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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
Mary Shelley
Gothic Literature
Romanticism
Go Tell It On the Mountain
Confessions
The Lady Of the Lake
Love In the Ruins

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes57Founded4 years ago
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BooksArtsPhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Classical Mind

Latest Episodes

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

The Lord of the Rings didn’t just launch a genre — it set the standard every fantasy writer since has been measured against. This month, Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson begin their journey through J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece with The Fellow... more

Discover the official Season 5 reading schedule for The Classical Mind podcast! Join Junius and Wesley as they lay out the next 12-month literary journey through the Western canon.

Here is the list:

* October 2026: Theogony by Hesiod

* December ... more

In this summer episode of The Classical Mind, hosts Dr. Junius Johnson and Father Wesley Walker welcome back three-time guest Heidi White, co-host of the Close Reads podcast and author of The Divided Soul. Together, the trio dives deep into William S... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Dr. Anika Prather
Assistant Professor in education at Catholic University of America and Coordinator for Elementary education.
Catholic University of America
Episode: Go Tell It on the Mountain with Dr. Anika Prather
Kristen Rudd
Writer and literature teacher, founder of the Triangle Classical Forum
Searcy Institute, Thales College, Triangle Classical Forum
Episode: Monsters in Literature with Kristen Rudd
Heidi White
A teacher, editor, podcaster, and author; co-host of the Close Reads Podcast and author of the forthcoming book, The Divided Soul.
Close Reads Podcast
Episode: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Hosts

Father Wesley Walker
Host of The Classical Mind
Dr. Junius Johnson
Co-host of The Classical Mind

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 131 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 Kingdom7 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 States8 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.

Some listeners note a Christian lens may narrow appeal for non-religious audiences.
Guests bring deep expertise that enriches conversations.
Listeners appreciate the blend of scholarly rigor and accessible discussion.
Positive feedback on faith-informed, literature-centered approach; occasional comments on audio quality.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#131
United States/Arts

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

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

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Gender Skew
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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?

Conversations center on canonical literature, philosophy, theology, and pedagogy, with a strong emphasis on close readings of great books and their modern relevance. Episodes blend scholarly context with accessible banter, featuring guests who illuminate Dante, medieval exegesis, and other classic works, while the hosts provide practical teaching perspectives and personal reflections. Noteworthy traits include a steady focus on rigorous literary analysis paired with educational and spiritual dimensions, plus a tendency to connect literature to modern life, culture, and faith. This mix makes it appealing to listeners who want thoughtful discussion, scholarly insight, and practical takeaways for teaching or personal study.

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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 Symbolic World
3. The Literary Life Podcast
4. The Art of Manliness
5. The Thomistic Institute

How many episodes of The Classical Mind are there?

The Classical Mind launched 4 years ago and published 57 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. Dr. Grace Hamman
2. Dr. Jonathan Juilfs
3. Buck Holler
4. Catherine Illingworth
5. Jesse Hake
6. Dr. John Mark Reynolds
7. Dr. Anika Prather
8. Kristen Rudd

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