Western Canon Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jordan Hill
The Western Canon is a monthly podcast dedicated to examining the timeless stories, ideas, and thinkers of the Western literary tradition. Working chronologically through "the great conversation of history," each episode focuses on a distinct canonical work, set of works, or intellectual period. Featuring lively summary, literary analysis, philosophical discussion, and guest commentary, the show also tackles social and political issues related to Western civilization, the modern university, free speech, well-being, and much more. Educate your mind and feed your soul by tuning in with Jordan Alexander Hill, Gina Santiago, and special guests on the 1st of every month!
Dr. Arthur Herman, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and NYT Bestselling author, joins the show to discuss his new book The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered The World.
Dr. Herman is the author of nine books, including the NYT Best Seller How the Scots Invented the Modern World, the Pulitzer Prize Finalist Gandhi and Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age, Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II (which the Economist named one of its Best Books of 2012), To Rule the Waves, Douglas MacArthur: American Warrior, and 1917: Lenin, Wilson, and the Birth of the New World Disorder.
Dr. Herman is a frequent contributor to Commentary, Mosaic, National Review, the New York Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He was the first non-British citizen to be named to the Scottish Arts Council from 2007 to 2009. Herman is also a senior fellow and director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative at Hudson Institute. His research programs analyze defense, energy, and technology issues. He received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in history and classics.
Dr. David Azerrad joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss the American spirit and way of life, the conservative movement and the GOP, the future of liberalism, "woke capital," Trump, and how conservatives can fight back against soft tyranny. Finally, David shares what he feels are the most important works of political philosophy that all young people need to read.
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Dr. David Azerrad is an Assistant Professor and Research Fellow at Hillsdale College’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington, D.C. His research and writing focuses on classical liberalism, conservative political thought and identity politics. Prior to joining Hillsdale, Azerrad was the Director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics at The Heritage Foundation. He has taught previously at American University and the University of Dallas. A native of Montreal, Azerrad received his B.A. from Concordia University, his M.A. from Carleton University and his Ph.D. in politics from the University of Dallas.
He writes regularly for The Claremont Review of Books, The American Mind, The American Conservative, The Heritage Foundation, National Affairs, The Federalist, The Daily Signal, The Epoch Times, The American Compass, Real Clear Politics, The Washington Times, National Review Online and The London Times, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and other outlets.
**In episode #14, Sohrab Ahmari joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss his new book The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos. We discuss the state of Western culture, how to live a meaningful life, how to avoid becoming a soulless elite, the classical vs. enlightenment understanding of freedom, big tech, and how to reach young people in an age of cynicism and lies.
Visit www.westerncanonpodcast.com for more! All episodes can be accessed via iTunes, Stitcher, Pandora, GooglePlay, and download. Thanks for listening.**
Sohrab Ahmari is an Iranian-American columnist, editor, and author of nonfiction books. He is currently the op-ed editor of the New York Post, a contributing editor of The Catholic Herald, and a columnist for First Things Magazine. He is the author of The New Philistines (2016), From Fire, by Water (2019), and The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos (2021).
To purchase Sohrab's book, visit the following link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unbroken-thread-sohrab-ahmari/1137251188
In this episode, we discuss the trial and death of Socrates, the Socratic method, and other topics by exploring Plato's early dialogues, the Euthyphro, the Apology, and the Crito. We also look at the major differences between Plato and Aristotle, with a special focus on how these two thinkers rest at the center of the Western literary canon.
Author and philosopher Don Watkins joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss the morality of capitalism, the founding philosophy, the liberty movement in America, and why Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead is a great book.----------------------------------------------------------
Don Watkins is an Objectivist and was a fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute from 2006 to 2017. He later worked for the Center for Industrial Progress and the Heartland Institute. His many books include Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand's Ideas Can End Big Government (Macmillan, 2012); Equal Is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality (St. Martins Press, 2016); and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance (Ayn Rand Institute, 2017). Watkins has contributed to Forbes, The Guardian, USA Today, Fox News, CNBC, The Christian Science Monitor, NPR, The Washington Times, and other media outlets.
In early 2014, Watkins launched the 'End the Debt Draft' campaign, promoting his goal of ending government welfare in order to end government debt, which he sees as imposing on young Americans an unearned and immoral obligation in a similar way to the military draft. His book, RooseveltCare: How Social Security is Sabotaging the Land of Self-Reliance, was published in June 2014.
Visit www.westerncanonpodcast.com for more episodes, interview, and resources!
Was Aristotle an objectivist? Was Ayn Rand Aristotelian? Professor Gregory Salmieri joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss Aristotle's philosophy, with a special focus on how it relates to objectivist thought. My guest discusses teleology, virtue ethics, whether it is possible to be both an Aristotelian and a romantic, and how different political camps have misunderstood Aristotle's thought. Dr. Salmieri also responds to my last guest, the renowned classicist Edith Hall, who claimed that there is a direct line from Aristotle to Marx. Where does objectivism depart from Aristotle's philosophy? Are the two philosophies compatible?
Episode #11: What is Western Civilization? (ft. James Kierstead)File Size: 120592 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Classicist James Kierstead joins the program to discuss his definition of Western Civilization. In recent times, the idea that there is even such a thing as "Western Civilization" has come under fire. These deconstructionists claim that the term itself is slippery and that any attempt to speak about or teach Western Civilization as a discipline is misguided. In this episode, J [...]
The Romantic Roots of the Sexual Revolution (ft. Carl Trueman)File Size: 62528 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Carl Trueman joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss his new book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution (Crossway). --------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Carl R. Trueman (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is professor of philosophy and religious studies at Grove City [...]
Aristotle on Happiness, Justice, and Politics (ft. Edith Hall)File Size: 65054 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Classicist Edith Hall joins the Western Canon Podcast again to discuss her book Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life. In the conversation, we discuss Aristotle's approach to happiness and the good life, his theory of justice, and his political philosophy, as well as his take on topics like inequality. ------------------------------------------ [...]
Berkeley, Locke, Hume, Kant - Modern Philosophers Series (Episodes 1-5)File Size: 171950 kbFile Type: mp3Download File This episode combines lectures 1-5 in my Modern Philosophers Series. These lectures come from a course I teach called Philosophy 101. This episode examines the post-Cartesian philosophical idealism of Irish philosopher George "Bishop" Berkeley (1685-1753), the epistemology and empiricism of the English philosopher John Locke (1632-1704), the empiricist theorie [...]
In episode #6 of the Liberty Lounge, we take an in-depth look at how libertarian ideas have influenced science fiction literature. We explore the history of libertarian science fiction, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to the Golden Age of the pulps, up through the New Wave and the Golden Age Redux of the 1980s. Why have so many science fiction authors identified as libertarian? Is the connection necessary or contingent? What do Ronald Reagan and Robert A. Heinlein have in common? Tune into [...]
Liberty Lounge #5: Jonah Goldberg on the Future of Conservatism and the populist Right.mp3File Size: 116953 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In episode #5 of the Liberty Lounge, Jonah Goldberg joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss the future of conservatism and the GOP, with an in-depth look at the New Right. We discuss Patrick Deneen, populism, liberalism, John Locke, Federalism, and many other exciting topics. Thanks for listening, and remember to subscribe to our Youtube channel [...]
Liberty Lounge #4: "Thomas Jefferson, Federalism, and the U.S. Constitution"File Size: 89954 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In episode #4 of the Liberty Lounge, Dr. Kevin Gutzman joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss his book Thomas Jefferson, Revolutionary: A Radical’s Struggle to Remake America, as well as his book James Madison and the Making of America. Along the way, he discusses the philosophy of the founders, constitutional originalism, the dangers of the current admini [...]
Episode #10: "The Miracle of the West"File Size: 237790 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In episode #10 of The Western Canon Podcast, Jordan presents an in-depth review and exploration of Jonah Goldberg's new book The Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Nationalism, Populism, and Identity Politics Is Destroying American Democracy. Using Goldberg's book, listeners are treated to an examination of the values and ideals that underpin the West and make possible the prosperity and flou [...]
Interview: "Tom Woods on Natural Rights, Property, Social Contracts, Libertarianism, and the Constitution"File Size: 152370 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Thomas E. Woods--historian, political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and host of The Tom Woods Show--joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss several topics, including his background, his thoughts on the Libertarian Party, the Lockean theory of natural rights, the U.S. founders, Robert Nozick, Social Contract Theory [...]
Mark Bauerlein on the Crisis of Higher Ed, the Decline of the Humanities, and Jordan PetersonFile Size: 106147 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Mark Bauerlein joins the Western Canon Podcast to discuss the current crisis facing higher education and the decline of the humanities, which has been brought about by the rising cost of college, the growth of university administration, the decline of a high intellectual culture, the rise of identity politics, and hyper political correctness. In th [...]
Liberty Lounge #2: "Natural Rights, Locke, and The Political Theory of the American Founding"File Size: 124693 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In this second episode of the Liberty Lounge, we continue to explore the philosophical and political theories of the American founding fathers as we work our way through Thomas G. West's book The Political Theory of the American Founding. Jordan uses West's book as a jumping off point to explore John Locke's theory of natural rights, with the aim o [...]
Interview: "Faith Moore on Saving Cinderella: What Feminists Get Wrong About Disney Princesses and How to Set it RIght"File Size: 106290 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Writer and former educator Faith Moore joins The Western Canon Podcast to discuss her new book Saving Cinderella: What Feminists Get Wrong About Disney Princesses And How To Set It Right. In this interview, Faith describes a shift that has taken place in popular culture, as a small but very vocal minority of radical femini [...]
Interview: Hillsdale's Nathan Schlueter on Plato's RepublicFile Size: 85781 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Dr. Nathan Schlueter, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hillsdale College, joins The Western Canon Podcast to discuss the great ideas of Plato's Republic. Dr. Schlueter also explains why the Republic continues to be so relevant and why Western civilization needs Plato today. Visit www.westerncanonpodcast.com to listen to our catalogue of episodes, access resources, and view in [...]
Episode #9: Plato's Republic, Pt. I (ft. Nathan Schlueter)File Size: 148411 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Plato’s Republic (380 BC) is easily Plato's best-known work, and has proven to be one of the most influential works in the Western canon. The Republic is a Socratic dialogue that focuses on questions of justice: What would a just city-state look like? How should a just man behave? But this monumental work also touches on broad variety of other themes l [...]
Liberty Lounge #1: The Political Theory of the American FoundingFile Size: 83131 kbFile Type: mp3Download File The Liberty Lounge is a new segment (of The Western Canon podcast) dedicated to reviewing great books that focus on the principles of liberty and freedom. We kick off this first Liberty Lounge segment by reviewing a fantastic book by Thomas G. West called The Political Theory of the American Founding. This episode is the first of a three-part series that will go in-depth with W [...]
Episode #8: Philosophy and TragedyFile Size: 253232 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In Episode #8 of The Western Canon Podcast, Gina Santiago, our Western Canon correspondent, stops by to talk about the philosophy of tragedy, specifically what Plato and Aristotle had to say about the subject. Later in the show, Jordan speaks with bestselling author and Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Institute, Yaron Brook, who joins the show to discuss many topics, including Ayn Rand’s philosoph [...]
Interview: Plato and Aristotle on Tragedy (w/ Gina Santiago)File Size: 82500 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]
"Guide to Great Books Colleges" (Pt. 1)File Size: 94948 kbFile Type: mp3Download File This is the first installment of the “Guide to Great Books Colleges,” a new segment produced by The Western Canon Podcast. The “Guide to Great Books Colleges” is a practical resource for students and parents to the colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer students an education rooted in the Western literary and philosophical tradition. In this segment, host Jordan Alexan [...]
Episode #7: Jason and the Golden Fleece & Euripides' MedeaFile Size: 197356 kbFile Type: mp3Download File One of the most powerful and enduring of Greek tragedies, the Medea centers on the myth of Jason, leader of the Argonauts, who has won the dragon-guarded treasure of the Golden Fleece with the help of the sorceress Medea. Having married Medea and fathered her two children, Jason abandons her for a more favorable match, never suspecting the brutal and horrific revenge she w [...]
Interview: Euripides, the Medea, and The Art of Translation.mp3File Size: 119057 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In this interview, Dr. Diane Arnson Svarlien discusses her love of the classics, her work as a translator, Greek Tragedy, the playwright Euripides, and the Medea. Dr. Arnson Svarlien is a verse translator and classicist who lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Her translations of poets like Sappho, Semonides, Theocritus, Catullus, Horace, and Ovid have appeared in numerous journa [...]
Episode 6: "Euripides & The Music of Ancient Greek Tragedy"File Size: 171820 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Who was Euripides? And how should we think about his legacy in contrast with the other two major 5th century Greek tragedians, Aeschylus and Sophocles? In episode #6, Oxford Classicist Spencer Klavan joins the program to discuss Euripides, City Dionysia, and the music of ancient Greek tragedy. In this interview, Spencer, whose work focuses on the relationship between word [...]
Interview: Edith Hall on Athenian tragedy, City Dionysia, and why ancient Greek civilization was specialFile Size: 98491 kbFile Type: mp3Download File British classicist and best-selling author Edith Hall joins episode 5 of The Western Canon Podcast to discuss 5th century Athenian tragedy, City Dionysia, her approach to scholarship, her "small m" Marxist approach to history, as well as her book, Introducing the Ancient Greeks. [...]
Episode 5: "Greek Tragedy & Aeschylus"File Size: 208115 kbFile Type: mp3Download File In episode #5, listeners get a brief introduction to Greek Tragedy and a lengthy summary and analysis of The Oresteia, by Aeschylus. British Classicist and best-selling author Edith Hall joins Jordan on the program to discuss ancient Athenian drama, 5th century Athens, City Dionysia, as well as her book Introducing the Ancient Greeks. We also take a look at a famous 20th century adaptation of The Orest [...]
Episode 4: "Homer's Odyssey" (Part 2)File Size: 188796 kbFile Type: mp3Download File Homer's Odyssey is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, the famous warrior and cunning hero who must defeat monsters and resist exotic temptations, as he makes his long journey from Troy to his homeland of Ithaca. In episode 4, we take a look at the Odyssey's influence on art and culture--especially on literature and film. We also take an in-depth look at themes such as&nbs [...]
Stephen Hicks on Postmodernism, Modernism, and the project of Western Civilization.mp3File Size: 117488 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]
In episode #3 of the Western Canon Podcast, Jordan takes listeners on a journey through the wine-dark seas of Homer's epic, the Odyssey--as the Greek hero Odysseus fights monsters, fends off temptresses, and struggles desperately to return to his homeland of Ithaca. With help from the goddess Athena, Odysseus battles his way through shipwreck and storm, the cave of a Cyclops, the deadly songs of the Sirens, the isle of the witch-goddess Circe, the gloomy underworld, and the vengeful wrath of the sea-god Poseidon, in order to return to his steadfast wife and faithful son. The Odyssey is not only a hero's journey, but a complex meditation on relationships--between fathers and sons, husbands and wives, as well as rulers and subjects. In this episode, Jordan is joined by New Yorker writer and bestselling author Daniel Mendelsohn (57:20), as well as philosopher and author of the book Explaining Postmodernism, Stephen Hicks (2:09:22).
After almost 3,000 years, the Iliad remains not only among the greatest adventure stories ever told, but also one of the most compelling meditations on the human condition ever written. In this episode, we discuss the story, themes, and historical context of Homer's Iliad. Jordan is joined by Oxford classicist Spencer Klavan (20:20) to discuss glory and honor, Homer's centrality to the Western canon, "the Homeric Question," diction and translation, and homosexuality in ancient Greek life. Gina Santiago stops by (1:18:15) to speak about free will and agency in Homeric epic. Also, Emory professor and author Mark Bauerlein (2:01:57) joins the show to talk about the current state of the humanities and literary criticism, moral relativism, Christianity, as well as his book, The Dumbest Generation. Additional topics include manliness and Homer's influence on the poet John Keats, among others.
In the age of identity politics, of social media and distraction, of instant gratification, of Trump--why engage with the classics of Western civilization? Why read Homer, Aristotle, Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and the many other writers who make up what critic Harold Bloom calls "The Western Canon"? What makes an author’s work canonical? Who decides what works merit inclusion in this canon? And finally, assuming that we can agree, at least to some extent, on a core selection of books, how should we read this literature? What values and standards do we apply as we grapple with the great stories and ideas that underpin the foundations of the West? In this episode, we approach an answer to these questions, while also discussing the current state of the Humanities.