Ep. 115 - Where Did We Go Wrong?: A Mediocre and Sentimental Education

Ep. 115 - Where Did We Go Wrong?: A Mediocre and Sentimental Education

Author: Albertus Magnus Institute, Inc. December 10, 2025 Duration: 39:06

Alec Bianco of the CiRCE Institute joins John to discuss the state of higher education. Where did colleges go wrong? Why are colleges choosing to drop their humanities programs in favor of niche degrees? What is the future of institutions who choose a mediocre and sentimental education over an education rooted in rigor and truth? 

Learn more about Alec Bianco and the CiRCE Institute.

Follow Alec on X @alecmbianco

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Deep within the rich tradition of the classical liberal arts, conversations unfold that feel both timeless and urgently contemporary. Magnus Podcast: Conversations from the Catacombs of Liberal Education is where you’ll find them, a production of the Albertus Magnus Institute. This series explores the foundational ideas that shape our humanity, society, and faith, guided by the enduring vision of St. Albert the Great. His dream was of an education that liberates the mind and spirit, one that is profoundly enriching yet accessible to all. Each episode delves into the intersections of philosophy, culture, and Christianity, examining how these ancient wells of wisdom speak directly to our modern condition. You’ll hear thoughtful dialogues and reflections that resist easy answers, instead inviting a deeper consideration of what it means to live a fully human life. The podcast serves as a kind of auditory academy, where the core subjects of a truly liberal education-those that free us-are opened up for anyone willing to listen. It’s for those curious about how enduring truths can illuminate contemporary confusion, offering not just information but a form of intellectual and spiritual nourishment. Tune in for a journey through the catacombs, where the light of classical thought remains undimmed, waiting to be rediscovered in our own time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Magnus Podcast: Conversations from the Catacombs of Liberal Education
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 038 - Freehdom. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:28
Join John and Nicole for a conversation with Drs. John and Helen Freeh, AMI Senior Fellows and pioneers in liberal learning. We discuss the founding of Kateri College of the Liberal and Practical Arts (https://katericoll…
Ep. 037 - Anthony Esolen on Milton’s Paradise Lost. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:23
Fellowship Q&A with AMI Senior Fellow, Dr. Anthony Esolen on the first book of Milton’s Paradise Lost. Is Milton showing off or alining himself with the great epics of the past? Does Milton characterize the will of the a…
Ep. 036 - Ethics of Genetic Engineering with Timothy Furlan. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:36
If you could give your children perfect pitch or a high I.Q., if you could pick their hair color or height, would you? Is this science fiction or the inevitability of technological progress? Listen as Dr. Timothy Furlan…
Ep. 034 - BONUS - THREE BEERS - Biotechnological Revolutions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:15
Listen in as we preview AMI Senior Fellow Dr. Timothy Furlan’s upcoming course in the Magnus Fellowship, Bioethics and Aquinas. We dive into some timely themes such as trans-humanism, singularity, utilitarianism, and the…
Ep. 033 - The Thirty-Third Canto with Anthony Esolen. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:11
This is the final lecture from Senior Fellow Anthony Esolen’s course for the Magnus Fellowship: Into the World Beyond with Dante. Complete course recordings from this and every course in the Magnus Fellowship are now ava…
Ep. 032 - Welcome to Paradise with Anthony Esolen. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:59
Please enjoy this introductory lecture on Dante’s Paradiso by author, professor, translator, and AMI Senior Fellow, Dr. Anthony Esolen. This is an excerpt from Dr. Esolen’s course in the Magnus Fellowship, “Into the Worl…
Ep. 031 - BONUS - THREE BEERS - René Girard's Theater of Envy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:33
Prof. Patrick Downey, AMI Senior Fellow and Author of "Desperately Wicked", joins us for three beers to discuss his upcoming course for the Magnus Fellowship. Follow us through the weeds into the heart of the Christian M…
Ep.030 - Into the World Beyond with Anthony Esolen. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:12
Grab your copy of the Divine Comedy and listen into a full class in the Magnus Fellowship taught by Dr. Anthony Esolen. Visit MagnusInstitute.org today to become a Fellow and register for our next round of courses soon t…
Ep. 029 - Dante’s St. Thomas, S.A. Cortright. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:45
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) holds the Catholic Church's title of Doctor Communis (Common Doctor) meaning that after Christ and the Apostles who were blessed by Christ, Thomas is her greatest teacher. What does the Common…