UATX Podcast

UATX co-founder and historian Niall Ferguson on Charlie Kirk’s profound legacy — and the duty of American citizens to preserve our freedoms. This lecture was delivered on Constitution Day at UATX (September 17, 2025). Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

To the class of 2029: you have chosen to rebel. Not against hierarchy, but against its abandonment. Not against standards, but against their erosion. Not against excellence, but against those who would fake it. You rebel against a world that tells you mediocrity is enough, that comfort is the highest good, that all answers are equally valid. Your rebellion is in service of ancient truths: that wis...

University Dean Ben Crocker on COVID hysteria, struggle, and the liberating power of education. This event occurred during UATX's Honors High School Summer Program on June 29, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

UATX co-founder and historian Niall Ferguson on Billy Connolly's autobiography, "Crucifixion," and 1970s Glasgow. This discussion is part of UATX's Builders & Books series, where the most innovative thinkers recommend books to University of Austin students. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Michael Shellenberger on Nietzsche, political revolution, and training a better elite. Michael Shellenberger is the founder of Public, the C.B.R. Chair of Politics, Censorship, and Free Speech at the University of Austin (UATX), and the best-selling author of San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities (HarperCollins 2021) and Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All (HarperCollin...

How ancient Greeks and English religious zealots shaped our world. Plus, some wisdom from Monty Python. This discussion features scholar and inaugural CEO of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation Simon Haines, University of Austin Dean of Arts & Letters Patrick Gray, and University Dean Benjamin Crocker. It was filmed May 6, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Faceboo...

Glenn Loury on totalitarianism and why no speech is free. Distinguished economist and writer Glenn Loury is the host of The Glenn Show, where he covers race and inequality in the U.S. and throughout the world. He is the author of the book Self-Censorship (July, 2025). This is episode 4 of The Uncaptive Mind, hosted by UATX Digital Editor Audrey Unverferth. It was recorded on May 22, 2025. Apply No...

Writer and podcast host Coleman Hughes on Thomas Sowell's A Conflict of Visions — and the dangers of utopianism. This discussion is part of UATX's Builders & Books series, where the most innovative thinkers recommend books to University of Austin students. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Texas historian Donald Frazier on how to survive Texas — and why our state might be America's best hope. Professor Frazier is the Director of The Texas Center at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. He is the award-winning author of books on the American Civil War, Texas History, Military History, and the US-Mexican Borderlands. This took place on June 29, 2025 at the University of Austin...

Dr. Jessica L. Wolfe on Homer and the birth of sarcasm. Wolfe is Marcel Bataillon Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina. She is also Director of the Medieval and Early Modern Studies Program at UNC and an Affiliated Professor in Classics and Romance Studies. This lecture took place on April 22, 2025 at the University of Austin. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.o...

Clay Greene is Assistant Professor of Literature at the University of Austin (UATX). He is a scholar of early modern literature and thought — and he hosts UATX's poetry club. This is Episode 3 of The Uncaptive Mind Podcast, hosted by UATX Digital Editor Audrey Unverferth. It was recorded on April 30, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Economist Glenn Loury on self-censorship, moral dilemmas, and the costs of truth-seeking. Glenn Loury is the host of The Glenn Show, where he covers race and inequality in the U.S. and throughout the world. He is the author of the book Self-Censorship (July, 2025). This lecture was delivered on May 23, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

President Carlos Carvalho and University Dean Ben Crocker on Marxism, prestige addiction, and the mission of UATX. This event occurred during UATX's Honors High School Summer Program on June 27, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

The world's first Neuralink recipient, Noland Arbaugh, and Bioastronautics Professor Eliah Overbey on controlling computers with your mind, Elon Musk, and the future of space exploration. This conversation features questions submitted by astronauts. The event took place on May 13, 2025 on the University of Austin's campus. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Sub...

A conversation on nihilism and what we should learn from Jane Austen. Kirsten Herlin is Assistant Professor of Literature at the University of Austin (UATX). She is also the Managing Editor of the Genealogies of Modernity. This is Episode 2 of The Uncaptive Mind Podcast, hosted by UATX Digital Editor Audrey Unverferth. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

UATX co-founder and historian Niall Ferguson on university cheating, pseudo intelligence, and how to avoid another Dark Age. This lecture was hosted by the Austin Union on June 11, 2025. UATX students founded the Austin Union to promote respectful debate and critical thinking. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

This is Episode 1 of The Uncaptive Mind Podcast, hosted by UATX Digital Editor Audrey Unverferth. Alex Priou is Interim Dean of Intellectual Foundations and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy at UATX. He is also the co-host of The New Thinkery Podcast. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman joined University of Austin (UATX) co-founder Niall Ferguson for this discussion on May 3, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

University of Austin (UATX) students founded the Austin Union to promote respectful debate and critical thinking. During this student-organized Austin Union event, political commentator Dave Rubin and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis joined UATX co-founder Joe Lonsdale to discuss artificial intelligence, new media, and how to be successful. Their discussion is followed by a Q&A with UATX students....

University of Austin Professor Clay Greene shares wisdom from Augustine's life and works. This lecture occurred on the University of Austin's campus on April 15, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Bridget Phetasy on choosing work over college, moving to L.A., and becoming a writer. This event occurred on the University of Austin's campus on April 17, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

University of Austin (UATX) co-founder Niall Ferguson on Harvard’s current failures, President Trump’s response, and what a historic Oxford conflict can teach us about today’s battles over academic freedom. This address occurred during UATX's annual First Principles Summit on May 3, 2025. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Author Rod Dreher discusses his book and new Angel Studios documentary series, Live Not By Lies. What does it mean to refuse to live by lies? Dreher responds by drawing upon the warnings of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and the testimonies of other survivors of totalitarianism.  This event occurred on the University of Austin's campus on March 20, 2025.  Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram...

Christian, writer, and human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali discusses our crisis of antisemitism and Islamism. Her lecture is followed by a Q&A with University of Austin students. This lecture occurred on April 4 during the University of Austin's first week of spring term. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Economist and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers and historian Niall Ferguson discuss the Trump administration's economic policy, the promise of AI, and more. Their discussion is followed by a Q&A with University of Austin students. This discussion occurred on April 1 during the University of Austin's first week of spring term. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Inst...