Acton Institute

Acton Line

Society EN ↓ 571 episodes

Dedicated to the promotion of a free and virtuous society, Acton Line brings together writers, economists, religious leaders, and more to bridge the gap between good intentions and sound economics. 

Author

Acton Institute

Category

Society

Podcast website

www.acton.org

Latest episode

Jul 8, 2026

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Episodes

Virtue in education; Discussing the literary greats 03.10.2018

On this Episode of Radio Free Acton, Dan Churchwell, Director of Program Outreach at Acton, speaks with Nathan Hitchcock, education entrepreneur, about the role of character development and virtue play in education, and what the future of education might look like. Then, Bruce Edward Walker talks to John J. Miller, Director of the Dow Journalism Program at Hillsdale College and writer at the Natio...

The connection of faith and work; the legacy of Walker Percy 26.09.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Associate Director of Program Outreach at Acton, Dan Churchwell, and Missy Wallace, Executive Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work, discuss how Missy became interested in the connection between faith and work, and why it is an important topic in business. Then, Caroline Roberts speaks with Brian A. Smith, Managing Editor of Liberty Fund’s Law...

Inside the studio of a violin maker; Upstream on the film 'Andrei Rublev' 19.09.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, award winning news anchor Anne Marie Schieber visits the studio of Matthew Noykos, a violin maker in Grand Rapids, MI, to learn more about his craft and discuss how he finds purpose and fulfillment in his everyday work. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker speaks with Robert Bird, author of two books on Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, about Ta...

The good news about poverty; Upstream on ‘Operation Finale’ 12.09.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Caroline Roberts, producer and host of Radio Free Acton, speaks with Joseph Connors, Assistant Professor of Economics at Florida Southern College, about the global decline in poverty and how we can continue to reduce it. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Alex Chafuen, Managing Director, International, at Acton, on “Operation Finale” a...

‘Work in the age of robots’; Has classical music been forgotten? 05.09.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, John Couretas, Executive Producer of Radio Free Acton, interviews Mark Mills, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, on his new book “Work in the Age of Robots”, about what our jobs and the future of AI might look like. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Jay Nordlinger, Senior Editor of National Review about Classical music: are peop...

Entrepreneurship in Guatemala; Upstream on the future of the arts 29.08.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, host Caroline Roberts speaks with Jonathan Porta, co-founder of e-commerce platform UTZ Market in Guatemala, on his experiences in developing his business and on entrepreneurship in Guatemala, then on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to David Marcus, New York correspondent for The Federalist on the future of the arts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast....

What is natural law? Upstream on Netflix’s ‘Anon’ 22.08.2018

This episode of Radio Free Acton features a discussion between Drew McGinnis, Editorial Director and Research Fellow at Acton, and Eric Hutchinson, Associate Professor of Classics at Hillsdale College and translator of a book recently released in Acton’s bookshop: On the Law of Nature. Drew and Eric talk about the book and what Natural Law is. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker tal...

Econ Quiz on pensions and public debt; Upstream on Frida Kahlo and Stalinism 15.08.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, host Caroline Roberts speaks with Dave Hebert, Professor of Economics at Aquinas College for another Econ Quiz segment on the topic of pensions and state debt. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Phil Terzian, a writer for The Weekly Standard, on the blind spots in the legacy of Frida Kahlo as well as our modern understanding of Stalinis...

Luke Burgis tackles myths about entrepreneurship; Upstream on government funded art 08.08.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Victoria Antram, summer intern at Acton, speaks with Luke Burgis, a businessman who was named a top 25 under 25 entrepreneur by Business Week, about the myths and misconceptions about entrepreneurship. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to J. Bradley Studemeyer about government funded art in anticipation of the upcoming book Art from the S...

Interview with a Venezuelan dissident; Jared Meyer on the sharing economy 01.08.2018

In this episode of Radio Free Acton, Noah Gould, summer intern at Acton, interviews Javier Avila, a Venezuelan dissident who speaks of both the bleak and hopeful future he sees for the resistance against tyrannical government in Venezuela. Then, another Acton summer intern, Jenna Suchyta, talks to Jared Meyer, senior fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability, about the sharing economy...

Discussing the Trump-Putin summit with Mihail Neamtu; Upstream on how to read 25.07.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, host Caroline Roberts speaks with Mihail Neamtu, Romanian conservative author, on the Trump-Putin summit, Russia’s economy, and what Trump should have prioritized at his meeting with Putin. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Peter Meilaender, Professor of political science at Houghton College, on literary criticism and how to best read...

Discussing the reconstruction era; Upstream on ‘First Reformed’ 18.07.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, John Wilsey, affiliate scholar of theology and history at Acton, speaks with Allen Guelzo, professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg college, about reconstruction in the South after the Civil War. This discussion is a preview of Professor Guelzo’s upcoming Acton Lecture Series talk on the subject of Abraham Lincoln’s moral constitution on August 9 at Acton H...

Discussing the importance of free elections; Upstream on 'Incredibles 2' 11.07.2018

This episode of Radio Free Acton starts with another Transatlantic Intelligence segment, hosted by Senior Editor at Acton, Rev. Ben Johnson, who talks with Juan Pina, Secretary General of the Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty in Madrid, Spain on the Foundation’s World Electoral Freedom Index which ranks the nations of the world on the freedom of their electoral processes. They discuss the...

The religious roots of the American founding; Jewish contributions to American liberty 03.07.2018

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton Director of Communications John Couretas speaks with Ray Nothstine of the Civitas Institute about the religious - and especially Puritan - roots of the American Revolution; then we hear an excerpt from Susan Harper's lecture on the Hebrew republic and the origins of America's Constitutional Liberty. Harper serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships at t...

RFA redux: Why Abraham Kuyper matters 27.06.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we revisit a segment aired 2 years ago. Marc Vander Maas, Audio/Visual Manager at Acton, talks to Jordan Ballor, Senior Research Fellow and Director of Publishing at Acton, about why the Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper remains relevant to this day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RFA Reports on Christians in the civic arena; Discussion on the Trump-Kim summit 20.06.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we are pleased to bring you the third edition of RFA Reports. Guest Anne Marie Schieber, an award-winning reporter and former anchor with Wood TV Grand Rapids, speaks with Rafael Cruz, father of former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, on the involvement of Christians in the civic arena and the separation of church and state. Then, RFA host Caroline Roberts talk...

Discussion on the morality of free trade; Upstream on the letters of Russell Kirk 13.06.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Tyler Groenendal, Foundation Relations Coordinator at Acton, speaks with Michael J. Clark, Professor of Economics at Hillsdale College, on the morality and importance free trade. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Jim Person, author of the book Imaginative Conservatism: The Letters of Russell Kirk, about who Russell Kirk is and why he i...

RFA redux: John Stonestreet doesn't want to talk about sex 06.06.2018

On this remastered episode of Radio Free Acton, we revisit an interview we had with John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. We examine the major contributions of Christianity to western culture, try to figure out if there's a reasonable system of thought that could replace it in our society, and explore a bit of what the secular left has replaced Christianity with...

Seeking flourishing in the context of poverty; Upstream on ‘Redeeming Transcendence in the Arts’ 30.05.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Andrew Vanderput, PovertyCure strategy and engagement manager at Acton, holds a discussion with Peter Greer, president and CEO of Hope International, on how human flourishing can be brought about in the context of poverty. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to author Jeremy Begbie about his new book, Redeeming Transcendence in the Arts. Ho...

Discussing the problem of child marriage; Upstream on ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ at 50 23.05.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Host Caroline Roberts speaks with Fr. Ben Johnson, senior editor at Acton, about his article in the latest issue of Religion & Liberty on the problem of child marriage. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker and film critic Titus Techera discuss the impact and legacy of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey 50 years on. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Tech & Work: Israeli innovation; Upstream on HBO’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ 16.05.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Dan Churchwell, associate director of program outreach at Acton, speaks with Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, on Israeli innovation. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker speaks with Phil Nichols, senior advisor at the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, on the new Fahrenheit 451 movie from HBO, which releases May 19. Hosted on Acast. Se...

Robert Whaples on Pope Francis’ views on Economics; Upstream on Bob Dylan and Thomas Merton 09.05.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Dan Hugger, librarian and research associate at Acton, speaks with Robert Whaples, research fellow at the Independent Institute and professor of economics at Wake Forest University on Pope Francis’ views on capitalism in a preview of Prof. Whaples' upcoming Acton Lecture Series talk. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to author, musician,...

RFA Reports on Direct Primary Care part II; Upstream on 'Avengers: Infinity War' 02.05.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we feature the second installment of RFA Reports. Guest Anne Marie Schieber-Dykstra, an award-winning reporter and former anchor with WOODTV Grand Rapids, talks with experts and patients on ways in which Direct Primary Care centers are providing better medical care for affordable prices. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks about the latest...

RFA Reports on Direct Primary Care; Upstream on 'Chappaquiddick' 25.04.2018

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we premier a new segment: RFA Reports. Guest Anne Marie Schieber, an award-winning reporter and former anchor with Wood TV Grand Rapids, discusses ways in which Christian healthcare centers are providing better care for affordable prices. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks about the new film Chappaquiddick with Henry Payne, editorial carto...

Business FX on workplace ethics; Upstream with blues group Kathy and the Kilowatts 18.04.2018

This episode of Radio Free Acton starts off with the second installment of the Business FX segment, featuring a talk on ethics in the workplace between John Couretas, director of communications at Acton, and Phil Sotok, management consultant with DPMC. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker interviews Kathy Murray of the Austin-based Blues band Kathy and the Kilowatts on the history of...

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