First Things Podcast

On this episode, J. Budziszewski joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, How and How not to Be Happy.

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Michael Lewis to talk about his article from the June/July 2022 print edition, “The Architecture of Repair.” They discuss the legacy and work of the late Christopher Alexander and attuning architecture to practical human needs.

On this episode, George Leef joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent novel, The Awakening of Jennifer Van Arsdale: A Political Fable For Our Time.

On this episode, Dan Guernsey, a senior fellow at the The Cardinal Newman Society, joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss literature and the arts in Catholic education.

On this episode, Matthew Hennessey joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Visible Hand: A Wealth of Notions on the Miracle of the Market."

On this episode, Michael Foley joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his four volume collection translating, annotating, and commenting on St. Augustine's dialogues, "Against the Academics," "On the Happy Life," " On Order," and "Soliloquies."

On this episode, Paul Stevenson joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "New Rome: The Empire in the East."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Michael Doran to talk about his article from the May 2018 print edition, “The Theology of Foreign Policy.” They discuss the connection between liberal internationalism and theological modernism, the significance of John Foster Dulles, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On this episode, Michelle D. Hord joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book, "The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness."

On this episode, James M. Hamilton Jr. joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Psalms Volume I: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Justin Lee to talk about his article from the May print edition, “Holy Fear.” Lee reflects on growing up in the evangelical world, the challenges facing evangelicalism today, and the need to recover the animating spirit of the fire-and-brimstone fundamentalist.

On this episode, Father Peter M. J. Stravinskas joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the Priestly Society of Christ Priest and Teacher, an association he formed to provide help to priests teaching in Catholic schools.

On this episode, Arthur C. Brooks joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his bestselling book, "From Strength to Strength."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Ronald Dworkin to discuss his article from the May print edition, “The Politics of Unhappiness.” They discuss the ways in which cognitive therapy, mood stabilizing drugs, and virtual reality have infiltrated our psychic lives and transformed American politics.

On this episode, Chad Pecknold joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent Postliberal Order​ articles, “The Religious Nature of the City​" and “Imago Dei as a Political Concept​."

On this episode, Steven Hayward joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his book, "M. Stanton Evans: Conservative Wit, Apostle of Freedom."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Michael Toscano to talk about his article from the May print edition, “Ensnared in the Web.” They discuss the work of cultural critic and media theorist Neil Postman, the troubling rise in technological dependency, and potential strategies for escaping the social media abyss.

On this episode, Gabriel Noah Brahm joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his Telos article, "Canceling Israel."

On this episode, Jeff Rubin joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "The Expendables: How the Middle Class Got Screwed By Globalization."

On this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss Eric Zemmour and his recent First Things article, "The Most Controversial Man in France."

On this episode, Eric Metaxas joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Is Atheism Dead?"

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by Algis Valiunas to talk about his article from the April print edition, “Nihilism for the Ironhearted.” They discuss the tragically short life and the brilliant poetic output of Giacomo Leopardi, contrasting his bleak nihilism with the more life-affirming nihilism found in Nietzsche and Vattimo.

On this episode, Jared Knott joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters: Thirty-Nine Tiny Mistakes That Changed the World."

On this episode, Dennis Prager joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new book, "The Rational Passover Haggadah."

Editor R. R. Reno is joined by J. J. Kimche to talk about his article from the April print edition, “Meir Kahane.” They discuss the life of Meir Kahane, the rise and fall of the Jewish Defense League, and the continuing prescience of Kahane’s diagnosis on the Palestine question.