Acton Line

Award-winning author Jessica Hooten Wilson has written an exciting new book—“The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints”—on how we’re called to live beyond a merely mundane existence of settling for small goals. In fact, we’re called to live a life of holiness. Wilson instructs us on how hearing the call to holiness requires cultivating a new imagination—one rooted in the art and discipline of reading. Reading with eyes attuned to the saints who populate great works of literature enables us to see how God opens up ways of holy living.    Sarah Negri, Acton’s research project coordinator, sits down with Wilson to discuss how literature has the power to show us what a truly holy life looks like.    Subscribe to our podcasts   The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints   About Jessica Hooten Wilson    Jessica Hooten Wilson on Solzhenitsyn Against Propaganda | Acton Institute YouTube Channel  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac

Betsy DeVos joins Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, in the studio to discuss her new book, “Hostages No More.“   In her book, DeVos writes about her experiences working in the Trump administration and how the “woke” curriculum is negatively impacting our children’s learning. She also lays out a detailed approach to fixing America’s badly broken education system and securing a prosperous future for our kids.    Subscribe to our podcasts   Hostages No More by Betsy DeVos | Center Street   About Betsy DeVos   Redemption, not retreat: Betsy DeVos' vision for redeeming U.S. education | Acton Institute PowerBlog    Betsy DeVos and Sal Khan on education and entrepreneurial disruption | Acton Line Podcast   What's driving the decline of religion in America? Secular education | Acton Institute PowerBlog    The Myth of a Value-Free Education | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Churchwell, Acton’s director of program outreach, sits down with Dr. Richard Turnbull, the director of the Center for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics, to discuss how banks and credit unions develop a culture of savings, independence, and poverty prevention. Do trends in the direction of large, national, even global banking institutions best serve these ideals? And what are the implications of the loss of diversity in institutional and local provisions for personal saving? What does all this tell us about the nature of civil society?   Subscribe to our podcasts   About Dr. Richard Turnbull    Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics    4 arguments for the free market | Acton Institute   Brexit: One last roll of the dice? | Acton Institute   How to rebuild the economy after COVID-19 | Acton Institute   Boris Johnson: The great survivor? | Acton Institute PowerBlog   John Calvin and God's civil government | Acton Institute PowerBlog  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati

Daniel Wagner, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of philosophy at Aquinas College, sits down with Dan Hugger, Acton’s librarian and research associate, to explore the Aristotelian-Thomistic account of the human good, natural law, and living well. Why should we seek to know ourselves? How is the human good related to excellence and virtue? How do we reconcile this account of the good with the divergent moral views we see in the world?   Subscribe to our podcasts   About Daniel Wagner    The Elements of Philosophy: A Compendium for Philosophers and Theologians | William Wallace, OP    Aristotle | Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy    Aquinas 101 | The Thomistic Institute  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sam Gregg sits down with award-winning political theorist Yoram Hazony to discuss Hazony’s new book, “Conservatism: A Rediscovery.”    Hazony argues that the idea that American conservatism is identical to “classical” liberalism, which has been widely held since the 1960s, is seriously mistaken. According to Hazony, the best hope for Western democracy is a return to the empiricist, religious, and nationalist traditions of America and Britain. These conservative traditions brought greatness to the English-speaking nations and became the model for national freedom for the entire world.   Subscribe to our podcasts   Conservatism: A Rediscovery   About Yoram Hazony   Edmund Burke Society & The Russell Kirk Center    What I Saw at the National Conservatism Conference, by Dan Hugger | Acton Institute    The Post-Liberal Right: The Good, the Bad, and the Perplexing, by Sam Gregg | Public Discourse    Patrick Deneen and the Problem with Liberalism, by Sam Gregg | Public Discourse    Nationalism and t

In this episode of Acton Line, Dylan Pahman, research fellow and executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality here at Acton, sits down with Jeff Fisher, professor of theology and director of spiritual formation, and Branson Parler, professor of theology and director of theological education, both of the Foundry, to discuss their entrepreneurial alternative to traditional Christian higher education for ministry leaders. Topics range from the specifics of how the Foundry works to broader questions of the economic and identity crises of colleges and universities across the country. What is the role of the Church in training the next generation of pastors and teachers? Is the Foundry’s model the new way forward or a further symptom of the breakdown and silo-ization of the university?    Subscribe to our podcasts   The Foundry: Strengthening and Supporting Church Leaders    About Branson Parler and Jeff Fisher    New seminary head aims to revive church life and an entrepreneurial spirit in Venezuela | Act

Kevin Schmiesing, director of research at the Freedom & Virtue Institute, takes you on a journey through American history to more than two dozen sites and events that symbolize and embody America’s rich Catholic past in his new book, “A Catholic Pilgrimage through American History: People and Places that Shaped the Church in the United States.”  Subscribe to our podcasts Apply now for Acton University 2022  "A Catholic Pilgrimage through American History: People and Places that Shaped the Church in the United States" Freedom & Virtue Institute   About Kevin Schmiesing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Rev. Robert A. Sirico, Acton’s president emeritus, and Dan Hugger, Acton’s librarian and research associate, dismiss the many misinterpretations of Jesus' parables to reveal their timeless wisdom as explored in Rev. Sirico’s new book, “The Economics of the Parables.”   Subscribe to our podcasts   Apply now for Acton University 2022    "The Economics of the Parables" — Regnery Publishing    The Rev. Sirico Leadership Fund — Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Gerard Wegemer, professor of English at the University of Dallas, sits down with Sam Gregg, Acton’s director of research, to discuss Wegemer’s new book, “The Essential Works of Thomas More.” For the first time, Thomas More’s most influential English and Latin works have been gathered into a single volume, creating a unique resource for anyone interested in More’s teaching on theology, statesmanship, and renaissance humanism.    Subscribe to our podcasts   Apply now for Acton University 2022    "The Essential Works of Thomas More"   About Gerard Wegemer, Ph.D.    St. Thomas More: Saint, Scholar, Statesman, Martyr — EWTN  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Vallier, political philosopher and associate professor of philosophy at Bowling Green State University, joins Dylan Pahman, Acton’s executive editor of the “Journal of Markets and Morality,” to discuss Vallier’s new book, “Trust in a Polarized Age.”    America seems to be falling into further hopelessness, divisiveness, and cultural decay. Yet Vallier sees things differently. He offers effective ways we can defend liberty, protect democracy, strengthen liberal economic institutions, and respect basic human rights.    Subscribe to our podcasts    "Trust in a Polarized Age"   About Kevin Vallier    "Are We a Nation?" with Samuel Goldman    How to talk about rights in our polarized age – Acton Line Podcast   Adam MacLeod on morality in public discourse – Acton Vault Podcast   Divided we fall: America after the 2020 election – Acton Lecture Series      We are a fractured nation, but there is still hope – PowerBlog  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Continetti’s new book, The Right, gives readers a clear historical perspective of the conservative movement—from the Progressive era to the present. He tells the story of how conservatism began as networks of intellectuals, developing and institutionalizing a vision that grew over time. This book is essential for anyone looking to understand what it truly means to be an American conservative.   In this episode of Acton Line, Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, sits down with Continetti to discuss The Right and especially where the conservative movement is headed.   Subscribe to our podcasts    About Matthew Continetti     The Right by Matthew Continetti    An Awkward Alliance: Neo-Integralism and National Conservatism | Acton Institute    Rise of the national conservatives with Matthew Continetti | Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Acton Line, Eric Kohn, our director of marketing and communications, sits down with Samuel Goldman, associate professor of political science at George Washington University, to discuss the history of our American national identity as explored in his new book, “After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division.”  Goldman lays out the history of American national identity and offers new inspiration for how we can live together despite our current polarization and division.  Subscribe to our podcasts  After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division God's Country: Christian Zionism in America Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom  About Samuel Goldman  Politics & Values Program at George Washington University  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, sits down with Matt Brown, sports journalist and author of the “Extra Points” daily newsletter. They discuss the economic system behind college athletics and athletes’ compensation in general.     Subscribe to our podcasts    Extra Points with Matt Brown    Extra Points Podcast    What If?: A closer look at college football's great questions | By Matt Brown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Hugger, research associate and librarian here at Acton, sits down with Dr. Micah Watson, associate professor and executive director of the Paul Henry Institute at Calvin University, to discuss Congressman Paul Henry and his leadership in shaping the way Christian politicians live out their faith within their public service.    The Paul Henry Institute seeks “to understand the role of faith in public life across time, from the earliest efforts of ancient peoples to organize their laws and institutions to present-day tensions between religion and the modern state.”   Subscribe to our podcasts    About Dr. Micah Watson   Henry Institute for the study of Christianity and politics    5 Things that Christianity brings to our understanding of politics | Acton Institute    Controversial Christianity: Understanding faith and politics | Acton Institute    Our Mission & Core Principles | Acton Institute  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special edition of Acton Line, featuring Ian Rowe, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, speaking on his new book, “Agency.“   On Wednesday, March 16, Rowe visited the Acton Institute for a discussion in front of a live audience with Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications. Rowe spoke on how we can inspire young people as they make the passage into adulthood. All children should be taught that a path to a successful life exists and that they have the power to follow it.   Subscribe to our podcasts    "Agency" by Ian Rowe | Book     About Ian Rowe   American Enterprise Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Churchwell, director of program outreach here at Acton, sits down with James Whitford, executive director of Watered Gardens Ministries, to discuss the challenges of poverty we face here in our communities. Whitford supports the economic principle of subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is a social practice where neighbors help neighbors so the state doesn’t have to intervene. This discourages reliance on the welfare state and avoids government bureaucracy.   Subscribe to our podcasts    Watered Gardens Ministries    The Principle of Subsidiarity   Build Together: Why lived experience is essential for crafting poverty solutions   God doesn't need your good works (but your neighbor does)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Hugger sits down with Acton’s director of research, Samuel Gregg, to discuss his new book, “The Essential Natural Law.” They explore the fundamental principles of natural law and their place in Western thought and tradition.    How does natural law deepen our understanding of economics, justice, human rights, private property, and the rule of law? Is our path to increased human flourishing contingent on the principles of natural law being applied?   Subscribe to our podcasts    About Sam Gregg    Fraser Institute    “The Essential Natural Law”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of communications, sits down with Joseph Lehman, president of the Mackinac Center, to discuss the “Overton Window” and the influence it continues to play in politics. How can we use it to understand changing ideas in our culture and the marketplace?   Subscribe to our podcasts    Joseph G. Lehman, President of the Mackinac Center    Mackinac Center for Public Policy    The Overton Window | Mackinac Center    The Overton Window: The Most Misunderstood Concept in Politics | The Daily Wire  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dan Hugger sits with Daniel Silliman, journalist and news editor for Christianity Today, to discuss his new book, "Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith." Silliman argues that the formation of evangelical identity does not stem from institutions or political stances but from Christian fiction and Christian publishing in general. In light of this, he explores the questions, what is evangelicalism, and what is evangelical subculture?    Subscribe to our podcasts    Business Matters 2022 — 50% off registration with promo code PODCASTBM22   About Daniel Silliman    What's True About Christian Fiction | Christianity Today   Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith | Daniel Silliman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sarah Negri, research project coordinator at the Acton Institute, sits down with  David Michael Phelps, dean and director of program development at Harmel Academy of the Trades, to discuss the dignity of human work and how it is tied to our freedom to create value in the world and its connection to virtue. Why is formation in virtue important for skilled laborers? Who was Léon Harmel, and what was his impact on Catholic social teaching?    Subscribe to our podcasts    Business Matters 2022 — 50% off registration with promo code PODCASTBM22   Laborem Exercens, encyclical by John Paul II   Rerum Novarum, encyclical by Leo XIII   The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture by Fr. Jean Leclercq, O.S.B.   The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World by Iain McGilchrist   Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford   The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction by