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Acton Line

Acton Institute
Acton Institute
Acton University
Christianity
Jimmy Lai
Artificial Intelligence
Poverty
Economics
Hong Kong
Religious Freedom
Education
Conservatism
Higher Education
American Politics
Catholic Social Teaching
Human Dignity
Ethics
Interfaith Dialogue
Emerging Leaders Program
Christian Education
Religion and Liberty

Dedicated to the promotion of a free and virtuous society, Acton Line brings together writers, economists, religious leaders, and more to bridge the gap between good intentions and sound economics.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes587Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Acton Line

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Stephen Barrows, chief operating officer of the Acton Institute, about Bill Gate’s essay “An epochal shift: The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical.”

"An epochal shift: The turbulent... more

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Becket senior counsel William Haun about his forthcoming book Not to Caesar but to Peter: Why the Catholic Church is a Perfect Society.

Not to Caesar but to Peter: Why the Catholic Church is a Perfect SocietyB... more

YouTube

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Kevin Vallier, professor of philosophy and director of research at the Institute for American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (University of Toledo) and affiliate scholar at the Acton Institute, about wha... more

YouTube

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Stephanie Slade, senior editor at Reason magazine and Fellow in Liberal Studies at the Acton Institute, about her new book, Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right.

Subscribe to our po... more

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Recent Guests

Kevin Vallier
Professor of philosophy at the University of Toledo; director of research at the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership; affiliate scholar at the Acton Institute
University of Toledo; Acton Institute
Episode: Kevin Vallier Makes the Christian Case for Using AI Well
Stephanie Slade
Senior editor at Reason Magazine and Acton Institute fellow
Reason Magazine / Acton Institute
Episode: Stephanie Slade Is Contending for a Conservative Return to Fusionist Roots
David L. Bahnsen
Founder, managing partner, and chief investment officer of the Bahnsen Group
Bahnsen Group
Episode: David Bahnsen on the Past, Present, and Future of Dividend Growth Investing
Stephen Barrows
Chief Operating Officer at Acton Institute; Economist
Acton Institute
Episode: Stephen Barrows on the Fertility Crisis and the Economics of More Children
Luke Burgis
Writer and entrepreneur; founder of the Cluny Institute; professor at the Catholic University of America
The Cluny Institute; Catholic University of America
Episode: Luke Burgis on Forming Solid Selves in an Age of Social Contagion
Joshua Sprinkle
Rising senior at Wheaton College; Emerging Leaders Program participant
Acton Institute / Wheaton College
Episode: Acton's Emerging Leaders Program with Abigail Buritica and Joshua Sprinkle
Abby Burtica
Rising senior at Grove City College; Emerging Leaders Program participant
Acton Institute / Grove City College
Episode: Acton's Emerging Leaders Program with Abigail Buritica and Joshua Sprinkle
Russell Amos Kirk
Russell Amos Kirk, chair at American Studies and professor of history
Hillsdale College
Episode: Brad Birzer Unpacks the Republican Virtues of the Declaration of Independence
Emerson Morris
Emerging Leader, Center for Social Flourishing, University of Mississippi student
Acton Institute - Emerging Leaders Program; Center for Social Flourishing
Episode: Acton's Emerging Leaders Program with Beenish Fatima and Emerson Morris

Hosts

Mark Townsend
Producer and host associated with Acton Line and Acton Institute; often leads segments and introductions.
Dan Hugger
Editorial and Research Fellow at the Acton Institute; guides discussions and helps shape episode questions.
Julia LaGrand
Emerging Leader and host; participates in Emerging Leaders Program interviews and program-related discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 268 ratings
  • Beatles

    The only thing missing from the excellent Beatles episode was a discussion of Brian Epstein and his crucial role as manager.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stegj
    United States4 years ago
  • Well produced and thoughtful podcast that features interviews on a wide variety of topics: culture, economics, science, theology, technology, psychology, etc. Comes from the perspective of the intelligent Christian right. Good podcast content and the length makes it easy to get through an episode during my commute.

    Podcast Addict
    datadriven
    4 years ago
  • Well produced and thoughtful podcast that features interviews on a wide variety of topics: culture, economics, science, theology, technology, psychology, etc. Comes from the perspective of the intelligent Christian right. Good podcast content and the length makes it easy to get through an episode during my commute.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    datadriven
    4 years ago
  • Daring and humble - A positive path forward

    Fearless in taking on controversial topics, but in a kind and thoughtful way. I love the emphasis on virtue, and the ideas on how to navigate our society and promote democracy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LisafromtheMidwest
    United States4 years ago
  • Captivating and arousing episodes!

    There are few institutions that so faithfully promote the free and virtuous society. This podcast unpacks the big questions and tensions that surround this society.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NtwaliB
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality guests and in-depth analysis—great for fans of ideas with substance
Hosts bring respect and civility to controversial topics
Consistently informative with a focus on virtue and public life
Thoughtful, balanced and clear discussions that illuminate big ideas

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kevin Vallier Makes the Christian Case for Using AI Well
Q: Could you explain in simple terms what large language models are and how they work?
They are highly sophisticated autocomplete systems trained on huge amounts of text; they predict the next token in a sequence and improve through reinforcement signals, leading to powerful but sometimes unpredictable behavior.
David Bahnsen on the Past, Present, and Future of Dividend Growth Investing
Q: How do you distinguish between passive investing and the passive aspect of index funds, and should individuals rethink their approach?
The guest describes passive investing as a function of whether one is simply riding the market versus actively managing a portfolio, highlighting that passive index funds can still require prudent thinking about what is being bought and why.
David Bahnsen on the Past, Present, and Future of Dividend Growth Investing
Q: What are the most common misconceptions you think people have about investing?
The guest explains there are many common mistakes tied to market behavior, including confusing speculation with investing and confusing short-term market movements with long-term wealth creation.
Stephen Barrows on the Fertility Crisis and the Economics of More Children
Q: What is the fertility crisis?
The guest describes it as a crisis of meaning and purpose tied to declining fertility worldwide, with significant economic implications and a need to understand how innovation, markets, and policy can adapt to this trend.
Luke Burgis on Forming Solid Selves in an Age of Social Contagion
Q: What practical steps can listeners take to cultivate formation and association in their lives?
Develop one-on-one relationships, commit to small groups, observe how conflicts reveal character, and seek communities that require meaningful effort and rites of passage, rather than easy online affiliations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Acton Line

What is Acton Line about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Acton Line consistently explores the interplay between free-market principles, virtue, religion, and public policy through conversations with scholars, policymakers, and emerging leaders. Episodes frequently center on historical foundations of liberty, approaches to poverty and social flourishing, and practical implications of Catholic social teaching in contemporary economics. A distinctive angle is the integration of faith-informed perspectives with secular policy debate, often featuring emerging leaders from the Acton Institute's programs and guests who bring deep historical or theological context to modern economic and political questions. This combination makes it useful for listeners wanting thoughtful, principled takes on economics, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Acton Line?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Acton Line:

1. First Things Podcast
2. Capital Record
3. The Ricochet Podcast
4. Pints With Aquinas
5. The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

How many episodes of Acton Line are there?

Acton Line launched 10 years ago and published 587 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Acton Line?

Recent guests on Acton Line include:

1. Kevin Vallier
2. Stephanie Slade
3. David L. Bahnsen
4. Stephen Barrows
5. Luke Burgis
6. Joshua Sprinkle
7. Abby Burtica
8. Russell Amos Kirk

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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