The ThinkND Podcast

Episode Topic: History of Philosophy   Explore Thomas Aquinas' rigorous engagement with the Falsafa tradition. From the mechanics of the soul to the dignity of science, discover how his relational rationality bridges medieval wisdom and modern inquiry. Listen in as we synthesize these timeless metaphysical debates for the contemporary professional. Featured Speakers: Stephen Ogden, University...

Episode Topic: Downsides of Markets What does the tension between economic prosperity and moral character tell us about the profound intersection of liberty and human flourishing?  Envision a society where justice protects every person, property, and promise. Featured Speakers: James Otteson, University of Notre Dame Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open o...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Xavier Cavazos Can sound truly mend a fractured soul? Savor this vibrant dialogue tracing poet Xavier Cavazos’s path from the Columbia Basin’s dust to Manhattan’s poetic fires. Listen in to the collision of Nuyorican energy and academic sanctuary in an oral history interview conducted by Karla Yaritza Maravilla Zaragoza. Witness the crackling energy of a life tra...

Episode Topic: Paving the Way   Travel back to the early days of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program with former students who reminisce about arriving at a quiet summer campus where an unfamiliar landscape transformed into a vibrant tribe where shared ambitions forged an indestructible sanctuary of belonging. Featured Speakers: Ayana Fakhir '00, attorney & podcaster Joe Rolón '98,...

 Topic: Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., ’06 M.Div., ’15 MBA In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and...

Topic: Glynnis Garry Bann, ’11 B.A., M.D. In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spir...

Topic: J. Martin (Marty) Regan, Jr. ’76 In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit...

Topic: Jennifer Burke Lefever ‘98 M.A., ‘00 Ph. D. In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow...

Topic: Mike Brown ’01 In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come...

Episode Topic: Notre Dame's History with Native Peoples from Reunion 2026   Drawing from the records of Fr. Badin, Fr. Sorin, and Fr. Hesburgh, as well as Chief Leopold Pokagon, the founder of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Zada Ballew '19 tells a fuller, more complicated story of how Notre Dame was founded and why. In this telling, Indigenous peoples are neither missing nor absent from...

Episode Topic: Justice, Beneficence, and the "Well-Governed Society"   How do individual actions harmonize to produce widespread prosperity? Examine the moral and economic frameworks defining a well-governed society to build a robust foundation for understanding civilization.  Featured Speakers: James Otteson, University of Notre Dame  Read this episode's recap over on the Universit...

Episode Topic: Habit, Ritual, & Well-being Unlock your day's hidden potential. Harvard’s Michael Norton explains how freelancing simple, even ridiculous rituals—from clinking silverware to morning coffee—transforms mundane habits into vital anchors for emotional resilience. Discover how these social signatures move you beyond mere automation to truly animating your professional and person...

Episode Topic: The Jewishness of the New Testament How can a deepened knowledge of Judaism nourish the theological imagination of Christians? Why are anti-Jewish readings of the New Testament just bad readings of the text? We welcome a distinguished New Testament scholar, Amy-Jill Levine, who is the world expert on the Jewishness of the New Testament, to tackle these engaging questions. Featured S...

Episode Topic: Fr. Ted Said: Cultivating Hope In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your...

Episode Topic: The Nature and Causes of Wealth What are the fundamental mechanics behind global prosperity? Navigate the intellectual landscape of 1776 to witness how revolutionary ideas birthed modern economics. Featured Speakers: James Otteson, University of Notre Dame Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: htt...

Episode Topic: Magnifica Humanitas: Human Dignity in the Age of AI   Join the de Nicola Center for a conversation with University of Notre Dame experts on the import of Pope Leo XIV’s highly anticipated first encyclical, “ Magnifica Humanitas : On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Featured Speakers: Margaret McManaway, senior associate director, de Nicola Cent...

Episode Topic: Haunting as Inheritance How does language haunt the displaced? Join Noor Naga, author of If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English, and Hannah Lillith Assadi, author of Sonora , as they explore “linguistic slippage” and the “untranslatability of the self.” From post-revolutionary Cairo to the Arizona desert, discover how spectral forces beneath the English language shape modern identity....

Episode Topic: Hope in the Headlines?   In an era of state-sponsored disinformation, media serves as both a kinetic weapon and a vessel for national healing. Join us for a high-level dialogue on Ukraine’s struggle to decolonize its information space, offering a critical case study in neutralizing transnational authoritarian narratives and building systemic democratic resilience in a post-truth wor...

Episode Topic: The Theological Imagination Is our imagination merely a retreat into fiction, or is it the very mechanism by which we perceive the truth? Join Judith Wolfe as she explores how we navigate the world’s unseen depths. Discover how faith and art unveil the “wholes” of reality, transforming our vision through the theological imagination. Featured Speakers: Jennifer Newsome Martin '0...

Episode Topic: Behind the Folds: The Mathematics of Origami   Origami combines art and science to transform a flat sheet of paper into a 3-dimensional sculpture. This presentation includes group demonstrations of different origami pieces and learning about some of the mathematical applications of origami. Kyle Schwieterman, teaching professor in department of mathematical sciences at Indiana Unive...

Episode Topic: The Legacy of Natural Rights How can we best understand self-governance and see a path forward for a free and flourishing society? Sift through the foundational ideas of the American project as you weigh the enduring power of natural rights. Navigate complex legal histories to grasp how ancient wisdom shapes our modern liberties. Featured Speakers: Jud Campbell, Stanford University...

Episode Topic: Architecture and the European City   Modernist “dissolution” has atomized the urban fabric. Architect Christoph Mäckler proposes a return to the traditional European block. Through his “wing house” research, Mäckler demonstrates how high-density urbanism reduces infrastructure by 40% while creating 10,000-square-meter internal parks, restoring beauty and efficiency to modern living....

Episode Topic: Obstacles to Moral Action Explore how Thomas Aquinas transforms 13th-century ethics into a blueprint for modern life. Join elite scholars as they bridge the gap between ancient habits and contemporary character development, revealing how our first moral choices and the “architecture of consent” continue to shape our journey toward virtue and human flourishing. Featured Speakers: Jos...

Episode Topic: Generative Computing Move beyond experimental chatbots and toward a robust IT stack capable of supporting autonomous agents. Sriram Raghavan, VP of AI Research at IBM, dismantles AI hype to reveal the “Generative Computing” paradigm. Learn why 95% of AI pilots fail and how a principles-based approach—leveraging small, fit-for-purpose models and rigorous governance—can transform ente...

Episode Topic: Federalism and the Decline of Natural Rights   How have our foundational American ideals transformed across the centuries? Stand at a crossroads of constitutional history, where ancient natural rights meet modern legal power. Delve deeply into the shifting landscape of American rights to find a newfound clarity about today's legal debates.  Featured Speakers: Jud Campbell, Stan...