The TAC Podcast

Thomas Aquinas College

Welcome to the official podcast of Thomas Aquinas College. Each week, senior members of the teaching faculty open a window into the intellectual life of the College through conversations rooted in the Great Books and the pursuit of first principles. Together, they explore the foundational questions that have shaped Western civilization. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the podcast invites listeners into the same kind of thoughtful, rigorous dialogue that defines the classroom experience. From ancient mathematics and astronomy to philosophy, theology, and modern science, each episode seeks to understand the truth of things by returning to first principles. Occasionally featuring guest scholars and educators, the show offers rich discussions on the Great Books, liberal education, and the enduring relevance of classical learning. New episodes air weekly.Subscribe and join the conversation.

  1. 20h ago

    The Wager | Ep. 39 The TAC Podcast

    In this episode of The TAC Podcast, tutors Chris Decaen and John Finley examine Blaise Pascal's famous "Wager" from his Pensées. Rather than attempting a traditional rational proof for the existence of God, Pascal approaches belief through the lens of decision theory and probability—arguing that everyone is forced to bet their life one way or the other. Join the discussion as we break down the logic behind the wager, Descartes' skeptical influence on Pascal, what it actually means to "bet your life," and whether approaching faith through pragmatic self-interest holds up under scrutiny. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Who was Blaise Pascal? 02:35 – Context of the Pensées and human fallenness 04:42 – Why a wager? Cartesian skepticism & the limits of reason 06:26 – The infinite number analogy & knowing God by natural reason 09:06 – Betting your life: The binary choice 14:14 – Why neutrality is impossible: "You are already committed" 17:18 – Breaking down the odds, stakes, and payout 21:14 – Finite stakes vs. infinite reward 26:15 – The lottery comparison & real-world certainty 27:42 – How living the Christian life changes belief naturally 30:15 – Taking small steps: The agnostic's prayer and holy water 34:43 – The cost of attachment: Passion vs. wisdom 36:27 – The four wager outcomes & eternal loss 38:52 – Does Pascal's wager actually work? 42:50 – Self-interest and cost-benefit critiques (Dershowitz & the Gospels) 45:30 – How youth vs. age changes your perspective on the bet 46:54 – Conclusion and wrap-up

  2. Nov 5

    God? Prove it! | Ep. 38 The TAC Podcast

    Can reason alone show that God exists? In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we break down St. Thomas Aquinas's famous Fifth Way from the Summa Theologiae—often called the argument from governance or design. We explore why non-intelligent natural beings consistently act toward purposeful ends, why pure chance falls short, and what the analogy of the archer and arrow reveals about order in our universe. We also look at how Aquinas's approach differs from modern intelligent design theories, and how he tackles the two biggest objections to God's existence: the problem of evil and the idea that natural science makes God unnecessary.   Chapters 00:00 - Overview of Aquinas's Five Ways 01:05 - Quick summary of the first four proofs 02:00 - Introducing the Fifth Way: Governance of the world 03:54 - Reading the text of the Fifth Way 04:42 - How natural bodies act for an end 09:23 - Honeybees, hexagons, and natural efficiency 12:17 - Why constancy points beyond pure chance 14:44 - The analogy of the archer and the arrow 17:25 - The footprint of intelligence across nature 22:05 - Purpose in biological organs and functions 25:50 - God as the governor and director of creation 28:00 - Aquinas's Fifth Way vs. modern intelligent design 34:35 - Two classic objections to God's existence 35:26 - Objection 1: The problem of evil 36:22 - Objection 2: Is God superfluous to science? 40:17 - Science vs. philosophy: Why causes go deeper 44:30 - How infinite goodness brings good out of evil 48:26 - Wrap-up & upcoming episodes

  3. Oct 29

    Christian Ownership Maximalism - Dr. Tim Reichert | Ep. 37 The TAC Podcast

    Dr. Tim Reichert, founder and co-CEO of STAPLE Investments and PhD economist, joins the podcast to discuss his essay on "Christian Ownership Maximalism." We dive deep into why owning the means of production is essential for restoring Christian culture, the differences between authority and raw power, the economic foundation of human freedom, and how artificial intelligence poses unprecedented challenges to human labor and agency.   Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction & the cultural power of ownership 01:14 - Authority vs. power: why Marx understood control 04:50 - What is Christian ownership maximalism? 06:46 - Defining property: scholastic roots and divine providence 09:15 - Aristotle, the common good, and the tragedy of the commons 12:12 - Why corporate power drives modern cultural decay 15:47 - Is business ownership a Christian duty? 18:02 - Reclaiming agency and breaking systemic dependence 23:14 - Distributism and the history of wide asset ownership in America 25:22 - STAPLE Investments: long-term equity and supporting the Church 29:38 - AI, large language models, and the nature of human intellect 36:24 - Power without wisdom: the threat of unrestrained tech 40:24 - The economic fallout of AI on labor and meaningful work 44:30 - Why UBI is slavery: advocating for distributism in an AI world 50:18 - Critiquing the AI arms race with China 55:26 - Closing thoughts

  4. Oct 22

    The Most Depressing Book of the Bible (It's Not Job) | Ep. 36 The TAC Podcast

    In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we turn our attention to Sacred Scripture for the first time, beginning with one of the most enigmatic and brooding books of the Bible: Ecclesiastes. Often attributed to King Solomon looking back late in life, the text confronts the reader with a stark, uncompromising examination of human existence: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." From the relentless cycles of the natural cosmos to the pursuit of wisdom, pleasure, wealth, and honor, Qoheleth (the Preacher) tests every earthly candidate for happiness and finds them all fleeting—like a mere breath. Join us as we explore why Ecclesiastes offers an unvarnished reflection on human mortality, the ache for eternity placed within our hearts, and why its sober realism serves as the essential doorway to the rest of Biblical revelation.   Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 - Introduction: Approaching Scripture & Ecclesiastes 01:10 - What Does "Vanity of Vanities" (Hevel) Really Mean? 03:50 - "Nothing New Under the Sun": The Weariness of Nature's Cycles 08:05 - The Pursuit of Wisdom and the Sorrow of Knowledge 11:13 - Eternity in Man's Heart & the Concealed Work of God 15:15 - A Believer's Despair: Honest Faith vs. Tidied Answers 17:30 - St. Jerome's Reading: Solomon's Regret and Broken Pursuits 20:15 - Modern Hedonism vs. Ancient Desolation 23:25 - Aristotle, Riches, and the Narrative of Inevitable Limits 25:27 - Mortality as the Great Equalizer: Death and Forgotten Legacies 27:16 - "A Time for Everything": Comforting Song or Cosmic Tragedy? 31:17 - Children, Family, and Generational Futility (Ecclesiastes 6 & 9) 35:07 - Resignation or Waiting? Faith in an Unknown Plan 40:22 - The Conclusion of the Matter: "Fear God and Keep His Commandments" 44:32 - Ecclesiastes as a "Goad": Why TAC Freshmen Begin with Qoheleth Follow & Subscribe to The TAC Podcast: Subscribe on YouTube for weekly discussions on great books, theology, and philosophy. Visit our channel for more episodes and reflections. Learn more about Thomas Aquinas College at https://thomasaquinas.edu

  5. Oct 15

    Don Quixote: The Danger of Living for Other People's Eyes | Ep. 35 The TAC Podcast

    In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we explore Miguel de Cervantes' masterpiece, Don Quixote. Why does a 17th-century novel feel startlingly modern — even postmodern — in its treatment of identity, self-consciousness, and public perception? We examine how Quixote constructs an identity for the gaze of others, the strange meta-narrative of Part Two, and the parallels between Cervantes' world of chivalric romances and our own immersion in social media, curated personas, and screen culture. Finally, we look at the dynamic between Quixote and Sancho Panza, and what Quixote's poignant ending says about noble ideals in an unheroic world. 00:00 - The Modern Problem of Image and Perception 02:03 - The Meta-Narrator: Cide Hamete Benengeli 05:07 - Being Observed: Don Quixote in Part Two 09:06 - Books of Chivalry and Media Saturation 13:12 - Curating Personas: Social Media vs. Reality 16:00 - The Duke and Duchess: Cruelty and Manipulation 20:00 - Moral Conscience vs. Living for an Audience 24:00 - History, Bias, and the Medium 27:16 - Why We Love Quixote: Nobility vs. Buffoonery 34:33 - The Cave of Montesinos and Seeking Validation 37:40 - Sancho Panza: The Grounded Observer 44:48 - Becoming What You Behold 48:00 - Sancho's Growth and Governance 50:08 - The Deathbed Renunciation: Tragedy or Humility? 56:56 - Ideals vs. Trappings in Modern Culture

  6. Oct 8

    Is it Ever Good to be Evil? | Ep. 34 The TAC Podcast

    In this episode of The TAC Podcast, we dive into Niccolò Machiavelli's classic and controversial political treatise, The Prince. Specifically, we unpack his famous assertion in Chapter 15 that a prince must "learn to be able not to be good" when necessity demands it. Is Machiavelli endorsing moral evil as an end, or is he laying out a cold, pragmatic toolbox for political survival? We explore his concept of the "effectual truth," examine historical examples like Cesare Borgia and Remirro de Orco, and contrast Machiavelli's realism with the classical ideals of Plato and St. Thomas Aquinas. Along the way, we ask: Can a Machiavellian ruler ever have genuine friends, and why does this ruthless philosophy continue to fascinate us today? Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Reading Machiavelli's The Prince 01:37 – Necessary Evils: Maintaining Political Power 02:50 – The Godfather Analogy & Suspending Morality 05:01 – Cesare Borgia & The Calculated Use of Cruelty 09:14 – The Machiavellian Prince vs. Plato's Tyrant 12:40 – "The Effectual Truth" vs. Imagined Republics 18:50 – Keeping Faith: The Fox, the Lion, and Entering Evil 24:48 – Machiavelli's Critique of Christian Morality 29:18 – Machiavelli vs. St. Thomas Aquinas on Kingship 31:13 – Good Arms vs. Good Laws 33:51 – What Makes Machiavelli Unique? The Science of Politics 38:58 – Can a Machiavellian Leader Have Real Friends? 40:17 – The Enduring Appeal of Machiavellian Cunning 44:52 – Conclusion & Wrap-Up

  7. Oct 1

    Buildings Built You - A Conversation with Architect Anthony Grumbine ('00) | Ep. 33 The TAC Podcast

    In this episode of The TAC Podcast, host John Finley sits down with architect Anthony Grumbine ('00), alumnus of Thomas Aquinas College and the University of Notre Dame's School of Architecture. Anthony discusses how the built environment acts as the backdrop to human life and shapes the soul. From Vitruvian principles of design to the differences between authentic local architecture and commercial fast-food design, Anthony explores how buildings embody theology, philosophy, and cultural values. He also reflects on how the liberal arts formation at TAC prepares thinkers to study the masters and bring enduring beauty into the modern world.  Learn more about Thomas Aquinas College: thomasaquinas.edu Subscribe for more alumni stories and conversations:  @TheTACPodcast

  8. Sep 24

    Boethius: The Antidote for Your Suffering | Ep. 32 The TAC Podcast

    How do we endure profound suffering, grief, and sudden loss when our world falls apart?   In this episode of "The TAC Podcast," we examine Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius and his masterpiece, "The Consolation of Philosophy." Falsely accused of treason and imprisoned while awaiting execution, the Roman statesman and philosopher was stripped of his wealth, status, and freedom. In the depth of his despair, he is visited by Lady Philosophy, who guides him out of melancholic grief by redirecting his mind toward truth, virtue, and the eternal order of reality.   Join us as we explore why human suffering involves far more than physical pain, how our assessment of hardship shapes our sorrow, and why the pursuit of wisdom remains one of the most deeply humanizing responses to tragedy.   Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Boethius & The Consolation of Philosophy 01:45 – How Do We Live with Grievous Suffering? 03:46 – Lady Philosophy Confronts Melancholic Grief 05:18 – Reading Boethius's Opening Lament0 7:45 – Contemplating Truth in the Midst of Despair 10:44 – The Root of the Problem: Forgetting Who You Are 12:40 – Why Humans Suffer: Rationality vs. Physical Pain 16:18 – Banishing False Muses: Emotion Governed by Reason 19:00 – The Fickle Nature of Fortune and Fate 21:08 – Comparing Boethius and the Book of Job 25:24 – C.S. Lewis on "Learning in Wartime" & Higher Purpose 28:18 – Attending to the Highest Reality 30:44 – The Vision of God: Reading the Central Prayer (Book III, Metrum 9) 35:42 – Faith, Reason, and the Five Big Questions (Fides et Ratio) 39:00 – Philosophy as a Deeply Personal and Healing Act 44:24 – Conclusion & Looking Ahead

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About

Welcome to the official podcast of Thomas Aquinas College. Each week, senior members of the teaching faculty open a window into the intellectual life of the College through conversations rooted in the Great Books and the pursuit of first principles. Together, they explore the foundational questions that have shaped Western civilization. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the podcast invites listeners into the same kind of thoughtful, rigorous dialogue that defines the classroom experience. From ancient mathematics and astronomy to philosophy, theology, and modern science, each episode seeks to understand the truth of things by returning to first principles. Occasionally featuring guest scholars and educators, the show offers rich discussions on the Great Books, liberal education, and the enduring relevance of classical learning. New episodes air weekly.Subscribe and join the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Aquinas College
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The TAC Podcast

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