Today we bring you the 20th and final episode of season 3. This season we talked about all things liberal arts from music and monarchy to Plato and Socrates to freeing minds and humanizing humans. It only seemed right then, to finish this season with a return to our first guest, Professor Steven Cortright, who opened the show with an episode approp…

“You creatures of earth, don’t you stop to consider the people over which you think you exercise authority?” This conversation between two ‘non- serial’ entrepreneurs, Christof Meyer and AMI’s own John Johnson, will change the way you view entrepreneurship and management, and give you a vision of a rightly ordered, God honoring way to run a busines…

Mother, grandmother, and author, Leila Lawler joins Larissa to talk about raising children faithfully. She explains how we can escape the traps of the modern world and provide something beautiful for our children to imitate, thus creating sacred spaces and harmonious homes. Read her blogs Like Mother Like Daughter and Happy Despite Them to learn mo…

Enjoy the first half of the first lecture in Senior Fellow, Dr. Arias' course, "Philosophy of Man." Building on Aristotle and St. Thomas's philosophical account of the human person, this class focused on St. Thomas's teachings on man's natural and supernatural ends and the means proportioned thereto. Find out how you can learn more about the final …

Today, we are offering you another glimpse into the Magnus Fellowship; this time with Senior Fellow, Dr. Helen Freeh's course, "Friendship and Freedom in the Lord of the Rings." This is the first half of the first class of the final 8- week course on The Lord of the Rings, offered over three rounds of 8- week courses. This Fall, Fellows have been f…

Blessed Feast of St. Albert the Great! On this special day, we spoke with Leigh Bortins of Classical Conversations who, like St. Albert the Great before us, shares our love for a liberating education. Education is never free, and, like all good things, the higher the quality of education, the higher the cost. She joins John and Larissa to discuss h…

Once again, we are offering you a quick glimpse into the Magnus Fellowship; this time with Senior Fellow, Dr. Finley's class, “Rousseau and the Diabolical and Moral Imagination." This course explores the moral dimensions of the imagination through an examination of literature and philosophy. The aim of the course is to define and understand the con…

Are you ready to challenge the M&A status quo? Join us as we sit down with Liz Nesvold, President of Cresset Capital, and Michael Nathanson, CEO of Colony Group, to discuss where conventional rules take a back seat to innovative strategies and game-changing insights.

Dr. Amir Sabzevary has spent the last thirty years teaching philosophy and religion. Today, he joins John to talk about the journey of both teaching and studying philosophy– how to trek through complicated lives as students and how to reach the unreachable students as teachers. Discover ever so much more on his Youtube Channel. Don't forget! Free F…

This week on the Magnus Podcast, John and Larissa talk moral theology with high school teacher, Rocky Brittain and attempt to answer difficult moral questions according to Catholic Theology and Thomas Aquinas, such as when is it permissible to kill? How should a priest respond when he hears a life changing confession? How should we respond when we …

In this fast paced world full of echo chambers and outrage machines, we are fooled into believing a misguided view of justice and rhetoric. Dr. Joshua Phillips joins us to talk about how we can properly understand the connection between justice and humility and the distinction between thinking wonderfully and thinking critically. Joshua Phillips re…

AMI exists because we, like so many, see a problem with the current university system. What is the modern university providing to its students in comparison to what it ought to be providing? What is the purpose of a university? We just completed an 8 week summer course on John Henry Newman's, "The Idea of a University," to grapple with these questi…

"What is the best way of life for a human being?" The Republic is the most complete attempt by Plato to articulate and answer this question. It is characteristic of Plato that, in the Republic, questions about human happiness ultimately cannot be separated from questions of education, of the nature of the city, of the various forms of government, o…

Musician and composer, Greg Wilbur of New College Franklin contemplates music within the quadrivium; he explains why music ought to be ordered rightly in education and how it rests in harmony with the other Liberal Arts. He even discusses a little bit of conspiracy theories. Gregory Wilbur is President and Dean of the College, permanent Trustee, an…

“Take courage daughter, the world is not as strong as it seems.” From the diary of Maria Faustina Brian Fink has returned to the Magnus Podcast to discuss what it means to see reality as it is: to see oneself in order to better understand the enemy, to see the hope in the midst of losing, to see the truth in a poisoned culture, and, ultimately, how…

This conversation with Dr. Gary Hartenburg looks at education from a bird’s-eye view before zooming into talk about virtue, specifically the virtue of prudence, according to Aristotle, and ends with little bit of theology. Dr. Gary Hartenburg is the Director of the Honors College and an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Houston Christian Univers…

Earlier this spring, we hosted a lovely webinar on one of the most playful of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, The Nun's Priest's Tale of Chanticleer and the Fox. Now we're releasing it as a podcast so you too can enjoy it! Listen as Dr. Shannon Valenzuela of UD guides us through this delightful introduction to the poet's quirky (and sometimes shocking)…

How does man know? What are the roles of signs in knowing? What does “meaning” mean? What does man want to know? What are the objects to knowing? In this episode, Dr. Brian Kemple of the Lyceum Institute discusses these questions and opens the door to many, many more. Come join us down this rabbit hole of discovery. Dr. Brian Kemple holds a PhD in …

“We can’t teach the humanities unless the students have been humanized." In this episode, Dr. Jared Staudt discusses the text, Newman’s Idea of A University, and begs the question, ”What does it mean to explore reality?” He challenges educators and teachers to not become complacent, classical educators, but to seek the beautiful alongside their stu…

Across the sea, Charles III has just been coronated King of England and much ado was made in his and his country’s honor. On our homeland, America is, as always, in the throes of her own democratic controversies. Now on the podcast, we asked Dr’s Pavlos Papadopoulos and Joseph Pearce to discuss this question: Democracy or Monarchy: Is one the bette…

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Zena Hitz; tutor at St. John’s College, author of Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life, and Co-founder and President of the Catherine Project. Listen as she discusses what it means to live the good life. Learn more about St. John's College & check out their own podcast, Continuing the C…

“The gates of hell are open night and day; Smooth the descent, and easy is the way: But to return, and view the cheerful skies, In this the task and mighty labor lies.” - from The Aeneid of Virgil The Magnus Podcast returns with Dr. Matthew Bianco of the CiRCE Institute. Listen to this enlightening discussion on Plato and the allegory of the cave, …

We now bring you Spy Wednesday Bonus Episode 2, continuing in the theme of Holy Week. This is an excerpt from our own John Johnson’s course in the Magnus Fellowship: In the end was the word: Eschatology, Mimesis, and the Beloved Disciple. Remember that all donors giving just $25/month have access to the recordings for the rest of this course, and a…

In honor of Spy Wednesday, we are bringing you two back to back episodes today, both lectures by your favorite podcast host, the Founder and Executive Director of our own institute, John Johnson. The first comes from a talk John delivered at a recent convocation of Catholic leaders in New Jersey sponsored by the Diocese of Camden:Tradition and Betr…

"Wherever he can find any possibility of doubt, he is going to call it downright false." Up now: Descartes and The Search for Certainty with Fr. Owen Carroll. Enjoy these lectures given by Fr. Owen Carroll to a small group of retired religious in his private retirement home. Purchase Fr. Carroll’s book, The Sufferings and Glory of Christ: A Meditat…

"We see that Abraham is chosen, Abraham this one man with his clan around him... it’s promised to him that in him all nations, that is, all the rest of humanity... will find their blessedness in him." We now bring you Omnes Gentes, with Fr. Owen Carroll. Enjoy these lectures given by Fr. Owen Carroll to a small group of retired religious in his pri…

“The Amaryllis has been doing many living acts within itself. Nourishing, growing, flowering itself, in the same way that when I take a sip of water, am I not very much like the plant nourishing itself?” We now bring you episode 3, The Amaryllis with Fr. Owen Carroll. Lecturer Fr. Owen Carroll is one of the foremost experts on Thomas Aquinas and on…

As Great Lent continues… so do podcasts with Fr. Owen Carroll. Today’s being “Liturgy, Authority, and Living Scripture.” Lecturer Fr. Owen Carroll is one of the foremost experts on Thomas Aquinas and one of the greatest living teachers on the life of Christ. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux is the last of the patristics, Fr. Carroll is said to be the la…

As the season of Great Lent is upon us, we are offering you a gift that we hope will edify you in this time of preparation. Lecturer Fr. Owen Carroll is one of the foremost experts on Thomas Aquinas and one of the greatest living teachers on the life of Christ. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux is the last of the patristics, Fr. Carroll is said to be the…

In this final episode of season two, meet Eric, a Student Fellow, friend of the Institute, and successful business man who is here to discuss the value of a "useless" degree and the importance of a Liberal Arts education in any endeavor. Stay tuned for season three, and in the meantime, use this break to catch up on any episodes you may have missed…

Happy third day of Christmas! Continue this joyous feast by listening to the first half of our recent webinar on On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. Dr. David Arias, Dr. Matthew Walz and Mr. Dale Ahlquist joined us for an informative and beautiful conversation on the great text. You can watch the entire webinar on our YoutubeChannel here! Give to…

Please take a listen to this 3 minute announcement from the host of the Magnus Podcast and Executive Director of the Institute, John Johnson. Merry Christmas to our followers, fellows, and donors alike. Stay tuned for a Christmas episode.By Albertus Magnus Institute, Inc.

If beauty awakens the Divine, what does it mean for a culture when it is deficient in beauty? How do we return beauty to its proper place in the quadrivium? How do we restore beauty to a culture void of wonder? In this episode, John and Larissa discuss beauty (and the lack) in education with Dr. Shannon Valenzuela. Shannon K. Valenzuela, Ph.D., is …

“Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the people is never corrupted, but it is often deceived.” Jean Jacques Rousseau True…or false? Listen to John interview Dr. Emily B. Finley, author of the newly released book, “The Ideology of Democratism," in which Finley posits that the west has been deceived into a fals…

The Magnus Fellowship continues! Enjoy this glimpse into week one of Senior Fellow, Dr. Hudson's course, “George Bernanos: The Man and His Work.” This is much more than a sneak peak; it’s our longest glimpse yet as Dr. Hudson goes deep into the life of one of the most prominent French novelists of the 20th century. Find out here how you can watch t…

This week we turn three years old! This episode of the Magnus Podcast honors the Feast Day of our namesake, St. Albert the Great, celebrates our third birthday, and launches the Great Campaign. Please consider joining the Magnus Fellowship and/or giving to the Great Campaign today! With your help, we can continue to liberate the Liberate Arts.…

Revisit The Waste Land with us. Once again, we are offering you a glimpse into the Magnus Fellowship; this time with Senior Fellow, Dr. Freeh’s class, “The Waste Land Revisited: T.S. Eliot’s Diagnosis of Modernity.” Find out how you can catch the rest of this course AND access all archived courses- over 40 hours of exceptional classes with some of …

Enjoy this sneak peak into the Fellowship - week one of Senior Fellow, Dr. Esolen’s course, In the Beginning Was the Word: Poetry and Christology in the Gospel of John. Find out how you can catch the rest of this course AND access all archived courses- over 40 hours of exceptional discussions and lectures with some of the top educators in liberal l…

What is metaphysics? Is it philosophy or science? Is it witchcraft or wizardry? Is it inalterable or constantly changing? Why has it been reinterpreted and misunderstood in today’s culture? How do we return metaphysics to its proper place in the order of knowing and learning? Dr. David Arias is a professor of philosophy at Our Lady of Guadalupe Sem…

"Humankind, full of all creative possibilities, is God's work. Humankind alone is called to assist God. Humankind is called to co-create." -Hildegard Von Bingen This week's episode features Dr. Matthew Smith - the founder and president of the new Hildegard College. Named for Hildegard Von Bingen, Hildegard College was founded to create both excepti…

The modern understanding of mathematics is disenchanting and fragmented. Dr. Andrew Seeley is here to talk about mathematics within the ancient understanding of the quadrivium and the greater context of the human person. Dr. Andrew Seeley is a Tutor at Thomas Aquinas College in California, Director of the Arts of Liberty Project at University of Da…

What is the difference between a wanderer and a wayfarer? What does it mean to have hope? How do we live the proper journey of wayfarer? In this episode, John and Larissa talk with Chelsea Niemiec about the virtue of hope and the journey of a wayfarer. Chelsea is the Director of College Partnerships at The Classic Learning Test and a University of …

Alexander the Great once said, “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” Ali Ghaffari has dedicated his life to this type of leadership, beginning with playing sports as child to becoming a career Naval Officer as an adult, and most recently, to founding a K-8 Classical school in Pasadena M…

“Once again Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs, That on a wild secluded scene impress Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect The landscape with the quiet of the sky.” Excerpt from “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey,” by Williams Wordsworth This past summer, we offered our first round of Summer Symposiums in the Magnus Fellow…

"We were born not to sue but to command." - William Shakespeare Dr.Joe Wysocki of the Belmont Abbey College is here to discuss the making of monarchies, kings, statesmen and families through the lens of Shakespeare's Henriad. Check out the Belmont Abbey Honors College- the newest of our endorsed institutions: https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/academi…

What does it mean to be an integrated human? How do we live well-ordered lives? How does this lead to peace and harmony in both the home and the soul? Brian Fink is husband, father, farmer, and teacher creating an integrated life for himself and his family. In this discussion, he talks about farming goats, homeschooling kids, raising boys, and inst…

Today's guest, Oscar Ortiz, is both a brilliant thinker and incredible achiever who has transformed crumbling schools into sanctuaries for students. Listen as he tells John and Larissa how he plans to continue to bring wonder to students all over America. Oscar has devoted his career to classical education and over the course of ten years has gone …

Season 2 of the Magnus Podcast begins with this very special Three Beers episode with Pavlos Papadopoulos. Listen as John, Larissa, and Pavlos discuss Alexis De Tocqueville's great work, Democracy in America. Pavlos Papadopoulos is Assistant Professor of Humanities at Wyoming Catholic College. He holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College…

We made it to 50 episodes thanks to you and have some huge announcements to make. Join us for a special sit down over 3 Beers with AMI CFO Brian Long who breaks the news - taped on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas no less! MagnusInstitute.org/PressBy Albertus Magnus Institute, Inc.

Times are tough? Good. Discover how a boy who lost both parents at a young age and fought the bloodiest war in history found a place in the canon of literary greatness. In this lecture for the Magnus Fellowship, Dr. Freeh tells the story of Tolkien that you have never heard. To support AMI, visit https://magnusinstitute.org/give/. Your donation is …