PODCAST · society
What We Can't Not Talk About
by 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
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The COVID Aftermath: Lessons on Science, Courage, and Healthcare with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty
Dr. Fauci’s pleading of the Fifth 111 times in a recent Senate hearing outraged many Americans. Far before the Senate, in Missouri vs. Biden (2026), in which Dr. Kheriaty was a plaintiff, Dr. Fauci pleaded the Fifth 168 times; the Justice Department recently ruled in his favor. It is...
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Even the Unmarried Need Marriage - With Dr. Jennifer Bryson
A brilliant author, Ida Friederike Görres went the majority of her life without the recognition her writings deserved. Daughter of a German Diplomat of the Habsburg Empire and of a Japanese woman who withheld motherly love, Ida Görres wrote on matters spanning from the beauty and fruits of…
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Neither Feminists nor Trad-wives: Discussing a Thomistic Solution with Dr. Angela Knobel
The modern script for women seems to contemplate exclusively two options: either the feminist and childless virago, or the homemaker and mother of as many children as possible. While neither path may be “wrong”, and while we won’t tell anyone how to live their lives! - a real problem may lie in…
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America 250 and What it Means to be an American: A Conversation with Dr. Jacob Wolf
As we approach the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the question of what defines an American remains at large. Is it tied to our shared civic history, or is there something more? Why should students still read the classics, from Socrates to Nathaniel Hawthorne,...
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Poisoned Modern Medicine and Ancient Antidotes: Discussing Faith and MAID with Dr. Kristin Collier
In this episode of What We Can’t Not Talk About, Dr. Kristin Collier of the University of Michigan joins us to discuss a side of medicine often forgotten—considering the doctors and patients as both body and soul—and the implications this has on the field of medicine. Dr. Collier also discusses…
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Healing Romance, Resurrecting Marriage: An Austin Institute Conference
In this episode, we present the "Healing Romance, Resurrecting Marriage" conference, which took place on April 25th, 2026 at the Thompson Conference Center in Austin, Texas. The purpose of the conference was to shed light on the anthropology that lies at the basis of our current understanding of...
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Christianity in Japan: A Conversation with Dr. Lauren Spohn
Today, people of Christian faith are exceedingly rare in Japan. By no means, however, is the religion without history in the nation. Join us for this in-person episode with Dr. Lauren Spohn, as we discuss the story of the Catholic samurai and daimyō Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon, among other...
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The Desecration of Man: A Conversation with Carl Trueman
Abortion, pornography, euthanasia: at the height of our technological development, most of the Western world seems unable to find purpose and meaning. Unable to overcome challenges and natural limits, we prefer altering nature—or at least we try. While politicians address issues like “sex work”…
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The Death of Prestige? A Conversation with the Authors of “Slacking: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation”
Receiving a degree from an Ivy League institution has historically implied a level of educational prowess and prestige—but is that still the case today? In this episode, we sit down with Adam Kissel, Rachel Alexander Cambre, and Madison Marino Doan to discuss their research on the eight Ivy…
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Feminism and "The Dignity of Dependence". A Conversation with Leah Libresco Sargeant.
Women on the pill, female CEOs, women abhorring becoming mothers: is this all that feminism has to preach? What if—as author, spouse, and mother Leah Libresco Sargeant argues in her most recent book—real feminism starts by acknowledging how radically different men and women are? And how radically...
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You Must Read! The Benefits & Beatitudes of Reading with Professor Matthew Franck
In this episode of What We Can’t Not Talk About, host Dr. Marianna Orlandi welcomes Professor Matthew Franck of the Witherspoon Institute for a thought-provoking conversation on the importance of reading. Professor Franck shares personal experiences that shaped his life through books and reflects...
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Infertility and Incarnation: Navigating the Trials of an Infertile Marriage w/ Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead
In this episode of What We Can’t Not Talk About, host Dr. Marianna Orlandi welcomes Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead— The Catholic Institute Fellow and author of Infertile but Fruitful—for a deep and honest conversation about the cross of infertility in marriage. Snead speaks openly about the burdens...
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Immoral Conservatism Can't Work. Hume, Marriage, and Current Culture, with Dr. Aaron Zubia
A merely instinctual conservatism, exemplified by Hume, that lacks robust metaphysical and spiritual foundations, proves in the long run incapable of sustaining the institutions that built the West." In this episode, Dr. Orlandi sits with Dr. Zubia, Assistant Professor of Humanities at the…
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Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Dangers, and the Existential Question w/ Carlo Martinucci
Can Artificial Intelligence replace the human person? Is it benevolent and beneficial, or is it a threat to humanity? In this episode of What We Can’t Not Talk About, Carlo Martinucci joins us to explore these pressing questions. An Italian software engineer who has spent the past year studying...
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#112: Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Identity
In this episode of What We Can’t Not Talk About, Dr. Ana Samuel joins us to discuss Canavox’s new book - Courageous Conversations: Tips for Talking to Kids about Sexual Identity and Attraction - sharing wisdom for parents navigating the challenges of today’s cultural climate. From questions of...
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The Revenge of Conscience & The Price of Vice
In this deeply profound panel hosted by the Thomistic Institute at UT Austin, two renowned philosophers — Dr. J. Budziszewski and Dr. Scott Roniger — dive into one of the most ancient and enduring questions in moral philosophy: Does vice carry its own punishment? With references ranging from...
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The Rationality of Marriage: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Marriage and family are often debated through emotional or religious lenses, but can we defend these institutions using reason alone? Dr. Owen Anderson, Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Arizona State University, joins Dr. Marianna Orlandi on "What We Can't Not Talk About" to delve...
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Why Am I Not Getting the Love I Want?
In this insightful episode of What We Can't Not Talk About, Dr. Matthew Breuninger joins us to unpack the complexities behind why many individuals struggle to find lasting love, despite their deep desire and determination. Hosted by the Austin Institute, this conversation delves beyond societal...
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Literature, Philosophy, and the Mystery of the Human Person: Dostoevsky and Plato Revisited
In this thought-provoking lecture, Dr. Scott Roninger explores the profound connections between literature, philosophy, and our understanding of human nature, focusing especially on Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and Plato’s philosophical dialogues. Through Mark Twain’s reflections on...
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Why Education Matters: Lessons from C.S. Lewis and the New School of Civic Leadership
In this episode of What We Can't Not Talk About, Marianna Orlandi continues exploring education, joined by Professor Justin Dyer, Dean of the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin. Together, they discuss the profound ideas of C.S. Lewis in his influential book, The...
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Natural Law as Hermeneutical, A Lecture with Dr. R.J. Snell
This episode is a recording of the lecture delivered on February 21st by Dr. R.J. Snell at Robert Rowling Hall at UT Austin. The natural law is generally presented as highly certain and universal in its first principles, as essentially known by all rational personals, even though the…
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The Heroism of Forgiveness: What We Learn from Dolly in Anna Karenina
In this powerful episode of What We Can't Not Talk About, host Marianna Orlandi welcomes Dr. Anna Bonta Moreland, theologian and professor at Villanova University, to explore the radical, uncomfortable, and ultimately redemptive virtue of forgiveness. Drawing on the character of Dolly from...
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Education Can’t Be Neutral: A Discussion of Parental Rights in Education with Dr. Melissa Moschella
As parent-centric and state-centric visions of education do battle in American politics and academia, it is easy to lose sight of the fundamentals that underlie this conflict. In this episode, our host is joined by Dr. Moschella, fellow of the Austin Institute and champion of parental rights....
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Metaphysical Boredom in an Empire of Desire, with Dr. RJ Snell
This episode is a recording of the lecture delivered on February 20th by Dr. R.J. Snell at the University Catholic Center of UT Austin. While the term acedia may be unfamiliar, the vice, usually translated as sloth, is all too common. Sloth is not mere laziness, however, but a disgust with…
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Truth Exists, Einstein Wasn’t a Genius, and Trump May Not Be the Devil with Dr. Alberto Martínez
In this episode, Dr. Alberto Martínez, a distinguished professor of history at The University of Texas at Austin, joins Dr. Orlandi to discuss myths in the history of science and the distortion of truth in modern media. In particular, they focus on the myth of Einstein's genius and the media’s...
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Different Kinds of Indoctrination or Truth-Seeking? On Education and Its Essence, with Dr. Rachel Alexander Cambre
In this episode, Dr. Orlandi and Dr. Alexander Cambre get together to discuss the differences between that “indoctrinations” that too many schools have been accused of forcing upon students, and liberal education. What’s the essence of the latter, if any? And what did Solzhenitsyn, Tocqueville…
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From Plato to Brideshead Revisited: How Beauty Shapes Us
In this episode, Dr. Orlandi sat down with Dr. Scott Roniger, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, to discuss beauty, love, and faith. This time, the excuse was philosophical and literary ... all at once. Dr. Roniger, a philosophy of literature scholar,...
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On Natural Law and Why it is for Everyone, a conversation with Professor J. Budziszewski
When you hear the term "Natural Law," do you ever pretend to know what people are talking about? Would you be able to explain what Natural Law is to a friend? Above all, did you know that it is "for everyone"? In this episode, we have the honor to discuss some of these eternal truths with…
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"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…
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#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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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S4 E3: Hope and Healing: Addressing Student Mental Health Challenges, with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty
This special episode is the recording of the talk delivered by Dr. Kheriaty in Austin on Sept. 14th, 2023. Tune in to learn more about the causes of our society's distress and about what we can and should do to help people regain their sanity and their joy. https://www.aaronkheriaty.com...
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2. S4 E2: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is becoming more accepted across North America dangerously fast. with Professor Brian Bird
Meet Professor Brian Bird, Attorney, and Associate Professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, as he and Dr. Marianna Orlandi sit down to discuss the impending dangers of euthanasia and assisted suicide policies in North America, particularly in Canada.…
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S4 E1 : How the Modern Redefinition of Womanhood is Destructive to True Feminine Liberation with Dr. Abigail Favale
Dr. Abigail Favale, writer and professor at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, joins Dr. Marianna Orlandi to discuss the ways in which women’s dignity is actually being subverted by modern gender politics. Dr. Favale explains the detrimental effects of the pill...
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S3 E14 : Why Talking About Fidelity Now Matters More Than Ever with Dr. William Bellet
To kick off Fidelity Month, Clinician and Consultant, Dr. William Bellet speaks to us about why fidelity matters, now, more than ever. In this episode Dr. Orlandi and Dr. Bellet discusses how infidelity has lost its shame, how couples can protect themselves, and the impacts and influences of...
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S3 E13 : Can We Reverse Collapsing Populations? with Professor Jesús Fernández-Villaverde
It is no surprise that Global Fertility has been declining over the course of 30-50 years. You may not be aware, however, of how steep the slope has truly become. Economist and Professor Jesús Fernández-Villaverde has devoted his studies to analyzing why this is, and how we may be able to…
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S3 E12 : The Fertility Gap: Why Women around the World are Having Fewer Children than They Desire
The fertility gap is the difference between intended and actual births. While many countries struggle with below-replacement birth rates, the average woman desires more children than she will actually have in her lifetime. Our scholar will lead us in her investigation into the causes of these...
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S3 E11 : Beating Hearts, A Concert (and Talk) with Marie Bellet
We often think that finding love is all about being the best version of ourselves. But what if love is not about us at all? What if love is about our ability to receive another? Love, marriage and family are like a concert. Will we allow ourselves to be moved by the rise and fall of the melody…
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S3 E10 : Are you a Monkey? A Conversation with Professor Clifford Fry
Is your ancestor a monkey? Or perhaps, are you a monkey? These are the questions the world has been asking for over a century now. As a result, our understanding for the source of human life has drastically shifted away from religious ideologies. Nowadays, belief in the existence of God is...
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S3 E9 : Marriage, Divorce, and Human Flourishing, a conversation with Dr. Amy Hamilton
In a world where marriage is promoted as inconsequential, more and more couples in today's society look for an easy way out. Is divorce the best solution? According to UT research associate, Dr. Amy Hamilton, “the effects of divorce are staggering”, and may not always yield the positive results...
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S3 E8 : A Conversation on the Future of Abortion Laws and Policies with Heather Gebelin Hacker, JD
The Dobbs v. Jackson case brought about a new era within the political spectrum. For many, the case gave way to great disapproval, and raised various ethical concerns surrounding abortion. In this lecture, Heather Hacker talks about the current state of abortion law and policies, and how it will...
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S3 E7 : What Should We Think of Oscar Wilde? with Professor Paul Fortunato
In the picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde tells the story of a life corrupted by sin. In one of his plays, he reminds us that nobody is perfect and even equates love with charity. Yet, the Irish poet and playwright is often considered a major contributor, a key-player in that cultural change that led…
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S3 E6 : Our Loneliness? A Weapon in the Hands of Tyrants: A Conversation with Stella Morabito
Do you ever keep your opinion for yourself, fearing that speaking your mind would isolate you? Do you ever do or say something not because you want to, but because that is what everybody does? Well, if you do, you are just very human. At the same time, you might be contributing to a new,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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!
HOSTED BY
Austin Institute
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How many episodes does What We Can't Not Talk About have?
What We Can't Not Talk About currently has 127 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What We Can't Not Talk About about?
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!
How often does What We Can't Not Talk About release new episodes?
What We Can't Not Talk About publishes regularly with 127 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to What We Can't Not Talk About on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What We Can't Not Talk About?
What We Can't Not Talk About is created and hosted by Austin Institute.
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