The ThinkND Podcast

Episode Topic: Migration

In this episode, sociologist and demographer Professor Amy Hsin guides us to a critical junction in the fight against poverty: the profound intersection of immigration policy and systemic inequality.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/75d0fe.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled Poverty Research from Every Angle. 

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND P...

Episode Topic: From Line Items to Impact

Discover how local government leaders move beyond ad hoc evaluations to embed research, data, and evidence into everyday budget decisions. Listen in to gain practical insights on building internal capacity, fostering cross-departmental partnerships, and creating the political will needed to make evidence-informed budgeting a lasting reality.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND...

Episode Topic: A History and Politics of Hope

In an era scarred by “human wrongs,” how does a nation sustain an indomitable spirit? This session explores Ukraine’s transformation from Soviet subjects to sovereign historical actors. By redefining hope as a defiant, collective pursuit of justice rather than passive wishful thinking, our panel offers a profound roadmap for democratic resilience and global solidarity.

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Episode Topic: A Conversation with Emma Trelles

From Miami’s neon car culture to Santa Barbara’s mountain dreams, Poet Laureate Emma Trelles explores the “bones-deep” honesty of her work, Courage and the Clock. Discover her transition from journalist to literary activist, the strategic necessity of paying artists, and her powerful rejection of perfectionism in this essential interview.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/f2b708.

This podcast is a par...

Episode Topic: Why Does the Nobel Prize in Science Matter?

Ever wonder how Nobel-winning science research affects your everyday life? Join faculty from the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend as they unpack the discoveries behind one of science’s most prestigious award—and why it matters to all of us.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/f...

Episode Topic: Civic Virtue

Rajiv Vinnakota is the President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, where the mission is to strengthen civic life in America by empowering young people to tackle civic challenges with bold, fresh ideas. Listen in for a conversation about his background, the institute, and civic virtue.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/7c2f97.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled...

Episode Topic: Tongues of Men and Angels

Discover "Tongues of Men and Angels," where Grammy-winning composer J.J. Wright ‘14 MSM, ‘17 DMA and poet Dana Gioia bridge high art and jazz. Witness a performance that had audiences swinging in their seats, redefining the sacred tradition through a daring fusion of Bach, Monk, and pop. Explore the future of the Catholic musical imagination.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/750d...

Episode Topic: Law & Morality

Does law reflect mere convention or objective reality? Marking 800 years of Thomas Aquinas, explore how his synthesis of law and morality provides a radical framework for justice. Challenge modern positivism and discover how the architecture of virtue informs the common good, moving society from legal compliance to true spiritual freedom.

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Episode Topic: Place Based Community Regeneration

Join us as panelists discuss strategies for allocating limited funds (to be catalytic), attracting (the right kinds of) investment, and addressing housing shortages (by addressing failed urbanism) in the process of reactivating downtown development in Midwestern cities. Watch regional leaders discard obsolete models to champion fiscal solvency and civic pride, proving that when we prioritize community over projects, we rebuild the American fabric.

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Episode Topic: Being the Change

Join Dr. Milo Dodson ’08 and a panel of intergenerational alumni, Dr. Dom (Dominic) Acri ’18, Savanna Morgan ’20, and Dominique DeMoe ’19, as they explore the legacy of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program. Discover how “Being the Change” transcends individual success, fostering a communal ecosystem of advocacy that spans decades. Learn why betting on yourself is the first step toward institutional transformation.

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Episode Topic: Religious Pluralism (https://go.nd.edu/1c89af)

Under the conditions of globalization, more religious people than ever find themselves in close contact with members of other religious traditions. Our hosts convene in this episode for a scriptural conversation on religious pluralism. How is the religious “other” discussed in the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? How do each of these traditions interpret the fact of multiple religions? Is the multiplicity of religions positively willed by God—or just permitted by God as a result of human failings? They explore the question at the heart of our...

Episode Topic: Crafting Music & Synthesizing Sounds with Geometry

Have you ever wanted to create your own unique sounds but didn’t know how to start? Using basic geometry, it’s easy to synthesize new and exciting sounds through software you can run on a laptop! In this talk, Indiana University South Bend professor Ryan Olivier will demonstrate a few synthesis techniques and explain how thinking in geometries has informed his compositional process.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open onlin...

Episode Topic: Business on the Frontlines

Explore “Active Hope” as a catalyst for order in Ukraine. Beyond profit, business has become a strategic mandate for survival and a testament to our global solidarity. Join us as we examine how the University of Notre Dame and its partners forge resilience amidst ruin, serving as a powerful “Force for Good.”

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Episode Topic: The Role of Joy

Cameron Kim is assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University and Laura Dunham is dean of the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. Listen in for a conversation about the nature of joy with these authors that contributed to the spring 2026 edition of the Virtues & Vocations: Higher Education for Human Flourishing magazine.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Emma Trelles

Join poet and Graywolf Press Executive Director Carmen Giménez for a profound exploration of modern “folklore”—from digital fandoms to the absurdity of conspiracy theories. Giménez reflects on her transition from founding Noemi Press to leading a major nonprofit, offering rare strategic insights into our fragile literary ecosystem’s future.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/38bd9a.

Th...

Episode Topic: Dante Among Thelogians

Step into the celestial rose of the “Dante Among Theologians” project. This international collaboration invites you to rediscover Dante’s vision not merely as verse, but as a living source of wisdom and spiritual insight. Witness a transformative journey where the God of Love fulfills our deepest desires across centuries and disciplines.

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Episode Topic: Architecture in an Age of Uncertainty

Liam O’Connor, 2025 Richard H. Driehaus Prize Laureate, explores how the timeless principles of traditional and classical design focused on enduring beauty, quality of craft, and integration with the landscape offer a crucial anchor for collective memory and cultural expression.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/c6903f.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series...

Episode Topic: The Political Life of the Novel

Join novelists Isabella Hammad, Brandon Hobson, and Amir Ahmadi Arian for an ontological inquiry into the aesthetics of resistance. Amidst the ongoing Nakba and systemic dispossessions, this dialogue interrogates the novel as a technology of resistance, transforming state violence into a grammar of human sovereignty and asserting historical truth against annihilation.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https...

Episode Topic: Growing into Leadership and Service

Ever wondered how a summer bridge program transforms into lifelong connections? Listen in to stories of alumni from the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program, which helped them navigate rigorous academic terrains with confidence, uplifted by a community that championed their excellence. Witness the bonds that sustain leadership and fuel a lifetime of impact.

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Episode Topic: History of Philosophy 

Explore Thomas Aquinas' rigorous engagement with the Falsafa tradition. From the mechanics of the soul to the dignity of science, discover how his relational rationality bridges medieval wisdom and modern inquiry. Listen in as we synthesize these timeless metaphysical debates for the contemporary professional.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/045a76.

Episode Topic: Downsides of Markets

What does the tension between economic prosperity and moral character tell us about the profound intersection of liberty and human flourishing?  Envision a society where justice protects every person, property, and promise.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/bf2cdd.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled 1776: The Ideas that Made the Modern World.

Thanks for listening! The T...

Episode Topic: A Conversation with Xavier Cavazos

Can sound truly mend a fractured soul? Savor this vibrant dialogue tracing poet Xavier Cavazos’s path from the Columbia Basin’s dust to Manhattan’s poetic fires. Listen in to the collision of Nuyorican energy and academic sanctuary in an oral history interview conducted by Karla Yaritza Maravilla Zaragoza. Witness the crackling energy of a life transformed through metamorphic verse. 

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/7d9...

Episode Topic: Paving the Way 

Travel back to the early days of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program with former students who reminisce about arriving at a quiet summer campus where an unfamiliar landscape transformed into a vibrant tribe where shared ambitions forged an indestructible sanctuary of belonging.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/02e336.

Thi...

 Topic: Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., ’06 M.Div., ’15 MBA

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultiv...

Topic: Glynnis Garry Bann, ’11 B.A., M.D.

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—j...

Topic: J. Martin (Marty) Regan, Jr. ’76

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—just like Fr...

Topic: Jennifer Burke Lefever ‘98 M.A., ‘00 Ph.D.

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—jus...

Topic: Mike Brown ’01

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—just like Fr. Ted.

Episode Topic: Notre Dame's History with Native Peoples from Reunion 2026 

Drawing from the records of Fr. Badin, Fr. Sorin, and Fr. Hesburgh, as well as Chief Leopold Pokagon, the founder of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Zada Ballew '19 tells a fuller, more complicated story of how Notre Dame was founded and why. In this telling, Indigenous peoples are neither missing nor absent from the narrative — they are central to the history of the land that became Notre Dame. Understand more fully how the early history of the Potawatomi and Notre Dame is remembered on campus.

F...

Episode Topic: Justice, Beneficence, and the "Well-Governed Society" 

How do individual actions harmonize to produce widespread prosperity? Examine the moral and economic frameworks defining a well-governed society to build a robust foundation for understanding civilization. 

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/11bd6e. 

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled 1776: The Ideas that Made the Modern World.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is b...

Episode Topic: Habit, Ritual, & Well-being

Unlock your day's hidden potential. Harvard’s Michael Norton explains how freelancing simple, even ridiculous rituals—from clinking silverware to morning coffee—transforms mundane habits into vital anchors for emotional resilience. Discover how these social signatures move you beyond mere automation to truly animating your professional and personal life for flourishing.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/d2e1b0.

This podcast is a part o...

Episode Topic: The Jewishness of the New Testament

How can a deepened knowledge of Judaism nourish the theological imagination of Christians? Why are anti-Jewish readings of the New Testament just bad readings of the text? We welcome a distinguished New Testament scholar, Amy-Jill Levine, who is the world expert on the Jewishness of the New Testament, to tackle these engaging questions.

Featured Speakers:

-Amy-Jill Levine, Vanderbilt University 

 Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/ba5518.

Th...

Episode Topic: Fr. Ted Said: Cultivating Hope

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—just l...

Episode Topic: ND Perspectives: Guardians of AI Innovation

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept; it is actively reshaping how we live, work, and connect right now—whether your daily life is high tech, low tech, or completely unplugged. But as this technology accelerates, who is ensuring it ultimately serves humanity? Claim your front-row seat to the future and unpack complex issues like data privacy, massive marketplace recalibrations, human autonomy and ethics. Bring your most pressing questions to this panel of faculty and alumni experts for discussion and audience Q&A. You will leave with renewed cl...

Episode Topic: The Nature and Causes of Wealth

What are the fundamental mechanics behind global prosperity? Navigate the intellectual landscape of 1776 to witness how revolutionary ideas birthed modern economics.

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Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/065168.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled 1776: The Ideas that Made the Modern World.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University...

Episode Topic: Magnifica Humanitas: Human Dignity in the Age of AI 

 Join the de Nicola Center for a conversation with University of Notre Dame experts on the import of Pope Leo XIV’s highly anticipated first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

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Episode Topic: Haunting as Inheritance

How does language haunt the displaced? Join Noor Naga, author of If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English, and Hannah Lillith Assadi, author of Sonora, as they explore “linguistic slippage” and the “untranslatability of the self.” From post-revolutionary Cairo to the Arizona desert, discover how spectral forces beneath the English language shape modern identity. Listen in for an essential interrogation of life in the “in-between” spaces.

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Episode Topic: Hope in the Headlines? 

In an era of state-sponsored disinformation, media serves as both a kinetic weapon and a vessel for national healing. Join us for a high-level dialogue on Ukraine’s struggle to decolonize its information space, offering a critical case study in neutralizing transnational authoritarian narratives and building systemic democratic resilience in a post-truth world.

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Episode Topic: The Theological Imagination

Is our imagination merely a retreat into fiction, or is it the very mechanism by which we perceive the truth? Join Judith Wolfe as she explores how we navigate the world’s unseen depths. Discover how faith and art unveil the “wholes” of reality, transforming our vision through the theological imagination.

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Episode Topic: Behind the Folds: The Mathematics of Origami 

Origami combines art and science to transform a flat sheet of paper into a 3-dimensional sculpture. This presentation includes group demonstrations of different origami pieces and learning about some of the mathematical applications of origami. Kyle Schwieterman, teaching professor in department of mathematical sciences at Indiana University South Bend, reveals a different side of mathematics while making paper art.

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