JWI Presents: Anchoring Truths Podcast

James Wilson Institute
  • 4.7 (19)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated Biweekly

The James Wilson Institute flagship recording: Anchoring Truths Podcast

  1. 9h ago

    Declaration of Independence & “The Making of the American Mind” ft. Dr. Matthew Spalding

    For the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we are pleased to share an intimate discussion with Dr. Matthew Spalding whose timely new book The Making of the American Mind explores the philosophic underpinnings of and story behind the Declaration. Please enjoy this special Anchoring Truths episode as a celebration of our nation’s Independence and Founding. Spalding, dean of Hillsdale College’s Van Andel graduate school in Washington D.C. and new board member of the James Wilson Institute, shares the microphone with Professor Hadley Arkes, JWI’s Founder and Co-Director. Purchase The Making of the American Mind Learn more about Dr. Spalding

    34 min

  2. Jun 18

    Citizenship & 14th Amendment with Prof. David Upham

    Our latest Anchoring Truths Podcast episode focuses on a new book Taking American Citizenship Seriously: The Recovery of the Fourteenth Amendment. Our guest is the author that book, David R. Upham. With the book, Professor Upham delivers a comprehensive account of the original understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment. Drawing on a close textual analysis, Upham shows how the framers shaped the Amendment to secure the rights to life, liberty, and property for all through due process and equal protection, while reaffirming birthright citizenship for nearly everyone born on U.S. soil. He also recovers the Amendment’s promise to protect core citizenship rights—including the freedoms to travel, engage in commerce, speak freely, bear arms, and live free from racial discrimination or civic exclusion. By recovering this originalmeaning, the book challenges later interpretations and offers fresh insights for today’s constitutional debates. Professor David R. Upham is an Associate Professor of Law at St. Thomas University College of Law. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and his Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Dallas, along with degrees from Middlebury College and Boston College.

    51 min

  3. Jun 4

    Billions Riding on Contract Law, International Law, & Natural Law with Michael Fragoso

    Our latest Anchoring Truths Podcast episode centers on a 2026 case in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, covering New York City. This case presented a fascinating opportunity to discuss the intersection of Natural Law, international law, and contract law. Petersen Energia Inversora v. YPF (2nd Cir. opinion here) concerns how Argentina raised more than a billion dollars from American investors on the New York Stock Exchange with ironclad anti-nationalization guarantees—only to seize YPF in 2012 and, according to the plaintiffs, stiff minority shareholders out of $16 billion. We are thrilled to discuss this case in light of those larger considerations with one of the lawyers for Petersen, our old friend and returning podcast guest Mike Fragoso. Mike is a partner at Torridon Law PLLC and counsel for Petersen Energia Inversora in one of the most important corporate-governance cases in a decade. Before entering private practice, Michael served as Chief Counsel to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, where he advised on judicial nominations, legislation, and high-stakes oversight. He previously held senior roles on the Senate Judiciary Committee, served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy, clerked for Judge Diane Sykes on the Seventh Circuit, and began his career as a litigator at Kirkland & Ellis. A Notre Dame Law graduate (where he was a student of JWI’s co-director Gerry Bradley) and Princeton alum (where he was a student of our friend Robert George), his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, National Review, and elsewhere. We hope you enjoy the program. Read Fragoso's assessment of the Second Circuit ruling in City Journal.

    35 min

  4. May 19

    Passing Down America's Goodness with Dr. Matthew Mehan

    As we continue our commemoration of America 250, we’re inspired to present a variety of different celebrations of our country. In that spirit, we are honored to welcome on theshow Dr. Matthew Mehan of Hillsdale College, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Government at the Van Andel Graduate School in Washington, D.C. A literary scholar with a Ph.D. from the University of Dallas, Dr. Mehan has spent more than twenty-five years teaching and designing humanities curricula that shape the next generation of citizens. He’s also a beloved author of best-selling illustrated family books, including Mr. Mehan’s Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals and The Handsome Little Cygnet. In his brand-new release, TheAmerican Book of Fables, Dr. Mehan reimagines the timeless wisdom of Aesop for the next generation of Americans. His new book is a stunning 395-page heirloom volume that honors America’s 250th anniversary with original and adaptedfables, poetry, witty sayings, and reflections drawn from our history, geography, wildlife—and even the Declaration of Independence itself. Crafted for readers of all ages—sections for Littles, Middles, and Bigs—the book brims with joyful rhymes, moral tales, and deep reflections on liberty, friendship, and the American spirit. And what makes it truly unforgettable? The breathtaking, luminous illustrations by acclaimed realist-impressionist artist John Folley—gorgeous watercolor, ink, and oil paintings that celebrate our nation’s natural wonders from the Everglades to the sequoias. Dr. Mehan joins us to share the stories behind the book, the timeless lessons inside, and why these fables matter now more than ever. Purchase The American Book of Fables Follow Dr. Mehan's work at Hillsdale in DC

    33 min

  5. May 7

    Seductive AI with Prof. Glenn Reynolds

    We’ve devoted past Anchoring Truths Podcast episodes to the promise of AI in the legal profession and beyond. Today, we’ll be discussing more of the perils of that technology with Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds. He's the Beauchamp BroganDistinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee and the mind behind the legendary Instapundit blog. In his brand-new Encounter Books Broadside, Seductive AI, Professor Reynolds delivers a provocative warning.While the rest of us worry about rogue superintelligent machines rising up to take over, he argues the real danger is far more subtle—and far more tempting. AI doesn't need to conquer us with force. It can seduce us instead—flatteringour egos, anticipating our every desire, offering perfect companions, endless convenience, and the illusion of control—until we've quietly handed over our agency, our relationships, and our ability to think for ourselves. It's a timely, eye-opening look at the soft power of artificial intelligence and whatit means for human freedom. Prof. Reynolds is a graduate of the University of Tennesseeand Yale Law School, he’s one of America’s most influential legal thinkers on technology, constitutional law, and the intersection of law and society. He’s the author of several acclaimed books, including An Army of Davids and The HigherEducation Bubble. Buy the book Follow Prof. Reynolds on Substack https://instapundit.substack.com/

    44 min

  6. Apr 23

    Ground-Level View of Law School Campus Interest in Natural Law

    This week's Anchoring Truths Podcast is a roundtable discussion of the James Wilson Institute's travels around the country to law school campuses from February-April. JWI Founder & Co-Director Hadley Arkes and Programs Director Daniel Osborne join host Garrett Snedeker to describe what they saw from law students at four different campuses during JWI's law school seminars as well as on visits to conferences held at other schools. Listen to hear about the deepening interest in this Natural Law Moment from the ground up.

    28 min

  7. Apr 9

    Etiquette 101 in the White House & Beyond with Alison Cheperdak

    Our latest episode is a little bit of a something differentthan what we’re used to featuring on the Anchoring Truths Podcast. Our guest this week is an expert on etiquette, Alison Cheperdak. Whether from the hallowed halls of the West Wing to the bustling chaos of a newsroom, Cheperdak captures stories of her experiences rendered with vivid detail, emotional resonance, and the intimacy of a confidante sharing her most vulnerable truths in her new book Was itSomething I Said? Everyday Etiquette to Avoid Awkward Moments in Relationships, Work, and Life from Harper Collins. We discuss several of the lessons and tips she features in the book along with how her multiple careers provided training ground for good etiquette.   Alison is the founder of Elevate Etiquette, a distinguished consultancy that offers social, business, and dining etiquette courses, as well as international protocol. She has spoken at Harvard Law School and the US Congress, and her insights have been featured in Vogue.com among other publications. Alison also educates and inspires millions each month across social media with her daily etiquette posts.After graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Villanova University, she worked as a TV news reporter and anchor for an NBC station in New York. She then moved toWashington, D.C., where she earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School. Throughout her legal career, Alison worked in a large corporate law firm as well as in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the federal government, including the West Wing of the White House. She also served in a senior leadership position at the March for Life. Purchase Was it Something I Said? Follow Alison Cheperdak and Elevate Etiquette on Instagram. Read Alison Cheperdak's latest on Substack.

    38 min

  8. Mar 26

    Pandemic of Lunacy with Prof. J. Budziszewski

    Our latest episode features a living legend and one of our oldest, closest friends at the James Wilson Institute: Prof. J. Budziszewski on the occasion of the release of his new book “Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy” from Creed and Culture. In ourconversation we will discuss his new book as well as his work at the intersection of Natural Law, constitutional law, and moral philosophy.Budziszewski is a professor of government, philosophy, and civic leadership at the University of Texas at Austin. Internationally recognized for his work on natural law,self-deception, happiness, and ultimate purpose, he is widely read on the unraveling and possible restoration of our common culture. He is the author of twenty books. He has taught for more than four decades during which he has advised such fine graduate students as our own Senior Fellow Justin Dyer and Affiliated Scholar Paul DeHart. A former atheist who once denied not only the reality of God but also the reality of good and evil, he is a convert to Catholic Christianity. Purchase: Pandemic of Lunacy: How to ThinkClearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy  J.'s website: www.UndergroundThomist.org Creed and Culture's website: www.CreedandCulture.com

    46 min
See All (145)

4.7
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The James Wilson Institute flagship recording: Anchoring Truths Podcast

Information

You Might Also Like