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American Thought Leaders

American Thought Leaders

By: The Epoch Times
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At a time when our nation is portrayed as increasingly polarized, media often ignore viewpoints and stories that are worthy of attention. American Thought Leaders, hosted by The Epoch Times Senior Editor Jan Jekielek, features in-depth discussions with some of America’s most influential thought leaders on pertinent issues facing our nation today.Copyright 2025 The Epoch Times Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • From Vegan Star Chef to Regenerative Rancher | Mollie Engelhart
    Oct 9 2025

    Mollie Engelhart was once a celebrated vegan farm-to-table restaurateur in California. When she decided to put meat back on the menu, a targeted campaign forced her to close her business.

    She ultimately decided to make the painful decision to uproot her entire life, sell her farm, and rebuild from scratch in Texas.

    She’s the author of the new book “Debunked by Nature: How a Vegan-Chef-Turned-Regenerative-Farmer Discovered that Mother Nature Is a Conservative.”

    “We’re treating the soil and our bodies like we can outsmart them, but we’re getting sicker,” she says.

    Once an ardent believer in the vegan movement, Engelhart now questions much of what she once believed.

    “Nature taught me my ideas were ridiculous. ... My cow isn’t the enemy,” she says.

    Real environmentalism is “not to avoid nature, but to interact with her; not to try to out-science her, but to remember her wisdom,” she says.

    How does the health of our soil shape the health of our bodies? In this episode, we dive into the roots of our health crisis and why real change often starts small, with curious consumers and courageous farmers.

    Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.


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    58 mins
  • Secretary Doug Burgum: Inside Our Strategy to End China’s Stranglehold on Critical Minerals
    Oct 8 2025

    “President Trump talks about ‘drill, baby, drill.’ We’ve also got to mine, baby, mine. We’ve got to get back into this business,” says U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

    China has a stranglehold on rare earths and critical minerals, controlling at least 85 percent of the refining of the 20 most important rare earth minerals, Burgum says.

    As secretary of the interior, Burgum oversees nearly half a billion acres of federal land and plays a key role in the Trump administration’s energy dominance agenda.

    In this episode, we dive into what the Trump administration is doing to end America’s rare earth minerals dependency on China, accelerate energy production, and win the AI arms race against China, which will require major increases in energy supply.

    We also discuss the government shutdown and how it impacts the Department of the Interior and the American people.

    Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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    26 mins
  • Dr. Joseph Ladapo Breaks Down Decision to Remove All Vaccines Mandates in Florida
    Oct 4 2025

    In early September, during a joint press conference with Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo publicly announced the decision to eliminate all state vaccine mandates—including those required for schools.

    In this episode, Dr. Ladapo explains the decision, how it will take shape, and his response to critics of the announcement who say there will be increased outbreaks of infectious disease.

    “It’s just not appropriate for someone else to be able to dictate or force you to put something into your body.… If you own anything, you do own your body, just as you own your free will,” he says.

    Florida’s Department of Health is removing all its current mandates, but a complete removal of all vaccine requirements from state law will require legislative action. Dr. Ladapo says he’s confident it will be passed.

    We also dive into his concern that many pediatricians can refuse to treat children on the basis of the child’s vaccination status: “To be kicked out of pediatrician practices for that reason, it’s just wrong,” he says.

    He’s working with Governor DeSantis on what he calls a “patient’s bill of rights.”

    Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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    40 mins
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