In this engaging conversation, Roger Penrose, a British mathematical physicist and Nobel Laureate, discusses the intriguing nature of consciousness and its computational limits. He explores Gödel's theorem and its implications for understanding consciousness beyond mere algorithms. The dialogue touches on the interplay between mathematics and art, illustrated through M.C. Escher's works. Penrose also examines how intuition and pattern recognition influence human creativity and the complex relationship between consciousness, quantum mechanics, and the universe's origins.

Stephen Blackwood, a Canadian-American professor and social commentator, discusses the book 'The Consolation of Boethius' and its role in Medieval Western world. They explore the themes of detachment, self-possession, and the search for spiritual good. They also discuss the power of patterned language, the role of repetition and rituals in shaping understanding, and the significance of finding meaning through patterns.

In this complementary episode to the reading of ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich,’ Stephen Blackwood speaks with Dr Donna Orwin, professor of Russian literature at the University of Toronto. Dr Orwin provides context for Tolstoy and his world, and the two discuss the style, structure, and unfolding layers of meaning within this masterpiece novella.

Philosopher and president of Ralston College, Stephen Blackwood, discusses the failings of modern architecture, the West's spiritual crisis post-World War II, and the veneration of subversion for subversion's sake. Topics include human preferences in architecture, traditional vs. contemporary architecture, the impact of subversion on society, and navigating societal norms in modern civilization.

A conversation with Dr Stephen Blackwood about Solzhenitsyn, our cultural inflection point, higher education, and the hunger of the young for meaning. Dr Stephen Blackwood is the president of Ralston College, a new university being founded in Savannah, Georgia. Ralston College is committed to an educational vision that enables students to lead lives of self-knowledge, freedom, and substance.