The ThinkND Podcast

Episode Topic: The Politics of the Rural-Urban Divide Listen in to a dialogue between Jane Kleeb (Democratic Party Chair of Nebraska) and Mayor Mattie Parker (R- Fort Worth) focused on the unique opportunity that urban Republicans and rural Democrats have to reduce polarization in their communities. Featured Speakers: Christina Wolbrecht, University of Notre Dame Jane Kleeb, Nebraska Democratic Pa...

Episode Topic: The Honesty Crisis Listen in for a conversation with Wake Forest philosophy professor and author Christian Miller as he shares his inspiration to study honesty, the state of truth in modern culture, and the vital message behind his book, The Honesty Crisis —a compelling guide to preserving our most treasured virtue in an increasingly dishonest world. Featured Speaker:  Christian Mil...

Episode Topic: Making Films with a Catholic Imagination Witness the profound synergy between faith and artistry in this vibrant panel. Grasp how elite creators translate spiritual mysteries into visual narratives. Synthesize professional craft with theological depth. Gain fresh insights into the filmmaker’s vocation while viewing exclusive clips. Transform your entire understanding of beauty throu...

Episode Topic: Success Stories Step into dynamic discussions with Notre Dame’s Hispanic alumni navigating complex professional transitions during Hispanic Heritage Month. Gain career clarity, cultivate lifelong mentorship, and immerse yourself in authentic conversations about balancing cultural heritage with executive ambition. Harness this global network to elevate your trajectory and guide your...

Episode Topic: Eclipses 101   Forget memorized facts. Notre Dame astronomer Keith Davis breaks down celestial mechanics and solar eclipse safety into intuitive mental models. Discover why witnessing totality in person is a visceral, unmissable encounter with the cosmos. Hit play to prepare for the universe’s ultimate show. Featured Speakers: Keith Davis, University of Notre Dame Read this episode&...

Episode Topic: The Legacy of Colin Rowe   Envision a reality where streets foster genuine human connection. Navigate this profound dialogue to transform your perception of the built environment. You will decipher the spatial nature of urban fabrics while tracing Colin Rowe’s revolutionary impact. Re-examine the city’s logic through scholarly lenses, satisfying your deep longing for communal identi...

Episode Topic: Development Economics Notre Dame development economist Professor Rebecca Thornton opens a window into global-poverty solutions through the lens of rigorous field experiments in Nepal. Featured Speakers: Rebecca Thornton, University of Notre Dame Kiki Shim '26, University of Notre Dame Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learnin...

Episode Topic: The Gifts of Movement Experience the visceral weight of displacement through these preeminent North African voices. You navigate complex intersections of identity and artistic liberation within this profound dialogue. Witness how movement reshapes the creative spirit to inform the global canon. Featured Speakers:  Alexander Elinson, Hunter College of the City University of New York...

Episode Topic: The Life of Jacques Maritain Dive into the unique life, background, and Catholic conversion of Jacques Maritain, his intellectual connection to his wife and partner Raïssa, and philosophical approach that made him one of the pre-eminent thinkers of the twentieth century. Featured Speakers:  Jason West, Newman Theological College Read this episode's recap over on the University...

Episode Topic: Rock, Resistance, and Resilience Can you hear the rhythm of resistance in a quiet university hall? Listen as Ukraine’s legendary rock icon, Slava Vakarchuk, shares his soul through stories and song. Witness the raw intersection of art and war while he recounts front-line performances. Feel the visceral pulse of a nation fighting for its existence today. Featured Speakers:  Slava Vak...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with heidi andrea restrepo rhodes Listen in to a vibrant oral history interview with poet heidi andrea restrepo rhodes, conducted by Notre Dame Ph. D. student Karla Yaritza Maravilla Zaragoza, that serves as the foundation for a rigorous exploration of how language’s restorative pulse can document, resist, and ultimately heal. Featured Speakers:  heidi andrea restrepo...

Episode Topic: Journeys The Institute for Latino Studies along with the Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame, and the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development present a panel discussion on the "Journeys of Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame." Join us for an engaging discussion representing achievment in a range of disciplines and experiences. Featured Speakers: Gregor Arimany ‘04, Nord Anglia Ed...

Episode Topic: I Have Called You Friends Ever felt your imagination crave a deeper sense of wonder? Step directly into a rich world where mythic landscapes awaken your soul and ancient faith reshapes everyday life. By reconnecting truth with beauty, this immersive experience rekindles your spirit, lifting you out of modern isolation into a radiant, sacramental vision. Featured Speakers: Ben Reinha...

Episode Topic: Urban Planning in Nazi Germany How does the built environment reflect the soul of a regime? Listen in as Dr. Harald Bodenschatz discusses his 2025 award–winning book, Urban Planning in Nazi Germany . From ideologically transformed landscapes to the myth of the unbuilt monument, explore the chilling reality of design weaponized for total war. Featured Speakers: Dr. Harald Bodenschatz...

Episode Topic: Mattering Listen in for a conversation with journalist and author Jennifer Wallace as she shares her career journey, her roots in education, and the powerful message behind her book, Mattering —a roadmap to living a life of deep connection and purpose. Featured Speakers: Jennifer Wallace, journalist and author Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame'...

Episode Topic: Cognition Can we perceive the spiritual realm with our physical minds? Listen in to a dialogue examining how the human intellect navigates its material limitations to grasp immaterial truths. Understanding these cognitive structures is a strategic necessity for anyone seeking to reconcile the tangible world of experience with the firm convictions of spiritual life. Grasp the intrica...

Episode Topic: New Frontiers Have you ever felt the weight of potential meeting the warmth of home? You belong in a space where legacy transcends a mere title; it remains a promise of enduring support. This conversation reveals how decades of mentorship shape leaders navigating frontiers, inviting you to inhabit the Balfour-Hesburgh scholars’ transformative evolution. Featured Speakers: Charlie Or...

Episode Topic: Migration In this episode, sociologist and demographer Professor Amy Hsin guides us to a critical junction in the fight against poverty: the profound intersection of immigration policy and systemic inequality. Featured Speakers: Amy Hsin, University of Notre Dame Annika Singh '27, University of Notre Dame Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame'...

Episode Topic: From Line Items to Impact Discover how local government leaders move beyond ad hoc evaluations to embed research, data, and evidence into everyday budget decisions. Listen in to gain practical insights on building internal capacity, fostering cross-departmental partnerships, and creating the political will needed to make evidence-informed budgeting a lasting reality. Featured Speake...

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...