First Things Podcast

On this episode, William Damon joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "A Round of Golf with My Father: The New Psychology of Exploring Your Past to Make Peace with Your Present."

On this episode, Justin E. H. Smith joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is: A History, a Philosophy, a Warning."

On this episode, Gregory Boyle joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Hadley Arkes to talk about his article from the March print edition, “On Overturning Roe.” They discuss the shortcomings of originalist jurisprudence, the necessity of natural law in the fight to safeguard the rights of the unborn, and the opportunity facing the Supreme Court in the impending Dobbs decision.

On this episode, Katie Geary joins Mark Bauerlein to talk about the Religious Freedom Index, a survey by Becket Law.

On this episode, Elizabeth Bachmann, a Junior Fellow at First Things, interviews Mark Bauerlein about his new book, "The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Fr. Timothy Cusick to talk about his article from the March print edition, “Priestly Poverty.” They discuss how the clerical abuse scandal undermined the authority of the priesthood in the eyes of many Catholics, and how a new emphasis on evangelical poverty might restore public trust.

On this episode, Richard Jackson joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the National Symposium for Classical Education.

On this episode, Aaron Kheriaty joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his article, "The Other Pandemic: The Lockdown Mental Health Crisis," and the evolution of the COVID pandemic.

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Mark Bauerlein to talk about his article from the March print edition, “Purveyors of Truth” They discuss the origins of theory in post-war Germany, the exhilaration of being a young scholar during theory’s heyday, and the unfortunate decline in the humanities as theory has been co-opted by diversity bureaucrats.

On this episode, Bishop Robert Barron joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Eucharist."

On this episode, Philip Hamburger joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Purchasing Submission: Conditions, Power, and Freedom.

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Darel Paul to talk about his article from the February print edition, “Prohibition Revisited​.” They discuss the changing historiographical consensus on the prohibition, contemporary puritanical attitudes toward mask-wearing, and what the right can learn from the temperance movement.

On this episode, David DeSteno joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion."

On this episode, Stanley Kurtz joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent essay, "Parents Can Save Western Civilization."

On this episode, J. Warner Wallace joins the Mark Bauerlein to discuss his book, "Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible."

On this episode, Batya Ungar-Sargon joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her new book, "Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy."

On this episode, Peter Kreeft joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived."

On this episode, John Kleinig joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his resent book, "Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Brian C. Anderson, editor of City Journal, to talk about his article from the February print edition, “The Genius of Ivan Illich.” They discuss the life of Ivan Illich, his influence on the homeschooling movement, and the lasting importance of his attack on the biomedical security state.

In this episode, Ross Douthat joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his book, "The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery."

On this episode, Jay Mathews joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his article, "What I Learned in 23 Years Ranking America’s Most Challenging High Schools."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Aaron Renn to talk about his article from the February print edition, “The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism​.” They discuss the changing politics of evangelicalism, the decline in the social prestige of Christianity, and the future of Catholic-Evangelical cooperation in America.

On this episode, William Mounce joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible."

On this episode, Frank Furedi joins the Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "100 Years of Identity Crisis: Culture War Over Socialization."

On this episode, Matthew Mehan joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new children's book, "The Handsome Little Cygnet."

On this episode, Vivek Ramaswamy joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book "Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Wilfred McClay to talk about his article “The Claims of Memory.” They discuss the nature of historical memory, the assault on the past, and the importance of tradition.

On this episode, Bruce Gilley joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Last Imperialist: Sir Alan Burns's Epic Defense of the British Empire."

On this episode Jonathan Pelson joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Wireless Wars: China's Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We're Fighting Back."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Stanley Payne to discuss his article from the January print edition, “Antifascists After Fascism​.”​ They discuss the complex history of fascism in the 1930s, the utilization of antifascist rhetoric by the Communist International, and the reappearance of supposedly antifascist groups in our own time.

On this episode, Ashley Berner joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the Maine religious school tuition case.

On this episode, George Weigel joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss "Jesuit at Large: Essays and Reviews by Paul Mankowski, S.J."

​​M​ark Bauerlein​ joins editor R. R. Reno to discuss his article “A Less Perfect Union​,” from the January print edition. They discuss the mixed legacy of Lincoln’s actions and rhetoric, the heroism of the Southern military, and the necessity for more realistic embodiments of America, like Davy Crockett and Jack Kerouac.

On this episode, S.K. Baskerville joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, " A Gentleman's Guide to Manners, Sex, and Ruling the World."

On this episode, Michael Knowles joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds."

Nathan Pinkoski joins editor R. R. Reno to discuss the recently announced presidential candidacy of French journalist Éric Zemmour, who Pinkoski profiled in the August/September edition.

On this episode, Tim Perry joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Funerals: For the Care of Souls."

On this episode, Ben Dunson joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss Protestantism in American politics and his website, American Reformer.

Philip Pilkington joins editor R. R. Reno to discuss demographic decline and the looming generational strife that will emerge if politicians fail to advance natalist policies.

On this episode, Christopher Kaczor joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Jordan Peterson, God, and Christianity: The Search for a Meaningful Life."

In Trump Time by First Things

On this episode, Joseph Johnston joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Decline of Nations: Lessons for Strengthening America at Home and in the World."

R. R. Reno is joined by Alexander Riley and Mark Bauerlein for a special holiday discussion of civil religion, Thanksgiving, and the American founding.

On this episode, Jeremy S. Adams joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Hollowed Out: A Warning About America's Next Generation."

On this episode, Mollie Hemingway joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her new book, "Rigged: How the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrats Seized Our Elections."

Darel Paul joins editor R. R. Reno to discuss his article from the October print edition on the political economy of abortion, “Abortion and Class.”

On this episode, Brian Besong joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Faith and Reason: Philosophers Explain Their Turn to Catholicism."

On this episode, Victor Davis Hanson joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America."

Elizabeth Corey joins editor R. R. Reno to talk about her article “T is for Timeless,” from the November print edition. They talk about what makes for a great children’s book, and discuss some of their favorites.