Magnus Podcast: Conversations from the Catacombs of Liberal Education

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 MD. Find out how he now runs a thriving school that focuses on the good and the beautiful and a leadership consulting firm that gives organizations the leadership skills to perform exceptionally.    https://www.thefrassaticompany.com https://divinemercy.md

“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 Fellowship; enjoy this excerpt from Helen Freeh’s course comparing the views of the early and late romantic poets William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley.  You can catch the rest of this symposium, and all other course recordings,  by donating just $25/ month. https://magnusinstitute.org/give/

"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/academics/honors-college/   Dr. Joseph Wysocki is Dean of the Honors College at Belmont Abbey College where he has also served as Assistant Academic Dean, and Chair and Associate Professor of the Politics Department since 2010. He is interested in all of the great books in the Honors College curriculum but has a particular focus on classical political philosophy and American political thought, especially the thought of Alexis de Tocqueville. Dr. Wysocki received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Belmont Abbey College and his M.A. and Ph.D in Political Science at Baylor University. He serves on the Council of Scholars for the American Academy for Liberal Education and CLT’s Board of Academic Advisors. He lives in Gastonia, NC with his wife Jeanne and his six children.

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 instilling virtue while demonstrating how can find peace in the ordinary and live a sacramental life.   Find Brian on Twitter @b_fink Find Brian on Substack @ bfink.substack.com

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 from the classroom, to head of school, to Superintendent. He is known for being a passionate advocate for various classical charter organizations, lending his assistance and expertise to all. With an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and a master’s in the Liberal Arts. Oscar is well-versed in classical themes bringing his knowledge into every new endeavor. Originally from Honduras, Oscar’s vocation has always been creating access to classical education to diverse and disadvantaged populations believing that the true, the good, and the beautiful paves the way for all to lead flourishing lives.   To join courses live and become a Fellow today, visit MagnusInstitute.org .

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, Annapolis, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Politics from the Institute of Philosophic Studies at the University of Dallas. At Wyoming Catholic, his teaching focuses on courses in the great works of literature, history, rhetoric, and political philosophy. He is currently teaching a course on Democracy in America in the Magnus Fellowship. To join courses live and become a Fellow today, visit MagnusInstitute.org .

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/Press

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 liberating the liberal arts and ransoming the captive of a broken college system.

Peek in on the Fellowship at its best as Magnus Fellows engage Aristotle with the pedagogic wonder, Dr. David Arias. Want to view the whole course? Fellows giving at least $25 / month receive unlimited access to all course video recordings. Plus, you support the noble cause of liberal learning. MagnusInstitute.org.

No really! Just go read Plato's Symposium. And enjoy this labor inducing discussion led by AMI Senior Fellow, Dr. Matthew Walz. You can become a Fellow today, and be a part of these life-changing courses. MagnusInstitute.org