The Civitas Podcast

Peter Leithart and James Wood sit down with Michael R.J. Bonner for a conversation on liberalism, Christianity, freedom, secularism, Iran, and the theological roots of the modern political order. Michael R.J. Bonner is a scholar, writer, and political consultant based in Ontario. He received his DPhil from the University of Oxford and has written widely on Iranian history, especially the Sasanian...

Peter Leithart and James Wood sit down with John Ehrett for a conversation on political theology, economics, Luther, antitrust, and the church’s witness amid fragile regimes. John Ehrett is an attorney and writer in Washington, D.C., currently counsel at Lex Politica. He has served at the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Education, and as chief counsel for Senator Josh Hawley. He is a g...

Peter Leithart and James Wood sit down for a second conversation with Dr. Ephraim Radner.  Ephraim Radner is a theologian, Anglican priest, and one of the most penetrating thinkers on the doctrine of the church today. He is Professor of Historical Theology at Wycliffe College (University of Toronto) and the author of several major works including Brutal Unity , Hope Among the Fragments , The End o...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Dr. Bradley Birzer, the author of Sanctifying the World: The Augustinian Life and Mind of Christopher Dawson . Dr. Bradley J. Birzer received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1990 and his Ph. D. in American History from Indiana University in January 1999. Currently Amos Kirk Chair in history and director of American studies at Hil...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Dr. Kevin Flatt, the author of Secularization, Social Order, and World History: Toward a Global Perspective . Kevin Flatt serves as Professor of History and Associate Dean of Humanities at Redeemer University, and as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Religion, Culture, and Societal Futures at the University of Waterloo. As associate dean,...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Stefan Borg, the author of The Return of the Common Good: The Postliberal Project Left and Right . Stefan Borg is Associate Professor in Political Science and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Swedish Defence University. His current research is focused on two distinct agendas: firstly, U.S. foreign, security and defence policy, and seco...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Peter Harrison, the author of Some New World: Myths of Supernatural Belief in a Secular Age . Peter Harrison is a former Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford and is Professor Emeritus of History and Philosophy at the University of Queensland. He presently holds a Professorial Research Fellowship at the U...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Dr. Jason Staples, the author of Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites . Jason A. Staples (Ph. D., UNC-Chapel Hill) is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NC State University, where he teaches courses on biblical literature, early Judaism, Christian origins,...

Peter Leithart and James Wood discuss James' recent course on Christian Nationalism and his recent conversation on the legacy of Tim Keller. To Give to Theopolis, click HERE . Get the Theopolis App, HERE . Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free! Sign up for In Medias Res, HERE . 

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Philip Pilkington, the author of The Collapse of Global Liberalism: And the Emergence of the Post Liberal World Order Philip Pilkington is a macroeconomist and former investment professional. He is the author of T he Reformation in Economics and the forthcoming The Collapse of Global Liberalism . His writing has appeared in numerous outlets in...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Anna Grzymala-Busse, the author of Sacred Foundations: The Religious and Medieval Roots of the European State . Anna Grzymala-Busse is the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Professor of International Studies in the Department of Political Science, the Director of the Europe Center, and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute. Her research focus...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Alec Ryrie, the author of The Age of Hitler and How We Will Survive It . Alec Ryrie is professor of the history of Christianity at Durham University and a fellow of the British Academy. His previous books include Unbelievers: An Emotional History of Doubt . He lives in rural County Durham. _________________ To Give to Theopolis, click HERE . G...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Brad Wilcox, the author of Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization . BRAD WILCOX is a professor of sociology and the director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, the Future of Freedom Fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, and a nonresident senior fellow at...

Peter Leithart and James Wood discuss a handful of the books being studied by the Civitas Group on the topic of the formation of states and Christian Nationalism. To Give to Theopolis, click HERE . Get the Theopolis App, HERE . Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free! Sign up for In Medias Res, HERE .

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with David P Goldman.  David P. Goldman is a Washington Fellow at The Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life. His research focuses on China, American manufacturing, and trade policy. Goldman is Deputy Editor of Asia Times, where he has written the "Spengler" column since 2001. He is also a Senior Fellow of the London In...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Aaron Renn.  Aaron Renn is a writer and consultant in Indianapolis, and author of the book Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture . His writings appear in a number of leading global publications, including The Guardian , The Wall Street Journal , The Atlantic and others. He is also a Senior Fellow at Am...

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Jeff Shafer.  Jeff Shafer is Director of the Hale Institute. He graduated with honors from the Regent University School of Law in 1995. Early in his legal career, he operated a general practice firm in Cincinnati with a particular emphasis on criminal defense litigation. Thereafter, he practiced in a law partnership, focusing on elections law...

James Wood and Peter Leithart have a conversation with Jon Askonas.  Jon Askonas is an assistant professor of Politics at the Catholic University of America, where he works on the connections between the republican tradition, technology, and national security. He is currently working on two books: A Muse of Fire: Why the U.S. Military Forgets What It Learns in War , on what happens to wartime inno...

Peter Leithart and James Wood answer some of your questions, closing the episode with a discussion of what they have been reading. To Give to Theopolis, click HERE . Get the Theopolis App, HERE . Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free! Sign up for In Medias Res, HERE .

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with Rod Dreher about his recent work, Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age . Purchase the book: Rod Dreher Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age _______ About Rod Dreher Rod Dreher is a journalist and author of six books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Little Way of Ruthie Leming (2013), The Benedi...

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with Tim Nichols and Joe Anderson about their work in Englewood, Colorado.   Joe Anderson is a Pastor at Christ the Anchor church in Englewood, Colorado. For the last 10 years, Joe has led the local pastors prayer group and organized meetings between the pastors and local government officials that have led to several collaborative initiatives between the Church i...

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with D.C. Schindler about his recent work, God and the City, and how to think about politics ontologically.  Purchase the book: D.C. Schindler God and the City: An Essay in Political Metaphysics _______ About Dr. Schindler Dr. Schindler’s work is concerned above all with shedding light on contemporary cultural challenges and philosophical questions by drawing on...

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with Philip Bess about architecture, cities, and his book titled Till We Have Built Jerusalem .   Philip Bess is Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame.

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with David Dusenbury about his books "I Judge No One" and "The Innocence of Pontius Pilate: How the Roman Trial of Jesus Shaped History." David Lloyd Dusenbury is a philosopher, historian of ideas, Times Literary Supplement contributor and senior fellow at Budapest's Danube Institute. He is also Chair for Jewish-Christian Relations at the...

Peter Leithart and James Wood sit down in person to discuss recent podcast guests, as well as the new book " Hell Shall Not Prevail ," which is on sale now from Athanasius Press . Forgive the poor audio quality in this episode, as it was not recording with our typical microphone setup.