Rephonic
Artwork for Ascend

Ascend - The Great Books Podcast

Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan
Achilles
Hector
Iliad
Patroclus
The Iliad
Zeus
Homer
Divine Intervention
Greek Mythology
Fate
Troy
Trojan War
Poseidon
Apollo
Aeneas
Eternal Christendom
Literary Theory
Ajax
Agamemnon
Hera

Welcome 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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes102Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSelf-ImprovementEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ascend

Latest Episodes

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 complica... more

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... more

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 bet... more

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' thoug... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Pillar Podcast
The Pillar PodcastThe Pillar Podcast
The Symbolic World
The Symbolic WorldJonathan Pageau
The Thomistic Institute
The Thomistic InstituteThe Thomistic Institute

Recent Guests

Dr. Christopher Frey
McFarland Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tulsa, specializing in ancient Greek philosophy.
University of Tulsa
Episode: Plato's Phaedo Explained with Dr. Christopher Frey Part I
Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos
Assistant Professor of Humanities at Wyoming Catholic College
Wyoming Catholic College
Episode: The Crito by Plato with Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos
Father Justin Brophy
A Dominican and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Providence College
Providence College
Episode: Plato's Apology Part I with Fr. Justin Brophy, OP
Dr. Joey Spencer
Archivist and tutor of theology for the Diocese of Tulsa, expert in the theology of angels and demons.
Diocese of Tulsa
Episode: The Euthyphro by Plato Part II with Dr. Joey Spencer and Friends
Dr. Daniel Shields
Associate Professor at Wyoming Catholic College specializing in Philosophy and Science, with a focus on the work of St. Thomas Aquinas and Medieval Philosophy.
Wyoming Catholic College
Episode: Teaching Plato's First Alcibiades with Dr. Daniel Shields
Athenian Stranger
Guest discussing Socratic principles.
Episode: First Alcibiades by Plato Part Two with Alec Bianco and Athenian Stranger
Dr. Alexander Petkes
PhD in classics from Princeton University, founder of the Cost of Glory podcast
Cost of Glory Podcast
Episode: The Life of Alcibiades by Plutarch with Alex from Cost of Glory
Grayson Quay
Author of The Transhumanist Temptation, and a journalist and ghostwriter.
Sophia Institute Press
Episode: NEW BOOK: The Transhumanist Temptation with Grayson Quay
Dr. Frank Grobowski
Professor of Philosophy at Rogers State and part of the Sunday Great Books group.
Rogers State University
Episode: Homer and the Greek Plays: A Roundtable with Friends

Host

Deacon Harrison Garlick
Host of the discussions centered on the Great Books, enriching conversations with philosophical insights and guiding listeners through key texts.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 151 ratings
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    Sylvan Odyssey
    United Statesa month 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 Podcasts
    3
    showboat_goodman
    United States3 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 Podcasts
    5
    Pjoordz
    United States5 months 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 Podcasts
    5
    Mtdilln
    United States6 months ago
  • The one

    This is the Great Books podcast that I searched and yearned for!

    I’m glad that I found it near the beginning of the Great Conversation! Thank you, Deacon and Adam!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PatJRyan
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critics mention some challenges with the co-host's delivery, suggesting room for improvement in presentation style.
Overall, it is viewed as a valuable resource for both seasoned readers and newcomers alike, with an emphasis on motivating listeners to engage with the Great Books.
Listeners appreciate the depth of discussion and the accessibility of classic texts, particularly praising the hosts for their engaging insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#157
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#33
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#84
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#89
Sweden/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#211
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#231
Sweden/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Plato's Phaedo Explained with Dr. Christopher Frey Part I
Q: How do you set up the Phaedo for your students? Why is this a text worth reading?
The Phaedo addresses the immortality of the soul which is an intrinsically interesting problem for many as death is a fundamental aspect of human life.
Plato's Phaedo Explained with Dr. Christopher Frey Part I
Q: Why should we be reading Plato and not just read Aristotle?
Plato's vibrant dialogue format makes philosophy a communal enterprise, which enhances the learning process.
The Euthyphro by Plato Part II with Dr. Joey Spencer and Friends
Q: How do we interpret Euthyphro leaving?
He leaves abruptly, possibly signifying a realization or dread about turning towards a deeper understanding of piety that aligns him closer to Socrates.
Teaching Plato's First Alcibiades with Dr. Daniel Shields
Q: How do you aim for your students to understand their own ignorance?
I want them to recognize their ignorance and appreciate the need for self-knowledge as a fundamental aspect of philosophy.
Teaching Plato's First Alcibiades with Dr. Daniel Shields
Q: Why do your freshmen need to read First Alcibiades?
Alcibiades is easier to follow than many other Platonic dialogues and helps students learn foundational skills for engaging in philosophical dialogue.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ascend

What is Ascend about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations focus on the exploration of the Great Books that have significantly influenced Western civilization, including works by classical philosophers and modern thinkers. The discussions emphasize understanding key themes and ideas presented in texts from figures such as Homer, Plato, and St. Augustine while highlighting their relevance today. Noteworthy aspects include a commitment to a deeper understanding of these texts through a sequential and thoughtful approach, making content accessible even to first-time readers. The podcast encourages engagement with foundational works and aims to foster a shared intellectual journey, underscoring the impact of these literary masterpieces on contemporary thought and societal values.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ascend?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ascend. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Ascend and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ascend get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Ascend, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Ascend?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Ascend, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Ascend have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ascend has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ascend?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ascend:

1. First Things Podcast
2. The Pillar Podcast
3. The Symbolic World
4. The Thomistic Institute
5. Pints With Aquinas

How many episodes of Ascend are there?

Ascend launched 2 years ago and published 102 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ascend?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ascend?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ascend from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Ascend?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Ascend. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Ascend?

Recent guests on Ascend include:

1. Dr. Christopher Frey
2. Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos
3. Father Justin Brophy
4. Dr. Joey Spencer
5. Dr. Daniel Shields
6. Athenian Stranger
7. Dr. Alexander Petkes
8. Grayson Quay

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days