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The Classical Ideas Podcast

Gregory Soden
Public Scholarship
Islamophobia
3HO
Feminism
Womanist Theology
Evangelical Christianity
Post-Evangelical Feminism
Christian Nationalism
Islam
Black Church
Yogi Bhajan
Professionalization Of Imams
Practical Theology
Gender and Religion
Muslim Identity
Religion
Philo
Therapeuts
New Testament
Queer Studies

Simply stated, religion matters. Religion matters not only for personal reasons, but also for social, economic, political, and military purposes. Unfortunately, studies suggest that religious knowledge and cultural literacy for any religious tradition is either in decline or is non-existent in the United States, despite being one of the most religiously diverse nation on earth. Today, religion is ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes353Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityEducation

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Artwork for The Classical Ideas Podcast

Latest Episodes

Dr. Annie Selak (she/her/hers) is an expert in feminist ecclesiology. She studies wounds in the church, or moments where the church fails to live into its mission and causes harm. Racism, sexism, and the clergy sex abuse crisis are examples of the ch... more

Kaitlyn Ugoretz (Lecturer, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Nanzan University, Japan; PhD, East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, in progress) is an anthropologist of religion focused on the glob... more

Kira Ganga Kieffer is a scholar of American religions, history, culture, and politics with a PhD in Religious Studies from Boston University. She is Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University.

Kieffer's first book, Un... more

Liz Bucar is a religious ethicist and professor of religion at Northeastern University, as well as a certified intenSati and Kripalu yoga instructor. Her popular writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, and The Wall St... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz
Anthropologist of religion focused on globalization of Shinto; public scholar
University of Idaho; Habib Institute for Asian Studies; Eat Pray Anime
Episode: EP 349: The YouTube Prosperity Gospel w/Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz
Dr. Kira Kieffer
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Episode: EP 348: Dr. Kira Ganga Kieffer on "Unvaccinated Under God: Religion and Vaccine Hesitancy in Modern America"
Liz Bucar
Professor of religion, Northeastern University; author of Beyond Wellness
Northeastern University
Episode: EP 347: Beyond Wellness with Liz Bucar
Anne Gleig
Professor of Religion and Cultural Studies at the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
Episode: EP 346: Deepak Chopra-Jeffrey Epstein Connections & the Spirituality Industry Crisis w/Dr. Ann Gleig
Dr. Michiel van Elk
Associate professor at Leiden University; PI of the PRSM Lab
Leiden University
Episode: EP 344: Altered States of Consciousness w/Dr. Michiel van Elk
Dr. Laine Walters Young
Assistant Director of the Cal Turner Program for Moral Leadership in the Professions at Vanderbilt University, feminist care ethicist
Vanderbilt University
Episode: Ep 343: Moral Courage for Our Times w/Dr. Laine Walters Young
Reverend Dr. Christina Lizardy-Hajbi
Associate Professor of Leadership and Formation at Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology
Episode: EP 342: Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny, and the Civil Religion of the NFL
Dr. Judith L. Bishop
Associate Professor of History and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies at Mills College at Northeastern University
Mills College at Northeastern University
Episode: EP 341: St. Brigid of Ireland w/Dr. Judish L. Bishop
Amar Peterman
A constructive theologian working at the intersection of faith and public life
Scholarship for Religion and Society, LLC
Episode: EP 340: Becoming Neighbors w/Amar Peterman

Host

Greg Soden
Host of classical ideas podcast, focusing on religion, ethics, and education.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 123 ratings
  • Woke nonsense

    I am tired of this woke intersectional nonsense: poison to the mind

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CarmenJesus
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • He used to be my English teacher!

    I’m so glad I thought about looking up this podcast. Mr. Soden was my sophomore English teacher and seriously changed my life! I remember him telling us about his podcast in class a couple different times not long after he made it.

    He would regularly suggest to take his Classical ideas and world religions class to really further our education and go into it with an open mind. He was absolutely my favorite teacher and was what I really needed in a role model at that point of my life.

    Being 1... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AK_66
    United States3 years ago
  • Education Al fair and balance

    If you are like me who love to learn about other perspective this great resource for. My only issue podcaster need have better sound.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Dannyny1978
    United States3 years ago
  • 27 mins in, still don’t know what I’d learn from author’s book

    I’m twenty seven minutes into “EP 189: The Lives of Objects w/Maia Kotrosits,” author of _ The Lives of Objects: Material Culture, Experience, and the Real in the History of Early Christianity_ and it's still unclear exactly what one would learn by reading the book. They talk about the author’s background for eleven minutes, then why she wrote the book, then about material culture in general. Twenty seven minutes in and still not the slightest hint what if anything the book has to say about how ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Oranckay
    United States4 years ago
  • Too political

    It's an interesting and informative podcast, covering a variety of religions. However, I wish the host would not bring up his political beliefs. If the guests want to bring up theirs, that's fine, but hosts of educational podcasts should leave their own beliefs out of it.

    It's also noticeable that of all of the guests that have brought up their political beliefs are left-wing like the host. I wonder if the host will ever interview someone who does not share his political beliefs. He's clearly i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    FireShield95
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Diverse range of guests provides broad religious perspectives
High production quality and deep-dive conversations about complex topics
Engaging host who asks thoughtful, provocative questions
Listeners appreciate accessible, scholarly approach but some critique political remarks

Top Religion & Spirituality Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 347: Beyond Wellness with Liz Bucar
Q: But tell me a little bit about this three-step process that you talk about in the intro chapter.
Liz Bucar explains that the first step is acknowledging the religious origins and community context of a spiritual practice; the second is understanding the religious framework and ethical container; the third is applying those insights to one's own life, recognizing that it may not fit everyone and that values alignment is crucial.
EP 344: Altered States of Consciousness w/Dr. Michiel van Elk
Q: What do you hope people take away about this field—especially regarding the use of psychedelics in research and therapy?
He emphasizes a balanced view: psychedelics have therapeutic potential and can be scientifically informative and personally meaningful, but there are methodological challenges and a need for integrating therapy to ensure durable benefits.
EP 344: Altered States of Consciousness w/Dr. Michiel van Elk
Q: Can you walk us through a typical day in your lab when you're conducting studies with participants?
He describes on-site data collection at a Amsterdam smart shop, brain imaging sessions in collaboration with a brain scanner facility, safety procedures, and the workflow from assessment to experimentation.
EP 344: Altered States of Consciousness w/Dr. Michiel van Elk
Q: I am delighted that you're here. I'm wondering if we can kick this off by having you introduce yourself to the listeners and tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.
Dr. Michiel van Elk explains his background in psychology and neuroscience, his use of neuroscience tools to study religious and mystical experiences, and his current focus on psychedelics and altered states within the PRSM Lab at Leiden University.
EP 342: Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny, and the Civil Religion of the NFL
Q: What are your thoughts on the reaction from the American right to Bad Bunny's performance?
Christina interprets the reaction as a sign of grief and loss for people associated with conservatism, feeling they are losing a sense of identity.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Classical Ideas Podcast

What is The Classical Ideas Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A scholarly, accessible show that interrogates the intersections of religion, ethics, and society. Across episodes, topics like vaccine hesitancy shaped by faith, wellness and spirituality industries, indigenous medicine ethics, altered states of consciousness, and religious leadership are explored through historical, philosophical, and cultural lenses. The host guides conversations with researchers, theologians, and practitioners to unpack complex ideas for educators, policymakers, and curious listeners alike. A notable strength is its ability to translate dense academic work into practical takeaways for public discourse, ethics, and social justice, often foregrounding debates about decolonization, accountability, and community impact.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Classical Ideas Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Classical Ideas Podcast:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. On Being with Krista Tippett
3. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman

How many episodes of The Classical Ideas Podcast are there?

The Classical Ideas Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 353 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 The Classical Ideas Podcast?

Recent guests on The Classical Ideas Podcast include:

1. Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz
2. Dr. Kira Kieffer
3. Liz Bucar
4. Anne Gleig
5. Dr. Michiel van Elk
6. Dr. Laine Walters Young
7. Reverend Dr. Christina Lizardy-Hajbi
8. Dr. Judith L. Bishop

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.

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