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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
Christianity
Black Church
Practical Theology
Yogi Bhajan
Professionalization Of Imams
Gender and Religion
Muslim Identity
Religion
Philo
Therapeuts
New Testament

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes357Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The Classical Ideas Podcast

Latest Episodes

Nalika Gajaweera (Research Affiliate, Walter H. Capps Center, University of California, Santa Barbara; PhD, Anthropology, University of California, Irvine, 2013) is an anthropologist of Buddhism, race, and ethics, with a focus on community well-being... more

Tara Isabella Burton (DPhil, University of Oxford; Visiting Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University; Visiting Research Fellow, Institutional Flourishing Lab, Catholic University of America) is a theologian and culture critic, and the author ... more

A moving study of how religion shapes Western climate discourse. Our ecological system is disturbed, and with it, every other system we've built to inhabit it. We do not face inevitable destruction, yet many of us cannot conceive of climate change as... more

Ira Helderman PhD, LPC (Adjunct Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, Vanderbilt University; PhD, Religious Studies, Vanderbilt University, 2016) studies how psychotherapists' definitions of what is and is not religious shape their understa... more

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Recent Guests

Nalika Gajawira
Anthropologist of Buddhism, race, and ethics
Assistant Director, Humanities Center, University of California Irvine
Episode: EP 354: Transforming the American Sangha w/Dr. Nalika Gajaweera
Dr. Tara Isabella Burton
Theologian and culture critic, author of Self Made and Strange Rites
Episode: EP 353: Western Esoteric Tradition and "Scientific Progress" with Dr. Tara Isabella Burton
Susannah Crockford
Lecturer in anthropology at the University of Exeter; author
University of Exeter; University of Chicago Press
Episode: EP 352: A Perturbed System Religion and Climate Change from the End of a World w/ Dr. Susannah Crockford
Dr. Ira Helderman
Adjunct Professor of Religion, Psychology and Culture at Vanderbilt University; practicing psychotherapist
Vanderbilt University
Episode: EP 351: Dr. Ira Helderman on Adverse Meditation Effects
Dr. Annie Selak
Feminist theologian and author of The Wounded Church
Catholic theology/Academia
Episode: EP 350: The Wounded Church: Tending to the Harm within Catholicism w/Dr. Annie Selak
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

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

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 351: Dr. Ira Helderman on Adverse Meditation Effects
Q: What exciting developments do you foresee in the next six months to a year for this project?
There are ongoing writings on cultural appropriation and informed consent in mindfulness practice, with hopes that these works will progress through review and publication, and continued interviewing that may culminate in a comprehensive book exploring the tension between religious experience and psychopathology.
EP 351: Dr. Ira Helderman on Adverse Meditation Effects
Q: Could you highlight major examples from your Meditation Madness piece that listeners should know about?
The piece discusses how the rise of meditation can be linked to increased reports of adverse experiences, including social and clinical concerns highlighted by major media, and argues for more supervision and guidance to prevent superficial engagement from causing harm.
EP 351: Dr. Ira Helderman on Adverse Meditation Effects
Q: What are adverse meditation effects, and how does 'meditation sickness' fit into this framework?
Adverse effects range from everyday discomfort to sleep disruption, depersonalization, and traumatic memories; mindfulness can trigger intense experiences that require thoughtful clinical framing, sometimes viewed as spiritual emergencies rather than disorders, and 'meditation sickness' provides a Buddhist-informed lens for understanding these phenomena.
EP 351: Dr. Ira Helderman on Adverse Meditation Effects
Q: Across the project, you emphasize that judgments about harm and risk and benefits are kind of value laden. Why is that important for us to recognize as we think about your research?
Because the interpretation of harm, risk, and benefit depends on worldview and cultural context, which shapes how both therapists and patients experience and respond to meditation; recognizing these value judgments is essential to responsibly study and discuss adverse effects and to distinguish between religious experience and psychopathology.
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.

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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. Normal Gossip
2. In Our Time
3. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
4. The Ancients
5. Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

How many episodes of The Classical Ideas Podcast are there?

The Classical Ideas Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 357 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. Nalika Gajawira
2. Dr. Tara Isabella Burton
3. Susannah Crockford
4. Dr. Ira Helderman
5. Dr. Annie Selak
6. Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz
7. Dr. Kira Kieffer
8. Liz Bucar

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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