The Veritas Forum

In today's episode, a Christian professor and an atheist professor grapple with a timeless question: if God is good and all-powerful, why is there so much suffering? You'll hear from Sean McDowell, Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, and Paul Rinzler, Professor Emeritus at Cal Poly. In this conversation, moderated by Brooklyn Perry, they explore whether a divine plan can account for apparently random suffering, reckon with the implications of moral evil, and share their perspectives on finding hope amid suffering. This forum was held at Cal Poly in April 2026. Thank you to the student planning team who made this event possible. You can find a link to the full forum in the podcast description. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

In today's episode, a physician and a former college dean grapple with "grind culture." You'll hear from Lydia Dugdale, a professor of medicine at Columbia, and James Valentini, a chemistry professor and a former dean of Columbia College. In this conversation, moderated by Seth Freeman, they discuss the difference between meaningful work and meaningless striving, what it looks like to live with the end in mind, and the relationship between career and calling in a world defined by achievement culture. This forum was held at Columbia in April 2026. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible. A link to the full forum is in the podcast description. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

In today's episode, our speakers explore this question: How can I live a satisfied life? You’ll hear from Arthur Brooks, a professor at Vanderbilt and author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness. He’s in conversation with Andrew Huberman, professor at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Labs podcast. In this conversation, they explore what it means to find a fulfilling life through scientific and faith-based practices, as well as their own journeys with religious belief. The forum is moderated by Charles Lee, professor emeritus at Stanford. This forum was held by the Veritas at Stanford student organization in April 2026. Thank you to the Veritas at Stanford student organization for permission to co-release this recording. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

In today's episode, two MIT professors reflect on this question: In an academic culture obsessed with making a name for yourself, what does it look like to care about something bigger than your own success?You'll hear from Desirée Plata, an environmental engineering professor at MIT, and Cullen Buie, a mechanical engineering professor at MIT. In this conversation moderated by Mia Chung, they discuss where ambition crosses into ego, how they order their priorities between faith, family, and work, and what sustains them through personal loss and professional pressures.This forum was held at MIT in March, 2026. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible.Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

In today’s episode, our speakers discuss this question: Is science the only reliable tool for understanding the world? Or for questions about meaning, morality, and ultimate purpose, do we need something more?You’ll hear from David Lahti, a biologist at Queens College, and Michael Weisberg, a philosopher at Penn. In this conversation, they explore the limits of scientific knowledge, how evolution intersects with questions of faith and suffering, and how their Christian and agnostic worldviews help them make sense of the difference between knowledge and faith.This forum was held at Penn in April 2026. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible.Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.