Join Priscilla Rahn as she delves into a riveting discussion with Janine Turner, founder of Constituting America and renowned actress. Discover the ins and outs of educating young minds about the U.S. Constitution through engaging contests that empower students to express their creativity. Uncover the stories behind American exceptionalism and how educators can foster a culture of civic literacy.
Welcome to Restoring Education in America with Priscilla Rahn. She’s a master educator and author leading the conversation to restore the American mind through wisdom, virtue, and truth.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, hello, everybody. Welcome to Restoring Education in America. I’m your host, Priscilla Rahn, and I’m so thrilled that you’ve decided to join the conversation today. 2026 is an amazing year. It’s America’s 250th birthday, and there’s something really exciting happening this fall. there’s a new school opening excalibur classical academy and their mission and vision is restoring america’s heritage by developing servant leaders who are keepers and defenders of the principles of freedom for which our founding fathers pledged their lives fortunes and sacred honor so if you have a young one starting kindergarten through third grade this fall or if you’re interested in teaching at the school Please go to their website, ExcaliburClassicalAcademy.org. And they are doing tours and giving information sessions for parents. So please check them out. But I’m really excited about today’s guest. We are going to be talking all about America 250 and the Constitution. And I’m not going to delay by bringing her to the stage. Welcome, Janine Turner. Hi. Hi.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, thank you, Priscilla. It’s great to be on your show and thank you for everything you do. We’re very impressed with you at Constituting America. I mean, I’ve spoken in your classes. Five of your students have won our contest for best song, I’m supposing, I guess. Yes. And the fact that you’re such a brilliant educator and your lesson plan won with Constituting America. And here you are, you have your own radio show. What do you not do, Priscilla?
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, I could probably use a little more sleep, so maybe that’s coming. But I am so thrilled that you’ve taken time out of your schedule. And before we get into the conversation, I’m going to share a little bit of your bio with our listeners. Janine Turner is an American actress, author, and public speaker best known for her role as Maggie O’Connell on the television series Northern Exposure. a performance that earned her several Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. She began her career as a model before moving into acting, gaining early attention on the soap opera General Hospital and later appearing in films such as Cliffhanger alongside Sylvester Stallone. Over the years, she has also had roles in projects including Friday Night Lights and Steel Magnolias, building a career that spans television, film, and stage. Janine is the founder of Constituting America, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization established in 2010 to promote education about the U.S. Constitution and civic engagement. She has become an advocate for constitutional literacy and informed citizenship. Janine has a daughter, Juliet, and is also the author of five books reflecting her interest in faith, history, and American founding principles. The pivot principle, holding her head high, wisdom for each day, artificial intelligentsia versus primal sense, and a little bit vulnerable. She’s also the host of Janine Turner’s God on the Go podcast. So I’ll ask you, how do you get it all done?
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s, I tell you what, I think I usually have my phone on silent at night, but this morning I had it on because I was getting a delivery and I thought, well, I better keep it on because it was early morning delivery. And then I’m getting all these texts like 5.15 on this project and 7 a.m. on this project. So it’s sort of an all day, all day go for it. But I tell you what it is. The creative juices flow, you know, when you’re that busy and somehow it all gets done one way or another. But I just listen to what I try to take a deep breath and listen to how God is guiding me and let me serve him in all that I do.
SPEAKER 03 :
That’s amazing. So in my research review, I found out we have some things in common. We are both daughters of military men. I know you grew up in Fort Worth and I went to TCU. So we have this Texas connection as well. So I know I became really patriotic through being an army rat and my dad serving in the military. What were some things that you took from your dad and did he play that pivotal role in you being so patriotic?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, I believe so. It was sort of threefold, my seed of patriotism and desire to – everyone’s like, how as a Hollywood actress did you launch a foundation about the Constitution? I mean, how did that happen? And I think the first seed would be my father. He was Air Force. He was West Point Military Academy, but in Class of 57, it was Air Force Army they could pick. But he was flying the B-58 Hustler for the Cold War. It was pretty much – his focus, but thank you and praises for your father and for you and for your mother and the entire family, because it’s a family affair, isn’t it?
SPEAKER 03 :
It absolutely is. And I loved learning a little bit about your dad serving our great nation. But you’re right. I think about your career in Hollywood and you really standing up and being a shining light in that arena. What caused you to start this great organization in all odds of social pressures?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, I think that, A, it was my father, like you’re talking about, like Ronald Reagan said, it’s patriotism is, you know, sort of in the air. It used to be in the air around the dinner table. You know, it used to be. We need to get it back there. But my father, obviously that was innate. But then also my fifth grade teacher, Mr. Ingram, It was a small school, Eagle Mountain Elementary. There was a cow on the playground and one tether pole. The whole school was kind of sort of falling apart. And I loved that school. And Mr. Ingram was his first year there. It was my first year there. It was fifth grade. And he spent the entire year combining teaching us about the founding principles and the Declaration of Independence and politics. rehearsing the play, the musical, 1776, which the musical was on Broadway at the time. They just made a movie from the Broadway show, 1776, for the bicentennial. And here we are at the semi-quincentennial. You know, I’ve lived through it too. But he had a tremendous impact on me. There’s something about, and you know this better than anybody, affecting the culture, using the arts to teach history is incredibly, we can do it in the classroom, but we can’t forget the cultural impact or the arts impact to how it works left brain, right brain, and then it connects in some sort of way. And I think that the fact that I was Martha, Martha Jefferson and all my, you know, beloved classmates were John Adams and this and then he took us on a field trip to see the musical 1776, and I fell in love with our founding fathers but not only that, I look back at now he launched my acting singing career. It was the first time I’d ever sung. And it was the, you know, and learning about the founding documents and just that it stayed with me. Mr. Ingram has been a, was, he just recently passed away, a pivotal aspect of my life always. And I won an award in Disney. I was given an award in Disney for best teacher. And they, it was the Disney teacher awards they do every, every year. And they said, who was your favorite high school teacher? And I said, well, my favorite teacher was my elementary school. His fifth grade teacher is Mr. Ingram. And I didn’t know it, but they surprised me on the stage. So I was going to honor him and say, Mr. Ingram won this award. And then they flew him in and he walked out on the stage with me. And it was, it was so much fun. And he was a big believer in constituting America. So I think there’s also in bread, we’re all given a voice, a gift, a little, it’s like build a bear. The little heart goes inside the builder bear. And I asked my dad, even before Mr. Ingram, dad, If our founding fathers were to come back today, what would they be most disappointed about? So I still think of that. I still look at the sky and say, what would our founding fathers think about these airplanes? And what would founding fathers think about this computer? So it’s a little bit of everything.
SPEAKER 03 :
If you’re just tuning in, my guest today is Janine Turner. She is the founder of Constituting America and a nationally known actress and author. So Janine, when I look at Constituting America, and I want you to describe to our listeners the components of it, but it’s really a great opportunity, not just for students to learn about our history, but to enter the contest. Can you unpack a little bit of your organization?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yes. Well, I was in the grocery store with my daughter, holding my daughter in one hand, the phone in the other. And I just thought, I want to launch a foundation about the Constitution. And then I picked up the phone and called Kathy. And I remember I was holding a can of beans, my daughter on the phone. I said, hey, let’s launch a foundation about the United States Constitution. But we’re multi-tiered. And in the first year, we launched three. two or three of our major programs. We went cross country with our winners of the contest and had a little documentary ready by September. We had a nationwide contest that we launched in February of 2010. And then we also have a scholastic study. So we really focus on scholastics and our history holds the key to the future study is sort of the foundation of our organization. And then we also have our speaking series where we speak in schools about the Constitution. But the contest is absolutely the highlight because we’re asking students to learn about the United States Constitution and then to take that into the culture with their work. So it’s it’s a uh we the future contest because the kids are we the people we the future contest but it’s best short film best song which you know best public service announcement which they direct a little commercial uh best essay best poem best artwork and also we invite we included stem you know best science and technology and math um we feel that it if you can take these songs and the songs that your students have won they’re amazing our public service announcement winners it’s better than anything anybody could do on madison avenue you know if we hired someone professionally to do it and it’s the greatest joy every year to just look around at these students and the work that they have done and so what we do is we teach about the constitution we have a contest about it and after they win we promote not only what they wrote or what they did or what they, because their works, their career. And I would have loved that at their age. So we actually, you know, often most of our winners, a lot of our winners, we rerecord their songs. We hire a company to promote them on the radio. They have millions of hits on the radio for the public service announcement. We hire a company that launches them and they’re actually on television. So we’re kind of affecting the, but we affect the culture. And in closing with this, this thought, Kathy and I thought, if you don’t affect the culture, We’re up against MTV and social media and a dirge of terribly depressing, anti-patriotic founding fathers, founding documents, nothing means anything. But if we can get into the culture where they’re listening and where they’re watching in a short film on YouTube, things of that nature, that’s really important to affect the culture.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, as a teacher who’s had Jill Cullis is my friend who’s a retired teacher who she’s how I learned about constituting America because I knew she was going into classrooms and I knew she was a retired teacher. And I said, well, what kind of classrooms do you go into? And she’s like any classroom. And I thought, well, would you come into my music classroom? Because I didn’t. imagine that it would work for my class, but I was absolutely incorrect. It was amazing that she would come in and do her lesson. And this is a plug because I think teachers who may not know, I really encourage any teacher to invite someone to come in. It’s free and they, well, it’s you have donors, but is there no cost to the teacher to have someone come in and give a lesson and there are prizes and they make it absolutely fun and informative. So I would definitely encourage any teacher, no matter what grade level elementary, all the way up to high school and college, I’m sure, because you have college entries. But what I really loved about the organization is the variety in offering students the option to show their creativity and through art or music, writing an essay. And I think you just hit every option for every student to find their place in the organization to show what they know. And I will also say, as a teacher who won the lesson plan contest, What amazing opportunity, because I had never really been to D.C. For me, it was like being a child. It was like, wow, I got to meet a Supreme Court justice and I got to meet Congress people and stand on the floor. It was really, really special. So thank you. Oh, yes.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, that’s part B. We take them on trips. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER 03 :
Talk about that.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah. Well, we promote their works. And, you know, the poetry and artworks are on our nationwide, you know, holiday Christmas card. But we actually take them on a trip to see the archives. It’s been in New York, L.A., Nashville, but also, of course, lately Philadelphia. We’ve been focusing on D.C., but they get this amazing trip. three days, two nights, most of the students. Whereas you say they get to have private tour of the West Wing and the Capitol and the archives and to meet the Supreme Court justice. So it’s very impactful. And in regard to what you’re saying about the speeches, that’s true. We need to focus on that more at the foundation. Actually, we go into a lot of history rooms and I keep saying, you know, But we’re doing so many right now. We’re also doing an American exceptionalism project. We just directed a short film and I just directed and wrote that. So that’s getting ready. We’re going to release that for America 250. But it is we can go into theater classes, art classes, choir classes. I mean, it doesn’t matter because people just tend to think history. But Jill was right. He’s one of our most wonderful speakers. I’ll go into any classroom.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes. So let’s talk about it’s America’s 250th birthday. It’s such an amazing year. There’s so many great things going on. What is Constituting America doing to get the message out to more students this year?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, we have a surprise. It’s going to be launched in anywhere from two weeks to about four weeks. That is an art project. It’s amazing. It involves the founding fathers. It has to do with film. And it’s going to be out there and everyone’s going to be able to see it. And it’s sort of my dream come true because I always wondered what it would be like if our founding fathers were to come back today. But it’s a little bit of a reverse. It’s these two millennials who actually go from the future that go to the past. and see The Founding Fathers. So that is our big tribute to America 250. And it’s going to be released soon and be released through up to July 4th and then post July 4th.
SPEAKER 03 :
So Janine, you’ve had this amazing career in acting and film and you’re doing your podcast. That’s a lot of hard work. And I know that just like anything, you probably had a lot of no’s along the way before you had your big yeses. What is your message to young people who may have dreams about their careers? What would you say to them?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, to never take no for an answer. I mean, until you’re ready to hear it and move on, because some people just want to move on. But I met Farrah Fawcett’s manager in the 70s when I was in Hollywood, and he talked about a triangle. And at the bottom of the triangle are all the people that want to be in showbiz. And then the triangle goes at the steep incline to the point. And on that incline, people fall off. So it’s really the people that are the most determined to stay there the longest, to have the true grit to succeed. And they hang around. Eventually, that opportunity comes to you. And I have to tell you, I worked. I had where I was was a working actor, but I didn’t have my big break for 12 years. And it would and you literally would go out if you go out on five auditions a day for 12 years and you could do the math. That’s per day. That’s a lot, thousands of auditions. And you hear no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. And then you’ll hear it like an occasional yes. And then it’s no, no, no, a zillion other times, but it’s having the kind of a gumption and fortitude because the talent, the talent’s almost the easy part. It’s just sticking with it to succeed and, and, and showing up for the auditions. And these days it’s really difficult because everything’s on tape and you don’t get to walk in the So it’s it’s even trickier. And in those days you were in New York or L.A. So you would just show up. You know, they would see a select few now because of tape. They see they see hundreds and it’s it’s trickier these days. But when I was so depressed and didn’t think I could show up for one more thing. It’s a long story. I don’t have time to tell you all of it, but I showed up for Northern exposure and I was so at my wits end thinking I can’t possibly show up for one more audition. And I did. So part of that success is showing up. And the other is don’t let any, I heard when I was really depressed, I heard, you know, God imbue into my spirit, um, Don’t let anybody put out your flame. I’ve given you a flame. It’s your light. Don’t let anybody else put it out. And then the last thing that is don’t give up for the miracle. Just don’t give up for the miracle. Tomorrow, no matter what you’re going through, whether it’s showbiz or just life in general, if you’re a student, if you have problems with other students or whatever, just don’t give up for the miracle. Tomorrow is always a better day.
SPEAKER 03 :
Wow. That is incredibly inspirational, Janine, to talk about that grit and tenacity and really believing in yourself. And we as teachers, we try to instill that into our students a lot as well. You’ve been really transparent in your journey as a parent and a lot of our families. This is what we are trying to change, that culture of allowing parents to be the first teachers of their children and allowing parents to be involved in the education choice of their children and really supporting them no matter what their family looks like. In your case, you were a single mom and you’ve talked about that. What’s your message to other moms or parents who are looking at the state of public education right now and they want to make a change or they might feel like they need a little bit of help? Like, what would you say to them?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, finding the right school is really important because the educators have a huge influence. Look what Mr. Ingram, you know, for me, have a huge influence on the thoughts and the direction of your student. And that’s why I have the greatest admiration for all educators and the tenacity that you have as well as an educator, but also teachers. the conscientiousness of the power that you have. And it can be used in the right way and the wrong way. And reasoning is something I think is really important. It’s really important that students hear two points of view, and then they can reason and make their own decision. That’s one of the speeches we have, too. One’s about the Constitution. One’s about how to have a civil-civic conversation and to not be shut down and to be able to speak your thoughts and for all students to be able to hear differing points of view because we’re so pigeonholed these days. But I really – I homeschooled Juliet for two years. I homeschooled her for preschool, you know, taught her ABCs. And then I was – I homeschooled her in seventh grade. And, you know, but then she went to a variety of different schools. I realized I really couldn’t teach her chemistry, you know what I mean, things of that nature, you know. ap kim but it was wonderful homeschooling her because during that year we launched constituting america and she was on the news with me and also take your child wherever you go i mean if i had a speech at the alamo i took her with me and i’m like you get up and say something i had a speech in alaska i said my daughter’s gonna speak too by the way she was like you know seven and twelve and after that speech of the alamo she said you know don’t tread on the children and She stepped down and the audience went wild. And she was like, whoo, you know, she caught the bug at that point. But it’s always great to take your children along for your adventure and to be a part of your career. And she wrote some books. She wrote Our Constitution Rocks, which was published. That was based off the, I said, take the essays that our scholars have written on the Constitution from our website, constitutingamerica.org. and and interpret them for for students and she did and it was published as a book and then i said take for and it sold tens of thousands of copies our constitution rocks still out there and then i said write a book about our hilarious stories is you know taking care of this ranch and then that was published as well so i just think and you can also self-publish these days but What you can do individually, but then also I love these classical schools. I’ve spoken at fabulous public schools, fabulous classical schools, fabulous private schools, fabulous faith-based schools, fabulous homeschools. It’s like whatever you choose, it’s just finding the right niche. And if you’re in a niche that you don’t feel is the right niche, don’t forget your power as a parent at home.
SPEAKER 03 :
That’s amazing. Okay. So the fact that you just mentioned this book and I… It just so happens that… Now, I don’t think I realized that this is your daughter. So I’m glad that you’re giving me a little more because it’s on my shelf. And so there you go, Juliet Turner. So…
SPEAKER 02 :
She wrote that book herself. She did that. She wrote it herself and then it did so well. They asked for a second book. So she wrote our president’s rock, but she had three books and she did, she did all that work, but it’s wonderful for students. Law students even love it because it breaks down the constitution in the 90 sections.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay. And your amazing daughter, you did such a great job. Your amazing daughter is at Harvard. Well, Harvard law. Yeah.
SPEAKER 02 :
All right.
SPEAKER 03 :
That is so cool.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, you know that that’s not not that that’s the be all and end all. There are a lot of great schools. And, you know, it just was one that she applied to and she got in and she was actually had an easier time there as a believer in the founding documents and whatnot than she did at her undergrad school. So it can be really tough. to be a believer in American exceptionalism. And I believe it’s our founding documents that make us exceptional. Not that we’re necessarily better than any other country, but look at those documents. Look at the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution and the Federalist Papers. We did a whole study on this about three years ago. And we walked through all of history, Greek, Rome, the American Revolution, Napoleon, the French Revolution, Napoleon, Stalin, Mao, and how we haven’t fallen into those traps. And it’s been because of these exceptional documents.
SPEAKER 03 :
You know, when I think about our republic and how our founding fathers, they really were guided by God and country. And you are very open about your faith. And I think that’s critical to understanding our inalienable rights. You know, they didn’t say God necessarily, but our inalienable rights and creator, creator. Yes, yes. And so that acknowledgement, I think, is what makes us special as a nation. How do you embed so strongly your faith into the work that you do?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, I do have my podcast, God on the Go. And then I just really, no matter what I write, what I do, what I say throughout my day, and I, it’s always, I always try to remember the Trinity, you know, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. And am I living my life the way you’d want to be living it? And when I fail, please forgive me. You know what I mean? Which is often, but then we’re all human, right? But then also it’s the inspiration and the guidance and the Holy Spirit just being there as, you know, Jesus left the Holy Spirit for us as our, as our advocate and our friend and to call on the Holy Spirit and say, just come into this situation, just please come into this situation. And I think faith is, we’re a freedom, we’re freedom of religion in this country. So of course, whatever faith you choose. But I would like to see our young students have more of that mentality and spirituality because then it’s not so much about us it’s about our purpose here to serve others and it becomes more of a culture of why am I here what is my destiny how am I to serve others not just me me me me me we’ve become such a me me me you know society that I can’t think of a time really where faith were more important just to keep people you know well not only focused to do the right thing but just for help you to deal with problems. I mean, we need to teach our kids coping skills, how to cope. And they’re up against so much. And so you just say, you know what? Step out of this thing, right? Just go say a prayer, call on the Holy Spirit. Bring it back. Bring it back to just your innate spirit and just try not to let. And it’s it’s look, it’s like a it’s like a treadmill. You’re at it all day long. Even I am to kind of bring it back, bring it back, bring it back. But faith for me is not only the guidance of my purpose, but it’s also how to survive that journey.
SPEAKER 03 :
Amen to that. Well, Janine, you are a nonprofit organization, and so you rely on generous donors. Where can people find you to learn more about Constituting America and to make a donation?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yes, well, it’s constitutingamerica.org, constitutingamerica.org. You can also go to JanineTurner.com. I have a link there, getting to Constituting America. And any kind of donation. You can even do a monthly donation. You know, $17.76. I mean, you know, it’s monthly. It’s just, isn’t it always wonderful when you donate to a cause you care about? You say, oh, that’s one of the great things about our country, too. The ability to donate. We did a whole study with our 90-day study, History is the Key to the Future, about Alexis de Tocqueville. And he talked about the power of community, the power of charitable organizations. It’s not the government, the government, the government. It’s these organizations, the 501c3s, that really are sort of the heartbeat of America. And so whether you’re giving $17 or $170 or whatever, $1,700. It doesn’t matter. But that would be awesome. And also have the students, if you’d like us to speak at your school, I speak to many schools. We have great speakers such as Jill. We have our contest. We have our study. And we have a lot of great opportunities. And our American exceptionalism arm with more coming out. Stay tuned. Check your social media. Follow Constituting America on Instagram and YouTube and all those places.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, Janine, I’m so sorry we’re out of time, but I have thoroughly loved getting to talk with you today and we’ll see you soon. And to my listeners, thank you so much for tuning in and catch me next time. And remember, educating the mind without educating the heart is no education. So seek wisdom, cultivate virtue and speak truth.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thanks for tuning in to Restoring Education in America with Priscilla Rahn. Visit PriscillaRahn.com to connect or learn how you can sponsor future episodes to keep this message of faith, freedom, and education on the air.
