Wisdom & Influence from Cornerstone University

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Wisdom & Influence, the official podcast of Cornerstone University, explores how Biblical wisdom shapes culture, leadership, industry, ministry, and everyday life. Hosted by President Gerson Moreno-Riaño, each episode features thought-provoking conversations with Christian influencers: national thought leaders, professors, students, alumni, and more — sharing actionable insights and inspiring stories to help you spread Biblical truth in our world.

  1. 1d ago

    American Exceptionalism, Truth & the Future of Freedom | Ep. 26 Feat. Dr. Robert P. George

    In this powerful episode of Cornerstone University's Wisdom & Influence Podcast, host Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño sits down with Dr. Robert P. George — McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, former chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and one of America's leading Christian public intellectuals — for a wide-ranging conversation on the ideas that shape our nation and our culture. Together they explore what makes America truly exceptional: not superiority, but a shared commitment to the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence and the conviction that all people are created equal. Professor George traces the roots of the American founding through the streams of Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem, arguing that the biblical doctrine of the Imago Dei is indispensable to the American creed. They also confront the darker chapters of American history — slavery, segregation, and the failures of the past — with Professor George making the case for telling "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," while rejecting ideological distortions of history like the 1619 Project. The conversation then turns to some of the most urgent questions facing our culture today: the resurgence of communism, the corrosive effects of social media silos, the critical importance of free speech, the power of law to shape culture, and the special obligation of Christians — and Christian universities — to be courageous truth-seekers and truth-speakers. Whether you're a student wrestling with these questions, a citizen concerned about the direction of our country, or someone who simply cares about the pursuit of truth, this episode will challenge, inspire, and equip you to think more deeply about the ideas that matter most.

  2. Aug 25

    Freedom, Faith and Forming the Next Generation | Ep. 25 Feat. Scott Walker

    Join Cornerstone University President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño for a conversation with former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, president of Young America’s Foundation. Walker traces his path from a high school Badger Boys State experience and the influence of America’s founders to eight years as governor and his current work training young leaders. He addresses the urgent need to teach the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the full truth of American history; the power of moral courage rooted in faith; the danger of socialist ideas; and the call for spiritual revival. Walker challenges listeners to counter division with love for America and Jesus Christ, defend God-given rights, and live as light in a darkening culture.

  3. Aug 18

    Love Your Enemies: Cancel Culture, Suffering & Faith | Ep. 24 Feat. Dr. Cornell West

    In this episode of Cornerstone University’s Wisdom & Influence Podcast, President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño welcomes Dr. Cornel West, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary, philosopher, author of “Race Matters,” “Democracy Matters” and the memoir “Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud,” and a recent distinguished panelist at Cornerstone’s Wisdom Conversations. Dr. West reflects on the moral formation and “soulcraft” shaped by his parents, Irene and Clifton West, and Shiloh Baptist Church in Sacramento long before his studies at Harvard and Princeton. The conversation explores cancel culture within families and the Christian imperative to cancel canceling by loving neighbor and enemy; the enduring power and proper use of Scripture amid human limitations; a theology of suffering that refuses to let pain have the last word; and the courage of conviction illustrated by prisoners of faith in the gulag. Drs. West and Moreno-Riaño also discuss how to engage the past with both historical humility and timeless insight into the human condition, the protective role of the Imago Dei against the excesses of artificial intelligence, the lifelong cultivation of a hunger for wisdom, and the spiritual depth found in blues, jazz and other forms of popular culture that wrestle honestly with wounds and hope. This episode offers rich Christian insight into formation, faith, suffering and the pursuit of wisdom for a culture of comfort that often forgets the cost of discipleship.

  4. Aug 11

    The Mississippi Miracle & Evidence-Based Education | Ep. 23 Feat. Dr. Molly Macek

    In this episode of the Wisdom & Influence Podcast, Cornerstone University President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño sits down with Dr. Molly Macek, former director of education policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and newly appointed principal of Nouvel Catholic Central High School and Junior High in Saginaw, Michigan. Drawing on nearly two decades as a classroom teacher, department chair, administrator, researcher and statewide policy leader, Dr. Macek shares a rare, full-circle perspective on what it takes to improve student outcomes. The conversation explores the critical gap between education theory and classroom reality, the urgent need to reclaim literacy in a “post-literate” age, and the lessons Michigan and other states can draw from Mississippi’s remarkable rise in fourth-grade reading scores. Listeners will hear practical insights on: • Why implementation and fidelity matter more than well-intentioned policies alone. • The science of reading versus approaches that lack strong evidence. • The indispensable role of parents and the school-family partnership. • How private and faith-based schools can serve as laboratories of innovation for the broader education system. • Building mission-centered cultures that equip students with higher-order thinking skills amid rapid technological change. Whether you are a parent, educator, policymaker or simply concerned about the future of American education, this conversation offers clear-eyed analysis and hopeful direction rooted in experience and research.

  5. Aug 4

    Confronting Communism: Russian Literature, Leninism & Faith | Ep. 22 Feat. Dr. Gary Saul Morson

    Join us for this episode of Cornerstone University’s Wisdom & Influence podcast! Professor Gary Saul Morson, Lawrence B. Dumas Professor of Arts and Humanities at Northwestern University and one of the world’s foremost scholars of Russian literature, joins President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño to explore the moral witness of writers such as Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Dr. Morson discusses what first drew him to Russian literature’s big questions about morality, meaning, evil and utopia; why communism and Marxism have regained appeal in America despite their record of suffering; the dangers of “Lenin think,” in which morality is defined solely by the party’s goals; Dostoevsky’s startlingly accurate warnings about totalitarianism; the violent leveling tendencies that can arise from radical equality; and the essential role of faith in providing a transcendent moral order beyond the state. He also offers counsel for students and educators who want to understand the real history of revolutionary ideology and protect human dignity.

  6. Jul 21

    Reclaiming Art for God’s Glory | Ep. 21 Feat. Rich Garnaat

    Join Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño on the Wisdom & Influence Podcast for an inspiring conversation with Rich Garnaat (B.S. ’09), founder and president of Arise Collective Theater, Cornerstone University alumnus, and recipient of this year’s Alumnus of the Year Award. Rich shares how Arise Collective is reclaiming the arts — particularly musical theater and film — for God’s kingdom, creating excellent, God-honoring productions that point hearts to Christ. From the powerful allegory of Pilgrim’s Progress: The Musical to short films like “Prisoners” and their recent work on America’s 250th anniversary and the Declaration of Independence, Rich explains how Christians can engage culture through beauty, story, and discipleship rather than retreating from or imitating the world’s standards. The discussion explores the Biblical foundation for the arts, the power of allegory like Jesus’ parables, character development through worship, Word, and prayer, protecting the team from spiritual warfare in darker roles, and memorable moments of gospel impact — including transformative prison performances. Rich also reflects on the current cultural shaking, the urgency of preparing the church for Christ’s return, and future projects for Arise Collective. This episode offers encouragement for believers, families, churches, and artists seeking to honor God with creativity and excellence in a world that often perverts beauty.

  7. Jul 7

    Intelligent Design, Faith Journey & AI: Science, Mystery & the Creator | Ep. 20 Feat. Dr. William Dembski

    In this compelling episode of the Wisdom & Influence Podcast, Cornerstone University President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño welcomes Dr. William A. Dembski, a Distinguished Scholar of Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Cornerstone University and a founding senior fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. A world-renowned mathematician, philosopher, and author of over 30 books — including the seminal "The Design Inference" (Cambridge University Press) — our guest shares his remarkable personal journey to faith in Jesus Christ. From a nominally Catholic upbringing and explorations of New Age and Eastern thought to a transformative encounter with the incarnation, he offers profound insights into the power of the gospel. The conversation explores the enduring appeal and dangers of Eastern mysticism, the role of mystery and spiritual disciplines in Christianity, the beauty and brokenness of creation, and how intelligent design challenges materialistic evolutionary theory. He also addresses pressing contemporary issues, including artificial intelligence, transhumanism, conservation of information, and how believers can maintain their spiritual moorings in a rapidly changing technological world. This episode blends faith, science, philosophy, and cultural insight, equipping listeners to engage thoughtfully with today’s big questions while pointing to the glory of the Creator.

  8. Jun 23

    American Institutions, Moral Courage & Biblical Truth | Ep. 19 Feat. Dr. John West

    In this timely episode of Cornerstone University’s Wisdom & Influence podcast, President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño welcomes Dr. John G. West, distinguished scholar of American government and Christian civic engagement at Cornerstone University, CU President’s Fellow, and vice president of the Discovery Institute. Drawing from his extensive scholarship and recent book “Endowed by Our Creator,” Dr. West explores the resilience of America’s founding principles and institutions amid political division, cultural upheaval, and protests. The conversation addresses the pendulum of history, the role of virtuous leadership and statesmanship, the importance of humility paired with courage and moral truth, and why civility alone is insufficient for a flourishing society. Dr. West and President Moreno-Riaño also examine Biblical perspectives on free enterprise and capitalism, the dangers of decadence in prosperous times, the need for courageous Christian conviction, and the call for genuine revival and repentance rooted in truth rather than vague civil religion. This episode offers thoughtful Christian insight into leadership, civic engagement and cultural renewal for our polarized age.

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Wisdom & Influence, the official podcast of Cornerstone University, explores how Biblical wisdom shapes culture, leadership, industry, ministry, and everyday life. Hosted by President Gerson Moreno-Riaño, each episode features thought-provoking conversations with Christian influencers: national thought leaders, professors, students, alumni, and more — sharing actionable insights and inspiring stories to help you spread Biblical truth in our world.

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