Brave New Us: Choosing Human in the Age of Biotechnology

Artificial intelligence is changing how we search for information, write, create, learn, and even pray. But what happens when AI enters the life of the Church? In this episode of Brave New Us , Samantha Stephenson sits down with Tim, creator of Chatechism , one of the most ambitious Catholic AI projects to date. Together they explore not only what AI can do for Catholics, but also where it should—...

What if the answer isn’t escaping modern life, but learning to inhabit it differently? In this season finale, Samantha reflects on her own attraction to the homestead ideal — and why she ultimately reconsidered what it means to live sustainably, faithfully, and attentively in the place God has already given her. This episode marks the beginning of a summer pause for Brave New Us and an invitation...

Medical breakthroughs often arrive faster than our moral vocabulary can keep up. Samantha speaks with Andrew Kubick of the National Catholic Bioethics Center about uterine transplantation — from its therapeutic promise for women experiencing infertility to the profound ethical questions raised as reproductive technology expands toward increasingly experimental possibilities. When medicine gains th...

What if health begins not with control, but with trust? Samantha speaks with a Catholic nutritionist about holistic health, women’s metabolism, and the growing desire to step out of cycles of restriction and anxiety surrounding food and wellness. Together they explore how Christian anthropology offers a different starting point for health: the body as created good, meaningful, and worthy of care r...

Modern culture is often described as disembodied — detached from physical reality and increasingly virtual. But is that diagnosis accurate? In this episode, Samantha responds to arguments about “disembodiment,” proposing instead that modern life has produced a cluster of bodily effects: heightened anxiety about health, constant self-monitoring, and confusion about what the body means or how it sho...

Infertility is often treated as a medical problem waiting for a solution. But for many women, the deeper questions begin after diagnosis. Samantha speaks with Leigh Snead, author of Infertile but Fruitful , about the emotional, spiritual, and relational realities of infertility — and the challenge of understanding the meaning of spiritual motherhood when life unfolds differently than expected. Tog...

Language does more than describe reality. Over time, it teaches us how to see it. In this episode of Brave New Us , Samantha shares a reading and reflection connected to her spiritual fiction project, The Bellbind Letters , exploring how cultural change often begins not with laws or technologies, but with shifts in vocabulary — especially around the body, femininity, and identity. What happens whe...

In a culture that normalizes medical means for non-medical problems, where do we draw the line in the pursuit of beauty? In This Episode We explore the ethics of cosmetic procedures—from “baby Botox” and fillers to plastic surgery—and what they communicate about our bodies, our worth, and our deepest desires. Through the story of “Katie” and reflections from Theology of the Body, we ask: Does alte...

Is assisted suicide compassionate—or is it a cultural failure to respond humanely to suffering? In this episode of Brave New Us , host Samantha Stephenson speaks with author and bioethics speaker Stephanie Gray Connors about physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, and end-of-life ethics in the age of medical and technological power. Drawing on her book On Assisted Suicide (Word on Fire’s Dignity s...

Why are women developing chronic illness at younger ages—and why are they so often dismissed when they seek answers? In this episode of Brave New Us , bioethicist and chronic illness patient Samantha Stephenson explores why women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune disease, migraines, infertility, depression, and other chronic conditions. Drawing from ethics, medicine, and lived experien...

Why are highly educated, ambitious women choosing large families in an age of falling birthrates, frozen eggs, and fertility tech? In this episode, Dr. Catherine Pakaluk joins Brave New Us to unpack her groundbreaking book Hannah’s Children: The Women Who Defied the Birth Dearth . We explore: What drives women to embrace motherhood as a vocation—not a fallback How the fertility crisis and biotech...

Stacy Trasancos, author of IVF Is Not the Way , joins Samantha to unpack the hidden costs and ethical challenges of IVF and fertility technology. Drawing on her science background and faith, Stacy reveals why IVF often falls short—and why natural fertility awareness and restorative reproductive medicine offer hope that’s overlooked by mainstream medicine. We explore how the fertility industry prof...

In this episode of Brave New Us , Dr. Nathanael Blake joins host Samantha Stephenson to discuss his bold new book, Victims of the Revolution: How Sexual Liberation Hurts Us All . Together, they unpack how a movement that promised personal freedom has led to cultural confusion, emotional harm, and deep philosophical contradictions. We explore: What sets Victims of the Revolution apart from other cr...

When does medicine cross the line from healing to harm? In this episode of Brave New Us , bioethicist and nurse researcher Kallie Fell, Executive Director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC), joins Samantha Stephenson to expose critical ethical questions around reproductive technologies, gender medicine, and medical consent. We dig into: The hidden risks and ethical concerns of IVF, egg...

Grayson Quay joins Samantha Stephenson to expose the seductive logic of transhumanism—and the moral and spiritual cost of buying in. From AI and brain chips to synthetic immortality and gene editing, the push to “upgrade” the human experience promises power but may unravel what makes us human. This conversation cuts through the hype to reveal what’s really at stake. Is transhumanism a scientific b...

Is IVF the only answer for infertility—or is there a better way? In this episode, Samantha Stephenson welcomes back Grace Emily Stark, editor of Natural Womanhood and a leading voice in restorative reproductive medicine (RRM). Together, they unpack what RRM really is, how it differs from conventional gynecology and fertility treatments like IVF, and why so few women have ever heard of it. We explo...

Is it possible to reverse autoimmune disease—permanently? In this episode of Brave New Us , Dr. Richard Burt, pioneering stem cell physician and author of Everyday Miracles , joins host Samantha Stephenson to unpack his revolutionary treatment for autoimmune disorders. Hailed by Scientific American as one of the top 10 medical advances of the decade, Dr. Burt’s non-myeloablative stem cell therapy...

What happens when creating a child becomes a consumer choice? In this provocative episode of Brave New Us , research associate at the Heritage Foundation Emma Waters joins host Samantha Stephenson to break down the rising trend of embryo screening, designer genetics, and artificial wombs. From Elon Musk's child-maxxing to CRISPR enhancements and Build-a-Baby startups like Nucleus Genomics and Orch...

In this episode, I open up about my personal journey from hormonal contraceptives to finding my faith within the Catholic Church. My relentless pursuit of truth led me to a profound understanding of Catholic doctrine, culminating in my conversion and a renewed commitment to my beliefs. Join me as I share how contraceptives became my ‘gateway drug’ to my home in Christ's one true Church. … Don't fo...

In this episode of Brave New Us , we delve into the dual expectations society places on men and the concept of masculinity. We discuss the innate understanding of what it means to be a ‘good man’—characterized by duty, honor, integrity, and sacrifice—and contrast it with the societal pressure to ‘man up’ and embody toughness, competitiveness, and stoicism. Joining us is Professor Pearcey, author o...

Think the Catholic Church supports IVF because it wants big families? Think again. In this episode of Brave New Us , Samantha Stephenson tackles some of the most persistent myths about Catholic teaching on reproductive technologies . From the misconception that the Church is indifferent to women’s suffering, to the false idea that all conceptions are morally equal, this candid conversation unpacks...

Following Pope Francis’s condemnation of surrogacy , headlines exploded with accusations of misogyny and moral overreach . But beneath the outrage lies a deeper question: what if the Church’s position is more empowering—and more human—than critics are willing to admit? In this solo episode, Samantha Stephenson responds to a viral CNN opinion piece , challenges media distortions, and defends the Ch...

When IVF is off the table, what options remain for Catholic couples struggling with infertility? In this episode, Samantha Stephenson is joined by John DiCamillo , Ethicist and Director of Personal Consultations at the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) . With over a decade of experience, John helps untangle the ethical questions surrounding fertility treatments like GIFT , IUI , and other...

Welcome to Brave New Us , where we explore the impact of feminism on our lives, akin to fluoride in the water. In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Madden, author of “Mary, Teach Me to Be Your Daughter,” to discuss the essence of femininity and masculinity in our times. Megan, a homeschooling mother and wife to a theology professor, shares her journey of understanding what it means to be a woman t...

Is “affirming care” helping—or harming—the people it claims to serve? Therapist and documentary producer Stephanie Winn joins Samantha Stephenson to expose the psychological and cultural fallout of gender ideology . Drawing on her clinical experience and work on the film No Way Back , Stephanie unpacks the troubling realities behind gender transitions , the pressure to conform, and what true menta...