Two hateful parents explain their various grievances with people they don’t understand. Unwilling to listen or exert any effort to be ideologically consistent. They don’t believe in or sincerely care about anything, and you can’t make them. The show is well structured,, but it doesn’t matter how much thought you put into it. When you’re dealing with bad faith interlocutors, you will never get a satisfying development arc. I can’t listen anymore.

I am quite disturbed by how the father talks to his children. It’s abusive and painful. Their mother I genuinely believe loves her children. I sincerely hope the father here can grow up- because there is no love here.

Bob’s attitude toward other human beings is truly disgusting. Nevertheless, I think this podcast is interesting and important, so I listen. Plus I’m a fan of Chad’s and am amazed by his ability to stay level-headed throughout these conversations. Keep it up, Clues!

This podcast is hosted by a level headed gentleman who has complete thoughts. He is joined by his long suffering sister who is trying to make it in the family. My guess is she’s been shut down most of her life and is trying to reclaim her voice. Mom is a lovely lady who is quite the enabler. She suffers from “trying to polish turds while being a mediator between kids and Archie. Dad is a guy who has never been wrong. He’s fully in the cult and doesn’t think critically about anything.

Take your typical awkward political argument at a large family gathering, now have it weekly. This is a podcast that’s extremely relatable. We all know a Bob, poster boy for “hurt people hurt people”. We all know a Mary Lou, a sweetheart who is woefully misinformed. Hearing and understanding why they hold the beliefs they do can help the listener learn with how to deal with these people in their own lives.

I’m a new listener and love the show. I’m not sure I could handle the combative tone of your dad sometimes. Yet you laugh and let it go. You’re a better person than me. Smile

I don’t know how many times the MAGA dad said something racist, he is so spiteful and hateful. Wow! I can’t believe the MAGA mom actually taught children.

Never been more excited to hear that someone's parents have died. Started listening again, devastated these hateful old dinks are still sucking up oxygen. The racist bigot dad is 100% are given a platform for hate. The shoe does nothing but show the MAGA brain rot boomers are wastes of protein.

For the love of God, PLEASE cut out the 10+ minutes every single episode where someone trying to figure out how to use their microphone. It might be funnier if you’re watching on YouTube or TikTok, but it is so beyond annoying in the audio version and brings nothing to the conversation. I really like this podcast and what you guys are trying to do otherwise, but please edit that nonsense out of the audio version.

Thank you for your podcast but frankly the most disturbing aspect is how smart your dad seems to be, yet he is so scary with his beliefs and the way he talks. #brainwashed. Trump is a criminal narcissist and to see him as a strong respectable leader of our country is appalling. I resonate with Haley so much, stay strong. I too felt stronger after attending Hands Off St. Paul. Let’s keep it going! #midterms

One of the best podcasts out there.

So good.

5 stars for trying to have the bipartisan conversation but wow, Bob, how can you talk to your own kids that way

Thank you to this family for putting their lives out there to be judged. I deliberately avoid listening to any info coming from the right wing ecosphere, and this podcast gives enough of a dose to remind me just how far out there the right is. It breaks my heart to know that the America I thought we were is no longer or never was.

I was recommended this podcast as a way to hear “both sides” But oh my goodness this dad is so so mean to his children. I’m not going to be able to listen any more

Please kick Bob off already. So sick of him cutting everyone off, being rude, and contributing absolutely nothing. Not entertaining, just obnoxious. Find another MAGA capable of pseudo-intelligence.

I’ve been a listener of The Necessary Conversation and have found the family dynamic both fascinating and, at times, entertaining. However, I’m beginning to grow concerned about Bob’s behavior. His tone often comes across as deeply angry and dismissive, and it’s hard not to wonder if there are personality changes indicative of something more serious, like dementia-related shifts. While it’s clear that strong opinions are part of the show’s appeal, the level of hostility feels increasingly worrisome—especially given the platform’s reach. I hope the family are mindful of his well-being and the messages being amplified.

I wanted to listen to this podcast to understand each side of the argument. Chad and Haley, I don’t know how you have the patience to listen to the hateful things your parents say, I guess because they’re you’re parents and you love them. If one dime from this podcast goes to the crude, rude, narcissistic, hateful parents I feel sad for myself for listening. Bob is an evil, sad sad confused man while the mom is a covert narcissist who plays on her children’s emotions to make them feel guilt for her. Having a mother tell her kids when she dies that they’ll feel bad and that she’s upset that the podcast listeners are “attacking her” and then takes it out on her children as if they are the ones responsible for how listeners react to what she says… seriously grow up how immature of the mother to try to make her children feel responsible for her hateful comments. Chad and Haley are trying to help and educate their mother, I hope she realizes that someday. I just feel so sad for these parents as they must have had a really hard life or upbringing to be so cruel to others, especially their own children.

Maybe not to you (that’s okay, you’re wrong), but it is to me.

Yes, this would be a necessary conversation but these are some of the most uninformed caricatures of right wingers out there. Maybe that’s the point? But it is just a train wreck. This family needs therapy.

Please get Sasso on one of these for his opinion on the US taking Canada .

I can’t believe people like Chad’s parents exist. Sometimes I think Chad just made some AI n@zi sexiest parents for our entertainment. I can’t believe these people vote.

I keep hearing how good this pod is, and I tried 3 episodes. I just can’t with how hateful and ill-informed the parents are

First off. I am a Democrat. This podcast has been enjoyable to listen to because it reminds me so much of the temperature of my family and extended family. This morning, post election, I started the podcast and within minutes had my head in the palm of my hands, realizing this is what’s wrong with the left. We never evaluate what’s wrong with our side, with our message. We just naval gaze and sit in our bubbles of like minded people and act like we run the world. I’m grossed out by Chad and Haley. The inability to ever listen to their mom and dad or take what they say seriously is WHY we are in this mess. Just saying “you’re wrong” to a Republican doesn’t make us right. Good god, this podcast is going to be a mess.

It’s a great show but I’m not sure how Hailey and Chad still speak to their parents. Bob is a hateful racist who calls his children idiots. At this point I hope it’s dementia that is making the parents so gullible. It’s sad to see people fall down the rabbit hole of hate.

I’ve listened to this podcast off and on since its inception. None of the participants are particularly knowledgeable about politics or world events so I sometimes struggle to get through their ignorant takes. That being said— I appreciate that Chad and Marylou generally attempt to make good faith arguments and at least try to prepare for the podcast. It’s clear there’s a lot of affection there. Bob is a deeply unserious individual who bears little consideration or comment. Haley is also there.

I’m newly listening. Chad and Hailey are better people than me. The parents feel like a parody, so it is a sobering reminder that many Americans are like this.

It's comical that people are horrified and offended by Bob. Nobody is forcing you to listen to this. Life's tough. Get a helmet. We are the most embarrassing and weak group of people this planet has ever seen. How do these people hold jobs and make tough decisions. Poor things ....

I started listening to this podcast when it began, but then I took a break for a while. I returned to it in the last month, and I am loving hearing the election news through this podcast and hearing both sides. Super interesting! Chad does a great job putting this together and explaining the facts.

This is my favorite podcast. I know the parents are extreme, but I like seeing that in the end they can come together and be a family. They share stories of how the parents are loving grandparents and do try to support their kids. And I appreciate how it shows how to have real dialogues with people who disagree (even if the disagreement is over facts). It feels relatable in the age of disinformation and the radicalization of the right.

Your mom is only making excuses for fascism because she can’t stand up to your dad. She is complicit. I know you love her.

Chad and Hailey‘s patience with their parents is saint-like. Conversing with people once a week who refused to ever listen to facts and one of whom is verbally abusive every single episode, and remaining calm is impressive. I can only listen once-in-awhile because listening to brainwashed ppl in a cult is stressful. But I think you’re doing good work. It’s disheartening to see your parents blame you for their narrow-mindedness (& Bob be nonstop abusive).

Update-this is my absolute favorite podcast. I love this entire family. I do not always agree with the politics, but I enjoy listening to it nonetheless. Loyal fan since day 1. *** Bob & Mary Lou-I absolutely live you both. You remind me if my mom & dad. ♥️ This is my favorite podcast.

This episode was great. I love how you can feel the love in the family. You guys do such a great job. My parents are also conservatives who ended up with kids who are political opposites. My mom is the peacemaker as well. Strangely enough, we also collected baseball cards and George Brett was my favorite player!

Chad does such a good job with this show. It’s an interesting insight into the brains of MAGA “mah-jah” thought his parents. I think his mom tries to listen and have a conversation but the dad drives me nuts. He just yells the most offensive things you’ve ever heard, it’s shocking. I really didn’t think people held beliefs like his (and I live in Alabama!) but hearing his takes scares me to death. Chad is SO informed and rational I learn a lot every week about the news from him. I love his quick, dry comebacks. His poor sister is probably incurring the most emotional damage from this show!

I look forward to waking up Monday mornings purely so I can check to see if they’ve made a new episode. I’ve introduced this podcast to a few people and for some of them this is the only political news they listen to. As someone who also grew up in my own version of a dysfunctional family it’s comforting to hear these conversations between Chad and his family. Thank you all for taking your time and offering vulnerability in sharing these conversations with us!

Truly such an interesting podcast. I absolutely love it. I am going to need a Chad and Mary Lou podcast at least once a month though. 😊

The concept of this show is a great one but the execution misses the mark. I love the idea of having an open dialogue between family with opposing views but at this point it’s just platforming hate and racism. There really is no both sides-ing the issues anymore. And there’s not enough challenge to hateful viewpoints here. I have so much respect for Chad and Hailey for trying to do the hard work of staying connected to their family but I’m starting to wonder whether there’s anything healthy worth holding on to here. At the end of the day that’s a personal choice and ultimately none of my business. My MAGA family got one opportunity to threaten me, my family and friends before I cut ties. It’s a sad choice but the healthiest decision I’ve made.

I also have had difficulty connecting and communicating with my Maga family that turns into hard feelings so it’s cathartic to hear another family doing this hard work and having tough and challenging conversations. I absolutely dislike the disrespect the parents throw at their children. The name calling is so disrespectful and difficult to listen to. It’s also alarming hearing Bob threaten violence against anyone not like him. The broad threat of violence against democrats and black people spouted nearly weekly should be something we should really challenge more. It’s not okay.

Love the discussion from polarizing sides. Thanks for making this podcast for free!

This podcast started off as an interesting experiment but it has become an unhinged platform for white supremacy, racism, and bigotry. I don’t think the host realizes how traumatizing it is for non-white people to hear the sick misinformation and unbridled hatred coming from the parents in this family. At this point, not disowning parents with these views is no better than having those views yourself.

Keeping communication open is the only way we keep from completely isolating ourselves and we keep from having another civil war. Thank you, Kultgen family, for being vulnerable and allowing us to listen to your discourse, as hard as it is to listen to. TW: For anyone new, the dad often gets on rants and uses offensive language and rhetoric. If hearing these deeply racist ideas (Chad and Haley absolutely pushback, and so does their mom from time to time) will cause you deep ache, you should pass on this one.

So glad to see that views have shifted a bit. I’m glad I came back to give this pod another chance. — Wow. Palestinians have no chance when even this self proclaimed “liberal” is supporting an apartheid state. You’re on the wrong side of history, friend.

Whether you’re on the left or the right or anywhere in between, this is the only source of content you need to stay informed.

I love this podcast and while I consider it more ‘feel-bad’ content, it’s so hard not to be captivated by this family dynamic and a little afraid of people like Bob and Mary Lou, although I can’t wait to hear Mary Lou continually get better at rapping.

The main thing to recommend this podcast is fascination with the blood addled father. He makes numerous threats of violence and terrorism to his stunned children. The unspoken undertone of this show is the father murdering his son and show host.

This is funny I’m democrat thru and thru I love to hear the anger from the snowflake republicans nothing brightens my day more to than to hear republicans whine and cry about Biden that means he is doing what I voted him to do piss off republicans 😂😂😂

If was more consistent. I look forward to it every Monday! Bummer it hasn’t been posting regularly!

This is downright awful, neither group left(progressive) or right(conservative) has any actual interest in finding common ground or agreeing on anything. The host are just as horrible as the parents but the parents are just more outspoken, abrasive/vulgar and loud while the hosts are on the opposite side passive aggressive, contemptuous and inhospitable….everything just devolves into a shouting match and neither side can own up to the fact their team actually does awful things…just a real big disappointment because the idea of the show is interesting…

I’ve been listening to Chad on GOR for a long time, and as someone who always tries to step out of my political bubble I was psyched when you all started this podcast. I totally support the goal and honestly think this body of conversations has historical significance. Like others have said, it’s really hard to get through. Bob has so much hate in his heart it’s disturbing. A strong family connection is so important to me, but I don’t think I could maintain a relationship with someone so cruel. Enthusiastically calling for genocide is so villainous it’s hard to believe he’s real. Hailey, as a business owner and mother you’re inspiring. Chad, I recommend reading Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild if you haven’t already. Bob and Marylou, I sometimes hope your shiny hiney shows up Godfather style. Maybe the baseline care and love you have for your animals can be extended to strangers. Update 7/25/23: I can’t listen to this anymore. I would have emancipated myself from these horrifying people by now. Christ.