The Sower

The Ciceronian Society
  • 4.5 (6)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated Weekly

The Sower is a Podcast of the Ciceronian Society. The Ciceronian Society exists to equip and encourage Christian scholars to serve the church as a center of cultural and civic renewal. Through our events, publications, and podcasts we provide the space and opportunities that Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox scholars need for professional growth and intellectual discipleship. Since 2012, we have been building a network of friends with a love for our core themes - tradition, place, and ‘things divine’ - and with a genuine commitment to the church and the life of the mind. To learn more about our society, our conferences, and the peer-reviewed journal, Pietas, visit https://ciceroniansociety.org/

  1. EPISODE 89 - Wilfred McClay: Dreaming of Ariadne (2026 Conference Panel)

    16m ago

    EPISODE 89 - Wilfred McClay: Dreaming of Ariadne (2026 Conference Panel)

    Hillsdale College historian Wilfred McClay discusses: the Sorcerer's Apprentice, allusion, Ariadne, Peter Lawler, Walker Percy, Ted McAllister, Blake, Burke, Chesterton, Emerson, Jaroslav Pelikan, tradition, heritage, Dana Gioia's poem "Planting a Sequoia," Mary Austin, WH Auden, Tocqueville, The Golden Thread, and the nightmarish possibility of an AI Thomas Jefferson. Poem: https://danagioia.com/planting-a-sequoia/ Keynote address from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 13, 2026. Introduction by Claire Aguda-Baker, presentation by Wilfred McClay, question & answer period. 0:00 Claire Aguda-Baker introduces Wilfred McClay 7:44 Wilfred McClay, Dreaming of Ariadne: Thoughts on Cultural Restoration 53:54 How can we teach allusion to college students? 1:05:27 Orality is hard for us 1:10:25 History as Legend vs Fact To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other podcast, Cicero On Duties, publishing weekly throughout 2026: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3 Chapters (00:00:00) - Claire Aguda-Baker introduces Wilfred McClay(00:07:44) - Wilfred McClay, Dreaming of Ariadne: Thoughts on Cultural Restoration(00:53:54) - How can we teach allusion to college students?(01:05:27) - Orality is hard for us(01:10:25) - History as Legend vs Fact

    1h 17m
  2. EPISODE 88 - Born Free and Equal: The Declaration of Independence & State Constitutions

    Jun 7

    EPISODE 88 - Born Free and Equal: The Declaration of Independence & State Constitutions

    The widely circulated first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights was a key influence on the Declaration of Independence. Chris Anadale interviews law professor Nathaniel Fouch about the influence of the Declaration of Independence on state constitutions, the authority of America's founding principles, different responses to Jefferson's egalitarian rhetoric, and more. Nathaniel Fouch is Assistant Professor of Law at Capital University School of Law in Columbus Ohio, where he teaches Criminal Law and Torts and studies state constitutional law, legal history, jurisprudence, appellate law, and religious liberty and conscience rights. He earned his Juris Doctor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He was also a Nisbet Fellow at our society's March 2026 conference in Omaha, where he presented a paper titled "The Relationship Between the Declaration of Independence and State Constitutions." Christopher Anadale is podcast editor for the Ciceronian Society, and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. ====== 0:00 Introduction to The Sower Episode 88 1:24 Summary of the Declaration of Independence's Influence on State Constitutions 10:44 Why the Declaration's Authority is Still Relevant in 2026 15:55 PAUL DEHART FAN CLUB CHECK IN 19:22 George Mason's First Draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights 24:37 Three Responses to Jefferson's Claim in the Declaration 31:47 Two Tools for Learning More About State Constitutions 38:35 What Parents and Teachers Can Do Now Avalon: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/ State Constitutions: https://stateconstitutiontool.org/ ====== The 2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI Proposals due June 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/fa26cfp/ 2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13 Proposals due Sept 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/call-for-conference-papers/ To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other podcast, Cicero On Duties, publishing weekly throughout 2026: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3 Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction to The Sower Episode 88(00:01:24) - Summary of the Declaration of Independence's Influence on State Constitutions(00:10:44) - Why the Declaration's Authority is Still Relevant in 2026(00:15:55) - PAUL DEHART FAN CLUB CHECK IN(00:19:22) - George Mason's First Draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights(00:24:37) - Three Responses to Jefferson's Claim in the Declaration(00:31:47) - Two Tools for Learning More About State Constitutions(00:38:35) - What Parents and Teachers Can Do Now

    42 min
  3. EPISODE 87 - Introducing the Logres Institute

    May 31

    EPISODE 87 - Introducing the Logres Institute

    A content focused certificate program for classical school teachers & other adults. Josh Bowman and Josh Herring discuss the Ciceronian Society’s most ambitious project to date: The Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies, which will be directed by Dr. Herring. The Logres Institute aims to provide the education you wish you had received. Designed with the busy professional in mind, our certification programs deliver the content knowledge needed to teach in the classical classroom. Efficient, affordable, and tailor-made for the classical classroom, each certification program instills the basic structure upon which you can continue to build your comprehension of the classical liberal arts. Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies https://www.logresinstitute.org/ ====== 0:00 Introduction the The Sower Episode 87 3:48 Overview of the Logres Institute 9:11 Importance of Learning in Community 16:55 What a Typical Logres Institute Course Looks Like 25:25 Price of a Logres Institute Course 31:43 What Does "Logres" Mean? 35:58 Christian Character of the Logres Institute 46:27 Logres Institute Courses 53:45 Our Vision for the Logres Institute ====== The 2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI Proposals due June 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/fa26cfp/ 2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13 Proposals due Sept 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/call-for-conference-papers/ To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3 Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction the The Sower Episode 87(00:03:48) - Overview of the Logres Institute(00:09:11) - Importance of Learning in Community(00:16:55) - What a Typical Logres Institute Course Looks Like(00:25:25) - Price of a Logres Institute Course(00:31:43) - What Does "Logres" Mean?(00:35:58) - Christian Character of the Logres Institute(00:46:27) - Logres Institute Courses(00:53:45) - Our Vision for the Logres Institute

    58 min
  4. EPISODE 86 - The Herbert J. Storing Prize (2026 Conference Panel)

    May 24

    EPISODE 86 - The Herbert J. Storing Prize (2026 Conference Panel)

    We honor Jane Calvert for her book Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson. Plenary panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 12, 2026. Featuring speakers Joshua Bowman, Michael Maibach, James Patterson, and Jane Calvert. Book: https://www.amazon.com/Penman-Founding-Biography-John-Dickinson/dp/0197541690 Joshua Bowman, Introduction Michael Maibach, About Prof. Storing James Patterson, Prize Award Jane Calvert & James Patterson, Conversation Question & Answer 0:00 Episode 86 Introduction 2:18 Welcome to Omaha! (Bowman) 14:17 About Professor Herbert Storing (Maibach) 20:03 The 2026 Herbert J. Storing Prize Award (Patterson) 23:47 Interview with Jane Calvert about John Dickinson 1:09:39 Audience Questions about John Dickinson To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other podcast, Cicero On Duties, publishing weekly throughout 2026: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3 Chapters (00:00:00) - Episode 86 Introduction(00:02:18) - Welcome to Omaha! (Bowman)(00:14:17) - About Professor Herbert Storing (Maibach)(00:20:03) - The 2026 Herbert J. Storing Prize Award (Patterson)(00:23:47) - Interview with Jane Calvert about John Dickinson(01:09:39) - Audience Questions about John Dickinson

    1h 20m
  5. EPISODE 85 - Local Flourishing & Formation with Christian Halls International

    May 17

    EPISODE 85 - Local Flourishing & Formation with Christian Halls International

    Working to make it normative to stay in your local place for higher education. Josh Bowman interviews Dr. Nick Ellis, Founder and CEO of Christian Halls International (CHI), which is “reimagining collegiate education through local learning communities that form virtuous people who contribute to flourishing places.” We revisit the unique model (unique at least in America) of CHI and how this quickly-growing network of educators and tutors is transforming the way we think about education and flourishing in our local communities. To learn more about this exciting example of educational entrepreneurship, visit https://christianhalls.org/ Dr. Nicholas Ellis of Christian Halls International at TPUSA Faith's The Believers Summit - https://youtu.be/e2gHWgX3-jw?si=yFLIvHN_JWjvmY9v 0:00 What Christian Halls Is 10:22 Subsidiarity and Sphere Sovereignty 18:41 What Local Flourishing Means 34:29 Humanities Education in Local Context 40:50 Remedial Education & the Two Guilds 48:49 Distinctive Multigenerational Formation 58:34 How to Get Involved with Christian Halls International ====== The 2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI Proposals due June 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/fa26cfp/ 2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13 Proposals due Sept 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/call-for-conference-papers/ To learn more about us, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Chapters (00:00:00) - What Christian Halls Is(00:10:22) - Subsidiarity and Sphere Sovereignty(00:18:41) - What Local Flourishing Means(00:34:29) - Humanities Education in Local Context(00:40:50) - Remedial Education & the Two Guilds(00:48:49) - Distinctive Multigenerational Formation(00:58:34) - How to Get Involved with Christian Halls International

    1h 6m
  6. EPISODE 84 - CS Lewis on the Gender Question, with Josh Herring

    May 10

    EPISODE 84 - CS Lewis on the Gender Question, with Josh Herring

    Josh Bowman interviews Dr. Josh Herring on his new book, Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve: C.S. Lewis's Images of Gender. We discuss Lewis’s fiction and non-fiction, and how the great Christian apologist, scholar, and author gives us ways to think through masculinity and femininity.  Josh Herring is the Curriculum Program Manager for the Rafiki Foundation and Director of the Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies. To purchase the book, visit our friends at the Davenant Institute: https://davenantinstitute.org/sons-of-adam-daughters-of-eve Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies: https://www.logresinstitute.org/ Rafiki Foundation: https://rafikifoundation.org/ 0:00 Upcoming Ciceronian Society Events & Projects 3:02 Why Write About the Radioactive Topic of CS Lewis on Gender? 6:20 What Does it Mean to Grow Up into a Man or Woman? 10:46 Overcoming Opposition from the Lewis Estate 15:45 Why Listen to CS Lewis on Femininity? 22:33 Why Gender Theory is So Dangerous 30:45 CS Lewis's Essay "Priestesses in the Church" 36:15 CS Lewis's Use of Spencer & Faerie Queen 46:26 CS Lewis's Use of Milton & Paradise Lost 49:32 Positive & Negative Masculinity & Femininity 1:01:45 Other Images of Masculine & Feminine in Literature 1:09:59 4 Books (for Christians) on Images of Gender in Literature ====== The 2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI Proposals due June 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/fa26cfp/ 2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13 Proposals due Sept 1, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/call-for-conference-papers/ To learn more about us, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

    1h 17m
  7. EPISODE 83 - Humanomics (2026 Conference Panel)

    May 3

    EPISODE 83 - Humanomics (2026 Conference Panel)

    How do we humanize economics? Are formal & final causes necessary for economics? Plenary panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 12, 2026. Featuring presentations by Michael Thomas, Steven Miller, Paul Mueller, and Diana Thomas. Panel sponsored by the Menard Family Center for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University, https://www.creighton.edu/menard-center-for-economic-inquiry Michael Thomas, Introduction Steven Miller, Catholic Social Teaching and Comparative Economic Systems: On Free Enterprise and the Common Good Paul Mueller, Philosophical Versus Technical Economies Diana Thomas, Dignity Relies on Providence Michael Thomas, Closing Remarks, Humanomics: Is it a Complement or Substitute? 0:00 Episode Intro 1:16 Michael Thomas, Panel Intro 6:47 Steven Miller 23:36 Paul Mueller 39:23 Diana Thomas 53:39 Michael Thomas, Closing Remarks 1:03:58 Q & A To learn more about us, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other podcast, Cicero On Duties, publishing weekly throughout 2026: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3 Chapters (00:00:00) - Episode Intro(00:01:16) - Michael Thomas, Panel Intro(00:06:47) - Steven Miller(00:23:36) - Paul Mueller(00:39:23) - Diana Thomas(00:53:39) - Michael Thomas, Closing Remarks(01:03:58) - Q & A

    1h 27m
  8. EPISODE 82 - Pittsboro NC, with Madeleine Austin & Matthew Young

    Apr 26

    EPISODE 82 - Pittsboro NC, with Madeleine Austin & Matthew Young

    Chris Anadale interviews Madeleine Austin and Matthew Young about the value of place and their home of Pittsboro, North Carolina. Madeleine Austin lives in Pittsboro, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. When Madeleine is not playing her banjo, she works as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. She also received the Ciceronian Society's 2025 Batchelder Award for the Study of Place, for which she was interviewed on Episode 60 of The Sower. Matthew Young lives on a small farm in Chatham County, North Carolina, with his wife Camille and their four children. He is an assistant professor of political theory at Elon University, where he teaches courses spanning the history of political thought and constitutional law. His writing focuses on the difficulties of toleration and civil discourse. His book manuscript draws on seventeenth century sources to show that toleration is dependent on hope. He holds degrees in political science from Berea College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Christopher Anadale is podcast editor for the Ciceronian Society and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. His runs a philosophy YouTube channel. Mentioned in this Episode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsboro,_North_Carolina To learn more about us, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/ Check out our other podcast, Cicero On Duties, publishing weekly throughout 2026: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

    48 min
See All (95)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Sower is a Podcast of the Ciceronian Society. The Ciceronian Society exists to equip and encourage Christian scholars to serve the church as a center of cultural and civic renewal. Through our events, publications, and podcasts we provide the space and opportunities that Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox scholars need for professional growth and intellectual discipleship. Since 2012, we have been building a network of friends with a love for our core themes - tradition, place, and ‘things divine’ - and with a genuine commitment to the church and the life of the mind. To learn more about our society, our conferences, and the peer-reviewed journal, Pietas, visit https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Information

  • Creator
    The Ciceronian Society
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Ciceronian Society
  • Show Website
    The Sower

You Might Also Like