Episode 3: The Hallmark of a Great Man (with Bran and Dan from Deck the Hallmark)

When we think of Abe Lincoln, of course we think of… Hallmark Christmas movies? Jonathan invites his friends Brandon Gray and Daniel Pandolph on the show to talk about how Abe handled political discourse, and what makes Bran and Dan’s show worthy of a McCarthy Award. These southern gents host a podcast (approaching 1000 episodes!) called Deck the Hallmark, where they get together and dissect Hallmark Christmas movies, lifetime movies, and so many others. Since they often fundamentally disagree about the quality of the movies, it gives Jonathan the perfect vessel to talk about how Abe Lincoln would seek out and engage with those who disagreed with his perspective. They also talk about how Lincoln is perceived in the American South, teaching students empathy in today’s age, and how two burly boys from South Carolina started a hugely successful podcast with the most unlikely subject matter.