What We Can't Not Talk About

Do you ever wonder what's the purpose of promoting social science research? Do you need to be reminded about the importance of supporting—and donating!—to the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture? If you do, this episode is for you! Our Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Stuart, reports on his recent testimonies at the Texas capitol, where he shared scientific data on why open churches...

In this episode, it is finally Dr. Marianna Orlandi who answers to Dr. Kevin Stuart's questions! Based on a talk she gave last fall at the Austin Institute, our very own Associate Director describes a view of the law that is no mere "science," but an art, a juris-prudential art that we might need to rediscover, everywhere in the world.

In this episode, Dr. Patrick Fagan, founder and director of the Marriage and Religion Research Initiative (MARRI) shares some insights on the importance of fathers and on how their relationship with their children can positively affect their own health. Illustrating the results of some recent studies, our Senior Fellow confirms something we could have guessed all along: time spent in the family be...

In this episode, Dr. Alan Sager shares some insights on the reasons why the U.S. Supreme Court could be a model for us all. Throughout history, Supreme Court Justices have rarely reached unanimous decisions. Yet, while divided on some of the most important issues of our public lives, they were always able to live and to work side-by-side. Who knows, perhaps becoming friends? You can view Dr. Sager...

A Snowstorm in Texas? Seriously? What’s wrong with the climate, if anything, and what can we know about it? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Bonevac, Professor of Philosophy at UT Austin, and an expert on the science and data behind climate change claims, tells us what he thinks about it. Spoiler: we will not give you answers for or against, but a lot of good food for thought! Links to things mentioned...

With the Equality Act moving forward through the U.S. Senate, we decided to bring on accomplished women athletes Margaret Craycraft Swensen and Olivia Craycraft, daughters of moral theologian Professor Ken Craycraft. They and their father discuss in ways philosophical and personal how the Equality Act would harm women and potentially destroy women sports.

In this episode, our senior fellow and author of "The Future of Christian Marriage," Professor Mark Regnerus, shares some advice on how to react to the constant decline of marriage rates. We need to tell good stories, we need to be each other's "good friends," and we need marriage-friendly subcultures, such as the "environment" that St. John Paul II created around himself when he was still living...

In this episode, Austin Institute's Fellow Dr. Ashleen Menchaca-Bagnulo talks about her recent article "Rethinking the Working Class: Toward a Multi-Ethnic Conservative Coalition." She also answers to some of the (very complex) questions regarding the future of conservatism and the roles that Latinos will play. Will they still be socially conservatives? Where are conservatives going when it comes...

Philosophy Professor Christopher Kaczor recently published a new and extremely important book on abortion, euthanasia, and other controversies, "Disputes in Bioethics." In this episode, Dr. Orlandi asks the author to talk about speciesism, children's right to be loved, and the way adults may flourish by being parents. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and we look forward to having Professor Kac...

Senator Josh Hawley was dropped by his publisher and as an ensuing movement to blacklist him gained momentum, Regnery agreed to publish his next book. Dr. Kevin Stuart talks with Tom Spence, Regnery's president and publisher, about that decision, cancel culture, conservatism, and the changes sweeping American politics. Visit Regnery to purchase Senator Hawley's book, "The Tyranny of Big Tech": htt...

In this episode, Professor Ligia Castaldi, a legal expert on the international protection of prenatal life, discusses the abortion bill that the Argentinian senate approved in late December 2020 and focuses on some of its most troubling provisions. Is this new law consistent with international law? Is it consistent with the Argentinian Constitution? Does it really protect and empower women, as its...

What can be said about the morality of COVID vaccines, parental rights, power of the state, and our own duties toward “the common good?” In this episode, Austin Institute Fellow Melissa Moschella, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, weighs in on these questions as COVID vaccines are being administered across the country. She begins by addressing the use of cell...

At the frontier of the philosophy of science, Aristotle is making a comeback. Dr. Kevin Stuart interviews AI Senior Fellow Dr. Robert C. Koons on what this scientific development is and what it means for those of us who aren't physicists or philosophers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, What it Means to Be Human is one of the best 10 books of 2020. During this episode, Dr. Orlandi discusses some of its main themes with the author, Carter Snead, Professor of Law at Notre Dame and Director of the De Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture. "Expressive individualism," "moral imagination," "abortion", "assisted suicide,” these are just hints of the...

In this coffee break, UT Professor and Senior Fellow of the Austin Institute J. Budziszewski explains the Thomistic understanding of prudence, explores the imprudence of a world that has lost God, and illuminates us on the relational dimension of justice! If you would like to read more on this subject, we recommend Professor Budziszewski's "Commentary on Thomas Aquinas's Virtue Ethics" https://www...

The Aristotelian understanding of prudence was at the core of a seminar Dr. Erik Dempsey recently offered for the Austin Institute. In this episode, he will summarize for us some of that content. During this interview, he will also reveal how undergraduate students are far more virtuous than we may think! If the young generation is our hope, there is definitely some!

Well, okay, maybe not everything. But lots of things, from marital equality to happiness at home in a pandemic. Professor Jason Carroll of BYU and the Wheatley Institution joins us to discuss his headline-grabbing research. Research on Religion in the Home: https://wheatley.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Religion-in-the-Home10.13.20.pdf

We have a bonus episode for y’all! In addition to our podcast conversation with Dr. Stuart Wolf, M.D., we are releasing Dr. Wolf’s lecture. Public health is undoubtedly the most prominent and most discussed theme of 2020. Dr. Staurt Wolf Jr., M.D. tells us something more about it, about the role of prudence, and of charity, in making good healthcare decisions ("to wear, or not to wear a mask"), po...

Public health is undoubtedly the most prominent and most discussed theme of 2020. Dr. Staurt Wolf Jr., M.D. tells us something more about it, about the role of prudence, and of charity, in making good healthcare decisions ("to wear, or not to wear a mask"), pointing out the centrality of doctor-patient relations. This episode was recorded on 9/23/2020

While waiting for his live-online lecture on Nov. 19th, we asked the extra notorious Rev. Thomas Joseph White O.P. to illuminate us on Christians's and on state's duties in pandemic times. A Thomistic and a even Tocqueviliian take on the virus and on prudence for a special episode: one cannot cut Father White short. Enjoy your 2 coffee-breaks with Angelicum's Director and with Dr. Orlandi! This ep...

Very few peole get married nowadays, that's not news. But why is it that even practicing Christians remain single? Professor Mark Regnerus explores this question in its latest book. In this coffee-break, he anticipates some of its most interesting findings with us. Spoiler: marriage is not a social construct. There is a kernel in everyone that wants us to be with someone for the rest of our lives....

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Roberts of the Texas Public Policy Foundation talks with Dr. Kevin Stuart about what it means for an elected official to have a responsibility greater than the scientists do in a time of pandemic. What are the distinct roles and how do they each fulfill them? Anyone who listens will appreciate the difficulty of sitting in The Chair and making The Decisions. This episode...

Today's failures of science and crises in politics are attributable, more often than not, to the same source: a lack of prudence. Dr. Kevin E. Stuart explores the meaning of this missing virtue, addresses the main causes of its disappearance and suggests ways to bring it back. Episode was recorded on on Sept 23rd, 2020

There are many topics of conversation that have come up in 2020 that we can't not talk about--so let's talk about them! Tune-in to our inaugural episode with Austin Institute Executive Director Dr. Kevin Stuart and Associate Director of Curriculum Dr. Marianna Orlandi as they discuss what the Austin Institute is and the role of social science research in supporting thriving human societies. We pro...