I spend my days homeschooling four kids and tending a sprawling garden, and my nights diving deep into the ethics of gene editing, lab-grown life, and the future of being human.
Welcome to the other side of my work — the part where motherhood meets the biggest bioethical questions of our time!
In case you’re new here, Hi! I’m Samantha Stephenson—Catholic author, homeschooling mom of four, and a bioethics nerd with master’s degrees in theology and bioethics. I’m a Paul Ramsey Fellow with the Center for Bioethics and Culture and former instructor for Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life.
You may know me from my Slow Motherhood writing—savoring prayerful homes, joyful rhythms, and embodied living—but there’s another side of my work: I host the podcast Brave New Us: Being Human in the Age of Biotechnology, where we explore the biggest ethical questions shaping our future:
Should we edit embryos to eliminate disease?
Are synthetic wombs and designer babies a good idea?
What does it mean to remain fully human in a world of AI, brain organoids, and lab-grown organs?
With 30,000+ downloads, a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and ranking in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally (according to ListenNotes), Brave New Us is a growing community for anyone who wants to think deeply about where science is taking us—and how to stay grounded in what matters most.
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If you’ve ever felt the tension between our human longing for control and the invitation to receive life as a gift, these are conversations you don’t want to miss.