In this reflective Thanksgiving-themed episode of Living in the Meantime, Stephen shares a quiet encounter that changed two lives—his and a stranger’s.A young man named David shows up in Stephen’s office to say thank you for a conversation on a city bus 18 months earlier, a conversation Stephen barely remembers and during which he said very little. For David, simply being heard in a moment of deep personal crisis became the turning point that brought clarity to agonizing decisions.That unexpected visit doesn’t just move Stephen—it awakens him. If one simple act of listening could mean so much, who in his own life is still waiting for overdue gratitude?This episode is a gentle nudge to notice the people who have steadied us along the way—and to tell them so while we can.

Chapters:

00:00:00 — A Thanksgiving Memory Resurfaces

00:00:28 — Meeting David on the City Bus

00:01:05 — A Moment of Listening That Mattered

00:01:32 — David Finds Clarity

00:01:55 — An Unexpected Visit of Gratitude

00:02:18 — Stephen’s Own Awakening

00:02:40 — The Call to Offer Thanks

Stephen sits down with longtime friend and former college president Steven Poskanzer for a wide-ranging, no-spin conversation on the role of universities in a turbulent culture. They explore what higher education is uniquely for—pursuing truth, forming judgment, and curating reliable knowledge—and where it’s falling short. Topics include academic freedom, free speech vs. platforming, the populist suspicion of expertise, DEI as mission-aligned practice, the difference between political debate and scholarly discourse, and how AI stress-tests our systems for validating truth. Along the way, Poskanzer shares insights from his new book, The University’s Voice: Principled Silence and Purposeful Speech (Johns Hopkins), and a simple lodestar for institutions and leaders alike: fidelity and focus.

You can buy Steven’s Book HERE

Chapters00:00:00 — Welcome & today’s guest: Steven Poskanzer00:01:16 — Who is Steve? Lawyer, scholar, 20 years a college president00:02:57 — Back to the classroom: teaching constitutional law00:04:17 — New book: The University’s Voice and why it matters00:05:53 — “Fidelity and focus”: mission as a decision filter00:07:46 — Making room for reflection: what the academy can still do00:08:24 — Are universities succeeding? A candid yes (with caveats)00:09:47 — The long view: anti-intellectualism & populist cycles00:11:03 — Disruption by design: research, new ideas, creative friction00:18:58 — Classroom culture: can unpopular ideas get a fair hearing?00:21:28 — Indoctrination vs. education: peer correction and standards00:22:18 — Free speech on campus: who gets a mic—and why00:24:30 — Brandon jumps in: debate culture and false equivalence00:24:45 — Context matters: street politics vs. seminar rules00:26:01 — Civility as a tool for thinking (and its misuses)00:28:23 — Crisis of curation: when every “fact” looks equal00:31:39 — Peer review & replication: authenticating knowledge00:33:44 — AI as super-curator? Power, risk, and validation00:46:39 — Who needs college? Value without credential worship00:50:19 — Regulation, pace, and the iPhone lesson of AI00:41:58 — When should institutions speak? Academic freedom & funding00:43:28 — Case studies: teaching bans, affirmative action, DACA00:45:17 — Collective voice: ACE, AAU, and informal coalitions00:53:35 — Final word: trust, knowledge, and why universities still matter

In today’s episode, Stephen reflects on why Living in the Meantime exists in the first place — to cultivate a modest but meaningful space for the simple, perennial values that actually build human flourishing: integrity, compassion, respect, civility, and the common good. He names the very ordinary, very daily places where those values show up — not in big speeches or sweeping national movements — but in the small interactions between strangers on a subway car at rush hour. Through a wonderfully New-York vignette involving a crowded train, a pregnant passenger, a stubborn commuter, and a surprising twist of civility, Stephen reminds us that the evidence of what matters most is hiding in plain sight. We just have to pay attention. This episode invites us back toward the core — toward the small gestures that ripple into culture.

Chapters

00:00:00 — Why This Space Exists

00:00:40 — The Perennial Things That Matter

00:01:25 — A Subway Story About Civility

00:03:15 — Paying Attention to Simple Truths

00:03:50 — Coming Soon: Long-form Conversations

In this reflective episode, Stephen Bauman takes us back to his early days of life in Manhattan — a young father adapting to the relentless rhythm and noise of the city that never sleeps. From sleepless nights high above Second Avenue to unexpected moments of gratitude sparked by the sound of a garbage truck, Stephen explores the deep interdependence that makes urban life so extraordinary.

He reminds us that the vitality of any city — its cleanliness, civility, and integrity — mirrors the collective will of its people. As election season approaches, he calls us to remember our shared responsibility in shaping the communities we inhabit.

A meditation on belonging, civic duty, and the sacred hum of everyday life.

Chapters

00:00:00 — Life in Manhattan Begins00:01:05 — The Noise of the City

00:02:15 — A Garbage Truck and a Moment of Clarity

00:03:10 — The Shared Life of a City

00:03:45 — A Call to the Ballot Box

In this moving episode of Living in the Meantime, Rev. Dr. Stephen Bauman reflects on a recent vigil for Ali Farqirzada — an Afghani refugee and Bard College student detained by ICE despite his family’s deep integration into their Hudson Valley community. Stephen shares the story of local people of many faiths rallying around Ali’s family and explores what it truly means to live for the common good — not in words, but in action. Through this personal and poignant account, he invites listeners to recognize that genuine community begins with small, tangible gestures of solidarity. Saying we value compassion is one thing; doing compassion is quite another.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Introduction: A Vigil in the Hudson Valley

00:01:30 – The Story of Ali Far-Kirzada

00:03:00 – Community Hospitality and the Common Good

00:05:00 – The Power of Collective Care

00:06:30 – From Words to Action: Living What We Say We Believe

In this episode of Living in the Meantime, Rev. Dr. Stephen Bauman reflects on a simple yet piercing line from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “What you do screams so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” Stephen explores how this quote has haunted and guided him for over forty years — from becoming a young father to observing today’s culture of constant performance and noise. Through personal story and cultural critique, he unpacks what it means to live with integrity in an age where words and image often drown out authentic action. At its heart, this meditation invites us to consider our embodied character — who we really are beneath the slogans, posts, and performances — and how our daily living might speak louder than anything we say.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Opening Reflection: “What You Do Screams So Loud”

00:01:10 – The Emerson Quote That Stuck

00:02:35 – Becoming a Father and the Shock of Responsibility

00:04:15 – Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Especially to Children)

00:06:00 – Performative Culture and the Illusion of Doing

00:08:10 – Embodied Character in a Disembodied World

00:09:00 – Closing Thoughts

Episode 1: Living in the Meantime — A Conversation on Meaning, Transition, and Community

In the debut episode of Living in the Meantime, Rev. Dr. Stephen Bauman sits down with producer Brandon Batson to introduce the heart behind this new podcast and blog project. Together, they explore what it means to live lives of deep meaning and value amid chaos, uncertainty, and cultural change.

From reflections on retirement and rediscovering purpose to navigating the overwhelm of a 24/7 information world, Stephen shares how the phrase “living in the meantime” came to him as both a personal and cultural calling — a reminder to find grounding and grace in ordinary days, small acts, and authentic community.

This opening conversation sets the stage for the podcast’s ongoing journey: one that invites listeners to slow down, reflect deeply, and re-engage with the world and one another in meaningful, compassionate ways.

00:00:00 – Introduction

00:01:06 – Why “Living in the Meantime”?

00:03:17 – Life After Retirement

00:06:11 – The Awakening Moment

00:07:32 – Making Meaning in Chaos

00:09:07 – The Power of Daily Living

00:10:22 – Conversation as Connection

00:11:54 – Who Is This For?

00:14:41 – Perennial Values and Honest Struggle

00:16:55 – Stories that Inspire

00:19:46 – Building Community and Engaging Difference

00:21:39 – The Need for Human Community

00:24:37 – Practices for Living in the Meantime

00:28:41 – Closing Reflections