Leadership and organizational topics to help leaders, teams, and organizations lead more intentionally, effectively, and with PURPOSE!
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The Ralston College Podcast delivers a series of conversations and lectures aimed at fostering a deeper, livelier, and freer intellectual culture for us all.
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Levels of Intelligibility, Levels of the Self: Realizing the Dialectic with Dr John Vervaeke | Ralston College
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Ralston College Humanities MA Dr John Vervaeke is a cognitive scientist and philosopher who explores the intersections of Neoplatonism, cognitive science, and the meaning crisis, focusing on wisdom practices, relevance realization, and personal transformation. Ralston College presents a lecture titled “Levels of Intelligibility, Levels of the Self:…
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Knowing God in the Book of Job | Dr David Novak with Ralston College
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Ralston College Humanities MA Dr David Novak is a distinguished professor at the University of Toronto, renowned theologian, and esteemed rabbi. He has authored numerous books, delivered the prestigious Gifford Lectures, and bridges ancient philosophical traditions with modern ethical issues. Recorded live at Ralston College in Savannah, GA in Nove…
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Unlocking Consciousness with Dr Stephen Wolfram: AI & Philosophy | Ralston College
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Ralston College Humanities MA Dr Stephen Wolfram is a renowned computer scientist, physicist, and entrepreneur who earned his PhD in particle physics at 20 and became the youngest MacArthur Fellow at 21. As the founder of Wolfram Research, he has developed groundbreaking technologies widely used by university researchers in engineering, physics, ma…
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From Homer to Gutenberg: Ancient Greek and Its Afterlives with Dr David Butterfield
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David Butterfield is a renowned classicist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge. His work centres on the critical study and teaching of classical texts. How did the Renaissance revival of Greek language study transform Western Europe's intellectual landscape and shape our modern understanding of the Classics? In this talk, delivered o…
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Education without Indoctrination: Can It Exist? Stephen Blackwood, John Vervaeke & David Butterfield
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Stephen Blackwood is the founding President of Ralston College, with advanced degrees in Classics and Religion and visiting positions at Harvard, Toronto, and Cambridge. David Butterfield is a renowned classicist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge. His work centres on the critical study and teaching of classical texts. John Vervaeke…
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Self and Story: In Conversation with Gregg Hurwitz
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Gregg Hurwitz, the New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series and a storyteller whose work spans many mediums and genres, in conversation with Stephen Blackwood, the founding president of Ralston College, and with students enrolled in the inaugural year of the College’s MA in the Humanities program. In this live event—recorded on [dat…
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Language, Thought, and Style: The Articulated Logos in Victorian Literature with Michael D. Hurley
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Dr Michael Hurley, Professor of Literature and Theology at Trinity College in the University of Cambridge, delivers a lecture to students in Ralston College’s inaugural Master’s in the Humanities program on the intertwining of language and thought in the work of three major Victorian authors: Walter Pater, John Henry Newman, and Gerard Manley Hopki…
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Radical Thoughts on Human Nature: Stephen Blackwood at Hillsdale College
1:08:33
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In this lecture, delivered on March 30, 2023, as part of the Drummond Lecture Series at Hillsdale College, Dr. Stephen Blackwood—the founding president of Ralston College—argues that we must first understand something’s nature before we can properly care for and cultivate it. This principle holds true for all living things—including plants and anim…
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The Medieval Cosmos as Permanent Apocalypse with Jonathan Pageau
1:18:22
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In his lecture, Jonathan Pageau presents a thoughtful examination of the Last Judgment through the lens of a late-11th-century mosaic, challenging the traditional view of it as solely an end-time event. He suggests that this imagery symbolizes an ongoing process of identity formation, where every entity acts as a judge, continually evaluating its a…
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Our actions and behaviors are shaped by the beliefs we hold. These beliefs play out personally & professionally and include what we believe about ourselves, what we believe about others, and what others believe about us. Tune in as Doug and John explore beliefs through multiple perspectives.By John Freer
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Serious Play: Renaissance Wisdom and Cosmic Choreography | Sophia Lecture 2023 Part 5/5
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In the culminating fifth lecture of the Sophia Lecture series, Professor Douglas Hedley culminates his exploration by delving into play's theological dimension, engaging with Marsilio Ficino, Desiderius Erasmus, and Plotinus to dissect 'serious play', a pivotal concept in Renaissance thought. Throughout the lecture series, Hedley has traversed play…
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Unveiling Aesthetics: Art, Suffering, and Transcendence | Sophia Lectures 2023 Part 4/5
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In the fourth Sophia Lecture, Professor Douglas Hedley explores the transformative power of play in art and human consciousness, examining its philosophical significance across various cultures and traditions. Hedley highlights play's role in fostering aesthetic appreciation and creativity, embarking on a historical and philosophical journey from a…
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Wisdom in Paradox: The Seriousness of Play | Sophia Lectures 2023 Part 3/5
1:14:57
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In the third lecture of the Sophia Lecture series, Professor Douglas Hedley embarks on an intellectual journey that explores the enigmatic nature of play and its profound impact on human life, drawing from ancient philosophies and modern psychological theories. Delving into the works of Heraclitus and Plato, Hedley examines the paradoxical relation…
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Exploring the Inner Word: Play, Poetry, Philosophy | Sophia Lectures 2023 Part 2/5
1:17:04
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In this second episode of the Sophia Lectures, Professor Douglas Hedley from the University of Cambridge embarks on a deep exploration into the theme of "play" and its relationship to consciousness, language, and poetic expression. Drawing upon the intellectual legacies of Owen Barfield and Hans-Georg Gadamer, Hedley explores the philosophical and …
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The Spirit of Play in Shaping Culture, Creativity, and Spirituality | Sophia Lectures 2023 Part 1/5
1:37:21
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University of Cambridge philosopher, Professor Douglas Hedley, delves into the concept of play and its vital role in understanding the human condition. Drawing on Johann Huizinga, Hermann Hesse, and Josef Pieper's ideas, Hedley links play to the divine act of creation, asserting it as an essential element of our existence associated with freedom, c…
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The Spirit of Play: A Conversation with Professor Douglas Hedley and Dr Stephen Blackwood
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In the inaugural episode of the Sophia Lecture Series, Ralston College President Stephen Blackwood and distinguished Cambridge Professor Douglas Hedley explore "The Spirit of Play", delving into the enigmatic nature of play, its historical and philosophical significance, and its intricate connection with human culture and imagination. This discussi…
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John and Doug discuss the different ways you can develop your Emotional Intelligence through feedback and assessment tools.By John Freer
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Emotional Intelligence: A Leadership Differentiator - Part 2
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Doug and John take on the broad topic of Emotional Intelligence. During the conversation they explore the definition, the role of EI as a leader, and their own experiences of EI through the years.By John Freer
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Emotional Intelligence: A Leadership Differentiator - Part 1
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Doug and John take on the broad topic of Emotional Intelligence. During the conversation they explore the definition, the role of EI as a leader, and their own experiences of EI through the years.By John Freer
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Doug and John review the final 2 phases of the coaching framework.By John Freer
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Your success as a Coaching Leader is partly dependent upon your ability to commit to and leverage a framework for having coaching conversations with your team. Tune in as Doug and I explore a framework that has helped thousands of leaders hone their coaching skills!By John Freer
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Defining the Coaching Leadership Style - Part 2
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Doug and John continue their conversation around the definition and application of the Coaching Leadership Style.By John Freer
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Defining the Coaching Leadership Style - Part 1
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John welcomes cohost Doug Waltman to the podcast. Doug and John define the Coaching Leadership Style both in theory and through their personal experiences with the style.By John Freer
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Ep. 30 - From the Cave of Pythagoras: A Lecture and Discussion with Douglas Hedley
28:03
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Ralston College presents a lecture by University of Cambridge Professor Douglas Hedley on the influential and mysterious pre-Socratic philosopher Pythagoras. Given in the very cave in Samos in which Pythagoras taught, this brief lecture touches on the philosopher’s influence on the Western tradition and the importance of the cave as an imaginative …
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On your team, who is driving the conversation, the agenda, and the solutions to problems!? If it's YOU, you might be using the Directive Leadership Style. Keep leading this way and you may cripple your team's ability to think, solve, and act on their own!By John Freer
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Ep. 29 - Marie Kawthar Daouda: Baudelaire and the Creation of the Poetic Self
1:48:45
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Ralston College presents a lecture by Marie Kawthar Daouda on the infamous French poet, Charles Baudelaire. Baudelaire published one collection of poems in his lifetime, 'Les Fleurs du mal,' which was met by outrage and led to a scandalous lawsuit because of some poems’ graphic content. The problem with Baudelaire was not so much that he was writin…
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Shari and I explore the impact of cohort-style, long-term development programs as well as the importance of being agile as a leader!By John Freer
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Ep. 28 - Arif Ahmed on David Hume’s Disturbing Conception of the Self
1:38:28
1:38:28
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Ralston College presents a lecture by Arif Ahmed on David Hume’s conception of self in Book I of his ‘Treatise of Human Nature.’ The idea of ‘the self’ or ‘soul’ as an enduring subject of experience seems very natural, indeed almost inevitable. Hume, however, argues that it is a mistake; and he gives a novel account of what it means for you or me t…
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Harmony as a Leader with Susan Spero - Part 2
37:11
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In this episode, I continue my conversation with colleague and friend; Susan Spero. In this part of our conversation, we zoom in on the Affiliative leadership style and the connections to her book; Harmony at Work.By John Freer
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Ep. 27 - Alan Charles Kors: Voltaire’s ‘Philosophical Letters,’ Part II
1:41:56
1:41:56
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Ralston College presents a lecture by Alan Charles Kors on Voltaire's great work 'The Philosophical Letters.' Profoundly impressed by the English scientific and philosophical revolutions of the seventeenth century, Voltaire sought to explain and to popularize new British thinking to his French readers. He argued that sound and innovative thinkers w…
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Tune in as I invite my first guest to the podcast; Susan Spero. This 1st of 2 parts, introduces you to Susan and the work she does and, together, we take a look at the importance of intention versus perception in the leadership of people and in relationships in general.By John Freer
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Ownership as a leader is critical to success and effectiveness. We have to own the results of our team AND we have to own the perception our team has of us as a leader. Explore your ownership and more as season 2 gets kicked off!By John Freer
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Ep. 26 - Alan Charles Kors: Voltaire’s ‘Philosophical Letters,’ Part I
1:34:10
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Ralston College presents a two-part series of lectures by Alan Charles Kors on Voltaire's great work 'The Philosophical Letters.' Profoundly impressed by the English scientific and philosophical revolutions of the seventeenth century, Voltaire sought to explain and to popularize new British thinking to his French readers. He argued that sound and i…
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There's hardly anything we desire more...yet hardly anything we waste more. Time is precious and in short supply. Find out some tips and tricks for better maximizing your time.By John Freer
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Your boss plays a critical role in shaping the environment you experience at work and the way you feel overall. Providing effective feedback to anyone can be challenging...providing this to your boss can be downright overwhelming. Explore a simple framework for delivering a constructive message to your boss about what you need to be at your best!…
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Having a strong sense of personal clarity is not enough...we have to be engaged in activities that truly fulfill us.By John Freer
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Discover why establishing a higher level of personal clarity is worth doing NOW as well as how to do it.By John Freer
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Ep. 25 - Theodore Dalrymple on H. G. Wells's 'The Time Machine'
1:31:57
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Ralston College presents a lecture delivered on March 17th, 2022 by Theodore Dalrymple (aka Anthony Daniels) on H. G. Wells’s extraordinary 'scientific romance,' 'The Time Machine'. A brilliant seer and prophet with a very pessimistic view of humanity, Wells was, nevertheless, a naive and shallow political thinker. The two sides of his mind—the art…
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Explore why a healthy degree of selfishness is essential for our well-being and our leadership of others.By John
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Ep. 24 - Vernon Smith: Self-Interest Reconsidered
1:34:21
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Stephen Blackwood speaks with the Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, Vernon L. Smith. They begin by defining and exploring commonly misunderstood economic terms—markets, capitalism, equilibrium—and then unpack the discoveries of Dr Smith’s pioneering experiments in economics, which—against widely held assumptions—revealed the operation of benefic…
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Ep. 23 - Iain McGilchrist: The Coincidence of Opposites
2:02:44
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Ralston College presents a lecture delivered on October 26th, 2021 by Dr Iain McGilchrist followed by a discussion with Dr Stephen Blackwood and questions from the audience. In his lecture Dr McGilchrist deals with certain themes that are treated at greater length in his recent book The Matter With Things. He focuses especially upon the coincidence…
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Ep. 22 - Marwa Al-Sabouni: Architecture as a Matter of Life or Death
1:41:47
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Ralston College presents a conversation between Stephen Blackwood and award-winning architect and author Marwa Al-Sabouni, followed by an audience Q&A. A voice of penetrating clarity and prophetic power, Al-Sabouni discusses the role of architecture in cultivating or undermining our social fabric, arguing that the seeds of the devastating Syria Civ…
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Ep. 21 - Alexander Stoddart: Culture as Communion with the Dead
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In Part II of their discussion Stephen Blackwood and Alexander Stoddart speak about the transhistorical community of past, present, and future. Stoddart explicates his Schopenhauerian view of art as life-denying and thus paradoxically able to help us relinquish our own will to power. He contrasts this view with that of a shallow presentism, a self-…
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Ep. 20 - On Becoming Alan Dershowitz
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Ralston College presents a conversation between Stephen Blackwood and Alan Dershowitz, followed by an audience Q & A. The discussion begins with Professor Dershowitz describing the early influences that awakened his appreciation for civil liberties—particularly free speech—and the origins of his fiercely independent thinking. The subsequent convers…
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Ep. 19 - Victor Davis Hanson on Who Killed Homer
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Have we killed Homer for good? Stephen Blackwood and historian-farmer Victor Davis Hanson examine the state of the contemporary West by returning to its ancient Greek origins. They explore the richness of its first principles, including self-critique, the elevation of rational understanding, the democratization of learning, and the unification of t…
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Ep. 18 – Andrew Doyle on Free Speech and Why It Matters
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Ralston College presents a lecture with Andrew Doyle followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with Stephen Blackwood. Doyle discusses his new book, ‘Free Speech and Why it Matters,’ and offers trenchant examples of recent curtailment of the freedom of speech and thought. He provides a lively account of why free speech and free expression are vit…
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Ep. 17 - Alexander Stoddart: A Conversation in His Studio
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Should art be beautiful? This forbidden question guides Stephen Blackwood’s conversation with eminent sculptor and aesthetic luminary, Alexander Stoddart. Stoddart describes, in his usual incandescent fashion, his aesthetic awakening and his views on the failings of modernist and contemporary art. He also speaks about iconoclasm, about art’s battle…
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Ep. 16 - Harry Lewis and Stephen Blackwood: What's an Education For?
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Stephen Blackwood speaks with Harry Lewis, legendary Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University (where he taught both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg). They discuss the tragic limits of narrowly vocational approaches to education—with which many young people are pressured to conform—by contrast with education that fosters true self-reflecti…
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Ep. 15 – Theodore Dalrymple on Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons”
2:09:34
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Ralston College presents a lecture by Dr Anthony Daniels (aka Theodore Dalrymple) on Ivan Turgenev’s 1862 “Fathers and Sons”, followed by a conversation about the novel with Dr Stephen Blackwood. Daniels illuminates the depth of Turgenev’s insight into the revolutionary mindset, and its relevance to the nihilism of our own time and culture. This ev…
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Ep. 14 - The Morality of Satire: Andrew Doyle and Stephen Blackwood
1:54:01
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How does humor work and why is it needed more than ever? Stephen Blackwood talks with comedian and political satirist Andrew Doyle (aka, Titania McGrath) as they explore the sovereignty of truth, the metaphysical implications of satire, the role of humor in friendship, and why the asking of real questions is always a reason for hope.…
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