Project Cosmos: Conversations on the Future of Civilization
Project Cosmos is a new series from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) that brings together leading thinkers for candid, in-depth conversations about politics, culture, history, and the fate of the American regime.
Hosted in an informal, living-room setting, each episode feels less like a panel discussion and more like stepping inside a private exchange among some of today’s most influential intellectuals. Together, they explore urgent questions:
- What is the common good in 21st-century America?
- Has liberalism failed, and what comes after it?
- Can the administrative state be reformed—or must it be dismantled?
- Should Americans embrace a stronger executive power?
- What lessons can we learn from Rome, the Founders, and modern history?
From executive authority and Caesarism to community, culture, and the role of elites, Project Cosmos offers unfiltered discussions at the highest level.
Podcasting since 2025 • 8 episodes
Project Cosmos: Conversations on the Future of Civilization
Latest Episodes
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 exp...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:33:46
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 ...
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Episode 7
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1:35:58
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 n...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:57:14
Technology & The American Family | Klavan, Bovard, Toscano, Pappin, Libresco Sargeant & Burtka | Project Cosmos EP:04
In this episode of Project Cosmos, Spencer Klavan, Rachel Bovard, Michael Toscano, Gladden Pappin, Leah Libresco Sargent, and Johnny Burtka gather for a thought-provoking roundtable on one of the most pressing questions of our era:👉 How...
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Episode 4
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1:55:21
The Case for Techno-Optimism? | Project Cosmos EP:03
In this episode of Project Cosmos, host Johnny Burtka is joined by Ross Douthat, Aaron M. Renn, Michael Miller, Matthew Walther, and Frank Hanna for a profound roundtable on one of the most urgent questions of our time:👉 What does it me...
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Episode 3
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1:36:49