First Things Podcast

On this episode, Daniel McCarthy joins the podcast to talk about his book review from the August/September issue​, “The Right Right.” They discuss the history and present state of conservatism in America, touching on the wide range of diverging streams of thought within.

In this episode, Fr. Donald Haggerty joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recently published book, "Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation."

Daniel J. Mahoney joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "The Statesman as Thinker: Portraits of Greatness, Courage, and Moderation"

David E. Bernstein joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America"

Jason Baxter joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "An Introduction to Christian Mysticism: Recovering the Wildness of Spiritual Life."

Matthew Spalding joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "The 1776 Report."

In this episode, Jeffrey Bloom and Rabbi Gil Student join Mark Bauerlein to discuss their recently edited essay collection, "Strauss, Spinoza & Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith."

On this episode, Andrew Bacevich joins the podcast to talk about American foreign policy, touching on many article which he has written for First Things in the past two decades. They discuss the elites' push for military interventions and the future of American military and economic prowess.

Matthew Heise joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "The Gates of Hell: An Untold Story of Faith and Perseverance in the Early Soviet Union."

Elizabeth Lev joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book, "The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art."

On this episode, Mark Hemingway joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his work for RealClearInvestigations, addressing state and private censorship and reviving the art of investigative journalism.

On this episode, Matthew S. Harmon joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Galatians: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary"

On this episode, Vincent Phillip Muñoz joins the podcast to talk about his May 27 web exclusive article, "What Is an Establishment of Religion?" They discuss the history of the Supreme Court's religious liberty jurisprudence and the possibility of the court establishing a new precedent through the upcoming case, "Kennedy v. Bremerton."

On this episode, Barry Harvey joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recently revised book, "Baptists and the Catholic Tradition: Reimagining the Church's Witness in the Modern World."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Russell A. Berman to talk about his article from the June/July 2022 print edition "State of Emergency," which discusses the natural fragility of democracy and the threat that government emergency powers can pose.

On this episode, Guy MacLean Rogers joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "For the Freedom of Zion: The Great Revolt of Jews against Romans, 66–74 CE."

On this episode, Kenny Xu joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "An Inconvenient Minority: The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Christopher Caldwell to discuss his article from the June/July 2022 print edition "Regime Change," which was an extensive review of Garrett M. Graff's recent book, Watergate: A New History.

On this episode, Michael Haykin joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands: Recovering Sacrament in the Baptist Tradition."

On this episode, J. Budziszewski joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, How and How not to Be Happy.

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Michael Lewis to talk about his article from the June/July 2022 print edition, “The Architecture of Repair.” They discuss the legacy and work of the late Christopher Alexander and attuning architecture to practical human needs.

On this episode, George Leef joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent novel, The Awakening of Jennifer Van Arsdale: A Political Fable For Our Time.

On this episode, Dan Guernsey, a senior fellow at the The Cardinal Newman Society, joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss literature and the arts in Catholic education.

On this episode, Matthew Hennessey joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Visible Hand: A Wealth of Notions on the Miracle of the Market."

On this episode, Michael Foley joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his four volume collection translating, annotating, and commenting on St. Augustine's dialogues, "Against the Academics," "On the Happy Life," " On Order," and "Soliloquies."

On this episode, Paul Stevenson joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "New Rome: The Empire in the East."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Michael Doran to talk about his article from the May 2018 print edition, “The Theology of Foreign Policy.” They discuss the connection between liberal internationalism and theological modernism, the significance of John Foster Dulles, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On this episode, Michelle D. Hord joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book, "The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness."

On this episode, James M. Hamilton Jr. joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Psalms Volume I: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Justin Lee to talk about his article from the May print edition, “Holy Fear.” Lee reflects on growing up in the evangelical world, the challenges facing evangelicalism today, and the need to recover the animating spirit of the fire-and-brimstone fundamentalist.

On this episode, Father Peter M. J. Stravinskas joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the Priestly Society of Christ Priest and Teacher, an association he formed to provide help to priests teaching in Catholic schools.

On this episode, Arthur C. Brooks joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his bestselling book, "From Strength to Strength."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Ronald Dworkin to discuss his article from the May print edition, “The Politics of Unhappiness.” They discuss the ways in which cognitive therapy, mood stabilizing drugs, and virtual reality have infiltrated our psychic lives and transformed American politics.

On this episode, Chad Pecknold joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent Postliberal Order​ articles, “The Religious Nature of the City​" and “Imago Dei as a Political Concept​."

On this episode, Steven Hayward joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his book, "M. Stanton Evans: Conservative Wit, Apostle of Freedom."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Michael Toscano to talk about his article from the May print edition, “Ensnared in the Web.” They discuss the work of cultural critic and media theorist Neil Postman, the troubling rise in technological dependency, and potential strategies for escaping the social media abyss.

On this episode, Gabriel Noah Brahm joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his Telos article, "Canceling Israel."

On this episode, Jeff Rubin joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "The Expendables: How the Middle Class Got Screwed By Globalization."

On this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss Eric Zemmour and his recent First Things article, "The Most Controversial Man in France."

On this episode, Eric Metaxas joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Is Atheism Dead?"

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Algis Valiunas to talk about his article from the April print edition, “Nihilism for the Ironhearted.” They discuss the tragically short life and the brilliant poetic output of Giacomo Leopardi, contrasting his bleak nihilism with the more life-affirming nihilism found in Nietzsche and Vattimo.

On this episode, Jared Knott joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters: Thirty-Nine Tiny Mistakes That Changed the World."

On this episode, Dennis Prager joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Rational Passover Haggadah."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by J. J. Kimche to talk about his article from the April print edition, “Meir Kahane.” They discuss the life of Meir Kahane, the rise and fall of the Jewish Defense League, and the continuing prescience of Kahane’s diagnosis on the Palestine question.

On this episode, Casey Chalk joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Persecuted: True Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands."

On this episode, Hans von Spakovsky joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Our Broken Elections: How the Left Changed the Way You Vote."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Fr. Michael Nazir–Ali to talk about his article from the April print edition, “From Anglican to Catholic.” They discuss Fr. Nazir–Ali’s disappointment with Anglican ecumenical efforts, his journey to the Catholic Church, and how the Anglican tradition can enrich Catholicism.

On this episode, George Yancey joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "One Faith No Longer: The Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America."

On this episode, Michael Cholbi joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Grief: A Philosophical Guide."

On this episode, F. Bruce Gordon joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book "Zwingli: God's Armed Prophet."