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

Rev. Robert Sirico Acton Mailbag, Victor Claar on Hurricane Harvey, Upstream w/ Bruce Edward Walker 30.08.2017

On today's edition of Radio Free Acton we have Bruce Edward Walker talking to Sam Karnick on Prog Rock. After that we have Caroline Roberts interviewing economist Victor Claar on the morality of price gouging. Then to top it off we have another edition of the Acton Mail bag, this time featuring Rev. Robert Sirico in the chair to answer some questions from our interns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Ismael Hernandez on "Detroit" in 2017 America; Jacqueline Isaacs on Libertarian Christianity 23.08.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Bruce Edward Walker speaks with Ismael Hernandez of the Freedom and Virtue Institute about "Detroit," the new film from Katheryn Bigelow about the Algiers Motel incident during the 1967 Detroit riots, particularly discussing how this film does or does not reinforce harmful narratives within the black community in the United States. We follow that up with a conv...

Jacqueline Issacs on Christians and Libertarianism; Upstream on War for the Planet of the Apes 16.08.2017

This week on Radio Free Acton we have guest Jacqueline Issacs on the show to preview her Acton on Tap lecture and talk a little about why you can be a libertarian Christian; she is interviewed by senior research fellow Jordan Ballor. After that Bruce Edward Walker is on the show with Upstream, talking to summer intern Anita Chen about War for the Planet of the Apes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Rev. Robert A. Sirico opens the Acton Mailbag; Upstream tackles Baby Driver 09.08.2017

This week on Radio Free Acton, the co-founder and President of the Acton Institute - Rev. Robert A. Sirico - stops by to field questions from our summer interns, and Bruce Edward Walker, Dan Hugger, and Charissa Reul discuss "Baby Driver" in our Upstream segment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ray Nothstine on the spirit of "Dunkirk"; Seth Bartee on Russell Kirk and lesiure 02.08.2017

This week on Radio Free Acton, Bruce Edward Walker welcomes Ray Nothstine of the North State Journal to "Upstream" to review Christopher Nolan's latest film, "Dunkirk." Then Walker speaks with Seth Bartee of the Kirk Center on Russell Kirk's wisdom on leisure, work, and how Christians can best impact society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jim McGann on the world of think tanks; Upstream on Spiderman: Homecoming 26.07.2017

This week we talk with Jim McGann (senior lecturer of International Studies at the Lauder Institute, director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program and senior fellow, Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania) about the world of think tanks - what they are, what they do well, and where they can improve their effectiveness. Then RFA Chief Cultural Correspondent Bruce E...

Chris Armstrong on C.S. Lewis and medieval thought; Upstream on Monterey Pop at 50 19.07.2017

On today’s Radio Free Acton we have an interview from Acton University with Chris Armstrong, author of the new book "Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians: Finding Authentic Faith in a Forgotten Age with C.S. Lewis." We look at the difference between modern and medieval Christians, and what makes a good story. Then it's another edition of Upstream with Forbes cultural correspondent Bruce Edward Wa...

Thomas Kidd on Benjamin Franklin & Upstream on Mavis Staples 12.07.2017

We talk to Thomas Kidd professor of history at Baylor, Associate Director of Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion and author of the new book Benjamin Franklin: The Religious Life of a Founding Father. After that, Bruce Walker and Marc talk about the recently released Mavis Staples concert album I'll Take You There: An All-Star Concert Celebration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

Dylan Pahman on the foundations of a free society; Upstream on current horror 05.07.2017

This week, we talk with Acton Research Fellow and Managing Editor of the Journal of Markets and Morality Dylan Pahman on his new book, "Foundations of a Free and Virtuous Society." Then on Upstream with Bruce Edward Walker, we catch up on current horror films and television, with discussions on Alien: Covenant, Twin Peaks, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lauck on bringing midwestern culture back to the spotlight; Upstream on Roger Waters 21.06.2017

This week, we talk with John Lauck - founding president of the Midwestern History Association, the associate editor and book review editor of the Middle West Review, and an adjunct professor of history and political science at the University of South Dakota - about his new book on the American Midwest, "From Warm Center to Ragged Edge". Then Bruce Edward Walker shares his review of the latest work...

The genuine humanity of Wonder Woman; Samuel Gregg on the UK election surprise 11.06.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg about the surprising results of the snap parliamentary election in the UK that saw the conservatives lose their majority in the House of Commons, and discuss what this means for the Brexit process and British politics in general. We're also excited to introduce a new segment on Radio Free Acton: Ups...

Lawrence Reed on cultivating heroism 24.05.2017

Lawrence Reed is the President of the Foundation for Economic Education, and he joins us on this edition of Radio Free Acton to talk about his new book, "Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character, and Conviction". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Mark Reynolds on objective beauty and truth 09.05.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined in studio by Dr. John Mark Reynolds, President of the St. Constantine School, to talk about beauty, and whether or not we can truly know if something is beautiful or not. We also talk about the St. Constantine School and how the educational model they use differs from the more common pedagogy seen in American education today. Hosted on Acast. See a...

Micah Watson on C.S. Lewis and the dangers of democratic education 19.04.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Micah Watson, the William Spoelhof Teacher-Scholar Chair at Calvin College, to discuss the views of C.S. Lewis on democracy, specifically as they relate to the area of education. Lewis was not a fan of democracy, and worried about the effect of democratic inclinations within a culture on the quality of education systems. Watson - joined by Acton...

John Stonestreet doesn't want to talk about sex 03.04.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're excited to talk to 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. Spoiler alert: it's...

Brent Waters on just capitalism 29.03.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Brent Waters, Jerre and Mary Joy Stead professor of Christian social ethics at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and author of Just Capitalism: A Christian Ethic of Economic Globalization. The market economy is often criticized as being unjust and harmful to the poor, but Waters makes the argument that global capitalism is well-suited to pro...

Scott Lincicome on how free trade benefits everyone 22.03.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, international trade attorney and Cato Institute Adjunct Scholar Scott Lincicome joins us to give us the real story on the benefits of international trade for the United States, and dispels some myths about the impacts of trade on U.S. industry and consumers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Rathbone Bradley on eliminating poverty through economic freedom 15.03.2017

Today on Radio Free Acton, we talk with Anne Rathbone Bradley, Ph. D. She serves as Vice President of Economic Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work and Economics, and joins us to talk about the vital role that economic freedom plays in lifting people out of poverty. We also address some of the common clichés that are used to attack the market economy, and even take a short peek into the po...

James Poulos on the Art of Being Free 08.03.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we welcome back John Wilsey - Assistant Professor of History and Christian Apologetics and Associate Director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary - and hand over the reins of the podcast to him as he talks with author and social theorist James Poulos about his new book, "The Art of Being Free: How Alexis de To...

Samuel Gregg on the life and impact of Michael Novak 01.03.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg about the life and impact of Michael Novak, who passed away on February 17, 2017. Novak, a Roman Catholic theologian, philosopher, and author, was a powerful defender of human liberty and made vital contributions to our understanding of the morality of the market economy. Novak's influence was an i...

The Verdict on Judge Neil Gorsuch with Judge Joseph Scoville 10.02.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Judge Joseph Scoville, former United States magistrate judge for the western district of Michigan, to review the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court. We examine the qualifications and judicial philosophy of Judge Gorsuch, and address the question of whether or not the lef...

Ilya Shapiro on the the politics of judicial nominations 08.02.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and the editor of the Cato Supreme Court Journal, to discuss the politics surrounding judicial nominations in modern America, and the judicial legacy that presidents leave behind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christian Democracy in America 01.02.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we have a panel discussion on the prospects for a Christian Democratic political movement in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avik Roy on how to transcend Obamacare 25.01.2017

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Avik Roy, Opinion Editor at Forbes magazine and the founder and president of a new think tank, The Foundation for Research on Economic Opportunity. He's been an insightful critic of the health care reform process in the US since Congress began debating what would become Obamacare in 2009. Through his new organization, he's published a plan to re...

David LaRocca on Brunello Cucinelli's new philosophy of clothes 21.12.2016

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with David LaRocca, philosopher, author, and filmmaker, who has released a documentary on Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur Brunello Cuccinelli. Cucinelli has built a successful company by creating high-quality apparel, but more interesting than that is the philosophy that undergirds his business and all of his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

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