Rephonic
Artwork for Acton Line

Acton Line

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

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 weeklyEpisodes567Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Acton Line

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with John Pinheiro, director of research at the Acton Institute, and Dylan Pahman, research fellow at the Acton Institute and founder and president of the St. Nicholas Cabasilas Institute, about the reception thus f... more

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Ismael Hernandez, founder and president of the Freedom & Virtue Institute, about his book Not Tragically Colored: Freedom, Personhood, and the Renewal of Black America and Rethinking Charity: Restoring Dignity ... more

In this episode, Dan speaks with Dave Hebert, Director of Economics & Economic Freedom and Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and an affiliate scholar here at the Acton Institute, about the economic impact of the o... more

YouTube

This month on the Acton Rundown, Dan and Mark chat about upcoming Acton events and new video content.

Subscribe to our podcasts

Watch this podcast here

Why Postliberalism Failed | Patterson & Howes

Essays:

Can We Moderate a Politicized Church Wi... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Capital Record
Capital RecordNational Review
The Editors
The EditorsNational Review
City Journal Audio
City Journal AudioManhattan Institute
WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch
WSJ Opinion: Potomac WatchPaul Gigot, The Wall Street Journal

Recent Guests

John Pinheiro
Historian, Director of Research at Acton Institute
Acton Institute
Episode: On The New Things | AI & History with Dr. John Pinheiro
Steve Barrows
COO of the Acton Institute; PhD economist
Acton Institute
Episode: On The New Things | AI & Economics with Dr. Stephen Barrows
Anne Bradley
George and Sally Mayer Fellow for Economic Education and Vice President of Academic Affairs at The Fund for American Studies
Acton Institute / The Fund for American Studies
Episode: Anne Bradley Unpacks What Makes Things ‘Affordable’
Thomas Howes
Editor-in-chief of The Vital Center; research fellow at the Austrian Institute; James Madison Society at Princeton University; co-author of Why Postliberalism Failed
The Vital Center; Austrian Institute; Princeton University
Episode: Thomas Howes Explains Why Postliberalism Failed
Caleb Whitmer
Project manager at the Center for Social Flourishing at Acton; writer on welfare fraud
Acton Institute
Episode: Caleb Whitmer on Fraud and the Flood of Cataclysmic Money in Minneapolis
Jeffrey Polet
professor emeritus of political science at Hope College; director of the Ford Leadership Forum at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Hope College; Ford Leadership Forum
Episode: Jeffrey Polet on the Philosophy of Gen. Stanley McChrystal
Jason Sorens
senior research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research; principal investigator on the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas
American Institute for Economic Research
Episode: Jason Sorens Builds a Case for Reforming American Housing Policy
Molly Worthen
Professor of History, UNC Chapel Hill; author of Spellbound
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Episode: Molly Worthen Refines the Definition of “Charisma”
Daniel Darling
Director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Episode: Daniel Darling Is Defending Christian Patriotism

Hosts

Dan Hugger
Host and editorial/research fellow at the Acton Institute; tied to Acton Line and broader Acton Institute programming
Mark Townsend
Producer and host of Acton Line; frequently involved in program production and guest coordination

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 266 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 States3 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.

The show is praised for respectful dialogue and balance even on controversial topics.
Appealing to educators and policy professionals seeking clarity and depth in public discourse.
Guests are described as well-prepared and credible, adding tangible value to policy conversations.
The host is noted for energy and engaging delivery that makes complex topics accessible.
Listeners value the thoughtful, principled approach to big questions in economics and society.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Chicks in the Office
Chicks in the OfficeBarstool Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ismael Hernandez Is Rethinking Charity
Q: How should we rethink the role of institutions and the state in helping the poor?
We should balance between individual, family, and community action and state involvement, reducing overreliance on professionals and bureaucracies, and using subsidiarity to empower local actors while preserving dignity and agency.
Ismael Hernandez Is Rethinking Charity
Q: What are the common misconceptions about charity and poverty relief?
Misconceptions include treating poverty as a disease to be cured with money or resources alone, and failing to see each person as a unique, dignified being whose deeper needs require meaningful relationships and empowerment rather than just transfers.
Dave Hebert Explains the Economic Consequences of the Iran War
Q: How do energy shocks from geopolitical events translate into higher gas prices for consumers?
Energy shocks raise global oil prices, tighten supply chains to refineries, and create longer timelines to bring fuel to the pump, while behavioral expectations and policy responses influence how quickly prices rise or fall.
On The New Things | AI & Humanity with Michael Matheson Miller
Q: Is artificial intelligence actually intelligence, and if so, in what sense compared to human intelligence?
It is a form of intelligence in a mathematical, probabilistic sense, driven by human-designed inputs and programs, but it does not equal the fullness of human intelligence grounded in freedom, conscience, and embodied experience.
Anne Bradley Unpacks What Makes Things ‘Affordable’
Q: What does it mean for an economy to be abundant versus affordable in practical terms?
Abundance represents a broad, humane vision where production and exchange empower people to live fuller lives and have more time and freedom, whereas affordability focuses on keeping prices down and ensuring basics are accessible, but without losing sight of the moral and relational aspects of economic life.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Acton Line

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

The program consistently threads economic policy with moral and religious dimensions, featuring economists, theologians, historians, and public intellectuals who explore how free markets interact with virtue, civil society, and law. Recent episodes center on affordability and housing from a Catholic social teaching lens, the limits and promises of postliberal ideas, the role of charitable and subsidiarity-based approaches in social welfare, and the Christian roots of liberty. Across conversations, the emphasis is on clear data-driven analysis paired with thoughtful normative reflection, often weighing policy tools like regulation, taxation, and zoning against principles of voluntary exchange, local empowerment, and accountability. Its uniqu... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Acton Line?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Acton Line. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Acton Line and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Acton Line get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Acton Line, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Acton Line?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Acton Line, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Acton Line have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Acton Line has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Acton Line?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Acton Line:

1. Capital Record
2. First Things Podcast
3. The Editors
4. City Journal Audio
5. WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

How many episodes of Acton Line are there?

Acton Line launched 9 years ago and published 567 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Acton Line?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Acton Line?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Acton Line from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Acton Line?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Acton Line. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Acton Line?

Recent guests on Acton Line include:

1. John Pinheiro
2. Steve Barrows
3. Anne Bradley
4. Thomas Howes
5. Caleb Whitmer
6. Jeffrey Polet
7. Jason Sorens
8. Molly Worthen

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days