Brave New Us

Samantha N Stephenson
  • 5.0 (50)
  • CHRISTIANITY

From gene editing and artificial wombs to brain implants and digital immortality—what does it mean to be human in a world transformed by biotechnology? Brave New Us explores how emerging technologies are reshaping life, identity, and morality. Hosted by Catholic bioethicist and author Samantha Stephenson, the podcast sits at the crossroads of faith, science, and ethics, offering expert interviews and incisive commentary on topics like transhumanism, reproductive tech, AI, human enhancement, and the pro-life implications of biotech innovation. Whether you’re parenting in a digital age, questioning the ethics of cutting-edge science, or simply seeking clarity in a world rushing toward transhumanism, Brave New Us gives you the insight to think critically, live intentionally, and stay human in a world seeking to redesign us. Samantha holds master’s degrees in theology and bioethics, is a Paul Ramsey Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Culture, and a former course instructor at Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute. She is the author of several books and writes about faith, family, and the future of being human at the Choosing Human newsletter on Substack. Connect at www.snstephenson.com. Subscribe now—and stay human in an age that’s forgetting how.

  1. JAN 9

    Reject and Inject: Why Cosmetic Procedures Aren’t Just Skin Deep

    In a culture that normalizes medical means for non-medical problems, where do we draw the line in the pursuit of beauty? In This Episode We explore the ethics of cosmetic procedures—from “baby Botox” and fillers to plastic surgery—and what they communicate about our bodies, our worth, and our deepest desires. Through the story of “Katie” and reflections from Theology of the Body, we ask: Does altering a healthy body help us love ourselves…or teach us to reject the gift we’ve been given? Is cosmetic “enhancement” actually making women more confident, or more insecure? How do we distinguish healing therapies from enhancements driven by cultural pressure? What does aging reveal about love, humility, and what lasts forever? Mentioned & Linked in This Episode Essay: Reject and Inject: The Ethics of Cosmetic Procedures Concepts from Theology of the Body (St. John Paul II) Reflections inspired by the life of Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo Cultural trends: “Sephora kids,” filters, and beauty consumerism Resources from Samantha Brave New Us podcast back catalog Essays on biotechnology, beauty culture, and being human at choosinghuman.org Subscribe to the newsletter For essays, link roundups, and book updates. Grow Where You’re Planted — preorder bonuses include a downloadable list of favorite non-toxic products Join the Conversation Have thoughts on this episode or beauty culture? Join the discussion at choosinghuman.org. If this episode resonated with you, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts—it helps others find the show.

    16 min

  2. JAN 2

    The Case Against Assisted Suicide | Stephanie Gray Connors

    Is assisted suicide compassionate—or is it a cultural failure to respond humanely to suffering? In this episode of Brave New Us, host Samantha Stephenson speaks with author and bioethics speaker Stephanie Gray Connors about physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, and end-of-life ethics in the age of medical and technological power. Drawing on her book On Assisted Suicide (Word on Fire’s Dignity series), Stephanie examines how language like “death with dignity” and “medical aid in dying” reshapes our moral imagination—and why dignity is not something we lose when we suffer. From Canada’s rapidly expanding MAiD program to suicide pods in Europe and growing pressure on doctors and patients alike, this conversation explores what happens when a culture begins to treat death as a solution. We discuss suffering, autonomy, coercion, meaning, and the profound human need for relationship at the end of life. If you’re wrestling with questions about assisted suicide, euthanasia, medical ethics, or how to speak compassionately about death and dignity, this episode offers clarity without abstraction—and hope without denial. In this episode, we explore: Assisted suicide vs. natural death: what’s the ethical difference? Why “death with dignity” is a misleading phrase Canada’s MAiD program and rising assisted-death rates How normalization creates pressure on the elderly, disabled, and poor The illusion of control at the end of life Viktor Frankl, meaning, and despair in the face of suffering What compassionate, life-affirming end-of-life care really looks like About the guest Stephanie Gray Connors is an author and international speaker on bioethics, abortion, assisted suicide, and human dignity. She is the author of On Assisted Suicide in the Word on Fire Dignity Series and has debated and presented on life issues across North America. Originally from Canada and now living in the United States, she brings firsthand insight into the ethical and cultural consequences of legalized assisted suicide. Mentioned in this episode On Assisted Suicide — Stephanie Gray Connors Suicide Pods Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Canada The Atlantic on assisted suicide and physician pressure Mother euthanizes 12-year-old daughter Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning Nick Vujicic and The Butterfly Circus Mattie Stepanick Loveunleasheslife.com Leave a Review + Share the ShowRate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at choosinghuman.org

    1 hr

  3. 12/19/2025

    Why Women Are Getting Sicker, Younger

    Why are women developing chronic illness at younger ages—and why are they so often dismissed when they seek answers? In this episode of Brave New Us, bioethicist and chronic illness patient Samantha Stephenson explores why women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune disease, migraines, infertility, depression, and other chronic conditions. Drawing from ethics, medicine, and lived experience, she examines the role of environmental toxins, hormonal contraception, abortion, and inequities in medical research—and asks how women can pursue real healing without ignoring the spiritual meaning of suffering. In This Episode Why women are getting sicker at younger ages Chronic illness, autoimmune disease, and women’s health Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in beauty, cleaning, and food products The “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) loophole Hormonal birth control as a band-aid—not a cure Side effects of hormonal contraceptives, including brain changes Restorative reproductive medicine and NaProTechnology Abortion and women’s physical and psychological health Why women are underrepresented in medical research The ethics of studying women’s bodies Finding meaning, faith, and intimacy with Christ through suffering Essays & Articles Samantha’s Essay (discussed in this episode) “Why Are Women So Sick?” — Claire the Catholic Feminist Abortion Is the Real Assault on Women— Crisis Magazine Women Deserve Better Than Abortion — Word on Fire Books & Films Your Brain on Birth Control— Sarah E. Hill Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering— Megan Hjelmstad (Blessed Is She) Hush(documentary) Women’s Health & Fertility Natural Cycles App TempDrop Other Mentions Alex Clark American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on the menstrual cycle as the “fifth vital sign” Momosophy Substack (Elizabeth Kulze) Resources from Samantha Details on Samantha’s chronic illness journey Grow Where You’re Planted — including a downloadable list of favorite non-toxic products available with preorder Join the Conversation Have thoughts on this episode or personal experience with chronic illness? Subscribe to the newsletter to comment and to receive essays, link roundups, and book updates. If this episode resonated, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts—it helps others find the show.

    15 min

  4. 12/05/2025

    Why Smart Women Still Choose Motherhood | Dr. Catherine Pakaluk

    Why are highly educated, ambitious women choosing large families in an age of falling birthrates, frozen eggs, and fertility tech? In this episode, Dr. Catherine Pakaluk joins Brave New Us to unpack her groundbreaking book Hannah’s Children: The Women Who Defied the Birth Dearth. We explore: What drives women to embrace motherhood as a vocation—not a fallback How the fertility crisis and biotech age shape our cultural assumptions about children, work, and worth Why choosing family is the most radical—and future-focused—choice a woman can make today About the guest: Dr. Catherine Pakaluk is a professor of social research and economic thought at the Catholic University of America and a mother of eight. Mentioned in the Episode Get Hannah’s Children A Catholic Guide to Infertility with John DiCamillo Leave a Review + Share the ShowRate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com Grab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood—a theology of the body for motherhood in the age of reproductive technologies.

    44 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    The Case Against IVF | Dr. Stacy Trasancos

    Stacy Trasancos, author of IVF Is Not the Way, joins Samantha to unpack the hidden costs and ethical challenges of IVF and fertility technology. Drawing on her science background and faith, Stacy reveals why IVF often falls short—and why natural fertility awareness and restorative reproductive medicine offer hope that’s overlooked by mainstream medicine. We explore how the fertility industry profits from desperation, the ethical dilemmas of embryo freezing and manipulation, and how couples can reclaim control of their fertility through informed, compassionate alternatives. Links mentioned in the episode: IVF Is Not the Way by Stacy Trasancos Leave a Review + Share the ShowRate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com Leave a Review + Share the Show If this conversation opened your eyes to what stem cell therapy can do, please: Rate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com! Grab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood, a theology of the body for motherhood in an age of reproductive technologies.

  6. 10/24/2025

    The Sexual Revolution Lied—And We're Still Paying the Price | Dr. Nathanael Blake

    In this episode of Brave New Us, Dr. Nathanael Blake joins host Samantha Stephenson to discuss his bold new book, Victims of the Revolution: How Sexual Liberation Hurts Us All. Together, they unpack how a movement that promised personal freedom has led to cultural confusion, emotional harm, and deep philosophical contradictions. We explore: What sets Victims of the Revolution apart from other critiques of the Sexual Revolution Why the revolution’s “freedom” often means detaching the self from the body The real-life consequences for the most vulnerable—especially women and children What a more truthful and embodied view of human nature might look like Dr. Blake reveals the philosophical roots and political consequences of sexual liberation—and why reclaiming a sane, integrated view of the human person is key to healing what’s broken. Mentioned in the Episode Victims of the Revolution: How Sexual Liberation Hurts Us AllNathanael Blake at the EPPC: https://eppc.org/author/nathanael_blake/ Leave a Review + Share the Show If this conversation opened your eyes to what stem cell therapy can do, please: Rate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com! Grab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood, a theology of the body for motherhood in an age of reproductive technologies.

    44 min

  7. 10/10/2025

    When Medicine Goes Too Far: IVF, Surrogacy, Gender Clinics & the Ethics We Ignore | Kallie Fell

    When does medicine cross the line from healing to harm? In this episode of Brave New Us, bioethicist and nurse researcher Kallie Fell, Executive Director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC), joins Samantha Stephenson to expose critical ethical questions around reproductive technologies, gender medicine, and medical consent. We dig into: The hidden risks and ethical concerns of IVF, egg donation, and commercial surrogacy How “informed consent” often fails in fertility treatments and gender-affirming care The rapid rise of pediatric gender clinics and controversies surrounding transgender medical interventions for minors What the CBC is uncovering about the commodification of human bodies in reproductive and gender medicine How profit motives influence both the fertility industry and gender-affirming healthcare Why women and vulnerable populations often bear the brunt of unregulated medical innovation This episode offers a clear-eyed look at the intersection of bioethics, reproductive technology, gender medicine, and medical ethics, asking what it truly means to protect human dignity in an age of rapid biomedical change. Mentioned in the Episode Center for Bioethics and Culture CBC Documentaries Paul Ramsey Institute The Detransition Diaries book Kallie on X Leave a Review + Share the ShowRate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com Grab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood—a theology of the body for motherhood in the age of reproductive technologies.

  8. 09/26/2025

    The Transhumanist Temptation: Hacking Humanity or Destroying It? | Grayson Quay

    Grayson Quay joins Samantha Stephenson to expose the seductive logic of transhumanism—and the moral and spiritual cost of buying in. From AI and brain chips to synthetic immortality and gene editing, the push to “upgrade” the human experience promises power but may unravel what makes us human. This conversation cuts through the hype to reveal what’s really at stake. Is transhumanism a scientific breakthrough or a new form of worship? What happens when we lose our reverence for the body and our humility before its limits? Topics we cover: – Why transhumanism is less science, more spiritual counterfeit – The link between tech worship and ancient heresies – What the push to overcome nature reveals about modern despair – Whether enhancement is actually a form of self-erasure Mentioned in this episode: The Transhumanist Temptation Grayson Quay on X Leave a Review + Share the ShowRate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com Leave a Review + Share the Show If this conversation opened your eyes to what stem cell therapy can do, please: Rate and review Brave New Us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with a friend, patient group, or doctor Keep the conversation going at bravenewus.substack.com! Grab a copy of Samantha’s book Reclaiming Motherhood, a theology of the body for motherhood in an age of reproductive technologies.

See All (44)

5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

From gene editing and artificial wombs to brain implants and digital immortality—what does it mean to be human in a world transformed by biotechnology? Brave New Us explores how emerging technologies are reshaping life, identity, and morality. Hosted by Catholic bioethicist and author Samantha Stephenson, the podcast sits at the crossroads of faith, science, and ethics, offering expert interviews and incisive commentary on topics like transhumanism, reproductive tech, AI, human enhancement, and the pro-life implications of biotech innovation. Whether you’re parenting in a digital age, questioning the ethics of cutting-edge science, or simply seeking clarity in a world rushing toward transhumanism, Brave New Us gives you the insight to think critically, live intentionally, and stay human in a world seeking to redesign us. Samantha holds master’s degrees in theology and bioethics, is a Paul Ramsey Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Culture, and a former course instructor at Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute. She is the author of several books and writes about faith, family, and the future of being human at the Choosing Human newsletter on Substack. Connect at www.snstephenson.com. Subscribe now—and stay human in an age that’s forgetting how.

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha N Stephenson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © @ Samantha N Stephenson
  • Show Website
    Brave New Us