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The Ralston College Podcast

Ralston College
Philosophy
Education
Play
Artificial Intelligence
Creativity
Human Nature
Ralston College
Consciousness
Imagination
T.S. Eliot
Language
Culture
Literature
Dante Alighieri
Art
Four Quartets
Love
Biology
Evolution
The Waste Land

The Ralston College Podcast delivers a series of conversations and lectures aimed at fostering a deeper, livelier, and freer intellectual culture for us all.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes82Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationArts

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Artwork for The Ralston College Podcast

Latest Episodes

What does it mean to find our way home? In this conversation with composer and classicist Eugenia Manolidou, President Stephen Blackwood asks how the living inheritance of ancient Greece – through language, music, poetry, and the pursuit of freedom –... more

YouTube

To mark the opening of applications for Ralston College's 2027–28 MA in the Humanities, President Stephen Blackwood and Provost David Butterfield sat down on Samos to discuss the theme of the coming academic year: the Self.

Their conversation consi... more

Generously sponsored by the Ben Delo Foundation.

The final lecture of Ralston College's symposium, AI and the Battle for the Soul, asks a question that turns from the future of artificial intelligence to something far older and more enduring: What ... more

YouTube

Generously sponsored by the Ben Delo Foundation.

Ralston College welcomed Iain McGilchrist and Stephen Wolfram in May of 2026 for a public conversation during our symposium, AI and the Battle for the Soul. Beginning with the promises and implicatio... more

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Recent Guests

Eugenia Manolidou
Composer, conductor, and classicist; head of studies of the Olenikia Gogi after-school program
Olenikia Gogi; collaborator with Ralston College
Episode: The Search for Self and the Return Home: In Conversation with Eugenia Manolidou
David Butterfield
Provost of Ralston College, expert on Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche
Ralston College
Episode: What Does it Mean to Know Thyself? | Dr Butterfield & Dr Blackwood discuss Ralston's MA Program
Iain McGilchrist
Chancellor of Ralston College, speaker and author
Ralston College
Episode: AI and the Battle for the Soul with Iain McGilchrist - Lecture 2: True Freedom in an Artificial World
Stephen Wolfram
Computer scientist, physicist, and founder of Wolfram Research
Wolfram Research
Episode: AI and the Battle for the Soul with Stephen Wolfram and Iain McGilchrist - Conversation: What is Artificial Intelligence?
Ian McGilchrist
Chancellor of Ralston College, neuroscientist and philosopher known for work on the divided brain
Ralston College
Episode: AI and the Battle for the Soul with Iain McGilchrist - Lecture 1: Information is Not Understanding
Armand D'Angour
Professor of Classics, University of Oxford
Jesus College, University of Oxford
Episode: Memory, Tradition, and the Unity of the Classical Mind: Dr Armand D'Angour on the Lyrical Poetry of Horace
Rod Dreher
Author and cultural critic
Author; visiting lecturer at Danube Institute
Episode: How Dante Can Save Your Life with Rod Dreher
Spencer Klavan
Philosopher and author invited onto the show
Episode: The Practice of Loving Wisdom | A Conversation with Spencer Klavan and Connor Livingston
Connor Livingston
Ralston College fellow and discussion participant
Episode: The Practice of Loving Wisdom | A Conversation with Spencer Klavan and Connor Livingston

Host

Stephen Blackwood
Host of The Ralston College Podcast; Chancellor of Ralston College

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 192 ratings
  • Excellent

    I found this podcast because I am currently Boethius’ “The Consolation of Philosophy” and wanted to complement my reading with educational resources. The lecture on Boethius was so engaging and insightful. I am now looking forward to exploring other episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Juliany González Nieves
    United States8 months ago
  • Brings history to life.

    Entertaining , erudite.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Investissuese
    United States9 months ago
  • Superb

    A whirlwind of invigorating thought in a world so ready to cocoon us in inanity and ideological groupthink. Every lecture is worth listening to over and over again. I am just now returning to the delightful spiky wit and poignant insights of Alexander Stoddart.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aleksandra Tintinfan i UK
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent

    The lectures by Iain McGilchrist are especially recommended! Beautiful and very important.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tobar03
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Top notch educational podcast

    This is a podcast for the thinking, self-reflective person. If you enjoy learning deep things, the “ancient truths” as Antigone put it, then this intellectually-stimulating podcast is for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gregorius Maximus Music
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, rigorous discussions that challenge listeners to think deeper about life, culture, and education.
Listeners praise the host's clarity and the show's ability to connect ancient wisdom with modern issues.
High-caliber guests and smart questioning create a stimulating intellectual experience.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Does it Mean to Know Thyself? | Dr Butterfield & Dr Blackwood discuss Ralston's MA Program
Q: What is the significance of Psyche seeing Cupid's face, and how does that relate to the ascent of the soul?
Seeing Cupid represents a breach of the rule that keeps the divine hidden; the moment underscores the necessity of transcending physical sight to achieve higher knowledge and spiritual ascent, a central Platonic motif guiding the soul's journey.
What Does it Mean to Know Thyself? | Dr Butterfield & Dr Blackwood discuss Ralston's MA Program
Q: How does Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche function as a Platonic reading beyond a simple myth?
Butterfield explains that the tale serves as a layered exploration of two kinds of love (celestial and vulgar) and uses this binary to critique misreadings of Cupid; the story uses philosophical themes from the Phaedrus and symposium to argue that true love transcends mere physical attraction.
Founding an Empire: Lessons from Augustus with Dr Barry Strauss
Q: What evidence did you see in the Aeneid that expressed Virgil's skepticism over the whole Imperial project?
Strauss discusses moments in the Aeneid that suggest skepticism about Augustus's rule, including Aeneas's emotional decisions and the somber tone at the epic's conclusion.
Founding an Empire: Lessons from Augustus with Dr Barry Strauss
Q: How do you think Augustus used the Office of Pontifex to legitimize his rule?
Dr. Strauss indicates that Augustus eventually became Pontifex, and this role helped to legitimize his rule.
Drs Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying in Conversation with Ralston College's Students
Q: At what point does sentience or consciousness enter into the cosmos?
We don't know, and we may never know, but it is likely tied to the combination of selection and some form of heredity.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ralston College Podcast

What is The Ralston College Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show pairs rigorous philosophical and classical inquiry with contemporary culture, exploring how ancient ideas—from Homeric notions of home and hospitality to Greek lyric tradition and civic law— illuminate modern education, technology, and human flourishing. Conversations often feature university-level scholarship on topics like artificial intelligence, cognition, and the fate of liberal arts, punctuated by personal narratives and readings that connect ideas to everyday life. A standout characteristic is the synthesis of deep scholarship with practical reflections on how tradition and wisdom can guide today's learning and public life, making it a compelling listen for academics, educators, and thoughtful listene... more

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1. The Symbolic World
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3. First Things Podcast
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The Ralston College Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 82 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 Ralston College Podcast?

Recent guests on The Ralston College Podcast include:

1. Eugenia Manolidou
2. David Butterfield
3. Iain McGilchrist
4. Stephen Wolfram
5. Ian McGilchrist
6. Armand D'Angour
7. Rod Dreher
8. Spencer Klavan

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