Oliver Bardwell Podcast

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What started as a spur-of-the-moment sit-down turned into one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

State Representative Helena Hayes and her son William Hayes (19) joined Oliver to reflect on the legacy of Charlie Kirk, the awakening of young people in politics, and the vital role of family values in shaping our future.

From William’s fresh perspective on me...

Support us and join the movement at: https://www.patreon.com/OliverBardwell

In this conversation, Adam Steen shares his journey from personal struggles to his candidacy for governor of Iowa. He emphasizes the importance of faith in leadership, his commitment to public service, and his vision for improving education, property rights, and government efficiency. Steen discusses his leadership style, transformative projects he has led,...

Support the mission and join our community at: https://patreon.com/oliverbardwell

In this episode, Shelly Flockhart shares her powerful journey from small business owner to passionate advocate for parental rights and education reform. As vice chair of Dallas County Moms for Liberty and a mother of four, Shelly has been on the front lines—raising concerns about curriculum, leading prayer vigils at the Capitol, and standing strong for...

Inside the Mind of AI: A Conversation with "Sol"

What happens when you sit down in the studio… with an AI? In this unique episode of The Oliver Bardwell Podcast, I interview "Sol" — a curious, insightful AI with a surprising sense of humor.We talk about the future of energy, the AI arms race, misconceptions about artificial intelligence, and even which coffee Sol would drink if it could. Along the way, you’ll hea...

In this episode, I sit down with Iowa Senator Lynn Evans—a former educator, school superintendent, and one of the “Dauntless Dozen” who took a bold stand for property rights this session.

We dive into his journey from education to politics and why he felt compelled to step into public office to defend parental rights, educational integrity, and the constitutional freedoms we hold dear. We talk about the challenges facing Iowa’s educ...

This is my longest and most powerful episode yet—nearly two hours with Iowa Gubernatorial Candidate and State Rep. Eddie Andrews.

We dive deep into:

• The personal loss that launched his run for office

• Mental health reform

• Parental rights and education

• Medical freedom and pandemic policy

• Property rights and landowner protection

• Immigration, taxation, energy policy, and more

Whether you agree with him or not, Eddie brings honesty, co...

At just 29 years old, Iowa State Representative Taylor Collins has already built a résumé that rivals most political veterans—farm manager, small business owner, former advisor to Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, and now chair of the House Higher Education Committee.

In this candid and wide-ranging interview, Rep. Collins joins me to discuss the most pressing battles facing Iowa—starting with his bold efforts to di...

The 2025 legislative session was supposed to end May 2—but it didn’t. From gender identity battles to the fight for private property rights, it became one of the most intense sessions in Iowa history.

In this episode, I sit down with State Representative Steve Holt, a 20-year Marine and one of the most respected conservative voices at the Capitol, to break it all down:

🔹 How Iowa became the first state to remove gender identity from...

🎧 Exclusive Member Q&A ➡️ patreon.com/oliverbardwell
Even a free membership unlocks the bonus segment of this interview.

Brad Sherman—pastor, conservative leader, and candidate for Iowa Governor—joins me for a powerful conversation on faith, freedom, and the future of our state.

We cover:

In this episode, Craig Hunt, owner of Universal Barbershop in Windsor Heights, shares his powerful journey—from nearly giving up on barbering due to outdated licensing laws to becoming a mentor and leader in the industry. We dive deep into HF 711, a bill that aims to cut through overregulation and open doors for aspiring barbers through on-the-job apprenticeship training instead of rigid, costly schooling.

Craig opens up about the m...

Medical freedom is at the core of this movement, and the fight for transparency, informed consent, and parental rights has never been more crucial. In this compelling conversation, I sit down with Gabby Fistler and Lindsay Maher from Informed Choice Iowa (ICI) to break down the biggest legislative battles happening right now in Iowa.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Context of Legislative Session03:01 Key Legislative Bills and Their ...

IOWA IS AT A CROSS ROADS -

HSB 242 does more than define what a woman is—it removes gender identity from the IowaCivil Rights Code, restoring legal clarity, protecting women's rights, and safeguarding our children from radical gender ideology. (13 min break down) - https://youtu.be/QJIcYlAB00I?si=Uuoe1ZEk-dE5k0IW

In this must-listenepisode, I sit down with Rep. Steve Holt,Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, to break down exactly...

🚨HSB 242 doesn’t just define what a woman is—it removes gender identity from Iowa’s Civil Rights Code entirely, restoring biological truth, legal clarity, and protecting women’s rights.

💥 This bill corrects a mistake made in 2007—one that no other red state has followed. It closes legal loopholes that have allowed biological males into women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, prisons and shelters under the guise of “civil rights.”

🛑 Enoug...

In this powerful and moving episode of The Oliver Bardwell Podcast, I sit down with John Thompson, President and Co-founder of Salute to the Fallen, a veteran-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, mental health support, and honoring the legacy of those who served. John shares his deeply personal journey from enlisting in the military at 17, surviving combat injuries, and overcoming his own battle...

In this episode ofThe Oliver Bardwell Podcast, I sit down with Jose Reyes, a dedicated advocate for Iowa’s Latino community and a passionate conservative voice in politics. Jose shares his journey—from arriving in the U.S. as a child under DACA to navigating the challenges of legal status, cultural identity, and political engagement.

We dive into the complexities of immigration, the misconceptions surrounding DACA recipients, and th...

In this special episode of The Oliver Bardwell Podcast, we sit down with Iowa House Representative Dan Gehlbach for a conversation as rich and layered as the bourbon we're sipping. Together, we explore:

In episode #71 of The Oliver Bardwell Podcast, I sit down with Chris Hagenow, former Iowa Representative and founder of Iowans for Tax Relief, to discuss the big issues shaping Iowa and beyond. We cover everything from tax reform and local government accountability to broader discussions about the future of leadership and innovation.

Key Topics Include:

In this compelling episode, Oliver Bardwell sits down with Laura Becker, a courageous detransitioner and advocate for truth in the gender ideology debate.

Laura shares her powerful journey from transitioning to detransitioning, the challenges of overcoming trauma, and her mission to protect vulnerable individuals from the harmful practices that are being called "gender-affirming care."

Discover how she’s turning personal pain int...

Summary

In this conversation, Oliver Bardwell and Walt Rogers discuss the importance of family, education, and political advocacy in shaping the future of educational freedom.

Walt shares his personal journey from youth ministry to politics, emphasizing the role of parents in education and the need for cultural change. They explore the impact of COVID-19 on parental involvement in education, the challenges posed by a secular educ...