscover common ground.

This discussion reflects the participants’ views and is not medical advice.

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Dr. Ben Carson once considered himself the worst student in his class. Then one unexpected moment changed the way he saw himself, and ultimately changed the course of his life.

In this special episode of Common Sense, Reagan Hannus turns the tables and interviews Dr. Carson about how our perception of ourselves is formed, why parents have such an important role in shaping their children's lives, and what decades of operating on the human brain taught him about human potential.

Dr. Carson also discusses the influence of social media on young people, the opportunities and dangers presented by artificial intelligence and virtual reality, how to make difficult decisions without being controlled by fear, and the advice he believes young adults need most today.

From books and education to faith, family, human connection, and the extraordinary capacity of the brain, this conversation is about refusing to allow your circumstances - or other people's expectations - to determine what you can become.

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As America marks its 250th anniversary, an urgent question has emerged: Who is responsible for telling America’s story—and what happens when the nation’s most trusted historical institutions begin interpreting the past through the lens of contemporary political activism?

Dr. Ben Carson is joined by Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, for a revealing discussion about the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of American History, and the administration’s review of how American history is being presented to the public.

Haley argues that the museum has moved away from presenting a coherent account of America’s founding, failures, achievements, sacrifices, and ideals—and toward using history as an instrument for activism and social advocacy.

Dr. Carson and Haley discuss:

● Why patriotism appears to be declining

● How historical knowledge shapes national identity

● What the administration found at the Smithsonian

● The difference between teaching difficult history and promoting national despair

● Slavery, abolition, the Civil War, and America’s struggle to fulfill its founding principles

● The forgotten contributions of Black Patriots during the American Revolution

● The influence of faith and the Great Awakening on America’s founding

● DEI, merit, race, and political division

● How museums and schools shape future generations

● What citizens, parents, and grandparents can do to preserve America’s story

History is more than a collection of artifacts and dates. It tells people who they are, where they came from, and what they have the potential to become.

Watch the full conversation and tell us in the comments:

Should a taxpayer-supported national museum promote contemporary political causes—or present the fullest possible account of America’s history?

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What happens when the institutions entrusted with preserving American history begin advancing a political story of their own?

In this episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas to discuss congressional oversight, the Smithsonian Institution, the use of taxpayer dollars, border enforcement, socialism, and the responsibility of young Americans to defend the nation’s founding principles.

Congressman Gill explains why he believes simple questions can expose ideological assumptions inside public institutions. He also discusses a recent SNAP hearing, the dramatic change he sees at the southern border, and why he believes Democratic Socialists are pulling their party, and the country, further left.

The conversation closes on a more personal note: how faith helps Gill withstand criticism, why politics cannot become an ultimate end, and what younger Americans can do to preserve opportunity for their children and grandchildren.

This is a conflict over truth, accountability, and inheritance: will citizens govern their institutions, or will institutions train citizens to distrust what common sense tells them?

In this episode:

● What Rep. Gill says the Smithsonian gets wrong about American history

● Why calling punctuality, civility, and linear thinking “white supremacy” creates backlash

● The common-sense question he asked about soda and SNAP benefits

● Why he views recent border enforcement as a change in political will, not law

● How Democratic Socialists are reshaping the Democratic Party

● Why young Americans must understand socialism’s historical record

● How faith and criticism shape Gill’s approach to public service

If this conversation made you think, share it with someone who wants public institutions to answer to the people they serve.

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In this episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with Congressman Byron Donalds for a powerful conversation about faith, resilience, education, the American Dream, and the future of the country.

Congressman Donalds shares his personal story of growing up in Brooklyn, being raised by a single mother, making serious mistakes as a young man, and ultimately turning his life around through faith. He explains why he believes America remains the greatest country in the world for those willing to work hard, take responsibility, and persevere.

Dr. Carson and Congressman Donalds also discuss the crisis in American education, the danger of victimhood, the rise of socialist ideas, the importance of economic literacy, and why young people need to rediscover the principles that made America exceptional.

This is a conversation about second chances, faith, courage, family, and why the American Dream is still worth defending.

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Many of America’s veterans carry wounds the rest of us cannot see.

In this episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Curt Kolvet to discuss the invisible battles many service members continue to face long after deployment ends — including PTSD, depression, isolation, family strain, and the heartbreaking reality of veteran suicide.

Lt. Col. Kolvet reflects on 23 years of military service, the pressure of leading men and women in combat, the burden placed on military families, and the moments that forced him to reconnect with his humanity and his faith. He also shares how his Christian faith sustained him through deployment, leadership, trauma, and the transition out of military life.

This conversation is a reminder that service does not end when the uniform comes off — and that veterans and their families deserve gratitude, support, community, and hope.

In this episode:

● What civilians often misunderstand about military service

● Why many veterans suffer silently

● The pressure military families carry

● How faith sustained Lt. Col. Kolvet in combat and leadership

● Why he wrote a devotional specifically for veterans

● What struggling veterans need to hear right now

● Dr. Carson’s reminder that America must recover faith, courage, and common sense

If you know a veteran, thank them. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out. And if this conversation encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

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Delano Squires joins Dr. Ben Carson to discuss his new book, The Vanishing Black Family, and the hard truths behind America’s family crisis.

In this conversation, Dr. Carson and Delano examine why family breakdown cannot be explained by economics alone, how fatherlessness affects children, why marriage and fatherhood matter, and what churches, communities, schools, and cultural leaders can do to rebuild strong families.

This episode explores:

• Why family formation is central to a healthy society

• The impact of fatherlessness on children

• Why Delano Squires believes the crisis is spiritual and cultural, not merely economic

• How welfare policy, feminism, and popular culture reshaped views on marriage and family

• Why the Black family crisis should concern all Americans

• The role of churches, HBCUs, mentors, fathers, and community leaders in restoring marriage

• What future generations need from us now

Strong families build strong communities. Strong communities build a strong nation.

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On this rebroadcast episode of Dr. Ben Carson's appearance on "Lt. Dan," Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick explores the influence of Carson's mother, the power of reading, the complexity of the human brain, his experiences on the presidential campaign trail, his friendship with President Donald Trump, and the work of the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty. It's an inspiring conversation about perseverance, faith, personal responsibility, and the values that continue to define the American Dream.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Lt. Dan introduces Dr. Ben Carson & Religious Liberty Commission

02:43 – From inner-city Detroit to “Gifted Hands”: Ben Carson’s origin story

05:12 – Books, art, Mozart & Motown: how curiosity changed his life

07:09 – Classical music in the OR: pioneering pediatric brain surgery

08:17 – Mind-blowing brain demo: what it takes just to raise your hand

10:21 – Running for president & Trump’s debate-stage act of kindness

14:10 – Inside the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty

16:41 – Shay, Navy SEALs & Christians punished for their faith

22:54 – At HUD: empowering faith-based groups & the “mustard seed” model

26:16 – America’s God-given rights, the American Dream & a call to stand up

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America is preparing to celebrate 250 years of freedom, but are we losing the values that made that freedom possible?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Ben Carson sits down with Dr. Robert George, founder of Fidelity Month, to discuss why faith, family, community, and country remain essential to preserving the American experiment.

Together they explore:

• Why Americans are losing confidence in religion, family, and country

• What the Founding Fathers risked to create the United States

• Why freedom depends on virtue

• The dangers of political polarization

• Why strong families are the foundation of self-government

• How parents can raise children who love truth and responsibility

• What every American can do to strengthen the nation

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this conversation offers a timely reminder that freedom is never guaranteed—and every generation must choose whether to preserve it.

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What happens when a country forgets its own history?

In this powerful episode of Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Carson sits down with actor and entertainer John Schneider to discuss why America’s founding story matters now more than ever — and why so many young people are growing up disconnected from the sacrifices that built this nation.

The conversation centers around Star Spangled Adventures: The Movie, a new animated film designed to teach children the courage, faith, sacrifice, and responsibility behind American freedom.

Dr. Carson and Schneider discuss:

Why America’s history is disappearing from classrooms

The danger of raising a generation disconnected from sacrifice

Why storytelling shapes culture

How patriotism became controversial

The spiritual foundations of America

The importance of family-friendly entertainment

Why freedom can disappear faster than people realize

The power of curiosity and historical understanding

How division weakens a nation from within

This episode is about more than a movie. It’s about whether the next generation will understand what it means to be free.

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Dr. Ben Carson reflects on the sanctity of life, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the rise of chemical abortions, and why the fight for life is far from over.

Drawing on his experience as a pediatric neurosurgeon who operated on babies in the womb, Dr. Carson explains why every human life has value from the moment of conception — and why Christians are being called to courage in a culture increasingly hostile to that truth.

Joined by Reverend Clark Chilton and Reverend Dr. Ken Lyon of Wesley Memorial Church in High Point, North Carolina, this powerful conversation explores faith, compassion, prayer, adoption, foster care, crisis pregnancy centers, and the responsibility believers have to protect the vulnerable.

This is not just a political issue. It is a spiritual issue, a cultural issue, and a human issue.

In this episode:

• Why Roe v. Wade did not end the fight for life

• The rise of chemical abortions in America

• Why silence is no longer an option

• How Christians should respond with courage and compassion

• The importance of adoption, foster care, and crisis pregnancy centers

• Why every life matters in the eyes of God

If you believe faith, family, freedom, and life still matter, subscribe to Common Sense with Dr. Ben Carson for conversations that challenge the culture and inspire courage.

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