Best Developing Classical Thinkers Podcasts (2025)

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Super Habits with Andrew Abela 52:11

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3d ago52:11

52:11

A conversation with Andrew Abela and Robert Luddy on the nature of virtue ethics, human flourishing, and the small, incremental but invaluable steps we should take each day for personal improvement and growth. Andrew Abela is the founding dean of the Busch School of Business and Ordinary Professor of Marketing at The Catholic University of America,…

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325 | Alvy Ray Smith on Pixar, Pixels, and the Great Digital Convergence 1:26:40

4d ago1:26:40

1:26:40

The world is becoming pixelated. As computers and other digital devices become ubiquitous, human knowledge and communication and information is gradually being converted into, and manipulated as, strings of bits. What does that really mean, and what are the ramifications going forward? Alvy Ray Smith is a computer scientist, co-founder of Pixar, an…

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324 | Elizabeth Mynatt on Universities and the Importance of Basic Research 1:13:31

11d ago1:13:31

1:13:31

It is not manifestly obvious that universities should be where most scholarly research is performed. One could imagine systems that separated out the tasks of "teaching students" and "generating new knowledge." But it turns out that combining them yields spectacular synergies, both from letting students experience cutting-edge research and from kee…

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The Joys of Teaching with Tiffany Whitaker 53:29

18d ago53:29

53:29

In this episode, Winston Brady speaks with Tiffany Whitaker about her experience teaching elementary school at the Thales Academy Wake Forest campus. Tiffany Whitaker is a Franklinton, North Carolina resident, East Carolina University alumnus, and seventh-year teacher at Thales Academy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education…

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AMA | August 2025 3:39:58

18d ago3:39:58

3:39:58

Welcome to the August 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the quest…

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The Virtue of Justice by Kellie Scripter 20:47

23d ago20:47

20:47

In this lecture, Kellie Scripter addresses the virtue of justice in the context of a content-rich classical education. A classical education provides students with opportunities to understand virtues like justice by encouraging them to develop intellectual discipline, exercise their moral imagination, and thus establish the patterns by which they c…

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The Virtue of Temperance by Winston Brady 13:33

25d ago13:33

13:33

Winston Brady, director of Thales Press, addresses the virtue of temperance and why students should cultivate this important virtue. Temperance is the virtue of self-control and moderation, a habit people can achieve by bringing their appetites into harmony with their reason. Winston Brady delivered this presentation at the Conference of Miletus on…

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323 | Jacob Barandes on Indivisible Stochastic Quantum Mechanics 2:58:21

25d ago2:58:21

2:58:21

The search for a foundational theory of quantum mechanics that all physicists can agree on remains active. Over the last century a number of contenders have emerged, including Many-Worlds, pilot-wave theories, and others, but all of them have aspects that many people object to. Jacob Barandes has taken up the challenge, proposing a new formulation …

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The Virtue of Prudence with Anthony Esolen 14:38

28d ago14:38

14:38

Anthony Esolen, distinguished professor of the humanities at Thales College, addresses the virtue of prudence. Dr. Anthony Esolen received his A.B. in English Literature from Princeton University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Renaissance English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Esolen has been a professor of literatu…

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The Virtue of Courage from Robert Luddy 19:16

1M ago19:16

19:16

Robert Luddy, founder of Thales Academy, addresses the virtue of courage and how important it is for students to face their fears, overcome adversity, and take small, practical steps to cultivate this cardinal virtue. Robert "Bob" Luddy is the Founder and Chairman of Thales Academy, Thales College, Franklin Academy, and St. Thomas More Academy, and…

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322 | Philip Pettit on Language, Agency, Politics, and Freedom 1:20:47

1M ago1:20:47

1:20:47

When we think of the capacities that distinguish humans from other species, we generally turn to intelligence and its byproducts, including our technological prowess. But our intelligence is highly connected to our ability to use language, which is in turn closely related to our capacities as social creatures. Philosopher Philip Pettit would encour…

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321 | David Tong on Open Questions in Quantum Field Theory 1:19:25

1M ago1:19:25

1:19:25

Quantum field theory is the basis for our most successful theories of fundamental physics. And yet, there are things we don't understand about it. Some of these puzzles are relatively well-known, while others are less celebrated. David Tong joins us to talk about some of the more interesting and perplexing aspects of quantum field theory. He also d…

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What do Parents Want in a Classical School? 50:50

2M ago50:50

50:50

Eric Wearne is a Visiting Associate Professor with the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University. In line with his work on the intersection of statistics, school choice, and classical education, Professor Wearne conducted a survey of parents with children in a wide variety of classical schools. In this survey, Professor Wearne examine…

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AMA | July 2025 4:03:26

2M ago4:03:26

4:03:26

Welcome to the July 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questio…

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Happy 4th of July! 4:08

2M ago4:08

4:08

A special episode on the history behind the celebrations of the Fourth of July, plus some of the most significant people in American history who have been born on, or departed from this Earth on, the 4th of July.By Developing Classical Thinkers

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320 | Solo: Complexity and the Universe 2:14:44

2M ago2:14:44

2:14:44

Our universe started out looking very simple: hot, dense, smooth, rapidly expanding. According to our best current model, it will end up looking simple once again: cold, dark, empty. It's in between -- now, roughly speaking -- that things look complex. I have been working to understand the stages by which complexity comes into existence, thrives, a…

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319 | Bryan Van Norden on Philosophy From the Rest of the World 1:12:39

2M ago1:12:39

1:12:39

It is common to refer to philosophy as "a series of footnotes to Plato." But in the original quote, Alfred North Whitehead was more careful: he limited his characterization to "the European philosophical tradition." There are other traditions, both ancient and ongoing: Chinese philosophy, Indian philosophy, Africana philosophy, and various indigeno…

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318 | Edward Miguel on the Developing Practice of Development Economics 1:20:39

2M ago1:20:39

1:20:39

Economics is seeing an upsurge in the importance of controlled, reproducible empirical studies. One area where this has had a great impact is on development economics, which studies the economies of low- and middle-income societies. Edward Miguel has been at the forefront of both the revolution in empirical methods, and in applying those techniques…

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Limits & the Human Condition by Winston Brady | Ciceronian Society 2025 17:24

2M ago17:24

17:24

On March 13-15, several Thales faculty members participated in the 2025 annual meeting of the Ciceronian Society in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This lecture comes from Winston Brady, director of Thales Press. In this address, Winston examined the relationship between limits and liberty, for the purpose of understanding what it means to be human, with i…

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317 | Nicole Rust on Why Neuroscience Hasn't Solved Brain Disorders 1:14:50

2M ago1:14:50

1:14:50

The human brain is extremely complicated, but decades of careful neuroscientific research have revealed quite a bit about how it works, including how certain genes affect particular brain behaviors. Nevertheless, this progress has not led to quite as much improvement in the treatment of brain disorders as we might expect. I talk with neuroscientist…

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Work and the Meaning of Life with David Bahnsen 40:15

3M ago40:15

40:15

Author David Bahnsen joins Developing Classical Thinkers to talk about the importance of work for our health and happiness, with insights drawn from his book, "Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life." In "Full Time," Bahnsen argues that the time has come to stop tip-toeing around the issues that matter and to encourage students to look at a theolo…

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AMA | June 2025 3:23:07

3M ago3:23:07

3:23:07

Welcome to the June 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questio…

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316 | Niayesh Afshordi and Phil Halper 1:28:50

3M ago1:28:50

1:28:50

Einstein's general theory of relativity, plus some reasonable assumptions about the universe and what it's made of, has a remarkable implication: that as we trace cosmic evolution into the far past, we ultimately hit a singularity of infinite density and curvature, the Big Bang. Did that really happen? Einstein's theory is classical, after all, and…

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Memorial Day: Celebration and Gratitude 10:17

3M ago10:17

10:17

This week, we have a special episode in honor of Memorial Day, a holiday that honors those who have given their lives in service to our country and in preserving our freedom. In this episode, we look at the beginnings of Memorial Day, why we celebrate the holiday and how long we have done so. Then, we draw out the significance of the day by looking…

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315 | Branden Fitelson on the Logic and Use of Probability 1:28:55

3M ago1:28:55

1:28:55

Every time you see an apple spontaneously break away from a tree, it falls downward. You therefore claim that there is a law of physics: apples fall downward from trees. But how can you really know? After all, tomorrow you might see an apple that falls upward. How is science possible at all? Philosophers, as you might expect, have thought hard abou…

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Art, Faith and Culture, by Timothy Schmalz 1:16:44

3M ago1:16:44

1:16:44

Timothy traced his journey from shock-driven contemporary art to a lifelong mission of sculpting the sacred. He reflected on the role of sculpture as a public and permanent witness to faith, the unique power of Christian iconography, and his ambition to help reclaim the cultural imagination through beauty, story and form. Support the show…

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The Truth about Tariffs with Roberto Salinas León, Robert Luddy, and Winston Brady 1:00:10

3M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

In American history, tariffs have been one of the most controversial and divisive economic issues. Today, tariffs are back in the news as President Trump has levied massive import fees on various goods coming into the United States from around the world--but what is a tariff? How are these fees calculated? And who is really benefiting from these fe…

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314 | Karen Lloyd on the Deep Underground Biosphere 1:09:18

3M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

There are living creatures dwelling deep below the surface of the Earth, as deep as we are able to drill. These hearty microorganisms are related to more familiar life forms on land and under water, but the operate and survive in ways that are quite different from what we're familiar with. They live off of nutrients that have penetrated from the su…

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Habits of Seminar Teaching with Chelsea Wagenaar and Chris and Kellie Scripter, & Winston Brady 48:08

4M ago48:08

48:08

A Socratic seminar is not a lecture where the teacher imparts information to students, nor is it some sort of a debate. Instead, it is a meaningful dialogue with teachers and students and the authors of the great ideas they are examining together. Join veteran educators Chelsea Wagenaar, Chris and Kellie Scripter, and Winston Brady and hear their b…

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313 | Eric Topol on the Changing Face of Medicine and Aging 1:12:03

4M ago1:12:03

1:12:03

Medical science is advancing at an astonishing rate. Today we talk with leading expert Eric Topol about two aspects of this story. First, the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, especially in diagnostics. This is an area that is a perfect match between an important question and the capabilities of machine learning, to the point where AI can…

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AMA | May 2025 3:38:06

4M ago3:38:06

3:38:06

Welcome to the May 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the question…

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Middle Schoolers and Space Travel with Marc Fusco 1:25:25

4M ago1:25:25

1:25:25

In this episode, Winston Brady and Marc Fusco discuss the joys of teaching middle school and studying astronomy. Mr. Fusco currently teaches Junior High History and Trivium at Thales Academy Raleigh, where he shares his love of classical education, literature, and history with his students, and he also is an Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach at Thales…

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312 | Thomas Levenson on the Mutual History of Humans and Germs 1:31:28

4M ago1:31:28

1:31:28

The germ theory of disease is a crowning achievement of science, up there with modern physics, continental drift, and evolution via natural selection. (Even if there will always be cranky skeptics.) But the road to widespread acceptance isn't always an easy one. Why did it take so long between Anton van Leeuwenhoek seeing "animalcules" in a microsc…

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"Teachers and The Moral Imagination" from Zach Palmer 19:51

4M ago19:51

19:51

At the root of classical education is a noble challenge championed by master teachers throughout the Western heritage: teaching is the process of soul-craft—by which educators cultivate virtue within other human beings so that they might live good lives. This challenge inherently elevates the role of teachers beyond mere transmitters of knowledge t…

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"Schooling as a Moral Endeavor in a Pluralistic Society" from Patrick Halbrook 16:08

4M ago16:08

16:08

What is the telos of education? In a free society, is it desirable or practical to attempt to design a single system of schooling that is ideal for everyone? Can schools hold a neutral position regarding morality and values, or is education a fundamentally ethical enterprise that inevitably adopts a new moral framework when an old one is removed? I…

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"Life after the Department of Education" from Ray Nothstine 17:40

4M ago17:40

17:40

The current education system in the United States is increasingly misaligned with the needs of many Americans. This paper explores the shortcomings of our “federalist” approach to education, emphasizing how federal overreach and bureaucratic stagnation have hindered progress and outcomes. While federal involvement was intended to promote equity and…

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311 | Annaka Harris on Whether Consciousness is Fundamental 1:09:58

4M ago1:09:58

1:09:58

Questions about consciousness range from the precise and empirical -- what neurons fire when I have some particular experience -- to the deeply profound -- does consciousness emerge from matter, or does matter emerge from consciousness? While it might be straightforward to think that consciousness arises from the collective behavior of atoms in the…

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"Virtue and School Leadership" from Robert Luddy | Liberty & Literacy Forum 15:02

5M ago15:02

15:02

In this presentation, Robert Luddy walked through Thales Academy’s mission—to offer the highest quality education at the lowest possible price—and the real, practical steps that educational entrepreneurs can take to establish similar schools and educational institutions. Robert "Bob" Luddy is the Founder and Chairman of Thales Academy, Thales Colle…

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"School Choice: A Vehicle for Constructive and Meaningful Citizenship" from Professor Amy Wax | Liberty & Literacy Forum 25:46

5M ago25:46

25:46

If values like respecting proper parental authority and discretion, promoting awareness and admiration for American and Western culture, preparing students for constructive and knowledgeable citizenship, and conveying an accurate sense of American history in world context, once again became priorities, as there were in the past, what would K-12 edu…

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Opening Remarks on 'Liberty & Literacy' from Winston Brady | Liberty & Literacy Forum 10:49

5M ago10:49

10:49

Winston Brady offers opening remarks at the 2025 Liberty & Literacy Forum in Wake Forest North Carolina. The word "liberal" comes from the Latin "libertas," and within the word "libertas" is the word "liber," meaning “book." The Romans never separated "liberty" from a sound, content-rich education, and neither should we. The ways of grammar, logic,…

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The Luddy Industrial Arts Program with Kim Tully 50:16

5M ago50:16

50:16

Kim Tully serves as the lead for the Luddy Industrial and Vocational Arts program and the Luddy Institute of Technology at Thales Academy. These programs guide students through the fundamental skills and topics and through rigorous hands-on activities and experiments, all of which are explained in detail and with photos throughout the books Kim Tul…

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AMA | April 2025 3:30:22

5M ago3:30:22

3:30:22

Welcome to the April 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questi…

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310 | Marc Kamionkowski on Dark Energy and Cosmic Anomalies 1:26:14

5M ago1:26:14

1:26:14

Cosmologists were, let us be honest, pretty stunned in 1998 when observations revealed that the universe is accelerating. There was an obvious plausible explanation, the cosmological constant proposed by Einstein, which is equivalent to a constant vacuum energy pervading space. But the cosmological constant was known to be enormously smaller than i…

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309 | Christof Koch on Consciousness and Integrated Information 1:20:46

5M ago1:20:46

1:20:46

Consciousness is easier to possess than to define. One thing we can do is to look into the brain and see what lights up when conscious awareness is taking place. A complete understanding of this would be known as the "neural correlates of consciousness." Once we have that, we could hopefully make progress on developing a theoretical picture of what…

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"The Anxious Generation" with Ashley Bahor & Olivia Holliday 47:59

5M ago47:59

47:59

Social media and smartphones present unprecedented challenges for educators and parents. Parents and teachers often recognize that smartphones and social media do not help students, but they have not had data to confirm this belief. In this episode of Developing Classical Thinkers, Ashley Bahor and Olivia Holliday discuss Jonathan Haidt's 2024 book…

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308 | Alison Gopnik on Children, AI, and Modes of Thinking 1:09:56

5M ago1:09:56

1:09:56

We often study cognition in other species, in part to learn about modes of thinking that are different from our own. Today's guest, psychologist/philosopher Alison Gopnik, argues that we needn't look that far: human children aren't simply undeveloped adults, they have a way of thinking that is importantly distinct from that of grownups. Children ar…

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AMA | March 2025 2:58:00

6M ago2:58:00

2:58:00

Welcome to the March 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questi…

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Best Practices for Teaching Mathematics with Joe Wolak 53:51

6M ago53:51

53:51

In this episode, Winston Brady speaks with Joseph Wolak, assistant head of school at the Thales Academy Apex JH / HS campus. Joe is a veteran teacher with over twenty years of experience teaching mathematics, and he shares his best tips and strategies in the classroom concerning pedagogy, classroom management, preparation, and grading for math teac…

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307 | Kevin Peterson on the Theory of Cocktails 1:16:36

6M ago1:16:36

1:16:36

A lot of science goes into crafting the perfect cocktail. Balancing sweet and bitter notes, providing the right amount of aeration and dilution, getting it to just the right temperature and keeping it that way. And even if you have no interest in cocktails as such, the general principles extend to other activities in art and in life. I talk to scie…

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Measuring Pi with Joe Wolak and Winston Brady 8:23

6M ago8:23

8:23

In this video, teachers Joe Wolak and Winston Brady walk through a fun lesson plan to do with students to calculate pi using some plates, mugs, some string, and a ruler. Free download available at https://bit.ly/4gV7CydBy Developing Classical Thinkers