Faith, Family And The Films Audiences Actually Want | Ted Baehr

John Anderson speaks with Ted Baehr, founder of Christian film review site Movieguide, to examine what contemporary film choices reveal about the moral instincts of society. Drawing on decades of data, Baehr challenges the prevailing narratives around the relationship between a film's content and its success. He argues that popular entertainment is quietly moving in a different direction from elite commentary, with films centred on family, moral clarity, and hope consistently outperforming darker and more transgressive content.This conversation traces the historical rhythms of Hollywood, from early moral storytelling to periods of decline and renewal. This is a grounded conversation that reorients the cultural debate around what audiences reward rather than what critics promote. Dr. Ted Baehr is Founder and Publisher of Movieguide: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment and Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission ministry, as well as a noted critic, educator, lecturer, and media pundit. His life’s purpose is to be used of God to redeem the values of the media while educating audiences on how to use discernment in selecting their entertainment.

Julian Leeser joins John Anderson for an assessment of the disturbing return of anti-semitism to the Australian public sphere. Leeser sets out the historical contours of anti-semitism and why Hamas's October 7 attacks became a catalyst for hostility on Australian soil.  The conversation criticises the failure of the current Australian government to curb anti-semitic rhetoric and acts of vandalism. Instead, it has instead chosen to legitimise the actions of Hamas by recognising a Palestinian state at the UN. This is an important discussion that urges Australia to have the courage to confront extremist, anti-democratic values and ensure every Australian is able to live in safety and dignity on our shores. Julian Leeser is the Liberal Party Member for Berowra in Sydney. He is the editor and author of numerous books on a bill of rights for Australia, federalism, and Indigenous issues.

John speaks with Michelle Manook about the realities of Australia’s energy system, the misconceptions driving policy, and the widening gap between ideology and practical national interest. Manook explains why technological advances in sustainable coal production, including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and High Efficiency Low Emissions (HELE) power plants, make coal a legitimate energy option for our future. The discussion urges Australians to re-examine the assumptions embedded in net zero narratives, the economic risks posed by unreliable power, and the strategic necessity of maintaining a diverse and resilient energy mix. This is a grounded, forward-looking discussion about how nations sustain prosperity and stability in an increasingly uncertain world. Michelle Manook is Chief Executive of FutureCoal. Previously, she was Head of Strategy, Government and Communications for Europe, Asia and Africa for the multinational company Orica, based in Perth, Australia.

Connor Tomlinson joins John for a compelling examination of Britain’s fractured politics and its loss of cultural self-belief. Tomlinson offers a frank account of how mass immigration and rising Islamist separatism are reshaping the social fabric of Britain. Difficult but necessary questions are examined concerning integration, national cohesion, and whether the country still has the confidence to uphold its own cultural inheritance. Despite the challenges, Tomlinson insists that renewal is still possible if Britain can rediscover the confidence to enforce its laws, protect its institutions, and expect newcomers to adopt its cultural values. This conversation is a call to restore order, confidence, and a shared sense of direction for Britain's future.Connor Tomlinson is a British political commentator, writer, and policy researcher known for his work on immigration, identity, environmental policy, and the cultural challenges facing the UK. A regular contributor to GB News, TalkTV, The Lotus Eaters, and a writer for Courage Media.

Join John in conversation with Helen Joyce for a measured and penetrating examination of gender ideology, the erosion of safeguarding principles, and the profound human rights concerns emerging across clinics, schools, and public institutions. Joyce warns that while the UK is returning to evidence-based practice, Australia continues to pursue practices driven by radical ideology such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender-affirming surgery for children.  Joyce is adamant that denying biological reality harms women, children, medical ethics, and public trust. She argues for renewed clarity, ethical courage, and respect for the rights of a child to a natural puberty and long-term wellbeing.  Helen Joyce was Britain Editor at The Economist, where she worked for over 15 years before she joined the gender-critical campaign group Sex Matters as a director. She is the author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality.

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report joins John Anderson in Sydney for a searching conversation on the crises reshaping Western democracy and culture. They examine the collapse of reasoned debate, the rise of identity politics, and how outrage and censorship have supplanted open dialogue. Rubin reflects on the assassination of his friend Charlie Kirk and what it reveals about a society increasingly willing to justify political violence as a means of social progress. Their discussion spans the erosion of Enlightenment ideals, the resurgence of antisemitism, the loss of trust in institutions and media, and the widening cultural divide between secularism and the Christian moral inheritance of the West. Anderson and Rubin also explore immigration, free speech, and the future of civic courage — warning that without truth, shared purpose, and principled leadership, the West risks forfeiting the very freedoms that once defined it. Dave Rubin is an author, commentator, and host of The Rubin Report, a leading program examining the challenges to free speech and liberal democracy in the modern West. Once aligned with the political left, Rubin now advocates a return to classical liberal principles and open discourse. His most recent book, Don’t Burn This Country, offers a blueprint for preserving freedom in an age of ideological conformity.

John Anderson speaks with David Eubank and Dr. Sean Turnell about the realities of China's involvement in Myanmar’s civil war following their 2021 military coup and why it matters for Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. They reflect on Eubank's first-hand experience providing humanitarian relief at the front line of guerilla warfare in the jungle, and Turnell's harrowing ordeal as a political prisoner for 650 days under the military regime. They explore Myanmar’s struggle for freedom, the staggering human cost of resistance, and the courage of those who continue to serve amid war and persecution.The discussion calls for urgent attention to the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Russia’s growing footprint in the region. The crisis in Myanmar is not isolated but emblematic of the moral test facing free societies—whether they will stand with those who fight for liberty under tyranny. This is a sobering reminder of the need for moral resolve and principled leadership in an increasingly dangerous world. Dave Eubank is a former U.S. Special Forces soldier who has spent nearly three decades on the front lines of some of the world’s most brutal conflicts. He is the founder of the Free Burma Rangers and continues to deliver humanitarian aid in active war zones alongside his family.Sean Turnell is an Australian economist and former economic policy advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar. He spent 650 days in a Myanmar prison and wrote about the experience in his book An Unlikely Prisoner: How an Eternal Optimist Found Hope in Myanmar’s Most Notorious Jail.

Join John in conversation with former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott as they discuss Tony's new book, Australia: A History. From its Indigenous heritage to its British foundations and immigrant character, Abbott explores how the nation’s past informs its present and future. He urges a renewed appreciation for the principles of egalitarianism and justice that shaped Australia’s remarkable journey.In this conversation, Abbott reflects on the importance of historical literacy, the impact of individual leadership, and the enduring values that unite Australians. He warns against historical revisionism and advocates for preserving the Anglo-Celtic cultural ethos that continues to define the nation. This is a timely discussion that calls Australians to recover a sense of gratitude and pride in the civilisation they have inherited—and the responsibility to uphold it for generations to come. Tony Abbott is an Australian former politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia and was the member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of Warringah from 1994 to 2019.

In this conversation, Josh Hammer examines the perilous moral confusion of our age through the prism of Israel and its survival. The attacks of October 7 and the confused global response revealed, he argues, a civilisation that has lost confidence in truth itself. When so many can no longer distinguish between barbarism and freedom, the very survival of Western civilisation is at stake. Hammer maintains that the West’s survival depends on rediscovering its biblical foundations in Judaism and Christianity. Without recovering that foundation, the West cannot withstand the mounting pressures of relativism, Islamist extremism, and cultural Marxism. This is a sobering but vital discussion on Israel, anti-Semitism, and the future of the West. Joshua Hammer is the author of Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. He is a syndicated columnist through Creators Syndicate, senior editor-at-large for Newsweek, and host of The Josh Hammer Show.

In this conversation, Greg Sheridan explores Christianity’s defining influence on Western civilisation, showing how its revolutionary impact—from the early Church through to modern times—has shaped culture, morality, and human dignity. He argues that the decline of faith in recent generations has coincided with deep cultural and societal crises, and he calls for a renewed recognition of Christianity’s enduring value. Through vivid stories of early believers and contemporary figures, Sheridan illustrates how Christian faith continues to offer repair, renewal, and meaning in a fragmented world.Greg Sheridan is one of Australia’s most prominent journalists and commentators on culture, politics, and religion. He serves as Foreign Editor at The Australian and is the author of multiple bestselling books on Christianity in the modern world.His trilogy includes God is Good for You, Christians: The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World, and his latest work, How Christians Can Succeed Today. Which can be purchased here: https://koorong.com/product/how-christians-can-succeed-today-reclaiming-the-genius_9781761471124-------------------------------------------------------------------Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."If you value this discussion and want to see more like it, make sure you subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnYSEGViOnb7k8ezUaWUww?sub_confirmation=1And stay right up to date with all the conversations by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://johnanderson.net.au/contact/Follow John on X: https://x.com/JohnAndersonACFollow John on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnandersonacFollow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnandersonac/Support the channel: https://johnanderson.net.au/support/Website: https://johnanderson.net.au/