First Things Podcast

The editors discuss Pope Francis, whose twelve-year pontificate ended with his death on Easter Monday. Then the staff preview their picks for the upcoming conclave. Rusty Reno and Dan Hitchens join Julia Yost.

In this episode, First Things brings you the recording of the Inaugural Neuhaus Lecture presented by Patrick J. Deneen. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to get more information on future lectures and access many great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Mary E. DeMuth joins in to discuss her recent book, "The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible: What Their Stories Teach Us about Being Seen and Heard." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, Ericka Andersen joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about her recent essay, “Who Owns the Embryos?” from the April 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Josh Hammer joins in to discuss his recent book, "Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West."

In this episode, Christopher Caldwell joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his piece, “Merkel's Country” from the March 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Jeffrey J. Meyers joins in to discuss his recent book, "Why Children are Welcome to the Lord's Supper: Some Questions & Answers about Paedocommunion."

In this episode, Matthew Schmitz joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his piece, “Elon’s Family Values” from the April 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

The editors discuss the live-action Snow White, Disney's biggest flop in recent memory. Did the star hijack it with her woke statements—or was she scapegoated? Is Disney worthy of its own IP? Virginia Aabram and Germán Saucedo join Julia Yost.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, A.J. Rice joins in to discuss his recent book, "The White Privilege Album: Bringing Racial Harmony to Very Fine People…on Both Sides." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Cheryl Hughes joins in to discuss her recent book, "Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert Maker." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, David Rieff joins in to discuss his recent book, "Desire and Fate." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

The editors discuss last week’s incident in the Oval Office, and what it might portend for American foreign policy. Then they talk the Oscars, and why young people are suddenly going to the movies. Rusty Reno, Dan Hitchens, and Germán Saucedo join Julia Yost.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Cassandra Nelson joins in to discuss her recent book, "A Theology of Fiction." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Jeremy Beer joins in to discuss her recent book, "Beyond the Devil's Road: Francisco Garcés and the Spanish Encounter with the American Southwest." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his book review, “Paleofuturism” from the February 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Michael Fontaine joins in to discuss his recent translations, "How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor" by Marcus Tullius Cicero and "How to Get Over a Breakup: An Ancient Guide to Moving On" by Ovid Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

The editors discuss Super Bowl 59—why we watched, who tried to rig the outcome, and what Taylor Swift will do next. Then we talk JD Vance, Pope Francis, and the ordo amoris. Rusty Reno, Vicky Clarke, and Virginia Aabram join Julia Yost.

In this episode, Anselm Audley joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his essay, “Cities for Humans” from the January 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Spencer A. Klavan joins in to discuss his recent book, “Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science Through Faith." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, editors Rusty Reno, Julia Yost, and Dan Hitchens discuss the vibe shift, the Trump electoral and cultural victory, the Catholic vote, the future of the pro-life movement, and JD Vance’s promising future. Please subscribe to the magazine and support our work at www.firstthings.com/subscribe!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Bruce Gordon joins in to discuss his recent book, “The Bible: A Global History." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Gerald R. McDermott joins in to discuss his recent book, “A New History of Redemption: The Work of Jesus the Messiah through the Millennia." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Peter Kreeft joins in to discuss his recent book, “God on Stage: 15 Plays That Ask the Big Questions." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, Justin Shubow joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his essay, “Monument to Failure” from the March 2016 print edition of the magazine and the importance of the National Endowment for the Arts. Please subscribe to the magazine at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Robert Pondiscio joins in to discuss his articles, “How Public Schools Became Ideological Boot Camps” and "On curriculum and literacy, Texas gets it." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Dana Gioia joins in to discuss his new book, “Weep, Shudder, Die: On Opera and Poetry.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, R. R. Reno brings you the recording of the 2024 Erasmus Lecture Presented by Paul Kingsnorth, which you can find in the January 2025 print edition of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces! Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Mike Aquilina joins in to discuss his new book, “Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Daniel Pipes joins in to discuss his new book, “Israel Victory: How Zionists Win Acceptance and Palestinians Get Liberated​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Rosario Forlenza and Bjørn Thomassen join in to discuss their new book, “Italy's Christian Democracy: The Catholic Encounter with Political Modernity​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Brady Stiller joins in to discuss his new book, “Your Life Is a Story: G.K. Chesterton and the Paradox of Freedom​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Christine M. Wohar, joins in to discuss her new book, “Finding Frassati: And Following His Path to Holiness​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Charles Taylor, joins in to discuss his new book, “Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, F. H. Buckley, joins in to discuss his new book, “The Roots of Liberalism: What Faithful Knights and the Little Match Girl Taught Us about Civil Virtue​.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Paul Krause, joins in to discuss his new book, “Finding Arcadia: Wisdom, Truth, and Love in the Classics.” Human Life Review: humanlifereview.life/fifty Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, José Carlos González-Hurtado, joins in to discuss his new book, “New Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God.” Human Life Review: humanlifereview.life/fifty Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Joseph Carola, S.J., joins in to discuss his new book, “Engaging the Church Fathers in Nineteenth-Century Catholic Theology: The Patristic Legacy of the Scuola Romana.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Leonard Sax joins in to discuss his new book, “The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, Patricia Snow joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about her essay, “Taylor Swift's Sexual Revolution” from the November 2024 print edition of the magazine. Please subscribe to the magazine at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Gavin Ortlund​ joins in to discuss his new book, “What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Samir Chopra​ joins in to discuss his new book, “Anxiety: A Philosophical Guide.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Timothy S. Goeglein​ joins in to discuss his new book, “Stumbling Toward Utopia: How the 1960s Turned Into a National Nightmare and How We Can Revive the American Dream.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, First Things senior editor Dan Hitchens joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his book review, “Charity And Sarcasm” from the November 2024 print edition of the magazine. Please subscribe to the magazine at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Eric Adler joins in to discuss his new book, “Humanistic Letters: The Irving Babbitt-Paul Elmer More Correspondence.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Daniel McInerny joins in to discuss his new book, “Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts.” Music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, First Things senior editor Julia Yost joins in to discuss her new book, “Jane Austen's Darkness” Music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Mark Evans joins in to discuss his new book, “Mark! My Words: How to Discover the Joy of Music, the Delight of Language, and the Pride of Achievement in the Age of Trash Talk and Cultural Chaos.” Music by Jack Bauerlein.

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Matthew Daniels joins in to discuss his new book, “Catholic Heroes of Civil and Human Rights.” Music by Jack Bauerlein.

In this episode, Ryan T. Anderson joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his article, “The Way Forward After Dobbs” from the October 2024 print edition of the magazine. Please subscribe to the magazine at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!