Page Turners

The ACTC Podcast
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Welcome to Page Turners, a podcast from the Association of Core Texts and Courses (ACTC), where we explore the texts that have shaped ideas, cultures, and conversations throughout history. In each episode, we’ll host scholars from around the globe as we dive into the “what,” “how,” and “why” of reading and teaching Core Texts. coretexts.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Oct 8

    Annotations: The Odyssey Film

    We’re excited to introduce you to a new type of mini-episode for the podcast called Annotations. These annotations are mini episodes, where we do a short but deep dive on one specific Core text topic. In our first Page Turners Annotation, Annie DeVries, who runs our Substack, joins our host, Judie Levy, in talking about Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey. Do you have an idea for a short annotations episode? Maybe you have a unique deep-dive on one specific passage of a Core text, or you have an analytical take on a pop culture representation of a Core text. Email us at coretextspodcast@gmail.com to pitch us your idea! When pitching ideas, keep in mind that Annotations episodes are 15 to 20 minutes in length. Show Notes: (2:15) What Went Wrong Podcast: https://www.whatwentwrongpod.com/ (8:23) Judie’s colleague, Kate Marsden’s, take on the film and its connection to Core texts: https://oglethorpe.edu/post/drawing-comparisons-between-the-oglethorpe-core-and-the-hit-movie-the-odyssey/ Emily Wilson’s take on The Odyssey film: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v48/n14/emily-wilson/an-uncomplicated-man This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    Annotations: The Odyssey Film

  2. Sep 27

    Place in the Liberal Arts

    In this Page Turner’s episode, we host J. Scott Lee and Randall Fowler to talk about their co-edited volume, Place in the Liberal Arts: An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Text and Topos. J. Scott Lee is co-founder and the retired Executive Director of the Association for Core Texts and Courses. Randall Fowler is Assistant Professor of Political Rhetoric and Director of Undergraduate Research at Abilene Christian University. Their co-edited book is part of a series from the Routledge Studies in Rhetoric and Communication. Additional chapters in the book are written by Greg A Camp, John T Moist, Matthew Post, and Richard Rawls. Our conversation, and the book more broadly, dives deep into liaisons between ancient rhetoric and dialectic and our contemporary moment, highlighting the crucial way that Core texts can make interventions in higher education in our increasingly technological world. We had a few technical issues that made some of the first portion of our recording spotty, but please stick with us! Scott and Randall’s conversation was so valuable, we didn’t want to lose any of it, so please pardon the digital hiccups in roughly the first 15 minutes. Show Notes: Place in the Liberal Arts: An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Text and Topos: https://www.routledge.com/Place-in-the-Liberal-Arts-An-Interdisciplinary-Introduction-to-Text-and-Topos/Fowler-Lee/p/book/9781041249696 Randall Fowler, faculty page from Abilene Christian University: https://acu.edu/faculty/randall-fowler/ J. Scott Lee, Invention: The Art of Liberal Arts: https://respondeobooks.com/our-books/invention-by-j-scott-lee/ Additional notes: Antón Barba-Kay, A Web of Our Own Making: The Nature of Digital Formation (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2023), https://www-cambridge-org.ezproxy.samford.edu/core/books/web-of-our-own-making/92F7F830EBEC409F05A526E64DDD1D9D “AI wrote this editorial, and it argues that human journalists should keep their jobs,” Seattle Times, Sept. 22, 2023, https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/ai-wrote-this-editorial-and-it-argues-that-human-journalists-should-keep-their-jobs/ Greg Camp’s Scriptural Works Podcast: https://scripturalworks.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    Place in the Liberal Arts

  3. Jul 30

    Alexis de Tocqueville

    In this episode, our guest Christine Dunn Henderson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Singapore Management University, discusses Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Christine is interviewed by Charlotte Thomas, the executive director of ACTC and Professor of Philosophy at Mercer University. As long-time colleagues and friends, their conversation makes the discussion of de Tocqueville fun, lighthearted (although we do hit on some difficult topics), and accessible to audiences who have never read the book. You’ll hear why de Tocqueville remains relevant across the globe, and you’ll also hear some fantastic details about how the Liberty Fund bilingual edition of the book was translated. Listen all the way through to our pop quiz segment for a pre-movie-release discussion of The Odyssey! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    Alexis de Tocqueville

  4. Jul 10

    Michel de Montaigne

    In this episode, we host three guests: John Coleman (Ave Maria University), Chris Edelman (University of the Incarnate Word), and Neil Robertson (University of King's College). These scholars will talk about religiosity across a number of texts by the sixteenth-century French thinker, Michel de Montaigne. Each of our guests will give an abbreviated version of their talks from the 2025 ACTC annual conference, followed by a conversation with all three guests. Part of what we love at ACTC is the ability to debate on a topic in a lighthearted way that fully engages with the difficult questions embedded within core texts—and that’s precisely what you’ll hear in this episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    Michel de Montaigne

  5. Jun 1

    ACTC 2026 Annual Conference

    ACTC’s 2026 annual conference theme was We Hold These Truths: Liberty, Equality, and Core Texts. It was held March 19 through 21 and hosted by Arizona State University’s (ASU) School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. In this episode, we host a number of conference speakers to give an overview of their presentations as a means of showcasing the diverse topics across the conference. Since ACTC presentations happen in seminar-style panels with shorter presentations and longer conversations thereafter, we also hear from presenters on the intriguing discussions that emerged in their panels. We will also learn a bit more about some of ACTC’s partners and sponsors who helped make the conference possible, while also doing fantastic work in liberal arts and civic education. Speakers in this episode include Molly McGrath (Assumption University and ACTC President), Mary Elizabeth Halper (Hertog Foundation and St. John’s College), Chris Snyder (Mississippi State), Creighton Rosental (Mercer University and Managing Director of ACTC Liberal Arts Institute), Carol McNamara (Great Hearts Institute), Tom Cleveland (Jack Miller Center), Franklyn Wu (Dharma Realm Buddhist University), Veronica Bryant (American Council of Trustees and Alumni), Jay Lutz (Oglethorpe University), and Tuan Hoang (Pepperdine University). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    ACTC 2026 Annual Conference

  6. Mar 20

    Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

    Episode 2 of the podcast is on the value of teaching the writings of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, with special guests Bretton Rodriguez and Antony Lyon of University of California, San Diego’s Revelle College. Although the conversation is about her work broadly speaking, the episode dives a bit deeper into her response to the letter from Sor Filotea. We also have Franklyn Wu of Dharma Realm Buddhist University on the episode, to give an announcement about DRBU’s partnership with ACTC for a study abroad program in Taipei. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

  7. Feb 1

    "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

    Episode one of the podcast is on James Baldwin's short story, "Sonny's Blues," with special guests Michele Rozga and Page Laws. Michele will give a short talk on the story, followed by a Q&A session with her and Page. Before their talk, you'll also hear more about the podcast and our Substack, along with a special student segment outlining what undergraduate students are reading lately in their core courses. We wrap up with the podcast with our "Pop Quiz" segment, where you can hear Page and Michele answer a few impromptu questions about their favorite books and speakers. Theme Song: TaigaSoundProd. "New Academic Year." Adobe Stock. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

  8. Season 1 Trailer

    Page Turners Trailer

    Welcome to Page Turners, a podcast from the Association of Core Texts and Courses (ACTC), where we explore the texts that have shaped ideas, cultures, and conversations throughout history.  In each episode, we’ll host scholars from around the globe as we dive into the “what,” “how,” and “why” of reading and teaching Core Texts. Listen to our trailer and stay tuned for new episodes, coming soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coretexts.substack.com

    Page Turners Trailer
  • 1 Trailer
    7 Episodes

Trailer

About

Welcome to Page Turners, a podcast from the Association of Core Texts and Courses (ACTC), where we explore the texts that have shaped ideas, cultures, and conversations throughout history. In each episode, we’ll host scholars from around the globe as we dive into the “what,” “how,” and “why” of reading and teaching Core Texts. coretexts.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The ACTC Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Association of Core Texts and Courses (ACTC)
  • Show Website
    Page Turners

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