About this podcast
First Things is America's most influential journal of religion & public life.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 533 episodes
- Tangled Up In Blue · 45 min · Episode 535The editors discuss the blue wave in the midterm elections, the 39th Annual Erasmus Lecture, and Bob Dylan's audience with Pope Leo XIV.
- The Execution Will Not Be Televised · 46 min · Episode 534The editors discuss the canceled livestreaming of the Nidal Hasan execution, the stench of corruption in the Trump administration, and the 100th anniversary of Michel Foucault's…
- Cornell's Secret History · 41 min · Episode 533The editors discuss the NatCon in Jerusalem, the scandal at Cornell University and its broader implications, and whether AI could ever be considered to be conscious.
- Roger Scruton's Eternal Youth (ft. Dan Hitchens) · 40 min · Episode 532In this episode, First Things senior editor Dan Hitchens joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Making of Roger Scruton,” from the October…
- Brave New Sexual Ethics (ft. Mark Regnerus) · 50 min · Episode 531In this episode, Mark Regnerus joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Living Humanae Vitae in Poland,” from the October 2026 issue of the magazine.
- Standing Athwart AI, Yelling Stop · 36 min · Episode 530The editors discuss the AfD's continued victories in Germany, the death of the assisted dying bill in the U.K., and calls to "pace the frontier" in AI research.
- The German Right's Golden Moment (ft. Christopher Caldwell) · 59 min · Episode 529In this episode, Christopher Caldwell joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Why the AfD Wins” from the October 2026 issue of the magazine.
- Everything is America · 32 min · Episode 528The editors discuss Trump's renaming craze and its implications for international politics, the decay of academia in light of the Jason Arday scandal, and the upcoming…
- Of Things and Devices (ft. Brad Littlejohn) · 41 min · Episode 527In this episode, Brad Littlejohn joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Left to Our Own Devices,” from the August/September 2026 issue of the…
- The Fourth Watch (ft. James Keating) · 59 min · Episode 526In this episode, James F. Keating joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his new bimonthly topical newsletter for First Things, The Fourth Watch.
- The Critic as Artist (ft. Dana Gioia) · 1 h 0 min · Episode 525In this episode, Dana Gioia joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his most recent piece for Portico, "The Last of the Lost Generation."
- The Jew from Nowhere (ft. J. J. Kimche) · 44 min · Episode 524In this episode, J. J. Kimche joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his new bi-monthly topical newsletter for First Things, "The Jew From Nowhere."
- The Once and Future France (ft. Nathan Pinkoski) · 54 min · Episode 523In this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent introduction to Éric Zemmour's book, "The Suicide of France."
- This Catholic Moment (ft. Matthew Schmitz) · 54 min · Episode 522In this episode, Matthew Schmitz joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Our Strange Catholic Moment” from the June/July 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Church of Ratzinger (ft. Sam Zeno Conedera) · 56 min · Episode 521In this episode, Sam Zeno Conedera joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Ratzinger in the Whirlwind” from the May 2026 issue of the magazine.
- Postliberalism and its Discontents (ft. James Wood) · 45 min · Episode 520In this episode, James R. Wood joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Liberalism Is Christianity’s Prodigal Child” from the June/July 2026 issue…
- Recovering the University’s Soul | 2026 Neuhaus Lecture · 47 min · Episode 519In this episode, First Things brings you the recording of the 2026 Neuhaus Lecture presented by Bishop Robert Barron. Please subscribe to access more information about future…
- Disney Adulting (ft. Veronica Clarke) · 56 min · Episode 518In this episode, Veronica Clarke joins Germán and Virginia (who are subbing in for R. R. Reno) on The Editor's Desk to talk about her recent review, “A Whole New World” from the…
- Why Portico? (ft. Micah Mattix) · 40 min · Episode 517In this episode, Micah Mattix joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about Portico, a new literary quarterly published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life.
- Is Churchill America’s Hero? (ft. Sean McMeekin) · 57 min · Episode 516In this episode, Sean McMeekin joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Goodbye to the Postwar Consensus” from the April 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Return of the Mainline? (ft. Brad East) · 45 min · Episode 515In this episode, Brad East joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Mainlining Nostalgia” from the April 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Sexual Abuse Crisis Is a Law Crisis (ft. Michael Mazza) · 31 min · Episode 514In this episode, Michael J. Mazza joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Where the Dallas Charter Went Wrong,” from the March 2026 issue of the…
- Disclosure in Modern Poetry (ft. Glenn Arbery) · 31 min · Episode 513In this episode, Glenn C. Arbery joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Lyric as Disclosure” from the March 2026 issue of the magazine.
- Our Crisis is Metaphysical | 2026 D.C. Lecture | 2026 D.C. Lecture (Presented by: Mary Harrington) · 42 min · Episode 512In this episode, First Things brings you the recording of the 2026 D.C. Lecture presented by Mary Harrington. Please subscribe to access more information about future lectures…
- The Countryman–Foreigner Distinction (ft. Matthew Crawford) · 56 min · Episode 511In this episode, Matthew B. Crawford joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Love in the Time of Mass Migration” from the March 2026 issue of the…
- Admiration as Inspiration (ft. Elizabeth Corey) · 26 min · Episode 510In this episode, Elizabeth Corey joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about her recent piece, “On the Pleasure of Admiring” from the February 2026 issue of the magazine.
- What Virgil Teaches America (ft. Spencer Klavan) · 53 min · Episode 509In this episode, Spencer A. Klavan joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “In the Footsteps of Aeneas” from the February 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Promises of Gay Liberation (ft. Scott Yenor) · 49 min · Episode 507In this episode, Scott Yenor joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Rise and Fall of Gay Activism” from the February 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Evangelical Elite Gap (ft. Aaron Renn) · 53 min · Episode 505In this episode, Aaron Renn joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Problem with the Evangelical Elite” from the January 2026 issue of the…
- Caravaggio the Destroyer (ft. Jaspreet Singh Boparai) · 52 min · Episode 503In this episode, Jaspreet Singh Boparai joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Caravaggio and Us” from the January 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Realities of Empire (ft. Nathan Pinkoski) · 58 min · Episode 502In this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Hegemon or Empire?” from the January 2026 issue of the magazine.
- The Church of Sarah Mullally (ft. Damian Thompson) · 45 min · Episode 501In this episode, Damian Thompson joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Canterbury Fails,” from the December 2025 issue of the magazine.
- John Searle's Minds and Machines (ft. Edward Feser) · 50 min · Episode 500In this episode, Edward Feser joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Common Sense of John Searle,” from the December 2025 issue of the magazine.
- The Sabbath is Back! (ft. J. J. Kimche) · 38 min · Episode 499In this episode, J. J. Kimche joins R. R. Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Rest as History,” from the December 2025 issue of the magazine.
- How to Talk About God (ft. Hans Boersma) · 35 min · Episode 498In this episode, Hans Boersma joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, "Modernity and God-Talk," from the November 2025 issue of the magazine..
- Is the UK a Nation of Immigrants? (ft. Louise Perry) · 46 min · Episode 497In this episode, Louise Perry joins Rusty Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about her recent essay, “Indigenous London,” from the November 2025 issue of the magazine.
- Heritage and the Right · 46 min · Episode 496The editors discuss the troubles at Heritage, the conservative think tank whose president recently touched off a controversy by releasing a video statement in support of Tucker…
- Where Is the Antichrist? (ft. Peter Thiel) · 1 h 2 min · Episode 495In this episode, Peter Thiel joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recently co-authored essay, "Voyages to the End of the World," from the November 2025 issue…
- Walking in Wonder (ft. Virginia Aabram) · 21 min · Episode 494In this episode, Virginia Aabram and Elizabeth Bachmann join Rusty Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about Virginia's recent essay, “The Road to Chartres,” from the October 2025…
- Declaration of Dependence (ft. Leah Libresco) · 48 min · Episode 493In this episode, Leah Libresco joins Rusty Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about her recent book, “The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto.”
- Pope and Parliament · 42 min · Episode 492The editors discuss Great Britain’s assisted suicide bill, Pope Leo’s first major interview, and Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. Dan Hitchens joins Julia Yost.
- Faith in State Politics (ft. Cameron Sexton) · 31 min · Episode 491In the first episode of While We're At It, Cameron Sexton joins in to talk about his work as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and Speaker of the state House.
- Pius XII’s Vindication (ft. Michael Knowles) · 35 min · Episode 490In the first episode of While We're At It, a brand new interview series with First Things editor Rusty Reno, Michael Knowles joins in to talk about “The Pope and the Führer: The…
- Turning Point · 28 min · Episode 489The editors discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the rise of political violence in America. Rusty Reno joins Julia Yost.
- Politics After Literacy (ft. Mary Harrington) · 59 min · Episode 488In this episode, Mary Harrington joins Rusty Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about her recent essay, “The King and the Swarm,” from the August/September 2025 issue of the…
- The Death of the Oxford Don (ft. Jaspreet Singh Boparai) · 53 min · Episode 487In this episode, Jaspreet Singh Boparai joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, "Waugh Against the Fogeys," from the August/September 2025 issue of…
- Theology for a Brave New World (ft. Thomas Joseph White) · 58 min · Episode 486In this episode, Fr. Thomas Joseph White joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, "The Future of Catholic Theology," from the August/September 2025…
- William F. Buckley’s True Calling (ft. Christopher Caldwell) · 43 min · Episode 485In this episode, Christopher Caldwell joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, "The Great Excommunicator" from the August/September 2025 issue of…
- Nationalism Will Save the West · 29 min · Episode 484In the latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Yoram Hazony joins in to discuss his book, "The Virtue of Nationalism."
- How to Prevent an Act of Terror (ft. Alan Dershowitz) · 31 min · Episode 483In the latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Alan Dershowitz joins in to discuss his recent book, "The Preventive State: The…
