What We Can't Not Talk About

Once again, we are happy to host a conversation on the issue of today: online pornography. With the help of Sean Clifford, CEO of Canopy.us, and happy father of four children, we tried to understand what each of us can do to make sure that our kids are not exposed, not even accidentally, to this new and dangerous drug. As our guest tells us, internet is a great resource and we all love our smartphones (and our podcasts!); but the internet is also a very dangerous place. Internet filters are a great and necessary help. By the way, there are filters out there that can help adults too! Listen, share, and consider protecting your loved ones. Canopy: https://canopy.us/, https://www.covenanteyes.com/?msclkid=7a7c12200cf41fa7d10672dc5f188ce6 DISCOUNT CODE: SAFER at checkout: 15% off + 30 days free with any subscription plan. Meet Circle: https://meetcircle.com/

What is the role that America can play in defending and promoting the right to life of all children, everywhere in the world? How does its international policy look like today and how did it look like during the former administration? In this episode we recorded a couple weeks back, we have the privilege of hosting a conversation with Valerie Huber, an architect of the Geneva Consensus Declaration (tune in to learn about it!) and former U.S. Special Representative for Global Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Enjoy! Geneva Consensus https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/geneva-consensus-declaration-english.pdf

As promised, Professor Christopher Kaczor is back on our show to talk about his latest release—published today: "Jordan Peterson, God, and Christianity: The Search for a Meaningful Life!" Co-authored with Associate Professor Matthew R. Petrusek, the book analyses Peterson’s biblical series on YouTube as well as his bestselling book "12 Rules for Life" and his latest "Beyond Order" from a Christian perspective. In this episode, I get to ask Professor Kaczor a few deeper questions about Genesis, human creativity, and true happiness. Not *instead* ... but *before* reading the book, tune in for another great talk! LINKS: Book: https://books.wordonfire.org/peterson-book https://www.amazon.com/Jordan-Peterson-God-Christianity-Meaningful/dp/1943243786/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kaczor+jordan&qid=1627412081&s=books&sr=1-1 Our book club: https://www.austin-institute.org/events/the-good-life-book-club Koons' episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6USikEhKuXigE2WCXmz886

As promised, Dr. Melissa Moschella came back on our show! This time, we talked about true humility and about the ways in which exercising this virtue would improve all of our social interactions. In an age dominated by constant self-awareness and by an actual cult of the self, humility reminds us that we do not need to be "liked," but to be true to others. Even within marriage, humility is necessary to acknowledge our limits and to grow together, as couples and as individuals. Enjoy... with prudence, courage, temperance and justice, of course! What happened to Virtue, the Common Good, and Pluralism, Teachings from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: https://www.religiousfreedominstitute.org/rfievents/what-happened-to-virtue-the-common-good-and-pluralism

**This episode contains mature content** If there is one thing we absolutely must talk about, that is pornography. We have to talk about it because it affects our children, our friends, our spouses. If you are young, and if you are using it, it will inevitably affect your sexual life (let alone the romantic one). If you are a parent, you need to listen to Dr. Jimmy Myers, Founder and CEO of the Timothy Center, whose experience treating sexual addictions will be an eye-opener for many. Listen, and *do* talk about this! Timothy Center: https://www.timothycenter.com/whatwedo Brain Heart World Documentary: https://brainheartworld.org/screening-type How Porn Can Harm Consumers' Sex Lives: https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-harm-consumers-sex-lives How Porn Can Change the Brain: https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-change-the-brain/ Canopy, a digital parenting app that blocks pornography: http://canopy.us Pornographic Double-Bind by Professor Mark Regnerus https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/11/the-pornographic-double-bind?fbclid=IwAR1sDl_XK39JdSYpMFwz6FID2eYLKJYalzC7z4FUQDoctt1IPexf6g9Lv-s

In this episode, Austin Institute's Senior Fellow, UT Professor of Philosophy Robert Koons, offers a brilliant description of the reasons why modern science does not disprove the existence of God. Last spring, Professor Koons presented these arguments more extensively, in the context of a compact seminar that he led for Austin Institute's attendees. (Be sure to subscribe for the next compact seminars: they are not recorded!) Go to www.austin-institute.org to check out our upcoming events! Enjoy! Links: Where The Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism, by Alvin Plantinga: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Conflict-Really-Lies-Naturalism/dp/0199812098 Science and Theism: Concord, not Conflict*: http://robkoons.net/uploads/1/3/5/2/135276253/science_and_theism.pdf

In this episode, University of Texas Professor and Senior Fellow of the Austin Institute Mark Regnerus shows how the family resists all sorts of pandemics, including biological ones. During lockdown and mandatory quarantines, this fundamental unit of society has again proven to be a safe haven for all the subjects involved. Rather than living alone in their one-bedroom apartments, children happily moved back home. Notwithstanding the pressure caused by the pandemic, the majority of married couples reported stronger marital bonds and greater appreciation for their spouses. The family helps, uniquely so.

Drawing from the research presented in her 2016 book, philosophy professor and Austin Institute senior fellow Dr. Melissa Moschella discusses the status, the nature, and the reasonableness of parental rights. In a world increasingly concerned with individual rights and forgetful of duties, the risk is to forget that children are first and foremost the fruits of spousal love. Link to her book: https://www.amazon.com/Whom-Children-Belong-Education-Childrens/dp/1316605000 Link to her previous episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VeVtUjfGJBBIqnRgMKwRq?si=0ca29ed0182146f7

In this episode, Professor Ligia Castaldi, Ave Maria School of Law, discusses her book "Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean" with another attorney, Dr. Marianna Orlandi. Tune in to listen to their conversation on abortion laws, bans, international courts and treaties, and on some common misunderstandings. Link to Professor Castaldi's book: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268107659/abortion-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/ Previous episode with Professor Castaldi, Abortion Rights in Argentina: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xL6CYLRKNge5birt56ejT?si=20516d994e364d24

This talk focuses on the question of "what" precisely divides people on the abortion issue. What are the real sources of the polarization and lack of dialogue? Is it revival ideas of freedom, of person, of equality, of religion, and the role of the state? In the words of Charles Camosy, “placing oneself on either side of the typical polarizations — pro-life vs. pro-choice, liberal vs. conservative, Democrat vs. Republican — only serves to further confuse the debate and limits our ability to have fruitful dialogue.”