

What We Can't Not Talk About
Austin Institute
Join Austin Institute Executive Director and Director of Academic Programs Dr. Marianna Orlandi as she discusses topics that are relevant for the family and for society at large with prominent scholars and leaders in their fields. We promise that you’ll learn something and enjoy the conversations!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 28, 2024 • 1h 23min
"The Education of the Ambitious Soul" - A Lecture by Dr. Shilo Brooks (11/8/2024)
What is the proper education for young people who aspire to achieve political greatness? Can the autobiographies of the past teach us anything about our current trials, and how to overcome them? During this lecture, Dr. Shilo Brooks offers a few insights not only into these questions. He above all explores with us the reasons why, for the first time, his elective course for Princeton undergraduates, "The Art of Statesmanship and the Political Life," went from thirty kids enrolled to over 250. A Texas native, Dr. Brooks enchanted his audience at UT Austin just as he does in Princeton--and he will enchant you too. This lecture was co-sponsored with the Salem Center for Policy at UT Austin.
#AustinInstitute #SalemCenter

8 snips
Nov 28, 2024 • 51min
On Natural Law and Why it is for Everyone, a conversation with Professor J. Budziszewski
Join Professor J. Budziszewski, a renowned expert in ethics and political philosophy from UT Austin, as he unpacks the concept of Natural Law and its relevance for all. He navigates the complexities of how Natural Law influences legal theory and moral authority, emphasizing its universal truths. The conversation touches on the emotional consequences of our choices and the challenges of self-introspection. Budziszewski highlights the importance of understanding our actions for human flourishing, connecting ancient philosophical roots to modern well-being.

May 13, 2024 • 55min
#97 Lost in the Chaos: Immanence, Despair, Hope with Dr. R. J. Snell
In this episode of "What We Can't Talk About," Dr. Orlandi is joined by Dr. RJ Snell, Director of Academic Programs at the Witherspoon Institute, a sister organization of the Austin Institute. They delve into Snell's new book, "Lost in the Chaos: Immanence, Despair, Hope," which tackles the challenges of contemporary life in Western democracies, addressing decadence, disorder, and despair. The conversation navigates the complexities of finding transcendence and hope in a society that doesn't prioritize these values. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophical insights, Snell offers a roadmap to moral reformation and spiritual renewal, embodying philosophy in its purest form—a relentless pursuit of wisdom.

Apr 13, 2024 • 46min
The Toxic War on Masculinity with Professor Nancy Pearcey
In this episode, Professor Nancy Pearcey joins Dr. Orlandi for an engaging discussion on her best-selling book, "The Toxic War on Masculinity." Tune in to explore how the true essence of masculinity has been distorted and perverted throughout history, starting from the Industrial Revolution to the current portrayals in today's news and media. They delve into Professor Pearcey's motivations for writing this significant work and the consequences of misrepresenting masculinity in the 21st century. Nancy Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."
To read The Toxic War on Masculinity:
https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-War-Masculinity-Christianity-Reconciles/dp/080107573
To find more of Nancy Pearcey:
https://www.nancypearcey.com/

Mar 8, 2024 • 43min
S4 E9 Religious Freedom with Professor Andrea Pin
Dr. Andrea Pin, esteemed author and professor at the University of Padova joins Dr. Orlandi on our podcast. In this engaging session, Professor Pin answers Dr. Orlandi's questions about the intricate relationship between religious freedom, and other fundamental rights. Together they remind us that the history of human rights is much older than we traditionally believe.
To hear more about Andrea Pin:
https://canopyforum.org/2023/12/20/religious-freedom-and-comparative-law-the-protection-of-rights-and-the-exception-of-religious-freedom/
@andreapincomlaw on Twitter
#law #religion #italian #podcast #legal #legalknowledge #freedom #books #professor #lawyer #author

Feb 23, 2024 • 31min
S4 E8 Mental and Physical Chastity in the 21st century with Jason Evert
Renowned author and public speaker Jason Evert engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Orlandi, delving deep into the discourse surrounding the concept of chastity in the modern age. This compelling exchange unfolds as they explore the dimensions of chastity, addressing not only its physical implications but also delving into the intricate realms of its mental aspects.
You can find Jasons content, books and more at:
https://linktr.ee/jasonevert
#Chastity #Monogamy

Jan 15, 2024 • 1h 3min
S4 E7 Battling Censorship with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty
Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, the renowned physician who is among the plaintiffs in the soon-to-be supreme court case, Missouri v. Biden, and author of “The New Abnormal”, speaks with our very own Dr. Marianna Orlandi. In this episode, Dr. Kheriaty and Dr. Orlandi go deep into the history of censorship during the pandemic, the limits and dangers of social media, and more.
Visit Dr. Aaron Kheriaty’s website to learn more and to pick up his book, “The New Abnormal”
https://www.aaronkheriaty.com/
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/slaying-censorship-leviathan
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63290154/missouri-v-biden/

Dec 16, 2023 • 50min
What Guareschi Can Teach us About our Ideologized World with Author Piers Dudgeon
Ever heard of Don Camillo and his "Little World?" If not, it is time to tune in! In this episode, Piers Dudgeon, author and publisher, joins our very own Dr. Marianna Orlandi to discuss the tales of post-war Italian Catholic priest, Don Camillo, and his dealings with the town's mayor, the communist Peppone. Beyond that, they discuss the ways in which their author, the Italian novelist and journalist Giovannino Guareschi, may have something to teach us about ideology, identity, and the well-being of our society.
Read more from Guareschi and Piers Dudgeon!
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APRYUY?ingress=0&visitId=73c229d8-d144-4759-afc6-73cb478a49d1&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr
https://europeanconservative.com/news/

Nov 7, 2023 • 1h
S4 E5: How Cities and Buildings Affect our Flourishing with Philip Bess
Professor Philip Bess, a distinguished professor of architecture at The University of Notre Dame, joins our very own Dr. Marianna Orlandi to discuss the natural law embedded in our cities. Professor Philip Bess and Dr. Marianna Orlandi explore the importance of the beauty, design, and function of cities and how the way we plan our cities and build our buildings impacts us. They talk about how cities throughout history have affected the flourishing of families and individuals and look forward to what can be done so that the spaces we live and share in can help us grow into better people.
https://architecture.nd.edu/faculty/philip-bess/

Oct 13, 2023 • 40min
S4 E4: What if Children Came First with Katy Faust
Our guest today, Katy Faust is the founder and president of the non-profit and global organization, Them Before Us, an organization dedicated to fighting for children's rights and defending them against the progressive outreach of the modern world. Join us as our very own Dr. Marianna Orlandi and Katy Faust discuss the ways in which the rights of children to intact families are being subverted every day. In this episode, they discuss the importance of upholding family integrity, the dangers of divorce, the history of family disintegration, the problems with unnatural reproduction, and how Them Before Us works to speak up for children’s rights.
https://thembeforeus.com/whoweare/
Check out Katy Faust's latest book: Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City
Visit Our Website: https://www.austin-institute.org/


