Today on Ascend: the Great Books Podcast, we are discussing Plato's Phaedo , or in ancient times, it had the subtitle of On the Soul . It tells of the death of Socrates and his various arguments for the immortality of the soul. The Phaedo is a complicated dialogue. It's a long dialogue, but it's very beautiful and very much worth the effort. So it merits a slow, attentive, and subtle read. And to help us with this type of read, we are joined by Dr. Christopher Frey, a fantastic thinker who reall...
Oct 14, 2025•1 hr 25 min
Today, we are introducing Plato's Phaedo , "on the soul," with Alec Bianco of the Circe Institute and with Athenian Stranger . We'll discuss why to read the great books, why we read Plato, how you should read Plato, and why to read the Phaedo. We then do a deep dive into the opening of the Phaedo , especially on the setting and the myth of Theseus-where a subtle, attentive read unearths a beautifully rich allusion. We'll end with some advice for first time readers of the Phaedo. Visit thegreatbo...
Oct 07, 2025•2 hr 7 min
In this episode, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos dive into Plato’s Crito , a dialogue set in Socrates’ prison cell as he awaits execution. They explore Socrates’ refusal to escape, his debt of gratitude to Athens, and the tension between philosophy and the polis’s poetic traditions. Through engaging analysis, they unpack the dialogue’s themes of justice, piety, and civic obligation, offering insights for first-time readers and drawing parallels to modern liberal democracy. Dr. ...
Sep 30, 2025•1 hr 47 min
In this episode of the Ascend the Great Books podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Father Justin Brophy, OP, delve into the second part of Plato's Apology, exploring Socrates' defense during his trial. They discuss the significance of Socrates' thoughts on death, virtue, and the role of philosophy in life. The conversation also touches on the influence of Saint Justin Martyr, the relationship between pagans and philosophy, and the concept of the daemon as a guiding force in Socrates' life. Check...
Sep 23, 2025•1 hr 55 min
In this episode of Ascend, The Great Books Podcast , host Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by Fr. Justin Brophy, a Dominican friar and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Providence College, to dive into the first half of Plato’s Apology . Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule. Check out our collection of guides on the great books! The discussion explores Socrates’ defense speech at his trial in 399 BC, set against the backdrop of post-Peloponnesian War Athens. The...
Sep 16, 2025•1 hr 59 min
How would a Christian answer the Euthyphro dilemma? Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Donald Prudlo, the Warren Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Tulsa, to discuss Aquinas and the Euthyphro dilemma. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule and more! Need a guide to a great book? Check out our online collection . Also, check our Dr. Prudlo's new books: Governing Perfection (2024) - "In the beginning, God administrated....
Sep 09, 2025•1 hr 28 min
In this episode of the Ascend the Great Books podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and guests delve into the complexities of Plato's Euthyphro, exploring themes of piety, morality, and the divine - including the famous "Euthyphro Dilemma." The podcast welcomes back Dr. Joey Spencer, who serves as a tutor of theology, an archivist, and an expert in angels and demons. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule and more! Check out our collection of written guides on the great books! Ch...
Sep 02, 2025•1 hr 37 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are joined by Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Frank Grabowski, Thomas Lackey, and Dr. Joey Spencer to discuss the first part of Plato’s Euthyphro—a dialogue on piety. Dr. Spencer is the diocesan Archivist for the Diocese of Tulsa, a tutor in Theology, and an expert in the theology of angels and demons. We discuss the context of the dialogue and move into conversations on piety as a political problem, the role of imitating the divine in Greek religion, an introducti...
Aug 26, 2025•1 hr 47 min
In this episode of the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Daniel Shields discuss the significance of Plato's First Alcibiades, particularly in the context of its use at Wyoming Catholic College. They explore the themes of self-knowledge, the relationship between philosophy and politics, and the importance of mentorship in education. The conversation delves into the character of Alcibiades as a reflection of the student experience, the role of spiritedness in the pursuit of wisd...
Aug 19, 2025•59 min
KNOW THYSELF. Today, we have the second part of the excellent conversation on First Alcibiades with Dcn. Garlick, Alec Bianco, and Athenian Stranger. The conversation starts at 124(b)! First Alcibiades is one of the BEST PLACES you could start with Plato. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule and more! Check out our WRITTEN GUIDE to First Alcibiades . From the guide: 14. What does Socrates teach Alcibiades about the body (129b)? Plato teaches that the body is subordinate to...
Aug 12, 2025•1 hr 7 min
PLATO IS PHILOSOPHY - and there is no better place to start with Plato than First Alcibiades . Today, we are discussing First Alcibiades with Alec Bianco of the Circe Institute and with the Athenian Stranger. Go check out their X accounts. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule. Check out our PATREON for written guides on the great books! We also have a NEW COMMUNITY CHAT on Plato to discuss with other people reading along. First Alcibiades is both the beginning and a summation ...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 58 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are continuing our study of Plato by diving into the Life of Alcibiades by Plutarch with Alex from the Cost of Glory podcast. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for more resources! Visit our PATREON page for written guides and to chat with others! Alex is fantastic. Alex and Dcn. Garlick discuss a few preliminaries on why you should read about Alcibiades before studying Plato and why you should read Plutarch in general. If you are not familiar with the li...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 46 min
WE ARE STARTING PLATO! Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast we are launching into our studies on Plato. We are kicking off with a roundtable of friends—a lawyer, two Phds, and an independent scholar—discussing the preliminary questions on Plato. Questions : Who was Plato? Why should we read Plato? Why should Christians read Plato? How should we read Plato? What Plato will we be reading? We’ll also have a brief opening chat on the great books in general and why they are worth reading—which is...
Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 35 min
In this episode of the Ascend to the Great Books podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick welcomes back Grayson Quay to discuss his new book, 'The Transhumanist Temptation.' The conversation delves into the ideological roots of transhumanism, its implications for humanity, and the historical context that has led to its rise. Quay emphasizes the importance of teleology in understanding human nature and critiques the modern conception of freedom as it relates to technology. The discussion also touches on ...
Jul 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Today on Ascend the Greek Books Podcast, we wrap up our exploration of the Greek plays with a lively roundtable discussion. Our panel of friends delves into the key themes of the tragic plays, including divinity, eros, fate, justice, the cosmos, virtue, and suffering. We explore plays such as the Oresteia, Prometheus Bound, the Theban plays, and the Bacchae, with insights from Homer, Hesiod, and Aristophanes. Don't miss this engaging conversation as we prepare to embark on our next journey with ...
Jul 15, 2025•2 hr 26 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are joined by Tsh Oxenreider to discuss The Frogs by Aristophanes. The play tells the comedic story of Dionysus deciding all the new tragic poets are terrible, so he travels to Hades to bring back Euripides to help save Athen’s from her moral decay. Once in Hades, Dionysus has several adventures, which includes hosting a poetry contest between Aeschylus and Euripides to see who is the best tragedian. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading sche...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 10 min
In this episode, Dcn. Harrison Garlick, Chancellor and General Counsel of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, welcomes Dr. Zena Hitz, a tutor at St. John’s College and founder of the Catherine Project, to discuss Aristophanes’ comedic masterpiece, The Clouds . The episode dives into the play’s biting humor, its critique of Athenian society, and its timeless questions about education, piety, and moral decay. From the Thinkery’s absurd teachings to the mysterious Clouds, Dcn. Garlick and Zena unp...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast , we plunge into the second part of Euripides’ The Bacchae —a harrowing yet gripping Greek tragedy that leads us deeper into the mystery of Dionysian eros. We’ll observe the tragic descent of King Pentheus, the Bacchae as a parasite upon society, and the haunting themes of eros, justice, and the question of piety under an evil god. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading SCHEDULE. Check out our Patreon page for our 25 Q&A GUIDE to the Bacch...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 51 min
Madness, piety, gore, and reason! Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, host Dcn. Harrison Garlick and the always insightful Dr. Frank Grabowski delve into the first part of Euripides’ The Bacchae—a chilling yet captivating Greek tragedy that explores piety, eros, the nature of the divine, and the fragility of societal order. The guys explore Dionysus, a god transformed from Homer’s jovial wine deity into a “cruel” and “diabolical” figure worshipped through “frenzied madness and the bestial ...
Jun 17, 2025•2 hr 27 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick and Mr. Eli Stone discuss the second and final part of Oedipus at Colonus —wherein Sophocles brings the horrific tale of Oedipus to a beautiful, redemptive end. Deacon and Eli discuss the dramatic zenith of Oedipus’ life, the theme of redemptive suffering, the binding power of love, and all the various ways this play comments on the relationships in Antigone and Oedipus Rex . Go visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule! Check ...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 49 min
In this episode of Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and returning guest Eli Stone dive into the first half of Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus , the third play in the Theban cycle by publication order but the second in narrative chronology. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule. Check out Patreon page for written guides to the great books! Recorded in rural Oklahoma, this episode explores Oedipus’ transformation from a cursed exile to a figure of divine ...
Jun 03, 2025•2 hr 6 min
Aristotle said Oedipus the King was the best tragedy. Today, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Mr. Eli Stone and our friend Josiah to discuss Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) by Sophocles - the second play in the Oedipus cycle or Theban plays. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule and more! Check out our Patreon for our written guides! Here is a letter Dcn. Garlick wrote to our supporters about Oedipus the King: Oedipus the King is, according to Aristotle, the best of the Gr...
May 27, 2025•2 hr 29 min
Does Antigone hold strong until the end? Is Antigone the hero? Today, Dcn. Garlick is joined again by David Niles and Dr. Frank Grabowski to discuss the second part of Sophocles' Antigone . Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule! Check out our Patreon page ! We appreciate all our supporters. From our guide: 15. How does Haemon’s interaction with Creon highlight his character and challenge Creon’s perspective? Haemon, Creon’s son and Antigone’s betrothed, enters around line 7...
May 20, 2025•2 hr 8 min
Antigone is the "dark sign from the gods." Today, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Mr. David Niles of the Catholic Man Show and Dr. Frank Grabowski to discuss the Greek tragedy "Antigone" by Sophocles. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule! Check out our Patreon for our guide on Antigone! From the guide: This guide, like the podcast conversation, explores Antigone as a profound meditation on piety, justice, and the cosmic order. This guide addresses critical aspects of ar...
May 13, 2025•2 hr 10 min
How would you respond to the will of a tyrant? Today, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Jared Zimmerer of Benedictine College to discuss Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound - the first play in an otherwise lost triad. Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule! WHY SHOULD YOU READ PROMETHEUS BOUND? From the guide: Prometheus Bound is the story of man and civilization. Within the contrast of Prometheus’ rebellion and Zeus’ tyranny, Aeschylus provides a narrative that explores the co...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 49 min
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Today, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Mr. Thomas Lackey and Mr. Adam Minihan to discuss how to read the Bible like Jesus, St. Paul, the Early Church Fathers, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Dante! There are four senses: literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical. The guys explain Divine Authorship, Dante's thesis that you read his Comedy like you Scripture, and then explain each sense and give examples. Check our thegreatbookspodcast.com for resource...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Lying is a sterile act that impedes the purpose of the intellect. Today, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Sean Berube and Shannon of Catholic Frequency to discuss "Lying as Contraceptive Speech." Dcn. Garlick gives several short talks pulling from Dante's Inferno, the Gospel of St. John, and liberalism with responses from Sean and Shannon from a live recording on X (Twitter). Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for more help to read the great books! Master Adamo lies a bloated mass of “watery r...
Apr 22, 2025•2 hr 16 min
The frozen heart of hell. Today, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Mr. Evan Amato to discuss the frozen wastes of the 9th Circle of Hell - the damned guilty of treachery (or complex fraud). Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for other great books to read! A few questions from our guide to Dante's Inferno: 78. What happens in the ninth circle of hell: Treachery (Complex Fraud) (Canto 34)? Pressing onward, Virgil leads the Pilgrim to “Judecca”—named after Judas Iscariot—in which those souls that ...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 44 min
We finish the 8th Circle of hell! Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Donald Prudlo of the University of Tulsa discuss pits 8-10 of the 8th Circle of Dante's Inferno (Cantos 26-31). Dr. Prudlo is an incredibly talented Catholic scholar! You'll want to hear what he has to say - especially about Odysseus, Troy, and the Garden of Eden. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for more resources! From our guide: 64. What happens in the eighth ditch (Cantos 26-27)? Overlooking the eighth ditch, the Pilgrim and Virgi...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 57 min
Seducers, Flatterers, Sorcerers, and more! Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Noah Tyler, CFO of the Classic Learning Test, and Gabriel Blanchard, a staff writer for CLT, to discuss the first part of the 8th Circle: Simple Fraud (Cantos 18-25). Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for more information. Check out our written GUIDE to Dante's Inferno: 80+ Questions and Answer . FROM THE GUIDE: 53. What happens in the Eighth Circle of Hell: Simple Fraud (Canto 18) The Eighth Circle of Hell holds the ...
Apr 01, 2025•2 hr 18 min
