Podcast
Ascend - The Great Books Podcast
Hosted by Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan · EN
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.
91episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Plato's Hipparchus with Dr. Frank Grabowski
Yesterday01:11:01Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick and Dr. Grabowski discuss a short, strange, and somewhat forgotten Platonic dialogue - The Hipparchus.Check out our 15 Q&A Written Guide to the Hipparchus - great for small groups, homeschooling, autodidacts, and more!What begins as a simple question—“What is the love of gain?”—quickly becomes a sharp and unsettling examination of the democratic soul. With no dramatic setting and a nameless interlocutor, the dialogue feels almost like overhearing Socrates in the marketplace, pressing an ordinary Athenian citizen on whether the desire for more is always shameful, or whether the soul might rightly love higher forms of gain: nobility, honor, and even wisdom itself.What makes the conversation especially rewarding is how Socrates deliberately chooses a shocking example—the tyrant Hipparchus—and reimagines him as a lover of wisdom who sought to educate the city. In doing so, the dialogue quietly draws a parallel between the supposed tyrant and Socrates himself, both of whom attract the youth, challenge conventional order, and are ultimately rejected by a democratic culture that cannot tolerate excellence. Along the way, listeners encounter an early sketch of the tripartite soul, a critique of the leveling effects of egalitarianism, and an aporetic ending that leaves the interlocutor “compelled rather than persuaded.” Brief, strange, and surprisingly profound, this episode is an excellent preparation for the Republic and a compelling invitation to reconsider what the soul truly seeks.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Plato's Hipparchus and its significance01:54 Main themes: Love of gain, democracy, and wisdom04:03 The character of Socrates and the setting of the dialogue06:03 Hipparchus as a figure in political myth and history07:58 Translation choices and interpretive approaches10:00 The dialogue's structure and lack of dramatic setting11:56 The definition of love of gain and greed13:54 Socrates' critique of the love of worthless things16:06 Hipparchus as a symbol of love of wisdom and fame18:04 The political implications of Hipparchus' love of wisdom20:00 The role of the democratic man and the love of gain21:49 Socrates' pedagogical method and the nature of knowledge23:52 The significance of the tyrant example and Hipparchus' myth26:04 The character of the interlocutor and the setting of the dialogue28:03 The introduction of Hipparchus and its layers of meaning30:10 The political myth of Hipparchus and its revisionist history32:00 Hipparchus' love of wisdom and the Herms34:08 The allegory of knowledge and the tripartite soul35:53 The love of gain as a love of wisdom and truth38:08 The democratic man, shame, and the pursuit of philosophy40:00 The role of philosophers in democratic society42:01 The character of Socrates as a gadfly and teacher43:48 The process of being compelled towards truth45:54 Bloom's interpretation: Socrates as a political and epistemological figure48:00 The significance of the short dialogues for understanding Socrates50:12 The importance of humility and piety in reading Plato51:57 Next week's discussion: Rival Lovers and the nature of wisdomKey words: Plato Hipparchus, love of gain, philokerdia, Socratic dialogue, political philosophy, Alan Bloom, Thomas Pangle, Roots of Political Philosophy, democratic man, egalitarianism, leveling effect, tripartite soul, thumos, nous, appetitive soul, tyrant Hipparchus, Herms, Socrates as gadfly, aporetic dialogue, compulsion versus persuasion, preparation for Plato’s Republic, philosopher-king, Great Books podcast, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, Frank Grabowski, classical education, ancient philosophy, Plato short dialogues, forgotten Platonic dialogues.
SummaryRediscovering Holy Eros
1w ago01:29:17Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Garlick invites you into a rich, methodical exploration of eros: the primal desire to satiate in beauty and be happy. What if the restlessness in your soul—the endless craving for more beauty, more fulfillment, more rest—is not a curse but a divine gift?Reclaiming Holy Eros https://www.theascent.io/p/reclaiming-holy-erosWomen as Icons of God, Beauty-itself https://www.theascent.io/p/the-beauty-of-woman-as-an-icon-ofPorn as a Poor Expression of Eros https://www.theascent.io/p/the-poor-erotics-of-porn Far from the pornographic or puritan distortions that dominate modern thinking, this ancient concept runs like a golden thread through Homer, Hesiod, Plato’s Symposium, the Old and New Testaments, the Church Fathers, Dante, and even Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est. Deacon shows how eros is the very question of the human condition—an upward call that moves the soul from lesser beauties to greater ones until it finds rest in Beauty itself.Drawing on his own spiritual labors, the host walks listeners through Plato’s ladder of love, the marital imagery of God’s covenant with Israel, the Song of Songs, Christ’s union with the Church, and the harmony between erotic ascent and the self-giving love of agape. Along the way he recovers a lost grammar of desire that is both natural and supernaturally elevated by grace—one that produces virtue, fecundity, and genuine theosis. The result is not abstract theory but a living path: a latticework upon which your own understanding of restlessness, happiness, and the call to become more Christlike can grow.Whether you have wrestled with the restlessness of the heart, wondered how pagan wisdom and Christian revelation speak to one another, or simply want a deeper vision of love that orders the soul toward God, this conversation offers something rare: a beautiful, coherent tradition that answers the deepest questions of what it means to be human. Listen, and begin the ascent.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Eros and its significance in Christian spirituality01:54 Eros in Homer, Hesiod, and the primordial cosmos07:12 Plato's Symposium and the ladder of love15:07 Eros in the Old Testament: Marriage and divine love20:00 Eros in the New Testament: Christ and the Church30:06 Eros and the ascent to divine beauty40:11 Eros, virtue, and happiness in Christian thought50:02 Eros and grace: the divine ascent and participation in God01:00:10 The harmony of eros and agape in Christian life01:10:08 Practical implications: loving God and neighbor through eros01:20:01 Conclusion: recovering holy eros as the heart of human and divine loveKeywordsHoly Eros, Christian eros, Plato Symposium ladder of love, divine beauty, eros and agape, Deus Caritas Est Pope Benedict XVI, Song of Songs, marital imagery God and Israel, Christ bridegroom Church bride, Ephesians 5, St Augustine restless heart, Gregory of Nyssa, bridal mysticism, Bernard of Clairvaux, John of the Cross, Diotima, ascent to God, theosis, pagan and Christian erotics, Homer Hesiod Aristotle eros, natural and supernatural love, virtue and beauty, Ascend Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, reclaiming holy eros, spiritual ascent, rest in God.
SummaryA Cantankerous Review of the Odyssey Movie
1w ago00:46:48Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick delivers an unapologetically curmudgeonly critique of Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey.Check out our LIBRARY on the great books. https://www.patreon.com/cw/greatbooks/collections23 Raw Thoughts on the New Odyssey Movie https://www.patreon.com/greatbooks/posts/23-quick-on-164190324SEE OUR SCHEDULE BELOW!Fresh off a twelve-week deep dive into Homer’s epic with thousands of listeners, Deacon argues that the movie is no mere adaptation but a modern ideological rewriting that flattens Homer’s rich characters, mutes the divine, and replaces sacred myth with progressive lessons about shame, war, race, and power.From Odysseus reduced to a guilt-racked figure who “defies the gods,” to the deliberate recasting and reframing of Helen, Menelaus, Circe, Athena, and even guest-friendship itself, Deacon contends that Nolan’s version marries cultural illiteracy with calculated compromise—and that both the film and the culture’s eager defense of it reveal far more about us than about Homer.Yet this is more than a film review. Deacon uses the movie as a lens to examine how stories shape a civilization’s soul, why myths matter more than mere fiction, and why Christians and lovers of the Western tradition must resist the slow leftward drift of endless compromise.SCHEDULEJuly 28, 2026 - Holy Eros: An exploration of eros in Plato, the Bible, and Christian thoughtAugust 4, 2026 - Plato's HipparchusAugust 11, 2026 - Plato's LoversAugust 18, 2026 - Plato's Hippias MinorAugust 25, 2026 - Plato's IonSeptember 1, 2026 - Enduring Chill by Flannery O’ConnorSeptember 8, 2026 - Red Shadows by Robert E. HowardSeptember 15, 2026 - Chivalry by Neil GaimanCHAPTERS (Updated)00:00 — Intro: why this review matters01:00 — Piety toward Homer and the problem with the film03:05 — Why the movie is not a “conservative Trojan horse”05:05 — The danger of relativism and compromise07:10 — Myth vs. fiction: why adaptation matters10:10 — Odysseus as a shame-filled hero12:50 — Menelaus, Helen, and the film’s cultural messaging15:30 — How Nolan flattens characters and tension18:05 — Penelope and the loss of the rooted-bed scene21:10 — Casting, modern language, and suspension of disbelief23:55 — Calypso and the removal of Odysseus’s moral triumph26:25 — Athena as shame and post-traumatic projection29:55 — Nolan’s treatment of the Trojan War32:55 — The Lystragonians and armor/costume criticism35:05 — The cult of Nolan vs. the cult of Homer37:00 — Gods, superstition, and the muted divine39:15 — The slaughter of the suitors41:10 — Guest-friendship, Xenia, and Christian themes43:00 — Circe, the deer, and the soul of the crew44:55 — Pacing, emotional investment, and the bardKEYWORDSChristopher Nolan Odyssey movie review, Homer Odyssey film adaptation critique, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, cultural illiteracy in modern cinema, myth versus fiction in storytelling, Odysseus shame and guilt, Nolan casting controversies Helen Menelaus, Circe Athena Penelope Telemachus character changes, xenia guest friendship Golden Rule, Trojan War regret in film, Defy the Gods tagline analysis, classical education and Great Books, piety toward Homer, liberalism compromise in culture, upcoming Plato Republic study, Holy Eros episode, short Platonic dialogues Hipparchus Lovers Hippias Minor Ion, Short Story September Flannery O’Connor Robert E. Howard Neil Gaiman Melville, and Western civilization sacred myths.
SummaryNEW BOOK: The American Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen
2w ago00:59:24Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick hosts Dr. Patrick Deneen to discuss his NEW BOOK: The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.Pick up the AMERICAN ODYSSEY out today!https://a.co/d/01rpYuwt23 Observations on the new Christopher Nolan Odyssey Moviehttps://www.patreon.com/greatbooks/posts/23-quick-on-164190324In this special episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick welcomes back renowned Notre Dame political thinker Dr. Patrick Deneen—author of Why Liberalism Failed and Regime Change—to celebrate the release of his brand-new book, The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.Fresh off a 12-week deep dive into Homer’s epic, the conversation reveals why Odysseus is the ultimate “proto-American” hero: a restless seeker torn between the hunger for home and the irresistible call of the frontier. Deneen traces this tension from the ancient text through Dante’s damning portrayal of Odysseus as a villain of forbidden knowledge, to the Renaissance reinvention of him as the triumphant explorer who metaphorically discovers America itself.What makes this episode unmissable is how Deneen unlocks Aristotle’s radical claim that humans are political animals precisely because we are neither beasts nor gods, the “citylessness” that turns Ithaca into a Cyclopean free-for-all, and the startling parallels between Odysseus’ refusal of immortality and Huck Finn’s decision to “go to hell.” Pairing iconic American stories like The Wizard of Oz, Field of Dreams, and Huckleberry Finn with Homer’s timeless episodes, Deneen shows that the Western tradition isn’t locked in dusty classics—it’s alive in our movies, novels, and national character, especially as America marks its 250th anniversary. Dive in and discover how an ancient tale of departure and return still maps the divided soul of a nation that can’t stop exploring… or longing for home.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Dr. Patrick Deneen and the Book01:54 Deneen's Return to Homer and the Odyssey03:59 Odysseus as a Proto-American Figure06:59 The Tension Between Flourishing and Discontent12:07 Odysseus and the Pioneering Spirit of America19:02 The Shift in Odysseus' Image from Medieval to Renaissance27:01 Odysseus as a Figure of Forbidden Knowledge34:08 The Connection Between Odysseus and Columbus40:02 The Polis and Citylessness in Homer and Aristotle48:07 The Return of the Polis and the Homecoming56:06 Huckleberry Finn as an Odyssean American Hero59:45 The Western Tradition in Popular CultureKey words: Ascend Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, Dr Patrick Deneen, The American Odyssey book, Homer Odyssey, Odysseus proto-American hero, Why Liberalism Failed, Regime Change, Western tradition, Aristotle Politics, man political animal, apolis citylessness, Dante Inferno Odysseus villain, Renaissance explorers, Columbus Amerigo Vespucci, American character, pioneering spirit, frontier homecoming, Calypso immortality, Huckleberry Finn, Field of Dreams, Wizard of Oz, 250th anniversary Declaration of Independence, Notre Dame political science, Homeric studies, great books podcast, Platonic dialogues, American soul, divided souls, political theory, classical literature, Americana, Odyssey episodes.
SummaryThe Odyssey Books 23-24 with Dr. Justin Jackson and Dr. Benedict Whalen
3w ago02:24:33Summary readyToday, we end our 12-week study of the Odyssey with a discussion on Books 23-24 with Dr. Justin Jackson and Dr. Benedict Whalen of Hillsdale College alongside host, Dcn. Harrison Garlick.There is yelling, laughter, cursing, and general chaos--but more of Homer's truth is unearthed in the process.Check out our ONLINE LIBRARY for resources on the great books.Check out Dr. Justin Jackson's Substack working through the Bible.Check out Dr. Justin Whalen at Hillsdale College.The long-awaited homecoming unfolds with Odysseus and Penelope's emotional reunion, the famous test of the immovable olive-tree bed, and the climactic confrontation with the suitors' vengeful families. The conversation crackles with insight as the guests unpack Penelope's cunning, Odysseus' complex character, parallels to Achilles and Heracles, and the poem's meditation on fidelity, mortality, justice, and the costs of homecoming.Dr. Jackson brings contrarian fire—challenging heroic ideals, celebrating the domestic, and wrestling openly with whether Odysseus' reckoning is justice or raw revenge—while Dr. Whalen offers sharp textual observations on themes of rootedness, temptation, and the poem's unresolved tensions.Expect yelling, laughter, heartfelt disagreement, and the kind of raw intellectual energy that makes great books come alive.Whether you’ve followed the whole series or are just dipping in, this capstone will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the Odyssey. Stick around after the discussion for a look ahead at Plato’s Republic and more. If you love the Great Books, this is unmissable.Chapters00:00 - Introduction: Finishing the Odyssey Journey04:46 - Host Welcome & Episode Setup06:27 - Guest Introductions: Dr. Justin Jackson & Dr. Benedict Whalen07:04 - Dr. Jackson’s New Book on Reading Literature16:28 - Diving into Book 23: Penelope Learns Odysseus Has Returned21:07 - Penelope’s Skepticism & the Secret Signs25:05 - The Great Rooted Bed Test & Recognition Scene36:36 - Odysseus & Penelope Reunion, Emotional Moments47:05 - The Final Labor & Comparison to Heracles59:11 - Temptations: Calypso, Nausicaa & Penelope1:11:32 - Transition to Book 24: Laertes & the Avenging Families1:15:26 - Achilles & Agamemnon in the Underworld1:35:02 - Reunion with Laertes & Proof Scenes1:49:10 - Dolius, the Final Battle & Deus Ex Machina Ending2:11:04 - Reflections on Justice, Revenge & the Poem’s Message2:16:50 - Closing Thoughts & Upcoming EpisodesKeywordsOdyssey Books 23 and 24, Homer's Odyssey finale, Odysseus Penelope reunion, rooted bed test, immovable olive tree bed, suitors slaughter, Ithaca homecoming, Penelope cunning, Odysseus homecoming, Great Books podcast, Ascend podcast, Hillsdale College professors, Dr. Justin Jackson, Dr. Benedict Whalen, Homer teacher philosopher, Telemachus maturation, Achilles Agamemnon underworld, Laertes reunion, Poseidon penitential journey, justice vs revenge Odyssey, classical literature podcast, Western canon Odyssey analysis, father son reunion Odyssey, Penelope faithfulness, heroic fate comparison, Plato Republic preview.
SummaryThe Odyssey Book 22 with Dr. Alex Priou
4w ago01:33:45Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick welcomes Dr. Alex Priou to discuss Book 22 of the Odyssey, the Slaughter of the Suitors.Check out our LIBRARY of written guides to the Great Books.Check out Dr. Priou's new Substack: The Close Read.What happens in Book 22?Odysseus stands at the threshold of his home, cries out to Apollo, and lets loose an arrow straight through the neck of Antinous (22.15). Chaos erupts in the hall as bread and meats are soaked in a swirl of bloody filth (22.21). Eurymachus attempts to broker a truce with Odysseus, but it is rejected (22.57); he then calls the suitors to arms and is slaughtered (22.73). Telemachus brings armor and weapons to his father, the swineherd, and the cowherd (22.121), but the goatherd sneaks weapons to the suitors (22.151).On his second run, the cowherd and swineherd intercept the goatherd, tie him up, and hang him from the rafters (22.196). Athena first arrives in the guise of Mentor (22.217) and then perches like a sparrow on the rafters, assisting Odysseus with her man-destroying shield of thunder (22.250). The suitors fall into panicked madness as Odysseus and his men wheel into the slaughter, slashing left and right, with grisly screams breaking from cracked skulls and the floor awash with blood (22.311).Odysseus spares the bard and the herald but shows no mercy to the prophet (22.327). The slaughter complete, Eurycleia summons the disloyal female servants, who help carry out the corpses and clean the gore (22.458–471). Telemachus oversees the disloyal women being slowly hanged in the courtyard—a pitiful, ghastly death (22.487)—while the goatherd is retrieved and mutilated to death by the swineherd and cowherd (22.500). Odysseus purifies his home with fire and brimstone (22.518), and the book ends with the loyal maidservants surrounding their king as he breaks down and weeps (22.528).Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast04:40 Exploring the Odyssey: Book 22 Overview06:58 The Role of the Gods in the Odyssey09:55 Justice and Revenge in the Slaughter of the Suitors12:54 Imagery of Food and Gore in Homer14:49 The Cyclops Narrative and Guest Friendship18:51 Antinous: The First Death and Its Implications22:36 The Role of Recognition in Justice25:05 Eurimachus and the Plea for Mercy29:18 Piety and the Restoration of Order32:53 The Political Landscape of Ithaca33:48 Purging and the New Order in Ithaca34:18 The Balance of Power and Leadership Lessons35:24 Pedagogical Journeys: Odysseus and His Men37:39 Divine Endorsement and the Purging of the Unworthy39:35 Odysseus's Transformation: From Arrogance to Understanding41:36 The Role of Recognition in Identity43:08 The Consequences of Identity and Wisdom46:29 The Tragedy of Odysseus and Penelope48:42 Telemachus's Growth and Inexperience53:12 Divine Justice and the Nature of the Fight58:11 The Role of Prophecy and Piety in Justice01:05:23 The Nature of Piety and Accountability01:06:59 Eros and the Path to Ascent01:09:52 Self-Reflection and the Nature of Desire01:13:10 Justice and the Fate of the Maidservants01:23:36 The Consequences of Disloyalty01:30:37 Recognition and Political RuleDiscussion:Dr. Priou and Dcn. Garlick examine the justice of the slaughter, noting that while Antinous dies without recognizing Odysseus, the goatherd Melanthius suffers one of the most gruesome tortures in Homer—strung up and mutilated in language echoing the barbaric king Echetus. They discuss the hanging of the disloyal maidservants, Telemachus’s role in their execution, and why such violence may be necessary to purge disloyalty and restore order. Key themes include the restoration of piety, the shift from a decayed oligarchic rule by the suitors to a new natural aristocracy involving loyal servants, Odysseus’ pedagogical journey, and the tension between recognition, glory, and the establishment of a stable political regime supported by fear of the gods.Overall, the episode portrays Homer as a profound teacher on the ugly necessities of justice and political founding.The speakers reflect on how the book repudiates certain Iliadic values like vaunting over the slain, emphasizes cleansing and purification, and sets the stage for the final books. Dr. Priou highlights Odysseus’s cunning, the limits of rhetoric, and the need to curtail eros for civilized life, while both Dr. Priou and Dcn. Garlick encourage listeners to confront uncomfortable questions about revenge, mercy, and the role of divine and human violence in re-founding a polity.Next week our 12-week study of the Odyssey ends with Books 23-24!
SummaryThe Odyssey Books 20-21 with Thomas Lackey and Dr. Grabowski
Jun 3001:25:28Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are discussing Books 20 & 21 with Mr. Thomas Lackey and Dr. Frank Grabowski. NEW ARTICLE: Why Should Christians Read Homer?Check out our COLLECTION OF WRITTEN GUIDES.In this episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and guests Dr. Frank Grabowski and Thomas Lackey dive into Books 20 and 21 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the stage is set for the long-awaited slaughter of the suitors. The portents multiply: Theoclymenus’s terrifying vision of the palace drenched in blood and gore, Athena’s divine orchestration, and Penelope’s masterful test with Odysseus’s legendary bow. Amid feasts for Apollo, disloyal servants, and growing frenzy, Odysseus the beggar masters his patience while Telemachus comes fully into his own—echoing the father-son reunion and the maturation arc that began in Book 2.The conversation has rich insights on Homeric anthropology, the thumos (spirited), xenia’s sacred bonds, ritual symbolism, and the limits of repentance under divine justice. Listeners will relish the similes, prophecies ignored at peril, subtle Christological resonances, and the masterful dramatic pause Homer builds before the violence erupts in Book 22. Whether you’re tracking Odysseus’s cunning, Telemachus’s growth, or the poem’s deeper moral and theological layers, this episode delivers fresh appreciation for why the Odyssey endures. Don’t miss it—especially with Dr. Patrick Deneen joining soon to connect the epic to our own age. Subscribe, grab the written guide, and join the journey on Patreon, YouTube, or thegreatbookspodcast.com.Keywords: Odyssey Book 20 summary, Odyssey Book 21 analysis, Homer Odyssey Books 20 and 21, Penelope bow test, Odysseus bow contest, Theoclymenus prophecy vision, slaughter of the suitors setup, Odysseus beggar disguise, Telemachus maturation, xenia guest friendship Odyssey, divine justice in Homer, Homeric thumos anthropology, Apollo feast day Odyssey, Greek classics podcast, Great Books discussion Odyssey, Odysseus revenge portents, Penelope cunning test, Homer similes Book 20, ritual symbolism Odyssey, Christological parallels Odyssey, Ascend Great Books Podcast.
SummaryThe Odyssey Books 17-19 with Dr. Frank Grabowski
Jun 2301:26:09Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski dive into Books 17–19 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the disguised king returns to Ithaca as a beggar.Check out our WRITTEN Q&A GUIDE TO THE ODYSSEY.Check out Dr. Grabowski's new Substack: The Porch and the Altar.The conversation explores iconic moments like Odysseus’s heartbreaking reunion with his loyal dog Argos, the tense first dialogue with Penelope that raises fascinating questions about what she truly knows or suspects, and the escalating violations of xenia by the suitors. Listeners will appreciate the rich analysis of loyalty as the ultimate standard, Odysseus’s hard-won maturation in temperance and piety, and striking contrasts between faithful servants like Eumaeus and disloyal figures like Melanthius.Homer emerges here as both poet and philosopher, using these scenes to probe justice, the nature of heroism, the city at peace, and the interplay of fate and human choice.With Athena guiding events and the tension building toward the suitors’ doom, Deacon and Dr. Grabowski illuminate how Odysseus’ trials have prepared him not just for revenge, but for restoring order.Whether you’re new to the epic or a longtime reader, this episode offers fresh insights that make the ancient story feel urgently relevant. Don’t miss it—subscribe and join the community as the Odyssey study continues toward its dramatic climax!Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey Study04:30 The Role of Penelope and Theoclymenus07:14 Contrasting Characters: Eumaeus and Melanthius10:28 Odysseus' Growth and Maturation13:11 The Loyalty of Argos16:26 The Test of Guest Friendship19:10 The Fate of the Suitors22:22 The Beggar Fight and Its Implications24:43 Odysseus' Reflection on His Journey27:21 The Irony of Antinous30:45 Penelope's Anticipation and the Build-Up to Reunion33:28 Odysseus' Moral Self-Awareness36:37 Conclusion and Themes of Justice42:10 The Philosopher Beggar and the Blindness of the Suitors44:49 The Nature of Law and Lawlessness47:33 Penelope's Cleverness and the Suitors' Downfall52:09 Telemachus' Growth and the Stability of Society57:19 The Reunion of Odysseus and Penelope01:01:40 The Test of Loyalty and the Nature of Guest Friendship01:06:23 The Subtlety of Odysseus and Penelope's Intuition01:12:19 The Significance of Names and Identity01:19:33 The Tension of Recognition and the Test of the SuitorsKeywords: Odyssey Books 17-19, Homer Odyssey summary, Odysseus as beggar, reunion with Argos, Penelope and Odysseus dialogue, what Penelope knows, xenia guest friendship, loyalty in the Odyssey, Argos the dog, Melanthius goat herder, Eumaeus swineherd, Theoclymenus prophecy, suitors fate, Odysseus maturation, temperance and piety, Homer philosopher, city at peace, Athena disguise, beggar fight Book 18, bow of Odysseus, scar of Odysseus, Great Books Podcast, Ascend podcast Odyssey, Frank Grabowski Homer, classical education Odyssey, Western literature analysis.
SummaryThe Odyssey Books 15-16 with Jack Drury and Dr. Grabowski
Jun 1601:23:49Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by returning mentor Dr. Frank Grabowski—Third Order Franciscan, diaconate candidate, and Dean of Faculty at Holy Family Classical School—and Latin teacher Jack Drury for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 15 and 16.Check out all our resources on the great books!Check out Dr. Grabowski's new Substack on the great books.The conversation explores Telemachus’s maturation and homecoming, the poignant father-son reunion in the swineherd’s hut, and the deepening bonds of loyalty with Eumaeus. Listeners will enjoy thoughtful reflections on xenia (guest-friendship), Theoclymenus the mysterious prophet, Helen’s prophetic insight, Menelaus’s gracious hospitality, and the growing threat of the suitors, all while tracking themes of thumos, divine guidance, and the slow unfolding of justice.With warmth, humor, and insight, the trio unpacks Homer’s masterful storytelling—why Telemachus must become a threat, the nobility of the “lowly” swineherd, and the beautiful (and bittersweet) dynamics of recognition and reunion. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast09:15 Telemachus' Journey: A Coming of Age Story15:25 Menelaus: The Gracious Host22:57 The Arrival of Theoclymenus: A Mysterious Prophet30:36 Odysseus and Eumaeus: Testing Loyalty31:05 The Swineherd's Loyalty and Laertes' Mystery32:41 Odysseus' Questions and Eumaeus' Story34:41 The Tragic Tale of Eumaeus38:36 Social Status vs. Moral Character41:47 The Unique Island and Divine Justice43:43 Guest Friendship and Telemachus' Choices46:25 The Reunion of Father and Son50:29 Telemachus and Odysseus: A Complex Relationship55:27 Testing Nobility and Virtue01:00:25 Divine Disguises and Recognition01:04:59 The Standard of Belief01:11:37 The Plan Against the Suitors01:18:58 The Nature of Justice and RetributionWhether you’re reading the Odyssey for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, this episode illuminates how these ancient books continue to form souls and speak to fatherhood, virtue, and the return to order. Perfect listening for anyone journeying through the Great Books—don’t miss it!
SummaryThe Odyssey Books 13-14 with Dr. Alex Petkas and Dr. Grabowski
Jun 901:27:37Summary readyToday on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Frank Grabowski and Dr. Alex Petkas (host of the Cost of Glory) for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 13 and 14. Check out all our resources on the great books!Check out the Cost of Glory!Check our the Porch and Altar, Dr. Grabowski's Substack.Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca—sleeping peacefully through the voyage as the Phaeacians carry him ashore—only to awaken uncertain and disguised by Athena as a beggar. The conversation explores his strategic plotting with the goddess, the symbolic Cave of the Nymphs (including a fascinating Neoplatonic reading from Porphyry), the poignant encounter with the loyal swineherd Eumaeus, and Odysseus’s layered “lies” that reveal deep truths about his character. The guests delve into themes of homecoming, the restoration of patriarchal order, xenia (guest-friendship), internal moral growth, and the slowing narrative pace as Homer shifts focus from external adventures to the subtle work of reclaiming one’s house.This episode offers fresh, layered insights perfect for both first-time readers and Odyssey veterans, blending literary analysis, philosophy, and practical wisdom on loyalty, cunning, and self-mastery. Whether you’re drawn to the theological depth of the cave, the psychological realism of Odysseus’ deceptions, or the timeless lessons on rebuilding order amid chaos, Dcn. Garlick, Dr. Grabowski, and Dr. Petkas make these often-overlooked books come alive with warmth, humor, and profound appreciation. Tune in for an engaging, accessible conversation that will deepen your love for Homer and leave you eager for the next leg of the journey.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey and Guests08:38 The Slow Pace of the Odyssey13:15 Themes of Homecoming and Restoration18:07 The Significance of Sleep and Rebirth23:22 Divine Intervention and the Phaeacians28:24 Odysseus' Identity and the Role of Athena36:26 The Art of Deception: Odysseus and Athena's Intrigue37:19 The Mist of Disguise: Odysseus' Identity Crisis39:46 Inner Odyssey: The Journey of Self-Discovery42:34 The Goddess of Trickery: Athena's Role in Odysseus' Return44:39 The Cave of the Nymphs: Symbolism and Allegory51:03 Depositing Treasures: Spiritual Growth and Cooperation with the Divine59:13 The Loyal Swineherd: Eumaeus and the Theme of Hospitality01:02:39 The Encounter with the Dogs01:03:44 Loyalty and the Commoner's Perspective01:05:11 The Swineherd's Knowledge and Loyalty01:06:16 Odysseus's Tests and Coalition Building01:07:59 Reflections on War and Leadership01:11:35 Odysseus's Crafty Storytelling01:14:58 The Nature of Lies and Truth01:18:12 Piety and Character in the Odyssey01:22:06 The Art of Storytelling and Requests01:25:20 Final Thoughts and Future EncountersBe sure to check out our website for more resources on the great books!
Summary