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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

The connection of faith and work; the legacy of Walker Percy

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Associate Director of Program Outreach at Acton, Dan Churchwell, and Missy Wallace, Executive Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work, discuss how Missy became interested in the connection between faith and work, and why it is an important topic in business. Then, Caroline Roberts speaks with Brian A. Smith, Managing Editor of Liberty Fund’s Law and Liberty publication, on Walker Percy’s life and works, as well as his relevance today. Hosted on...

Sep 26, 201833 minEp. 146

Inside the studio of a violin maker; Upstream on the film 'Andrei Rublev'

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, award winning news anchor Anne Marie Schieber visits the studio of Matthew Noykos, a violin maker in Grand Rapids, MI, to learn more about his craft and discuss how he finds purpose and fulfillment in his everyday work. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker speaks with Robert Bird, author of two books on Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, about Tarkovsky’s film Andrei Rublev , which was recently re-issued by the Criterion Collection. Hosted on A...

Sep 19, 201826 minEp. 145

The good news about poverty; Upstream on ‘Operation Finale’

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Caroline Roberts, producer and host of Radio Free Acton, speaks with Joseph Connors, Assistant Professor of Economics at Florida Southern College, about the global decline in poverty and how we can continue to reduce it. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Alex Chafuen, Managing Director, International, at Acton, on “Operation Finale” a new film depicting the capture of infamous nazi Adolf Eichmann after he escaped to Argentina followi...

Sep 12, 201827 minEp. 144

‘Work in the age of robots’; Has classical music been forgotten?

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, John Couretas, Executive Producer of Radio Free Acton, interviews Mark Mills, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, on his new book “Work in the Age of Robots”, about what our jobs and the future of AI might look like. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Jay Nordlinger, Senior Editor of National Review about Classical music: are people still listening to it nowadays and why is it important? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Sep 05, 201834 minEp. 143

Entrepreneurship in Guatemala; Upstream on the future of the arts

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, host Caroline Roberts speaks with Jonathan Porta, co-founder of e-commerce platform UTZ Market in Guatemala, on his experiences in developing his business and on entrepreneurship in Guatemala, then on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to David Marcus, New York correspondent for The Federalist on the future of the arts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 29, 201832 minEp. 142

What is natural law? Upstream on Netflix’s ‘Anon’

This episode of Radio Free Acton features a discussion between Drew McGinnis, Editorial Director and Research Fellow at Acton, and Eric Hutchinson, Associate Professor of Classics at Hillsdale College and translator of a book recently released in Acton’s bookshop: On the Law of Nature . Drew and Eric talk about the book and what Natural Law is. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks with Titus Techera, film critic and contributor to multiple publications including National Revi...

Aug 22, 201832 minEp. 141

Econ Quiz on pensions and public debt; Upstream on Frida Kahlo and Stalinism

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, host Caroline Roberts speaks with Dave Hebert, Professor of Economics at Aquinas College for another Econ Quiz segment on the topic of pensions and state debt. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Phil Terzian, a writer for The Weekly Standard , on the blind spots in the legacy of Frida Kahlo as well as our modern understanding of Stalinism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 15, 201833 minEp. 140

Luke Burgis tackles myths about entrepreneurship; Upstream on government funded art

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Victoria Antram, summer intern at Acton, speaks with Luke Burgis, a businessman who was named a top 25 under 25 entrepreneur by Business Week , about the myths and misconceptions about entrepreneurship. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to J. Bradley Studemeyer about government funded art in anticipation of the upcoming book Art from the Swamp . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 08, 201826 minEp. 139

Interview with a Venezuelan dissident; Jared Meyer on the sharing economy

In this episode of Radio Free Acton, Noah Gould, summer intern at Acton, interviews Javier Avila, a Venezuelan dissident who speaks of both the bleak and hopeful future he sees for the resistance against tyrannical government in Venezuela. Then, another Acton summer intern, Jenna Suchyta, talks to Jared Meyer, senior fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability, about the sharing economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Aug 01, 201826 minEp. 138

Discussing the Trump-Putin summit with Mihail Neamtu; Upstream on how to read

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, host Caroline Roberts speaks with Mihail Neamtu, Romanian conservative author, on the Trump-Putin summit, Russia’s economy, and what Trump should have prioritized at his meeting with Putin. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Peter Meilaender, Professor of political science at Houghton College, on literary criticism and how to best read a book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 25, 201828 minEp. 137

Discussing the reconstruction era; Upstream on ‘First Reformed’

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, John Wilsey, affiliate scholar of theology and history at Acton, speaks with Allen Guelzo, professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg college, about reconstruction in the South after the Civil War. This discussion is a preview of Professor Guelzo’s upcoming Acton Lecture Series talk on the subject of Abraham Lincoln’s moral constitution on August 9 at Acton Headquarters in Grand Rapids, MI. Then, on the Upstream segment, Acton’s director of publishing, Jord...

Jul 18, 201832 minEp. 136

Discussing the importance of free elections; Upstream on 'Incredibles 2'

This episode of Radio Free Acton starts with another Transatlantic Intelligence segment, hosted by Senior Editor at Acton, Rev. Ben Johnson, who talks with Juan Pina, Secretary General of the Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty in Madrid, Spain on the Foundation’s World Electoral Freedom Index which ranks the nations of the world on the freedom of their electoral processes. They discuss the importance of free elections to a well functioning democracy and what goes into making elections fre...

Jul 11, 201830 minEp. 135

The religious roots of the American founding; Jewish contributions to American liberty

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton Director of Communications John Couretas speaks with Ray Nothstine of the Civitas Institute about the religious - and especially Puritan - roots of the American Revolution; then we hear an excerpt from Susan Harper's lecture on the Hebrew republic and the origins of America's Constitutional Liberty. Harper serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships at the American Bible Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 03, 201827 minEp. 134

RFA redux: Why Abraham Kuyper matters

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we revisit a segment aired 2 years ago. Marc Vander Maas, Audio/Visual Manager at Acton, talks to Jordan Ballor, Senior Research Fellow and Director of Publishing at Acton, about why the Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper remains relevant to this day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 27, 201836 minEp. 133

RFA Reports on Christians in the civic arena; Discussion on the Trump-Kim summit

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we are pleased to bring you the third edition of RFA Reports. Guest Anne Marie Schieber, an award-winning reporter and former anchor with Wood TV Grand Rapids, speaks with Rafael Cruz, father of former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, on the involvement of Christians in the civic arena and the separation of church and state. Then, RFA host Caroline Roberts talks with Suzanne Scholte, president of the Defense Forum Foundation, on the historic Trump-Kim Summit ...

Jun 20, 201828 minEp. 132

Discussion on the morality of free trade; Upstream on the letters of Russell Kirk

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Tyler Groenendal, Foundation Relations Coordinator at Acton, speaks with Michael J. Clark, Professor of Economics at Hillsdale College, on the morality and importance free trade. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to Jim Person, author of the book Imaginative Conservatism: The Letters of Russell Kirk , about who Russell Kirk is and why he is still important today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 13, 201833 minEp. 131

RFA redux: John Stonestreet doesn't want to talk about sex

On this remastered episode of Radio Free Acton, we revisit an interview we had with 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....

Jun 06, 201833 minEp. 130

Seeking flourishing in the context of poverty; Upstream on ‘Redeeming Transcendence in the Arts’

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Andrew Vanderput, PovertyCure strategy and engagement manager at Acton, holds a discussion with Peter Greer, president and CEO of Hope International, on how human flourishing can be brought about in the context of poverty. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to author Jeremy Begbie about his new book, Redeeming Transcendence in the Arts . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 30, 201837 minEp. 129

Discussing the problem of child marriage; Upstream on ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ at 50

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Host Caroline Roberts speaks with Fr. Ben Johnson, senior editor at Acton, about his article in the latest issue of Religion & Liberty on the problem of child marriage. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker and film critic Titus Techera discuss the impact and legacy of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey 50 years on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 23, 201835 minEp. 128

Tech & Work: Israeli innovation; Upstream on HBO’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Dan Churchwell, associate director of program outreach at Acton, speaks with Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, on Israeli innovation. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker speaks with Phil Nichols, senior advisor at the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, on the new Fahrenheit 451 movie from HBO, which releases May 19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 16, 201840 minEp. 127

Robert Whaples on Pope Francis’ views on Economics; Upstream on Bob Dylan and Thomas Merton

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Dan Hugger, librarian and research associate at Acton, speaks with Robert Whaples, research fellow at the Independent Institute and professor of economics at Wake Forest University on Pope Francis’ views on capitalism in a preview of Prof. Whaples' upcoming Acton Lecture Series talk. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to author, musician, and poet Robert Hudson, on the connections between the singer Bob Dylan and writer Thomas Merton. Ho...

May 09, 201834 minEp. 126

RFA Reports on Direct Primary Care part II; Upstream on 'Avengers: Infinity War'

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we feature the second installment of RFA Reports. Guest Anne Marie Schieber-Dykstra, an award-winning reporter and former anchor with WOODTV Grand Rapids, talks with experts and patients on ways in which Direct Primary Care centers are providing better medical care for affordable prices. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks about the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: “Avengers: Infinity War” with Micah Watson, professor of poli...

May 02, 201820 minEp. 125

RFA Reports on Direct Primary Care; Upstream on 'Chappaquiddick'

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, we premier a new segment: RFA Reports. Guest Anne Marie Schieber, an award-winning reporter and former anchor with Wood TV Grand Rapids, discusses ways in which Christian healthcare centers are providing better care for affordable prices. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks about the new film Chappaquiddick with Henry Payne, editorial cartoonist and opinion writer at The Detroit News . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Apr 25, 201822 minEp. 124

Business FX on workplace ethics; Upstream with blues group Kathy and the Kilowatts

This episode of Radio Free Acton starts off with the second installment of the Business FX segment, featuring a talk on ethics in the workplace between John Couretas, director of communications at Acton, and Phil Sotok, management consultant with DPMC. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker interviews Kathy Murray of the Austin-based Blues band Kathy and the Kilowatts on the history of the Austin blues scene and themes of freedom in Blues music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Apr 18, 201835 minEp. 123

Discussing 'Communism & Christian Faith'; Upstream with mystery novelist Sally Wright

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Acton’s Drew McGinnis and Dan Hugger discuss the book Communism & Christian Faith with Pavel Hanes, professor in the department of theology at Matej Bel University in Slovakia. Communism & Christian Faith was written by Lester DeKoster at the height of the Cold War and is newly reissued in the Acton bookshop. Then we have an Econ Quiz segment on trade deficits: what are they and how are they measured? Finally, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Wal...

Apr 04, 201840 minEp. 122

Justice in taxation, How entrepreneurs make a freer society, and Upstream on ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Kevin Schmiesing, research fellow at Acton, speaks with Robert Kennedy, professor in the department of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas, on ‘Justice in Taxation.’ Then, Caroline Roberts talks with Brett VanderKamp, founder and president of New Holland Brewing Company on how entrepreneurs make a freer society. Finally, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker discusses the life and work of Madeleine L'Engle with Sarah Arthur, author of a ne...

Mar 28, 201846 minEp. 121

Tech & Work: The effect of technology on farming; Upstream on 'The Rending and the Nest'

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Dan Churchwell, associate director of program outreach at Acton, speaks with Kevin Scott, a farmer from Valley Springs, SD, on sustainable farming and growing technology as well as the dramatic changes in agriculture that have taken place due to new technologies. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks with author Kaethe Schwehn on her new dystopian novel "The Rending and the Nest." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 21, 201836 minEp. 120

Phil Sotok on purpose and fulfillment in the workplace; Upstream on the beat poets

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, John Couretas, Director of Communications at Acton, talks to Phil Sotok, management consultant with DPMC, examining purpose, fulfillment and ethics in the workplace. Then, on the Econ Quiz segment, Caroline Roberts speaks with Aquinas College professor of economics, Dave Hebert on the newly proposed steel and aluminum tariffs. Finally, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker discusses the beat poets with Robert Inchausti, professor of english at Californ...

Mar 14, 201845 minEp. 119

Philip Booth on what's missing from Laudato Si'; Upstream with jazz legend Norma Winstone

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Rev. Ben Johnson, Senior Editor at Acton, speaks with Philip Booth, Professor at St. Mary’s University in the UK about what’s missing from the 2015 Papal Encyclical: Laudato Si’. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker talks to British jazz legend Norma Winstone about her contribution to Jazz and her newly released album: ‘Descansado - Songs For Films.’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 07, 201836 minEp. 118

Yuval Levin on finding solidarity in the Age of Trump; Upstream on "Black Panther"

On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Marc Vander Maas, audio/visual manager at Acton, speaks with Yuval Levin, Vice President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, on finding solidarity in the “Age of Trump,” what it means, how it came about, and also touch on the history of political polarization in America. On the Upstream segment, Caroline Roberts has a discussion with Julian Chambliss, professor of history at Rollins College, on Marvel’s new hit movie, “Black Panther.” Hosted on Acast. See...

Feb 28, 201833 minEp. 117
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