Shows / The Veritas Forum
The Veritas Forum
At the Veritas Forum, we believe we were made to seek truth and be changed by it. We are a community of students, faculty, campus ministers, and more, who are pursuing a vision of the university that seeks and stewards truth and invites people of all backgrounds to explore the ideas that shape our lives. Since 1992, we’ve shared lectures and conversations with a firm belief that generous dialogue is essential for universities and the Christian faith alike. In this podcast, we're pulling from…
Episodes
- The Veritas Forum
Work Hard, Play Hard, Now What? | Charles Lee & Adlai Wertman
In today's episode, two business professors respond to a question they’ve both wrestled with: what does true success look like? You'll hear from Charles Lee…
- The Veritas Forum
Why Hard Conversations Can Overcome Hate | Daryl Davis & Michah Gottlieb
In today’s episode, our speakers discuss this challenging question: What does it mean to love your enemies? You’ll hear from Michah Gottlieb, a professor of…
- The Veritas Forum
Is Christianity Divisive? | Tim Keller
Today’s episode reckons with a common question about Christianity today: Are its truth claims too exclusive for a pluralistic and democratic society? You’ll…
- The Veritas Forum
If God is Good, Why is There Pain and Suffering? | Sean McDowell & Paul Rinzler
In today's episode, a Christian professor and an atheist professor grapple with a timeless question: if God is good and all-powerful, why is there so much…
- The Veritas Forum
The "Grind": Meaningful or Meaningless? | Lydia Dugdale & James Valentini
In today's episode, a physician and a former college dean grapple with "grind culture." You'll hear from Lydia Dugdale, a professor of medicine at Columbia…
- The Veritas Forum
When Will I Be Satisfied? | Arthur Brooks & Andrew Huberman
In today's episode, our speakers explore this question: How can I live a satisfied life? You’ll hear from Arthur Brooks, a professor at Vanderbilt and author…
- The Veritas Forum
MIT Professors on Success and What Really Matters | Cullen Buie & Desirée Plata
In today's episode, two MIT professors reflect on this question: In an academic culture obsessed with making a name for yourself, what does it look like to…
- The Veritas Forum
What Science Can (And Can't) Tell Us | David Lahti & Michael Weisberg
In today’s episode, our speakers discuss this question: Is science the only reliable tool for understanding the world? Or for questions about meaning…
- The Veritas Forum
Are We Living in the Best of All Possible Worlds? | Lennox & Lowenstein
The concept of a “multiverse” — formerly an obscure idea in philosophy and theoretical physics — is now mainstream. Movies like best-picture winner Everything…
- The Veritas Forum
Questioning Christianity: A Professor's Journey from Skepticism to Faith | Molly Worthen
In today’s episode, historian Molly Worthen (UNC-Chapel Hill) discusses the most radical pivot of her life: becoming a Christian after years of religious…
- The Veritas Forum
Why the Resurrection Changes Everything (If It's True) | N. T. Wright & Shelly Kagan
In today’s episode, a theologian and a philosopher explore what happens when we die. They discuss questions like, Is death the end, or is it the beginning of…
- The Veritas Forum
The Messiness of Meaning | Satyan Devadoss & Stuart Firestein
Meaning can be straightforward — a red octagon means “Stop!”, a hand wave with a smile means “Hello,” or adding two and two equals four. But meaning is often…
- The Veritas Forum
Do Christians Have a Stronger Claim on Morality than Atheists? | John Hare & Peter Singer
In today’s episode, two moral philosophers explore our everyday ethical choices. Are your gut-level reactions about right and wrong a signal from a higher…
- The Veritas Forum
Lewis, Tolkien, & Friendship | John Hendrix
On today’s episode, our speakers discuss the topic of friendship: what it looks like on a practical level and why it’s so important in our culture today…
- The Veritas Forum
Can Faith Make Sense of Suffering? | Meghan Sullivan & John Stuhr
In today’s episode, two philosophers explore this question: How should we understand suffering? Is it simply the opposite of human flourishing, or is there a…
- The Veritas Forum
Becoming Alive in a Dehumanizing World | Rowan Williams & Chigozie Obioma
In today’s episode, our speakers explore some core questions about what it means to be human: What are we made for? What is the role of suffering in our lives?…
- The Veritas Forum
Is Religion for Everyone? | Ross Douthat & Damon Linker
Talking about religion can feel outdated, close-minded, or just irrelevant. Yet for thousands of years, humans have been a religious species looking beyond…
- The Veritas Forum
God Might Be Real—But Is He Personal? | Tim Keller & Anthony Kronman
The Christmas season, at its heart, is about giving. We spend days—even weeks—searching for thoughtful, personalized gifts to bring joy to those we love. For…
- The Veritas Forum
That's a Wrap! Best Episodes from 2025 + Sneak Peek at 2026
We’ve reached the end of another amazing year on the podcast — all thanks to you, our listeners! In 2025, we had over 100,000 listens and over 6 million…
- The Veritas Forum
Beyond Prescriptions: How Physicians Can Help Suffering Patients | Lydia Dugdale & Michael Menchine
In today’s episode, two physicians explore the problem of suffering in medicine. They address questions like: What does it mean to care for those who suffer?…
- The Veritas Forum
Success, Silicon Valley, & Fulfillment | Pat Gelsinger & John Hennessy
In today’s episode, two Stanford leaders open up about the personal costs and course corrections in their professional lives. Is it possible to lead with…
- The Veritas Forum
Miracles: How Skeptical Should We Be? | Sean McDowell & Paul Rinzler
In today’s episode, an atheist and a Christian explore the plausibility of miracles. Do miracles actually happen? What kind of evidence supports them? And if…
- The Veritas Forum
Why Education is About More Than Grades | Angel Adams Parham & Roosevelt Montás
In today’s episode, two professors reflect on what a college education is really for. Is it just about mastering content—or can it shape who we’re becoming and…
- The Veritas Forum
What Makes Humans Unique? | Praveen Sethupathy & Scott Aikin
In today’s episode, a scientist and a philosopher explore what it means to be human. Is our distinctiveness rooted in biology, consciousness, or something…
- The Veritas Forum
How a Philosopher Found Christianity, and Why She Still Believes | Meghan Sullivan
In today’s episode, a philosopher explores this question: Is belief in God irrational? You’ll hear from Meghan Sullivan, a philosophy professor at the…
- The Veritas Forum
Christianity and the Basic Assumptions All Scientists Make | John Lennox
In today’s episode, we’ll explore some of the most basic questions about science: Why do we do science? Does science rely on any foundational truths? And is it…
- The Veritas Forum
Politics, Faith, & Hope: Two Perspectives | Michael Wear & Hahrie Han
In today’s episode, our speakers explore the possibilities and limits of politics. How can politics be used as a force for good in society? And when our…
- The Veritas Forum
Is Hope Naïve in a World Like Ours? | Esau McCaulley & Gary Saul Morson
In today’s episode, our speakers explore this question: In a world with so much pain, is it naïve to have hope? And where can we find hope when circumstances…
- The Veritas Forum
Suffering, Belief, & the Search for Meaning | Ross Douthat & Frank Bruni
College is a time for searching. For jobs, friends, meaning, and purpose. But when these searches fail us, or when we suffer from things outside our control…
- The Veritas Forum
An MIT Professor's Unconventional View of Success | Cullen Buie
In today’s episode, an MIT professor explores the topic of success. How do we deal with the constant pressure to succeed in our careers? And what happens if we…
- The Veritas Forum
Identity, Evil, and Hope: Two Perspectives on Big Questions | Wright & Maibom
In today’s episode, a theologian and a philosopher discuss some of life’s biggest questions, like: Who are we? What’s wrong with the world? And what can make…
- The Veritas Forum
Is Justice Possible in a World Like Ours? | David Skeel
In today’s episode, a law professor explores the topic of law and justice. What are the opportunities and limits of the law? And where does our desire for…
- The Veritas Forum
Beethoven, Faith, & Suffering: A Musical Journey | Mia Chung-Yee
In today’s episode, a concert pianist and Beethoven scholar takes us on a musical journey through the life of one of history’s greatest composers. You’ll hear…
- The Veritas Forum
Two Scientists Share Stories of Awe & Wonder | Sethupathy & Hecht
In today’s episode, two scientists with different spiritual worldviews explore this question: How can science and spirituality co-exist? You’ll hear from…
- The Veritas Forum
Can We Pick and Choose Our Beliefs? | Muehlhoff & Barrett
In today’s episode, two professors with different approaches to faith discuss the question: Can I be spiritual but not religious? You’ll hear from Tim…
- The Veritas Forum
What to Do With Limited Time | Lydia Dugdale & Timothy Bono
In today’s episode, two professors discuss how we should live when facing limited time. What does it mean to live each day like it’s your last? Is that a bad…
- The Veritas Forum
Looking for More: Two Professors on Religion & Transcendence | Smith & Fischer
In today’s episode, two professors explore questions like: Is there more to life than meets the eye? Or, what do we turn to when we face challenging…
- The Veritas Forum
Christian & Atheist Views on Human Uniqueness | Swamidass & Langland-Hassan
In today’s episode, a Christian and an atheist engage in a wide-ranging discussion about what makes humans special. Are we just advanced animals or part of a…
- The Veritas Forum
That's a Wrap! Best Episodes of 2024
We’ve made it to the end of another amazing year on the podcast — all thanks to you, our listeners! We loved exploring the ideas that shape our lives with you…
- The Veritas Forum
A Case for Believing in Miracles | John Lennox
During the Christmas season, we love experiencing wonder and magic. Santa Claus, presents, Christmas music, and twinkling lights make us feel the “Christmas…
- The Veritas Forum
Literature, Meaning, & Faith | Lori Branch
In today’s episode, an English professor explores the question of meaning. What compels us to look for meaning? And, is meaning found within ourselves or…
- The Veritas Forum
Why You Should Embrace Being Wrong | Buie & Gleiser
In today’s episode, two professors discuss this question: Why is it so hard to admit when we don’t know something? And why does it matter in the academic…
- The Veritas Forum
Hey Siri, How Do I Find Myself? A Conversation on Spirituality & Technology | Haidt & Crouch
It’s not hard to figure out what to do with our phones. But what is hard to figure out is what our phones are doing to us. Today’s speakers have written a lot…
- The Veritas Forum
What's the Point of Pluralism? | Tim Keller
It’s election season in America, and that brings a lot of questions about how we interact in the public square. How do we disagree respectfully across our…
- The Veritas Forum
Physics, Beauty, and God | Ard Louis
In today’s episode, a physicist explores this question: Where do you see beauty in the world, and does it point to a higher purpose? You’ll hear from Ard…
- The Veritas Forum
Changing My Mind: A Skeptical Professor Meets a Surprising God | Molly Worthen
In today’s episode, you’ll hear the story of Molly Worthen. As a journalist and historian at UNC, Molly has written about Christians for years as an outsider…
- The Veritas Forum
How Your Worldview Affects Your Life | Dallas Willard
Today’s episode is about worldviews. What is one? Do you have one? And, if so, how does it influence your daily life? You’ll hear from Dallas Willard (1935 —…
- The Veritas Forum
Is Science the Only or Best Path to Knowledge? | Sethupathy & Rudge
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from two scientists as they discuss the topic of knowledge. Is scientific knowledge the only true form of knowledge? Or are…
- The Veritas Forum
What Technology Can (And Can't) Do | Rosalind Picard & Joshua Knobe
Advances in artificial intelligence and computing technology are happening at breakneck speed. Yet even the best A. I. today still falls short. Whether it's a…
- The Veritas Forum
More Than Just Okay? Religion, Purpose & Human Flourishing | Thompson & Strecher
The speakers in today’s forum engage with two main questions: What stories are you telling yourself? And how can you learn to tell better ones? You’ll hear…
- The Veritas Forum
Can Truth and Tolerance Coexist? | Volf & Pendakur
For many of the key issues today, it’s challenging to simply agree to disagree. Not only do we have serious differences in opinion and belief, but how we…
- The Veritas Forum
Is the Grindset Mindset Working? | Dugdale & Fontaine
In college, it's common to feel the pressure to do everything—overload classes, join clubs, apply to internships, and more. But rarely do we stop to ask why…
- The Veritas Forum
The Opposite of Depression Is More Than Just Mental Health w/ David Carreon | Beyond the Forum
What if there was a way to alleviate the symptoms of depression in just five days by changing a person’s brain activity? Obviously, this kind of shift would…
- The Veritas Forum
Three Skills for Disagreeing Better in 2024 w/John Inazu | Beyond the Forum
One of our faculty partners and frequent Veritas Forum speakers, John Inazu (WUSTL), has a new book out — Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to…
- The Veritas Forum
What Mother Teresa Taught Me | Mary Poplin
It would be great if the world was a better place. More kindness and friendship. Less war and injustice. For “everything sad to become untrue” (to…
- The Veritas Forum
Happier Doctor—Healthier Patient? | Arthur Brooks & Bernard Chang
We spend — on average — 90,000 hours of our life working. So it’s no wonder we want our jobs to bring us happiness. Yet, all too often, work…
- The Veritas Forum
Are We Living in the Best of All Possible Worlds? | Lennox & Lowenstein
The concept of a “multiverse” — formerly an obscure idea in philosophy and theoretical physics — is now mainstream. Movies like…
- The Veritas Forum
The Messiness of Meaning | Devadoss & Firestein
Meaning can be straightforward — a red octagon means “Stop!”, a hand wave with a smile means “Hello,” or adding two and two…
- The Veritas Forum
Mental Health Takes a Village | Curt Thompson & Jill Stratton
The "group projects" of high school and college never fully go away. Even outside of the classroom, we still have to depend on people who may disappoint us…
- The Veritas Forum
Has Science Made Spirituality Irrelevant? An Interfaith Discussion | Sethupathy & Shamoo
While the beginning of the year often inspires a hopefulness and expectancy for life, New Years isn’t all excitement and courage. For you personally…