McConnell Center Podcast

McConnell Center  welcomes U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema to discuss her personal story, her journey into politics, and her passion for bringing together folks who may not normally feel they have anything in common. As Arizona's senior Senator, Kyrsten Sinema feels a duty to serve and give back to the communities and country that gave her so much. Here she speaks on her passion for coming together wi...

McConnell Center  celebrates Mike Adams, Kentucky Secretary of State, with the presentation of the 2022 Mattingly Award. The Chris Mattingly Award for Outstanding Community Leadership in Kentucky was established to honor the memory of one of the first McConnell Scholars. Chris Mattingly, 21, died as a result of a car accident on Nov. 1, 1996. He had completed 104 hours towards a political science...

McConnell Center  welcomes Dr. John Rose from The Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University for a discussion entitled, "Political Polarization, the Classroom, and the Future of Civic Discourse" John Rose is Associate Director of the Civil Discourse Project. In addition to helping coordinate the Civil Discourse Project's programming, John teaches courses in Happiness and Human Flourishing, Chri...

McConnell Center  welcomes Dr. Peter Coleman to discuss the work that informs his book The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization . Dr. Peter T. Coleman is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University where he holds a joint-appointment at Teachers College and The Earth Institute. Dr. Coleman is a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution and sustainable peace.  Impor...

McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg is joined by Melanie Kirkpatrick , a writer-journalist and a senior fellow with the Hudson Institute, to discuss her latest book, Lady Editor: Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman . The two explore Hale's influence on America, her role as an editor of women's magazines, her writing of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and her effort to c...

McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg is joined by John Granger , the " Dean of Harry Potter Scholars " and a PhD candidate at Swansea University, to discuss how he discovered Harry Potter, what exactly literary alchemy is, and how Rowling's books communicate timeless truths. Important Links https://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/ John Granger, How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mani...

McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg is joined by school teacher, salmon fisherman, and UofL PhD candidate David M. Wright. The two discuss the rigors of fishing for sockeye salmon in the Bering Sea and David's work in classical education. Important Links h ttps ://www.stbrenda nsfish.com https://www.memoriapress.com David M. Wright, " Taking With Us What Matters " Stay Connected Visit us at...

This episode was originally a Zoom event hosted by the McConnell Center and the UofL President's Office and Military Initiatives on March 15, 2021. McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg interviewed Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass about her career and perspectives on leadership challenges and opportunities. Important Links Christian Brose, The Kill Chain: Defending Americ...

In this episode, McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg is joined by Lieutenant General James B. Hecker , Commander and President of Air University, and Chief Master Sergeant Randy Kwiatkowski , Command Chief Master Sergeant of Air University. The three discuss the role of Air University in the United States Air Force, how to master self-leadership, and how to lead others. Note: This podcast w...

Dr. Robert Wooster , recently retired Regents Professor of History at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, joins McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg to discuss his latest book, The United States Army and the Making of America: From Confederation to Empire, 1775–1903 . The two discuss the role of the United States Army in American history, the Army's purpose beyond fighting wars, and the meaning of "em...

Ambassador Matthew Barzun , owner and publisher of Louisville Magazine and former US ambassador to Sweden and the United Kingdom, joins McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg to discuss his latest book, The Power of Giving Away Power: How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go . The two explore the fascinating differences between Pyramid and Constellation Leadership styles, Ambassador Barzun's own l...

Dr. Abigail R. Hall , associate professor of economics at Bellarmine University, joins McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg to discuss her two most recent books, Manufacturing Militarism and Tyranny Comes Home . The two explore how overseas wars and foreign policy affect the domestic policy of the United States and create a culture of militarism. Important Links Abigail Hall, Manufacturing M...

COL Chris Luke , G3 at the United States Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, joins McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg to discuss the instability in the U.S. military food supply chain and general problems with the American industrial agricultural system. COL Luke served as the McConnell Center's Army War College Fellow during the 2020-2021 academic year. Important Links Read COL Luk...

McConnell Center Director Dr. Gary Gregg is joined by New York Times bestselling author Eric Weiner to discuss his recent book,  The Socrates Express.  The two highlight a few of the 14 philosophers included in the book and have a lively conversation about the relationship between contemplation and travel. Note:  This episode was recorded via phone in 2020. Key Links Follow Eric Weiner's work at h...

McConnell Center Director Dr. Gary Gregg and Iowa State University Professor Dr. N. Susan Laehn join Connor Tracy, podcast editor and producer, to discuss the McConnell Center's publication of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations . This new edition features a thematic index, blank pages for readers' own meditations and insights, and an innovative numbering system to make lessons easier to track and refer...

In Season 5 of the McConnell Center's Vital Remnants Podcast, we are using Russell Kirk's  The Roots of American Order  to explore the historical roots from which America has grown. Rather than focusing on one defining moment, we are exploring America's inheritance from thousands of years of human history grounded in five key cities—Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and Philadelphia. Each episode r...

Summary Dr. John D. Wilsey , associate professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, joins  McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary L. Gregg II  to discuss his recent book God's Cold Warrior: The Life and Faith of John Foster Dulles . Although many of us are familiar with Dulles International Airport, few people today know much about the man it is n...

  Summary Josh Chafetz, D.Phil., JD , of the Georgetown University Law Center, joins  McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary L. Gregg II  to discuss his recent  book  on congressional powers. Chafetz argues that congress has numerous powers at its disposal to compete with those of other branches. He will be giving a virtual lecture hosted by the McConnell Center on his book Congress's Constitution:...

Summary Chief Master Sergeant Jason L. France , command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Transportation Command, joins McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary Gregg to discuss leadership lessons from his life and career in the U.S. Air Force. CMS France also explains the role of U.S. Transportation Command in our military structure and operations. You won't want to miss out on the wisdom of someone wh...

  Summary Dr. Bradley J. Birzer , Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies and Professor of History at Hillsdale College, joins  McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary L. Gregg II  to discuss Birzer's Book In Defense of Andrew Jackson . Dr. Birzer gives listeners an account of Jackson's character and personality that challenges modern conceptions of our nation's 7th president. Links Mentioned Bra...

Summary Dr. Crystal Downing, Co-Director of the Marion E. Wade Center and co-holder of the Marion E. Wade Chair in Christian Thought at Wheaton College, joins McConnell Center Civic Education Coordinator Natalie Smith to discuss Dr. Downing's recent book, Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L. Sayers . In addition to a great conversation about Sayers's faith, works, and importanc...

Summary Dr. Aaron N. Coleman, Chair of the History and Political Science Department at the University of the Cumberlands, joins  McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary L. Gregg II to discuss the topic of his February 15, 2021 virtual lecture with the McConnell Center. Dr. Coleman sheds light on the predominant understanding of state sovereignty and federalism at the time of the American founding and...

Summary Dr.  Andreas Elpidorou , Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Louisville, joins  McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary L. Gregg II  to discuss Elpidorou's latest book,  Propelled: How Boredom, Frustration, and Anticipation Lead us to the Good Life.   The two share their thoughts on what the good life is and consider how boredom, frustration, and anticipation may actually b...

Episode Summary Dr. Zena Hitz , Tutor at St. John's College, joins  McConnell Center  Director  Dr. Gary L. Gregg II  to discuss her latest book, Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life . This is an inspiring conversation on the value of learning for its own sake and the importance of sharing knowledge with others. Anyone can live an intellectual life and we hope you'll begin...