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
180. Talking Politics And Virtue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:26
In our society, politics has jumped to the front of most everyone's mind. Despite its prominence in our lives, it seems that many people don't know how to talk about it. But, that doesn't have to be the case. A while ago…
179. Book Review | The Recovery of Family Life by Scott Yenor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:46
So, I'm now back in the office for recording, and if you can't see it you should check out my YouTube Channel. You'll be able to watch the book reviews and see the new office. But, to get to the topic for this episode, I…
178. Problems With Feminism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:59
I talked with the ladies from Freed From Feminism a few months back and wanted to revisit a few great parts of our conversation. In this conversation, we discussed a wide range of problems with feminism. So, I thought it…
177. Book Review | Plato's Republic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:23
Plato, one of the best known Greek philosophers, was a student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle. He's notable not only for his tremendous insight into philosophy but his style as well. Instead of explaining his ide…
176. Answering Your Mailbag Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:57
Today is mailbag day! So, I'll be answering your Mailbag Questions. Before I dive into those questions, I'll be talking about a tweet of mine that went viral and why I think it did. Plus, I'll discuss how people misunder…
175. Book Review | Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:16
This is the second book by C.S. Lewis that I've reviewed. The Abolition of Man is a work that I believe is prophetic, but not just because it described a problem we'd deal with decades later. Rather, the prophecy lies in…
174. Reviving Traditional Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:01
I recently sat down with Amy Mastrine, an artist who works in traditional mediums, to talk about the state of art. Finding a way to create new iterations of traditional art is something that would go a long way for our c…
173. Book Review | The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:53
In order for you understand the modern political landscape, it is important to read Machiavelli's The Prince. It includes detailed and wise accounts of how rulers gain, retain and lose power. The version that I recommend…
172. Power of Ancient and Esoteric Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:33
I recently sat down with Brendan Heard of the Aureus Press to talk about traditionalism and power of ancient and esoteric wisdom. After his book about the decline of Western Art, Brendan continued to writing. This led hi…
171. Book Review | The Meaning of Conservatism by Roger Scruton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:10
Roger Scruton is one of the leading conservative philosophers of the last century, and potentially of all time. His book, The Meaning of Conservatism, was instrumental in developing how I think about politics. So, I want…