The Academy Podcast
The official podcast of The Academy of Classical Christian Studies, located in Oklahoma City, OK.
2026-27 | The Council Episode 02 | On Resemblances and What The Academy Life Looks Like
On this Council episode the guys discuss what it might look like to lean into the life The Academy is offering. We also talk about galloping children, so, why wouldn't you listen?
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2026-27 | Conversation Starter 06 | On Being Neighbored, with Josh Spears
In this week’s conversation starter, Josh wonders aloud about whether you’re good at being on the receiving end of neighboring.Â
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2026-27 | Conversation Starter 05 | Let Us WEAR OUT this Human and Neighborly Mission to Reach Out to Beloved Souls, with Fr. Carr
In this conversation starter, Fr. Carr challenges us to reach out and engage with the people around us in meaningful ways.
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2026-27 | Conversation Starter 04 | The Long Tradition of Humanity with Andrew Black
In this starter, Andrew revisits a moment from last week's council episode, attempting to begin a conversation about the various and essential things that make us human. What are they? His answer may surprise you.Â
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2026-27 | The Council Episode 01 | On Levity, Parenting Wins and Good Meals
Andrew, Nathan, Eric and Josh kick off the new season with the standard five star mediocrity. Andrew reminds us of human and neighborly permanent things, the executive producers confess their calendar sins and Eric looks to keep Nathan and Josh on task.Â
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2026-27 | Conversation Starter 03 | Table Fellowship or Tabling Fellowship? with Josh Spears
This week’s conversation starter has Josh wondering aloud about guest lists and belonging at the table. Pull up a seat, grab another for a stranger and bon appetite.Â
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2026-27 | Conversation Starter 02 | Fr Carr Walking Into Sights & Sounds & Smells with One Another
Once upon a time, Nathan tells listeners a story of xenia and how hospitality is a lens through which we can see the human. Join Headmaster Carr as he invites listeners to walk into sights and sounds and smells with one another.
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2026-27 | Conversation Starter 01 | Against the Learn'd Astronomer, w/Andrew Black
In this year's inaugural conversation starter, Andrew attempts to normalize the impulse to bemoan the fact that, though it still seems to be summer, we're all back at school things again. It all depends, you see, on what we mean by "school" and "things" and "again."
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2025-26 | The Council Episode 08 | That's a Wrap
In this, our final episode of the season, The Council remembers the season with clips, practices the virtue of gratitude with the first ever Number One Listener Prize and baptizes imaginations with accessibly pretentious shenanigans. Â
Many thanks to you, our tens of listeners. We look forward to seeing you next season.Â
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Conversation Starter 24 | Why End with Ceremony? with Andrew Black
In this conversation starter, Andrew anticipates graduation, asks 17 questions, and offers a final benediction.
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The Council Episode 07 | Tumultuous Takeover: Women Edition
In this episode of The Council, Jennifer, Catie, and Holly takeover the podcast. They discuss the Foundational Commitments of The Academy along with the usual banter. After all, Eric is still producing.
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Conversation Starter 23 | A Special Conversation with C.S. Lewis Scholar Michael Ward
In this special conversation starter, Andrew speaks with this year's Lyceum speaker, Michael Ward, C.S. Lewis scholar.
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Conversation Starter 22 | Talking Capstone with Alumnus(?) Beth Thompson, with Josh Spears
In this conversation starter, Josh talks to Beth Thompson, class of 2022, about her Capstone.Â
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Conversation Starter 21 | Mission and Capstone Themes with Fr. Carr
In this Conversation Starter, Fr. Carr considers the necessary place of Capstone in answering what are ultimately missional questions.
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Conversation Starter 20 | The End of Rhetoric with Andrew Black
In this Conversation Starter, Andrew anticipates festivity, thinks about Capstone, and argues that the end of education is not the power to control but is instead the freedom to love.
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The Council Episode 06 | Nathan Disappears in a Polyphonic Wormhole
In this episode of The Council, Andy, Eric and Josh puzzle over Nathan’s absence and attempt to hold things together. Along the way they introduce a new sponsor and discuss the foundational commitments of the Academy.Â
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Conversation Starter 19 | Story, Memory, Virtue and Imagination, with Josh Spears
In this conversation starter, Josh considers the connection between story and the Academy’s core commitments.Â
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Conversation Starter 18 | Requiem for a Polyphonic Wormhole, with Fr. Carr
In this conversation starter, Fr. Carr dives deep into Mozart's Requiem and how it drives imagination.
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Conversation Starter 17 | Attention and Eternity with Andrew Black
In this conversation starter, Andrew invites all listeners to the 10th annual Lyceum Project and suggests a fundamental connection between our three foundational commitments—the eternal significance of shaping affections.
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The Council Episode 05 | I Can Only Imagine; Or,
In this Council episode, Andrew, Nathan, Eric and Josh discuss the nature of the imagination with help from Coleridge, Lee and Berry. Along the way they weigh the merits of nature and community in the creation of imaginative humans.
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Conversation Starter 16 | On Becoming What You Face with Josh Spears
In this conversation starter, Josh looks you square in the face and wonders aloud over the imaginative horizons the face of the Other can bring to us.
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Conversation Starter 15 | Finding Peace Outside For The Inside with Fr. Carr
In this conversation starter, Fr. Carr reflects on how being in and observing nature shapes his imagination.
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Conversation Starter 14 | Imagining the Real
In this conversation starter, Andrew looks ahead (or behind) to the great precipitation, reads some Dante, and argues that imagination is of central importance.Â
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The Council Episode 04 | A Very Special Xmas Break Episode
Nathan, Andy, Eric and Josh wish you the merriest, happiest, most blessed Advent and/or Christmas on this very special episode of the Council. There’s a heaping serving of meat and potatoes to keep the executive producers in the holiday spirit and enough shenanigans to keep the other tens of listeners in the same.Â
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Nathan singing O Holy Night at Karaoke Night in 2008: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk4woNRD7NQ&list=RDMk4woNRD7NQ...
Conversation Starter 13 | Courageously and Hopefully Timing Christmas with Josh Spears
In this conversation starter, Josh investigates the courage needed to hope for Christmas at the right time.Â
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Conversation Starter Episode 12 | Self-Sacrifice: Virtue in True Action with Fr. Carr
In this conversation starter, Fr. Nathan takes us upstream to our children’s life of virtue.
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Conversation Starter Episode 11 | Till This Moment I Never Knew Myself with Andrew Black
In this conversation starter, Andrew turns practical, thinks about the virtue of humility, and reads some Jane Austen.Â
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Conversation Starter 10 | Can You See the Feast?
In this holiday conversation starter, Andy Black is back from the aether with some well-wishes for our tens of listeners and some thoughts about the virtuous tension between feasting and fasting.
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The Council Episode 03 | Meat, Potatoes and Virtues
Andrew leaves Nathan and Josh unattended and Eric does his best to channel his inner Andrew to keep things focused long enough to discuss the nature of virtue, exemplars and discerning your ends from your means.Â
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Conversation Starter 09 | To What End? with Josh Spears
In this conversation starter, Josh reflects on the relationship between virtues and ends.Â
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Conversation Starter 08 | Virtue Is When It Gets Real, with Fr. Carr
In this conversation starter, Fr. Carr explains priest collar protocol and then challenges us on what it really means to be virtuous.
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Conversation Starter 07 | Virtue's Foundations with Andrew Black
In this conversation starter, Andrew finally musters the courage to defend his wardrobe and thinks aloud about what virtue is and what virtue requires.
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The Council Episode 02 | On Being Memorably Practical
In this united episode, our intrepid foursome discusses themes connecting our previous installments focusing on putting memory into practice. We continue to marvel at the Room of Requirement and (to our executive producers’ chagrin) hear from an old friend of the show. Plus, sponsors!
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Conversation Starter 06 | Could You Apologize? with Josh Spears
In this Conversation Starter, Josh wonders aloud: If you had no time and no outside resources, could you tell a coherent story about things that matters?
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Conversation Starter 05 | We Need Roots with Fr. Nathan Carr
In this conversation starter, Fr. Carr wonders aloud at some of the necessary nutrients for an active memory.
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Conversation Starter 04 | Memory and Our Digital Age with Andrew Black
In this conversation starter, Andrew explains this month's more practical turn, reflects on our general compulsion to record, and suggests the great potential of thoughtful revisiting.
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The Council Episode 01 | Memory: Remembered and Redeemed
In this inaugural episode of the Academy podcast reboot, Andrew, Nathan, Eric and Josh, reignite our listeners with that oh so familiar accessible pretension. Our intrepid quartet ties together the past several weeks’ individual podcasts into a coherent narrative about the nature and redemption of memory. And of course, along the way, we offer you, dear tens of listeners, the requisite amount of shenanigans.
We want to hear from you, dear listeners. Email us at [email protected]. The Academy Podcast will release a new episode every Tuesday so check out next week's Conversation Starter as we co...
Conversation Starter 03 | What Color Are Your Memories? with Josh Spears
In this Conversation Starter, Josh invites you to consider how you interact with your memories.
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Conversation Starter 02 | DĂ©jĂ Vu in the Wrong Direction with Fr. Nathan Carr
In this Conversation Starter, Fr. Carr continues the conversation on memory by exploring contemplation, enjoyment, and memorial.
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Conversation Starter 01 | Memory and Participation with Andrew Black
In this Conversation Starter, Andrew welcomes listeners to a new season, explains what's happening to the Podcast this year, and invites you to have a conversation on the ways you regularly access the distant past.
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