The Veritas Forum

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 integrity and still compete at the highest level? And what do you hold onto when you fail?   You’ll hear from John Hennessy, the former president of Stanford, and Pat Gelsinger, the former CEO of Intel. In their conversation moderated by Stanford student Elli Schulz, they share their stories of finding purpose in the middle of failures, explore the intersection of their Christian faith and work, and offer their thoughts about pursuing meaning in your career.   This forum was held by the Veritas at Stanford Club in April 2025. Thank you to the Veritas at Stanford Club for permission to co-release this recording. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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 how we live? And what is the role of religious texts in this formative process?   You’ll hear from Roosevelt Montás, a professor of American Studies at Columbia, and Angel Adams Parham, a sociologist at UVA. In this episode, moderated by Columbia professor Dhananjay Jagannathan, they explore what a liberal arts education is, what we get wrong about college today, and why the university is an essential place to ask some of life’s biggest questions about meaning, purpose, and what we believe.   This forum was held at Columbia University in April 2025. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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 University of Notre Dame. In this talk, she explores what led her to become a Christian in college, how she responds to common objections about her faith, and why she thinks it’s rational to believe in Christianity.   This forum was held at Middlebury College in 2016. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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 political systems fail us, where should we look for hope?   You’ll hear from Michael Wear, the founder and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, and Hahrie Han, a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins. In this conversation,  they explore why agency and community matter in politics, why misplaced political hope can be dangerous, and where they find hope beyond politics as a Christian and a seeker.   This forum was held at Johns Hopkins University in March 2025. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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, where does that leave us? Is there something more  — something spiritual or transcendent— that can give us hope?   In today’s episode, you’ll hear from two journalists who have thought about these questions. The first is Ross Douthat, a New York Times Opinion columnist and author of the new book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. He’s in dialogue with Frank Bruni, an opinion contributor at the New York Times and a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke. In this discussion, moderated by UNC historian Molly Worthen, Ross and Frank share their experiences with suffering, their perspectives on spirituality and religion, and their search for meaning throughout their lives.   This forum was held at UNC Chapel Hill in April 2025. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible.    Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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 it right?   You’ll hear from N. T. Wright, a senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, and Heidi Maibom, a philosophy professor at the University of Cincinnati. In this conversation, they explore what philosophical traditions and the Christian story say about human identity, the problem of evil, and our ability to fix the world’s problems.   This forum was held in 2017 at the University of Cincinnati. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.   Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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 from Mia Chung-Yee, an accomplished musician and faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music. In this lecture and performance, she tells the story of Beethoven’s struggle with deafness and explores the connection in his music between suffering and faith.   This forum was held at the University of Michigan in 2016. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.   Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.