What makes a society truly prosperous? Is it GDP growth and stock market returns, or is there something more — something rooted in strong families, vibrant communities, and institutions that help people flourish?

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom has spent her career exploring these deeper questions about economic freedom and human flourishing. Catherine Pakaluk is an economist whose research challenges us to think beyond conventional metrics and consider how families, faith communities, and schools work together to create meaningful prosperity.

As both a Harvard-trained scholar and a mother of eight, Catherine brings a unique perspective to debates about family, economic opportunity, and the future of American society. She is an Associate Professor of Social Research and Economic Thought at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, where her research focuses on the economics of education and religion, family studies and demography, and Catholic social thought. Catherine's work examines the institutions and relationships that enable people to thrive, from faith communities to schools to families themselves. Her most recent book, Hannah's Children, examines women defying demographic trends by choosing large families, offering surprising insights about how people weigh what truly matters.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• Catherine's path to economics and her focus on education, religion, family studies, and Catholic social thought
• The relationship between religious institutions and economic liberty
• How families function as economic and social institutions that create opportunity
• Research on school choice, educational outcomes, and teaching the next generation
• Catherine's most recent book, Hannah's Children, and insights about women who defy demographic trends
• What gives Catherine hope for American families and civil society

At a time when constitutional rights face continuing pressures---from campus censorship to race-based government policies---one organization has spent the last 35 years winning legal battles that set lasting precedents for individual liberty.

The Center for Individual Rights was founded in 1989 to defend constitutional principles through strategic litigation. Its first major Supreme Court victory, Rosenberger v. University of Virginia in 1995, established that public universities cannot discriminate based on religious viewpoint---a principle that continues to influence cases to this day. CIR also secured landmark victories challenging race-based admissions policies in the University of Michigan cases.

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Todd Gaziano, who became CIR's president in 2023. Before joining CIR, he led legal centers at both the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Heritage Foundation, served as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and worked in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel and as chief counsel to a House subcommittee. He discusses CIR's strategic approach to defending equal protection, religious liberty, free speech, and competitive federalism---and explains why these constitutional battles matter for every American.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• Todd's path to the Center for Individual Rights and the most urgent threats to constitutional rights today
• The 30-year legacy of Rosenberger v. University of Virginia and its impact on campus free speech
• CIR's current cases challenging race-based policies in Portland schools and within federal programs
• Religious liberty and competitive federalism: why these areas matter
• Concerns and hopes for the future of constitutional rights in America

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra proves that art isn't just entertainment—it's a key part of building community. Through concerts that bring diverse audiences together and revitalization efforts that have transformed its downtown home, the MSO stands as one of Milwaukee's most dynamic civic institutions.

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Mark Niehaus, President and Executive Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Mark spent 14 years as the MSO's principal trumpet before the board tapped him in 2012 to lead the organization.

Under his leadership, the MSO completed an extraordinary restoration of the 1930s Warner Grand Theatre, expanding it into the Bradley Symphony Center. It opened in 2021, sparking renewal along West Wisconsin Avenue. As Wisconsin's largest performing arts institution, the MSO employs 70 full-time professional musicians who perform over 130 concerts annually and generate an estimated $55 million in economic activity.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• Mark's unique career path from musician to organizational leader
• Why the Bradley Symphony Center restoration was critical for the orchestra's future
• The MSO's role in revitalizing downtown Milwaukee
• Growing artistically and institutionally while other orchestras struggle
• Cultivating audiences for traditional art forms in a digital world
• The economic impact of arts organizations beyond cultural experience
• Hope for the future of orchestras and performing arts in America