A political scientist who held leadership positions at the Library of Congress and the White House Historical Association, Colleen Shogan became the first woman to head the National Archives. She adopted emphatically centrist policies in that position, but was fired—by tweet—by President Trump in a move that even many conservatives criticized. She’ll explain what secrets the Archives hold and how they could be run to the benefit of the country.

Many countries have adopted blasphemy laws designed to prevent speech that mocks or insults leading religions. More countries are considering them. Are these laws prudent, or an unnecessary and dangerous threat to free speech? Sean Nelson is a top lawyer specializing in religious freedom and tracking blasphemy laws worldwide.

Emerging thought leader Thomas Hochman joined us for a presentation on the role that permitting policy plays in inhibiting engineering innovation.This is a recording of a lecture delivered on April 16th, 2025

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

Alex Motchoulski, Professor of Philosophy at UVA, and Erwin Dekker, economist at the Mercatus Center (GMU), join us to discuss philosophy and economics.

This is a recording of a discussion hosted on April 15, 2025

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle joins us to discuss the intersection of social media, politics, and the "vibe shift" of 2025.

This is a recording of a lecture delivered on April 1st, 2025

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠⁠⁠⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

Cecilia Esterline of the Niskanen Center and Simon Hankinson of the Heritage Foundation have an important conversation on H-1B visa access and the future of immigration policy in the Trump Administration.

This is a recording of a discussion hosted on March 19, 2025

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠⁠⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠⁠⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

Fr. Dominic Legge is the head of the Thomistic Institute and a member of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Fr. Legge joined us to present on the alleged conflict between modern science and religious faith.

This is a recording of a lecture delivered on February 26, 2025.

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

In this latest episode of Open Discourse at Blue Ridge, we are joined by Dan McLaughlin, aka BaseballCrank, a columnist at National Review. He shares with us his thoughts on conventional American conservatism in our modern political climate.

This is a recording of a lecture delivered on February 24, 2025

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

John Reynolds spent six years as an analyst at Goldman Sachs before entering the Private Equity sphere. He now serves as the managing director of Lime Rock Partners. In this latest episode of Open Discourse at Blue Ridge, Mr. Reynolds breaks down his career in finance.

This is a recording of a lecture delivered on February 18th, 2025

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit ⁠The Blue Ridge Center⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age⁠

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX

In the first episode of Open Discourse at Blue Ridge, Professor Gerard Alexander discusses Great Britain's stand against Nazi Germany in the early years of World War II. 

This is a recording of a lecture delivered on February 4th, 2025.

Open Discourse at Blue Ridge is a production of the Blue Ridge Center. For more information, event schedules, and resources, visit The Blue Ridge Center

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/walz/golden-age

License code: PENFS0XOLPVCPUNX