Over recent decades, the American university has been on a conveyor belt toward higher costs, less intellectual diversity, and less relevance to contemporary American life. Will Inboden, a decorated historian of foreign policy and newly appointed provost of the University of Texas at Austin, is here to change that. Will and Peter discuss how higher education got into a rut, how universities can lead us out of it, the point of Shakespeare, and how to build lifelong friendships.

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:30 - Why choose a career in academia

00:05:00 - Shaken public trust in institutions of higher learning

00:13:00 - The role of a university

00:16:50 - Academic freedom

00:20:26 - STEM research and the CCP

00:29:00 - Decline of the liberal arts

00:40:15 - The pursuit of truth

00:42:30 - Viewpoint diversity

00:48:00 - Life as provost

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Host: Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin

Executive Producers: Mat Hames Beth Hames

Researcher: John Masko

Producer: Laura Utt

Editor: Josh Meyers

Post Production: Jacob Estrada

Camera: Josh Harwick, Nathan Jennings

Music by Brandon Shufflebarger

In 2025, Cornel West and Robert George--two thought leaders who disagree on just about everything--aren't supposed to be friends. But against all odds, they are. In this first episode of Peter Robinson Unbridled, Cornel and Robbie discuss their improbable friendship, their love of music, their new book Truth Matters, and how they look for the truths we all share in an age of division.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Host: Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin

Executive Producers: Mat Hames Beth Hames

Researcher: John Masko

Producer: Laura Utt

Editor: Josh Meyers

Post Production: Jacob Estrada

Camera: Josh Harwick, Nathan Jennings

Music by Brandon Shufflebarger

In Peter Robinson Unbridled, Peter trades in his dress shoes for a pair of boots and the darkened studio for a neighborhood joint in Austin, Texas. Join him for personal conversations about the issues that matter with fascinating men and women forging the next American Century. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Host: Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin

Researcher: John Masko

Executive Producers: Mat Hames Beth Hames

Producer: Laura Utt

Editor: Josh Meyers

Post Production: Jacob Estrada

Camera: Josh Harwick, Nathan Jennings

Music by Brandon Shufflebarger