Light & Truth

In this episode of Light & Truth, Jonathan J. Sanford sits down with Rabbi Mark Gottlieb to explore one of the most urgent questions in education today:Is education about job preparation—or the formation of the whole human person?Drawing on the thought of Dietrich von Hildebrand and the shared intellectual traditions of Judaism and Christianity, this conversation examines:Why classical education is a living tradition—not a relic of the pastThe role of truth, goodness, and beauty in forming characterHow habit, discipline, and intentional living shape virtueWhy specialization alone cannot form leadersThe shared mission of Jews and Christians in renewing Western civilizationAt a time when education is increasingly reduced to utility and speed, this discussion offers a compelling vision: education as formation—rooted in tradition, oriented toward purpose, and capable of renewing culture.About Light & TruthLight & Truth is a podcast series from the University of Dallas, featuring conversations on the renewal of culture, faith, and the enduring value of the liberal arts in the modern world.Learn more about the University of Dallas:https://udallas.eduExplore the Classical Education Program:https://udallas.edu

In this episode of Light & Truth, University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford sits down with Catholic author, speaker, and SiriusXM radio host Katie McGrady, BA  ’11, for a conversation about faith, vocation, and the enduring power of a Catholic liberal arts education.Katie shares what drives her work in Catholic media and evangelization: the conviction that the world needs what the Church has to offer—a vision of meaning, joy, and ultimate purpose. She reflects on the influence of St. Thomas Aquinas, the role of prayer in intellectual life, and the challenge of living in a culture that often defines people only by productivity.Together they explore:• Why holiness—not success—is the ultimate aim of life• How a liberal arts education forms courageous and thoughtful leaders• The unique intellectual culture of the University of Dallas• Why reading great books matters even more in the age of AI• How Catholic graduates can be “salt and light” in modern cultureKatie also shares stories from her time at UD, describing how conversations, friendships, and engagement with the great books tradition prepared her to enter the world with confidence and faith.At a time when many question the value of higher education, this conversation offers a compelling vision of what Catholic universities can provide: the formation of the whole person.

In this episode of Light & Truth, University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford sits down with educator and Cana Academy cofounder Andrew Zwerneman to ask a deceptively simple question: What is history—and why does it matter right now?Zwerneman introduces History 250, an ambitious series of 6–8 minute short films designed to help Americans recover a truthful, unifying account of our past—one that helps form judgment, restore hope, and strengthen  solidarity in our common history as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.He explains why Cana Academy exists to “pump life into the humanities,” how History 250 serves teachers and communities beyond schools, and where you can watch the films and access supporting documents and maps.Watch / explore: History250.org and CanaAcademy.org

Light & Truth: George Weigel on Liberal Arts Education, Classical Education & Human Flourishing In this episode of Light & Truth, UDallas President Jonathan J. Sanford sits down with George Weigel to discuss why a liberal arts education—especially a Catholic liberal education rooted in classical education—still matters in an age of confusion about the purpose of education and the meaning of human flourishing.Weigel argues we’re living through a civilizational crisis—and that recovering the great ideas of Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome through serious study is essential not only for forming students, but for defending (and in that sense, helping save) Western civilization.They explore why students need a shared Western “civilizational vocabulary” to reason together and sustain a healthy public life, and why a post-literate culture becomes a post-rational culture.In this conversation:- Why liberal arts education prepares young people for “anything” by forming minds, souls, and character- How classical education anchors students in the canon of Western civilization- Why faith and reason belong together in a truly Catholic liberal education- What to look for when evaluating top Catholic colleges, top Catholic universities, and top liberal arts universities#liberalartseducation #classicaleducation #purposeofeducation #humanflourishing #catholiceducation #catholicliberalarts #udallas 00:00 Introduction to Catholicism and Liberal Education 01:10 Recovering Liberal Arts Education in America12:08 University of Dallas is Committed to Faith and Reason19:30 The Problem Today

A culture rooted in truth and committed to authentic human flourishing cannot be rebuilt by quick fixes — it requires formation, depth, and the renewal of our institutions. In this wide-ranging conversation, University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford and Mary Rice Hasson, the Kate O'Beirne Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and co-founder of the Person & Identity Project, examine how education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the classical liberal arts prepares young people to pursue lives of meaning, purpose, and virtue.Together, they explore:-The crisis of identity among today’s youth-Why information is not the same as wisdom-The importance of cultivating the virtues: prudence, courage, justice, and temperance-Classical education’s role in shaping free, thoughtful, and responsible human beings-How universities can help renew culture through truth, beauty, and the dignity of the human person-Why genuine human flourishing requires more than career preparation-How institutions — especially families, churches, and universities — can rebuild a fragmented societyAnchored in Catholic philosophical traditions and inspired by John Paul II’s vision of the human person, this conversation is a profound reflection on what education ought to be: the formation of the whole person toward truth and the good.If you're interested in cultural renewal, classical education, Catholic thought, or the future of higher education, this discussion offers a compelling and hopeful path forward.00:00 Introduction to the Person and Identity Project05:50 Classical Liberal Education Movement 16:15 A Reclaimed Culture26:26 Finding Your Purpose

In this Light & Truth Conversation, the first in a new video podcast series exploring themes in liberal education and the role of education in culture formation, University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford and Fr. Peter Stravinskas dive into Newman, his Idea of a University, and his approach to an education that humanizes while fostering friendships oriented to wisdom, truth, and virtue.00:00 Introduction to Cardinal Newman01:42 Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Newman04:14 The Influence of  Carbolic Education Around the World08:30 The University Project of Newman20:28 Revival of Catholic Culture