Ascend - The Great Books Podcast
Harrison Garlick and Adam MinihanWelcome to Ascend! We are a weekly Great Books podcast hosted by Deacon Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan. What are the Great Books? The Great Books are the most impactful texts that have shaped Western civilization. They include ancients like Homer, Plato, St. Augustine, Dante, and St. Thomas Aquinas, and also moderns like Machiavelli, Locke, and Nietzsche. We will explore the Great Books with th... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 130 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsEducationSelf-ImprovementBooks | |||
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Latest Episodes
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK ONE of the Odyssey--one of the greatest texts in ... more
For the first time since 2023, Ascend is reposting an episode--our introduction to the Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen (6.25.2024) in anticipation of our NEW 12-WEEK STUDY of the Odyssey starting next week!
We start BOOK ONE OF THE ODYSSEY next week... more
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick explores one of the most striking features of Dante’s Inferno: why the poet places liars, flatterers, and the treacherous in the lowest circles of Hell — deeper than murderers, tyrants... more
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick takes a popular article from The Ascent, a top 100 substack in faith and spirituality, and does a deep dive on CS Lewis, Dante, and the problem of evil (theodicy).
Check out THE ASCENT... more
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- 10/10 Recommend
I desired to begin my journey through Homer's Iliad and Odyssey but I didn't know where to go. I stumbled across this podcast and I am so grateful I did. I'm only a few episodes in and I find this podcast so insightful. They make The Iliad approachable while still digging into deep themes and history.
Apple Podcasts5Taryn L. Davidson
United States7 months ago - Loving it as a STEM guy
This podcast made ancient texts unexpectedly addictive. Now I understand why they been read for hundreds of years.
Apple Podcasts5Sylvan OdysseyUnited States8 months ago - Great Idea - Co-Host (Adam) is Unlistenable
The only reason this doesn’t go any lower is because i love the idea of this podcast and want to support at all cost
But Adam is atrocious and hard to suffer through, in order to get Deacon’s insight & discussion points
Apple Podcasts3showboat_goodmanUnited States9 months ago - Awesome podcast
This is such a fantastic podcast! It has been a please to journey through The Iliad with Harrison and Adam. Both hosts provide a wealth of insight
Apple Podcasts5PjoordzUnited Statesa year ago - Great Podcast and Guests
Decided to mix some of the great books into my reading list last year and knew it would be beneficial to do so with a podcast to guide me. So glad I found this one! The hosts are a great example of the intellectual revival we should be having thanks to the internet and podcasting. I was pleasantly surprised that they’re involved Catholics as well.
Apple Podcasts5MtdillnUnited Statesa year ago
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Apple Podcasts | #89 | United States/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #250 | United States/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #181 |  United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #250 |  Germany/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #48 |  Norway/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #67 |  Finland/Arts/Books |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ascend
What is Ascend about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show centers on the Great Books through a Catholic intellectual lens, guiding listeners through foundational Western texts with a slow, thoughtful pace. Episodes commonly pair a host with expert guests—teachers, theologians, philosophers, and classical educators—to illuminate themes from Homer to Dante and Aquinas. The format emphasizes accessibility for new readers while digging into deep ideas, making it valuable for lifelong learners, educators, and Catholics curious about the dialogue between classical wisdom and faith. A standout feature is the structured, chronological approach to the Great Books, plus supplementary resources like a 115-question guide to the Iliad.
Potential listeners should find it engaging if they want clear i... more
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Which podcasts are similar to Ascend?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Ascend:
1. The Thomistic Institute
2. First Things Podcast
3. Socrates in the City
4. Evangelization & Culture Podcast
5. The Literary Life Podcast
How many episodes of Ascend are there?
Ascend launched 2 years ago and published 130 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on Ascend?
Recent guests on Ascend include:
1. Frank Grabowski
2. Patrick Deneen
3. Chad Pecknold
4. Richard Meloche
5. Dr. Michael West
6. Father Patrick Briscoe
7. Sarah Berry
8. Luke Heintschel
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.