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Launch of Turning Point Education 0:00 Have you ever wondered why it seems so much easier for children to learn intuitively from language to tech to games? Well, it's because their young minds are so pliable, something called0:11 neuroplasticity. But what if that's being used, perhaps abused by conventional education to lead children away from Christ, capitalism, and the constitution? My next guest is on0:23 the front line of an explosion of interest in alternative education since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and he sees a better way forward. Stay tuned.0:37 Welcome to the Christian Capitalist Show. I'm your host, Russell Gray. We are here at Turning Point America Fest 20 25, and I am sitting down with the chief education officer of Turning0:49 Point Academy or Turning Point Education, which is the arm that, provides educational content for young families who are looking to raise conservative Christian,1:01 and in this case, conservative Christian capitalists. So welcome to the show, Hutts Hertzberg. Hutts, welcome.1:06 Great. Thank you so much. Great to be with you. Yeah.1:08 Super excited. I came here last year for the very first time, and I got a chance to meet your organization. I didn't understand how Turning Point was divided at that time, but I had met Charlie Kirk at an event that my1:20 friend Robert Kiyosaki spoke out with Dennis Prager. And I ended up backstage, and I told Charlie about my vision for the raising capitalist project, and he was very, very enthusiastic about it. And so I came to Turning1:32 Point USA to see what this was all about, and I met Jennifer who was with you at the time and, then Scott. And we had a conversation about, creating some curriculum to help promote1:44 capitalism to your network, which is very large. And so it's a privilege for me to sit down with you, but let's just start from the beginning. Just tell the folks a little bit about what is Turning Point1:56 Education. What is the mission? What is the vision? And where are you guys at right now?2:00 Yeah. Right. Well, thank you so much. You know, it's a really interesting story because as you know, Charlie really started going to college campuses. And right up to his last day on this earth, he was on a college2:10 university campus. But Charlie began to see what some of the rest of us were seeing in my background is in Christian higher education, and that is that the woke ideologies are really being2:22 more, happening at a earlier age, for students. It used to be you go to college and get indoctrinated, but the indoctrination now is happening at high school, junior high. We would even say grade school level. So as2:33 Charlie was seeing that, about almost 4 years ago now, he realized we've gotta go younger. And it and I, at the same time, I realized that. And so I left Christian higher education.2:45 I became president of a k through 12 school. Interestingly, the school that Charlie attended when he was in third, fourth, and fifth grade, which I can tell you more of that story. So but, anyways, Charlie then, that's2:57 how we got connected. I was the president of his former school. He reached out and said, you know, we really wanna do something now in the k through 12 space, which before that, Turning Point really hadn't done anything3:08 in that space really. And so, you know, we 1 conversation led to another. I ended up saying yes 3 and a half years ago. So Charlie had a great vision, but there was nothing on paper. I had3:20 a pencil and, no team. And so I had the great privilege of creating a, really the goals, the vision, the initiative of initiatives of what we were gonna do. And so that's what we've done these last few3:32 years. And so we have a very clear vision now, a very clear direction in terms of what we're doing. And so, essentially, Russell, what we're doing is we're starting schools. We have our what we call our 5 c school model,3:44 Christian, classical, conservative, collaborative, cost affordable. Every 1 of those c's is very important. We're also doing our educator summits, which we'd love to have you come sometime and be a3:56 part of that. We'll have our fifth 1 this summer already. We're creating curriculum, and we talk more about the curriculum. But since September tenth, our numbers of orders have skyrocketed. It's just been amazing.4:08 And then we have an association. You mentioned my colleague, Scott Pollander. He leads our Turning Point Education Association. We're bringing people from across the country that are doing some amazing things in4:19 education that share similar values together so we can connect, collaborate, encourage 1 another. And so we have affiliates as individuals, schools, and organizations.4:31 And then our newest initiative is our prep year, which is our post high school prior to going to college intentional leadership development program, 9 month in residence program. So in a nutshell, that's that's what4:43 we're doing. We're doing a few other things, but those are the priorities that we have right now.4:47 Yeah. So, obviously, Charlie's assassination, even for people who disagreed with his politics, and his faith is tragic. And, of course, it's catalyzed4:59 a lot of interest and activity polarized, I think, to a large degree a lot. Has any of that gotten on the educational arm? I know that, you know, Turning Point USA is the focal5:11 point. Probably Turning Point Action is probably catching a bit because it's on the political arm. But what about on this education arm?5:18 Yeah. Great question. You know, actually, the interest that we've gotten is all positive. And so we've actually heard from 202 countries, not counties, countries5:30 since September 10. We have 1700 people now that wanna start schools with us, if you can believe that. 1600000.0 curriculum orders. Just put that in perspective.5:42 In a good month prior to September tenth, we might have 1000 orders for our curriculum, which we can talk about. But since September tenth, 1600000.0. We have hundreds and5:54 hundreds of people now that wanna join the association, our interest in prep years off the charge. And so, you know, our division, which is a division of Turning Point USA, has just seen explosive6:06 interest. People wanna be involved. They wanna be connected. They wanna be a part. They wanna give, praise, serve, get involved with us. And so it's been amazingly positive. I do understand what you're saying. There's6:17 certainly been, various opinions about what's happening with Turning Point, but, our our division has only been positive.6:24 And I think that's wonderful because, you know, I was a little concerned, not that I'm necessarily afraid of being controversial, but part of doing outreach is to cast a wide net.6:36 And in in my case, the reason I approached you, your organization was because of this raising capitalists project. And the vision for that is to help parents, who6:48 maybe don't know how to start a business because they're solidly what, the Rich Dad organization, you know, would call employees. And so they don't really know how to start a business, much less teach their children how6:59 to be entrepreneurs or investors. Right? They they work a job and they send their money to their 4 0 1 k or a mutual fund, and they really don't understand what I call Main Street investing. I personally believe that7:10 we're on an era where there's gonna be a lot of Main Street opportunity. I believe the policies that are being pursued are gonna open up a floodgate of foreign investment into Main Street that doesn't come through the7:21 Fed, that doesn't come through the treasury, and could probably create a big economic boom without associated inflation. That's an economic concept. But the result of that is going to be that that there's going to be7:33 real opportunities for young people to start businesses. And I think a college system that has been preparing people to look for jobs that aren't being created because we have a college system that doesn't create job7:45 creators is going to be replaced by systems where people actually learn how to start businesses from scratch with nothing. And if Main Street entrepreneurs and investors7:57 would invest in other Main Street businesses, I think we can take Main Street back from a capitalistic perspective and make Main Street or make capitalism Main Street again, and then you add the faith8:08 component because I do believe that capitalism is an expression of loving your neighbor. Love God, love your neighbor, make disciples, and capitalism is also a gateway to both8:20 Christianity and conservatism. So that's yeah. I'm kinda using this interview as an opportunity to pitch you on on who I am and what I'm doing and why I want to align with you. But I also wanna get your feedback on that8:32 because, you know, I think that learning theory, learning economics, learning history, all of those things are very, very important, but they're the table setting for actually going out in the real8:44 world and being fruitful and multiply. What we're doing is, bringing together that mentorship so the parent can start a business and then hire the child to work8:56 inside the business and actually learn by doing. There's many, many things that children are perfectly capable of doing in the information age under their parents' supervision. So what's yourPost-Assassination Surge and Capitalism Vision 9:08 thought on that? Does your gut tell you that's a good idea, maybe not such a good idea? Do you see it fitting into what you you're doing?9:14 Well, first, I have to say, Russell, it's a compelling vision. You've articulated that as well as anybody I've heard articulate it. So, that's very inspiring, actually. You know, just off the top of my head, I can think9:26 of a couple of ways where potentially we we could, support you and you can support us. 1 is is that we we would love to to promote and and9:38 and have your materials as resources that we we put on our website and and be able to refer to that as approved, sanctioned, turning point, education, resources,9:50 and we can talk about that.9:52 And through the foundation, it's all free. Which is great. That's nonprofit. We're not here to make money. We are here to impact Main Street for capitalism starting with the children who have been brainwashed into10:04 another way of thinking.10:05 Yeah. And I love that I love that price because that's that's the turning point. I mean, we're so fortunate in what we do at Turning Point Education, but it's true virtually throughout the whole organization to give away10:16 what we do without charge. So we starts we were starting these schools across the country. We don't charge for anything. We didn't charge for the curriculum. And the our educators summit, if you're part of our10:28 association, you can come for free. We pay your food. We pay your so it's because of generous donors. Our curriculum I mentioned the 1600000.0. Honestly, it wouldn't nearly be that high if our10:40 curriculum wasn't free. But, again, because of generous donors, we're able to do that. Joining our association, no charge. Our prep year, it's a probably a 25000 dollar easily,10:52 expense. We charge you students 1000 dollars. So we're on the same page in terms of we wanna just get this out and bless people and encourage them as best that we can. But that's that's 1 of the11:03 ways I I mentioned a couple other ways. You know, our, national field program, which is a different division, that's our college and high school chapters that are starting across the country. They too11:15 are exploding. And I could see this being wonderful curricula, for our high school chapters, especially. Our we call club America. And, right now,11:27 the latest numbers are, we have over 3000 club Americas across the country. But something very exciting, 3 states and there's others that are just very close have, governors11:39 have said, we're gonna make Club America's mandatory for every school, high school, or every school in our state. So I was just down in Austin, Texas, a little over a11:51 week ago with the the governor, lieutenant governor. We had a signing. Every school now in the state of Texas is authorized, encouraged, all but mandated to have a12:03 Turning Point chapter. And the governor said, and if any of you that we had a number of student leaders there find resistance from your school, let us know. So virtually every school in the state of Texas, Florida,12:14 Tennessee is the latest, and there's, like, 3 or 4 other states that I could mention. So it's a growing opportunity. These are Club America's where we teach free principles, free market12:26 principles, principles of democracy, the history of our country, you know, the founding values and virtues of what this nation's all about. Certainly, what you're about is very consistent with12:38 that. So that's a growing opportunity. So that would be another area. And then I've mentioned now a couple of times our prep year program. These are the future Charlie Kirk's. Highly selective program. We're investing a12:49 lot of money in them. They're with us 9 months. It's a holistic curriculum. We study the great book, the bible, the great books of western civilization, the great documents, the founding documents of our country, great13:01 mentors, great curriculum, but it's also a practical component. We're not assuming anymore that every kid is going to college. When I graduated from high school, may this is true for you, we had 4 5013:12 my graduating class, 449 went to college. It wasn't whether you're going to college and I was what college. But now it's different. Kids are actually saying, well, why should I go to college? And obviously, Charlie had a13:24 large impact on that. I heard him say, and you'll love this, that, you know, if you need the if you wanna be a doctor, okay, I can see a role for college. If you wanna go into business or start your own business or be an13:35 entrepreneur, go find a great entrepreneur, entrepreneur. And it's mentor and and and, you know, say I'll work for free and you'll get a better education. So but13:47 anyways, what I was gonna say about prep years that I could see you, Russell, or maybe some of your your, materials to help our our future Charlie Kirk's, our prep here, our this is kinda like the special forces14:00 of Turning Point. These are the best of the best. And we just launched it this year a week before Charlie was assassinated. We have 34 students in Fort Worth, Texas. Next year, we're gonna be in Fort Worth and Chicago,14:10 about 130 students. But we'd love for them to get, you know, the kind of teaching and the kind of vision that you're sharing with me today. So those are a couple ways I see us potentially working together.Personal Drive and Spiritual Warfare 14:21 Yeah. And I think that where we're going with all of this when you talk about, things being practical. I mean, I believe that when you're talking to children who are being supported14:33 by parents and they're going through a high school or college experience, they have ideas about the real world. They have theories about the real world, but they haven't experienced the real14:45 world. And so you can have these philosophical conversations, these spiritual conversations, and they're very, very important. You can talk about history and start laying the framework for the context, and all of these14:57 things are very, very important. And because of some of the really egregious things we've had going on culturally, I think people are beginning to wake up. Hey. Maybe there's something about15:08 values. Maybe there's something about faith. Right? And so I think you have that. Maybe there is something about conservatism, at least the way it's being presented in light of some of these cultural extremes.15:20 But once you tamp down some of those cultural extremes, so we don't have boys and girls restrooms or sports. We don't have, this some of this gender mutilation, some of these things that are going on that are15:32 just so egregious, even people that are somewhat agnostic are like, this isn't right. Right? When that calms down, I think a large part of Main Street is gonna go back to the mind your own business,15:44 and they're gonna focus on money. And if when these kids graduate and they have to go out in the real world and they're looking for jobs and can't find them and people are in their ear, hey. The system is rigged. You15:55 can't make it. You give us power, and we will level the playing field. Right? They they're susceptible to that. It's a very disempowering message. And I think the answer is going to be to get them involved in starting16:07 businesses and being financially successful early in life. If you might make them conservative culturally and and politically in college, You know? And Turning Point has done a fabulous16:19 job with that. But I think if you wanna keep them conservative long term, you've got to turn them into capitalists early. And that's really where I'm focused. So I think that that bridge of getting people and I16:31 love that prep thing that you have, that kind of that go between. I think that's really, really important. So, I'm gonna step back a little bit and go a little personal if you don't mind. Right? You're16:43 an older guy. I can see the white hair, and that's great. I'm an older guy. We're running around dedicating our lives to the next generation and maybe the generation behind that. What's your personal motivation? What16:53 made you decide at this season of your life decide this is what I'm gonna dedicate my time to?16:58 Yeah. That's such a great question. Well, I I can tell you that as I mentioned earlier, I've been in Christian education ministry, served in a local church, led an organization.17:10 But what what really drove me to lead a k through 12 school of all things was what I was saying earlier is I saw the indoctrination, the woke ideologies being baked in at an earlier age.17:22 And so it was an intentional decision to go younger. And so now instead of working with college students and graduate students and 20 somethings, I'm working with kindergartners and first graders and, you know, middle17:33 schoolers and high schoolers. But God uses all of that, you know, to prepare us for for whatever the next thing is. In this case, it was turning point. But it was an intentional effort to try to as I've gotten older, the17:45 way I say it, Russell, is that as I've gotten older, I've intentionally gone younger. Someone make the greatest about investments. I wanna make the greatest investment in my life. And I can be working senior citizens and17:55 really enjoy that, but I don't know that that is this and that's a great calling. I don't wanna minimize that. Thank God there are people that work with senior citizens and nursing homes. But as long as I have the18:06 health, the strength, the wherewithal, I wanna invest younger. And so as you know, Turning Point's all about the the next generation and generations.18:15 Been an organization more effective in reaching young people.18:18 It's Right.18:19 It's it's, astonishing.18:22 Yeah. I totally agree. And so we're starting k through 12 schools across the country. These schools, lord willing, will be in existence far past the time I'm on this earth. And, you know, I'll be long gone, but these18:33 schools will be still impacting students and families, churches, hopefully. And so I just look at it as an the best investment in my life. Now God calls people all kinds of things and calls you to be a plumber,18:44 then that's the highest calling that you could possibly have. For me, it's been what I just said.18:50 Yeah. Well, it's a big part. I think you and I are cut from the same cloth in that regard. I do think purpose is important, and I really appreciate the fact that you're saying, hey. This is my purpose, but I'm not saying19:02 it needs to be everybody else's.19:03 That's right.19:04 I believe there's a master's plan. Love God, love your neighbor, make disciples. But inside that master's plan, there's as much diversity as there is DNA. Right? We're all different. We have unique set of experiences,19:14 interests, passions, if you will, things we care about, the rights that we want wrong in the world. I'm at the age, like, probably you are, where it's about legacy. I've got 6 kids, 17 grandchildren. I think a19:26 lot more like a founding father than a young father. But I really started on this journey when I was 35 years old, and I'm 65 years old today. And I've never come off it. I've been working, and I feel like everything19:38 I've gone through, including a lot of adversity. I lost everything in 2008 because I was economically ignorant. I didn't know what went on on macro and how it could roll downhill onto Main Street. And so I've learned19:49 that you can't just play offense all the time. You have to play defense. I've also come to believe, and I don't wanna get your feedback on this, is that, we wrestle not against powers. It you know?20:01 But in but principalities in high places. I think there's a spiritual component to what is going on in the schools, in the marketplace, and even in our our political20:13 system. Are are you seeing that in the circles you travel in? Is that what leadership is seeing and concerned about?Resources for All Educators and Call to Action 20:19 Oh, 100 percent. I I couldn't agree with you more. And of all the things we've talked about, what you've just touched on is is probably the most important thing. I, Charlie, recognized that we were in a spiritual battle.20:31 And, you know, Turning Point is USA is not a Christian organization per se, but it's filled with Christians. And, Charlie was, a growing, growing, growing disciple.20:42 And I tell you stories about interactions I had with him that really personifies that, but we do believe we're in a spiritual battle. Charlie understood that. So let me just tell you a couple of things.20:54 So yesterday before this conference began, there was 25 prayer intercessors praying over every chair in the auditorium. We have staff meeting the whole entire Turning Point staff every21:05 morning. We start with prayer. You say it's a reading from God's word. You know, last night, we started the event. I don't know if you had the opportunity to be in there with a prayer, a powerful prayer by pastor John21:16 Amachukwu. So I think part of the reason, if not the large part of the reason Turning Point's been successful is because we recognize the spiritual component. We're not just a civic organization,21:28 not even just a conservative organization or youth organization or an organization that is committed to to to understanding that there is a spiritual war out there, war a world out there. There is a21:40 spiritual battle, and we're gonna win this spot on our knees. Yes. We wanna do all this great strategizing and organizing and planning, all the things that we're talking about. But I can tell you my division,21:52 we we are hundred percent committed to the Christian faith, Christian education. Education itself is not powerful. In fact, they can be detrimental. Christian education is life transforming.22:04 That's what we're committed to.22:06 Yeah. And what? Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Right? Romans 12 2. And I think that how that only you can't start too early with with that. So let's talk a little bit22:18 about who you serve. You talked about schools. You're launching schools. When I talked to the team last year, there was support for homeschooling community. Are you still doing that? And if people out there, they're22:29 watching this and they're wondering, well, you know, gee, how do I plug into this? My kids are in public school. Is there anything there for them? How how do people tap into the resources at Turning Point Education?22:40 Yes. Great question. Charlie was very clear. Turning Point Education is for the of the whole span of those that are involved in the education enterprise. So from homeschoolers to Christian private school22:52 teachers and administrators to public school teachers and administrators. So 1 of the things we do every year is our educator summit as we call it. It's a 1 week kind of, conference we call educator23:04 summit, and we'll have our fifth 1 this summer already. But the first 4, we've had almost an e, equal number of public school teachers and administrators, homeschoolers, parents,23:16 and private school, Christian school teachers, almost a third, a third, a third. And so we are able to kinda transcend. You we don't wanna be just a homeschool, or, entity or just a Christian23:28 school entity. And, you know, there's a lot of wonderful Christians that are slugging it out in the public schools. It's a tough slug.23:35 Yeah. Let's let's go there for just a minute. I'm very curious because if you've got you've got public school teachers coming to your summit, what's the interaction there? You know, and and then when I mean, I I would23:46 imagine their needs are unique and what they go back and face versus somebody going back to a charter school or a Christian school. When they go back into their community, hey. I just came back from Turning Point. You23:57 know? What what are they experiencing and how do you support that? Yeah. I'm smiling because I24:01 I don't know if the so many of the post school teachers wave the Turning Point flag as much because unfortunately, they've learned to operate under the radar. But the ones we attract are are Christian men and women that,24:12 you know, share our values, share 3 point values, but feel called to the public school world. Now, unfortunately, I think you'll agree with this, more and more are having to withdraw themselves because they're just24:24 having to compromise too much, which is unfortunate because the light keeps going dimmer and dimmer every time a Christian school teacher or administrator, you know, leaves. But we're trying to encourage them, inspire24:36 them. So the sessions, you know, they're they're inspired by our speakers just like their Christian teacher educator counterpart right next to them. But then we do have things specifically designed for those that are24:46 working in the public school setting or the government school setting. So separate workout or workshops, breakouts. And so we are sensitive to that because you're right. Not all 1 size fits all. But there is24:58 a fair amount that does apply to everybody in the room. And so it it seems to work. Everyone comes away very encouraged usually. I I should say, really, most of people do.25:09 Well, I have relationships with some other people who are working in a similar space. My friend, Mark Skausson, who runs the FreedomFest, convention. I went there last year, and he he was creating curriculum. He's,25:21 been an economics professor at Chapman University for many, many years, voted 1 of the top 20 living economists. I had him on my Main Street Capitalist Show just recently. And then, Steve Forbes.25:33 Steve Forbes is working with another group and they're creating videos. I I sat down with a YouTube coach and I said, hey. I really wanna create financial curriculum for young people. He goes, that's great. I love what25:43 you're doing. You can't do it. You're too old. And and so he convinced me that I needed to train up young people, and I have a couple of young hosts here that I'm working with. My Main Street25:54 Media Network is designed to, take and disciple, if you will, young podcasters and then support them with older, more experienced economic financial teachers,26:06 but give them a voice with the idea that they can reach their peers more effectively than I could. Are is there a way that that we could work together in that realm? Do you26:18 have people in your program that we could get their mouse on microphones, help them launch podcast? I just had a young man, that I interviewed recently, and this was, about he he is a former26:30 Muslim entrepreneur. He was raised Muslim. He converted to Christianity, and capitalism played a big part in his conversion. It was a fascinating story. And so26:41 I do think that capitalism is a little bit of a gateway into having some of those conversations. But today, he's got millions of followers, and he can really have an impact. And part of what Main Street Media Network's26:53 mission is to help magnify those voices for the point of of making a difference because we know that thoughts become actions, actions become results. And so we gotta flood the flood the zone, if you will,27:05 with more better ideas. Do you do you have people in your program as a way for us to work together in in in helping launch podcast out of your community?27:14 Well, the the the quick answer is yes. We do. I mean, our organization is filled with people like that. And, even in my division, you know, I I would be the oldest in my division. I'm not ashamed to say that, but we27:25 certainly have some, younger staff members. And then these students I keep telling you about, the prep year students, they are very sharp. And, you know, these are the future kinds of people that you're talking about27:37 that are influencers and are gonna have great opportunity, but they have our DNA. They share our values. So I I think the answer to that is yes.27:46 We have some other things to talk about, when we get off the mic. Hey. Let's let's do this. First of all, how do people plug in? If someone's watching this like, hey. I love what you guys are doing. I27:58 wanna support you. How how does someone support Turning Point Education?28:03 Well, the easiest way is to to go to our website, turning point ed dot com. All 1 word, turning point e d dot com. And, it's all there.28:15 We're on social media, and so that would be another avenue, especially for those younger viewers that wanna connect with us. So those would be 2 entry points. We do events throughout the year, and so we publicize those28:27 on in those those channels. But probably the 1 other thing, Russell, that would be very significant is we have our association that I've referenced. Anybody who's watching this is a potential candidate for28:39 our association. There's no charge, only benefits. And now you're really in the inner circle of what Turning Point is doing, specifically Turning Point Education. And so turning point28:51 ad dot com, click association, and all the information's there. It's not a complicated process. No solicitors will call, but it's an opportunity to be connected more specifically and29:03 directly with us.29:04 I'm a member, by the way, and I think I hope I didn't miss it. I think there was some special event you guys are doing here, and it just occurred to me that I had RSVP for it. Did I29:14 miss it? No. It's tomorrow.29:15 Tomorrow. Okay.29:17 Yeah. Alright. So I29:18 will be there tomorrow. So, Hertz Hutts, so thank you so much for being on the show today. Really appreciate it. I don't know what they're doing out there. It's it's really loud here. I hope it's okay for you, Robert.29:29 Are are we we're okay. Okay. So ladies and gentlemen, if you're interested in more, check out Turning Point Education or send an email to me. Just put t p ed t p ed at the christian capitalist dot com. I'll send29:41 you all the information. I probably will be at the summit. So if you see this in time to join, please do that. And, I've and join the association. I've done it. There's doesn't cost you anything to do it. Get on the29:53 mailing list. Follow them. See what they're doing. But, Huts, I really appreciate you being on the show. Love the work you're doing. Looking forward to working with you in the future. Alright. Take care. God bless you.30:03 Thank you.In this video 0:00 Launch of Turning Point Education9:00 Post-Assassination Surge and Capitalism Vision14:21 Personal Drive and Spiritual Warfare20:14 Resources for All Educators and Call to Action
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