Ascend – The Great Books Podcast

par Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan

NouveauRepublic Book Two: Adeimantus & Socrates’ Reaction with Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos (362d-369b)10 novembre 2026 · 1 h 28 min

Épisodes: 159
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Dernier épisode: 10 Nov 2026

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Welcome to Ascend! We are a weekly Great Books podcast hosted by Deacon Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan. What are the Great Books? The Great Books are the most impactful texts that have shaped Western civilization. They include ancients like Homer, Plato, St. Augustine, Dante, and St. Thomas Aquinas, and also moderns like Machiavelli, Locke, and Nietzsche. We will explore the Great Books with the light of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Why should we read the Great Books? Everyone is a disciple of someone. A person may have never read Locke or Nietzsche, but he or she thinks like them. Reading the Great Books allows us to reclaim our intellect and understand the origin of the ideas that shape our world. We enter a "great conversation" amongst the most learned, intelligent humans in history and benefit from their insights. Is this for first-time readers? YES. Our goal is to host meaningful conversations on the Great Books by working through the texts in chronological order in a slow, attentive manner. Our host Adam Minihan is a first-time reader of Homer. We will start shallow and go deep. All are invited to join. Will any resources be available? YES. We are providing a free 115 Question & Answer Guide to the Iliad written by Deacon Harrison Garlick in addition to our weekly conversations. It will be available on the website (launching next week). Go pick up a copy of the Iliad! We look forward to reading Homer with you in 2024.

Épisodes 159

Republic Book Two: Adeimantus & Socrates’ Reaction with Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos (362d-369b)
10 novembre 20261 h 28 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos join us to discuss our second episode on Book Two of the Republic: Adeimantus & Socrates’ Reaction to Glaucon’s Proposal (362d-369b).After …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos join us to discuss our second episode on Book Two of the Republic: Adeimantus & Socrates’ Reaction to Glaucon’s Proposal (362d-369b).
After Glaucon rebuilds Thrasymachus’ case and presses it harder, Adeimantus steps forward and makes the challenge still more serious. He does not simply add another clever argument. He shows how thoroughly the ordinary teaching of the city has already shaped him and his brother. The poets, the fathers, and the common opinion of Athens have all said, in one way or another, that the best life is to appear just while being unjust, so that a man receives the rewards of both. Adeimantus wants Socrates to answer not only the case for injustice, but the formation that has made that case seem reasonable.
Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos helps us see why this moment matters. Adeimantus is not a sophist. He is a young man who has absorbed what the culture has been teaching him, and that teaching already treats justice as useful mainly for its consequences. The conversation opens onto larger questions about how a city actually educates its citizens, about the decay of traditional religion, and about what happens when justice is no longer defended for its own sake. Socrates is struck by the force of the request. He says something divine must have happened, because the two brothers are pressing him to defend justice itself. The task is heavier than the one Glaucon alone had set, and Socrates accepts it.
More Resources on Plato’s Republic:
Rather than offering a direct definition, Socrates proposes that they look for justice first in a city and then look for the same thing in the soul. This is the famous turn to the city in speech, the move that gives the Republic its name. Dr. Papadopoulos walks carefully through what this decision does and does not mean, and why some readers have taken the city as a practical proposal while others have taken it as an enlarged picture of the soul. Either way, the turn is already a claim about the nature of justice and about what can be said in the present company.
This is one of the decisive turns in the dialogue.
The brothers have forced the question of whether justice is good for the soul even when it brings no rewards, and Socrates has taken up the challenge. The written guide for this section tracks the argument closely and will help you keep the structure clear as you listen. If you are reading the *Republic* with us, the episode is both a companion to the text and a reminder of why this book continues to press on the question of how a person ought to live.
Be sure to check out our entire reading schedule, so you can be sure to read alongside us (it is revised at times if we have to reschedule a recording).
I am humbled to read the Republic alongside you all.
God bless.
Chapters
00:00 Why Adamantus deserves a closer reading
03:22 Papadopoulos’ long return to the Republic
08:00 How justice leads to metaphysics and theology
11:47 Adamantus’ role beside Glaucon
15:05 Why fathers and poets cannot answer Glaucon
20:01 A younger generation shaped by moral crisis
25:11 Thucydides, Athens, and the logic of might
32:03 Can sacrifices make the unjust man dear to the gods?
38:14 Theology and the limits of poetic authority
44:19 Why justice must be good in itself
57:08 Socratic philosophy as a form of piety
01:03:05 Civic religion, philosophy, and the opening scene
01:09:00 Piety toward family, city, and God
01:11:16 Why begin the city-soul analogy?
01:19:43 Is the Republic a political blueprint or an ethical inquiry?
01:24:24 Reading Glaucon and Adamantus as distinct characters
Republic Book Two: Gyges’ Ring with Dr. Jennifer Frey (357a-362c)
3 novembre 20261 h 36 min
Today on Ascend, we open Book Two of Plato’s Republic with one of the most striking passages in the whole work: the myth of the Ring of Gyges. Glaucon does not simply disagree with Socrates. He says he has been …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend, we open Book Two of Plato’s Republic with one of the most striking passages in the whole work: the myth of the Ring of Gyges. Glaucon does not simply disagree with Socrates. He says he has been talked to death by Thrasymachus and countless others, and he wants to know whether Socrates is trying to persuade him or only to seem to persuade him. He then restores the argument for injustice in its strongest form.
Justice, he says, is a compact struck by the weak. Those who practice it do so unwillingly. And the life of the unjust man is, after all, far better than that of the just. To make the claim vivid he tells the story of Gyges, who finds a ring that makes him invisible, seduces the queen, kills the king, and takes the throne.
Dr. Jennifer Frey joins me to walk through the argument, and she is clear that this is no mere academic exercise. Plato is mapping the options that are still with us. The seeds of Machiavelli and Hobbes are already here.
What makes the section so powerful is the way Glaucon strips justice of every external reward. He imagines a man of perfect injustice who has a reputation for justice, and then a man of perfect justice who has a reputation for injustice. The just man, they will say, will be whipped, racked, bound, have both his eyes burned out, and at the end, when he has undergone every sort of evil, he will be crucified. Dr. Frey notes that he will be treated like Christ. Plato is writing about his master, Socrates, but the parallel is unavoidable. The question the passage forces on the reader is simple and severe: is justice good in itself, or only for its effects? Glaucon wants the second kind of good. He wants to be shown that justice is desirable for its own sake and for what comes from it. Everything that follows in the Republic is an attempt to answer him.
More Resources on Plato’s Republic:
If you are reading the Republic with us, this is the section that sets the stakes. The drama is part of the pedagogy. You cannot extract the argument and leave the myth behind. The question is first (i) what is justice and second (ii) is justice more profitable for the soul than injustice. That is the problem Book Two places before us, and it is the problem the rest of the dialogue will try to solve—at least on its face.
Chapters
00:00 Book II reading guide and the central question of justice
04:29 Dr. Jennifer Frey on why The Republic remains a masterwork
07:14 How Plato anticipates modern political philosophy
10:14 Why Plato’s literary form is part of the argument
14:05 Glaucon challenges Socrates to defend justice
17:08 Three kinds of goods and where justice belongs
22:19 Glaucon’s three-part case for injustice
24:45 Glaucon seeks reasons, not just persuasion
29:38 Justice as a compromise against mutual harm
34:49 Socrates’ maxim: better to suffer than commit injustice
37:53 The Ring of Gyges and the test of justice
42:13 Invisibility, power, and the gap between appearance and reality
45:35 Can an unjust person truly flourish?
47:23 Gyges, Superman, and what power reveals
49:45 Plato’s magical ring and Herodotus’s political coup
52:04 Does power immediately cast moral norms aside?
53:33 Virtue as the long cultivation of appetite
55:02 Thrasymachus, legal positivism, and power
57:17 Justice as a compact or a reality beyond rulers
59:43 Universals, nominalism, and where meaning comes from
01:01:20 Why Glaucon thinks injustice can benefit the individual
01:04:35 Justice as a virtue of the soul, not just a social system
01:08:18 Religion, sacrifice, and whether the gods see the soul
01:10:16 Doing a just act versus becoming a just person
01:13:11 The soul, cosmic justice, and the afterlife
01:16:40 The perfectly just person with an unjust reputation
01:18:39 Why Plato’s just sufferer recalls Christ and Socrates
01:21:27 Why Glaucon’s challenge remains a serious argument
01:23:41 How Plato and pagan philosophy shaped Christian thought
01:27:34 Glaucon’s case: the tyrant’s apparent happiness
01:31:39 What counts as the highest good and a happy life
01:34:25 Closing reflections and where to find Jen Frey
Be sure to check out our entire reading schedule, so you can be sure to read alongside us.
How Plato Shaped Christianity with Dr. Louis Markos
27 octobre 20261 h 48 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Mr. Thomas Lackey sit down with Dr. Louis Markos—author of From Plato to Christ—for a lively, wide-ranging conversation on how Platonic …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Mr. Thomas Lackey sit down with Dr. Louis Markos—author of From Plato to Christ—for a lively, wide-ranging conversation on how Platonic thought prepared the world for the Gospel.
From the fullness of time and the meeting of Athens and Jerusalem to C.S. Lewis, classical education, the myths of the Republic, and why even modern Christians still need Plato, this is a rich exploration of the intellectual roots of the faith and the enduring power of the Great Books.
Dr. Markos is a whirlwind on a mission.
Join us.
And THANK YOU again to the Classic Learning Test for sponsoring this episode.
Dr. Markos opened by framing his lifelong project of uniting Athens and Jerusalem—the Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian inheritances that together shaped the West. He argued that the “fullness of time” was not only political and linguistic but intellectual: Greek philosophy, especially Plato, prepared the human heart for the Gospel through general revelation. God did not ignore the nations; He used reason, conscience, and imagination to plant redemptive analogies that pointed toward Christ.
Dr. Markos noted that this recovery is now happening among evangelicals, who are reclaiming the classical tradition just as many secular universities abandon it, and that classical Christian education is quietly reintroducing Plato, the Church Fathers, and a hierarchical view of reality to a generation once wary of anything outside the Bible alone.
The conversation then turned to Plato’s specific role as a kind of pre-evangelism. Dr. Markos distinguished Socrates’ negative work of clearing false definitions from Plato’s positive construction of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. He highlighted how the Republic uses the just and unjust man, the city-soul analogy, and the Myth of Er to show that injustice disorders the soul itself—an insight modern students often encounter first in Plato rather than in Scripture. Myths, he explained, are not mere stories for those who cannot grasp philosophy; they incarnate truths that pure dialectic cannot fully express, especially the reality of final judgment and the damage sin does to the soul.
Deacon Garlick and Thomas Lackey pressed further on St. Augustine’s decisive Christianization of the Forms: relocating them in the divine Logos and affirming that God knows both universals and particulars, so that Platonic metaphysics is not an alien overlay but something already latent in the New Testament’s language of participation, shadows, and heavenly patterns.
The episode closed with C.S. Lewis as the modern bridge who makes Plato accessible to Protestants. Dr. Markos pointed to the heavenly Narnia that is “more real” than the earthly one, the Silver Chair’s psychological undoing of the children’s knowledge of Aslan and the sun, and Lewis’s consistent realism against nominalism.
Throughout, the guests returned to the practical stakes of the Republic for first-time readers: follow the through-line that justice is better than injustice even when it costs everything, let the allegory of the cave reorient what counts as real, and treat Plato not as an opponent to be purged but as a candle whose light is completed, not extinguished, by the greater light of Christ.
If you’re interested in reading more on how Plato and the broader Hellenized culture impact the Gospel, check out “Do Christians Owe a Debt to Homer” and “How Plato Helped St. Augustine Convert to Christianity.”
Good work!
Next week we start Book Two of the Republic. Check out our reading schedule for more information.
Chapters
00:00 Why discuss Plato’s impact on Christianity
00:28 Myth, sin, and what our actions do to the soul
03:06 Meet Lou Markos and the Athens-Jerusalem connection
04:00 Why poetry’s ambiguity can deepen meaning
07:06 Greek thought and general revelation
09:03 Plato’s influence on Scripture and Christian thought
11:05 Classical education’s return among evangelicals
13:58 Augustine, Aristotle, and the nature of universals
18:20 How Markos came to Plato
18:47 How C.S. Lewis brings Plato to life
22:03 Plato’s ideas, Christian language, and pre-evangelism
25:06 The Silver Chair and the reality behind appearances
29:00 Recovering metaphysics and the unseen world
30:55 Why Christians need the classics and Church Fathers
32:16 Augustine, the candle, and the greater light of Christ
34:51 Advice for reading Plato’s Republic
35:19 The Magi, natural reason, and the journey to faith
41:08 Why the Republic still speaks to modern readers
45:16 Justice, the soul, and the tyrant’s inner slavery
50:10 What Plato’s myths reveal about cosmic justice
Keywords
Plato and Christianity, Louis Markos, From Plato to Christ, classical education, general revelation, Plato's Republic, Augustine, Christian philosophy, Socrates, metaphysics Lou Markos, Plato, Christianity, Platonic thought, Augustine, Aristotle, C.S. Lewis, The Republic, Chronicles of Narnia, Christian philosophy
Republic Book One: Thrasymachus with Dr. Gregory McBrayer (336a-354c)
20 octobre 20262 h 4 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and guest Dr. Gregory McBrayer dive into the fiery third part of Book One of Plato’s Republic: the showdown between Socrates and the sophist …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and guest Dr. Gregory McBrayer dive into the fiery third part of Book One of Plato’s Republic: the showdown between Socrates and the sophist Thrasymachus.
Thrasymachus bursts onto the scene “hunched up like a wild beast,” roaring that justice is nothing more than “the advantage of the stronger.” What follows is a masterclass in Platonic drama and pedagogy—complete with forced feedings, blushing, and precision battles over definitions—as Socrates methodically unravels the sophist’s position.
And THANK YOU again to the Classic Learning Test for sponsoring this episode.
Dr. McBrayer and Dcn. Garlick explore why this confrontation matters so much. They compare Thrasymachus to the even more ferocious Callicles of the Gorgias (which Dr. McBrayer also discussed with Dcn. Garlick on Ascend) and discuss whether Socrates truly refutes him or merely “out-sophists the sophist.” They also go back and forth on the famous shepherd-and-sheep analogy, the arts-versus-money-making distinction, and the early hints of the philosopher-king and city-soul analogy.
Along the way they surface deeper questions that haunt the rest of the dialogue: Is justice a real thing or merely a name the powerful give to their own advantage? Why does Plato bookend the Republic with religious myths? And how much of Book One is a deliberate deconstruction meant to clear the ground for Glaucon’s more serious challenge in Book Two?
More Resources on Plato’s Republic:
Whether you’re a first-time reader still finding your footing or a returning student who wants to wrestle with one of the most famous attacks on justice in the Western tradition, this conversation models how to read Plato slowly, dramatically, and in good company. Tune in for sharp analysis, unexpected humor, and a clear sense of why Thrasymachus still feels so familiar—and so dangerous—today.
Be sure to check out our entire reading schedule, so you can be sure to read alongside us.
A good path is before us.
Let’s take it and ascend.
Chapters
00:00 — Introducing Thrasymachus and the end of Book One
13:00 — Thrasymachus and Callicles: comparing the “nasty” challengers
21:00 — Thrasymachus’s dramatic entrance—and why to take him seriously
31:00 — “Justice is the advantage of the stronger”
40:00 — Ruling as an art, and Socrates’ argument
52:00 — The shepherd, the sheep, and Thrasymachus’s shifting claims
66:00 — The soul, leadership, and the reluctant ruler
81:00 — The penalty of being ruled by someone worse
93:00 — Justice, injustice, and Thrasymachus’s defeat
106:00 — What Book One establishes—and what it leaves unresolved
Republic Book One: Polemarchus (331e-336a)
13 octobre 20261 h 33 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we continue our slow, beautiful pilgrimage through Plato’s Republic. Last week Dr. Alex Priou walked us through the opening and the dialogue with Cephalus. This week we …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we continue our slow, beautiful pilgrimage through Plato’s Republic. Last week Dr. Alex Priou walked us through the opening and the dialogue with Cephalus. This week we focus on Polemarchus, Cephalus’ son who inherits his father’s argument.
We are joined by two excellent guides: Dr. Frank Grabowski, Dean of Faculty at Holy Family Classical School, and Mr. Thomas Lackey, independent scholar and a longtime friend of the podcast.
Today, we ask what is owed and to whom.
“Shall I be your heir?” Polemarchus takes his father’s definition and attempts to provide a standard: Friends owe friends some good and nothing bad. Notice that the concepts of friendship and the good enter the Republic. Polemarchus’ name means war-lord, and the opening of the Republic made him look like political force, maybe even tyranny (commanding Socrates to wait). In the argument, however, he shows himself to be a good-faith interlocutor. Lackey notes that the Piraeus will later be the center of the revolt against the Thirty Tyrants (the puppet government set up by Sparta over Athens after the Peloponnesian War), and that Polemarchus will die by drinking hemlock (the same death Athens will later condemn Socrates to). The line about being “an heir” applies more directly to Cephalus, but in a way could apply to Socrates as well—Polemarchus is an heir to Socrates, someone who loves wisdom and then dies by drinking hemlock.
Further Resources to Help You Read the Republic:
Justice means to benefit friends and harm enemies. That is the Greek cultural default observed in the Oresteia and in Oedipus at Colonus. Socrates then asks: what is the art for? The man useful for keeping a deposit is also useful for stealing it. Then the harder question: Is a friend the man who seems good, or the man who is good? The one who decides can be wrong. The last turn is on the word harm. A first reader may hear a pacifist. Horses and dogs that have been harmed become worse in the virtue of horses and of dogs—but the just man cannot make a man more unjust. After they agree not to harm anyone, they call themselves partners in battle—a notable juxtaposition. The conversation is interrupted before Polemarchus can fully work through his aporia, his bewilderment.
Be sure to check out our entire reading schedule, so you can be sure to read alongside us.
A good path is before us.
Let’s take it and ascend.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the dialogue and main themes
02:06 Who is Polymachus and his background
11:55 Polymachus inherits his father's argument on justice
20:54 Definitions of justice: giving to each what is owed
27:20 The significance of logos in the dialogue
35:34 Expanded definitions of justice and their implications
42:16 The role of techne and moral knowledge in justice
52:25 The teleology and purpose of justice
01:02:53 Historical and cultural context of the characters
01:17:22 The development of the concept of Arete
01:23:04 The objective versus voluntaristic understanding of justice
01:28:35 Humor and pedagogical style in Plato's dialogues
01:31:03 Conclusion and preview of next week's discussion
Republic Book One: Intro, Prologue & Cephalus with Dr. Alex Priou (327a-331d)
6 octobre 20261 h 24 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we start our slow, beautiful pilgrimage through arguably the most important book in Western philosophy: Plato’s Republic. It is about justice and whether justice is …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we start our slow, beautiful pilgrimage through arguably the most important book in Western philosophy: Plato’s Republic. It is about justice and whether justice is more profitable to the soul than injustice—but along the way it provides rich conversations on the soul, virtue, education, metaphysics, and the afterlife. If you read this book and read it well, it will change your life.
And we have an excellent guide and mentor to walk us through the opening of Plato’s Republic and the dialogue with Cephalus in Book One (327a-331d), Dr. Alex Priou who currently serves as a professor of political philosophy at the University of Austin.
Today we start something life-changing.
Plato is philosophy. To summarize a famous line, all of Western philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato, and Plato’s Republic is his masterwork. He does not offer you a sterile, intellectual idea that is neat to contemplate—he makes claims on your soul. For Plato, philosophy is transformative. The goal of the pursuit of wisdom is to have a good soul, a beautiful soul.
Further Resources to Help You Read the Republic:
“I went down to the Piraeus.” The famous opening line gives you much to contemplate, and Dr. Alex Priou is a wonderful guide. We have the verb of descent, which will be important to the entire text, and we have the Piraeus, the port of Athens, which is hosting a new festival to a new goddess. Moreover, Socrates narrates the entire Republic to an unnamed listener who never interrupts… but this allows Socrates to give commentary on the argument he otherwise could not. Dr. Priou shows us how the prologue to the Republic is simple but rich with meaning—a great introduction to how Plato teaches.
In the house of Cephalus, age, wealth, and the old myths give the first account of justice. Asked the greatest good of his money, the old metic does not speak of friends or food. He speaks of the myths he laughed at when he was young, and of the peace of facing them without unpaid debts. Justice, for him, is telling the truth and giving what one owes. Socrates asks whether you return a borrowed weapon to a man who has gone mad. Cephalus cannot defend the rule he has lived by. He laughs, leaves the argument to his son, and goes back to the sacrifices. Cephalus leaves, but his conversation will haunt the entire Republic—as the text begins with a descent and religious myth and will end with an ascent and a religious myth.
Be sure to check out our entire reading schedule, so you can be sure to read alongside us.
Also, thank you to the CLASSIC LEARNING TEST for sponsoring our first month of Plato’s Republic. They are a really excellent group of people trying to change the landscape of education in America. Go check them out.
A good path is before us.
Let’s take it and ascend.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Plato's Republic and guest Dr. Alex Priou
02:01 Why read Plato's Republic today?
04:05 Historical and dramatic context of the dialogue
06:05 Dr. Priou's background and love for Plato
08:00 The purpose of the Republic and its themes
10:03 The setting and composition of the dialogue
11:57 The character of Cephalus and traditional justice
14:01 The significance of the Myth of the Cave
15:49 The pedagogical method of Plato's dialogues
18:13 The role of myths and poetry in philosophy
19:57 The purpose of the Republic and its relevance today
22:11 The character of Polemarchus and justice as friendship
23:50 The challenge of understanding the dialogue's structure
26:12 The importance of rereading Plato's works
28:07 The character of Thrasymachus and cynicism
30:06 The significance of Socrates' narration style
32:06 The allegory of the cave and ascent to truth
34:13 The role of myth and poetry in conveying truth
35:47 The balance between tradition and innovation in the Republic
37:51 The practical purpose of the dialogue
40:00 The limits of human knowledge and the form of the good
42:03 The political and moral lessons of the Republic
43:57 The significance of justice as a personal and political virtue
46:12 The character of Cephalus and his traditional views
48:02 The transition from traditional to philosophical justice
49:59 The role of Socrates in guiding the dialogue
51:56 The importance of self-knowledge and inner reflection
54:05 The myths of the afterlife and their philosophical purpose
55:58 The ongoing relevance of Plato's Republic
Join us next week as we continue our studies on Plato's Republic!
How to Read Plato
29 septembre 202660 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are preparing to read Plato’s Republic (we start next week!). Before turning to that long and demanding text, we ask a simple question: how do you read Plato …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are preparing to read Plato’s Republic (we start next week!). Before turning to that long and demanding text, we ask a simple question: how do you read Plato well?
Plato does not write treatises or lectures. He writes dialogues, and the setting, the characters, the irony, and even the moments of confusion (aporia!) are part of the teaching. The podcast takes up the questions that help a first-time reader get started on the right foot. Overall, however, we do not read Plato to “be smart” or brag we’ve read Plato. We read Plato to have a beautiful soul. We take him seriously as a teacher who can help us pursue the true, good, and beautiful.
Here is a list of the major questions that are discussed on the podcast today:
1. Why read Plato?
2. Why is the drama important?
3. Are the dialogues historical transcripts?
4. What is the Socratic method?
5. What is Socratic irony?
6. What is the art of dialectic?
7. What is aporia?
8. What is eros?
9. What is pleonexia?
10. What are the parts of the soul?
Again, we read Plato to better understand the good life and to have a good, healthy soul.
Be sure to check out the MASTER CALENDAR for our reading schedule for Plato’s Republic. Also, if you’re interested in a deeper dive into eros, see "Rediscovering Holy Eros” (one of the most popular articles on Ascend). Moreover, you can read more about pleonexia and its dangers at “The Greatest Threat to Your Freedom is You.” Last week, to prep for the Republic, we published “How to Read Plato’s Republic like C.S. Lewis.” Finally, regarding Socratic irony, read “How a Man Pretending to be Drunk Helps You Read Plato.”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to reading Plato and its significance
01:00 Why reading Plato is essential for philosophy
02:20 Understanding Plato's teaching through dialogues
06:29 Preparing for the Republic: preliminaries and questions
09:07 Why read the Republic and its moral importance
13:23 How to approach reading Plato's dialogues
26:06 The Socratic method and dialectic explained
33:01 Understanding Socratic irony and its purpose
39:31 Recognizing patterns in Socratic teaching
47:11 Eros, love, and the soul in Plato
55:43 Upcoming plans for studying the Republic
Next week we start Plato’s Republic!
Everything you need to know is here: "How to Read Plato's Republic with Ascend."
Bartleby, the Scrivener by Melville
22 septembre 20261 h 30 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we end Short Story September with “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” by Melville - a seemingly simple tale about men in a law office that becomes a …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we end Short Story September with “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” by Melville - a seemingly simple tale about men in a law office that becomes a puzzling, existential tale. Dcn. Garlick is joined by two excellent guests: Mr. Joey Bremer, a teacher at Holy Family Classical School and an iconographer studying at the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London, and “Montana” of Montana Classical College, an anonymous scholar who runs an X account that shares incredible insights on Melville’s Moby Dick.
Overall, “Bartleby, the Scrivener” is a perplexing, existential tale that tends to quietly unsettle you by revealing the realities of modern life.
CHECK OUT THE NEW ASCEND BOOK CLUB
This episode of Ascend takes up Herman Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street,” a quiet, unsettling tale whose central figure answers nearly every request with the same spare formula: “I would prefer not to.” The conversation lingers on the contrast between that stubborn preference and the narrator’s own softness—an elderly lawyer who prizes the easiest way of life, cannot quite govern his office, and keeps mistaking indecision for charity. Names, nicknames, dull eyes, and the cramped windows that look onto other walls all become clues: who in this world still possesses a will, and who has already been reduced to a role?
Listeners are invited to sit with the story’s larger questions rather than resolve them. What does the monotonous labor of copying do to a man? How does a commercial, conventional life flatten thumos and leave even well-meaning people lukewarm? Why does Bartleby’s refusal feel at once more human and more deathly than the quirks of his co-workers? Drawing on the textures of Moby-Dick and the aporetic spirit of Plato, the discussion treats the tale as a puzzle that rewards patient attention—an invitation to notice what modernity may have done to the soul, and to return to the text itself with sharper eyes.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Melville and 'Bartleby'
00:12 Introduction to the episode and main themes
02:05 Biographical context of Melville's life
03:47 Overview of 'Bartleby the Scrivener'
06:54 Themes of monotony and human will
09:59 Character analysis: the narrator and Bartleby
14:57 Philosophical and literary connections
20:05 Implications for modern life and office culture
25:00 Concluding thoughts and interpretations
44:30 Dark passages and existential reflections in 'Bartleby'
45:25 Repetition of life and the prison of modernity
46:24 The loneliness of Bartleby and the narrator's solitude
46:56 Prison as a metaphor for societal dehumanization
48:02 Bartleby's awareness of death and existential insight
50:24 The role of the dead letters office and existential suffering
51:29 Melville's possible critique of modernity and capitalism
53:06 The dehumanizing nature of copying work and modern labor
55:07 Bartleby's refusal as act of will and control
57:47 Reason, preference, and the will in Bartleby's choices
01:00:20 The significance of small acts and existential meaning
01:02:19 Melville's relationship with Plato and classical philosophy
01:09:24 The philosophical underpinnings of Melville's critique
01:12:10 The aporetic nature of the story and open-ended interpretation
01:15:15 Comparison with other literary characters and philosophical figures
01:18:36 Fate, free will, and the acceptance of mortality
01:21:55 Melville, Plato, and the modern crisis of human nature
01:24:52 Final reflections on the story's philosophical depth and relevance
CHECK OUT THE NEW ASCEND BOOK CLUB
NEW BOOK CLUB and Neil Gaiman’s “Chivalry” with H.E. Eduard Habsburg
15 septembre 20261 h 13 min
We have BIG NEWS! We have launched the new Ascend Book Club!Ascend: The Great Books Podcast has partnered with “The Ascent” here on Substack to transform it into the new Ascend Book Club to offer you the most …
Notes de l’épisode
We have BIG NEWS! We have launched the new Ascend Book Club!
Ascend: The Great Books Podcast has partnered with “The Ascent” here on Substack to transform it into the new Ascend Book Club to offer you the most comprehensive online book club focused on reading the great books and living a beautiful, virtuous life.
You’ll receive the same great content as before but with much more—which now includes:
1. Weekly podcast and videos on the great books
2. Weekly articles on the great books
3. In-depth, detailed pdf guides on the great books
4. A monthly LIVE Q&A for supporters
We are also publishing years of articles, guides, videos, and other resources to the new site and organizing them by work and author so they are easy to find—tons of resources on Homer, Hesiod, the Greek plays, Plato, Dante, and more. You could start reading many great books today with the Ascend library.
Check out our new website, the Ascend Book Club, and join us today!
Join our reading group and study the great books with us!
Our next big read is Plato’s Republic this October, check out How to Read Plato’s Republic with Ascend for everything you need to know.
Chivalry with H.E. Eduard Habsburg
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and His Excellency Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria and former Hungarian ambassador to the Holy See, discuss Neil Gaiman’s short story “Chivalry.”
Before they turn to the text, Eduard speaks with warmth and candor about his family’s eight centuries of Catholic identity, the vocation of family in an atomized age, his decade in Rome, and an unexpected love of stories that runs from screenplays and Ghibli films to the understated magic of Gaiman.
What follows is a close, affectionate reading of a story in which the Holy Grail turns up in an Oxfam shop, Sir Galahad knocks on a widow’s door for tea, and the most English understatement imaginable meets Arthurian quest. Together they trace Mrs. Whitaker’s loneliness and ritual, the knight’s unironic goodness, Marie’s transformation, the slugs in the garden, the three gifts of youth and immortality, and the moment an old woman quietly refuses what does not belong to her life.
Eduard reads the tale as homage to Englishness and as a call to accept the adventure when it arrives, while Deacon Garlick asks whether that same ordinariness can also flatten what ought to remain extraordinary. It is a warm conversation on the charming short story, “Chivalry.”
Reading Schedule
We are currently finishing SHORT STORY SEPTEMBER! Next week, we will discuss “Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Melville, the author of Moby Dick, with two excellent guests. Read it this week and join the conversation!
We’ll then have an introduction to Plato’s Republic on 9.29.26 and launch into Plato’s Republic on 10.6.26. Check out How to Read the Republic with Ascend for everything you need to know.
You can read the great books with the Ascend Book Club!
Join us.
Dcn. Harrison Garlick lives in rural Oklahoma with his wife and five children. He serves as a deacon at Holy Family Cathedral and as Chancellor & General Counsel for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa. Follow him on X at Dcn. Garlick or Ascend.
Red Shadows: A Savage Tale of Solomon Kane with Alberto Fernandez
8 septembre 202659 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick is joined by the always wonderful Alberto Fernandez to discuss "Red Shadows," a salvage tale of Solomon Kane by Robert E. Howard.Check out our website for …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick is joined by the always wonderful Alberto Fernandez to discuss "Red Shadows," a salvage tale of Solomon Kane by Robert E. Howard.
Check out our website for our reading schedule, articles, written guides, and more.
Dcn. Garlick and Alberto discuss Robert E. Howard’s 1928 Solomon Kane tale “Red Shadows,” a pulp adventure chosen as a lively Short Story September “palette cleanser” after heavier classical reading. Howard (1906–1936), the Texas-born creator of Conan the Barbarian, produced hundreds of stories in a short life. Alberto first encountered him through the 1960s–70s Lancer paperbacks with Frank Frazetta covers. Kane, Howard’s only recurring explicitly Christian series character, is described as a grim Puritan-Cavalier mix with pagan and philosophical streaks—“God’s angry swordsman”—a remorseless wandering avenger who rights wrongs he encounters by chance.
The story opens in the French countryside when Kane finds a dying young Catholic woman assaulted by bandits led by Le Loup (“the Wolf”). The stranger’s death prompts Kane’s vow that “Men shall die for this,” launching a relentless pursuit that takes him from France across Europe to the West African jungle.
There the narrative juxtaposes Kane’s grim, driven sense of justice (he sees himself as a “vessel of wrath”) against Le Loup’s cynical evil, tribal politics, the witch-doctor N’Longa, voodoo, jungle drums, and “blood memory.” Unlike the mirthful, vitalistic Conan, Kane is cold and mysterious even to himself. The climax features a duel framed as cosmic justice versus injustice, followed by a second, primal coda in which a gorilla avenges his mate—showing that nature itself can enact justice and that Kane often needs allies to complete vengeance.
Alberto highlights Howard’s youthful ambition (he wrote the story at 21), his debt to adventure writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. Rider Haggard, and the way Africa becomes a recurring, almost inescapable landscape in later Kane tales. He recommends the Del Rey edition and especially the later novella “Wings in the Night” as Howard’s finest Kane story. Both hosts note the stories’ value as high-energy, well-crafted adventure that can later be shared with sons, and they close by pointing listeners toward the next Short Story September episode on Neil Gaiman’s “Chivalry.”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Robert E. Howard and Solomon Kane
02:13 Howard's Background and Literary Influence
04:37 The Character of Solomon Kane and His Morality
08:36 Howard's Philosophy and Moral Duality
11:02 Why Red Shadows Was Chosen for Discussion
14:48 Beginning of the Story: France and the Dying Girl
16:52 Stranger Motif and the Western Influence
19:10 Cain's Vengeance and Inner Drive
22:50 Primal Justice and the African Setting
26:53 Howard's Use of Africa and Its Significance
32:52 Howard's Publishing Journey and African Themes
36:07 The Role of Ilonga and African Characters
43:49 Eternal Forces: Justice and Injustice
45:58 The Ending: Gorilla and Primal Justice
50:49 Howard's Final Warning and Blood Memory
54:41 Recommended Follow-up Stories and Howard's Legacy
Keywords
Solomon Kane Red Shadows, Robert E. Howard Solomon Kane, Ascend Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, Alberto Fernandez, Weird Tales 1928, pulp fiction, sword and sorcery, God’s angry swordsman, Conan the Barbarian comparison, Tower of the Elephant, Le Loup the Wolf, N’Longa witch doctor, G’loka the Gorilla Slayer, Short Story September, Del Rey Solomon Kane, Wings in the Night, Moon of Skulls, Hills of the Dead, Puritan avenger, vengeance for a stranger, West Africa jungle, blood memory, jungle drums, Howard pulp adventure, 16th century historical fantasy, Christian hero pulp fiction, Frank Frazetta, Centaur Press Solomon Kane, Lancer paperbacks, Argosy rejection, eighty dollars Weird Tales, grim Puritan Cavalier, vessel of wrath, justice versus injustice.
NEXT WEEK we discuss Neil Gaiman's "Chivalry" with His Excellency Eduard Habsburg, the Archduke of Austria.
Enduring Chill by Flannery O'Connor with Dr. Joseph Boyne
1 septembre 20261 h 40 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick is joined by Dr. Joseph Boyne to discuss Flannery O'Connor's "Enduring Chill" as part of Short Story September. Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick is joined by Dr. Joseph Boyne to discuss Flannery O'Connor's "Enduring Chill" as part of Short Story September.
Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule, articles, and a whole host of written guides.
Asbury Fox, the failed New York writer who returns home to his mother’s dairy farm convinced he is dying a tragic, Kafka-esque death, meets a rural doctor, two farmhands who refuse to share his resentment, and a deaf, one-eyed priest from Purrgatory who simply walks him through the Baltimore Catechism. What begins as another Southern Gothic confrontation with pride becomes something rarer in O’Connor: a dark comedy in which the protagonist desires of a romantic death are met with an enduring chill.
Dr. Boyne and Dcn. Garlick draw out the story’s autobiographical shadows, its critique of performative liberalism and abstract love of humanity, and the way O’Connor uses both the Jesuit in New York and the homely Father Finn to insist that meaning—and grace—cannot be manufactured from the self. The conversation lingers on the water-stain dove that descends as ice rather than fire, the question of whether the tale is comic or merely purgatorial, and what it means for those of us who prize the Great Books that education, by itself, is never enough.
Listeners who have been scarred by “The Lame Shall Enter First” will find this one far easier to finish—and far more unsettling in its quiet demand that we keep living.
Chapters
00:05 — Podcast intro and the reading plan for Short Story September
01:01 — Introducing Enduring Chill and Dr. Joseph Boyne
03:21 — Why Dr. Boyne picked the story
05:00 — Flannery O’Connor and the Southern Gothic tradition
12:55 — The grotesque, violence, and grace in O’Connor
20:32 — Asbury returns home and the education theme
30:30 — Asbury’s desire for a meaningful death and the Jesuit in New York
41:42 — Dr. Block and Asbury’s confrontation with illness
50:00 — The dairy farm, the black workers, and failed communion
57:13 — Asking for a priest and the dream sequence
70:29 — Father Finn arrives and subverts Asbury’s expectations
80:31 — Randall and Morgan return
85:34 — Dr. Block diagnoses the illness correctly
87:40 — Final scene: the Holy Ghost in ice and the enduring chill
96:23 — Closing reflections on O’Connor and the story’s meaning
Keywords
Flannery O’Connor The Enduring Chill short story analysis, Ascend the Great Books Podcast Short Story September episode with Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Joseph Boyne of Tulsa Community College, Southern Gothic literature, Catholic short stories, Christ-haunted South, Asbury Fox character study, Jesuit priest Ignatius Vogle, Father Finn from Purgatory, Baltimore Catechism, Holy Spirit as ice instead of fire, undulant fever raw milk irony, performative liberalism and racial condescension, education versus practical wisdom, grotesque as medium of grace, O’Connor comedy versus tragedy, Good Country People comparison, lupus and autobiographical elements, Great Books education critique, upcoming Plato Republic series, Robert E. Howard Red Shadows Solomon Kane, Neil Gaiman Chivalry with Archduke Eduard Habsburg, Herman Melville Bartleby the Scrivener.
Plato's Ion with Erik Rostad, Dr. Grabowski, and More
25 août 20261 h 38 min
Dcn. Harrison Garlick hosts a full house to discuss the short, strange, forgotten dialogue of Plato's Ion, subtitled "On the Iliad." 10 Question Written Guide on Plato's IonVisit our website for more …
Notes de l’épisode
Dcn. Harrison Garlick hosts a full house to discuss the short, strange, forgotten dialogue of Plato's Ion, subtitled "On the Iliad."
10 Question Written Guide on Plato's Ion
Visit our website for more information!
Plato’s Ion opens with a victorious rhapsode who claims to speak more beautifully about Homer than any other human being. Socrates grants the premise that a true rhapsode must not merely recite but interpret the poet’s thought to his hearers—and then tests whether that excellence is a techne, a teachable art that should apply across all poets who treat the same subjects.
Ion fails the test. He is “asleep” except when Homer is mentioned. Socrates therefore offers another account: poets and rhapsodes work not by craft but by divine mania. The Muse is a lodestone, and poet, reciter, and audience form a chain of possession. Ion recognizes himself at once. On stage he is outside himself, and he can move twenty thousand hearers to tears and terror (with a subtle nod in the dialogue about the desire to make money...).
The dialogue then presses the distinction between speaking beautifully and speaking correctly. On charioteering, medicine, and the other arts present in Homer, the expert—not the rhapsode—speaks rightly. Unwilling to admit he has no art at all, Ion seizes the last remaining claim and declares himself the best general. The identification is absurd, and the conversation nearly collapses. Socrates leaves him a choice: to be called unjust, or divine. Ion takes the latter. Skill and inspiration remain unreconciled. What the short work has done is place poetry, possession, and the education of the city on the table—and prepare the larger judgment of the poets that the Republic will make.
Chapters
00:00 - Welcome to Ascend and overview of the episode's purpose
01:05 - Introducing Ion and the returning and first-time guests
02:29 - Erik Rostad explains Book of Titans and his lifelong reading project
06:28 - First reactions to Ion and its perplexing character
07:11 - Preliminary framing: subtitle, translation, and why the dialogue matters
10:10 - Ion's claim to be the finest speaker on Homer
11:44 - What techne means in this dialogue
20:00 - Does Ion really claim knowledge, or only beautiful performance?
23:50 - Ion's claim that no one else speaks more finely on Homer
28:37 - The question of poetry as a better educator than philosophy
31:03 - Ion admits he dozes off when other poets are discussed
38:45 - The magnet metaphor and the chain of divine influence
44:32 - Is divine inspiration irrational, or can it be a real source of truth?
55:31 - A third sense of possession: skill, demonization, and being subsumed into beauty
60:15 - Ion says he watches the crowd and adjusts for money and effect
62:49 - Does Ion have a real art, or is he just managing audience response?
70:29 - The charioteer, the physician, and whether Socrates is being fair
72:26 - Does philosophy itself become a narrow specialty in the same way?
76:03 - Why actors may be excellent performers but poor explainers of their craft
78:10 - Socrates as a guide toward self-recognition of Ion's actual techne
87:25 - Plato as storyteller and the philosopher's need for a better story
90:20 - Storytelling, parables, and the pedagogical power of narrative
92:37 - Plato's self-reflection on his own art and craft
94:36 - The unresolved tension between inspiration and skill
99:44 - Closing thanks
Keywords
Plato’s Ion, On the Iliad, Ion of Ephesus, rhapsode, Homer, Iliad, Odyssey, technē, techne, divine inspiration, mania, theia moira, magnet metaphor, lodestone, Muse, speaking beautifully, speaking correctly, kalos, orthos, Socratic dialogue, forgotten Platonic dialogues, aporetic dialogue, poetry versus philosophy, education of the city, Republic Book 10, poets as imitators, Allan Bloom, Thomas Pangle, Roots of Political Philosophy, Debra Nails, Dr. Frank Grabowski, Thomas Lackey, Jack Drury, Erik Rostad, Book of Titans, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, rhapsodic contest, Asclepieia, Epidaurus, generalship, polymathy, Plato as dramatist.
Hippias Minor (On the Lie) with Dr. Grabowski and Friends
18 août 20261 h 34 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Larson, Dr. Grabowski, and Mr. Thomas Lackey discuss the short, strange, and forgotten dialogue of HIppias Minor or "On the Lie."8 Questions on …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Larson, Dr. Grabowski, and Mr. Thomas Lackey discuss the short, strange, and forgotten dialogue of HIppias Minor or "On the Lie."
8 Questions on Hippias Minor Study Guide
Check Ascend out on X, YouTube, Facebook, and More!
Plato’s Hippias Minor is a short, strange dialogue with a traditional subtitle that cuts straight to the point: “On the Lie.” After the boastful sophist Hippias finishes a public speech ranking Achilles the best and Odysseus the most polytropos—the man of twists and turns—Socrates is drawn into a conversation that begins with Homer and ends in one of the deepest aporias of the early dialogues.
What starts as a dispute over who is the better man, the straightforward Achilles or the wily Odysseus, quickly becomes a rigorous examination of voluntary versus involuntary wrongdoing, the nature of knowledge and power, and the unsettling claim that the man who does injustice on purpose is better than the one who does it by accident.
Deacon and the guests work through the dialogue’s sharp arguments and its surprising relevance. The conversation exposes the limits of treating virtue as mere knowledge plus power, raises the question of whether a just person might ever speak falsely for a good end, and serves as a genuine appetizer for the noble lie in the Republic.
Come listen—and discover why even Socrates, at the end, cannot agree with himself.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Hippias Minor and its Context
04:55 Setting the Scene: Hippias' Speech and Socrates' Role
09:22 Hippias' Boasts and Socrates' Irony
17:55 The Homeric Heroes: Achilles and Odysseus
25:04 Knowledge, Power, and the Art of Lying
36:15 The Distinction Between Capacity and Action
44:53 The Nature of Truth and Falsehood in Socratic Dialogue
46:43 Conclusion: What Socrates Reveals About Knowledge and Lies
02:39 Socrates' questioning of Hippias and the nature of virtue
04:55 The analogy of athletic competitions and the concept of justice
07:57 Socrates' discussion on voluntary and involuntary actions
12:05 The role of knowledge and capacity in moral actions
15:34 Hippias' understanding of justice and its relation to power
19:50 The concept of noble lies and pedagogical deception
25:04 The absence of forms and gods in the dialogue
30:14 The deeper meaning of Socratic ignorance and self-awareness
34:54 The significance of the question: Is justice knowledge or power?
39:51 Conclusion: What we learn about virtue, knowledge, and truth
Keywords
Plato’s Hippias Minor, Lesser Hippias, On the Lie, Hippias of Elis, Achilles and Odysseus, polytropos, voluntary and involuntary wrongdoing, voluntary liar, Socratic dialogue, aporetic dialogue, forgotten Platonic dialogues, noble lie, Republic, virtue is knowledge, knowledge and power, sophist, polymath, Eudicus, Embassy scene Iliad, teleology, Forms, Socratic irony, beneficial falsehood, Dr. Frank Grabowski, Dr. Brett Larson, Thomas Lackey, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, political philosophy, Allan Bloom, Roots of Political Philosophy.
Next week we discuss Plato's Ion!
Plato's Lovers with Dr. Larson and Dr. Grabowski
11 août 20261 h 2 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Larson, and Dr. Grabowski discuss Plato's Lovers--a strange, short, and somewhat forgotten dialogue seeking the definition of philosophy. We are …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Larson, and Dr. Grabowski discuss Plato's Lovers--a strange, short, and somewhat forgotten dialogue seeking the definition of philosophy.
We are celebrating ONE YEAR of our sister-company, The Ascent, a top 100 Substack on Christian spirituality.
Check out our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Lovers.
Plato’s Lovers is a short, strange, and easily overlooked dialogue that asks one of the most important questions in the entire Platonic corpus: What is philosophy?
Set in a grammar school where two rival older lovers—one an athlete, the other a cultured “know-it-all”—compete for the attention of younger boys discussing astronomy, the conversation quickly becomes an erotic and educational contest. Socrates enters the scene and quietly reorders the loves on display, showing that philosophy is not the accumulation of many things, that self-knowledge must come before any claim to rule, and that the true lover of the young is the one who leads their souls toward wisdom.
In this episode of Ascend, Dcn. Garlick is joined by Dr. Grabowski and Dr. Larson to unpack the dialogue’s subtle images of the soul, its playful yet serious treatment of eros, and its surprising role as an appetizer for the Republic.
The accompanying written guide offers a clear outline, preliminary questions, and dense Q&A—perfect for first-time readers, small groups, or anyone who wants to follow the argument more carefully.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Plato's 'The Lovers'
02:07 The setting and context of the dialogue
06:19 Who is the dialogue for? Audience and purpose
11:12 The erotic dimension of philosophy and education
16:10 The strangeness of the dialogue's setting
22:02 What is philosophy? The first definitions
27:36 The analogy of athletic training and measured learning
37:25 Usefulness, goodness, and self-knowledge
41:11 The political implications and the role of the philosopher
50:11 The dramatic and rhetorical aspects of the dialogue
57:32 The aporetic ending and its significance
Keywords
Plato’s Lovers, Rival Lovers, Erastai, what is philosophy, polymathy, much learning, Socratic dialogue, aporetic dialogue, forgotten Platonic dialogues, eros, erotic education, true love of the soul, tripartite soul, music and gymnastics, mousikē, gymnastikē, self-knowledge, know thyself, Socrates as third lover, Dionysius grammar school, anonymity in Plato, via negativa, aporia, preparation for the Republic, Dr. Frank Grabowski, Dr. Brett Larson, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Platonic education, philosophy and politics, soul craft before statecraft.
Plato's Hipparchus with Dr. Frank Grabowski
4 août 20261 h 11 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick and Dr. Grabowski discuss a short, strange, and somewhat forgotten Platonic dialogue - The Hipparchus.Check out our 15 Q&A Written Guide to the Hipparchus …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick and Dr. Grabowski discuss a short, strange, and somewhat forgotten Platonic dialogue - The Hipparchus.
Check out our 15 Q&A Written Guide to the Hipparchus - great for small groups, homeschooling, autodidacts, and more!
What begins as a simple question—“What is the love of gain?”—quickly becomes a sharp and unsettling examination of the democratic soul. With no dramatic setting and a nameless interlocutor, the dialogue feels almost like overhearing Socrates in the marketplace, pressing an ordinary Athenian citizen on whether the desire for more is always shameful, or whether the soul might rightly love higher forms of gain: nobility, honor, and even wisdom itself.
What makes the conversation especially rewarding is how Socrates deliberately chooses a shocking example—the tyrant Hipparchus—and reimagines him as a lover of wisdom who sought to educate the city. In doing so, the dialogue quietly draws a parallel between the supposed tyrant and Socrates himself, both of whom attract the youth, challenge conventional order, and are ultimately rejected by a democratic culture that cannot tolerate excellence.
Along the way, listeners encounter an early sketch of the tripartite soul, a critique of the leveling effects of egalitarianism, and an aporetic ending that leaves the interlocutor “compelled rather than persuaded.” Brief, strange, and surprisingly profound, this episode is an excellent preparation for the Republic and a compelling invitation to reconsider what the soul truly seeks.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Plato's Hipparchus and its significance
01:54 Main themes: Love of gain, democracy, and wisdom
04:03 The character of Socrates and the setting of the dialogue
06:03 Hipparchus as a figure in political myth and history
07:58 Translation choices and interpretive approaches
10:00 The dialogue's structure and lack of dramatic setting
11:56 The definition of love of gain and greed
13:54 Socrates' critique of the love of worthless things
16:06 Hipparchus as a symbol of love of wisdom and fame
18:04 The political implications of Hipparchus' love of wisdom
20:00 The role of the democratic man and the love of gain
21:49 Socrates' pedagogical method and the nature of knowledge
23:52 The significance of the tyrant example and Hipparchus' myth
26:04 The character of the interlocutor and the setting of the dialogue
28:03 The introduction of Hipparchus and its layers of meaning
30:10 The political myth of Hipparchus and its revisionist history
32:00 Hipparchus' love of wisdom and the Herms
34:08 The allegory of knowledge and the tripartite soul
35:53 The love of gain as a love of wisdom and truth
38:08 The democratic man, shame, and the pursuit of philosophy
40:00 The role of philosophers in democratic society
42:01 The character of Socrates as a gadfly and teacher
43:48 The process of being compelled towards truth
45:54 Bloom's interpretation: Socrates as a political and epistemological figure
48:00 The significance of the short dialogues for understanding Socrates
50:12 The importance of humility and piety in reading Plato
51:57 Next week's discussion: Rival Lovers and the nature of wisdom
Key words: Plato Hipparchus, love of gain, philokerdia, Socratic dialogue, political philosophy, Alan Bloom, Thomas Pangle, Roots of Political Philosophy, democratic man, egalitarianism, leveling effect, tripartite soul, thumos, nous, appetitive soul, tyrant Hipparchus, Herms, Socrates as gadfly, aporetic dialogue, compulsion versus persuasion, preparation for Plato’s Republic, philosopher-king, Great Books podcast, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, Frank Grabowski, classical education, ancient philosophy, Plato short dialogues, forgotten Platonic dialogues.
Rediscovering Holy Eros
29 juillet 20261 h 29 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Garlick invites you into a rich, methodical exploration of eros: the primal desire to satiate in beauty and be happy. What if the restlessness in your soul—the …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Garlick invites you into a rich, methodical exploration of eros: the primal desire to satiate in beauty and be happy.
What if the restlessness in your soul—the endless craving for more beauty, more fulfillment, more rest—is not a curse but a divine gift?
Reclaiming Holy Eros https://www.theascent.io/p/reclaiming-holy-eros
Women as Icons of God, Beauty-itself https://www.theascent.io/p/the-beauty-of-woman-as-an-icon-of
Porn as a Poor Expression of Eros https://www.theascent.io/p/the-poor-erotics-of-porn
Far from the pornographic or puritan distortions that dominate modern thinking, this ancient concept runs like a golden thread through Homer, Hesiod, Plato’s Symposium, the Old and New Testaments, the Church Fathers, Dante, and even Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est. Deacon shows how eros is the very question of the human condition—an upward call that moves the soul from lesser beauties to greater ones until it finds rest in Beauty itself.
Drawing on his own spiritual labors, the host walks listeners through Plato’s ladder of love, the marital imagery of God’s covenant with Israel, the Song of Songs, Christ’s union with the Church, and the harmony between erotic ascent and the self-giving love of agape. Along the way he recovers a lost grammar of desire that is both natural and supernaturally elevated by grace—one that produces virtue, fecundity, and genuine theosis. The result is not abstract theory but a living path: a latticework upon which your own understanding of restlessness, happiness, and the call to become more Christlike can grow.
Whether you have wrestled with the restlessness of the heart, wondered how pagan wisdom and Christian revelation speak to one another, or simply want a deeper vision of love that orders the soul toward God, this conversation offers something rare: a beautiful, coherent tradition that answers the deepest questions of what it means to be human. Listen, and begin the ascent.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Eros and its significance in Christian spirituality
01:54 Eros in Homer, Hesiod, and the primordial cosmos
07:12 Plato's Symposium and the ladder of love
15:07 Eros in the Old Testament: Marriage and divine love
20:00 Eros in the New Testament: Christ and the Church
30:06 Eros and the ascent to divine beauty
40:11 Eros, virtue, and happiness in Christian thought
50:02 Eros and grace: the divine ascent and participation in God
01:00:10 The harmony of eros and agape in Christian life
01:10:08 Practical implications: loving God and neighbor through eros
01:20:01 Conclusion: recovering holy eros as the heart of human and divine love
Keywords
Holy Eros, Christian eros, Plato Symposium ladder of love, divine beauty, eros and agape, Deus Caritas Est Pope Benedict XVI, Song of Songs, marital imagery God and Israel, Christ bridegroom Church bride, Ephesians 5, St Augustine restless heart, Gregory of Nyssa, bridal mysticism, Bernard of Clairvaux, John of the Cross, Diotima, ascent to God, theosis, pagan and Christian erotics, Homer Hesiod Aristotle eros, natural and supernatural love, virtue and beauty, Ascend Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, reclaiming holy eros, spiritual ascent, rest in God.
A Cantankerous Review of the Odyssey Movie
27 juillet 202647 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick delivers an unapologetically curmudgeonly critique of Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey.Check out our LIBRARY on the great books …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick delivers an unapologetically curmudgeonly critique of Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey.
Check out our LIBRARY on the great books. https://www.patreon.com/cw/greatbooks/collections
23 Raw Thoughts on the New Odyssey Movie https://www.patreon.com/greatbooks/posts/23-quick-on-164190324
SEE OUR SCHEDULE BELOW!
Fresh off a twelve-week deep dive into Homer’s epic with thousands of listeners, Deacon argues that the movie is no mere adaptation but a modern ideological rewriting that flattens Homer’s rich characters, mutes the divine, and replaces sacred myth with progressive lessons about shame, war, race, and power.
From Odysseus reduced to a guilt-racked figure who “defies the gods,” to the deliberate recasting and reframing of Helen, Menelaus, Circe, Athena, and even guest-friendship itself, Deacon contends that Nolan’s version marries cultural illiteracy with calculated compromise—and that both the film and the culture’s eager defense of it reveal far more about us than about Homer.
Yet this is more than a film review. Deacon uses the movie as a lens to examine how stories shape a civilization’s soul, why myths matter more than mere fiction, and why Christians and lovers of the Western tradition must resist the slow leftward drift of endless compromise.
SCHEDULE
July 28, 2026 - Holy Eros: An exploration of eros in Plato, the Bible, and Christian thought
August 4, 2026 - Plato's Hipparchus
August 11, 2026 - Plato's Lovers
August 18, 2026 - Plato's Hippias Minor
August 25, 2026 - Plato's Ion
September 1, 2026 - Enduring Chill by Flannery O’Connor
September 8, 2026 - Red Shadows by Robert E. Howard
September 15, 2026 - Chivalry by Neil Gaiman
CHAPTERS (Updated)
00:00 — Intro: why this review matters
01:00 — Piety toward Homer and the problem with the film
03:05 — Why the movie is not a “conservative Trojan horse”
05:05 — The danger of relativism and compromise
07:10 — Myth vs. fiction: why adaptation matters
10:10 — Odysseus as a shame-filled hero
12:50 — Menelaus, Helen, and the film’s cultural messaging
15:30 — How Nolan flattens characters and tension
18:05 — Penelope and the loss of the rooted-bed scene
21:10 — Casting, modern language, and suspension of disbelief
23:55 — Calypso and the removal of Odysseus’s moral triumph
26:25 — Athena as shame and post-traumatic projection
29:55 — Nolan’s treatment of the Trojan War
32:55 — The Lystragonians and armor/costume criticism
35:05 — The cult of Nolan vs. the cult of Homer
37:00 — Gods, superstition, and the muted divine
39:15 — The slaughter of the suitors
41:10 — Guest-friendship, Xenia, and Christian themes
43:00 — Circe, the deer, and the soul of the crew
44:55 — Pacing, emotional investment, and the bard
KEYWORDS
Christopher Nolan Odyssey movie review, Homer Odyssey film adaptation critique, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, cultural illiteracy in modern cinema, myth versus fiction in storytelling, Odysseus shame and guilt, Nolan casting controversies Helen Menelaus, Circe Athena Penelope Telemachus character changes, xenia guest friendship Golden Rule, Trojan War regret in film, Defy the Gods tagline analysis, classical education and Great Books, piety toward Homer, liberalism compromise in culture, upcoming Plato Republic study, Holy Eros episode, short Platonic dialogues Hipparchus Lovers Hippias Minor Ion, Short Story September Flannery O’Connor Robert E. Howard Neil Gaiman Melville, and Western civilization sacred myths.
NEW BOOK: The American Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen
21 juillet 202659 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick hosts Dr. Patrick Deneen to discuss his NEW BOOK: The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.Pick up the AMERICAN ODYSSEY …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick hosts Dr. Patrick Deneen to discuss his NEW BOOK: The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.
Pick up the AMERICAN ODYSSEY out today!
https://a.co/d/01rpYuwt
23 Observations on the new Christopher Nolan Odyssey Movie
https://www.patreon.com/greatbooks/posts/23-quick-on-164190324
In this special episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick welcomes back renowned Notre Dame political thinker Dr. Patrick Deneen—author of Why Liberalism Failed and Regime Change—to celebrate the release of his brand-new book, The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.
Fresh off a 12-week deep dive into Homer’s epic, the conversation reveals why Odysseus is the ultimate “proto-American” hero: a restless seeker torn between the hunger for home and the irresistible call of the frontier. Deneen traces this tension from the ancient text through Dante’s damning portrayal of Odysseus as a villain of forbidden knowledge, to the Renaissance reinvention of him as the triumphant explorer who metaphorically discovers America itself.
What makes this episode unmissable is how Deneen unlocks Aristotle’s radical claim that humans are political animals precisely because we are neither beasts nor gods, the “citylessness” that turns Ithaca into a Cyclopean free-for-all, and the startling parallels between Odysseus’ refusal of immortality and Huck Finn’s decision to “go to hell.”
Pairing iconic American stories like The Wizard of Oz, Field of Dreams, and Huckleberry Finn with Homer’s timeless episodes, Deneen shows that the Western tradition isn’t locked in dusty classics—it’s alive in our movies, novels, and national character, especially as America marks its 250th anniversary. Dive in and discover how an ancient tale of departure and return still maps the divided soul of a nation that can’t stop exploring… or longing for home.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Patrick Deneen and the Book
01:54 Deneen's Return to Homer and the Odyssey
03:59 Odysseus as a Proto-American Figure
06:59 The Tension Between Flourishing and Discontent
12:07 Odysseus and the Pioneering Spirit of America
19:02 The Shift in Odysseus' Image from Medieval to Renaissance
27:01 Odysseus as a Figure of Forbidden Knowledge
34:08 The Connection Between Odysseus and Columbus
40:02 The Polis and Citylessness in Homer and Aristotle
48:07 The Return of the Polis and the Homecoming
56:06 Huckleberry Finn as an Odyssean American Hero
59:45 The Western Tradition in Popular Culture
Key words: Ascend Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, Dr Patrick Deneen, The American Odyssey book, Homer Odyssey, Odysseus proto-American hero, Why Liberalism Failed, Regime Change, Western tradition, Aristotle Politics, man political animal, apolis citylessness, Dante Inferno Odysseus villain, Renaissance explorers, Columbus Amerigo Vespucci, American character, pioneering spirit, frontier homecoming, Calypso immortality, Huckleberry Finn, Field of Dreams, Wizard of Oz, 250th anniversary Declaration of Independence, Notre Dame political science, Homeric studies, great books podcast, Platonic dialogues, American soul, divided souls, political theory, classical literature, Americana, Odyssey episodes.
The Odyssey Books 23-24 with Dr. Justin Jackson and Dr. Benedict Whalen
14 juillet 20262 h 25 min
Today, we end our 12-week study of the Odyssey with a discussion on Books 23-24 with Dr. Justin Jackson and Dr. Benedict Whalen of Hillsdale College alongside host, Dcn. Harrison Garlick.There is yelling …
Notes de l’épisode
Today, we end our 12-week study of the Odyssey with a discussion on Books 23-24 with Dr. Justin Jackson and Dr. Benedict Whalen of Hillsdale College alongside host, Dcn. Harrison Garlick.
There is yelling, laughter, cursing, and general chaos--but more of Homer's truth is unearthed in the process.
Check out our ONLINE LIBRARY for resources on the great books.
Check out Dr. Justin Jackson's Substack working through the Bible.
Check out Dr. Justin Whalen at Hillsdale College.
The long-awaited homecoming unfolds with Odysseus and Penelope's emotional reunion, the famous test of the immovable olive-tree bed, and the climactic confrontation with the suitors' vengeful families. The conversation crackles with insight as the guests unpack Penelope's cunning, Odysseus' complex character, parallels to Achilles and Heracles, and the poem's meditation on fidelity, mortality, justice, and the costs of homecoming.
Dr. Jackson brings contrarian fire—challenging heroic ideals, celebrating the domestic, and wrestling openly with whether Odysseus' reckoning is justice or raw revenge—while Dr. Whalen offers sharp textual observations on themes of rootedness, temptation, and the poem's unresolved tensions.
Expect yelling, laughter, heartfelt disagreement, and the kind of raw intellectual energy that makes great books come alive.
Whether you’ve followed the whole series or are just dipping in, this capstone will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the Odyssey. Stick around after the discussion for a look ahead at Plato’s Republic and more. If you love the Great Books, this is unmissable.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Finishing the Odyssey Journey
04:46 - Host Welcome & Episode Setup
06:27 - Guest Introductions: Dr. Justin Jackson & Dr. Benedict Whalen
07:04 - Dr. Jackson’s New Book on Reading Literature
16:28 - Diving into Book 23: Penelope Learns Odysseus Has Returned
21:07 - Penelope’s Skepticism & the Secret Signs
25:05 - The Great Rooted Bed Test & Recognition Scene
36:36 - Odysseus & Penelope Reunion, Emotional Moments
47:05 - The Final Labor & Comparison to Heracles
59:11 - Temptations: Calypso, Nausicaa & Penelope
1:11:32 - Transition to Book 24: Laertes & the Avenging Families
1:15:26 - Achilles & Agamemnon in the Underworld
1:35:02 - Reunion with Laertes & Proof Scenes
1:49:10 - Dolius, the Final Battle & Deus Ex Machina Ending
2:11:04 - Reflections on Justice, Revenge & the Poem’s Message
2:16:50 - Closing Thoughts & Upcoming Episodes
Keywords
Odyssey Books 23 and 24, Homer's Odyssey finale, Odysseus Penelope reunion, rooted bed test, immovable olive tree bed, suitors slaughter, Ithaca homecoming, Penelope cunning, Odysseus homecoming, Great Books podcast, Ascend podcast, Hillsdale College professors, Dr. Justin Jackson, Dr. Benedict Whalen, Homer teacher philosopher, Telemachus maturation, Achilles Agamemnon underworld, Laertes reunion, Poseidon penitential journey, justice vs revenge Odyssey, classical literature podcast, Western canon Odyssey analysis, father son reunion Odyssey, Penelope faithfulness, heroic fate comparison, Plato Republic preview.
The Odyssey Book 22 with Dr. Alex Priou
7 juillet 20261 h 34 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick welcomes Dr. Alex Priou to discuss Book 22 of the Odyssey, the Slaughter of the Suitors.Check out our LIBRARY of written guides to the Great …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick welcomes Dr. Alex Priou to discuss Book 22 of the Odyssey, the Slaughter of the Suitors.
Check out our LIBRARY of written guides to the Great Books.
Check out Dr. Priou's new Substack: The Close Read.
What happens in Book 22?
Odysseus stands at the threshold of his home, cries out to Apollo, and lets loose an arrow straight through the neck of Antinous (22.15). Chaos erupts in the hall as bread and meats are soaked in a swirl of bloody filth (22.21). Eurymachus attempts to broker a truce with Odysseus, but it is rejected (22.57); he then calls the suitors to arms and is slaughtered (22.73). Telemachus brings armor and weapons to his father, the swineherd, and the cowherd (22.121), but the goatherd sneaks weapons to the suitors (22.151).
On his second run, the cowherd and swineherd intercept the goatherd, tie him up, and hang him from the rafters (22.196). Athena first arrives in the guise of Mentor (22.217) and then perches like a sparrow on the rafters, assisting Odysseus with her man-destroying shield of thunder (22.250). The suitors fall into panicked madness as Odysseus and his men wheel into the slaughter, slashing left and right, with grisly screams breaking from cracked skulls and the floor awash with blood (22.311).
Odysseus spares the bard and the herald but shows no mercy to the prophet (22.327). The slaughter complete, Eurycleia summons the disloyal female servants, who help carry out the corpses and clean the gore (22.458–471). Telemachus oversees the disloyal women being slowly hanged in the courtyard—a pitiful, ghastly death (22.487)—while the goatherd is retrieved and mutilated to death by the swineherd and cowherd (22.500). Odysseus purifies his home with fire and brimstone (22.518), and the book ends with the loyal maidservants surrounding their king as he breaks down and weeps (22.528).
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
04:40 Exploring the Odyssey: Book 22 Overview
06:58 The Role of the Gods in the Odyssey
09:55 Justice and Revenge in the Slaughter of the Suitors
12:54 Imagery of Food and Gore in Homer
14:49 The Cyclops Narrative and Guest Friendship
18:51 Antinous: The First Death and Its Implications
22:36 The Role of Recognition in Justice
25:05 Eurimachus and the Plea for Mercy
29:18 Piety and the Restoration of Order
32:53 The Political Landscape of Ithaca
33:48 Purging and the New Order in Ithaca
34:18 The Balance of Power and Leadership Lessons
35:24 Pedagogical Journeys: Odysseus and His Men
37:39 Divine Endorsement and the Purging of the Unworthy
39:35 Odysseus's Transformation: From Arrogance to Understanding
41:36 The Role of Recognition in Identity
43:08 The Consequences of Identity and Wisdom
46:29 The Tragedy of Odysseus and Penelope
48:42 Telemachus's Growth and Inexperience
53:12 Divine Justice and the Nature of the Fight
58:11 The Role of Prophecy and Piety in Justice
01:05:23 The Nature of Piety and Accountability
01:06:59 Eros and the Path to Ascent
01:09:52 Self-Reflection and the Nature of Desire
01:13:10 Justice and the Fate of the Maidservants
01:23:36 The Consequences of Disloyalty
01:30:37 Recognition and Political Rule
Discussion:
Dr. Priou and Dcn. Garlick examine the justice of the slaughter, noting that while Antinous dies without recognizing Odysseus, the goatherd Melanthius suffers one of the most gruesome tortures in Homer—strung up and mutilated in language echoing the barbaric king Echetus. They discuss the hanging of the disloyal maidservants, Telemachus’s role in their execution, and why such violence may be necessary to purge disloyalty and restore order. Key themes include the restoration of piety, the shift from a decayed oligarchic rule by the suitors to a new natural aristocracy involving loyal servants, Odysseus’ pedagogical journey, and the tension between recognition, glory, and the establishment of a stable political regime supported by fear of the gods.
Overall, the episode portrays Homer as a profound teacher on the ugly necessities of justice and political founding.
The speakers reflect on how the book repudiates certain Iliadic values like vaunting over the slain, emphasizes cleansing and purification, and sets the stage for the final books. Dr. Priou highlights Odysseus’s cunning, the limits of rhetoric, and the need to curtail eros for civilized life, while both Dr. Priou and Dcn. Garlick encourage listeners to confront uncomfortable questions about revenge, mercy, and the role of divine and human violence in re-founding a polity.
Next week our 12-week study of the Odyssey ends with Books 23-24!
The Odyssey Books 20-21 with Thomas Lackey and Dr. Grabowski
30 juin 20261 h 25 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are discussing Books 20 & 21 with Mr. Thomas Lackey and Dr. Frank Grabowski. NEW ARTICLE: Why Should Christians Read Homer?Check out our COLLECTION OF WRITTEN …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are discussing Books 20 & 21 with Mr. Thomas Lackey and Dr. Frank Grabowski.
NEW ARTICLE: Why Should Christians Read Homer?
Check out our COLLECTION OF WRITTEN GUIDES.
In this episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and guests Dr. Frank Grabowski and Thomas Lackey dive into Books 20 and 21 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the stage is set for the long-awaited slaughter of the suitors. The portents multiply: Theoclymenus’s terrifying vision of the palace drenched in blood and gore, Athena’s divine orchestration, and Penelope’s masterful test with Odysseus’s legendary bow. Amid feasts for Apollo, disloyal servants, and growing frenzy, Odysseus the beggar masters his patience while Telemachus comes fully into his own—echoing the father-son reunion and the maturation arc that began in Book 2.
The conversation has rich insights on Homeric anthropology, the thumos (spirited), xenia’s sacred bonds, ritual symbolism, and the limits of repentance under divine justice.
Listeners will relish the similes, prophecies ignored at peril, subtle Christological resonances, and the masterful dramatic pause Homer builds before the violence erupts in Book 22. Whether you’re tracking Odysseus’s cunning, Telemachus’s growth, or the poem’s deeper moral and theological layers, this episode delivers fresh appreciation for why the Odyssey endures.
Don’t miss it—especially with Dr. Patrick Deneen joining soon to connect the epic to our own age.
Subscribe, grab the written guide, and join the journey on Patreon, YouTube, or thegreatbookspodcast.com.
Keywords: Odyssey Book 20 summary, Odyssey Book 21 analysis, Homer Odyssey Books 20 and 21, Penelope bow test, Odysseus bow contest, Theoclymenus prophecy vision, slaughter of the suitors setup, Odysseus beggar disguise, Telemachus maturation, xenia guest friendship Odyssey, divine justice in Homer, Homeric thumos anthropology, Apollo feast day Odyssey, Greek classics podcast, Great Books discussion Odyssey, Odysseus revenge portents, Penelope cunning test, Homer similes Book 20, ritual symbolism Odyssey, Christological parallels Odyssey, Ascend Great Books Podcast.
The Odyssey Books 17-19 with Dr. Frank Grabowski
23 juin 20261 h 26 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski dive into Books 17–19 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the disguised king returns to Ithaca as a beggar.Check out our WRITTEN …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski dive into Books 17–19 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the disguised king returns to Ithaca as a beggar.
Check out our WRITTEN Q&A GUIDE TO THE ODYSSEY.
Check out Dr. Grabowski's new Substack: The Porch and the Altar.
The conversation explores iconic moments like Odysseus’s heartbreaking reunion with his loyal dog Argos, the tense first dialogue with Penelope that raises fascinating questions about what she truly knows or suspects, and the escalating violations of xenia by the suitors. Listeners will appreciate the rich analysis of loyalty as the ultimate standard, Odysseus’s hard-won maturation in temperance and piety, and striking contrasts between faithful servants like Eumaeus and disloyal figures like Melanthius.
Homer emerges here as both poet and philosopher, using these scenes to probe justice, the nature of heroism, the city at peace, and the interplay of fate and human choice.
With Athena guiding events and the tension building toward the suitors’ doom, Deacon and Dr. Grabowski illuminate how Odysseus’ trials have prepared him not just for revenge, but for restoring order.
Whether you’re new to the epic or a longtime reader, this episode offers fresh insights that make the ancient story feel urgently relevant. Don’t miss it—subscribe and join the community as the Odyssey study continues toward its dramatic climax!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey Study
04:30 The Role of Penelope and Theoclymenus
07:14 Contrasting Characters: Eumaeus and Melanthius
10:28 Odysseus' Growth and Maturation
13:11 The Loyalty of Argos
16:26 The Test of Guest Friendship
19:10 The Fate of the Suitors
22:22 The Beggar Fight and Its Implications
24:43 Odysseus' Reflection on His Journey
27:21 The Irony of Antinous
30:45 Penelope's Anticipation and the Build-Up to Reunion
33:28 Odysseus' Moral Self-Awareness
36:37 Conclusion and Themes of Justice
42:10 The Philosopher Beggar and the Blindness of the Suitors
44:49 The Nature of Law and Lawlessness
47:33 Penelope's Cleverness and the Suitors' Downfall
52:09 Telemachus' Growth and the Stability of Society
57:19 The Reunion of Odysseus and Penelope
01:01:40 The Test of Loyalty and the Nature of Guest Friendship
01:06:23 The Subtlety of Odysseus and Penelope's Intuition
01:12:19 The Significance of Names and Identity
01:19:33 The Tension of Recognition and the Test of the Suitors
Keywords: Odyssey Books 17-19, Homer Odyssey summary, Odysseus as beggar, reunion with Argos, Penelope and Odysseus dialogue, what Penelope knows, xenia guest friendship, loyalty in the Odyssey, Argos the dog, Melanthius goat herder, Eumaeus swineherd, Theoclymenus prophecy, suitors fate, Odysseus maturation, temperance and piety, Homer philosopher, city at peace, Athena disguise, beggar fight Book 18, bow of Odysseus, scar of Odysseus, Great Books Podcast, Ascend podcast Odyssey, Frank Grabowski Homer, classical education Odyssey, Western literature analysis.
The Odyssey Books 15-16 with Jack Drury and Dr. Grabowski
16 juin 20261 h 24 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by returning mentor Dr. Frank Grabowski—Third Order Franciscan, diaconate candidate, and Dean of Faculty at Holy Family Classical …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by returning mentor Dr. Frank Grabowski—Third Order Franciscan, diaconate candidate, and Dean of Faculty at Holy Family Classical School—and Latin teacher Jack Drury for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 15 and 16.
Check out all our resources on the great books!
Check out Dr. Grabowski's new Substack on the great books.
The conversation explores Telemachus’s maturation and homecoming, the poignant father-son reunion in the swineherd’s hut, and the deepening bonds of loyalty with Eumaeus. Listeners will enjoy thoughtful reflections on xenia (guest-friendship), Theoclymenus the mysterious prophet, Helen’s prophetic insight, Menelaus’s gracious hospitality, and the growing threat of the suitors, all while tracking themes of thumos, divine guidance, and the slow unfolding of justice.
With warmth, humor, and insight, the trio unpacks Homer’s masterful storytelling—why Telemachus must become a threat, the nobility of the “lowly” swineherd, and the beautiful (and bittersweet) dynamics of recognition and reunion.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
09:15 Telemachus' Journey: A Coming of Age Story
15:25 Menelaus: The Gracious Host
22:57 The Arrival of Theoclymenus: A Mysterious Prophet
30:36 Odysseus and Eumaeus: Testing Loyalty
31:05 The Swineherd's Loyalty and Laertes' Mystery
32:41 Odysseus' Questions and Eumaeus' Story
34:41 The Tragic Tale of Eumaeus
38:36 Social Status vs. Moral Character
41:47 The Unique Island and Divine Justice
43:43 Guest Friendship and Telemachus' Choices
46:25 The Reunion of Father and Son
50:29 Telemachus and Odysseus: A Complex Relationship
55:27 Testing Nobility and Virtue
01:00:25 Divine Disguises and Recognition
01:04:59 The Standard of Belief
01:11:37 The Plan Against the Suitors
01:18:58 The Nature of Justice and Retribution
Whether you’re reading the Odyssey for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, this episode illuminates how these ancient books continue to form souls and speak to fatherhood, virtue, and the return to order. Perfect listening for anyone journeying through the Great Books—don’t miss it!
The Odyssey Books 13-14 with Dr. Alex Petkas and Dr. Grabowski
9 juin 20261 h 28 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Frank Grabowski and Dr. Alex Petkas (host of the Cost of Glory) for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 13 and 14. Check out all …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Frank Grabowski and Dr. Alex Petkas (host of the Cost of Glory) for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 13 and 14.
Check out all our resources on the great books!
Check out the Cost of Glory!
Check our the Porch and Altar, Dr. Grabowski's Substack.
Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca—sleeping peacefully through the voyage as the Phaeacians carry him ashore—only to awaken uncertain and disguised by Athena as a beggar. The conversation explores his strategic plotting with the goddess, the symbolic Cave of the Nymphs (including a fascinating Neoplatonic reading from Porphyry), the poignant encounter with the loyal swineherd Eumaeus, and Odysseus’s layered “lies” that reveal deep truths about his character.
The guests delve into themes of homecoming, the restoration of patriarchal order, xenia (guest-friendship), internal moral growth, and the slowing narrative pace as Homer shifts focus from external adventures to the subtle work of reclaiming one’s house.
This episode offers fresh, layered insights perfect for both first-time readers and Odyssey veterans, blending literary analysis, philosophy, and practical wisdom on loyalty, cunning, and self-mastery.
Whether you’re drawn to the theological depth of the cave, the psychological realism of Odysseus’ deceptions, or the timeless lessons on rebuilding order amid chaos, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Grabowski, and Dr. Petkas make these often-overlooked books come alive with warmth, humor, and profound appreciation. Tune in for an engaging, accessible conversation that will deepen your love for Homer and leave you eager for the next leg of the journey.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey and Guests
08:38 The Slow Pace of the Odyssey
13:15 Themes of Homecoming and Restoration
18:07 The Significance of Sleep and Rebirth
23:22 Divine Intervention and the Phaeacians
28:24 Odysseus' Identity and the Role of Athena
36:26 The Art of Deception: Odysseus and Athena's Intrigue
37:19 The Mist of Disguise: Odysseus' Identity Crisis
39:46 Inner Odyssey: The Journey of Self-Discovery
42:34 The Goddess of Trickery: Athena's Role in Odysseus' Return
44:39 The Cave of the Nymphs: Symbolism and Allegory
51:03 Depositing Treasures: Spiritual Growth and Cooperation with the Divine
59:13 The Loyal Swineherd: Eumaeus and the Theme of Hospitality
01:02:39 The Encounter with the Dogs
01:03:44 Loyalty and the Commoner's Perspective
01:05:11 The Swineherd's Knowledge and Loyalty
01:06:16 Odysseus's Tests and Coalition Building
01:07:59 Reflections on War and Leadership
01:11:35 Odysseus's Crafty Storytelling
01:14:58 The Nature of Lies and Truth
01:18:12 Piety and Character in the Odyssey
01:22:06 The Art of Storytelling and Requests
01:25:20 Final Thoughts and Future Encounters
Be sure to check out our website for more resources on the great books!
The Odyssey Books 11-12 with Luke Heintschel and Dr. Grabowski
2 juin 20261 h 50 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick discusses Books 11-12 of the Odyssey with Dr. Frank Grabowski and Mr. Luke Heintschel, the Academic Headmaster of Coeur du Christ Academy.Check …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick discusses Books 11-12 of the Odyssey with Dr. Frank Grabowski and Mr. Luke Heintschel, the Academic Headmaster of Coeur du Christ Academy.
Check out Ascend's LIBRARY of written guides and SOCIAL MEDIA.
Check out Luke's Substack at CoCrucified and Dr. Grabowski's at Porch & Altar.
Summary
Listeners are taken on Odysseus’ harrowing katabasis into the underworld, where he confronts shades of the dead, including his mother, the tragic Agamemnon, and especially Achilles, whose devastating reflection on glory versus life delivers one of the most “blood on the floor” moments in Western literature. The conversation masterfully unpacks themes of piety, humanization, fate and free will, and the meaning of a well-lived life, while drawing illuminating connections to Plato, Dante, Boethius, and the Christian tradition.
The discussion continues into Book 12 with the irresistible Sirens, the terror of Scylla and Charybdis, and the fateful transgression with the Cattle of the Sun. Throughout, the guests offer sharp insight into Odysseus’s evolving character, the tensions between cunning and virtue, and why these ancient stories remain essential for forming minds today.
Whether you’re a longtime lover of Homer or new to the Great Books, this episode delivers rich intellectual conversation, pedagogical wisdom, and profound reflections that will leave you eager to pick up the text—or re-read it with fresh eyes.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
06:01 Exploring the Odyssey: Books 11 and 12
12:54 The Theme of Descent into the Underworld
16:57 Elpenor's Ignoble Death and Its Significance
23:42 Tiresias and the Prophecies for Odysseus
31:43 Fate vs. Free Will in the Odyssey
38:29 The Role of Women in the Odyssey
43:24 The Significance of Penelope in the Odyssey
45:48 Odysseus' Emotional Journey and Family Dynamics
53:13 Agamemnon's Narrative and the Role of Women
58:32 Achilles' Regret and the Nature of Glory
01:09:41 Ajax's Silence and the Weight of Honor
01:17:53 Exploring the Underworld: Tantalus and Heracles
01:20:34 Odysseus's Descent: Fear and Fate in Hades
01:21:38 Homer's Philosophical Insights: Preparing for Christ
01:22:29 Homer as a Teacher and Philosopher
01:24:15 The Sirens: Temptation and Knowledge
01:33:46 Scylla and Charybdis: Leadership and Sacrifice
01:39:31 The Cattle of the Sun: Fate and Free Will
01:46:04 Odysseus's Reflection: Mortality and Leadership
Keywords
Homer Odyssey Books 11 and 12, Odyssey Book 11 summary and analysis, Odyssey Book 12 summary, Odysseus katabasis underworld descent, Achilles in Hades dialogue, Odysseus meets Achilles, Sirens episode Odyssey, Scylla and Charybdis, Cattle of the Sun God, Tiresias prophecy, Elpenor burial, Odysseus piety and character development, fate versus free will in Homer, classical education podcast, Great Books discussion Homer, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick Odyssey, Dr. Frank Grabowski, Luke Heintschel Court of Christ Academy, Homer philosophy and theology, katabasis tradition Plato Dante, Christian reading of the Odyssey, Odysseus hero journey analysis.
The Odyssey Books 9-10 with Dr. Gregory McBrayer
26 mai 20262 h 4 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and the Dr. Gregory McBrayer discuss Books 9-10 of the Odyssey--the first half of Odysseus telling his own story and covering such famous …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and the Dr. Gregory McBrayer discuss Books 9-10 of the Odyssey--the first half of Odysseus telling his own story and covering such famous narratives as the lotus eaters, the cyclops, and Circe.
Check out our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Odyssey--great for small groups!
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Summary
Books 9 and 10 of the Odyssey feature Odysseus revealing his identity to the Phaeacians and recounting his adventures after Troy. The episodes include the raid on Ismarus, the encounter with the Lotus Eaters (whom Odysseus forcibly removes to prevent them from forgetting home), the harrowing trap in Polyphemus the Cyclops's cave (where Odysseus uses the "Nobody" ruse, wine, and an olive-wood stake to blind the giant before taunting him and invoking Poseidon's curse), the visit to Aeolus (whose bag of winds is opened by the crew, blowing them off course), the cannibalistic Laestrygonians (who destroy the fleet except Odysseus's ship), and the stay with the goddess Circe (who transforms his men into pigs, but is countered by Hermes' moly herb, leading to a year of feasting and Odysseus bedding her under divine instruction before she directs him to the underworld).
The hosts explore deeper philosophical and moral themes, viewing these stories as Odysseus's moral and theoretical education. They discuss xenia (guest-friendship) and its perversions, the tension between Odysseus's cunning intellect and his men's appetites or spiritedness, leadership failures, and Homer's intentional dialectic presenting human nature. Particular attention is given to Odysseus's curiosity, pride, and evolving understanding of place, home, mortality, and nature (highlighted in the moly scene as a discovery of physis). The conversation frames Circe as a structural pivot, contrasting earlier moral tales with later intellectual ones, and portrays Odysseus as a complex, self-serving yet learning figure whose narrative may blend truth and rhetoric tailored to his audience.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ascend and the Great Books
07:42 Professional Updates and New Opportunities
09:37 Teaching Homer: Insights and Anecdotes
10:58 Homer as a Philosopher: Dialectics in the Text
14:08 Odysseus: The Complicated Hero
15:47 Odysseus' Journey: Learning and Growth
17:54 The Role of Storytelling in the Odyssey
23:05 The Importance of Place and Homecoming
28:08 Odysseus and His Men: Leadership Dynamics
35:47 The Lotus Eaters: Virtue and Temptation
40:31 The Nature of Happiness and the Soul's Journey
44:04 Odysseus and the Cyclops: A Political Critique
54:20 Guest Friendship and Ethical Dilemmas
01:05:01 Rhetoric and the Limits of Persuasion
01:09:21 Understanding Polyphemus: The Nature of Deception
01:11:20 Odysseus's Internal Monologue: The Role of Wisdom
01:12:46 The Cyclops's Overconfidence: A Fatal Flaw
01:13:49 The Role of Wine: A Tool for Manipulation
01:14:58 Guest Friendship: A Perverse Parody
01:16:36 The Blinding of Polyphemus: A Turning Point
01:17:47 Community Response: The Cyclops's Isolation
01:18:41 The Consequences of Pride: Odysseus Reveals His Name
01:20:51 The Significance of 'Nobody': Identity and Cunning
01:23:24 The Escape Plan: Cleverness in Adversity
01:24:05 The Curse of Polyphemus: A Divine Retribution
01:26:42 The Cycle of Violence: Guest Friendship Violated
01:27:34 The Structure of the Odyssey: Peaks and Valleys
01:29:09 The Role of Agency: Human Choices vs. Divine Will
01:29:38 The Heartbreak of Aeolus: Trust Broken
01:33:56 The Lystra-agonian Encounter: A Leadership Crisis
01:36:31 Odysseus's Leadership and Responsibility
01:39:50 The Enigmatic Circe: Goddess and Witch
01:45:13 Odysseus's Encounter with Circe: A Test of Will
01:50:59 The Nature of Eros and Odysseus's Choices
01:56:56 The Philosophical Journey: Nature and Mortality
02:01:51 The Path to the Underworld: Elpenor's Fate
Keywords
Key keywords for this episode include Odyssey Book 9, Odyssey Book 10, Odysseus Cyclops, Polyphemus, Circe Odyssey, Homer Odyssey summary, Odysseus adventures, Lotus Eaters, Aeolus bag of winds, Laestrygonians, Odysseus and Circe, Nobody Odysseus, Xenia guest friendship, Homer philosophy, Odysseus leadership, Odysseus moral education, Summary of Odyssey Books 9 and 10, Odysseus vs Polyphemus, Circe turns men into pigs, Philosophical themes in The Odyssey, Homer Odyssey Cyclops episode, Odysseus journey home, Guest friendship in The Odyssey, Ascend Great Books Podcast, Harrison Garlick Odyssey, and Gregory McBrayer Homer.
The Odyssey Books 6-8 with Dr. Frank Grabowski
19 mai 20261 h 49 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski discussing Books 6-8 of the Odyssey discussing Odysseus' time with the Phaeacians.Check our our WRITTEN GUIDE to the …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski discussing Books 6-8 of the Odyssey discussing Odysseus' time with the Phaeacians.
Check our our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Odyssey.
10 Reasons to Read the Odyssey (The Ascent)
Why Odysseus Refused to Become a God (The Ascent)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey and the Phaeacians
10:45 The Nature of the Phaeacians
16:38 The Role of Rhetoric in Nausicaa's Character
22:41 Cultural Norms and Guest Friendship
28:23 Marriage Motifs and Political Wisdom
34:09 Nausicaa as a Symbol of Virtue
43:06 Odysseus and the Gods: A Growing Understanding
48:53 The Unique Role of Women in Homeric Epics
52:02 The Complexity of Guest Friendship
57:25 Divine Intervention: The Role of the Gods
01:02:24 Marriage Proposals: Naivety or Strategy?
01:04:53 Cultural Embarrassment: Odysseus's Maturity
01:08:52 Exploring the Human Side of Heroes
01:09:55 The Complexity of Virtue in Homer
01:10:50 Beauty and Political Instability
01:11:35 Marriage Proposals and Hidden Identities
01:11:58 Odysseus' Response to Offers of Hospitality
01:13:35 Cultural Insights from the Phaeacians
01:15:08 The Nature of Athleticism and War Games
01:16:44 The Role of the Bard in Storytelling
01:18:32 Odysseus' Emotional Depth and Vulnerability
01:19:44 Guest Friendship and Reciprocity
01:21:38 Odysseus' Identity and the Stakes of Revelation
01:24:07 The Bard's Song and Its Implications
01:25:59 Craft vs. Strength: Lessons for Odysseus
01:30:09 Adultery and Its Consequences in Homeric Society
01:31:15 The Warning Embedded in the Bard's Tale
01:34:10 Nausicaa's Role and the Theme of Marriage
01:37:04 Odysseus Weeping: A Complex Hero
01:40:45 The Final Ask: Identity and Storytelling
01:42:13 Prophecies and Their Consequences
01:45:10 Narrative Structure and the Art of Storytelling
Book 6 Summary
Odysseus washes ashore on the island of the Phaeacians. Athena appears to Princess Nausicaa in a dream and inspires her to go wash clothes at the river with her handmaids. Odysseus awakens, naked and brine-covered, and approaches the princess cautiously. He flatters her with rhetorical skill (comparing her to Artemis), requests aid without grasping her knees, and bathes privately. Nausicaa, showing courage, wit, and political savvy, provides him clothes, food, and careful instructions on how to approach the palace and supplicate her mother, Queen Arete, while avoiding gossip. The book ends with Odysseus praying to Athena in a sacred grove.
Book 7 Summary
Guided invisibly by Athena, Odysseus enters the splendid, utopian palace of King Alcinous and Queen Arete. He supplicates the queen as instructed, pleading for passage home. The court is initially stunned into silence until an elder prompts hospitality. Odysseus is bathed, feasted, and given a seat of honor. Queen Arete recognizes her daughter’s clothing and questions him; he recounts his arrival but omits some divine help. King Alcinous offers generous hospitality, promises to convey him home, and even subtly proposes marriage to Nausicaa (which Odysseus sidesteps). The Phaeacians are portrayed as peaceful, technologically advanced, and god-kin, living in an Edenic setting.
Book 8 Summary
The next day features athletic games, feasting, and bardic performance. A young Phaeacian (Broadsea) taunts Odysseus, prompting him to compete and win the discus throw, demonstrating his prowess. The bard Demodocus sings of the Trojan War (stirring Odysseus to tears) and the comic adultery of Ares and Aphrodite (trapped by Hephaestus’s craft), which Odysseus enjoys. More gifts and dancing follow. Nausicaa bids Odysseus a quiet, flirtatious farewell. Alcinous finally asks his name, setting up the hero’s full tale in the next books. The episode underscores themes of hospitality, craft over brute strength, and Odysseus’s emotional vulnerability.
Check out our 2024 playlist on the Odyssey too!
Keywords
Odyssey Books 6-8 summary, Odyssey Books 6-8 analysis, Nausicaa and Odysseus, Phaeacians Homer, King Alcinous Queen Arete, Nausicaa beach scene, Odysseus Nausicaa temptation, guest friendship xenia Odyssey, Phaeacian utopia, Homer Odyssey podcast, Ascend Great Books Odyssey, Odysseus Nausicaa rhetorical exchange, Hephaestus Aphrodite song Odyssey, Odysseus weeping simile, Odysseus Alcinous marriage proposal, Phaeacian ships technology, Calypso vs Nausicaa, Odyssey Book 8 games bard, Odysseus craft over strength, Deacon Harrison Garlick Odyssey, Frank Grabowski Odyssey, Porch and Altar Substack.
The Odyssey Book 5 with Dr. Glenn Arbery and Dr. Frank Grabowski
12 mai 20261 h 48 min
Odysseus rejects becoming a god... why?Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Glenn Arbery of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical …
Notes de l’épisode
Odysseus rejects becoming a god... why?
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Glenn Arbery of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK FIVE of the Odyssey--arguably one of the important passages in the entire Odyssey and in the Western canon.
Check out Ascend on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Patreon.
Check out our written study guide to the Odyssey!
Odysseus is offered everything a man could desire: immortality, endless pleasure, and the love of the goddess Calypso on her enchanted island. Yet he refuses, choosing instead the path of suffering, homecoming, and humanity. The conversation unpacks why Odysseus weeps on the shore despite his Edenic surroundings, the deeper meaning of his refusal, and the timeless question Homer poses to every listener: Would you say no to immortal pleasure?
The scholars dive into rich themes—Odysseus’s interior dialogue with his own thumos (spirit), the contrast between Calypso’s cave and rocky Ithaca, the subtle work of the gods and fate, and striking antecedents to Platonic psychology.
With insightful close readings, connections to the Iliad, and reflections on identity, place, and human flourishing, this discussion transforms a single book into a meditation on what truly makes life worth living. Whether you’re new to Homer or revisiting the epic, this episode will leave you eager for more. Highly recommended for anyone who loves great books, philosophy, or wrestling with life’s biggest questions.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ascend and the Great Books
04:13 Exploring the Odyssey: Book Five
09:41 Athena's Plea and Zeus's Response
23:53 Odysseus on Calypso's Island: A Study of Contrast
34:43 The Choice of Immortality: Odysseus's Dilemma
39:32 The Identity of Odysseus: Suffering and Immortality
41:02 The Nature of Human Desire and Fulfillment
42:56 The Dilemma of Odysseus: Choices and Consequences
45:14 The Complexity of Fidelity: Odysseus and the Goddesses
48:09 Homer's Moral Landscape: Understanding Odysseus
51:14 The Role of Place in Identity and Homecoming
54:05 The Symbolism of Clothing: Calypso vs. Nausicaa
01:09:40 The Wrath of Poseidon: Odysseus's Struggles at Sea
01:13:35 The Inner Dialogue of Odysseus: Heart and Mind
01:17:23 The Weight of Time and Suffering
01:20:04 The Complexity of Divine Intervention
01:22:21 Agency and Internal Dialogue
01:25:20 Mortality and Immortality: The Role of Women
01:29:10 Navigating Divine Guidance
01:31:20 The Human Experience and Divine Learning
01:33:56 The Journey to the Shore: A Symbol of Rebirth
01:40:05 The Significance of the Olive Tree
01:43:41 The Transformation of Odysseus
Keywords: Odyssey Book 5, Book Five of the Odyssey, Odysseus Calypso, Odysseus refuses immortality, Homer Odyssey Book 5, Calypso's island, why does Odysseus refuse immortality, Odysseus choice Calypso, Homer Odyssey analysis, Ascend the Great Books, Odysseus thumos, Platonic soul Homer, Odysseus homecoming, fate Zeus Odyssey, Odysseus rebirth, Calypso pleasure island, great books podcast Odyssey
Be sure to check out our Odyssey episodes from 2024 too!
The Odyssey Books 2-4 with Dr. Frank Grabowski
5 mai 20261 h 54 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski discuss the famous "Telemachy" or the coming of age story of Telemachus, Books 2-4 of the Odyssey.Check us our on X …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski discuss the famous "Telemachy" or the coming of age story of Telemachus, Books 2-4 of the Odyssey.
Check us our on X, Instagram, Facebook, and more!
Check out our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Odyssey.
In this rich second episode of our 12-week Odyssey series, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski dive deep into Books 2–4 — the Telemachy — exploring Telemachus’s powerful coming-of-age journey from a fatherless, disordered Ithaca to the ordered poleis of Pylos and Sparta.
They unpack how Homer paints a vivid picture of political decay: twenty years without an assembly, a missing generation of men, and suitors devouring the household while logos itself loses its force. Yet as Telemachus steps into his father’s seat and sets sail under Athena’s guidance (disguised as Mentor), we witness not only his maturation but a masterclass in what makes a healthy polis. The conversation shines especially when they examine the suitors’ impiety, the beautiful practice of guest-friendship (xenia), and the threefold piety it reveals — toward the gods, the city, and the family.
From Nestor’s sacrifices and storytelling to Menelaus and Helen’s double wedding feast, the episode is packed with insight, humor, and timely wisdom. Whether you’re reading the Great Books for the first time or returning to Homer with fresh eyes, this conversation will deepen your appreciation for the political, moral, and spiritual layers of the Odyssey.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey Study
06:18 Telemachus' Journey and Athena's Role
08:01 Political Instability in Ithaca
09:38 The Assembly and Telemachus' Leadership
15:48 Penelope's Dilemma and Guest Friendship
17:47 Xenia: The Importance of Hospitality
24:16 The Omen and the Suitors' Fate
30:37 Justice and the Role of the Gods
32:11 Mentorship and Guidance in Telemachus' Growth
39:45 Telemachus' Transformation and Epithet Significance
44:15 The Evolution of Characters in Homer
45:01 Telemachus' Journey to Maturity
47:42 The Role of Divine Guidance
48:38 Sacrifices and Natural Religion
52:56 Pylos: A Model of a Healthy Society
54:44 The Power of Prayer and Rhetoric
59:15 The Tragedy of War and Its Heroes
01:03:58 The Consequences of Choices in War
01:10:57 The Role of the Bard in Society
01:14:46 Foreshadowing and Sacrifice in the Odyssey
01:19:34 The Double Wedding Feast and Hospitality
01:22:08 Piety, Gratitude, and Debt
01:25:46 Reflections on War and Loss
01:28:12 Helen's Duality and the Nature of Free Will
01:29:10 Temptation and the Role of Wisdom
01:39:07 Menelaus' Journey and Wrestling with Fate
01:45:00 The Return to Ithaca and the Threat to Telemachus
Here are more videos from our 2024 study!
Book 2 of the Odyssey with Dr. Grabowski and Thomas Lackey
Book 3 of the Odyssey with Dr. Grabowski and Thomas Lackey
Book 4 of the Odyssey with Adam Minihan and Fr. Bonaventure, OP.
The Odyssey Book 1 with Dr. Papadopoulos and Dr. Grabowski
28 avril 20261 h 34 min
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK ONE of …
Notes de l’épisode
Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK ONE of the Odyssey--one of the greatest texts in the Western canon.
Check out our NEW 12-WEEK STUDY OF THE ODYSSEY.
Follow Ascend on X, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and more!
Be sure to use our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Odyssey!
They explore why the epic opens with “man” (not rage, not a god), the meaning of polytropos (“man of twists and turns”), Telemachus’s urgent coming-of-age amid an absent father and predatory suitors, Athena’s masterful mentoring, and Zeus’ striking defense of human responsibility.
Along the way they illuminate Homer’s sophisticated anthropology, the poetic dialectic of Homer the philosopher, the haunting parallels with the House of Atreus, and why this ancient poem still speaks so powerfully to questions of masculinity, homecoming, virtue, and human greatness today.
Witty, learned, and full of “blood on the floor” interpretive energy, this conversation will leave you hungry for the next eleven weeks—and convinced that Homer is one of the greatest teachers you’ll ever encounter.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
03:39 The NEW Odyssey: A 12-Week Study
09:29 The Importance of Reading Homer
17:01 Exploring the Opening Lines of the Odyssey
30:14 The Man of Twists and Turns: Understanding Odysseus
35:28 Exploring Odysseus: The Complexity of a Hero
39:26 Justice and Fate: The Role of Aegisthus
42:28 Divine Intervention: Zeus and Human Responsibility
55:30 The Journey Home: Odysseus and Telemachus
01:03:12 Coming of Age: Telemachus's Transformation
01:05:37 Exploring Penelope's Role
01:11:44 Telemachus' Journey to Manhood
01:24:56 Reflections on the Odyssey
More Resources
Intro to the Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen (2024)
The Odyssey Book 1 with Dr. Frank Grabowski and Thomas Lackey (2024)
Do Christians Owe a Debt to Homer? The Ascent.
Understanding Homer as a Philosopher & Theologian. The Ascent.
Keywords
Odyssey, Homer, Greek Literature, Great Books, Philosophy, Mythology, Education, Homer's Teachings, Classical Studies, Odyssey Analysis Odyssey, Homer, fate, divine justice, Odysseus, Telemachus, Greek mythology, divine intervention, hero's journey, philosophy

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