What We Can't Not Talk About

In this episode, Michael Raia, president and founder of Studio io, tells us more about his work as liturgical design consultant and about his calling to restoring beauty in today's world. Sit down and enjoy your coffee while Mr. Raia and Dr. Orlandi talk about what beauty actually is, and why it is so important in and for our experience of God and of the sacred. https://www.studioiodesign.com https://learn.liturgicalinstitute.org/theology-of-beauty https://www.thewayofbeauty.org/about

Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, was a recent speaker for an event co-sponsored by the Austin Institute and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In this episode, he answers to some of our questions about immigration and family separations, and about the family friendly policies that Latinos (or Hispanics) would like to see, both in the United States and at home. Grab your coffee and tune in!

In this week's episode, renowned Thomist and Philosophy Professor Christopher Kaczor spoke on some of the most complex and fundamental questions of philosophy, theology, and of our daily lives. With his usual clarity, Professor Kaczor answered questions on the existence of evil and on the reasons why, in itself, evil does not disprove the existence of God. Enjoy!

In this episode, our Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Stuart, identifies four main areas of division in today's American politics: geographical sorting, “liberalism”, 1619 vs. 1776, and God. He shares some ideas on how they all came to be and explains how we might all be inadvertently becoming more extreme in what we say and think. This was the content of our recent in-house seminar and we look forward to hosting many more in the years to come. Hence: donate!

What is the nature and meaning of human sexual difference? Is it a stable reality given to us by nature and nature's God for fixed and discernable purposes that pertain to not only body and biology, but also soul and spirit? Is it an evolved (and evolving) trait best explained in terms of its capacity to prolong the survival of megalomaniacal genes? Or is it rather a kind of illusion whose appearance is held in place by social and political forces that seek to maintain their privilege and power? This talk explores the fundamental presuppositions and positions of three rival theories of human sexual difference: The Thomistic, Evolutionary, and Post-structuralist. Having summarized the conclusions and foundations of each school of thought, it reflects on how often unheeded foundational differences account for much of why we too often talk past each other, seeming to inhabit different worlds, when speaking of sexual difference.

Do you ever wonder what's the purpose of promoting social science research? Do you need to be reminded about the importance of supporting—and donating!—to the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture? If you do, this episode is for you! Our Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Stuart, reports on his recent testimonies at the Texas capitol, where he shared scientific data on why open churches are good for our health, and why forcing female athletes to compete against biological males is (still) scientifically unfair. Tune in, enjoy, and donate! Links to the videos of him testifying before the Texas Senate and House. Dr. Kevin Stuart's testimonies: SB29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEuhpbc-Eew HB1239: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXPtk9FGiiI Link to the bills: https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB1239/id/2252775 https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB29/2021 Professor Timothy Fortin's Lecture on Rival Theories of Sexual Difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thk4xdn21Xk Professor Ken Craycraft and his athlete daughters on the Equality Act: https://open.spotify.com/episode/65zbR6ZKHUYbF9pNX6VjSu?si=vhneUl7SQP6mFClLSS0SVQ Dr. Kevin Stuart speaking on Religious Liberty and Closing Churches: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IVyzO5eDVyhvjaWkl5prU?si=4IUx2muPQ0--9g1zEFrjpw Texas Values: https://txvalues.org/about/

In this episode, it is finally Dr. Marianna Orlandi who answers to Dr. Kevin Stuart's questions! Based on a talk she gave last fall at the Austin Institute, our very own Associate Director describes a view of the law that is no mere "science," but an art, a juris-prudential art that we might need to rediscover, everywhere in the world.

In this episode, Dr. Patrick Fagan, founder and director of the Marriage and Religion Research Initiative (MARRI) shares some insights on the importance of fathers and on how their relationship with their children can positively affect their own health. Illustrating the results of some recent studies, our Senior Fellow confirms something we could have guessed all along: time spent in the family benefits us all! http://marri.us/

In this episode, Dr. Alan Sager shares some insights on the reasons why the U.S. Supreme Court could be a model for us all. Throughout history, Supreme Court Justices have rarely reached unanimous decisions. Yet, while divided on some of the most important issues of our public lives, they were always able to live and to work side-by-side. Who knows, perhaps becoming friends? You can view Dr. Sager's lecture at the Austin Institute on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8arBt7KI-Ok&t=18s

A Snowstorm in Texas? Seriously? What’s wrong with the climate, if anything, and what can we know about it? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Bonevac, Professor of Philosophy at UT Austin, and an expert on the science and data behind climate change claims, tells us what he thinks about it. Spoiler: we will not give you answers for or against, but a lot of good food for thought! Links to things mentioned in this podcast: - https://wattsupwiththat.com/ - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/384310.The_Skeptical_Environmentalist - https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/