Magnus Podcast: Conversations from the Catacombs of Liberal Education

In the opening seminar of our new series on G.K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man, Dale Ahlquist, Senior Fellow at AMI and Founder of the Chesterton Schools Network, explores one of Chesterton's most profound insights: before we know what prehistoric man believed, wore, or even ate, we know one thing—he was an artist. From the cave paintings of our earliest ancestors to the uniqueness of Christ at...

In this episode of the Magnus Podcast listen to John Johnson as guest leader of one of the Magnus Fellowship Cohort seminars as he explores the role of enthymemes—rhetorical devices that invite the reader to complete the argument for themselves—and argues that St. John uses them throughout his Gospel to reveal profound theological mysteries. From the Bread of Life discourse to the Last Supper, Joh...

Explore the intersection of classical music, mythology, the Great Books, and progressive metal with Symphony X's bassist Mike LePond. Discover how complex musical structures and timeless stories like the Odyssey and Paradise Lost inspire artistic expression and intellectual curiosity. Listen to how heavy metal music has gotten people to read classic literature and led to spiritual conversions.   K...

Magnus Podcast Episode 121 Does AI Dream of Electric Consciousness?: AI and the Amputation of Human Expression with guest (host?) John Johnson. Executive Director Emeritus and former host of the Magnus Podcast John Johnson joins Joshua Mazrin to discuss AI and our lessening ability to do things for ourselves. Is AI an inherent enemy? A necessary evil? Is it morally neutral of itself? Can the human...

Join Joshua and David Arias as they discuss raising your children in the liberal arts. Is homeschooling worth it? Is it easy?   Join the FREE Magnus Fellowship: https://magnusinstitute.org/fellowship/ Support AMI: https://magnusinstitute.org/give/ SUBSCRIBE where Podcasts are available

Join Joshua Mazrin and Professor Steve Cortright as they discuss what the name "liberal arts" actually means. Are they worthless? Are they tools? What's the point?

Join Joshua and Eric Black as they discuss how each of their spiritual conversions came in a time in their lives when exploration of classical texts opened their minds to truth in deeper ways. They further their discussion sharing their experience in the private sector and how an education in the liberal arts with an understanding of philosophy and theology is more beneficial for successful busine...

When one thinks of Purgatory, especially as described in Dante's Purgatorio, love is not the first thing that comes to mind. In this episode, Dr. Anthony Esolen leads a seminar from his Magnus Fellowship course "Into the World Beyond, With Dante" on the theme of love through the purification in Dante's Purgatorio, much like our own purging that purifies our love during the season of Lent.

We are closing the year with a big introduction: meet our new Executive Director: Joshua Mazrin! Join John and Joshua as they discuss the excellent experience that Joshua is bringing to AMI, authentic Liberal Arts education, and the exciting future we have ahead of us.   Join the Fellowship today : It's free and always will be.  Will you please consider making a gift to AMI as we close out our end...

Alec Bianco of the CiRCE Institute joins John to discuss the state of higher education. Where did colleges go wrong? Why are colleges choosing to drop their humanities programs in favor of niche degrees? What is the future of institutions who choose a mediocre and sentimental education over an education rooted in rigor and truth?  Learn more about Alec Bianco and the CiRCE Institute . Follow Alec...

Producer Sam Sorich joins us to discusses his documentary Things Hidden: The Life and Legacy of René Girard, an award-winning and full length production about the French- American philosopher and historian. John and Sam discuss the importance of Girard’s work, mimetic theory, and the implications for the world today. Watch the documentary for free on youtube: Want to learn more about René Girad? T...

Please enjoy listening in on the first seminar of the first Magnus Cohort! The 2027 Cohort began their three year journey with Dr. David Arias in September of 2024, and they will finish their third year in the summer of 2027! The 2028 Cohort will begin this September. Do you want to be apart of something like this? Find out how you can join the 2028 Cohort this Fall!  

Dr. Travis Cooper recently facilitated this lively discussion on Shakespeares classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  If you weren't there live, here is your chance to listen! At AMI, we believe in the power of great questions that lead to more questions, in an education that focuses on discernment and freedom. Senior Fellow, Dr. Jospeh Hattrup sums it up beautifully, "In our culture nowadays... ther...

What is the value of Latin, really? John Johnson joins Father Peter Hannah to discuss why all the cool people are studying Latin, as well as the Novus Ordo vs traditional Latin mass; Father Peter reminds us how latin is a time honored way to return our culture to the traditions we have discarded. They also discuss his experience in the Magnus Fellowship teaching the Latin course that broke the int...

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate our country’s independence with this extra special discussion with Dr. Richard Ferrier, tutor at Thomas Aquinas College. John Johnson and Dr. Ferrier discuss the complex question of, “Is history a liberal art?” They discuss this question by looking closely at American rhetoric, creeds, conspiracies, great people and cornerstone events from our founding until now. If yo...

John is back to discuss AI and the digital world, this time with AI thought leader and entrepreneur,  Drago Dimitrov. They discuss how binary AI fits into our symbolic world and continue to tackle the difficult question, “How should Catholic Christians and liberal artists respond to this instrumental end of AI?”   Follow Drago on X: @Dragodimitrov holyhabits.app

Ryan Khurana, AI technologist, strategist, and thought leader, joins John Johnson to discuss AI and the digital world. They compare the personhood, creativity, and relationships gifted to man to the counterfeit personhood of AI. They begin to tackle the difficult question, “How should Catholic Christians and liberal artists rightly respond to the instrument that is AI?” Stay tuned for Part II of t...

“Of all the forms of education, there is one that is best and most perfected  and that education has come to be known as liberal education.” - Dr. David Arias The Magnus Podcast season 5 has arrived! We open with the recording of our recent webinar where we discussed our Cohort Program and the value of liberal education with  Dr. Joseph Hattrup, Dr. David Arias, and AMI's Larissa Bianco.   Magnusi...

How do we know that what we know is true? What does it mean to participate in the truth? What is the object of the will?  Dr. Thaddeus Kozinki joins John to discuss Plato’s divided Line and the levels of being and knowledge. Read his article Plato and Participation Learn more about the Albertus Magnus Institute! Learn more about Father Owen Carroll  

Are digital tools inherently bad? How should we respond to the problem of tech? How do we know if what we are building is good? Don't be a tool...just use one. Join John Johnson and  Austin Klise, the founder of Klise Consulting as they discuss techne and technology and the implications therein.    You can find Austin  @ kliseconsulting.com Learn more about the Albertus Magnus Institute! Learn mor...

Join John Johnson and Angel Adams Parham as they have a discussion about race befitting the dignity of a liberal artist.  Angel Adams Parham is Associate Professor of Sociology, senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, and Associate Director for the major in Political and Social Thought at the University of Virginia. Through her research in historical sociology, she engages...

Dr. Ryan Messmore of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education joins John to talk about the foundation of the Catholic Faith, the nature of God, and the doctrine of the Trinity. Listen and hear about the good work of ICLE, the pillars of the Catholic Faith, and Christ's relationship with His creation.    Learn more about the Albertus Magnus Institute! Learn more about Father Owen Carroll Read D...

Dr. Tiffany Schubert of Wyoming Catholic College joins Larissa to discuss the idea of the hero. From Virgil’s company of heroes and heroines to Jane Austen’s many female heroines, Dr. Schubert guides us to understand them in light of tragedies and comedies, fate and providence, and epics and novels.  Join the Magnus Fellowship today! Check out Dr. Schubert's book Jane Austen's Romantic Medievalism...

Alex Lessard of Adeodatus joins John Johnson to talk about the ongoing Classical education renewal. Join them in this lively conversation where they discuss issues facing the movement and explore unique solutions and ideas to refine the renewal even more.  Learn more about Adeodatus here ! Learn more about the Magnus Fellowship today!

Grab a beer and celebrate our 100th episode with us! John Johnson discusses the soul, the city, and the citizen in this Three Beers Episode with Senior Fellow Palvos Papadopoulos and special guest Ryan Hammill of the Ancient Language Institute.   Albertus Magnus Institute: https://magnusinstitute.org/ The Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/ Wyoming Catholic College: https://wy...