The Dunces' Corne‪r‬ Brian Pedraza

Musings on the Last Things/Saints and Martyrdom/The Halloween Candy Power Ranking


The Dunces tackle topics related to eschatology and get you ready for All Saints, All Souls, and the Candy Triduum. Daniel takes Hell seriously. Catherine has an existential crisis and wonders who or what the Anti-Christ is. Avera gets shook by the young saints God is raising up. Dr. Meinert tells us why endurance is more primary than attack. Dr. Pedraza asks if we should fear death and judgment. Then Dr. Meinert trash talks Daniel and Catherine in the ultimate Halloween Candy showdown.

The Political Landscape/Principles to Guide Our Engagement in Politics


Dr. Meinert's growing peas. Catherine's engaged. Daniel and Avera join the show. Highlights include: Catherine and Daniel lamenting political discourse in our country; Avera on the black Catholic experience of political, spiritual, and mental slavery; Dr. Meinert on the idolatrous aspects of political discourse dettached from transcendence; Dr. Pedraza on liberalism as fractured and the Church's teaching on the Common Good. Ends with a discussion on what to do when voting for candidates who support both good and evil, and the Church's teaching on cooperation.


Listen during the day. Then talk religion and politics over dinner.

A preview of our first episode of the sophomore season, which will be dropping soon!

The Dunces on the Good Place/"Guess the Plot" Game


In the concluding half of the special double-episode, Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Catherine, Brady, Elise, and Trey analyze the Good Place by giving out various awards including: the Atlas Award (for who carried the show), the Saul-Paul Award (best redemptive arc), and the award for the Best Theological/Philosophical Moment. The episode comes with a little nihilism (with a side of peeps and chili), and a few side orders of Kantianism and utilitarianism. The main dish is always virtue ethics. Finally, Dr. Meinert and Trey show off their movie trivia prowess in a game of "Guess the Plot" at the end. Part 2 of 2.


Music Credits: courtesy of FreePD.com

How Catholics Should Approach Media/Our Favorite Movies and Shows


Amidst procrastination, Catherine stumbles upon a video about how Catholics should approach movies and TV shows, and she, Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Brady, Elise, and Trey talk about it. They dive into how their parents censored or did not censor what they watched, how to scrutinize culture when you're a part of it, and end by offering you some of the movies and shows that most impacted them. So add these to your watchlists and thank us with an iTunes review. Part 1 of 2.


Barbara Nicolosi on Diagnosing Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYT5WlMSjlE&t=


Music Credits: "Backbay Lounge", "Celebration"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

B-Side: I Will Not Leave You Orphans


Fr. Brad Doyle and priestly fatherhood during the coronavirus. Some people are worried that their shepherds have abandoned them. This story tears back the veil.


B-Side episodes bring you a story that gives flesh to a topic talked about in a previous episode. See Episode 5, "We're All Lonely. Together."


Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Address: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/urbi-et-orbi-pope-coronavirus-prayer-blessing.html


The Quizzical Papist: https://www.buzzsprout.com/185695


Music Credits:
"At Rest", "Comfortable Mystery 2", "Cottages", "Ever Mindful", "Rollin at 5"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/