Project Cosmos: Conversations on the Future of Civilization

Economic Freedom, AI, and the Future of America

What does economic freedom actually look like in an age of artificial intelligence, automation, and geopolitical competition? ISI's flagship long form podcast brings together leading thinkers for a candid roundtable on free markets, innovation, national security, and what it all means for American workers and communities. Timestamps: 0:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA] – Intro: AI, deregulation & tech growth 6:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=371s] – AI and job displacement 8:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=536s] – The GOP's working class vs. economic dynamism tension 16:34 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=994s] – Are we losing skills to AI? 28:24 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=1704s] – Theology, human dignity & what makes us different from machines 38:41 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=2321s] – The data center investment bubble 52:21 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=3141s] – Industrial policy, national security & reshoring 1:00:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=3629s] – Disruption without a path forward: the trucker problem 1:06:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=3991s] – UBI, WALL-E, and the dystopia of purposeless leisure 1:10:24 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpHmbHl1WA&t=4224s] – Closing thoughts: humility, embodiment & conservatism's answer to AI Project Cosmos: Conversations on the Future of Civilization is a production of ISI, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.  Visit isi.org/join to learn more. Like and subscribe for more long form conversations on civilization, culture, and ideas.

Strong Gods: The End of the Long 20th Century

Are the "strong gods" returning to American life — and what does that mean for politics, Christianity, and civilization? In this episode of Project Cosmos, host Johnny Burtka is joined by a distinguished panel of scholars to discuss NS Lyons' essay on the long 20th century and the Return of the Strong Gods — building on Rusty Reno's influential work.  Guests: Tom West — Paul Ermine Potter and Dawn Tibbetts Potter Endowed Professor of Politics Khalil Habib — Allison and Dorothy Rouse Professor in Politics, Associate Professor of Politics Miles Smith IV — Assistant Professor of History Daniel O'Toole — Assistant Professor of Politics Rich Bacigalupi — Director, Deany's Days Foundation Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction: NS Lyons & the Return of the Strong Gods 0:19 – Why the left calls conservatives "fascists" 3:58 – Malcolm X, identity, and strong gods on the left 8:08 – The structure of progressive movements: weak gods as the ideal 26:43 – Is traditional Christianity making a comeback? 43:09 – Two versions of Christianity & the immigration debate 1:08:37 – AI, Silicon Valley & the political realignment 1:09:24 – AI as a threat to elections and public opinion 1:31:19 – Can the republic be saved? The role of the statesman Project Cosmos is a production of ISI — the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Visit isi.org to learn more about our educational programs on Western and American civilization.

Democracy in America Today: Tocqueville, Congress, and Decentralized Power

Join host Johnny Burtka with Yuval Levin, Sarah Gustafson, Vincent Munoz, and Sohrab Ahmari for an in-depth conversation about Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America and its relevance to contemporary American politics. This roundtable explores Congress and democratic governance, the administrative state, religion in democracy, and the formation of democratic citizens in our modern age. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Why Congress must predominate in a republic 7:22 - Andrew Jackson and the paradox of executive power 20:50 - Who was Alexis de Tocqueville? 27:18 - Tocqueville's reception in America through history 36:14 - The pathologies of democracy and soft despotism 51:37 - The bank war and Hamiltonian vs. Jacksonian visions 1:11:00 - The New Deal, progressivism, and centralized power 1:25:25 - Markets, government, and the problem of centralization 1:29:27 - The democratic soul and forming citizens 1:40:30 - Religion, morality, and American democracy today 1:50:25 - Reforming institutions and educating the next generation Featured Topics: Tocqueville, Congress, separation of powers, Andrew Jackson, administrative state, progressive era, federalism, subsidiarity, religious liberty, democratic soul, education, virtue ethics, institutional reform, aristocracy vs. democracy A production of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute | isi.org ProjectCosmos #Tocqueville #Democracy #Congress #PoliticalPhilosophy #AmericanGovernment #ISI

Enchanting the Machine: Liturgy, Technology, & Wonder

Join host Johnny Burtka with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Peter Leithart, Hans Boersma, and Zachary Porcu for a deep conversation about re-enchantment in our technological age. This roundtable explores the revival of liturgical Christianity, the spiritual dimensions of technology, and what it means to live in an enchanted world. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - What is enchantment? 7:22 - Tolkien, WWI, and "death and the machine" 23:33 - How did materialism become dominant? 36:14 - Constantine and converting pagan culture 51:37 - Technology as spiritual warfare 1:11:00 - Asceticism and spiritual formation 1:25:25 - The Incarnation and cosmic transformation 1:29:27 - What do we do? Practical steps forward Featured Topics: Tolkien, liturgy, sacramental ontology, the Reformation, technology and Babel, saints' lives, the Jesus prayer, AI and attention, neo-paganism Recorded live at ISI's Christmas Open House on December 15, 2025, at Butterworth's in Washington, DC. A production of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute | isi.org ProjectCosmos #Enchantment #Christianity #Theology #Tolkien #Technology

The Future of American Education | Arnn, Brooks, Imam, Tate, Mitchell & Burtka

In this episode of Project Cosmos, Johnny Burtka brings together Dr. Larry Arnn, Pastor Corey Brooks, Jacob Imam, Jeremy Tate, and Dr. Joshua Mitchell for a powerful roundtable discussion on the future of American education as we approach the nation's 250th birthday. 📌 Project Cosmos is ISI's flagship series—intimate, living-room-style conversations where today's leading thinkers tackle the deepest political and cultural challenges facing America. Guests: Dr. Larry Arnn – President, Hillsdale College Pastor Corey Brooks – Founder, Project H.O.O.D. and Leadership Academy (Chicago) Dr. Jacob Imam – Founder, College of St. Joseph the Worker (Steubenville, OH) Jeremy Tate – Founder & CEO, Classic Learning Test (CLT) Dr. Joshua Mitchell – Professor of Political Theory, Georgetown University Johnny Burtka – President, Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) ⏰ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & 10-Year Vision for Education 01:08 Pastor Corey Brooks on School Choice 07:18 Jeremy Tate on Classical Learning Test 08:18 Identity Politics & Higher Education 28:50 Inner City Education & the Gospel 1:04:15 The American Canon & Great Books 1:20:00 Marriage, Family & Gender Dynamics 1:40:00 Liberal Arts & Manual Labor 1:47:45 AI, Digital Age & Human Competence 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Project Cosmos, where ideas, history, and political strategy meet. ProjectCosmos #Education #ClassicalEducation #SchoolChoice #HigherEducation #LiberalArts #Faith #Truth #AmericanFamily #JohnnyBurtka #CoreyBrooks #LarryArnn #JacobImam #JeremyTate #JoshuaMitchell #ISI #Hillsdale #Tocqueville