In today’s episode of A Reason For Hope Podcast, Dr. David Hajduk sits down with Dr. Deborah Savage, Catholic theologian, philosophical anthropologist, and founder/director of the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
This conversation tackles some of the most urgent questions facing the Church and culture today:
- What does it mean to be a man?
- What does it mean to be a woman?
- And how do we recover clarity about the human person in an age of confusion about sex, gender, identity, and the body?
Dr. Savage shares her remarkable journey—from the corporate world and manufacturing leadership to Thomistic philosophy, Catholic theology, and decades of research into the complementarity of men and women. Along the way, she explains why Thomistic realism is essential for reclaiming truth about the human person—and why the Church’s teaching remains uniquely grounded in reality.
We also dive deep into:
- John Paul II’s anthropology and why it’s a powerful evangelical tool today
- Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and what they reveal about masculinity and femininity
- The meaning of the masculine genius and the feminine genius
- Why we can’t understand men without women—or women without men
- The modern crisis of men, and how our culture has misunderstood masculinity
- Why Dr. Savage’s Institute includes both theology and philosophy and the hard sciences + social sciences
- The importance of fathers and mothers in forming children through the “law of gratuity” and the “law of exchange”
- Why healing the family and rebuilding civilization requires a return to God’s design
This is a hopeful, challenging, and deeply timely episode for Catholic parents, students, educators, young adults, and anyone seeking clarity in a confusing cultural moment.
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⏰Timecode⏰
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Start of Interview
04:11 Dr. Deborah Savage's Journey to Theology
08:15 What is Thomistic Realism?
11:48 Saint John Paul II's Anthropology
18:13 Inspiration to Study the Masculine and Feminine Genius
27:12 Insights from Genesis on Gender Roles
38:44 Understanding the Fall and Its Impact on Relationships
42:09 The Crisis of Masculinity in Modern Society
43:30 The Role of the Birth Control Pill in Gender Dynamics
49:37 How do we affirm authentic masculinity
55:59 Integrating Science with Theology in Understanding Gender
04:45 The Mission and Future of the Institute for Man and Woman
09:36 Goodbyes
