186. Smiles Matter, Problems With COVID Lockdowns

186. Smiles Matter, Problems With COVID Lockdowns

Author: Nick Jamell January 12, 2021 Duration: 46:30

The Covid lockdowns have ruled our lives for nearly a year. Still, there seems to be no end in sight. Despite the issues with the lockdowns, we can still have many people supporting them. But, we know there are many harmful effects with the lockdowns.  So, check out my latest interview with Ronni Peck, aka Think Too Much Mom about the Smiles Matter movement, homeschooling, Covid overreactions and more.

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Problems With The Covid Lockdowns

Many studies have found that deaths due to drugs, suicide, or forgoing care have led to many deaths. In fact, some even show that the lockdowns are deadlier in many places than Covid. With all these issues, why do we continue to lock down? Why not find a better solution? Well, I argue we should use political systems to fix this issue, and Ronni and I discuss just that.

Life Changes Due To Covid Lockdowns

We've all had to adjust to the current state of things. But, parents may have more to adjust to. Both their lives and their children's lives have been disrupted due to lockdown restrictions, and they need to figure that out. So, Ronni and I talked about what it was like for her making the adjustment. You can find out more at her blog here.

What is Smiles Matter?

Basically, Smiles Matter is a movement started to remind people that we're human beings. Instead of seeing your neighbor as a danger or vector of transmission, we should remember each other's humanity. Not only that, but we should actively seek to share human moments with each other and find ways to connect person-to-person.


Nick Jamell hosts Conversation of Our Generation, a space where urgent contemporary questions meet enduring ideas from history and philosophy. Rather than reacting to the noise of daily headlines, this podcast deliberately steps back to examine the deeper currents shaping our society and culture. Each episode is a long-form dialogue that treats topics like politics, religion, and social change not as fodder for debate, but as puzzles to be understood with patience and intellectual humility. The aim is to move beneath entrenched partisanship and surface-level takes, searching instead for clearer perspectives and foundational truths. What you’ll hear are thoughtful explorations that connect modern dilemmas to the wisdom of ancient and modern thinkers, asking how we might navigate today’s complexities with a more grounded sense of principle. This isn’t about quick answers; it’s about cultivating a more meaningful and less reactive way of engaging with the world. For anyone feeling adrift in a polarized age, this podcast offers a sustained, earnest conversation that values depth over speed, and understanding over winning an argument. Tune in for a respite from the frantic news cycle and a chance to consider what it means to be part of this particular moment in time, armed with the best ideas from across the ages.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 245

Conversation of Our Generation
Podcast Episodes
122. Problems With Police And Riots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
Those of you who listen to my podcast and follow my blog know that I have no love lost for the authorities. I believe that many of our institutions have been corrupted beyond the point of deserving much respect, let alon…
121. Book Review | True Crime by Andrew Klavan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:15
If you're looking for an entertaining read, True Crime is a great book. It is an interesting look into the criminal justice system and what it's like to sit on death row. -Thomas Aquinas"Justice is a certain rectitude of…
120. Keep The Old Normal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
I'm worried that we're being prepared for a "new normal," and one that will be harmful to us. I've seen a couple signs of this and wanted to call them out so we can find ways to push back and resist encroachments into ou…
119. Book Review | Don't Burn This Book by Dave Rubin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:17
In a time when discussion is angry and partisan, it is refreshing to have a book that addresses real issues seriously- but not too seriously. Don't Burn This Book is a great look at Dave Rubin's political transformation,…
118. Direct Your Intellectual Pursuits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:58
It seems to me all to common that people pursue theories for sake of pursuing them, rather than a search for truth. The problem in this is that truth is the end, and our capabilities to be rational and seek truth are a m…
117. Book Review | Meditations of Marcus Aurelius [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:14
Marcus Aurelius was an Emperor of Rome. He was also a wise, Stoic philosopher. He might be more remembered for his writings than what he did as a political and military leader. His understanding of discipline and how you…
116. 3 Fallacies Destroying Our Discourse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:29
In today's discourse there is a lot of bad dialogue. Many people fling ideas out there with little to no consideration, and many of these ideas are fallacious. I'd like to look at several fallacies that really disrupt ou…
115. Book Review | Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:44
Saint Augustine - "God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering." Saint Augustine of Hippo, a late-in-life convert and one of the Fathers of the Church. His influence on the growth and theology o…
114. What has man done to man? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:35
One of my favorite poems is William Wordsworth's "Lines Written in Early Spring." I came across this poem a couple years ago as I started reading his works. The length is great, and the message is insightful and relevant…
113. Book Review | The Soul of the World by Roger Scruton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:24
While I have no problem looking at the world and seeing the spiritual realm as well. I am not a materialist. But, for those who are, this book will bring that out of you. In The Soul of the World, Roger Scruton explores…