Rephonic
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
Confessions
The Lady Of the Lake
Go Tell It On the Mountain
Love In the Ruins

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes53Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsPhilosophySociety & CultureBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Classical Mind

Latest Episodes

Welcome to another episode of The Classical Mind, the podcast where we explore the great books of the Western tradition! In this episode, hosts Father Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson are thrilled to welcome a special guest, Dr. Grace Hamman. Dr.... more

In this concluding chapter of our journey through Dante’s Commedia, Dr. Junius Johnson and Fr. Wesley Walker are joined by Dr. Jonathan Juilfs to explore the radiant heights of Paradiso. The conversation centers on the idea that the third canticle is... more

In this episode of The Classical Mind, Fr. Wesley Walker and Dr. Junius Johnson welcome back Heidi White to explore the middle canticle of Dante’s Divine Comedy, the Purgatorio. Is Purgatory “cosmic extra innings” or a “cosmic decontamination chamber... more

In this episode of The Classical Mind, Dr. Junius Johnson sits down with Buck Holler from the CiRCE Institute to discuss "Tapestry," a new writing and grammar curriculum designed to bridge the gap between early elementary studies and the advanced per... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy PodcastMark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey
The Literary Life Podcast
The Literary Life PodcastAngelina Stanford Thomas Banks
Mere Fidelity
Mere FidelityMere Fidelity

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 130 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 Kingdom5 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 States6 months ago
  • So good!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    littlegale
    United Statesa year 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 States2 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.

Top Books Podcasts

The Book Club
The Book ClubGoalhanger
Myths and Legends
Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
The Book Review
The Book ReviewThe New York Times
Books, Beach, & Beyond
Books, Beach, & BeyondElin Hilderbrand, Tim Talks Books, N Magazine
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls

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.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Classical Mind?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Classical Mind. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Classical Mind and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Classical Mind get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Classical Mind, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Classical Mind?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Classical Mind, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Classical Mind have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Classical Mind has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Classical Mind?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Classical Mind:

1. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
2. First Things Podcast
3. The Literary Life Podcast
4. Mere Fidelity
5. Philosophy For Our Times

How many episodes of The Classical Mind are there?

The Classical Mind launched 4 years ago and published 53 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Classical Mind?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Classical Mind?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Classical Mind from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Classical Mind?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Classical Mind. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days