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Artwork for The Classical Mind
Frankenstein
The Taming Of the Shrew
Marriage
Shakespeare
Gender Roles
Feminism
Comedy
Dante Alighieri
James Baldwin
The Federalist Papers
The Aeneid
Literary Critique
Relationships
Christianity
Mary Shelley
Gothic Literature
Romanticism
Go Tell It On the Mountain
Love In the Ruins
Confessions

Conversations on the Great Books. New episodes on the first Tuesday of every month. www.theclassicalmind.com

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes60Founded4 years ago
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BooksArtsPhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Classical Mind

Latest Episodes

Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker are joined by poet-priest-scholar Malcolm Guite for a deep dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s unfinished alliterative poem, The Fall of Arthur — and make the case that it deserves to be read as seriously as anything e... more

The middle book of a trilogy is always the dark one, and The Two Towers is no exception. Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson return to Middle-earth for the second leg of The Lord of the Rings, and this time things really are on the edge of the k... more

Warning: this episode discusses the film in full, spoilers included. If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it first and come back.

Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson head to the theater for another Classical Mind Goes to the Movies episode, th... more

Everyone knows The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. Fewer people know the full story of the friendship that helped make both of them possible. In this special bonus episode, Dr. Junius Johnson sits down with Kirk Manton of Eastgate Cre... more

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Recent Guests

Malcolm Guite
Poet, literary scholar, and guest discussing Tolkien and Arthurian poetry
Poet and Scholar
Episode: Bonus Episode: The Fall of Arthur with Malcolm Guite
Kirk Manton
Collaborator on The Forge of Friendship documentary project
Forge of Friendship project (Eastgate Creative)
Episode: Bonus Episode: The Forge of Friendship
Heidi White
Co-host of Close Reads; author of The Divided Soul
Close Reads; author
Episode: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare with Heidi White
Dr. Grace Hamman
Independent scholar focusing on late medieval poetry and contemplative writing
Independent scholar
Episode: The Importance of Being Earnest with Dr. Grace Hamman
Dr. Jonathan Juilfs
Associate professor of English at Redeemer University; specialist in medieval literature
Redeemer University
Episode: Paradiso with Dr. Jonathan Juilfs
Buck Holler
Latinist at CiRCE Institute
CiRCE Institute
Episode: "The Tapestry": A Conversation about a New CiRCE Language Arts/Grammar Curriculum with Buck Holler
Catherine Illingworth
Dante scholar; PhD in Medieval Literature (Dante) from UCLA; founder of a foundation assisting rare-disease families
PhD UCLA; Bradstreet Foundation; GeneForgeorge.org
Episode: Inferno
Jesse Hake
Director of classicalu.com and educator with a background in History
Classical Academic Press
Episode: Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy with Jesse Hake
Dr. John Mark Reynolds
President of St. Constantine School and faculty at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary
St. Constantine School
Episode: Phaedo with Dr. John Mark Reynolds

Hosts

Father Wesley Walker
Host of The Classical Mind; co-host with a focus on Christian perspective and classical literature
Dr. Junius Johnson
Co-host, scholar of medieval literature and Dante studies

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 132 ratings
  • So inspiring and educational

    I find these podcasts extremely enjoyable. I like the book ones and have read books such as Frankenstein after listening to the two hosts discussed them. The most recent one on Medieval Exegesis was very educational, and will help me in my own Christian journey. I am always so impressed by Dr Johnson’s learning, and father Wesley Walker‘s spiritual reflections and Anglican touch points (I am a member of the church of England, and Episcopal Church). Thank you to these two gentlemen from this c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Geoffrey Nicholson
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • A Gem

    Fabulous podcast with humble but knowledgeable hosts. Intellectually enriching and God-glorifying discussions of worthy literature.

    Please keep going (and please improve the sound quality?).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jessica Jokela
    United States10 months ago
  • So good!

    The hosts, guests, books, and works of literature discussed are all fabulous!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    littlegale
    United States2 years ago
  • Philosophy through a christian lens

    The title and description should clarify the predominantly christian pov - not a bad thing per se but it colors and narrows the appeal of the philosophical discussion for non-christians.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    NowDispleased
    United States3 years ago
  • PS

    I am a communist, but an anti-censorship one, and I do wish to study the canon to learn and grow

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dingobros
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Sound quality and pacing are sometimes mentioned as areas for improvement, but content quality remains high.
Guests are generally seen as knowledgeable and the discussions as accessible and thoughtful.
Listeners appreciate the blend of rigorous literary analysis with faith-based reflection.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Paradiso with Dr. Jonathan Juilfs
Q: Is what Dante depicts a return to prelapsarian humanity or something beyond that?
The guests suggest it is a return to a glorified humanity that surpasses the prelapsarian state, achieved through a journey that passes through prelapsarian thresholds but ultimately aims at a transformed, glorified human existence in alignment with divine will.
"The Tapestry": A Conversation about a New CiRCE Language Arts/Grammar Curriculum with Buck Holler
Q: What is this writing curriculum?
Buck explains that The Tapestry is CiRCE's new curriculum, aiming to unify grammar and literature by teaching through full texts and contextualized language, building on the idea that language is best learned through storytelling and meaningful practice rather than isolated sentence drills.
The Taming of the Shrew
Q: What do you think it's about?
It's about women's desires in relationships, exploring themes of authority and societal norms, particularly through the lens of Chaucer's 'Wife of Bath's Tale'.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Q: Do creatures have a demand on their creator?
Yes, but that demand can only be a request for understanding and purpose, as the nature of the creature and the creator's responsibilities differ significantly based on the context of the creation.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Q: Why is it that Frankenstein recoils from the creature?
It seems to be a combination of physical revulsion and the horror of manufactured life, reflecting Victor's inability to face the enormity of his creation.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Classical Mind

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

Thoughtful, humanities-centered conversations explore classic literature, philosophy, and theology through a Christian lens. Across recent episodes, the discussion often centers on Dante, medieval exegesis, Shakespeare, and canonical works, weaving literary analysis with pedagogical and faith-based perspectives. The hosts frequently compare texts to broader cultural and spiritual themes, discuss teaching approaches, and bring in scholars and educators to deepen context. Notable is the clear emphasis on integrating literary study with historical theology and personal reflection, appealing to listeners who value rigorous analysis, thoughtful spiritual perspectives, and connections between ancient texts and modern life.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Classical Mind?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Classical Mind:

1. Classical Stuff You Should Know
2. The Literary Life Podcast
3. Close Reads Podcast
4. The Symbolic World
5. Evangelization & Culture Podcast

How many episodes of The Classical Mind are there?

The Classical Mind launched 4 years ago and published 60 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 Mind?

Recent guests on The Classical Mind include:

1. Malcolm Guite
2. Kirk Manton
3. Heidi White
4. Dr. Grace Hamman
5. Dr. Jonathan Juilfs
6. Buck Holler
7. Catherine Illingworth
8. Jesse Hake

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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