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
52. Have a Sense of Humor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:25
Today let's dive into the thing our society needs: humor. What makes things funny? Why is humor in short supply in our culture today? "Everything human is pathetic. The secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow…
51. Finding Truth in an Unsure World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:27
Today there are two quotes of the week to show you two prevailing views of the Truth. One is that it is something that exists outside of ourselves and is able to be conveyed through honesty. The latter is that it is some…
50. Capitalism vs Socialism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:47
President Trump declared in his latest State of the Union that, "America will never be a socialist country." This is a positive declaration by a president who has often flirted with too much intervention in the economy.…
49. How Can We Move Past Race? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
The racial politics we're in right now has had obvious negative effects, especially over the last ten years. What can we do to move past race and see each other as individuals? How do we heal the wounds and move on? No h…
48. Render Unto Caesar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:24
Can public schools teach the Bible? What does the 1st amendment say? What can we learn about reading the Bible both religiously and secularly? Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohib…
47. Healing the Country's Divisions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:09
In honor of MLK Day, I wanted to talk about healing the country's divisions, since he was so instrumental in healing our racial divisions. It seems we are divided among new lines. We may have all come on different ships,…
46. Make the Government Shutdown Permanent, Mr. President [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:08
I know I've tried to be less political, but I think this is a good lesson for us. It's been weeks since the government shut down, and you would never know if it weren't being hyped up in the news. So, we'll discuss all t…
45. Becoming More Disciplined Through Abstinence And Action [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
I apologize for the 2 week hiatus! Both of the last 2 Tuesdays were Holidays, and with family in town and an unexpected illness, I was unable to do the podcast. I think the break was needed, and I'm ready to get back int…
44. Leap of Faith or Just a Step? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:45
I want to talk about faith and how it is not some giant leap that starts you on a journey, but a small step at the end of a journey of learning. "Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to belie…
43. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
We often look at our ancestors as rubes or primitive, but they were far smarter than we give them credit for. Maybe they hadn't advanced technology to the point of self-driving cars or iPhones, but there is more to human…