The Sower

Josh Bowman talks with Jenna Robinson, president of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal. We specifically address the Martin Center’s advocacy for reforming teacher education through public policy at the state level, and especially as it pertains to reading. We also hit on the philosophy of education, indoctrination, pedagogy, and the notion of “place” in the development of teachers.  T...

Josh Bowman continues a series interviewing our first ever cohort of Ciceronian Society Conference fellows, talking with Nisbet Fellow T. Michael Wise of Sunbury, Ohio. Michael is a retired licensed funeral director completing his Ph. D at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the Historical & Theological Studies Department under Dr. John D. Wilsey. His research interests are in the Ant...

Chris Anadale interviews Rachel Ferguson about neighborhood stabilization, human scale, building social & racial trust, and causes for hope in the cities. Dr. Ferguson is director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University of Chicago, an Affiliated Scholar at the Acton Institute, and a member of the Ciceronian Society advisory board. Links to People, Books, and Organizations mention...

Josh Bowman talks with Theodore Madrid, a Ph. D. candidate studying politics at Hillsdale College's Graduate School of Statesmanship. This episode begins a series interviewing our first ever cohort of conference fellows. Theodore is specifically a “Nisbet Fellow,” and our conversation ranges over the work of John Carroll, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, religious liberty, and the role of commercialism an...

Josh Bowman talks with John D. Wilsey about his new book Religious Freedom: A Conservative Primer (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2025) https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802881908/religious-freedom/ , which will be released April 24, 2025. John is Professor of Church History and Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Church History and Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. F...

Josh Bowman talks with historian Richard Brookhiser, a senior editor of National Review ( https://www.nationalreview.com/ ) and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute ( https://nrinstitute.org/ ). He is a prolific author of many books, mostly on the American Founders and their ideas, and many other articles and essays besides. We specifically discuss Brookhiser’s new biography of America...

Josh Bowman talks with Matthew K. Michels OblSB, who is a professional bookbinder and writer, and the owner of Black Cowl Bindery. He is also an Oblate of the Order of Saint Benedict associated with Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. In addition to talking about the craft of bookbinding, we also discuss the idea of human scale, running a small business, common arts education, the tr...

Josh Bowman talks with Nick Ellis, Founder and CEO of Christian Halls International, whose mission is to “strengthen local communities by offering Christ-centered tutorial-based education that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and vocational formation.” We discuss the idea of place, place-based education, the classical education movement, the future of universities, and more.   To learn more about...

Josh Bowman talks with Joshua Kraut, Associate Professor of French at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Dr. Kraut is currently studying and translating the works of contemporary French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj (b. 1971), who is the topic of this conversation.  Click here for two translated books by Hadjadj: https://ignatius.com/authors/fabrice-hadjadj/   Joshua Kraut's talk for the Saint Bened...

Josh Bowman talks with Simon Tarr, dean of both The Honors College and the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. We discuss Christian higher education, what an “honors college” is - or could be - and the idea of prestige. To learn more about the Honors College, visit:  https://www.regent.edu/honors-college/    The Regent University Honors College is Tullia Sponsor for the upco...

Josh Bowman shares some end of year reflections on where the Ciceronian Society has been, where we’re headed, and why we believe our resilient and growing band of Christian intellectuals is doing something important. To give to the Ciceronian Society, visit: https://ciceroniansociety.org/donate/   To register for the 2025 Conference, visit: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference/2025-conference-...

Josh Bowman speaks with the headmaster and founder of St. Dunstan’s Academy, Thomas Fickley, and Fr. Mark Perkins, who serves as their chaplain and assistant headmaster. St. Dunstan’s Academy is an all-boys boarding school in Virginia built on four main pillars: Christian formation, classical academics, farming, and the skilled trades. To learn more, visit: https://stdunstansacademy.org/ 0:00 Intr...

Josh Bowman chats with Nathan Beacom, Founder and Director of the Lyceum Movement, which “hosts social, festive events that explore the big ideas of art, philosophy, history and more.” To learn more about Nathan’s work, visit https://www.lyceummovement.org/   0:00 Introduction 1:14 What the Lyceum Movement Is 5:04 Origins 10:56 Response/Success 13:13 Six Habits 18:47 Irreconcilable Differences 25:...

Alan Cornett and Chris Anadale discuss roots, bourbon tourism, agriculture, and more. Alan is host of the Cultural Debris Podcast, cofounder of Cultural Debris Excursions, and a former assistant to Russell Kirk. His family has lived in Kentucky since the 18th century. 0:00 Roots 5:17 Economics 11:33 Wet and Dry 16:50 Lexington 21:21 Cincinnati 23:24 Soil and Agriculture 29:55 Kirk and Localism One...

Claire Aguda and Chris Anadale discuss place, church, and her community in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Claire Aguda works at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. She is currently a PhD student at Faulkner University. She has worked in the conservative intellectual movement for several years. Claire is a longtime friend of the Ciceronian Society, which she describes as the place where "peo...

Josh Bowman RETURNS to talk about his childhood home of Monroe, on the shore of Lake Erie. Dr. Joshua Bowman is Executive Director of the Ciceronian Society, former host of The Sower, and a father, husband, Michigander and follower of Christ. He is well known to anyone who has attended one of our conferences. 0:00 Monroe 6:10 Not Idealizing Rural Life 11:50 War of 1812 17:30 Present Day Monroe 27:...

Tyler Syck discusses his hometown and the future of Appalachia. Jeffery Tyler Syck is an Assistant Professor of Politics and the founding Director of the Center for Public Service and Outreach at the University of Pikeville in his hometown. 0:00 Pikeville 2:30 Counties 4:55 Returning Home 11:15 Tourists & Settlers 14:00 University 17:55 Future of Appalachia 23:55 Roots 26:55 Mountains One in a...

In this episode, the Ciceronian Society’s “new” Executive Director, Josh Bowman, discusses the upcoming 2025 conference(s), a new award, and new conference fellowships. Give to the Ciceronian Society: https://ciceroniansociety.org/donate/  Spring 2025 Conference Website: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference/   Conference Call for Papers - Due Sept. 2, 2024: https://ciceroniansociety.org/confer...

Chris Anadale & Josh Herring discuss life in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Dr. Joshua Herring earned his doctorate in Humanities in 2023 from Faulkner University, and also holds an MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He teaches at Thales College and hosts The Optimistic Curmudgeon podcast. 0:00 Wake Forest 2011-2024 4:40 Changes 9:00 Locals vs Newcomers 12:00 Going Away to Coll...

Chase & Lori Spears describe their lives in Alaska, and now in Lansing, Kansas. 0:00 Alaska 11:38 Becoming Alaska People 15:23 Kansas 20:54 Importance of Place 25:19 Nomadic vs Stability 30:08 Kids Adapting to Kansas One in an occasional series on place, hosted by Christopher Anadale. To support the Ciceronian Society, learn more about our March 13-15, 2025 Conference in Harrisonburg, Virginia...

A look at Ennis, a town in southwest Montana, with John Wilsey. Dr. Wilsey teaches church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a research fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy, an initiative of First Liberty Institute. 0:00 Introduction to Ennis 4:20 Nostalgia 9:38 Poverty 17:20 Ways of Life 21:50 Going Back 28:42 Passing Places t...

First in an occasional series on place: the specific places that structure our lives, and what it means to have (or to lack) a place. Hosted by Christopher Anadale. This episode, our place is Auburn, Alabama, and our guide is Dr. Allen Mendenhall, Associate Dean and Grady Rosier Professor in the Sorrell College of Business at Troy University. To support the Ciceronian Society, learn more about our...

In this Episode, Josh Bowman chats with Trey Dimsdale, Executive Director of the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy (CRCD) and Jordan Ballor, the CRCD’s Director of Research. The CRCD has been a major supporter of the Ciceronian Society for several years, and we're thrilled to be partnering with them for our 2024 Conference in Plano, TX. The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy envi...

In this Episode, Josh Bowman and Bill Batchelder discuss the life and legacy of former Ohio House Speaker, William G. Batchelder III, and the Award for the Study of Place named in his memory. Click here to learn more about this award: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference/batchelder-award/   Visit https://ciceroniansociety.org/donate/  to learn about the different ways you can give to the Cicer...

In this Episode, Josh Bowman and James Patterson announce the Peter Augustine Lawler Award for Excellence in the Study of ‘Things Divine’ on GivingTuesday 2023. Click here to learn more about this award: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference/lawler   Visit https://ciceroniansociety.org/donate/  to learn about the different ways you can give to the Ciceronian Society. If you enjoy learning and w...