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The Classical Ideas Podcast

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

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 monthlyEpisodes361Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityEducation

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Artwork for The Classical Ideas Podcast

Latest Episodes

MK Long is a historian and ethnographer of Buddhism and gender. Her current project highlights vernacular auto/biographical writings of Buddhist women in Myanmar, examining their rhetorical strategies of self-presentation and how they theorize Buddhi... more

Julian Butterfield is a scholar of medieval Chinese Buddhist literature with a special interest in how Mahāyāna Buddhist narratives depict and solicit feeling. His current monograph project recovers the aesthetic and affective dimensions of Lotus Sūt... more

Sara Swenson works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College. Her current research explores how grassroots charity volunteers in Vietnam adapt Buddhist values and practices to navigate ethical struggles amid rapid u... more

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

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Recent Guests

Dr. Julian Butterfield
Scholar of Medieval Chinese Buddhism, essayist and music critic
Stanford University (PhD), Princeton lecturer (affiliation mentioned)
Episode: EP 356: Buddhism and Experimental Music w/Dr. Julian Butterfield
Dr. Sara Swenson
Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Episode: EP 355: Buddhist Charities in Urban Vietnam w/Dr. Sara Swenson
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"

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 356: Buddhism and Experimental Music w/Dr. Julian Butterfield
Q: Just to kick this off, can you introduce yourself a little bit to the listeners and share what you do?
I'm Julian Butterfield, a scholar of Buddhism and music, recently finishing a PhD at Stanford and starting a lectureship at Princeton; I study how Buddhist media—texts, poetry, performance, ritual, music—shapes sensation and emotion in religious life.
EP 355: Buddhist Charities in Urban Vietnam w/Dr. Sara Swenson
Q: How did your ethnographic approach influence the book's presentation of people's stories?
A story-driven, ethnographic approach was used to counter stereotypes about Buddhism and to let people speak for themselves, showing how volunteers understand themselves and their motivations in their own terms.
EP 355: Buddhist Charities in Urban Vietnam w/Dr. Sara Swenson
Q: What was the origin of the project and how did it begin to take shape?
The project grew from Swenson's deep interest in Vietnamese Buddhism and was shaped by fieldwork with diverse charity volunteers who revealed that to understand Buddhism today you must study charity on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and beyond.
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.

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. Making Sense with Sam Harris
3. Radiolab
4. History Unplugged Podcast
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of The Classical Ideas Podcast are there?

The Classical Ideas Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 361 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. Julian Butterfield
2. Dr. Sara Swenson
3. Nalika Gajawira
4. Dr. Tara Isabella Burton
5. Susannah Crockford
6. Dr. Ira Helderman
7. Dr. Annie Selak
8. Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz

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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