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Acton Line

Acton Institutewww.acton.org
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.
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Episodes

Lawrence Reed on cultivating heroism

Lawrence Reed is the President of the Foundation for Economic Education, and he joins us on this edition of Radio Free Acton to talk about his new book, "Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character, and Conviction". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 24, 201724 minEp. 85

John Mark Reynolds on objective beauty and truth

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined in studio by Dr. John Mark Reynolds, President of the St. Constantine School, to talk about beauty, and whether or not we can truly know if something is beautiful or not. We also talk about the St. Constantine School and how the educational model they use differs from the more common pedagogy seen in American education today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 09, 201738 minEp. 84

Micah Watson on C.S. Lewis and the dangers of democratic education

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Micah Watson, the William Spoelhof Teacher-Scholar Chair at Calvin College, to discuss the views of C.S. Lewis on democracy, specifically as they relate to the area of education. Lewis was not a fan of democracy, and worried about the effect of democratic inclinations within a culture on the quality of education systems. Watson - joined by Acton Institute Senior Research Fellow Jordan Ballor and Director of Programs and Education Paul Bonicell...

Apr 19, 201728 minEp. 83

John Stonestreet doesn't want to talk about sex

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're excited to talk to John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. We examine the major contributions of Christianity to western culture, try to figure out if there's a reasonable system of thought that could replace it in our society, and explore a bit of what the secular left has replaced Christianity with. Spoiler alert: it's sex. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Apr 03, 201739 minEp. 82

Brent Waters on just capitalism

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Brent Waters, Jerre and Mary Joy Stead professor of Christian social ethics at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and author of Just Capitalism: A Christian Ethic of Economic Globalization. The market economy is often criticized as being unjust and harmful to the poor, but Waters makes the argument that global capitalism is well-suited to provide the material goods that are a necessary prerequisite for human flourishing, thus offering the m...

Mar 29, 201719 minEp. 81

Scott Lincicome on how free trade benefits everyone

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, international trade attorney and Cato Institute Adjunct Scholar Scott Lincicome joins us to give us the real story on the benefits of international trade for the United States, and dispels some myths about the impacts of trade on U.S. industry and consumers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 22, 201730 minEp. 80

Anne Rathbone Bradley on eliminating poverty through economic freedom

Today on Radio Free Acton, we talk with Anne Rathbone Bradley, Ph.D. She serves as Vice President of Economic Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work and Economics, and joins us to talk about the vital role that economic freedom plays in lifting people out of poverty. We also address some of the common clichés that are used to attack the market economy, and even take a short peek into the political economy of Al Qaeda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 15, 201729 minEp. 79

James Poulos on the Art of Being Free

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we welcome back John Wilsey - Assistant Professor of History and Christian Apologetics and Associate Director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary - and hand over the reins of the podcast to him as he talks with author and social theorist James Poulos about his new book, "The Art of Being Free: How Alexis de Tocqueville Can Save Us from Ourselves". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 08, 201735 minEp. 78

Samuel Gregg on the life and impact of Michael Novak

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg about the life and impact of Michael Novak, who passed away on February 17, 2017. Novak, a Roman Catholic theologian, philosopher, and author, was a powerful defender of human liberty and made vital contributions to our understanding of the morality of the market economy. Novak's influence was an important factor in Rev. Robert A. Sirico's effort to found the Acton Institute, and he served as a m...

Mar 01, 201733 minEp. 77

The Verdict on Judge Neil Gorsuch with Judge Joseph Scoville

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Judge Joseph Scoville, former United States magistrate judge for the western district of Michigan, to review the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court. We examine the qualifications and judicial philosophy of Judge Gorsuch, and address the question of whether or not the left is correct to accuse Republicans of "stealing" the seat from President Obama. Hosted on Acast. See...

Feb 10, 201738 minEp. 76

Ilya Shapiro on the the politics of judicial nominations

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and the editor of the Cato Supreme Court Journal, to discuss the politics surrounding judicial nominations in modern America, and the judicial legacy that presidents leave behind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 08, 201720 minEp. 75

Christian Democracy in America

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we have a panel discussion on the prospects for a Christian Democratic political movement in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 01, 201738 minEp. 74

Avik Roy on how to transcend Obamacare

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by Avik Roy, Opinion Editor at Forbes magazine and the founder and president of a new think tank, The Foundation for Research on Economic Opportunity. He's been an insightful critic of the health care reform process in the US since Congress began debating what would become Obamacare in 2009. Through his new organization, he's published a plan to reform the American health care system in a way that maximizes coverage in the population while signif...

Jan 25, 201733 minEp. 73

David LaRocca on Brunello Cucinelli's new philosophy of clothes

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with David LaRocca, philosopher, author, and filmmaker, who has released a documentary on Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur Brunello Cuccinelli. Cucinelli has built a successful company by creating high-quality apparel, but more interesting than that is the philosophy that undergirds his business and all of his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 21, 201636 minEp. 72

Daniel Garza on Latinos and Liberty

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, discusses the prospects of the movement for liberty and free markets in the Latino community on this edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 23, 201628 minEp. 71

Victoria Coates on the art of democracy

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with cultural historian and author Victoria Coates on the capacity of democracy to inspire great works of art. Coates is the author of David's Sling: The History of Democracy in Ten Works of Art, and spoke on the topic as part of the 2016 Acton Lecture Series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 16, 201619 minEp. 70

Benjamin Domenech On The Rise Of American Populism

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Jordan Ballor - Acton Research Fellow, Director of Publishing, and Executive Editor of the Journal of Markets and Morality - talks with Benjamin Domenech, Publisher of The Federalist, about the current populist moment in American politics, the roots of American populism, and what the possible outcomes of the current populist uprising may be for the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 26, 201631 minEp. 69

John Wilsey on Tocqueville's Enduring Insights

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined by John Wilsey, Assistant Professor of History and Christian Apologetics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to discuss Alexis de Tocqueville's masterwork "Democracy In America." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 05, 201633 minEp. 68

Karl Zinsmeister on Philanthropy and Education Reform

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with Karl Zinsmeister, Vice President at Philanthropy Roundtable, about efforts to improve public education outcomes over the years, why charter schools are succeeding where past reform efforts have failed, and the role of private philanthropy in fostering that success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 21, 201624 minEp. 67

Jordan Ballor on Why Abraham Kuyper Matters

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with Jordan Ballor, General Editor of the Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology, a major series of new translations of Abraham Kuyper’s key works. We discuss the genesis of the project, and examine what Kuyper has to say to modern Christians and why his contributions remain relevant a century after their initial publication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 14, 201637 minEp. 66

Kevin Schmiesing on the Indivisibility of Religious and Economic Freedom

Acton Institute Research Fellow Kevin Schmiesing joins us on this edition of Radio Free Acton to discuss the latest book release from the Acton Institute, "One and Indivisible: The Relationship Between Religious and Economic Freedom." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 08, 201625 minEp. 65

Brexit's Aftermath with Todd Huizinga

Last week on Radio Free Acton, we sat down with Acton Institute Director of International Outreach Todd Huizinga to preview the then-upcoming Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom. This week, we're back again with Todd to review the stunning results of the referendum, the reactions to it in both the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the prospects for EU reform and British prosperity in the near and long-term future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 27, 201634 minEp. 64

Todd Huizinga Previews Brexit

Acton Institute Director of International Outreach Todd Huizinga, author of "The New Totalitarian Temptation: Global Governance and the Crisis of Democracy in Europe", discusses the upcoming British referendum on leaving the European Union on this edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 13, 201621 minEp. 63

Raymond Arroyo on Mother Angelica and the Power of Story

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton Institute President Rev. Robert A. Sirico sits down with the host of EWTN's The World Over, Raymond Arroyo, for a wide-ranging discussion that touches on the life of Mother Angelica, the power of story, and the pontificate of Pope Francis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 26, 201627 minEp. 62

Magatte Wade on African Entrepreneurship

This week on Radio Free Acton, Magatte Wade joins us to discuss the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur in Africa. Too often, people in the West tend to think of Africa as a place to send aid rather than a place to engage in Trade. Magatte is working to change that attitude while building the local economy in her native Senegal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 15, 201627 minEp. 61

William Allen on Conscience and Liberty

William B. Allen, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy in the Department of Political Science and Emeritus Dean, James Madison College, at Michigan State University, joins the podcast to talk about what the 2016 presidential race says about the national character of the United States, and about the importance to liberty of freedom of conscience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 30, 201625 minEp. 60

Todd Huizinga on The New Totalitarian Temptation

Acton Institute Director of International Outreach Todd Huizinga joins us on this week's edition of Radio Free Acton to discuss his new book, The New Totalitarian Temptation: Global Governance and the Crisis of Democracy in Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 201627 minEp. 59

Remembering Scalia; The Future of Religious Liberty with Ryan Anderson

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we pay tribute to the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, and look to the future of religious liberty in the United States with Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17, 201632 minEp. 58

Larry Reed on Puncturing Progressive Mythology

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Larry Reed - President of the Foundation for Economic Education - discusses the myths that permeate the progressive worldview, and his new book debunking them: "Excuse Me, Professor: Challenging the Myths of Progressivism". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 15, 201530 minEp. 57

Marina Nemat on Life After Tehran

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Marina Nemat - author, columnist, human rights advocate, and former political prisoner in her native Iran. How does a person survive imprisonment, torture, and threats of execution, and emerge from the experience with the courage to forgive? And how can her experiences shed light on our response to the problems that plague the world today: Islamic extremism, terrorism, and the refugee crisis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

Nov 24, 201524 minEp. 56
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