UATX Podcast

Journalist and CBR Chair of Politics, Censorship, and Free Speech Michael Shellenberger discusses R. R. Reno's book Return of the Strong Gods: Nationalism, Populism, and the Future of the West. This lecture is part of a new series where the most innovative thinkers recommend books to UATX students. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Reading Greek Tragedy: Performance, Sympathy, and the Art of SufferingIn this edition of the UATX Speaker Series, students learn from Professor Isabella Reinhardt, Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of Austin. The lecture and the Q&A that follows is a rich exploration of the historical, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of ancient Greek tragedy and its continued relevance f...

This discussion provides an overview of Leo Strauss's life, intellectual development, and influence as a political philosopher. Key points include Strauss's focus on the permanent human questions, his approach to interpreting great books with reverence and humility, his critiques of historicism and moral relativism, and the ongoing relevance of his thought for understanding contemporary so...

Biotech is at a watershed moment - the pace of scientific discovery is accelerating rapidly, but developing new drugs remains an immensely difficult and risky endeavor. Carl Hansen, CEO of AbCellera, reveals the hidden challenges, game-changing innovations, and his own journey at the cutting edge of biotech. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Guided by Maimonides, Machiavelli, and Plato, Tulane Professor Ronna Burger presents a philosophic reading of the Bible. Prof. Burger delivered this lecture as part of UATX's Wednesday Night Speaker Series. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

In this thought-provoking talk, Professor Gad Saad explores human behavior through the evolutionary lens, revealing powerful insights into consumer choices, dating dynamics, and sexual signaling—insights often ignored. He takes on the "parasitic" ideologies spreading in academia—postmodernism, social constructivism, and identity politics—and exposes how they lead to absurd conclusions, l...

UATX Communications Manager Audrey Unverferth sits down with writer and NYU Journalism Professor Katie Roiphe to discuss the #MeToo frenzy, media hysteria, and how to stand your ground. Recorded: June 23, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

VP of Communications Hillel Ofek joins Williams College Biology Professor Luana Maroja to discuss the politicization of the sciences, campus speech restrictions, and why we must defend academic freedom. Recorded: June 30, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

UATX Communications Manager Audrey Unverferth sits down with podcaster and musician Winston Marshall to discuss the punishment for wrongthink, the plight of the Uyghurs under the Chinese Communist Party, and the greatest bands of all time. Recorded: June 29, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

In this lecture, writer and philosopher Kathleen Stock discusses the crisis in feminism posed by gender ideology. Stock delivered this lecture to UATX's Forbidden Courses students on June 29, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Each summer, the Forbidden Courses gather courageous thinkers to explore the great human questions of our time. Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Subst...

UATX Communications Manager Audrey Unverferth sits down with podcaster and former Mumford & Sons banjoist/lead guitarist, Winston Marshall, to explore Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s warnings to the West. They also delve into the chilling effects of cancel culture and discuss the promise of emerging alternative media. Recorded: June 29, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook...

VP of Communications Hillel Ofek joins Rob Henderson to discuss his experience growing up in foster homes, joining the Air Force, attending elite universities, and launching his writing career -- plus, lessons he's learned along the way. Recorded: June 23, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

UATX Academic Programs Manager Benjamin Crocker sits down with Professor Glenn Loury to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action, as well as life lessons from Loury's storied career. Recorded: June 30, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

UATX Communications Manager Audrey Unverferth sits down with UChicago Geophysicist Dorian Abbot to discuss his work to defend academic freedom, as well as lessons from the Soviet Bloc and surviving illiberal higher education. Recorded: June 21, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

What's the best optimistic case for AI? What do the AI doomsayers get wrong? Will AI really save the world? Marc Andreessen, cofounder and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Joe Lonsdale to discuss. They explore Marc's recent essay (linked below) and why he believes AI could improve productivity, reduce human drudgery, and allow us to s...

Seth Dillon is the CEO of the world’s leading satire site, the Babylon Bee. After being censored by Big Tech for telling a joke, Dillon recently testified before the House Energy Committee, where he defended free speech and made the moral case for mockery. In this lecture, Dillon discusses the war on truth and what we can do about it. Dillon delivered this lecture to UATX's Forbidden Courses s...

VP of Communications Hillel Ofek joins Marilyn Simon and Matthew B. Crawford to discuss the campus sex bureaucracy, the importance of celebrating sexual difference, and how to be a gentleman. Recorded: June 30, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Journalist and author Michael Shellenberger argues that wokeism is the dominant religion of elites in the West, complete with guilt, original sin, taboos, saints, devils, and the promise of redemption and immortality. How do we escape the woke matrix? Shellenberger offers a guide. Shellenberger delivered this lecture to UATX's Forbidden Courses students on June 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. The F...

UATX VP of Communications Hillel Ofek sits down with independent journalist Michael Shellenberger, who takes us behind the scenes of the Twitter Files. Shellenberger also discusses government and corporate censorship, his political evolution, environmentalism, the changing media landscape, and why he’s writing about UFOs. Recorded: June 26, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠F...

UChicago Geophysicist Dorian Abbot and UT-Austin Statistician Carlos Carvalho join UATX Assistant Provost Loren Rotner to discuss affirmative action (before the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling), as well as the case for merit, fairness, and equality. Recorded: June 20, 2023 Apply Now⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ uaustin.org⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠

Featuring: Joe Lonsdale, UATX co-founderCarlos Carvalho, UATX presidentSpencer Klavan, Professor of ClassicsJeff Yass, UATX Board MemberDavid Puelz, Professor of Statistics & Data ScienceMichael J. Hoffpauir, Professor of Political TheorySophomores Merrick Meardon, Eitan Zarin, Jack Erickson, and Olivia Antunes Links: University of Austin (UATX): https://uaustin.orgUATX on X: https://x.com/uau...