The ThinkND Podcast

Episode Topic: Why is the Classical So Essential for the Future of Humanity?

Step into a realm where built environments echo your deepest human need for connection and belonging. Immerse yourself in timeless urban traditions that shape living, walkable communities. Encounter an enduring architectural language designed to harmoniously adapt through dynamic cultural change, ensuring civic spaces continuously elevate and enrich your daily life.

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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/07d311.
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Episode Topic: Flannery O'Connor at 99

Step into the complex world of Flannery O’Connor. You will find rare archival treasures, encounter profound insights on race and faith, and absorb scholarly revelations behind her provocative fiction. Witness leading experts illuminate her artistic evolution, fulfilling your desire for accessible literary depth while preparing for her upcoming 2025 centenary celebration.

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Episode Topic: Generations of Leadership

Step into a heartfelt father-daughter dialogue that bridges historic Potawatomi heritage with modern student leadership. Experience authentic connection as Pete Slease ’96 and Emma Slease '27 share deeply personal stories of belonging, family lineage, and advocacy at Notre Dame. Gain timeless wisdom, feel true community spirit, and envision a more inclusive campus 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/e53c77.

Episode Topic: Disease-Poverty Traps

Notre Dame biologist Professor Jason Rohr takes us to West Africa to confront one of humankind’s most insidious feedback loops: the “disease-poverty trap.” In these environments, systemic poverty actively fuels the spread of disease, while chronic illness relentlessly deepens economic hardship. His  research perfectly illustrates how looking at poverty from every angle–including the biological–is vital to breaking the complex webs of inequality.

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Episode Topic: Political Philosophy

What makes a society just? Prompted by world war and global turmoil, Jacques Maritain turned his attention to the structure of human community. In Chapter Eight, Jason West unpacks Maritain’s foundational split between the individual and the human person, shedding light on natural law and human rights, and how personal dignity is necessary to anchor a thriving body politic.

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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/51389f...

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

Episode Topic: Moral Philosophy

How does our understanding of truth translate into living a good life? While secular perspectives can often view ethics as a set of rigid rules, Jacques Maritain argues that Christian revelation transfigures practical philosophy in a fundamental way. In Chapter Seven, Jason West uncovers the foundation of moral obligation, the crucial significance of human freedom, and faith-informed daily choices.

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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/2dc5d7.<...

Episode Topic: Contributions to Revealed Theology

How can philosophy enrich our understanding of faith? Though primarily a philosopher, Jacques Maritain offered profound contributions to Catholic theology. In Chapter Six, Jason West examines Maritain’s insights on mystical experience, the mystery of the Church, and the nature of Christ’s knowledge, revealing the ways philosophical inquiry nourishes spiritual reflection.

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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/e71cfe.

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Episode Topic: Natural Theology

Can reason alone lead us toward the divine? While modern thought often restricts rational thought, Jacques Maritain defends philosophy’s capacity to approach God. In Chapter Five, Jason West examines Maritain’s unique approaches to natural theology and his response to the problem of evil, finding reality at the intersection of intellect and faith.

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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/3925e8.

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Episode Topic: Metaphysics

What lies at the core of human experience and understanding? Many modern philosophical theories overlook the fundamental nature of existence, Jacques Maritain centers the intuition of being in his. Jason West explores how we perceive reality, distinguish essence from existence, and grasp objective truth, grounding our search for ultimate meaning.

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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/e0b0fc.

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Episode Topic: A Conversation with Juan J. Morales

Immerse yourself in a deeply moving oral history interview with poet Juan J. Morales, hosted by Notre Dame graduate Misael Osorio-Conde ’21 MFA. Together, they explore heritage, memory, and artistic craft as lived experiences across borders transformed into poignant 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/ddbc84.

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

Episode Topic: Chornobyl Madonna

Craving fresh insight into monumental historical turning points? Step into a captivating journey through the Chornobyl fallout, where you witness how Ukrainian poets, filmmakers, and leaders transformed tragedy through powerful sacred art. You will enrich your understanding of human resilience, absorb moving cultural perspectives, and revitalize your passion for global history!

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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/6af645.

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Episode Topic: American Democracy and the 2026 Midterms 

Join us for an insightful and dynamic panel discussion on the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, featuring 
Chris Matthews, former host of MSNBC’s Harball; Francis Rooney, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and Fomer U.S. Representative; Frances Lee, professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University; and moderated by Matthew E.K. Hall, director of Notre Dame’s Rooney Democracy Institute and David A. Potenziani Memorial College Professor of Constitutional Studies. Listen in to these prominent voices in journalism and politics as they offer diverse perspectives on the...

Episode Topic: Securing Democracy in Eastern Europe

Ambassadors to the European Union, Romania, and Moldova join Keough School of Global Affairs Dean Mary Gallagher in a discussion co-sponsored by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies on security, democracy, and Russian election interference in Eastern Europe.

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Episode Topic: Epistemology

How can we truly know and trust in what is real while we live through an age of skepticism? Long before modern critiques of the Enlightenment gained popularity, Jacques Maritain offered a ground-breaking defense of human reason. Jason West examines how Maritain bridges the gap between Cartesian rationalism and Kantian idealism, restoring confidence in our ability to grasp objective truth.

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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/97b7f1.

Episode Topic: Epistemology

How can we truly know and trust in what is real while we live through an age of skepticism? Long before modern critiques of the Enlightenment gained popularity, Jacques Maritain offered a ground-breaking defense of human reason. Jason West examines how Maritain bridges the gap between Cartesian rationalism and Kantian idealism, restoring confidence in our ability to grasp objective truth.

Featured Speakers:

Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: https://go.nd.edu/97b7f1.

Episode Topic: The Politics of the Rural-Urban Divide

Listen in to a dialogue between Jane Kleeb (Democratic Party Chair of Nebraska) and Mayor Mattie Parker (R- Fort Worth) focused on the unique opportunity that urban Republicans and rural Democrats have to reduce polarization in their communities.

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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/1c1679.

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Episode Topic: Success Stories

Step into dynamic discussions with Notre Dame’s Hispanic alumni navigating complex professional transitions during Hispanic Heritage Month. Gain career clarity, cultivate lifelong mentorship, and immerse yourself in authentic conversations about balancing cultural heritage with executive ambition. Harness this global network to elevate your trajectory and guide your next bold step.

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Episode Topic: Making Films with a Catholic Imagination

Witness the profound synergy between faith and artistry in this vibrant panel. Grasp how elite creators translate spiritual mysteries into visual narratives. Synthesize professional craft with theological depth. Gain fresh insights into the filmmaker’s vocation while viewing exclusive clips. Transform your entire understanding of beauty through this compelling, high-level dialogue.

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Episode Topic: The Honesty Crisis

Listen in for a conversation with Wake Forest philosophy professor and author Christian Miller as he shares his inspiration to study honesty, the state of truth in modern culture, and the vital message behind his book, The Honesty Crisis—a compelling guide to preserving our most treasured virtue in an increasingly dishonest world.

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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/4afe2e

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Episode Topic: Eclipses 101 

Forget memorized facts. Notre Dame astronomer Keith Davis breaks down celestial mechanics and solar eclipse safety into intuitive mental models. Discover why witnessing totality in person is a visceral, unmissable encounter with the cosmos. Hit play to prepare for the universe’s ultimate show.

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This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled Our Universe Revealed.

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Episode Topic: The Legacy of Colin Rowe 

Envision a reality where streets foster genuine human connection. Navigate this profound dialogue to transform your perception of the built environment. You will decipher the spatial nature of urban fabrics while tracing Colin Rowe’s revolutionary impact. Re-examine the city’s logic through scholarly lenses, satisfying your deep longing for communal identity.

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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/bdb258.

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Episode Topic: Development Economics

Notre Dame development economist Professor Rebecca Thornton opens a window into global-poverty solutions through the lens of rigorous field experiments in Nepal.

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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/1e398c

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

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Episode Topic: The Gifts of Movement

Experience the visceral weight of displacement through these preeminent North African voices. You navigate complex intersections of identity and artistic liberation within this profound dialogue. Witness how movement reshapes the creative spirit to inform the global canon.

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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/75a298.

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Episode Topic: The Life of Jacques Maritain

Dive into the unique life, background, and Catholic conversion of Jacques Maritain, his intellectual connection to his wife and partner Raïssa, and philosophical approach that made him one of the pre-eminent thinkers of the twentieth century.

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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/dafce0.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled The Christian Philosophy of Jacques Maritain.

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Episode Topic: A Conversation with heidi andrea restrepo rhodes

Listen in to a vibrant oral history interview with poet heidi andrea restrepo rhodes, conducted by Notre Dame Ph.D. student Karla Yaritza Maravilla Zaragoza, that serves as the foundation for a rigorous exploration of how language’s restorative pulse can document, resist, and ultimately heal.

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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/314780

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

Episode Topic: Rock, Resistance, and Resilience

Can you hear the rhythm of resistance in a quiet university hall? Listen as Ukraine’s legendary rock icon, Slava Vakarchuk, shares his soul through stories and song. Witness the raw intersection of art and war while he recounts front-line performances. Feel the visceral pulse of a nation fighting for its existence today.

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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/7fcda9.

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Episode Topic: I Have Called You Friends

Ever felt your imagination crave a deeper sense of wonder? Step directly into a rich world where mythic landscapes awaken your soul and ancient faith reshapes everyday life. By reconnecting truth with beauty, this immersive experience rekindles your spirit, lifting you out of modern isolation into a radiant, sacramental vision.

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Episode Topic: Journeys

The Institute for Latino Studies along with the Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame, and the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development present a panel discussion on the "Journeys of Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame." Join us for an engaging discussion representing achievment in a range of disciplines and experiences.

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Episode Topic: Mattering

Listen in for a conversation with journalist and author Jennifer Wallace as she shares her career journey, her roots in education, and the powerful message behind her book, Mattering—a roadmap to living a life of deep connection and purpose.

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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/ccf259.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled Virtues & Vocations.

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Episode Topic: Urban Planning in Nazi Germany

How does the built environment reflect the soul of a regime? Listen in as Dr. Harald Bodenschatz discusses his 2025 award–winning book, Urban Planning in Nazi Germany. From ideologically transformed landscapes to the myth of the unbuilt monument, explore the chilling reality of design weaponized for total war.

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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/6cbfe4.

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Episode Topic: Cognition

Can we perceive the spiritual realm with our physical minds? Listen in to a dialogue examining how the human intellect navigates its material limitations to grasp immaterial truths. Understanding these cognitive structures is a strategic necessity for anyone seeking to reconcile the tangible world of experience with the firm convictions of spiritual life. Grasp the intricate ways St. Thomas Aquinas defines human understanding. Navigate through sensory barriers to envision the certitude of faith.

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Episode Topic: New Frontiers

Have you ever felt the weight of potential meeting the warmth of home? You belong in a space where legacy transcends a mere title; it remains a promise of enduring support. This conversation reveals how decades of mentorship shape leaders navigating frontiers, inviting you to inhabit the Balfour-Hesburgh scholars’ transformative evolution.

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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. 

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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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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...