Spe Salvi Institute Podcast

In this episode, Robert Mixa welcomes Marc Barnes, editor of New Polity, for a conversation about the sudden rush to insert AI chatbots into our lives without much consideration of what we are really doing. Even Catholics have come to love AI. From Catholic Answers’ “Fr. Justin” AI app to Magisterium AI, Catholics have embraced this technology. It’s time to hear from a Catholic who is calling us to hit the brakes and think. Maybe large language models are not just neutral tools that can “save time” and “meet people where they are.” Barnes dismantles these claims and revels in his rage against the machine.

In this episode of the Spe Salvi Institute Podcast, Andrew Petiprin and Robert Mixa chat with renowned Hungarian philosopher Ferenc Hörcher, author of "The Political Philosophy of the European City: From Polis, through City-State, to Megalopolis?" to discuss his work on the European city, intellectual conservatism, and the enduring legacy of Sir Roger Scruton in Central and Eastern Europe. Professor Hörcher explores how European cities have shaped civilization—from ancient Athens to modern urban centers—emphasizing prudence, community, and cultural heritage. We discuss the essence of intellectual conservatism and how it offers a balanced approach in today's world. Plus, hear about Scruton's heroic support for dissidents during the Cold War and his influence on the region.

In this episode of the Spe Salvi Institute podcast, Andrew Petiprin and Bobby Mixa welcome Dr. Michael Joseph Higgins, Professor of Humanities at St. Jerome Institute and author of the groundbreaking new book Giving One’s Word: Psychological Analogy as Social Analogy in Aquinas's Trinitarian Theology (Catholic University of America Press, 2025). Contemporary Trinitarian theology often emphasizes that to believe in the Trinity is to believe God is Love: three divine Persons who eternally know, love, and give themselves to one another in perfect communion. Yet St. Thomas Aquinas—whose theology centers on the immanent processions of Word and Love within the divine essence—is rarely seen as a champion of this "social" vision. Many assume his famous "psychological analogy" (drawn from human acts of knowing and loving) prioritizes divine unity over personal distinction, self-knowledge over interpersonal knowledge, and self-love over mutual self-giving—making it seemingly incompatible with, or at least in need of supplementation by, a more relational or social framework. Dr. Higgins challenges these assumptions head-on. Drawing from a close, creative reading of Aquinas's texts, he demonstrates that the psychological analogy is inherently interpersonal and social at its core. Far from shutting out the reality of mutual love and self-donation among the Persons, Aquinas's framework ensures that perfect self-knowledge and self-love in God are inseparable from interpersonal knowledge, interpersonal love, and radical self-giving. The distinction of Persons is as fundamental as unity, and the "Word" generation and spiration of Love reveal a Trinity of interpersonal communion—no external social analogy required. Enjoy the conversation!

Despite headlines filled with transatlantic friction—President Trump's comments on Greenland, questions about allies' commitments in Afghanistan, Ursula von der Leyen's calls for greater EU "independence" at Davos 2026, and J.D. Vance's 2025 Munich critique of deviations from NATO's founding principles—the alliance endures. Why? Petiprin argues that NATO is far more than a Cold War relic or a mere political-military pact. Rooted in a shared heritage and civilization (as stated in the NATO charter), it embodies a deeper spiritual and cultural unity between the United States and Europe. The U.S. serves as the senior economic and military partner, while Europe—especially now with power shifting eastward to Poland—remains the ancient spiritual capital. We explore NATO's remarkable resilience through decades of crises: -Early tensions: U.S. halting nuclear sharing with the UK, the 1956 Suez Crisis betrayal, France's 1966 withdrawal and expulsion of NATO HQ from Paris. -Later strains: 1970s/80s détente disputes, the 1999 Kosovo near-miss with Russia (British General Mike Jackson refusing orders), the 2003 Iraq split and "Freedom Fries." Recent examples: Trump's "bellicose" Greenland remarks, inaccurate claims about allies in Afghanistan (countered by Denmark's 12,000 troops and Poland's 44 fallen soldiers), yet no collapse—no invasion of Greenland, no punishment of Denmark.

Why does a 40-year-old + film about two men talking feel like the cinematic antidote we need most in 2025? In this episode of the Spe Salvi Institute Podcast, hosts Andrew Petiprin and Robert Mixa dive into Louis Malle's 1981 masterpiece My Dinner with Andre—a film consisting almost entirely of one extended conversation between two friends over dinner—and argue why it stands as the greatest film of our meaning-starved age. In an era dominated by distraction, superficial spectacle, and a widespread crisis of purpose, this quiet, dialogue-driven film prophetically diagnoses the spiritual emptiness of modern life. Wallace Shawn and André Gregory's raw, meandering exchange touches on existential alienation, the numbing comforts of technology, the loss of authentic human connection, and the desperate search for transcendence—issues that resonate even more deeply in our digital, post-Christian world today. From a perspective of Christian hope, Andrew and Robert explore how the film's unflinching confrontation with despair points toward the need for a greater hope: one rooted not in fleeting experiences or material progress, but in the encounter with the living God who redeems our restlessness.

This is an in-depth conversation with philosopher D.C. Schindler, author of the forthcoming article "The Crisis of Authority" in Communio. In this episode, Robert Mixa and D.C. Schindler discuss the profound erosion of authority in Western society, its ties to liberalism's promises and pitfalls, and the rising tide of postliberal reactions. Schindler delves into the essential distinction between authority and mere power, arguing that true authority translates transcendent truth into the immanent realm with the memory of ultimate things. Drawing on thinkers like Augusto del Noce, Hannah Arendt, and Byung-Chul Han, we discuss how modern politics, by reducing governance to practical matters and bracketing out metaphysical truths, has left us vulnerable to counterfeits and a deeper human crisis. From the Roman roots of "auctoritas" to the Christian synthesis of Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome, Schindler offers a timely reflection on the nature of authority, asking what it is in reality.

The numbers are brutal and undeniable: 60 percent of Gen Z men are single, and suicide rates among young males have quadrupled since 1980. Scott Galloway’s new book, Notes on Being a Man, sounds the alarm on purpose and fatherlessness, while desperate young men drift toward Nick Fuentes’ rage and Andrew Tate’s hustle, chasing shadows after the Liver King scandal exposed the hollowness of steroid-fueled alpha myths. Helen Andrews’ essay, “The Great Feminization,” diagnoses a culture that neuters boys, and Walter Ong’s Fighting for Life reveals how competition and ritual once forged men into protectors and providers. In this episode, Andrew Petiprin and Robert Mixa cut through the noise to ask where Christian Humanism offers a truer path: raising sons who reject screens, sin, and self-destruction for virtue, brotherhood, and mission.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Richard DeClue about his article “Eucharistic Ecclesiology” in the Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology. We discuss how the Eucharist defines the Church’s identity, unity, and mission, and explore key points from his work. Topics Covered: 1. What is Eucharistic Ecclesiology? 2. The Eucharist’s role in the Church 3. The hierarchical structure of the Church 4. The mission of the Church

In this episode of the Spe Salvi Institute Podcast, we welcome Dr. Larry Chapp—theologian, author, and founder of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm—to discuss his recent Catholic World Report article on Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”). Dr. Chapp unpacks the theological and cultural significance of this document, exploring how Dilexi Te calls the Church to rediscover the heart of evangelization through love for the poor.

In this episode of the Spe Salvi Institute Podcast, we confront a troubling reality: the resurgence of antisemitism in our world today. From violent attacks to subtle cultural prejudices, antisemitism is on the rise across Europe, the United States, and beyond. Why is this ancient hatred resurfacing in our time, and how should Christians respond? We explore the historical roots of antisemitism, its modern expressions, and the urgent moral and spiritual call to stand in solidarity with our elder brothers and sisters in faith. Drawing from Scripture, Catholic teaching, and contemporary events, we consider how Christian humanism and authentic witness can push back against scapegoating and violence. Join us for a thoughtful and challenging conversation on what it means to defend human dignity and foster true solidarity with our elders in the faith in an age of rising hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against the Jews.