The ThinkND Podcast

Episode Topic: The Law of Love How is love at work in our lives in a practical way? Contemplate Thomas Aquinas’ thoughts on love, why charity is not just love of God, but also a profound form of friendship, and why the key to understanding love is understanding justice. Featured Speakers: Therese Cory, director of the Jacques Maritain Center and the John and Jean Oesterle Associate Professor of Th...

Episode Topic: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Prof. Toshiyuki Kono explores the rich history of Notre-Dame de Paris, the challenges faced during its restoration following the 2019 fire, and the pressing questions that arose throughout the process. Featured Speakers: -Toshiyuki Kono, emeritus professor of private international law, Kyushu University Read this episode's recap over on the Univers...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Brenda Cardenas Listen in to an oral history conversation with award-winning Poet Laureate of Wisconsin Brenda Cárdenas, interviewed by writer and poet Maria Kelson, who at the time (as Maria Melendez) was an associate professor of English at St. Mary’s College, and was teaching a course on Chicana literature. Brenda and Maria discuss playing with multiple langua...

Episode Topic: The Historical Jesus What can truly be known about Jesus, and how can we read accounts about him in a reasonable way? Does a critical understanding of the historical Jesus complicate or nourish one’s faith? Gabriel Reynolds and Tzvi Novick from the University of Notre Dame engage in a conversation on the Gospel narratives and on the earliest documents which mention Jesus with the fa...

Episode Topic: Called to be Woman: Mary's Genius and Ours “Called to be Woman: Mary’s Genius and Ours,” presented by Sr. Ann Astell, took place at the McGrath Institute for Church Life conference True Genius: The Mission of Women in Church and Culture at the University of Notre Dame in March 2025, developed by Abigail Favale, Ph. D., Professor of the Practice, Theology & Literature, at th...

Episode Topic: Roadmap for Sustainability (https://go.nd.edu/54b4f4) Michelle Addington, a leading voice in sustainability and architectural design, challenges traditional net-zero approaches and advocates for systemic change in the built environment. Drawing on her experience at NASA, E.I. DuPont, Yale, and UT Austin, she offers practical strategies for rethinking sustainability at human, regiona...

Topic: Explore ND, Cruicifixes from Around the World The crucifix is a powerful symbol of suffering, sacrifice, love, hope, and redemption. You are invited to learn about the University’s unique crucifix collection directly from the curators. They will share their fascinating stories selecting these religious artifacts from different continents and cultures. To heighten the experience, you are abl...

Episode Topic: Faith and Reason If you’ve ever struggled with the relationship between science and faith, this is your chance to get it answered by the experts! From AI and space to the Care for Our Common Home, faith and reason can not only coexist within each of us, but both can serve as a foundation for how we understand our world. Featured Speakers: -Heather Foucault-Camm, PGCE, M.Sc. ’23 M.A....

Episode Topic: Finding Friendship Explore friendship in the era of social media. Friendship can seem harder–and maybe weirder–than ever, science tells us there is an inextricable link between friendship and our well-being. Uncover the ways to create and cultivate the life-giving friendships we all need to thrive. Featured Speakers: -Fr. Nate Wills, C.S.C., Ph. D. ’99, ’03 M.Ed., .05 M.Div., Ryan F...

Episode Topic: ND Network for Life, Value & Impact 2.0 For 25 years, these fellow alumni have stayed connected to Notre Dame — whether through business ventures, leadership service to the university, sporting events, and social connections. Their stories illustrate the value and reach of the global Notre Dame network. Join the conversation to spark inspiration and practical ideas for renewing...

Episode Topic: The Sensory and Beyond (https://go.nd.edu/754c19) What do we and how can we know beyond what we can sense in the physical world? Contemplate Aquinas’ thoughts on why the philosophical limit of our sensations is cause for optimism, whether slothfulness might actually be a virtue, and how suffering is foundational to the development of our moral lives. Featured Speakers: Janet Effron,...

Episode Topic: Bridge Builders Around the world, many observers are concerned about losing a sense of community as fewer and fewer people feel a responsibility to care for others. With a growing and often welcome emphasis on individual rights and freedoms, how should we—individually and collectively—think about our responsibilities to one another? In a world where ideological and cultural division...

Episode Topic: Modern Heresies about Women Dig into the distorted narratives about women coming from different sectors in our culture within and outside of the Church. The panel discussion features Erika Bachiochi, Rachel Coleman, Angela Franks, and Leah Libresco Sargeant, and was moderated by Abigail Favale. Featured Speakers: Abigail Favale, University of Notre Dame Erika Bachiochi, University o...

Episode Topic: Human Dignity   How can Thomas Aquinas continue to influence the way we think about human dignity, even today? In a world more deeply in need than ever, contemplate Aquinas’ thoughts on the connection between human dignity, compassion, disabilities, and the sacraments. Featured Speakers: Carlos A. Casanova, Visiting Professor at the Hamilton Center, University of Florida John O’Call...

Episode Topic: The Case of the Flat Arch   New fieldwork at the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothrace reveals flat arches in the Doric frieze of the Stoa, a structure built in the second quarter of the 3rd century BCE. Sam Holzman, Assistant Professor of Art and Archaeology at Princeton University, examines these keystone friezes, which predate similar examples in Italy by over 150 years and h...

Episode Topic: Policy Impacts From Campaigns to Capitals The country’s leaders are governing from the White House and Congress to state capitals.  How are they progressing six months post-inauguration as they do the people’s business? Our experts discuss key legislation, policy direction, implementation, and more. Featured Speakers: -Mary Thompson ’85, Managing Director for G100 BoardExcellence, F...

Episode Topic: Why Well-Run Companies Will Continue to Fail Join Alex Slawsby, Chief Growth Officer at InnoLead in Boston MA, for a discussion about why employees' fear of speaking up is the single greatest obstacle to success when companies innovate. Featured Speakers: Alex Slawsby, InnoLead Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning commu...

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career. Learn more about ThinkND and register f...

Join the University of Notre Dame’s Alumni Association for our virtual series: Game Changers: Unlock Your Career Playbook, powered by IrishCompass and co-sponsored by Notre Dame Athletics. We invite you – regardless of career stage, industry, or profession – to learn from inspiring leaders.  Join us for an engaging talk with successful Notre Dame coaches: Volleyball's Head Coach Salima Rockwe...

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career. Learn more about ThinkND and register f...

Episode Topic: Sustainability Through Action  Join Kate Schuenke-Lucien, Director for Haiti and Senior Associate Director for Strategic Planning, Fr. Herald Jean from University of Notre Dame Haiti-Hinche, and Chip Wirth, the GC-DWC’s Senior Advisor of the Social Enterprise Initiative, as they conclude this three-part series with a conversation about Notre Dame’s history in Haiti, the work that ha...

Episode Topic: Applied Ethics Can we make a case for Aquinas as a model of reform when it comes to ecological virtues, bioenhancement, or even death with dignity? Contemplate Aquinas’ thoughts on souls, integral wholes, and the conditions and acts necessary for the expression of virtue in our lives. Featured Speakers: Heather Foucault-Camm, PGCE, M.Sc. ’23 M.A., Program Director, Science & Rel...

Episode Topic: The Feminine Genius and Catholic History “The Feminine Genius & Catholic History,” presented by Bronwen McShea, took place at the McGrath Institute for Church Life conference True Genius: The Mission of Women in Church and Culture at the University of Notre Dame in March 2025, developed by Abigail Favale, Ph. D., Professor of the Practice, Theology & Literature, at the McGra...

Episode Topic: Adam In Jewish tradition, Adam is the archetypal human being; in Christianity he is the forerunner to Christ, and in Islam he is the precursor of the Prophet Muhammad. Featured SpeakersReynolds, professor, University of Notre Dame Francesca Murphy, professor, University of Notre Dame Tzvi Novick, professor, University of Notre Dame Mun’im Sirry, professor, University of Notre Dame R...

What will the process of creation and renewal look like by 2035? How will we leverage innovation to meet the challenges of the future in areas from our power grid and collaborative intelligence to community health and resilience building? Explore questions, ideas, and trends likely to affect business and society over the next decade. Let these ideas serve as a springboard for structured speculatio...