

The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour
Hillsdale College
The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour is a one-hour, weekly radio show/podcast advancing the efforts of Hillsdale College in radiating its knowledge and teaching to the world outside of campus. Listeners will hear the arguments and debates that make up the liberal arts education and will experience the learning and teaching that happens on campus. Hosted by Scot Bertram.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 2, 2023 • 40min
Hans von Spakovsky on Protecting the Integrity of Elections
Guests: John J. Miller, Hans von Spakovsky, & Richard Samuelson Host Scot Bertram talks with John J. Miller, Director of the Dow Journalism Program at Hillsdale College, about George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia and how it led to his future better-known works. Hans von Spakovsky, Manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative and Senior Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, dives into a study refuting false claims against voter ID laws and provides details on new documented cases of voter fraud. And Richard Samuelson, Associate Professor of Government at Hillsdale in DC, looks into the future to show us America after affirmative action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 26, 2023 • 49min
Brandon Weichert Warns Us About China's Plans to Weaponize Biotech
Guests: Kenneth Calvert, Brandon Weichert, & Stephen Naumann Host Scot Bertram talks with Kenneth Calvert, Professor of History at Hillsdale College, about the College's new free online course on the history of Ancient Christianity. Brandon Weichert, Senior Editor at 19FortyFive.com, discusses China's plan to weaponize biotech in his new book Biohacked: China's Race To Control Life. And Stephen Naumann, Associate Professor of German at Hillsdale, gives an inside look at Hillsdale's study abroad program for students in the German department. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 19, 2023 • 47min
Brad Birzer Explains How the War of 1812 Changed the Republic
Guests: Patrick Whalen, Walter Nicgorski, & Brad Birzer Host Scot Bertram talks with Patrick Whalen, assistant to the president of Hillsdale College, about the College's new free course on the U.S. Constitution for American Law Enforcement Officers. Walter Nicgorski, professor emeritus of Political Philosophy and Great Books at Notre Dame, stops by the studio to discuss Cicero and Stoicism. And Brad Birzer, Professor of History and Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies at Hillsdale, remembers one of America's forgotten wars, the War of 1812. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 12, 2023 • 47min
David Bernhardt Takes Us Inside the Administrative State
Guests: Adam Carrington, David Bernhardt, & Matthew Young Host Scot Bertram talks with Adam Carrington, Associate Professor of Politics at Hillsdale College, about a recent essay shining a spotlight on our forgotten founding document, the Northwest Ordinance. David Bernhardt, former United States Secretary of the Interior, takes us inside the highest levels of government with his new book You Report to Me: Accountability for the Failing Administrative State. And Matthew Young, Dean of Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry at Hillsdale, returns for another preview of his recent online course as we discuss the periodic table. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 5, 2023 • 45min
Daniel Tacke Tells Us About the Art of Composing Music
Guests: Richard Samuelson, Daniel McCarthy, & Daniel Tacke Host Scot Bertram talks with Richard Samuelson, Associate Professor of Government at Hillsdale College’s Washington, D.C., campus, analyzes the trend of high schools who have declined to tell students when they are honored as National Merit Scholars. Daniel McCarthy, editor of Modern Age, reveals what he believes conservatives need to win the culture wars. And Daniel Tacke, Chairman and Associate Professor of Music at Hillsdale College, tells us about the art and process of composing music. Richard Samuelson at 1:02Daniel McCarthy at 13:50Daniel Tacke at 26:22See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 28, 2023 • 47min
Connor Boyack Explains How Government Schools are Failing Today's Students
Guests: Paul Moreno, Connor Boyack, & Joey Barretta Host Scot Bertram talks with Paul Moreno, William and Berniece Grewcock Chair in Constitutional History, Professor of History, & Dean of Social Sciences at Hillsdale College, about a recent lecture for Hillsdale freshmen on the American heritage of freedom in the liberal arts. Connor Boyack, founder and president of Libertas Institute and the author of the Tuttle Twins children’s series of books, takes us inside his new release, co-authored by Corey DeAngelis, Mediocrity: 40 Ways Government Schools are Failing Today's Students. And Joey Barretta, recent graduate of Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College, talks about his dissertation, "Frederick Douglass on the Necessary Conditions of Freedom." Paul Moreno at 1:02Connor Boyack at 12:00Joey Barretta at 35:00See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 21, 2023 • 49min
Victor Davis Hanson Tries to Save America
Guests: Victor Davis Hanson, Thomas Spoehr, & Dwight Lindley Host Scot Bertram talks with Victor Davis Hanson, the Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History at Hillsdale College and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, and discusses his recent essay, "10 Steps to Save America." Thomas Spoehr, Director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, tells us why American fitness has national security implications. And Dwight Lindley, Associate Professor of English at Hillsdale, begins a series on the writings and life of Charles Dickens. Victor Davis Hanson at 00:41Thomas Spoehr at 22:05Dwight Lindley at 34:35 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 14, 2023 • 49min
Troy Senik Tells Us Why Grover Cleveland Was a Man of Iron
Guests: John J. Miller, Troy Senik, & Mardi Billman Host Scot Bertram talks with John J. Miller, Director of the Dow Journalism Program at Hillsdale College, about various plans to force tech companies to pay for online news. Troy Senik, a former Presidential speechwriter, takes us inside his recent book A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland. And Mardi Billman, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Hillsdale, returns for an installment in her "Drama in Scientific Discovery" series to tell us about the atom. John J. Miller at 00:55Troy Senik at 11:45Mardi Billman at 32:45See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 7, 2023 • 44min
Tom Treloar Is Studying Sports Ranking Models
Guests: Tom Treloar, Lance Morrow, & John Grant Host Scot Bertram talks with Tom Treloar, Chairman and Professor of Mathematics at Hillsdale College, about his extensive research into models for ranking sports teams. American essayist Lance Morrow tells us about his recent book The Noise of Typewriters: Remembering Journalism. And John Grant, Associate Professor and Chairman of Politics at Hillsdale, returns to wrap up his series on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, this time focusing on his writings, including In the First Circle and The Gulag Archipelago. Thomas Treloar at 00:55Lance Morrow at 18:55John Grant at 31:38See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 31, 2023 • 44min
Matthew Young Explains the Great Principles of Chemistry
Guests: Matthew Young, Dominic Green, & Garrett West '15 Host Scot Bertram talks with Matthew Young, Dean of Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry at Hillsdale College, about the new Hillsdale online course, "The Great Principles of Chemistry." Writer and historian Dominic Green chats about religion, journalism, and his recent book, The Religious Revolution: The Birth of Modern Spirituality, 1848-1898. And Hillsdale graduate Garrett West '15 tells us what it's like to serve as a clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court. Matthew Young at 00:50 Dominic Green at 13:55 Garrett West at 33:10See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


