Voices of Freedom

Rick Graber
  • 4.3 (142)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Every three weeks, join us on Voices of Freedom for thought-provoking conversations on issues impacting our freedom and America's founding principles, with particular emphasis on free speech, educational freedom, and free enterprise. Voices of Freedom features Rick Graber, President of The Bradley Foundation, talking to remarkable individuals within the Bradley community, including grantees, Bradley Prize winners, and more. Our focus on these areas reflects the intent of the foundation's namesakes, Lynde and Harry Bradley, who wanted to preserve the freedoms that were essential to their success for future generations.

  1. APR 30

    Interview with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik

    An Interview with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Scholar, Rabbi, and Senior Fellow, Tikvah At a time when faith is increasingly viewed as something to be kept out of public life, one of America's most compelling Jewish scholars and public intellectuals is making the opposite case — that religious liberty is not merely tolerated in America but is essential to its founding character and constitutional order. Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York — the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States — and Director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. A Senior Fellow at Tikvah and a scholar who has lectured at the Vatican and at Christian institutions across America and Europe, Rabbi Soloveichik brings both rigorous scholarship and the natural authority of a congregational rabbi to the most urgent questions about faith, freedom, and the American experiment. His most recent book, Providence and Power: Ten Portraits in Jewish Statesmanship, explores the qualities of moral courage and virtue that great leaders have drawn from faith across centuries. Rabbi Soloveichik is also a 2026 Bradley Prize winner. Topics Discussed on this Episode: Rabbi Soloveichik's path from a distinguished rabbinic family to Princeton, the synagogue, and the public square What America's oldest Jewish congregation reveals about the relationship between faith and the American Founding The resurgence of antisemitism in the West and what it tells us about the fragility of freedom The case for religious liberty as essential — not incidental — to America's constitutional order What it means to receive a Bradley Prize

    37 min

  2. APR 7

    Interview with Senator Phil Gramm

    An Interview with Senator Phil Gramm, Economist, Legislator, and Author From the classroom to the halls of Congress, to international banking, and the public square, few Americans have made a more sustained and consequential case for economic freedom than our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom. Senator Phil Gramm taught economics at Texas A&M University for twelve years before serving in the United States Congress for more than two decades — first as a Representative from Texas, then as United States Senator. His legislative record includes the Gramm-Latta Budget, which reduced federal spending and paved the way for the Reagan tax cut; the Gramm-Rudman Act, which placed the first binding constraints on federal spending; and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which modernized the nation's banking, insurance, and securities laws. He is currently a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of The Myth of American Inequality and The Triumph of Economic Freedom. Senator Gramm is a 2026 Bradley Prize winner. Topics Discussed on this Episode: Senator Gramm's path from the classroom to Congress The legislative legacy of the Gramm-Latta Budget, Gramm-Rudman Act, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Whether Congress can recover a commitment to fiscal discipline How the country arrived at today's polarization over free enterprise and markets The case for economic freedom and what's at stake for the next generation

    27 min

  3. MAR 24

    Interview with Chris Krug

    An Interview with Chris Krug, Publisher, The Center Square One of the keys to a healthy American democracy is an informed citizenry. Yet the decline of local news has left millions of Americans without reliable coverage of the institutions, policies, and elected officials that shape their daily lives. Statehouse reporting in particular has withered — leaving citizens in the dark about the decisions being made in their state capitals. Our guest today has dedicated his career to changing that. He leads one of the most ambitious efforts in the country to fill the local news void with high-quality, government accountability journalism that puts taxpayers first. Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Chris Krug, Publisher of The Center Square, a nonprofit news organization launched in 2019 to provide statehouse and statewide coverage across the United States. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in the media industry — from sports journalist to major market editor and publisher — Chris has built The Center Square into one of the country's most expansive sources of state and local government reporting. Topics Discussed on this Episode: Chris's path from sports journalism to leading one of the country's most ambitious local news organizations What it means for communities and democracy when local news disappears How The Center Square's taxpayer-first sensibility shapes its coverage Earning reader trust and what keeping that trust means to The Center Square How The Center Square navigates the pressures of AI, social media, and the struggles of legacy news organizations What gives Chris optimism about the future of local journalism

    36 min

  4. FEB 24

    Interview with Nick Morgan

    An Interview with Nick Morgan, Founder and President, Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN) For decades, small investors and entrepreneurs who run afoul of the Securities and Exchange Commission have faced a stark reality: challenge a powerful federal agency with seemingly unlimited resources or settle. The result is a staggering 98% settlement rate that has led to ruined businesses, lost opportunities, and forever changed lives. Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is doing something about it. Nick Morgan is Founder and President of the Investor Choice Advocates Network, or ICAN, a nonprofit public interest law firm that provides free legal representation to small investors and entrepreneurs facing SEC overreach. Before founding ICAN, Nick spent seven years as senior trial counsel at the SEC, followed by 18 years in private practice defending clients against securities enforcement actions. His insider's perspective revealed how heavily the deck is stacked against ordinary Americans trying to pursue economic opportunity — and drove him to act. Topics Discussed on this Episode: How the SEC's structure and incentives undermine fairness for small investors and entrepreneurs ICAN's mission and the clients it serves Building legal precedent through strategic litigation and regulatory reform advocacy The proper balance between investor protection and economic freedom What gives Nick hope that the balance of power between individual Americans and the SEC can shift

    26 min

  5. FEB 3

    Interview with Shari Williams

    An Interview with Shari Williams, President, Leadership Program of the Rockies The ability to preserve liberty depends on visionary leaders who not only understand America's founding principles, but who are also prepared to put them into practice. Yet there are few opportunities for emerging leaders to form deep connections between these timeless ideas and today's challenges. For more than two decades, the Leadership Program of the Rockies has been meeting that need by educating and training emerging leaders in America's founding principles and equipping them with the skills to influence public policy and culture. Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Shari Williams, President of the Leadership Program of the Rockies. Since founding LPR in 2003, she has built it into one of the country's premier leadership development programs, training more than 2,500 alumni who have gone on to serve as elected officials, judges, business and community leaders, and influential voices across Colorado and beyond. With more than 40 years of experience in public policy, political campaigns, and leadership development, Shari has dedicated her career to building what she calls an "Army for Freedom." Topics Discussed on this Episode: What drew Shari to focus on leadership development and why LPR focuses on culture and the way communities think about freedom Why LPR's mission is more important now than ever The transformation participants experience and stories of alumni impact The vision for LPR's Great Lakes expansion What gives Shari hope about preserving American principles for future generations

    31 min

  6. 12/16/2025

    Interview with Catherine Pakaluk

    An Interview with Dr. Catherine Pakaluk, Associate Professor of Social Research and Economic Thought, Catholic University of America What makes a society truly prosperous? Is it GDP growth and stock market returns, or is there something more — something rooted in strong families, vibrant communities, and institutions that help people flourish? Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom has spent her career exploring these deeper questions about economic freedom and human flourishing. Catherine Pakaluk is an economist whose research challenges us to think beyond conventional metrics and consider how families, faith communities, and schools work together to create meaningful prosperity. As both a Harvard-trained scholar and a mother of eight, Catherine brings a unique perspective to debates about family, economic opportunity, and the future of American society. She is an Associate Professor of Social Research and Economic Thought at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, where her research focuses on the economics of education and religion, family studies and demography, and Catholic social thought. Catherine's work examines the institutions and relationships that enable people to thrive, from faith communities to schools to families themselves. Her most recent book, Hannah's Children, examines women defying demographic trends by choosing large families, offering surprising insights about how people weigh what truly matters. Topics Discussed on this Episode: Catherine's path to economics and her focus on education, religion, family studies, and Catholic social thought The relationship between religious institutions and economic liberty How families function as economic and social institutions that create opportunity Research on school choice, educational outcomes, and teaching the next generation Catherine's most recent book, Hannah's Children, and insights about women who defy demographic trends What gives Catherine hope for American families and civil society

    44 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    Interview with Todd Gaziano

    An Interview with Todd Gaziano, President, Center for Individual Rights At a time when constitutional rights face continuing pressures---from campus censorship to race-based government policies---one organization has spent the last 35 years winning legal battles that set lasting precedents for individual liberty. The Center for Individual Rights was founded in 1989 to defend constitutional principles through strategic litigation. Its first major Supreme Court victory, Rosenberger v. University of Virginia in 1995, established that public universities cannot discriminate based on religious viewpoint---a principle that continues to influence cases to this day. CIR also secured landmark victories challenging race-based admissions policies in the University of Michigan cases. Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Todd Gaziano, who became CIR's president in 2023. Before joining CIR, he led legal centers at both the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Heritage Foundation, served as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and worked in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel and as chief counsel to a House subcommittee. He discusses CIR's strategic approach to defending equal protection, religious liberty, free speech, and competitive federalism---and explains why these constitutional battles matter for every American. Topics Discussed on this Episode: Todd's path to the Center for Individual Rights and the most urgent threats to constitutional rights today The 30-year legacy of Rosenberger v. University of Virginia and its impact on campus free speech CIR's current cases challenging race-based policies in Portland schools and within federal programs Religious liberty and competitive federalism: why these areas matter Concerns and hopes for the future of constitutional rights in America

    34 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Interview with Mark Niehaus

    An Interview with Mark Niehaus, President and Executive Director, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra proves that art isn't just entertainment—it can be a key part of building community. Through concerts that bring diverse audiences together and revitalization efforts that have transformed its downtown home, the MSO stands as one of Milwaukee's most dynamic civic institutions. Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Mark Niehaus, President and Executive Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Mark spent 14 years as the MSO's principal trumpet before the board tapped him in 2012 to lead the organization. Under his leadership, the MSO completed an extraordinary restoration of the 1930s Warner Grand Theatre, expanding it into the Bradley Symphony Center. It opened in 2021, sparking renewal along West Wisconsin Avenue. As Wisconsin's largest performing arts institution, the MSO employs 70 full-time professional musicians who perform over 130 concerts annually and generate an estimated $55 million in economic activity. Topics Discussed on this Episode: Mark's atypical career path from musician to organizational leader Why the Bradley Symphony Center restoration was critical for the orchestra's future The MSO's role in revitalizing downtown Milwaukee Growing institutionally at a time in which some orchestras are struggling Cultivating audiences for traditional art forms in a digital world The economic impact of arts organizations beyond cultural experience Hope for the future of orchestras and performing arts in America

    32 min
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4.3
out of 5
142 Ratings

About

Every three weeks, join us on Voices of Freedom for thought-provoking conversations on issues impacting our freedom and America's founding principles, with particular emphasis on free speech, educational freedom, and free enterprise. Voices of Freedom features Rick Graber, President of The Bradley Foundation, talking to remarkable individuals within the Bradley community, including grantees, Bradley Prize winners, and more. Our focus on these areas reflects the intent of the foundation's namesakes, Lynde and Harry Bradley, who wanted to preserve the freedoms that were essential to their success for future generations.

Information

  • Creator
    Rick Graber
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2025. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Voices of Freedom

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