What if history really does repeat itself—and we’re living through one of those repeating chapters right now?
In this episode, clean energy professional and history enthusiast Chance Lymon joins Bryan and Reid to talk about the big patterns in American history, based on the Strauss-Howe generational theory. From the American Revolution to the Great Depression, each era of upheaval has shaped a new way of living.
Today’s challenges—from political division to climate anxiety—feel like another turning point. We explore how Franklin D. Roosevelt navigated the last crisis turning point. Using FDR’s long-forgotten “Second Bill of Rights”, we discuss how it offers a powerful vision for what could come next: How local energy, strong communities, and a renewed sense of shared purpose could help us meet this moment together.
Listen on Spotify, too:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sVKZ9c3ufgmhPTuzirJq4?si=KPiOdk-QQcioWdTOkUz4wQ
🕰️ Chapters & Highlights
00:00 – Opening Message
A call to courage and action in the face of national and global crises.
01:32 – Meet Chance Lymon
Clean energy project manager, performer, and presidential biography reader on a mission to finish them all by July 4, 2026.
05:12 – Why the Presidents Matter
What we can learn from U.S. presidents who led during major historical turning points.
08:00 – Strauss-Howe Generational Theory
How the idea of cyclical crises helps explain our current moment—and what comes after.
10:45 – Systems Don’t Last Forever
Even the best-designed institutions wear down—what happens when they do?
13:01 – FDR and the Art of Crisis Leadership
How Roosevelt redefined leadership during the Great Depression and World War II.
17:20 – Trust in Local vs. National Government
Why many Americans distrust national power—but still support their local reps.
20:00 – The Build-Up to the Great Depression
From monopolies to worker abuse, the industrial era's cracks led to major reform.
25:00 – Are We in Crisis Now?
Reflecting on the signs: economic anxiety, climate pressure, and political polarization.
29:00 – Living Through History
What it feels like to be alive in a moment that will be studied in textbooks.
33:00 – Remember FDR’s Second Bill of Rights?
A forgotten plan for the right to housing, health care, education, and security.
38:00 – The Threat of Fascism, and What to Do About It
Why fear-based authoritarianism is rising—and how local empowerment fights back.
44:00 – What Values Get Us Through?
A hopeful proposal: empowerment, understanding, and freedom from want.
50:00 – The Right to Remember and Act
Why education, community, and shared effort may be the keys to writing a better next chapter.
🔗 Resources & Mentions
Strauss & Howe, The Fourth Turning
FDR’s 1944 State of the Union Address: The Second Bill of Rights
Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warning
Western Governors University (WGU)
Chance Lymon’s work in residential solar and clean energy transition
💬 Join the Conversation
Have thoughts on this episode? Are you feeling today’s turning point—and what do you think comes next?
Leave a comment below or connect with us on Blue Sky and subscribe on Substack for more deep dives, community roundtables, and hopeful resistance.
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