Ascend - The Great Books Podcast
Welcome to Ascend!
We are a weekly Great Books podcast hosted by Deacon Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan.
What are the Great Books?
The Great Books are the most impactful texts that have shaped Western civilization. They include ancients like Homer, Plato, St. Augustine, Dante, and St. Thomas Aquinas, and also moderns like Machiavelli, Locke, and Nietzsche. We will explore the Great Books with the light of the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Why should we read the Great Books?
Everyone is a disciple of someone. A person may have never read Locke or Nietzsche, but he or she thinks like them. Reading the Great Books allows us to reclaim our intellect and understand the origin of the ideas that shape our world. We enter a "great conversation" amongst the most learned, intelligent humans in history and benefit from their insights.
Is this for first-time readers?
YES. Our goal is to host meaningful conversations on the Great Books by working through the texts in chronological order in a slow, attentive manner. Our host Adam Minihan is a first-time reader of Homer. We will start shallow and go deep. All are invited to join.
Will any resources be available?
YES. We are providing a free 115 Question & Answer Guide to the Iliad written by Deacon Harrison Garlick in addition to our weekly conversations. It will be available on the website (launching next week).
Go pick up a copy of the Iliad!
We look forward to reading Homer with you in 2024.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 83 minutes
- Episodes
- 98
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
The Odyssey Book Six: The Princess and the Stranger
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan are joined by Eli Stone, formerly of the TU Great Books Honors College and now with Holy Family Classical School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to discuss BOOK SIX of the …
The Odyssey Book Five: Calypso's Island with Rewire the West
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan are joined by Evan Amato of Rewire the West to discuss Book Five of Odyssey: Odysseus escapes Calypso's Island.
Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for a written …
The Odyssey Book Four: The King & Queen of Sparta
This week Adam Minihan returns to discuss Book Four of the Odyssey with Father Bonaventure, OP - a Dominican Friar of the Province of St. Joseph.
The out our website for a 50+ page guide to the Odyss…
The Odyssey Book Three: King Nestor Remembers
Dcn. Harrison Garlick, Dr. Frank Grabowski, and Mr. Thomas Lackey discuss Book Three of the Odyssey: KING NESTOR REMEMBERS.
The lovable old man from the Iliad returns to help set Telemachus on his wa…
The Odyssey Book Two: Telemachus Sets Sail
Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Frank Grabowski, and Mr. Thomas Lackey come together to discuss Book Two of the Odyssey: Telemachus sets sail.
- Summary of the book
- Discussion on key themes
- Aristotle's Metaphysics
- John …
Fatherhood in the Odyssey with Jason Craig
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan are joined by Jason Craig of Sword and Spade magazine to discuss the theme of fatherhood in the Odyssey.
- The fatherhood of Odysseus
- The problem of fatherlessness…
The Odyssey Book One: Athena Inspires the Prince
WE ARE STARTING THE ODYSSEY! Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Frank Grabowski and Mr. Thomas Lackey to discuss Book One of the Odyssey.
Check out our website - thegreatbookspodcast.com - for a …
Intro to the Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen
Dcn. Harrison Garlick welcomes Dr. Patrick Deneen, Dr. Chad Pecknold, and Dr. Richard Meloche to introduce Homer's Odyssey.
Dr. Patrick Deneen is a Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame. He is…
After-Hours: The Story Between the Iliad and the Odyssey
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss the events BETWEEN the Iliad and the Odyssey.
There is a notable gap between the Iliad and the Odyssey. As the Odyssey picks up after the fall of Troy, …
Iliad: Book 24 | Achilles and Priam
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss the FINAL book of the Iliad: Book 24 - Achilles and Priam.
Check out our 65-page guide to the Iliad!
I have put to my lips the hands of the man who kille…
Iliad: Book 23 | The Funeral Games for Patroclus
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 23 of the Iliad: The Funeral Games.
Check out this section of our guide to the Iliad!
Sleeping, Achilles? You’ve forgotten me, my friend. You never …
Iliad: Book 22 | The Death of Hector
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 22 on the Death of Hector.
“There are no binding oaths between men and lions—wolves and lambs can enjoy no meeting of the minds—they are all bent o…
Iliad: Book 21 | Achilles Fights the River
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discussed BOOK 21 of the Iliad: Achilles Fights the River.
“Come friend, you too must die. Why moan about it so? […] Even for me, I tell you, death and strong fo…
Interview with the Chivalry Guild
Dcn. Harrison Garlick interviews George of the Chivalry Guild on topics such as CS Lewis, virtue, magnanimity, meekness, and the importance of strength and prowess.
Deacon and George will also discus…
Iliad: Book 20 | The Olympian Gods in Arms
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 20 of the Iliad: The Olympian Gods in Arms
- Summary of the narrative
- What is Aeneas special?
- Some details others often overlook
Check out our GUIDE TO T…
Iliad: Book 19 | The Champion Arms for Battle
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 19 of the Iliad: The Champion Arms for Battle!
Achilles prepares to enter the war!
- Summary of Book 19
- How does Odysseus try to broker peace?
- What shoul…
Iliad: Book 18 | The Shield of Achilles
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 18 of the Iliad: The Shield of Achilles.
Arguably the MOST philosophically dense book in the entire Iliad.
- Summary of the Narrative
- What lesson does…
Iliad: Book 17 | Menelaus’ Finest Hour
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 17 of the Iliad: Menelaus' Finest Hour.
- Summary of Book 17
- What is the "dark heart" of Hector?
- Can human agency affect fate?
- What about the horses of …
Iliad: Book 16 | Patroclus Fights and Dies
Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan discuss Book 16 of the Iliad: Patroclus Fights and Dies.
- Summary of Book 16
- What is the difference between Zeus and Fate?
- What is the relation of Fate to the free…
Eternal Christendom with Joshua Charles
Today we welcome Joshua Charles in the studio to talk about his new project Eternal Christendom, a preservation and revival of the Great Tradition for future generations.
In this episode we will disc…