Conversations

Mark Bauerlein

Classical Education

Western Civilization

Donald Trump

Global Liberalism

Mellon Foundation

Viewpoint Diversity

New Conservatism

Basketball

JD Vance

Religion

Augustine

Christianity

Supreme Court

Conservatism

Mathematics

The Odyssey

Leftism

Suicide

Nationalism

United States

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

13 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	54	Founded	a year ago
Number of Listeners		Category	Religion & Spirituality

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Latest Episodes

Crisis on the Campus (ft. Kevin Roberts)

In the latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Kevin D. Roberts joins in to discuss his recently edited book, "Higher Education in America: It's Worse than You Think."

17 Aug 2026 • 34 min

Love in a Godless Age (ft. Ralph C. Hancock)

In the latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Ralph C. Hancock joins in to discuss his recent book, "Love and Virtue in a Secular Age: Christianity, Modernity, and the Human Good."

10 Aug 2026 • 30 min • Most popular

How the Press Lost Public Trust (ft. Tara Henley)

In the latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Tara Henley joins in to discuss her recent book, The Trust Spiral: Why the Media Needs Objectivity.

27 Jul 2026 • 30 min

The Dot, The Dash, and Everything Between (ft. Florence Hazrat)

In the latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Florence Hazrat joins in to discuss her recent book, "On the Mark: From Periods to Interrobangs, How Punctuation Remade the World."

20 Jul 2026 • 30 min

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Recent Guests

Ralph Hancock

Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University

Episode: Love in a Godless Age (ft. Ralph C. Hancock)

Tara Henley

Current affairs journalist and author of The Trust Spiral

Lean Out podcast; The Trust Spiral

Episode: How the Press Lost Public Trust (ft. Tara Henley)

Florence Hazrat

Expert in punctuation, author of On the Mark

Author, On the Mark; punctuation scholar

Episode: The Dot, The Dash, and Everything Between (ft. Florence Hazrat)

Christopher Perrin

Head of Classical Academic Press and director of the Alcuin Fellowship; educator in classical education

Classical Academic Press; Alcuin Fellowship

Episode: A Curriculum for National Success (ft. Christopher Perrin)

Bella d'Abrera

Writer and commentator on higher education and Western institutions; author of Mindless, How the Education System is Indoctrinating Children and Destroying Our Civilization

Independent writer/Author

Episode: How to Destroy Your Country's Future (ft. Bella d'Abrera)

Michael Anton

Fellow at the Claremont Institute; lecturer at Hillsdale College; former Trump administration advisor

Claremont Institute; Hillsdale College; former U.S. government roles

Episode: On the Edge of America (ft. Michael Anton)

Seth Barron

Editor at the New York Post and author of The Last Days of New York; author of Weaponized, The Left's Capture and Destruction of America's Sacred Institutions

New York Post

Episode: Here Comes Utopia (ft. Seth Barron)

Delano Squires

Director of the DeVos Center for Human Flourishing at the Heritage Foundation

Heritage Foundation

Episode: How to Destroy the Black Family (ft. Delano Squires)

Matthew Mehan

Professor of Government at Hillsdale College's Washington, DC campus; children's book author

Hillsdale College

Episode: Creating an American Mythos (ft. Matthew Mehan)

Host

Mark

Host of Conversations

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 13 ratings

Excited
Can’t wait to hear more.
Apple Podcasts
5
LiturgiesOfLife
United States7 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Great depth on culture, politics, and religion.

A niche for listeners who want principled, well-argued takes on public life.

Thoughtful, rigorous dialogue with expert guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts

#37

South Korea/Religion & Spirituality

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Love in a Godless Age (ft. Ralph C. Hancock)

Q: You begin with a blunt assertion about modern life, that the declaration 'I am a victim' is the last gasp of meaning. Could you elaborate on why you think this is so and how it ties into the broader argument of your book?

Hancock argues that the victimhood narrative signals a drift away from transcendent foundations toward a universal, secular ethic that prioritizes subjective claims over objective goods, which undermines stable moral and political order. He connects this to the loss of a vertical orientation (toward God or transcendent principles) and the rise of a horizontal, universal humanitarianism that empties deeper content from ethical life.

How the Press Lost Public Trust (ft. Tara Henley)

Q: How has the financial instability of the press and the rise of political intensity influenced how younger journalists are trained and how stories are covered today?

Financial pressure and heightened political context have created environments that reward speed and sensationalism over thorough, evidence-based reporting, contributing to a broader drift away from strict standards; mentorship and on-the-ground training remain crucial to counter this trend.

How the Press Lost Public Trust (ft. Tara Henley)

Q: Why did you choose to open the book with the New York Times On the Media meeting after the 2016 election, and what does that moment illustrate about journalism today?

That moment demonstrates the central tension between advocacy and straight reporting, showing that attempting to do both can undermine rigorous standards and accuracy, which in turn erodes public trust.

The Dot, The Dash, and Everything Between (ft. Florence Hazrat)

Q: Why did the interrobang emerge, and why didn't it catch on widely?

The interrobang was born from a desire to signal both surprise and a question in one symbol, but despite its punchy idea and historical curiosity, it failed to achieve broad adoption and remains a niche mark of punctuation history.

The Dot, The Dash, and Everything Between (ft. Florence Hazrat)

Q: How did punctuation influence religious and political life, such as in early 20th century Russia?

Punctuation equipment and standards could impact labor wages and control of texts, which in turn fed into wider political movements by empowering printers and readers to interpret and contest official narratives, helping to catalyze changes like constitutional reforms.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Conversations

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

A thoughtful, intellectually rigorous show that centers on culture, politics, religion, and higher education through interviews with scholars, authors, and policy thinkers. Conversations frequently explore traditional moral frameworks, civic virtue, and the state of public life, often challenging contemporary secular narratives with historically rooted perspectives. Noteworthy is the emphasis on rigorous arguments, cross-disciplinary ideas, and a conservative-leaning lens that frequently ties policy and culture to family, religion, and education. The format tends to favor deep dives with well-read guests, providing listeners with context-rich discussions and practical implications for policy, publishing, and higher education reform. This co... 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. Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons - Catholic Preaching and Homilies
4. The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
5. The American Mind Podcast

How many episodes of Conversations are there?

Conversations launched a year ago and published 54 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 Conversations?

Recent guests on Conversations include:

1. Ralph Hancock
2. Tara Henley
3. Florence Hazrat
4. Christopher Perrin
5. Bella d'Abrera
6. Michael Anton
7. Seth Barron
8. Delano Squires

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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