The ThinkND Podcast

Episode Topic: A History and Politics of Hope In an era scarred by “human wrongs,” how does a nation sustain an indomitable spirit? This session explores Ukraine’s transformation from Soviet subjects to sovereign historical actors. By redefining hope as a defiant, collective pursuit of justice rather than passive wishful thinking, our panel offers a profound roadmap for democratic resilience and g...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Emma Trelles From Miami’s neon car culture to Santa Barbara’s mountain dreams, Poet Laureate Emma Trelles explores the “bones-deep” honesty of her work, Courage and the Clock . Discover her transition from journalist to literary activist, the strategic necessity of paying artists, and her powerful rejection of perfectionism in this essential interview. Featured S...

Episode Topic: Why Does the Nobel Prize in Science Matter? Ever wonder how Nobel-winning science research affects your everyday life? Join faculty from the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend as they unpack the discoveries behind one of science’s most prestigious award—and why it matters to all of us. Featured Speakers: Masaru (Ken) Kuno, University of Notre Dame Kirk Meckle...

Episode Topic: Civic Virtue Rajiv Vinnakota is the President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, where the mission is to strengthen civic life in America by empowering young people to tackle civic challenges with bold, fresh ideas. Listen in for a conversation about his background, the institute, and civic virtue. Featured Speakers: Rajiv Vinnakota, Institute for Citizens & Scholars...

Episode Topic: Tongues of Men and Angels Discover "Tongues of Men and Angels," where Grammy-winning composer J.J. Wright ‘14 MSM, ‘17 DMA and poet Dana Gioia bridge high art and jazz. Witness a performance that had audiences swinging in their seats, redefining the sacred tradition through a daring fusion of Bach, Monk, and pop. Explore the future of the Catholic musical imagination. Feat...

Episode Topic: Law & Morality Does law reflect mere convention or objective reality? Marking 800 years of Thomas Aquinas, explore how his synthesis of law and morality provides a radical framework for justice. Challenge modern positivism and discover how the architecture of virtue informs the common good, moving society from legal compliance to true spiritual freedom. Featured Speakers: Fr. Pe...

Episode Topic: Place Based Community Regeneration Join us as panelists discuss strategies for allocating limited funds (to be catalytic), attracting (the right kinds of) investment, and addressing housing shortages (by addressing failed urbanism) in the process of reactivating downtown development in Midwestern cities. Watch regional leaders discard obsolete models to champion fiscal solvency and...

Episode Topic: Being the Change Join Dr. Milo Dodson ’08 and a panel of intergenerational alumni, Dr. Dom (Dominic) Acri ’18, Savanna Morgan ’20, and Dominique DeMoe ’19, as they explore the legacy of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program. Discover how “Being the Change” transcends individual success, fostering a communal ecosystem of advocacy that spans decades. Learn why betting on yourself is t...

Episode Topic: Religious Pluralism ( https://go.nd.edu/1c89af ) Under the conditions of globalization, more religious people than ever find themselves in close contact with members of other religious traditions. Our hosts convene in this episode for a scriptural conversation on religious pluralism. How is the religious “other” discussed in the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? How do...

Episode Topic: Crafting Music & Synthesizing Sounds with Geometry Have you ever wanted to create your own unique sounds but didn’t know how to start? Using basic geometry, it’s easy to synthesize new and exciting sounds through software you can run on a laptop! In this talk, Indiana University South Bend professor Ryan Olivier will demonstrate a few synthesis techniques and explain how thinkin...

Episode Topic: Business on the Frontlines Explore “Active Hope” as a catalyst for order in Ukraine. Beyond profit, business has become a strategic mandate for survival and a testament to our global solidarity. Join us as we examine how the University of Notre Dame and its partners forge resilience amidst ruin, serving as a powerful “Force for Good.” Featured Speakers: Magdalena Charzyńska-Wójcik,...

Episode Topic: The Role of Joy Cameron Kim is assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University and Laura Dunham is dean of the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. Listen in for a conversation about the nature of joy with these authors that contributed to the spring 2026 edition of the Virtues & Vocations: Higher Education for Human Flourishing magazine. Fe...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Emma Trelles Join poet and Graywolf Press Executive Director Carmen Giménez for a profound exploration of modern “folklore”—from digital fandoms to the absurdity of conspiracy theories. Giménez reflects on her transition from founding Noemi Press to leading a major nonprofit, offering rare strategic insights into our fragile literary ecosystem’s future. Featured...

Episode Topic: Dante Among Thelogians Step into the celestial rose of the “Dante Among Theologians” project. This international collaboration invites you to rediscover Dante’s vision not merely as verse, but as a living source of wisdom and spiritual insight. Witness a transformative journey where the God of Love fulfills our deepest desires across centuries and disciplines. Featured Speakers: Jen...

Episode Topic: Architecture in an Age of Uncertainty Liam O’Connor, 2025 Richard H. Driehaus Prize Laureate, explores how the timeless principles of traditional and classical design focused on enduring beauty, quality of craft, and integration with the landscape offer a crucial anchor for collective memory and cultural expression. Featured Speakers: Liam O’Connor, Liam O’Connor Architects and Plan...

Episode Topic: The Political Life of the Novel Join novelists Isabella Hammad, Brandon Hobson, and Amir Ahmadi Arian for an ontological inquiry into the aesthetics of resistance. Amidst the ongoing Nakba and systemic dispossessions, this dialogue interrogates the novel as a technology of resistance, transforming state violence into a grammar of human sovereignty and asserting historical truth agai...

Episode Topic: Growing into Leadership and Service Ever wondered how a summer bridge program transforms into lifelong connections? Listen in to stories of alumni from the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program, which helped them navigate rigorous academic terrains with confidence, uplifted by a community that championed their excellence. Witness the bonds that sustain leadership and fuel a lifetime of...

Episode Topic: History of Philosophy   Explore Thomas Aquinas' rigorous engagement with the Falsafa tradition. From the mechanics of the soul to the dignity of science, discover how his relational rationality bridges medieval wisdom and modern inquiry. Listen in as we synthesize these timeless metaphysical debates for the contemporary professional. Featured Speakers: Stephen Ogden, University...

Episode Topic: Downsides of Markets What does the tension between economic prosperity and moral character tell us about the profound intersection of liberty and human flourishing?  Envision a society where justice protects every person, property, and promise. Featured Speakers: James Otteson, University of Notre Dame Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open o...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Xavier Cavazos Can sound truly mend a fractured soul? Savor this vibrant dialogue tracing poet Xavier Cavazos’s path from the Columbia Basin’s dust to Manhattan’s poetic fires. Listen in to the collision of Nuyorican energy and academic sanctuary in an oral history interview conducted by Karla Yaritza Maravilla Zaragoza. Witness the crackling energy of a life tra...

Episode Topic: Paving the Way   Travel back to the early days of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program with former students who reminisce about arriving at a quiet summer campus where an unfamiliar landscape transformed into a vibrant tribe where shared ambitions forged an indestructible sanctuary of belonging. Featured Speakers: Ayana Fakhir '00, attorney & podcaster Joe Rolón '98,...

 Topic: Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., ’06 M.Div., ’15 MBA In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and...

Topic: Glynnis Garry Bann, ’11 B.A., M.D. In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spir...

Topic: J. Martin (Marty) Regan, Jr. ’76 In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit...

Topic: Jennifer Burke Lefever ‘98 M.A., ‘00 Ph. D. In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow...