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Artwork for Conversations

Conversations

Mark Bauerlein
Classical Education
Western Civilization
Higher Education
Donald Trump
Education
Religion
Mellon Foundation
Viewpoint Diversity
Global Liberalism
New Conservatism
Basketball
JD Vance
Augustine
Christianity
Supreme Court
Suicide
The Odyssey
Conservatism
Leftism
Mathematics

Conversations is published by First Things, America's most influential journal of religion & public life.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes63Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Religion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Conversations

Latest Episodes

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Bonnie Kristian joins in to discuss her recent book, "In Defense of Evangelicalism: A Response to Its Cultured Despisers."

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In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Steven B. Smith joins in to discuss his book, "On Statesmanship."

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"In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Leonard Sax joins in to discuss his recent book, Boys Adrift: The Six Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving You... more

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In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, James M. O'Toole joins in to discuss his recent book, "For I Have Sinned: The Rise and Fall of Catholic Confession in America."

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Recent Guests

Bonnie Kristian
Editor at Christianity Today and author of In Defense of Evangelicalism
Christianity Today
Episode: The Survival of Evangelicalism (ft. Bonnie Kristian)
Steven B. Smith
Professor of political science and philosophy at Yale University and author of On Statesmanship.
Yale University
Episode: The Last Statesmen? (ft. Steven Smith)
Leonard Sax
Family physician and psychologist, author of Boys Adrift and other works
Author; Medical professional
Episode: The Boys on the Brink (ft. Leonard Sax)
James M. O'Toole
Emeritus professor of history at Boston College; author of The Faithful, A History of Catholics in America
Boston College
Episode: America’s Empty Confessionals (ft. James O'Toole)
Thomas Varacalli
Dean of the Honors College at Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College
Episode: Technology Against Education (ft. Thomas Varacalli)
Theodore Dalrymple
Retired physician and psychiatrist, frequent contributor to major magazines; author of Agatha Christie and the Metaphysics of Murder
Independent researcher/Author
Episode: Christie's Compelling Criminals (ft. Theodore Dalrymple)
Patrick Deneen
Professor at Notre Dame, author of Why Liberalism Failed and American Odyssey
University/Author
Episode: Odysseus in America (ft. Patrick Deneen)
Neil Gross
Sociologist at Colby College; author of What Happened to College? How Politics Broke Higher Education and What We Can Do to Fix It
Colby College
Episode: How Politics Ruined the Classroom (ft. Neil Gross)
Robert Barron
His Excellency, Bishop Barron, theologian and director of the film discussed in the episode
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries
Episode: The Cathedral as Heaven (ft. Bishop Robert Barron)

Host

Mark Bauerlein
Host and guide of conversations, affiliated with First Things, often steering discussions with guests across education, culture, and public policy

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 13 ratings
  • Excited

    Can’t wait to hear more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LiturgiesOfLife
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality guest lineup offers diverse expert perspectives.
Leaves listeners with substantive takeaways on policy and society.
Thoughtful, engaging conversations with deep dives into education and culture.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Survival of Evangelicalism (ft. Bonnie Kristian)
Q: How widespread in the evangelical world is the Christian nationalist perspective?
Kristian says people who advocate treating non-Christians as second-class citizens exist, but she does not consider that view widespread among American evangelicals. She argues that commonly cited surveys rely on vague questions and therefore distort the extent of support.
The Survival of Evangelicalism (ft. Bonnie Kristian)
Q: Who are the cultured despisers of your subtitle?
Kristian describes a broad pattern of public contempt toward evangelicals, especially around politics, and focuses in her book on influential critics whose work she believes often seeks destruction rather than reform.
The Last Statesmen? (ft. Steven Smith)
Q: What is the profile of a genuine statesman, and where does that person fit between an electoral politician and a grand visionary?
Smith describes statesmen as educators of their nations who shape civic language and help people understand themselves. They must also handle practical politics, while working within constitutional limits.
The Last Statesmen? (ft. Steven Smith)
Q: What does it mean to say liberalism is in a state of advanced decay, and is liberalism dying or dead?
Smith says the postwar liberal order is in serious decline, but it is not dead. Whether and how it can be restored, and how authoritarianism might be resisted, are among the book's concerns.
The Boys on the Brink (ft. Leonard Sax)
Q: How has American education changed in the last 30 years to disengage boys?
Changes such as a stronger focus on literacy and numeracy in early years, disciplinary responses to boys' natural behaviors, and the magnetism of digital games are discussed as factors affecting boys' engagement.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Conversations

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

This show features long-form conversations with scholars, policy experts, authors, and public intellectuals exploring religion, culture, politics, and education. Episodes frequently center on higher education reform, classical education, journalism ethics, and the role of tradition in public life, often through the lens of contemporary policy debates. A notable throughline is a commitment to liberal arts, Western intellectual heritage, and civically engaged conversation, with guests ranging from university professors to policy advocates and essayists. Listeners who value rigor, historic perspectives, and principled critique of modern institutions will likely find the discussions thought-provoking and provocative, with a tendency toward cons... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Conversations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Conversations:

1. First Things Podcast
2. Evangelization & Culture Podcast
3. The Thomistic Institute
4. The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
5. Pints With Aquinas

How many episodes of Conversations are there?

Conversations launched a year ago and published 63 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 Conversations?

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What guests have appeared on Conversations?

Recent guests on Conversations include:

1. Bonnie Kristian
2. Steven B. Smith
3. Leonard Sax
4. James M. O'Toole
5. Thomas Varacalli
6. Theodore Dalrymple
7. Patrick Deneen
8. Neil Gross

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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