S1 E3 | Using Genetic Editing to Heal Disease
Brave New Us: Choosing Human in the Age of Biotechnology
This season on Brave New Us, we’re exploring the field of genetics, its human applications, and the ethical question that arise when we think about using this knowledge to alter the building blocks of who we are.In this episode, we explore the idea of using this technology to heal an existing condition. What would that mean for the patients involved? Is there something about our genetics that is intrinsic to us, that we wouldn’t want to change?Guests appearing in the episode: Emily DeArdoEmily DeArdo is a Catholic author whose first book, Living Memento Mori: My Journey Through the Stations of the Cross, was published by Ave Maria Press this past January. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), an incurable genetic disease, when she was 11 years old, and recently celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of her double lung transplant. You can find Emily at emilymdeardo.comSpecial Thanks:Lauren Klingman, Mackenzie Kim“All Will Be Well” original track by Jessica Gerhardt.…For exclusive updates or to support the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at bravenewus.substack.com.
About Podcast
From gene editing and artificial wombs to brain implants and digital immortality—what does it mean to be human in a world trying to remake us?
Brave New Us explores how emerging technologies are reshaping what it means to be human. Hosted by Catholic bioethicist and author Samantha Stephenson, the podcast sits at the crossroads of faith, science, and ethics, featuring expert interviews and incisive commentary on biotechnology, AI, transhumanism, reproductive technologies, human enhancement, and the moral questions they raise.
Whether you're questioning the ethics of cutting-edge science, navigating a rapidly changing technological world, or simply seeking clarity in an age of unprecedented innovation, Brave New Us will help you think critically, live intentionally, and choose what is deeply human.
Samantha Stephenson holds master's degrees in theology and bioethics, served as a Paul Ramsey Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Culture, and taught for the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of several books helping readers grow in faith and navigate the spiritual and ethical questions shaping our rapidly changing world. In addition to hosting the Brave New Us podcast, Samantha writes the Choosing Human newsletter on Substack where she explores faith, family, and the future of being human. Learn more at www.snstephenson.com.
Subscribe now—and stay human in an age that’s forgetting how.