Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast

On this episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, former U.S. Marine, CIA veteran, and acclaimed novelist Elliot Ackerman joins Head of School Dr. John Austin just before delivering Deerfield's 2026 Commencement Address. Ackerman traces the arc of two parallel careers: five combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as a writer with a career built on persistence and the drive to make meaning from experience. The conversation spans leadership, the lessons of military service, and what it took to find a second calling as a writer.

Yale Law professor Justin Driver joins Head of School Dr. John Austin to explore how the Supreme Court has shaped American education, from Brown to landmark rulings on student speech. Drawing on his two books, Driver traces his path in constitutional law and argues for renewed civic education. This conversation discusses the origins of educational law to the unresolved legal questions posed by smartphones, social media, and AI in the classroom.

0:00 - Introduction

2:10 - Prof. Driver’s Background

4:36 - Importance of teachers in Driver’s Life

6:41 - Supreme Court Clerkship

12:56 - Where does educational law come from?

17:09 - The Renewal of Civic Education

20:00 - Student Centered Civic Education vs. Traditional Civics Education

24:39 - SCOTUS Common Ground on Education Cases

25:36 - Corporal Punishment in Schools

28:27 - Mahanoy Area School District v. Brandi Levy

31:31 - What does the “schoolhouse gate” mean in the context of the internet?

33:11 - Technology Bans and Infringement of Speech Rights

36:01 - Technology Policy in Classroom

37:40 - How is AI impacting the legal profession and education?

39:54 - John McPhee’s Work

42:05 - Legal Writers Prof. Driver Admires

43:15 - What are you working on right now?

In this episode of Dialogue, Head of School Dr. John Austin sits down with Noel Rubinton ’73 to discuss his new book “Looking for a Story: A Complete Guide to the Writings of John McPhee.” Together, they trace the career of Pulitzer Prize-winner John McPhee ’49, from his early days at Deerfield to his decades as a pillar of long-form journalism. Rubinton shares his new discoveries about McPhee’s path to the New Yorker, his meticulous research and “structural” writing process, and his influential role as a professor at Princeton. This episode is an inside look at the enduring legacy of a writer who defines American non-fiction. 

In this episode of Dialogue, Head of School Dr. John Austin is joined by President of the Board of Trustees Leila Govi ’93 P’26, ’28 and Trustee and architect Dana Tang P’24. Together they go behind the project to discuss the vision and design of The Brick, Deerfield’s new dining hall. They explore how architecture can foster a sense of belonging and why the dining hall remains Deerfield’s most important classroom.

In this special collaborative episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, long-form interviewer and essayist Bob Dewey ’77, P’12, ’14, ’17, ’20—host of the Exploring Prosperity YouTube channel and Substack—speaks with Head of School Dr. John Austin about the purpose of schooling and the responsibilities educational institutions have to students.

In this episode, Bob and Dr. Austin discuss how schools can create environments where students develop as thoughtful, effective contributors—without turning classrooms into platforms for ideology or partisan expression. Rather than focusing on political controversy, the conversation centers on institutional design, educational purpose, and the conditions under which serious learning can take place.

Dr. Austin is the lead author of “Thriving in a World of Pluralistic Contention: A Framework for Schools,” a resource used by institutions to clarify their mission, uphold expressive freedom, and foster intellectual diversity. Deerfield Academy recently received a second grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation to further the mission outlined in the Framework, now with an emphasis on advancing intellectual diversity in schools.

In this episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, Dr. John Austin talks with Jeffrey Rosen, CEO and President of the National Constitution Center. Their conversation explores the power of reading to deepen attention, the role of civic deliberation in sustaining democracy, and the nonpartisan mission of teaching the Constitution in a polarized era. 

Drawing from the wisdom of Jefferson and Franklin, Rosen reflects on daily practices, moral philosophy, and the virtues that cultivate clarity and character. Together, they examine how conversation, history, and discipline reading can strengthen civic live and renew shared pursuit of union. 

In the first episode of Dialogue: The Deerfield Podcast, Dr. John Austin talks with Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and leading voice in behavioral science, about curiosity, connection, and the courage to communicate with authenticity.