JWI Presents: Anchoring Truths Podcast

James Wilson Institute
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  • Philosophy
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The James Wilson Institute flagship recording: Anchoring Truths Podcast

  1. 4d ago

    Pursuit of Happiness in American Law and Jurisprudence with Prof. Carli Conklin

    As part of our ongoing series of episodes devoted to thecelebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration, we are delighted to bring you an episode devoted to the legal relevance of the Declaration’s most famous sentence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” We’ll focus in today’s episode particularly on that last phrase. In his Commentaries on the Laws of England, William Blackstone described the pursuit of happiness as a science of jurisprudence by which his students could identify, and then apply, the first principles of the Common Law in their future work in law.  Separately, the American founders includedthe pursuit of happiness as one of only three unalienable rights specifically listed in the Declaration of Independence.  Where do Blackstone and the founders agree and disagree in their understanding of the pursuit of happiness? What practical role (if any) did they suggest the concept could serve in English and early American law and legal philosophy? To discuss these subjects, we are pleased to have Carli N. Conklin with us. She is an associate professor at University of Missouri School of Law, an associate professor of constitutional democracy and former associate director at theKinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, and director of the School of Law’s Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution. She earned her JD/MA and PhD in American Legal History from the University of Virginia, where she received the School of Law’s John and Madeleine Traynor prize for outstanding written work. This episode is captured from a jointly-sponsored webinar by the James Wilson Institute and the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy of First Liberty Institute.

  2. Jul 1

    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

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. 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/

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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