In this episode, Dr. Williams interviews Dr. Zena Hitz, a tutor at St. John's College and the author of Lost In Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life. Her book has been reviewed by Jesse Hake in the newest issue of The Principia Journal and it is the subject of this episode's discussion.…

In this episode, Dr. Williams interviews Dr. David Diener, headmaster of Hillsdale Academy and a lecturing professor of education who has received a BA in philosophy and ancient languages from Wheaton College, as well as an MA in philosophy, MS in history and philosophy of education, and dual PhD in philosophy and philosophy of education from India…

In this episode, Dr. Williams interviews Dr. Phillip Donnelly, professor of literature and Director of the Great Texts Program at Baylor University. They discuss the article Dr. Donnelly has written for the Principia journal entitled “A Grammar for Human Making in Digital Age: Bonaventure on the Mechanical and Liberal Arts”…

In this episode, Dr. Williams interviews Dr. Julia Baylor, professor of classics and Associate Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University. Baylor University is the university that hosts the Principia Journal.By Dr. Brian Williams (TrueNorth.fm)

In this episode, Brian Williams reflects on what aim or end of education has been been in the classical tradition–not merely earning one’s bread learning to live well, “for the final product of our education…. is a man” (from W.B. DeBoise, The Souls of Black Folk)By Dr. Brian Williams (TrueNorth.fm)

In this episode, Brian Williams continues to reflect on tradition, starting with the metaphor of fire: “tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire.”By Dr. Brian Williams (TrueNorth.fm)

In this inaugural episode, Dr. Brian Williams muse on the relationship of “first things” (or principia in Latin) and tradition. Do classical educators want to emulate the Greeks and...By Dr. Brian Williams (TrueNorth.fm)

One of the first instances of the term "monster" is an association with Grendel in the epic Beowolf. Dr. Jim Kenrick, assistant professor of film, explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

We don't have a lot of words from the Hebrew language because it reads from right to left. But there's one word that prevailed through time- hallelujah! Dr. Bill Bellinger, professor of Religion, explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Clay Butler, a senior lecturer in the English department, talks about metathesis, a process by which two sounds in a word are reveresed. In this episode, we take a look at "ask" and its earlier form "acs."By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Talk about drama! Dr. John Thorburn, professor of Classics, takes us back to the roots of comedy and tragedy.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

There have always been good intentions behind this phrase. Dr. Stan Denman, professor of Theatre, talks about how although the phrase has several stories of origin, they all meant good wishes for the actor.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

One definition for violence comes from the Motion Picture Association of America. For their ratings, they once chose to define violence as it related to criminality. Dr. Jim Kendrick, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media, explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

In Aristotle's Poetics, he establishes a structure in storytelling that applies to character and the plot. This still has applications today as Prof. Chris Hansen, associate professor of Film and Digital Media explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Muckraker was first used in a speech by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The term was popularized in the 1906 book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Kevin Tankersley, Journalism lecturer, shares more of the story.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

This episode is devoted to the syntax of how we ask questions. Dr. Lydia Grebenyova, assistant professor of Linguistics, shows us the structure of an interrogative clause across many languages.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

It was never meant to be an art term but it fits well. In the mid-1900s, avant-garde was used to describe those artists on the front line, the cutting edge work of the art world, and those who were ahead of the curve.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Few people realize that many of the foods we eat originated with the native civilizations of North and South America. For example, Europeans originally acquired tomatoes and chili peppers from the Aztecs.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Plagiarism originates from Greek and references copying someone else's work. Oddly, it was the Greeks and Romans themselves that seldom cited sources, and often borrowed freely from their predecessors. Their form of imitation was not only flattering, but also was not necessarily unethical. Dr. John Thorburn, associate Professor of Classics offers m…

Sometimes, specific situations call for specific words- like when you sneeze! Dr. Ann McGlashan, professor of German, is here to visit with us about the word gesundheit.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

The word ecology comes from the Greek "oikos" for "household." Throughout the Old Testament, oikos began to mean a broader environment, often referencing the house of Israel or the house of God. Dr. Susan Bratton, professor of Environmental Science explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

In the field of journalism and public relations, the role of the gatekeeper has changed a lot. Kevin Tankersley, lecturer in Journalism talks about gatekeepers and new media.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

We know a playwright writes plays, but what exactly does a screenwriter do? Dr. Chris Hansen, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media offers some insight.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

The word robot didn't come from the lab but from the stage! Dr. Adrienne Harris, assistant professor of Russian explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

"Oscillate" can be an important word on hot summer days when everyone wants their fair share of the fan. Dr. John Thorburn, professor of Classics, tells the story.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

You've probably seen this technique before without knowing it. Dr. Katie Edwards, assistant professor of Art History describes "trompe l'oeil."By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Sometimes "sci fi" actually has a lot more "sci" than we think. Dr. Gerald Cleaver, associate professor of Physics, takes on "multiverse," a word used in astronomy, cosmology and philosophy.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

You may have already seen "universal design" on HGTV. Michelle Brown, a senior lecturer in Interior Design, shows us how this design concept goes beyond mere accessibility.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Here is one word that encompasses thousands of words- narrative. Dr. Heidi Bostic, professor of French, explains the story.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Still remember those New Year's resolutions? An understanding of what a resolution really is can help you keep on track. Dr. Michael Frisch, professor of Psychology explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Who had the "face that launched a thousand ships?" You'll meet her in this episode with Dr. Brent Froberg, senior lecturer in Classics.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Our language abounds with environmental terms these days. Dr. Susan Bratton, professor of Environmental Science, gives us a history of 'stewardship' before it went green.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Basically, we're, like, whatever, if you know what I mean. Dr. Cassy Burleson, senior lecturer in journalism, shares research on words most Americans find overused or just plain annoying.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Before Hershey produced chocolate in Pennsylvania, the Aztec and the Mayan were making it in Central America. Dr. Andrew Scherer, assistant professor of Anthropology, gives some history behind the word chocolate and its original recipe.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

You can have a second kolache just by asking for one! In this episode, Dr. Adrienne Harris, assistant professor of Russian, gives some background on kolaches, the popular Czech breakfast food.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Whether its broccoli or brownies, we?re always counting calories for one reason or another. But exactly what is it we?re counting? Dr. Luann Soliah, professor of Nutrition, explains what a calorie is as well as how a calorie may actually be much larger than you think.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Work on a movie continues long after the actors have gone home. Dr. Chris Hansen, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media, elaborates on the post production phase of filmmaking.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

An old musical describes friendship as "a perfect blend-ship," and the popular TV show "Friends" also showed us some good examples. Dr. Michael Frisch, professor of Psychology, explains what friendship really entails.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

"Beyond the pale" is an old expression used to describe behavior. Dr. Tom Offit, assistant professor of Socio-cultural Anthropology, tells the story of the origins of this phrase.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

What's in? What's out? Who is deciding what's in fashion? Dr. Lorynn Divita explains the five stages of fashion cycle.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

The addage used to be "man bites dog- that's news!" Prof. Bob Darden helps us understand more about what news is as well as what it isn't.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

If you break this kind of law, it really isn't a law anymore! Physics professor Dr. Jeffrey Olafson explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Two definitions of evangelical are commonly used today. Dr. Bill Bellinger, professor of Religion, traces the path of the word from its root meaning, good news.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Aesthetics is based on a Greek word relating to sensory perception, but Dr. Lorynn Divita, associate professor of Fashion Merchandising, shows how aesthetics says not only what we like but also what we are like.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

What do the movies Jaws, Cat-Women of the Moon, Dial M for Murder and The Polar Express all have in common? They were all produced for stereoscopic vision, which is a million dollar term for ?3-D.? Dr. Corey Carbonara, a professor of telecommunications, is here to tell us a little more that technique.…

Dr. Frank Mathis, Professor of Mathematics takes us back to ancient Egypt and Greece to get to the origins of "rational" number.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Know anyone who has ever "run amuck?" Dr. Tom Offit, professor of Anthropology, tells the history of the phrase.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Jeff Olafson explains how "absolute zero" isn't merely a degree but is actually the coldest anything can be.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Caesar: man, salad, and hairstyle? Dr. Thorburn from the classics department explains.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

Is fat really bad or are we just excessively scared of it? Dr. Suzy Weems, professor of nutrion and chair of Family and Consumer Sciences, clears the air on why this word has gotten such a bad rap lately.By Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences