Socrates in the City

James Orr and Mary Harrington: Why Aristotle Would Disagree With Modern Politics 01.05.2026 34min

In this Socrates Dialogues conversation with Mary Harrington, James Orr joins her as he traces his journey from the life of the mind to the heart of public affairs, reflecting on how a scholar becomes a political advisor without abandoning the pursuit of truth. Through this conversation, James Orr explores the meaning of scholasticism and its enduring influence, the shaping power of philosophy on the intellectual life of Europe, and the lasting political visions of Aristotle and Plato as they echo into modernity. Moving between the ancient and the contemporary, the abstract and the practical, the discussion wrestles with one of philosophy’s most enduring questions: the tension between existence and essence – and what it means for how we live, govern, and understand society today.The post James Orr and Mary Harrington: Why Aristotle Would Disagree With Modern Politics first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Mary Eberstadt: The Dark Side of the Sexual Revolution 01.05.2026 56min

How has the West drifted from its grounding in God, and what has been lost along the way? In this Socrates in the Studio conversation, author and scholar Mary Eberstadt joins Eric Metaxas to examine one of the most pressing cultural and spiritual questions of our time. Drawing on her influential works, including Adam and Eve After the Pill, How the West Lost God, and others, Eberstadt unpacks the far-reaching consequences of the sexual revolution, particularly its impact on relationships between men and women and on the broader redefinition of intimacy, identity, and family. She challenges prevailing assumptions by asking who has truly benefited from these cultural shifts, and the answers may surprise you. They present a compelling case for embracing challenge and struggle, not as obstacles to avoid, but as essential forces that shape us into deeper, more fully realized human beings. The conversation ultimately turns to the question of womanhood, exploring which vision of religion most authentically uplifts and supports women, and how competing cultural narratives continue to shape—or sometimes distort—our understanding of what it means to flourish.The post Mary Eberstadt: The Dark Side of the Sexual Revolution first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Tom Holland and Mary Harrington: The Rise and Reach of Rome 01.05.2026 1h 14min

“The idea of there being human rights is as fantastical as believing that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day…” In this spirited dialogue, host Mary Harrington is joined by historian and bestselling author Tom Holland to explore why Rome’s long shadow still falls across the modern imagination, and why Americans are particularly drawn to learning about this great empire. Drawing from Holland’s latest book, Pax: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age, the two discuss the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind. The conversation also ranges from Athens to Jerusalem to Rome, examining how these cities helped forge the moral and political grammar of the West. Along the way, they venture through the legacy of the Persian Empire, the upheavals of the Crusades, and how those ancient impulses continue in the minds of modern people.The post Tom Holland and Mary Harrington: The Rise and Reach of Rome first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Eric Metaxas and Jonathan Leaf: Decades of Chimp Propaganda 24.04.2026 1h 6min

What is behind society’s obsession with monkeys? In this thought-provoking conversation, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with author and playwright Jonathan Leaf to explore the ideas behind his provocative new book, The Primate Myth, and to ask what lies beneath the persistent effort to connect humanity and primates. They discuss why this fascination has endured so powerfully across culture, science, and media. From the mass popularity of Punch the Monkey to a broader cast of famous animals that have captured the public imagination, they examine the historical, cultural, and even political forces shaping this narrative, questioning whether the perceived relationship between humans and primates is grounded in genuine scientific insight or something more constructed. Along the way, they uncover surprising animal behaviors, trace unexpected ideological influences, and grapple with why this idea continues to resonate so strongly, inviting listeners to reconsider what they think they know about human origins, identity, and the stories we choose to believe.The post Eric Metaxas and Jonathan Leaf: Decades of Chimp Propaganda first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Louise Perry and Mary Harrington: The Feminization of Society 24.04.2026 1h 9min

Mary Harrington is joined by Louise Perry to discuss many topics ranging from the sexual revolution to the collapsing birth rates around the world to the strange pressures of feeling the need to react to each week’s “deranged mass emotional moment.” They argue that stepping offline—and building families and thinking deeply, for example—may actually be the ultimate countercultural move in an age addicted to speed and outrage.The post Louise Perry and Mary Harrington: The Feminization of Society first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Eric Metaxas and Hugh Ross: An Astrophysicist Explores the Science of the Bible 24.04.2026 50min

How does the book of Genesis line up with modern science? In this Socrates in the City conversation, Eric Metaxas is joined by astrophysicist Hugh Ross as they explore the surprising truths found in the Bible. The two explore the multitude of ways Genesis gets the science right, but still challenges us, from the origins of the universe to the reality of the Ice Age, along with a personal story about Ross’s Gideon Bible that’s been carried for years. This conversation explores the nuances, mysteries, and surprising truths of the relationship between science and faith.The post Eric Metaxas and Hugh Ross: An Astrophysicist Explores the Science of the Bible first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Jonathan Pageau and Mary Harrington: Reality in a Disenchanted Age 20.04.2026 1h 1min

Episode three of Socrates Dialogues with Mary Harrington returns, this week with artist Jonathan Pageau, for a conversation that is as delightful as it is wide-ranging. From medieval cosmology to internet memes (we love how Mary describes them as “clusters of meaning”), from Dante to C.S. Lewis, we wonder if there’s a topic that wasn’t covered. The duo discuss how one of the modern world’s troubles lies in forgetting how to see, having traded a symbolic vision of reality for a mechanistic one that leaves the soul rather undernourished. Along the way, there are conversation detours into the importance of words and language, war, and the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation, and even a surprisingly tender conclusion: that even amidst the thorniest political questions, a shared orientation toward what transcends us may yet allow for unity and love.The post Jonathan Pageau and Mary Harrington: Reality in a Disenchanted Age first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Nina Power and Mary Harrington: The Ponzi Scheme of Modern Institutions 20.04.2026 1h

In this episode of Socrates Dialogues with Mary Harrington, she is joined by philosopher and writer Nina Power, who examines the changing philosophies of education and academic life, questioning the sustainability of what she describes as the “Ponzi scheme” of woke institutional culture. She reflects on the value of intellectual freedom, the dignity of varied vocations, and the necessity of a society that honors different paths, priorities, and forms of excellence beyond the narrow confines of elite academia.The post Nina Power and Mary Harrington: The Ponzi Scheme of Modern Institutions first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Eric Metaxas and Martin Shaw: Discovering the True Myth 20.04.2026 1h 12min

What are the stories that make up your life? In our newest Socrates in the Studio episode, Socrates in the City founder and host Eric Metaxas sits down with writer, poet, and mythographer Martin Shaw for a conversation that is as searching as it is spellbinding. Shaw’s latest book, Liturgies of the Wild, traces the astonishing and often unbelievable tales that have marked his own journey—from a 101-day immersion in oral storytelling to his unexpected homecoming in the Orthodox Church. Together, Eric and Martin explore the sacred threads that run through storytelling and the way ancient tales continue to speak into modern restlessness. This expansive and captivating interview reveals the surprising ways our lives are woven together by narrative and the One True Myth at the heart of them all.The post Eric Metaxas and Martin Shaw: Discovering the True Myth first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Mary Harrington and Justin Brierley: The Quiet Revival of Christianity 10.04.2026 1h 1min

In this premiere episode of Socrates Dialogues with Mary Harrington, author and broadcaster Justin Brierley joins her to explore the shifting terrain of the New Atheist movement and the surprising cracks forming in its once-confident certainties. Drawing on years of conversations and cultural observation, Brierley examines what he calls a “quiet revival”—a renewed openness to faith, meaning, and transcendence emerging beneath the surface of our secular age.The post Mary Harrington and Justin Brierley: The Quiet Revival of Christianity first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Roger Kimball and Heather Mac Donald: How Political Correctness Hijacked the Arts 10.04.2026 41min

What gets to be called art—and who decides? In this wide-ranging Socrates Dialogues conversation, New York-based thinkers, writers, and art admirers Heather Mac Donald and Roger Kimball explore the definition of art and the history of the unmaking of beauty in modern contemporary art. Drawing on examples from Duchamp, Warhol, Serrano, Hirst, and others, the two discuss how the banal, the transgressive, and the political have reshaped the aesthetic experience of art, often robbing it of spiritual resonance. This episode of Socrates in the City is brought to you by Cornerstone University. Cornerstone University students are not only tomorrow’s Christian influencers; they are today’s Christian leaders. Prepare for your God-given calling with 65+ accredited market-ready degree programs from associate to doctorate offered online and on campus in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join us in boldly influencing the world for Jesus Christ at cornerstone.edu.The post Roger Kimball and Heather Mac Donald: How Political Correctness Hijacked the Arts first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Peter Kreeft and Eric Metaxas: Charlie Kirk, Martyrdom, and Dying for the Truth 10.04.2026 47min

What does it mean to speak the truth in an age hostile to the Truth? And why is it that those who dare to do so — whether Socrates, Jesus Himself, or our own contemporary, Charlie Kirk — find themselves at odds with the powers that be? In this Socrates in the Studio conversation, professor of philosophy Peter Kreeft joins host Eric Metaxas to reflect on the cost of truth-telling. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Kreeft shares his own remarkable journey from Calvinist to Catholic, gives insights into why a good God allows suffering, and reminds us that history tells the story of martyrdom as the seed of the Church. The two make the case for why Socrates merits recognition as a martyr, and how, although some may disagree theologically, we can find common ground in Truth. This episode of Socrates in the City is brought to you by Cornerstone University. Cornerstone University students are not only tomorrow’s Christian influencers; they are today’s Christian leaders. Prepare for your God-given calling with 65+ accredited market-ready degree programs from associate to doctorate offered online and on campus in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join us in boldly influencing the world for Jesus Christ at cornerstone.edu.The post Peter Kreeft and Eric Metaxas: Charlie Kirk, Martyrdom, and Dying for the Truth first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Massimo Pigliucci: What is Stoicism? 24.10.2025 1h

What is the history of Stoicism and how does one practice it today? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with professor and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci, author of the popular How to be a Stoic and Beyond Stoicism, to discuss the history and development of Stoicism, and the line between emotion, reason, and virtue. They discuss the influence of stoicism in pop culture, from ancient Greek icons to modern-day Star Trek. Throughout Pigliucci’s work, he highlights the balance of skepticism and trust as a road to wisdom, as exemplified by Socrates himself.The post Massimo Pigliucci: What is Stoicism? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Paul Kingsnorth: Against the Machine 21.10.2025 1h 5min

Is there an unnamed force ― which we all feel ― reshaping what it means to be human? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas is joined by the furiously gifted writer, Paul Kingsnorth, to discuss his newest book, Against The Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity. Throughout the compelling ― and at times chilling ― discussion, Kingsnorth asks if society is unmaking humanity by replacing a Christian worldview with technical progress, creating a type of technological tower of Babel. The two discuss advances in AI, humanity’s bent to create God from the Garden of Eden, Frankenstein, transhumanism, and Kingsnorth’s hope for the future of our modern world. This episode of Socrates in the City is brought to you by Cornerstone University. Cornerstone University students are not only tomorrow’s Christian influencers; they are today’s Christian leaders. Prepare for your God-given calling with 65+ accredited market-ready degree programs from associate to doctorate offered online and on campus in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join us in boldly influencing the world for Jesus Christ at cornerstone.edu.The post Paul Kingsnorth: Against the Machine first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Joe Loconte: The War for Middle – Earth 03.10.2025 56min

“Evil labors with vast power and perpetual success – in vain: preparing always only the soil for unexpected good to sprout in.” —J.R.R. Tolkien What does it mean to cling to truth, beauty, and goodness in the shadow of history’s darkest hours? Can goodness truly spring forth from evil? These questions lie at the heart of this Socrates in the City conversation with historian Joseph Loconte. The discussion focuses on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, two literary giants who wrote their masterpieces in the aftermath of World War II. In his latest book, The War for Middle-earth: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933–1945, Loconte—together with SITC host Eric Metaxas—traces how the devastation of World War II shaped both the friendship and the imaginations of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, inspiring them to create works that continue to illuminate the battle between good and evil.The post Joe Loconte: The War for Middle – Earth first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Arthur Brooks: What is Happiness? 19.09.2025 1h 1min

What is happiness? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with Dr. Arthur Brooks to discuss one of the most prevalent questions in our society: What is happiness? The question behind his newest book, The Happiness Files. Based on his long career and his lived experience as a Professor and scholar, Dr. Brooks shares not only what happiness is, but the deeper questions of love, loss, and meaning. Throughout this conversation, they explore the scientific theories of happiness, what challenges we face in modern society to achieving it, and Dr. Brook’s signature game for his students, “What is my idol?”The post Arthur Brooks: What is Happiness? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

William Lane Craig: Is the Existence of God Provable? 05.09.2025 1h 2min

Can we prove the existence of God? In this Socrates in the City conversation, host Eric Metaxas speaks with William Lane Craig—Emeritus Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, renowned Christian apologist, and one of today’s most influential philosophers. Drawing from his new book, Systematic Philosophical Theology, and more than four decades of experience and research, Craig examines some of the most pressing questions at the crossroads of Christian doctrine and contemporary analytic philosophy. Together, they explore Dr. Craig’s long history of leading apologetic studies, the historical roots of Adam and Eve, the role of Neanderthals in the human story, humanity’s earliest traces of civilization, and how science and faith meet in many surprising ways.The post William Lane Craig: Is the Existence of God Provable? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Robert P. George: We Need Free Speech the Way the Body Needs Oxygen to Survive 22.08.2025 1h 8min

Is there an innate human knowledge of Truth? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with Robert P. George, Princeton University Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program, to discuss his new book, Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth. Their conversation delves into the nature of humanity, examining how our understanding of it influences our perception of truth, and the interplay between biblical perspectives, classical traditions, and modern philosophies. From moral contrasts to reflections on great philosophers, they examine belief, feeling, and the shared foundations of truth.The post Robert P. George: We Need Free Speech the Way the Body Needs Oxygen to Survive first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Olivia Reingold: What Political Polarization Means for America 08.08.2025 41min

How did Socialism become mainstream in New York City? In this timely and insightful conversation, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas speaks with NYC-based journalist Olivia Reingold about her coverage of the 2026 NYC Mayoral race’s front runner, Zohran Mamdani. Reingold unpacks the shifting tide in the political and economic thought of Gen Z, how Mamdani’s campaign—run almost entirely online—may become a blueprint for future digital-first political movements, and what a socialist mayor could signal for America’s political future.The post Olivia Reingold: What Political Polarization Means for America first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Melanie Phillips: How Jews and Christians Built the West—and Why Only They Can Save It 25.07.2025 1h 11min

What are the Jewish and Christian foundations of Western society—and why do they matter today? In this insightful conversation, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas speaks with journalist and author Melanie Phillips about her newest book, The Builder’s Stone. Phillips explores Jewish identity, the history of Israel, and the spiritual roots that have shaped our culture. She also reflects on her career in journalism, the cost of truth-telling, and the common misconceptions that cloud our understanding of faith, history, and identity.The post Melanie Phillips: How Jews and Christians Built the West—and Why Only They Can Save It first appeared on Socrates in the City.