Ascend - The Great Books Podcast

Dr. Frank Grabowski, a classical curriculum teacher and dean, and Dr. Glenn Arbery, a humanities professor and Great Books scholar, explore Book 5 of the Odyssey. They probe Odysseus’s refusal of immortal pleasure, the contrast between Calypso’s island and Ithaca, divine agency versus fate, and how suffering, identity, and place shape human flourishing.

Dr. Frank Grabowski, a classical scholar known for close readings of Homer, guides a lively tour of Books 2–4. Short takes cover Telemachus’s coming-of-age, Ithaca’s civic decay, the failure of persuasive speech, and the sacred rules of hospitality. They explore mentorship, divine signs, and contrasting models of a healthy polis in Pylos and Sparta.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Pavlos Papadopoulos of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK ONE of the Odyssey--one of the greatest texts in the Western canon.Check out our NEW 12-WEEK STUDY OF THE ODYSSEY.Follow Ascend on X, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and more!Be sure to use our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Odyssey!They explore why the epic opens with “man” (not rage, not a god), the meaning of polytropos (“man of twists and turns”), Telemachus’s urgent coming-of-age amid an absent father and predatory suitors, Athena’s masterful mentoring, and Zeus’ striking defense of human responsibility. Along the way they illuminate Homer’s sophisticated anthropology, the poetic dialectic of Homer the philosopher, the haunting parallels with the House of Atreus, and why this ancient poem still speaks so powerfully to questions of masculinity, homecoming, virtue, and human greatness today. Witty, learned, and full of “blood on the floor” interpretive energy, this conversation will leave you hungry for the next eleven weeks—and convinced that Homer is one of the greatest teachers you’ll ever encounter.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast03:39 The NEW Odyssey: A 12-Week Study09:29 The Importance of Reading Homer17:01 Exploring the Opening Lines of the Odyssey30:14 The Man of Twists and Turns: Understanding Odysseus35:28 Exploring Odysseus: The Complexity of a Hero39:26 Justice and Fate: The Role of Aegisthus42:28 Divine Intervention: Zeus and Human Responsibility55:30 The Journey Home: Odysseus and Telemachus01:03:12 Coming of Age: Telemachus's Transformation01:05:37 Exploring Penelope's Role01:11:44 Telemachus' Journey to Manhood01:24:56 Reflections on the OdysseyMore ResourcesIntro to the Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen (2024)The Odyssey Book 1 with Dr. Frank Grabowski and Thomas Lackey (2024)Do Christians Owe a Debt to Homer? The Ascent.Understanding Homer as a Philosopher & Theologian. The Ascent.KeywordsOdyssey, Homer, Greek Literature, Great Books, Philosophy, Mythology, Education, Homer's Teachings, Classical Studies, Odyssey Analysis Odyssey, Homer, fate, divine justice, Odysseus, Telemachus, Greek mythology, divine intervention, hero's journey, philosophy

Dr. Chad Pecknold, an Augustinian theologian linking theology and political thought, and Dr. Patrick Deneen, a political thinker on the history of ideas, introduce Homer’s Odyssey. They discuss why the Great Books matter. Short takes cover Odysseus as neither beast nor god, fate versus choice, temptations of false immortality, and reading pagan texts through a Catholic lens.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick explores one of the most striking features of Dante’s Inferno: why the poet places liars, flatterers, and the treacherous in the lowest circles of Hell — deeper than murderers, tyrants, suicides, and even blasphemers.Check out our new INSTAGRAM page!Visit THE ASCENT, our sister publication on Substack.We are reading the Odyssey over 12 weeks!Why does Dante rank fraud and treachery as worse sins than violence? What is the spiritual harm of lying? And how is lying profoundly anti-Christ?Deacon Garlick takes listeners on a deep but accessible journey through:The architecture and purpose of Dante’s InfernoThe nature of truth and the teleology (purpose) of speechWhy sins against the soul are worse than sins against the bodyThe corruption of the intellect as the worst perversion of human natureThe profound theology of Christ as the Logos — the divine ordering principle of all realityThis episode will challenge you to take lying far more seriously and to see how every lie moves both ourselves and others farther away from Jesus Christ, who declares “I am the Truth.”Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ascend The Great Books Podcast04:13 Exploring Dante's Inferno: The Spiritual Harm of Lying06:07 Understanding the Architecture of Hell15:05 The Nature of Truth and Speech20:26 The Consequences of Lying vs. Murder24:24 The Nature of Lying and Its Consequences30:52 Understanding Logos and Its SignificanceKey Topics DiscussedDante’s moral purpose in writing the Divine ComedyThe structure of Hell: sins of incontinence vs. sins of maliceUpper Hell vs. Lower Hell and the City of DisWhy flattery appears lower in Hell than murderSt. Thomas Aquinas on truth: “the conformity of the mind to reality”The purpose (telos) of speech: to convey truth and help others conform their minds to realityWhy lying is a perversion of speech and an attack on the intellectThe inverted hierarchy of the soul in HellChrist as the Logos (John 1) — the rational structure and ordering principle of all creationHow lying is an anti-Christ act that divorces the mind from reality and from Jesus HimselfThe spiritual danger of breeding greater errors through falsehoodNotable Quotes / Insights“Sins against the soul are always going to be more severe than sins against the body.”“The corruption of the best is the worst.”“Christ does not say ‘I have come to share a truth with you.’ He says, ‘I am the Truth.’”“Every lie moves people farther away from Jesus Christ because you are divorcing the mind from reality.”Keywords and phrases: spiritual harm of lying, Dante Inferno lying, is lying worse than murder, Dante Inferno flattery, why Dante puts liars in lower hell, spiritual harm of lying Dante, lying worse than violence, Christ as the Logos, logos theology lying, anti-Christ act of lying, Dante hell structure explained, truth and speech Catholic theology, why is lying worse than murder in Dante's Inferno, spiritual consequences of lying Catholic, Dante Inferno fraud vs violence, what is the spiritual harm of lying, lying as anti-Christ act, St Thomas Aquinas truth conformity of mind to reality, John 1 Logos and lying, Dante Inferno sins of malice, treachery in Dante's Inferno, flattery in Dante's hell, Dante Divine Comedy moral lesson, sins against the soul vs body, corruption of the intellect, teleology of speech, Catholic teaching on lying, Aquinas definition of truth, Inferno architecture explained.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick takes a popular article from The Ascent, a top 100 substack in faith and spirituality, and does a deep dive on CS Lewis, Dante, and the problem of evil (theodicy). Check out THE ASCENT - a top 100 Substack on Christianity spirituality.Check out "The Hidden Meaning of Narnia's Endless Winter" Substack article.Check out the NEW Instagram page for Ascend.In this fascinating episode Deacon Garlick explores one of C.S. Lewis’s most striking images: the never-ending winter in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.Why is it “always winter but never Christmas”?Far more than a chilly backdrop, Lewis uses the endless cold as a powerful allegory for evil itself. Deacon connects Lewis’ imagery to Dante’s frozen pit at the bottom of Hell in the Inferno, revealing how both Christian master-teachers portray evil not as an opposite of the good, but as a cold, lifeless privation—an absence of heat, motion, and life.You’ll gain fresh insight into:- Why evil is best understood as a “hole in the ground” or darkness without light- How the White Witch’s power to turn creatures to stone mirrors the soul-freezing effect of sin- The beautiful contrast of Aslan’s warm, life-giving breath (echoing John's Pentecost and the forgiveness of sins)- The deeper Christian truth that goodness and being are convertible—evil pulls us toward unreality and non-existenceDeacon also shares why reading Narnia to children is such a gift: it trains young minds to love allegory, unlocks the four senses of Scripture, and cultivates a richer, more sacramental view of reality.Warm, thoughtful, and packed with spiritual wisdom, this episode will leave you with renewed appreciation for Lewis, Dante, and the profound way great stories reveal eternal truths.If you love C.S. Lewis, Dante, or want to understand the nature of evil more deeply, you won’t want to miss this one! Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction & What’s New on Ascend01:34 Welcome to Ascend: The Great Books Podcast03:45 The Ascent Substack & Sister Publication06:20 The Hidden Meaning of Narnia’s Endless Winter08:10 Background Story of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe11:30 Aslan as Christ Allegory & Benefits of Reading Narnia to Children15:45 The Four Senses of Scripture (Literal, Allegorical, Moral, Anagogical)20:10 Why Allegory Matters for Scripture and Reality23:50 What Is Evil? – Introducing the Problem of Evil (Theodicy)27:40 Evil as Privation of the Good (Augustine & Aquinas)32:15 Freedom, Free Will, and the Origin of Evil36:40 C.S. Lewis: Endless Winter as Allegory for Evil40:20 The White Witch’s Power & Aslan’s Life-Giving Breath44:10 Dante’s Inferno: The Frozen Pit of Hell48:30 God as Love That Moves the Sun and Stars52:00 Key Lessons: Evil, Being, and Goodness55:20 Recap & Closing Thoughts57:40 What’s Coming Next on AscendKeywords: C.S. Lewis, Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, endless winter Narnia, hidden meaning of Narnia, Narnia allegory, problem of evil, theodicy, Dante Inferno, frozen hell Dante, evil as privation, nature of evil, Aslan Christ allegory, White Witch, Christian allegory, four senses of Scripture, reading Narnia to children, great books podcast, Christian spirituality, privation of the good, evil and free will, Dante and Lewis, spiritual meaning of winter.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison discusses the last two cantos of the Purgatorio (32-33) with Joshua Charles of Eternal Christendom and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School. We are reading the ODYSSEY NEXT! Check out our 12-week schedule.See our collection of written guides to the great books!Check out Joshua Charles' Eternal Christendom.Check out Holy Family Classical School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.They explore the symbolic significance of Beatrice's role in guiding Dante through his spiritual journey, highlighting her as a representation of divine grace and wisdom. The conversation also touches on the allegorical elements of the sacred tree and the griffin, which symbolize Christ and the intertwining of spiritual and temporal authority.The episode further examines the complex allegories of spiritual and temporal power, focusing on themes of judgment, schism, and the corruption within the church. The guests discuss Dante's critique of ecclesiastical corruption, particularly involving figures like Boniface VIII and the Avignon Papacy, and how these historical contexts are woven into the narrative. The prophetic visions of church corruption, represented by the harlot and the coming hero, the Greyhound, are analyzed for their implications on Dante's vision of divine justice and societal renewal. The discussion is enriched with references to biblical texts, especially the Book of Revelation, which heavily influences Dante's imagery.Throughout the episode, the philosophical underpinnings of Dante's work are explored, with particular attention to the influences of Platonic, Augustinian, and Thomistic thought. The conversation transitions from the individual soul's purification journey to broader societal and political reflections, emphasizing the need for harmony between spiritual and temporal powers. The episode concludes with reflections on Dante's vision for renewal and hope, encouraging listeners to consider the allegories as guides for personal sanctification and societal transformation.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context of the Podcast03:07 Exploring Dante's Purgatorio06:02 The Role of Beatrice and Grace08:50 Imagery and Symbolism in Canto 3212:06 The Pageant of Church History15:00 The Griffin and the Tree of Knowledge17:53 Temporal vs. Spiritual Authority20:45 The Significance of the Pageant23:57 Concluding Thoughts on Dante's Vision29:18 The Role of the Church in Governance30:01 Wealth and Temptation: The Weight of Luxury32:13 Temporal Authority vs. Spiritual Purpose34:26 The Emergence of the Dragon: Schism and Violence36:05 The Transformation of the Chariot: Corruption and Power38:47 The Harlot and the Giant: The Church's Grotesque Reality42:37 Dante's Perspective on the Papacy and Authority49:35 The Need for a Temporal Leader55:41 The Prophetic Vision of the Future01:00:21 The Purifying Power of Temporal Authority01:04:21 The Role of the Tree in Justice01:06:47 Understanding the Moral and Anagogical Senses01:10:46 The Discord Between Heaven and Earth01:16:42 The Significance of the Two Rivers01:22:40 Baptism and the Renewal of the SoulGood work on reading the Purgatorio!We have a few episodes from THE ASCENT up next and then we are reading the Odyssey.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Michael West discuss the top of Mount Purgatory: The Earthly Paradise (Cantos 28-31). Check out our WRITTEN GUIDE to the Purgatorio.Check Ascend out on X, Facebook, Youtube, and More!They explore the serene, uncultivated garden where Dante encounters the mysterious Matilda picking flowers, the two rivers (Lethe, which erases the memory of sin, and Eunoe, which restores the memory of good deeds), and the elaborate apocalyptic procession featuring candelabras, elders, symbolic creatures, the griffin-drawn chariot of the Church, and dancers representing the theological and cardinal virtues. The discussion highlights Dante’s use of erotic imagery, classical allusions (Proserpina, Venus, Hero and Leander), and the communal themes running through the Commedia, while noting how Purgatorio depicts the gradual strengthening of the will through spiritual “exercise,” much like physical training.The conversation then turns to the dramatic appearance of Beatrice in Canto 30, her stern rebuke of Dante for pursuing “shadows of false goods” after her death, and the emotional departure of Virgil, whose guidance ends as Beatrice assumes the role of divine wisdom. They interpret Canto 31 as a sacramental confession scene in which Dante acknowledges his sins, experiences contrition while gazing at Beatrice’s eyes reflecting the dual-natured griffin (Christ), and is immersed in the River Lethe by Matilda. The hosts reflect on the limits of human reason and mentorship (Virgil), the incarnational role of beauty in leading the soul to God, the necessity of properly ordered eros, and the deeper Christian vision that Eden is not the final destination but a way station toward the beatific vision. The episode ends with anticipation for the conclusion of Purgatorio in the next installment.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ascend and the Great Books02:19 Exploring Dante's Purgatorio: Canto 28-3104:03 Scholarship and Themes in Dante06:52 The Role of Community in Dante's Works09:43 Personal Reflections on Purgatorio12:20 The Earthly Paradise and Its Significance14:48 Matilda: A Symbol of Beauty and Desire17:44 The Rivers of Lethe and Eunoë20:25 The Dichotomy of Memory in Dante's Vision33:04 The Nature of Confession and Memory34:32 Exploring Apocalyptic Imagery38:08 The Role of Virtues in Spiritual Life45:58 The Significance of the Procession52:43 The Transition from Virgil to Beatrice01:04:09 Virgil's Journey and Final Gift01:05:25 The Role of Mentorship and Growth01:07:24 The Pain of Separation from Mentors01:08:58 Understanding Virgil's Absence01:10:52 Beatrice's Introduction and New Guidance01:12:22 Beatrice's Sarcasm and Wisdom01:14:07 The Complexity of Virgil's Guidance01:15:11 The Nature of True Goodness01:17:04 The Pursuit of Apparent Goods01:19:47 Beatrice as an Icon of Divine Beauty01:21:41 The Role of Pity in Relationships01:25:56 The Sacrament of Confession01:27:43 The Importance of Tears and Remorse01:33:41 The Vision of the Griffin and ChristGood work reading the great books! Next week, we are joined by Joshua Charles and Dr. Frank Grabowski to end our journey!

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Fr. Patrick Biscoe, OP, discuss gluttony and lust in Dante's Purgatorio, Cantos 23-27.Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for more information.Check out our LIBRARY OF WRITTEN GUIDES for the great books.Check out the Dominicans, the Order of Preachers.Check out Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP, at Godsplaining Podcast.In this episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by Dominican friar Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP, currently serving in Rome as the Order’s General Promoter for Social Communication. The conversation opens with Fr. Patrick explaining Dominican life, the charism of preaching rooted in study and contemplation, the historical significance of Santa Sabina, and the Order’s ongoing vitality—especially through institutions like the Angelicum. The bulk of the episode then offers a close, theologically rich reading of the Purgatorio.The hosts explore how Dante structures these sins as forms of excessive or misdirected love, placing them high on the mountain because they are less grave than pride, envy, or wrath, yet still require deep purification. Key themes include the contrapasso of emaciated souls on the gluttony terrace, the “OMO DEI” face motif symbolizing refashioning in God’s image, the role of intercessory prayer (especially Nella’s for Forese Donati), the two instructive trees, medieval embryology and hylomorphism (how airy shades appear gaunt), and the wall of flame on the lust terrace.They highlight Dante’s nuanced treatment of lust—treating both heterosexual excess (Pasiphaë/bestiality) and sodomy as incontinence—while emphasizing the praise of chaste marriage and the enduring good of ordered eros. The episode closes powerfully with Virgil’s farewell in Canto 27, crowning Dante “lord of himself” once his will is aligned with the good, symbolizing true Christian freedom.Throughout, the discussion weaves literary analysis with practical spiritual application—especially apt for Lent—showing Purgatorio as a map for self-mastery, image perfection, and liberation from disordered desire. Fr. Patrick and Dcn. Garlick underscore Beatrice as an icon of divine beauty and grace, whose memory motivates Dante through the flames rather than being purged away. The episode ends with an invitation to reread the text, follow the Dominicans’ work, and prepare for the Earthly Paradise cantos in the next installment.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ascend and Dante's Purgatorio07:37 The Role of Communication in the Dominican Order13:24 Contrapasso and the Nature of Sin18:19 The Importance of Free Will in Purgatory24:03 The Interconnectedness of Souls29:49 Family Dynamics in the Afterlife35:59 Exploring Purgatory's Dynamics39:49 Consequences of Disordered Love43:43 Desires and Reason in Purgatory48:39 Understanding Gluttony and Vigilance52:13 Beatitudes and Spiritual Hunger57:07 Gradations of the Soul58:53 The Relationship Between Body and Soul01:02:02 The Finality of Body and Soul Reunion01:06:51 The Transition to Lust in Purgatory01:08:02 Contrasting Spirits on the Mountain01:08:30 Marian and Pagan Examples of Purity01:09:25 The Nature of Purification in Purgatory01:10:55 The Healing Power of Praise01:11:41 Understanding Sexuality and Love01:12:53 Dante's Quasi-Liturgical Procession01:14:02 The Psychology of Lust in Purgatory01:16:03 The Nature of Sin and Its Consequences01:17:48 The Unnaturalness of Lust01:19:33 The Direction of Souls in Purgatory01:20:55 The Role of Intercessory Prayer01:21:48 Dante's Final Challenge01:23:11 The Role of Beatrice in Dante's Journey01:25:38 Purification Through Love01:27:55 The Symbolism of Eyes and Intellect01:30:37 Virgil's Final Guidance to Dante01:34:13 The Aim of Lent and Self-MasteryFollowing us on X, Facebook, and More!

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Sarah Berry of the University of Dallas discuss Acedia, Avarice, and part of Gluttony in Cantos 18-22 of the Purgatorio.Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for more information!Check out our GUIDE to the Purgatorio!Dr. Sarah Berry joins Deacon Harrison Garlick to explore Cantos 18–22, covering the terrace of sloth (acedia) and the transition into avarice and prodigality. In Canto 18, Virgil delivers a pivotal discourse on love as the root of all human action, explaining that love can be misdirected (pride, envy, wrath), deficient (sloth), or excessive (avarice, gluttony, lust). Berry emphasizes the terrace’s brevity and lack of a formal prayer: “their prayers are their action... the penitents too... are doing the thing as a way of offering up some kind of prayer to God” (Dr. Sarah Berry), with running souls and examples of zeal (Mary’s haste to Elizabeth, Caesar’s swift march) countering sloth’s cooling of love. The dream of the siren in Canto 19 warns against deceptive earthly goods, while the face-down penance on the avarice terrace forces fixation on the earth once loved excessively: “these are those who had a disordered love of money... goods that can’t be shared” (Dr. Sarah Berry).Cantos 20–22 deepen the exploration of avarice’s societal and personal consequences. Hugh Capet’s lament in Canto 20 indicts the French dynasty’s greed and sacrilege, including the capture of Boniface VIII. Berry highlights the terrace’s broadened scope: “Dante is really broadening... our awareness of this constellation of problems” beyond mere hoarding or spending. In Canto 21, Statius is released with an earthquake and song, explaining his long purgation on sloth and avarice before moving freely upward. Canto 22 poignantly contrasts Statius (saved through Virgil’s influence and grace) with Virgil himself, who lacks faith despite his virtues. Berry notes the tragedy: “Dante is inviting us... hoping that there is some special providence for Virgil at the end of his journey through purgatory” (Dr. Sarah Berry). The cantos reveal Purgatorio’s hopeful, dynamic nature: purgation reorders love through grace, habituation, and contemplation, moving from deficient to excessive attachments, preparing the soul for divine union.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ascend and Dante's Purgatorio02:29 Exploring Dante's Purgatorio: Themes and Structure04:30 The Importance of Purgatorio in Spiritual Growth08:32 Understanding Love and Culpability in Purgatorio12:00 Diving into Canto 18: The Lesson on Love13:26 Virgil's Discourse on Love and Free Will17:40 The Nature of Love: Ascent and Culpability20:31 The Role of Reason in Human Actions26:01 The Formation of Intellect and Will33:12 Contrapasso: The Penance of Slothfulness40:19 Examples of Zeal: Mary and Caesar42:17 Understanding Zeal and Sloth47:04 The Subtlety of Sin and Human Effort52:31 Dreams and Allegory in Purgatory01:00:27 The Nature of Prayer and Action01:01:58 Exploring Avarice and Its Consequences01:20:15 Exploring Dante's Inferno: Sin and Intellect01:23:03 Wrath and Sloth: Roots of Sin in Purgatorio01:25:23 Positive Examples: Virtue Against Avarice01:29:30 Dante's Critique of French Dynasties01:35:56 The Role of Statius: A New Perspective01:50:30 Virgil's Tragic Journey: Hope for Salvation?KeywordsDante's Purgatorio, Sloth, Love, Virtue, Spiritual Growth, Theology, Literature, Dante, Purgatory, Christian Virtues Dante, Purgatorio, allegory, sin, virtue, divine justice, theology, Mount Purgatory, purgation, salvation