Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast

On this episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, former U.S. Marine, CIA veteran, and acclaimed novelist Elliot Ackerman joins Head of School Dr. John Austin just before delivering Deerfield's 2026 Commencement Address. Ackerman traces the arc of two parallel careers: five combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as a writer with a career built on persistence and the drive to make meaning...

Yale Law professor Justin Driver joins Head of School Dr. John Austin to explore how the Supreme Court has shaped American education, from Brown to landmark rulings on student speech. Drawing on his two books, Driver traces his path in constitutional law and argues for renewed civic education. This conversation discusses the origins of educational law to the unresolved legal questions posed by sma...

In this episode of Dialogue, Head of School Dr. John Austin sits down with Noel Rubinton ’73 to discuss his new book “Looking for a Story: A Complete Guide to the Writings of John McPhee.” Together, they trace the career of Pulitzer Prize-winner John McPhee ’49, from his early days at Deerfield to his decades as a pillar of long-form journalism. Rubinton shares his new discoveries about McPhee’s p...

In this episode of Dialogue, Head of School Dr. John Austin is joined by President of the Board of Trustees Leila Govi ’93 P’26, ’28 and Trustee and architect Dana Tang P’24. Together they go behind the project to discuss the vision and design of The Brick, Deerfield’s new dining hall. They explore how architecture can foster a sense of belonging and why the dining hall remains Deerfield’s most im...

In this special collaborative episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, long-form interviewer and essayist Bob Dewey ’77, P’12, ’14, ’17, ’20—host of the Exploring Prosperity YouTube channel and Substack—speaks with Head of School Dr. John Austin about the purpose of schooling and the responsibilities educational institutions have to students. In this episode, Bob and Dr. Austin discuss how scho...

In this episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, Dr. John Austin talks with Jeffrey Rosen, CEO and President of the National Constitution Center. Their conversation explores the power of reading to deepen attention, the role of civic deliberation in sustaining democracy, and the nonpartisan mission of teaching the Constitution in a polarized era.  Drawing from the wisdom of Jefferson and Frankl...

In the first episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, Dr. John Austin talks with Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and leading voice in behavioral science, about curiosity, connection, and the courage to communicate with authenticity.