Acton Line

The Beatles will go down in history as one of the most prolific music acts of all time. Their music is still played in our homes and around the world and has influenced pop culture on a global scale. In this episode, Eric Kohn, Acton's Director of Communications, sits down with Samuel Staley to discuss his new book The Beatles and Economics: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and the Making of a Cultural Revolution. Subscribe to our podcasts Register Now for Business Matters 2023 Apply Now for Acton University 2023 (Early Bird Pricing) Book | Beatles & Economics Pope John Paul, George, and Ringo on the harms of high taxes Music contained in this episode: Getting Better | The Beatles | 1967 I Want to Hold Your Hand | The Beatles | 1963 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | The Beatles | 1967 Here Comes the Sun | The Beatles | 1969 Everything in its Right Place | Radiohead | 2000 Come Together | The Beatles | 1969 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) | The Beatles | 1965 Tomorrow Never Knows | The Beatles | 1966 Strawberry Fields Forever | The Beatles | 1966 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds | The Beatles | 1967 Revolution | The Beatles | 1968 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Klein is professor of economics and JIN Chair at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he co-leads a program in Adam Smith. There's been renewed interest in the role Christianity has played in liberalism since Larry Siedentop’s 2014 book, Inventing the Individual: The Origins of Western Liberalism. Today, Dan Churchwell, Acton’s Director of Programs and Education, sits down with Klein to discuss Adam Smith and his enlightenment vision. Building on Siedentop, Klein says universal benevolent monotheism, and Christianity in particular, has led to the articulation of a specific social grammar and corresponding rights—in short Adam Smith’s “liberal plan.” Subscribe to our podcasts Dr. Klein’s faculty page Full discussion of Larry Siedentop’s book: Full set of notes on Siedentop Klein published interview on Siedentop: Klein replies to Deirdre McCloskey on Siedentop: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we’re presenting the final evening plenary from Acton University 2022. This plenary was a panel discussion on Hong Kong medial mogul and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, the subject of Acton’s most recent documentary feature film, The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom. When Hong Kong’s basic freedoms come under attack, Jimmy Lai finds himself in the crosshairs of the state and must choose between defending Hong Kong’s long-standing liberties or his own freedom. This conversation with the filmmakers and interview subjects of The Hong Konger discusses the rise of China, the plight of Hong Kong, the fight for freedom that continues there to this day, and the man at the center of it all: Jimmy Lai. The featured panelists are: Victoria Tin-bor Hui, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Notre Dame Mary Kissel, Former Senior Adviser, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Simon Lee, Former Op/Ed Columnist, Apple Daily Rev. Robert A. Sirico, President Emeritus, Acton Institute, and Executive Producer, THE HONG KONGER Eric Kohn, moderator and Director of Marketing & Communications, Acton Institute, and Associate Producer, THE HONG KONGER Jimmy Lai is currently sitting in a jail cell in Hong Kong awaiting trial on national security law charges. Recently, Lai was granted permission to be represented by a UK barrister in the trial, human rights attorney Tim Owen. That decision to allow Owen to represent Lai is being appealed to Beijing for “clarification.” The trail, which was supposed to start on December 1st has been delayed until December 13, and will almost certainly be delayed even further into the future. Subscribe to our podcasts The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sarah Negri, research project coordinator at the Acton Institute, sits down with Margarita Mooney Clayton, professor of practical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and founder and executive director of Scala Foundation, to talk about Mooney Clayton’s most recent book The Wounds of Beauty: Seven Dialogues on Art and Education (Cluny Media, 2022). They discuss beauty as a way of encountering and participating in the splendor of transcendental being through embodied sensory experiences, point out the dangers of viewing art merely as self-expression or “art with an agenda”, and draw out beauty’s connection to human freedom, creativity, and flourishing. Subscribe to our podcasts About Margarita Mooney Clayton The Wounds of Beauty: Seven Dialogues on Art and Education (Margarita Mooney Clayton) Beauty: A Very Short Introduction (Roger Scruton) The Face of God (Roger Scruton) The Soul of the World (Roger Scruton) “The Feeling of Things, the Contemplation of Beauty” (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) Scala Foundation Event: An Interactive Conversation with Aidan Hart Scala Foundation 2023 Conference Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we're bringing you a session from our recent Poverty Cure Summit, a debate between between Bryan Caplan and Chris Arnade. The Poverty Cure Summit provides an opportunity for participants to listen to scholars, human service providers, and community leaders address the most critical issues we face today that can either exacerbate or alleviate poverty. Speakers joined panel discussions to discuss the legal, economic, social, and technological issues pertaining to both domestic (U.S.) and global poverty. Rooted in foundational principles of anthropology, politics, natural law, and economics, participants gained a deeper understanding of the root causes of poverty and identify practical means to reduce it and promote human flourishing. Subscribe to our podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're bringing you the keynote address from Mary Kissel at this year's Acton Institute Annual Dinner. Mary Kissel is executive vice president and senior policy adviser at Stephens Inc., a Little Rock, Arkansas–based, privately held financial services firm, where she advises management and clients on foreign policy and geopolitical risk. Prior to joining Stephens, she served as senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo from October 2018 to January 2021. In that role, she provided advice to advance the national interests of the United States, conducted special projects for the secretary, and traveled to more than 60 countries. Kissel also appears in Acton's latest documentary film, The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom. Subscribe to our podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can leaders respond to discouragement in their work? Noah Gould sits down with Peter Greer, President & CEO of HOPE International, to discuss his latest book, The Gift of Disillusionment. In this conversation, they explore the responses of cynicism and idealism, and how leaders can move forward through extreme trials and disappointments. Subscribe to our podcasts The Gift of Disillusionment | Amazon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2016, Nick Eberstadt’s book “Men Without Work: America's Invisible Crisis” brought to light the grim reality that millions of working-age men were retreating voluntarily from the labor force. Although this trend was widely overlooked for decades, Eberstadt’s searing analysis finally made it impossible to ignore. Today, six years and one catastrophic pandemic later, the male exodus from work has not only intensified but has spilled over into new demographics, including women and workers over the age of 55. By most reports, America now has something on the order of 11 million open jobs yet millions of men and women sitting jobless on the sidelines. Now, in the newly re-released “Men Without Work: Post-Pandemic Edition,” Eberstadt marshals recently released data to explain how this sad state of affairs came to be, what it means for American society, and what it portends for the country’s economic future. Subscribe to our podcasts Men Without Work: Post-Pandemic Edition | Amazon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Common economic perceptions pervade our discourse on policy. Dr. Caleb Fuller’s latest book, No Free Lunch: Six Economic Lies You’ve Been Taught and Probably Believe, sets out to dispel these myths. Acton’s President Emeritus, Fr. Robert Sirico said of the book, “Anyone who wants a well-rounded education will not want to be without the knowledge this book contains.” This week on Acton Line, Noah Gould, Alumni & Student Programs Manager at the Acton Institute, sits down with Dr. Fuller to discuss the book and some of the most pervasive examples of economic myths. Subscribe to our podcasts No Free Lunch | Amazon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of America’s greatest success stories is its economy. For over a century, it has been the envy of the world. The opportunity it generates has inspired millions of people to want to become American. Today, however, America’s economy is at a crossroads. Many have lost confidence in the country’s commitment to economic liberty. Across the political spectrum, many want the government to play an even greater role in the economy via protectionism, industrial policy, stakeholder capitalism, or even quasi-socialist policies. Then there is a resurgent China bent on eclipsing the United States’ place in the world. At stake is not only the future of the world’s biggest economy, but also the economic liberty that remains central to America’s identity. But managed decline and creeping statism do not have to be America’s only choices, let alone its destiny. In his latest book, “The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World,” Dr. Samuel Gregg insists that there is an alternative—and that is to become a vibrant Commercial Republic grounded in entrepreneurship, competition, and trade openness, as envisioned by the founding generation. In this episode, Dylan Pahman, executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality and a research fellow at the Acton Institute, sits down with Dr. Gregg, Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research and an affiliate scholar at the Acton Institute, to discuss the book and the economic, political, and moral complications of our increasingly globalized world. Subscribe to our podcasts The Next American Economy | Amazon The Next American Economy Is Cause for Hope “Globalization,” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Adam Smith on the Benefits of International Trade Dylan Pahman, “Fiat Currency, the Euro, and Greek Default” Samuel Gregg, “Rethinking Free Markets in an Age of Anxiety” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American conservatism appears to be coming apart at the seams. What, if anything, can bring the various factions together to fight the much greater threat of an illiberal, intolerant left? Perhaps plain common sense. In this episode of Acton Line, George H. Nash sits down with Noah Gould to discuss his article "Conservatism and Its Current Discontents: A Survey and a Modest Proposal" which appeared in the Winter/Spring 2022 issue of Religion & Liberty. George H. Nash is a Senior Fellow of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. He is author of The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 and several scholarly volumes about the life of Herbert Hoover. He writes and speaks frequently about the history and current direction of American conservatism. He lives in western Massachusetts. Subscribe to our podcasts Conservatism and Its Current Discontents: A Survey and a Modest Proposal | Religion & Liberty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Hernandez Romanowski is a crypto research analyst at Tribal. Formerly a blockchain research analyst at the Mcnair Center for entrepreneurship at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, Romanowski focuses on how blockchain technology can improve access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Stephen Barrows, Acton’s Chief Operating Officer, sits down with Romanowski to examine a research report entitled “Accelerating Small Business with Blockchain Technology.” Romanowski explains how blockchain technology is evolving, how its adoption is increasing, and what the implications are for decentralized finance and small businesses. Subscribe to our podcasts (99+) Alexander Hernández Romanowski | LinkedIn Accelerating Small Business with Blockchain Technology | Houston, Texas USA (bakerinstitute.org) McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth | Baker Institute Tribal Credit | A Corporate Card Built For Growing Businesses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5G. Microchips in vaccines. Crisis actors. Chemtrails. It seems that tales of conspiracy theories are in the news, and on social medial, constantly. But conspiracy theories have been with us for a long time. Black helicopters. 9/11 trutherism. The JFK assassination. And, anti-semitism is arguably the oldest conspiracy theory there is. Are conspiracy theories more prevalent now than they have been before? And what attracts people to believing in them? In this episode, Eric Kohn, Acton’s Director of Marketing & Communications, talk with Dr. Aaron Pomerantz, assistant professor of psychology at University of St. Thomas Houston, about his research into the psychology of conspiracy theories. Subscribe to our podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Booth is professor of finance, public policy, and ethics and director of Catholic Mission at St. Mary’s University explores all aspects of free trade and globalization. What is globalization? Is it a new phenomena? How did globalization fuel progress in the 19th century and how was it disrupted? How has globalization effected the developing world? How are effects different in the developed world? What challenges does globalization present to both the developed and developing world? Does protectionism offer an effective answer to the challenges of globalization in the developed world? The developing world? Why have political movements on both the left and the right seemed to grow more hostile to globalization over recent years? Does free trade and globalization erode local cultures? What concerns have religious leaders raised concerning globalization? Subscribe to our podcasts About Philip Booth Catholic Social Thought America's Trade and Regulatory Policies Have Contributed to the Baby Formula Shortage | Reason Globalization, Poverty and International Development Catholic Social Teaching and the Market Economy Revised Second Edition A leading economist analyses what the Pope's new encyclical really says about markets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rabbi Mitchell Rocklin serves as the president of the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty and is also a resident research fellow at the Tikvah Fund has a wide ranging conversation on Judaism and Markets. How does religion in general speak to the market economy? Does Judaism’s covenantal self-understanding foster a unique perspective? Where do the perspectives of Christianity and Islam overlap with Judaism and how do they differ? What is the historical contribution of the Jewish community to economic dynamism? How does this relate to anti-Jewish attitudes and prejudice? What are contemporary attitudes toward the market in the United States and the larger Jewish world? Subscribe to our podcasts Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty Are American Jews Shifting Their Political Affiliation? Race and Covenant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In The Rise of the New Puritans, Commentary Magazine associate editor Noah Rothman explains how, in pursuit of a better world, a relatively new and fervent strain of progressivism, in a “burst of moral enthusiasm” is ruining the very things which make life worth living by attempting to craft a society full of verbal trip wires and digital witch hunts. Football? Too violent. Fusion food? Appropriation. The nuclear family? Oppressive. As the social scientist Yuval Levin wrote in a review of the book, what’s interesting about this New Puritanism is that “it is not rooted in a Christian ethic, at least not explicitly, and therefore that its worldly severity is not moderated by humility before the divine.” In response to this phenomenon, Rothman encourages us to spurn a movement whose primary goal has become limiting happiness. The book uncovers the historical roots of this war on fun and reminds us of the freedom and personal fulfillment at the heart of the American experiment. Subscribe to our podcasts Rise of the New Puritans | Amazon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David George Moore, founder and president of Two Cities Ministries, discusses his recent book Stuck in the Present: How History Frees and Forms Christians. Dylan Pahman, Acton research fellow and executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality, joins Moore to explore his vision of how a deeper appreciation of history can ground Christians in an age in which one too often faces a landslide of information with insufficient tools to sift through the mess of our present world. Subscribe to our podcasts Stuck in the Present Lord Acton: Historical and Moral Essays Nietzsche’s Thoughts Out of Season, Part II Orthodox Christian Social Thought and History Raising Some Concerns over the “Inductive Method” of Bible Study Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

P. J. Hill, professor of economics emeritus at Wheaton College (Illinois) and a senior fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center in Bozeman, Montana, delves into the topic of “Economic Inequality and Envy” based on a lecture he gave at Acton University 2022. Sarah Negri, research project coordinator at Acton, sits down with Hill to talk about the different kinds of economic inequality, the difference between inequality and poverty, and the economic and moral problems with envy being the modern standard mindset towards those who create mass wealth. They discuss the relationship between inequality and injustice with regard to human dignity, including what moral obligations might go hand in hand with being wealthy, as well as whether economic measures which have the goal of lessening inequality, such as resource transfers, are effective. Subscribe to our podcasts About P. J. Hill Growth and Welfare in the American Past The Birth of a Transfer Society The Not So Wild, Wild West: Property Rights on the Frontier A Theory of Justice (John Rawls) John Rawls’s “veil of ignorance” thought experiment The preferential option for the poor Subscribe to our podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rev. John Arthur Nunes, Ph.D., is a Lutheran pastor and senior fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy, discusses the current challenges in higher education. How can students be challenged to enter into the world of new ideas in an era when many students and administrators seem more concerned with affirming student identities and experience? What are the current challenges to academic freedom in the face of increasing pressure to censor ideas? How can campus leaders promote an environment of free inquiry? What bureaucratic obstacles exist to building student resilience? In addition, Rev. Nunes considers the promise of creative disruption in the educational status quo by new institutions of higher learning, particularly within the humanities. How does a robust education in the humanities prepare students not only for a future world of work but all of life. The conversation concludes with an illuminating discussion of the religious dimensions of current conflicts in higher education and how trust can be restored in damaged institutions. Harvard lecturer takes heat for defending existence of biological sex Biology Lecturer’s Comments on Biological Sex Draw Backlash University of Austin Pano Kanelos on the University of Austin | Acton Line Academic Leaders Task Force on Campus Free Expression Meant for More: In, With. and Under the Ordinary | John Nunes Wittenberg Meets the World: Reimagining the Reformation at the Margins | Alberto L. Garcia The Road to Character | David Brooks A World after Liberalism: Philosophers of the Radical Right | Matthew Rose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve heard of the Seven Deadly Sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Each is a natural and recurring human weakness that impedes happiness. In addition to these vices, however, there are deadly economic “sins.” They, too, wreak havoc in both our personal lives and in society. They can seem intuitively compelling, yet lead to waste and lost prosperity. Dylan Pahman, Acton’s research fellow and executive editor of the Journal of Markets and Morality, sat down with James R. Otteson, author of "Seven Deadly Economic Sins," to discuss his lecture on this very topic during Acton University 2022. Subscribe to our podcasts ‘Seven Deadly Economic Sins’ About James R. Otteson David Hume | Essential Scholars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Acton Institute’s Emerging Leaders Program is a leadership development initiative that brings together a cohort of students from across the nation and globe for a transformative experience. During the summer, Emerging Leaders gain professional experience, grow their network, and delve deeper into the ideas of a free and virtuous society. In this episode, we sit down with three of our Emerging Leaders: Walker Haskins, Lauren McCoy, and David Mendoza. They discuss Acton’s Emerging Leaders Program, the landscape of the broader liberty movement, and how Acton fits into their future scholarly pursuits. Also discussed is Walter’s and David’s research on Wawrzyniec Goślicki, a 16th-century influential but now largely forgotten Polish bishop whose book, The Accomplished Senator, argued for the importance of legislative bodies in mediating between a monarch’s absolutist tendencies and noblemen’s attempts to acquire more power. Subscribe to our podcasts Emerging Leaders Program | Acton Institute Our Mission & Core Principles | Acton Institute Why Read the Classics in Economics? | Econlib How to Get Action | Foundation for Economic Education Wawrzyniec Goślicki | Wikipedia ‘De optimo senatore’ | Wikipedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francis Beckwith, professor of philosophy and church-state studies at Baylor University, discusses the lecture he gave at Acton University 2022 entitled, “Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith.” Sarah Negri, Acton’s research project coordinator, sits down with Beckwith to discuss how religious rites such as marriage have a special significance not typically recognized in civil law, and how religion is unfairly set up as in conflict with reason, when in fact rites and religious observances can be profoundly reasonable. In addition, they talk about the difference between conscience and religious freedom, and how using these two similar but distinct concepts as a basis for legal decisions may have different social ramifications. Subscribe to our podcasts About Francis J. Beckwith Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith The Heart Has Its Reasons | Church Life Journal Is it Time to Rethink the School Prayer Cases? | Anchoring Truths Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith | Kresta in the Afternoon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at the Human Rights Foundation, discusses his new book, “Check Your Financial Privilege,” and how cryptocurrency can aid in pulling people out of poverty. Dan Hugger, Acton’s librarian and research associate, sits down with Gladstein to discuss what's happening, for example, in Nigeria, where human rights activists depend on Bitcoin for donations. In Cuba, those who saved in Bitcoin managed to stay afloat after a dual-currency system devalued the peso. In El Salvador, where remittance fees and exchange rates can eat away a simple money transfer to family members in need, Bitcoin offers hope with lower fees and faster transactions. Subscribe to our podcasts ‘Check Your Financial Privilege’ About Alex Gladstein The Quest for Digital Cash | Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin's Price Surge Amid Doubts: What Would Aquinas Say? | Forbes Crypto and Blockchain: A flash in the pan or something more? | Acton Institute Should you bet on Bitcoin? | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is one of the most popular Christian podcasts of the past year. It chronicles how Mars Hill Church in Seattle went from one of the most influential multisite evangelical churches in the U.S. to an abuse- and scandal-ridden nightmare, finally having to shut its doors for good in 2014 following the resignation of its charismatic founder, Mark Driscoll. Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, sits down with Mike Cosper, producer, writer, and host of the podcast, to discuss the lessons from the stories Cosper tells in “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill,” as well as the problems associated with celebrity pastors and church institutions. Subscribe to our podcasts ‘The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill’ Podcasts | Christianity Today About Mike Cosper Is Christianity doing more harm than good to American men? | Acton Institute PowerBlog Saving men requires the leadership of laymen | Acton Institute PowerBlog Faithfulness Is the Future of the Church | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Bradley, professor of religious studies at The King’s College, NYC, and Acton research fellow, sits down with Dan Churchwell, Acton’s director of program outreach, to discuss the importance of fatherhood as well as Dr. Bradley’s new research on the good that fraternities do in the way of moral formation of young men. Subscribe to our podcasts About Anthony B. Bradley, PhD Black Marriage Matters | Acton Institute Saving men requires the leadership of laymen | Acton Institute Is Christianity doing more harm than good to American men? | Acton Institute Mobilizing Fathers to Close Prisons - Dr. Anthony Bradley | BreakPoint Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning author Jessica Hooten Wilson has written an exciting new book—“The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints”—on how we’re called to live beyond a merely mundane existence of settling for small goals. In fact, we’re called to live a life of holiness. Wilson instructs us on how hearing the call to holiness requires cultivating a new imagination—one rooted in the art and discipline of reading. Reading with eyes attuned to the saints who populate great works of literature enables us to see how God opens up ways of holy living. Sarah Negri, Acton’s research project coordinator, sits down with Wilson to discuss how literature has the power to show us what a truly holy life looks like. Subscribe to our podcasts The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints About Jessica Hooten Wilson Jessica Hooten Wilson on Solzhenitsyn Against Propaganda | Acton Institute YouTube Channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Betsy DeVos joins Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, in the studio to discuss her new book, “Hostages No More.“ In her book, DeVos writes about her experiences working in the Trump administration and how the “woke” curriculum is negatively impacting our children’s learning. She also lays out a detailed approach to fixing America’s badly broken education system and securing a prosperous future for our kids. Subscribe to our podcasts Hostages No More by Betsy DeVos | Center Street About Betsy DeVos Redemption, not retreat: Betsy DeVos' vision for redeeming U.S. education | Acton Institute PowerBlog Betsy DeVos and Sal Khan on education and entrepreneurial disruption | Acton Line Podcast What's driving the decline of religion in America? Secular education | Acton Institute PowerBlog The Myth of a Value-Free Education | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Churchwell, Acton’s director of program outreach, sits down with Dr. Richard Turnbull, the director of the Center for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics, to discuss how banks and credit unions develop a culture of savings, independence, and poverty prevention. Do trends in the direction of large, national, even global banking institutions best serve these ideals? And what are the implications of the loss of diversity in institutional and local provisions for personal saving? What does all this tell us about the nature of civil society? Subscribe to our podcasts About Dr. Richard Turnbull Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics 4 arguments for the free market | Acton Institute Brexit: One last roll of the dice? | Acton Institute How to rebuild the economy after COVID-19 | Acton Institute Boris Johnson: The great survivor? | Acton Institute PowerBlog John Calvin and God's civil government | Acton Institute PowerBlog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Wagner, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of philosophy at Aquinas College, sits down with Dan Hugger, Acton’s librarian and research associate, to explore the Aristotelian-Thomistic account of the human good, natural law, and living well. Why should we seek to know ourselves? How is the human good related to excellence and virtue? How do we reconcile this account of the good with the divergent moral views we see in the world? Subscribe to our podcasts About Daniel Wagner The Elements of Philosophy: A Compendium for Philosophers and Theologians | William Wallace, OP Aristotle | Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Aquinas 101 | The Thomistic Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sam Gregg sits down with award-winning political theorist Yoram Hazony to discuss Hazony’s new book, “Conservatism: A Rediscovery.” Hazony argues that the idea that American conservatism is identical to “classical” liberalism, which has been widely held since the 1960s, is seriously mistaken. According to Hazony, the best hope for Western democracy is a return to the empiricist, religious, and nationalist traditions of America and Britain. These conservative traditions brought greatness to the English-speaking nations and became the model for national freedom for the entire world. Subscribe to our podcasts Conservatism: A Rediscovery About Yoram Hazony Edmund Burke Society & The Russell Kirk Center What I Saw at the National Conservatism Conference, by Dan Hugger | Acton Institute The Post-Liberal Right: The Good, the Bad, and the Perplexing, by Sam Gregg | Public Discourse Patrick Deneen and the Problem with Liberalism, by Sam Gregg | Public Discourse Nationalism and the Future of Western Freedom, by Yoram Hazony | Mosaic Magazine What Is Conservatism? by Yoram Hazony | American Affairs Journal The Challenge of Marxism, by Yoram Hazony | Quillette Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Acton Line, Dylan Pahman, research fellow and executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality here at Acton, sits down with Jeff Fisher, professor of theology and director of spiritual formation, and Branson Parler, professor of theology and director of theological education, both of the Foundry, to discuss their entrepreneurial alternative to traditional Christian higher education for ministry leaders. Topics range from the specifics of how the Foundry works to broader questions of the economic and identity crises of colleges and universities across the country. What is the role of the Church in training the next generation of pastors and teachers? Is the Foundry’s model the new way forward or a further symptom of the breakdown and silo-ization of the university? Subscribe to our podcasts The Foundry: Strengthening and Supporting Church Leaders About Branson Parler and Jeff Fisher New seminary head aims to revive church life and an entrepreneurial spirit in Venezuela | Acton Institute Lincoln Christian University Revamping Its Model, May Sell Campus | Christian Standard Abilene Christian University eliminated a $4.5 million budget deficit and reimagined itself | Mindstream Hundreds of Positions Eliminated at Evangelical Colleges and Universities | Christianity Today The Great Upheaval | Arthur Levine & Scott Van Pelt Deschooling Society | Ivan Illich After Whiteness | Willie James Jennings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Schmiesing, director of research at the Freedom & Virtue Institute, takes you on a journey through American history to more than two dozen sites and events that symbolize and embody America’s rich Catholic past in his new book, “A Catholic Pilgrimage through American History: People and Places that Shaped the Church in the United States.” Subscribe to our podcasts Apply now for Acton University 2022 "A Catholic Pilgrimage through American History: People and Places that Shaped the Church in the United States" Freedom & Virtue Institute About Kevin Schmiesing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Rev. Robert A. Sirico, Acton’s president emeritus, and Dan Hugger, Acton’s librarian and research associate, dismiss the many misinterpretations of Jesus' parables to reveal their timeless wisdom as explored in Rev. Sirico’s new book, “The Economics of the Parables.” Subscribe to our podcasts Apply now for Acton University 2022 "The Economics of the Parables" — Regnery Publishing The Rev. Sirico Leadership Fund — Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Gerard Wegemer, professor of English at the University of Dallas, sits down with Sam Gregg, Acton’s director of research, to discuss Wegemer’s new book, “The Essential Works of Thomas More.” For the first time, Thomas More’s most influential English and Latin works have been gathered into a single volume, creating a unique resource for anyone interested in More’s teaching on theology, statesmanship, and renaissance humanism. Subscribe to our podcasts Apply now for Acton University 2022 "The Essential Works of Thomas More" About Gerard Wegemer, Ph.D. St. Thomas More: Saint, Scholar, Statesman, Martyr — EWTN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Vallier, political philosopher and associate professor of philosophy at Bowling Green State University, joins Dylan Pahman, Acton’s executive editor of the “Journal of Markets and Morality,” to discuss Vallier’s new book, “Trust in a Polarized Age.” America seems to be falling into further hopelessness, divisiveness, and cultural decay. Yet Vallier sees things differently. He offers effective ways we can defend liberty, protect democracy, strengthen liberal economic institutions, and respect basic human rights. Subscribe to our podcasts "Trust in a Polarized Age" About Kevin Vallier "Are We a Nation?" with Samuel Goldman How to talk about rights in our polarized age – Acton Line Podcast Adam MacLeod on morality in public discourse – Acton Vault Podcast Divided we fall: America after the 2020 election – Acton Lecture Series We are a fractured nation, but there is still hope – PowerBlog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Continetti’s new book, The Right, gives readers a clear historical perspective of the conservative movement—from the Progressive era to the present. He tells the story of how conservatism began as networks of intellectuals, developing and institutionalizing a vision that grew over time. This book is essential for anyone looking to understand what it truly means to be an American conservative. In this episode of Acton Line, Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, sits down with Continetti to discuss The Right and especially where the conservative movement is headed. Subscribe to our podcasts About Matthew Continetti The Right by Matthew Continetti An Awkward Alliance: Neo-Integralism and National Conservatism | Acton Institute Rise of the national conservatives with Matthew Continetti | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Acton Line, Eric Kohn, our director of marketing and communications, sits down with Samuel Goldman, associate professor of political science at George Washington University, to discuss the history of our American national identity as explored in his new book, “After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division.” Goldman lays out the history of American national identity and offers new inspiration for how we can live together despite our current polarization and division. Subscribe to our podcasts After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division God's Country: Christian Zionism in America Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom About Samuel Goldman Politics & Values Program at George Washington University Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, sits down with Matt Brown, sports journalist and author of the “Extra Points” daily newsletter. They discuss the economic system behind college athletics and athletes’ compensation in general. Subscribe to our podcasts Extra Points with Matt Brown Extra Points Podcast What If?: A closer look at college football's great questions | By Matt Brown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Hugger, research associate and librarian here at Acton, sits down with Dr. Micah Watson, associate professor and executive director of the Paul Henry Institute at Calvin University, to discuss Congressman Paul Henry and his leadership in shaping the way Christian politicians live out their faith within their public service. The Paul Henry Institute seeks “to understand the role of faith in public life across time, from the earliest efforts of ancient peoples to organize their laws and institutions to present-day tensions between religion and the modern state.” Subscribe to our podcasts About Dr. Micah Watson Henry Institute for the study of Christianity and politics 5 Things that Christianity brings to our understanding of politics | Acton Institute Controversial Christianity: Understanding faith and politics | Acton Institute Our Mission & Core Principles | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special edition of Acton Line, featuring Ian Rowe, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, speaking on his new book, “Agency.“ On Wednesday, March 16, Rowe visited the Acton Institute for a discussion in front of a live audience with Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications. Rowe spoke on how we can inspire young people as they make the passage into adulthood. All children should be taught that a path to a successful life exists and that they have the power to follow it. Subscribe to our podcasts "Agency" by Ian Rowe | Book About Ian Rowe American Enterprise Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Churchwell, director of program outreach here at Acton, sits down with James Whitford, executive director of Watered Gardens Ministries, to discuss the challenges of poverty we face here in our communities. Whitford supports the economic principle of subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is a social practice where neighbors help neighbors so the state doesn’t have to intervene. This discourages reliance on the welfare state and avoids government bureaucracy. Subscribe to our podcasts Watered Gardens Ministries The Principle of Subsidiarity Build Together: Why lived experience is essential for crafting poverty solutions God doesn't need your good works (but your neighbor does) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Hugger sits down with Acton’s director of research, Samuel Gregg, to discuss his new book, “The Essential Natural Law.” They explore the fundamental principles of natural law and their place in Western thought and tradition. How does natural law deepen our understanding of economics, justice, human rights, private property, and the rule of law? Is our path to increased human flourishing contingent on the principles of natural law being applied? Subscribe to our podcasts About Sam Gregg Fraser Institute “The Essential Natural Law” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of communications, sits down with Joseph Lehman, president of the Mackinac Center, to discuss the “Overton Window” and the influence it continues to play in politics. How can we use it to understand changing ideas in our culture and the marketplace? Subscribe to our podcasts Joseph G. Lehman, President of the Mackinac Center Mackinac Center for Public Policy The Overton Window | Mackinac Center The Overton Window: The Most Misunderstood Concept in Politics | The Daily Wire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Hugger sits with Daniel Silliman, journalist and news editor for Christianity Today, to discuss his new book, "Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith." Silliman argues that the formation of evangelical identity does not stem from institutions or political stances but from Christian fiction and Christian publishing in general. In light of this, he explores the questions, what is evangelicalism, and what is evangelical subculture? Subscribe to our podcasts Business Matters 2022 — 50% off registration with promo code PODCASTBM22 About Daniel Silliman What's True About Christian Fiction | Christianity Today Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith | Daniel Silliman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sarah Negri, research project coordinator at the Acton Institute, sits down with David Michael Phelps, dean and director of program development at Harmel Academy of the Trades, to discuss the dignity of human work and how it is tied to our freedom to create value in the world and its connection to virtue. Why is formation in virtue important for skilled laborers? Who was Léon Harmel, and what was his impact on Catholic social teaching? Subscribe to our podcasts Business Matters 2022 — 50% off registration with promo code PODCASTBM22 Laborem Exercens, encyclical by John Paul II Rerum Novarum, encyclical by Leo XIII The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture by Fr. Jean Leclercq, O.S.B. The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World by Iain McGilchrist Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction by Matthew Crawford Harmel Academy of the Trades Léon Harmel: Pioneer of the Just Wage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since its announcement in November, media buzz has surrounded the University of Austin in Texas (UATX), newly founded to push back against a growing illiberal tide of “wokeness” and “cancel culture” in higher education. According to its website, UATX is “dedicated to the fearless pursuit of truth” and seeks to promote freedom of inquiry and ideological independence. Today on Acton Line, Dylan Pahman interviews Dr. Pano Kanelos, president of UATX, to dig deeper than the social media hot takes to discover the truth of what UATX is really all about. Subscribe to our podcasts Business Matters 2022 — 50% off registration with promo code PODCASTBM22 The University of Austin About Dr. Pano Kanelos The University of Austin is scaring all the right people Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a conversation with Acton’s librarian and research associate Dan Hugger, the Honorable Mark T. Boonstra, author of “In Their Own Words,” presents powerful insights into the minds of our Founding Fathers on the subject of religion. It’s clear now more than ever that our country is no longer the one inhabited by our Founding Fathers. Boonstra claims that we have essentially lost our relationship to God. According to our country’s sacred documents, we were established as one nation under God, our rights were given by God, we appealed to God for protection, and freedom to worship God was a primary concern. Things are a bit different now. In his book, Boonstra brings to light what our Founding Fathers truly believed about America as a nation united under God. Subscribe to our podcasts Buy the Books — “In Their Own Words” About Mark T. Boonstra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a conversation with Dan Churchwell, Acton’s director of program outreach, Alan Noble, author of "You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World," presents powerful insights into the anxiety and unease many feel today. He describes how a single line from the Heidelberg Catechism reframes our identity and helps us better understand ourselves, our families, our society, and our God. Subscribe to Acton Line, Acton Unwind, & Acton Vault Use code aipod22 to get 30% off the book Details about the book Excerpt About Alan Noble Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we continue the conversation from our last episode, Dan Hugger and Dylan Pahman move the discussion forward on the Acton Institute’s vision for a free and virtuous society. We examine the Institute’s 10 core principles, which serve as the bedrock of who we are and what we do—namely, we seek to integrate religious truths (virtue) with free market principles (sound economics). Subscribe to our podcasts About Dan Hugger About Dylan Pahman Our Mission & Core Principles Lord Acton's philosophy should guide our next two centuries Foundations of a Free & Virtuous Society — Acton Bookshop A Legacy of Liberty — Acton Bookshop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we enter into this new year, we reflect on the Acton Institute’s vision for a free and virtuous society. In this episode of Acton Line, Acton’s librarian and research associate, Dan Hugger, sits with Dylan Pahman, research fellow and executive editor of Acton’s Journal of Markets and Morality, to discuss the Institute’s mission and core principles. This is part one of a two-part series. Subscribe to our podcasts About Dan Hugger About Dylan Pahman Our Mission & Core Principles Lord Acton's philosophy should guide our next two centuries Foundations of a Free & Virtuous Society — Acton Bookshop A Legacy of Liberty — Acton Bookshop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.