62. Joseph Pearce - Tolkien, Shakespeare, and the Great Conversation
Joseph Pearce, the critically acclaimed Catholic author and biographer, addressed the community of St John Henry Newman College and the Brisbane Oratory in Formation in May 2025. His topic of 'Shakespeare and Tolkien: Literary Giants and Why the Great Books Matter' spoke to the centrality of the great works of literature in a classical education in the Liberal Arts.You can find out more about Joseph Pearce and his publications here.With thanks to Hartford College for organising Joseph Pearce's tour of Australia.Please consider becoming a founding donor for St John Henry Newman College, a new independent classical school in South Brisbane. Check out Difff's other podcast: Chiron, conversations about the past to help make sense of the present.And James' other podcast: The Art of Inquiry, inquiries into the nature of the world and humanity with expert level guests passionate about their field.Music: 'Inspiring Dreams' by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonCreative Commons CC BY 4.0
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61. Dr Simon Kennedy - Against Worldview
Dr Simon Kennedy joins the podcast to discuss his book Against Worldview. Critiquing the 'worldview project' as a governing intention of Christian education, Simon proposes an active growth in wisdom as an alternative to an intellectual formation of 'getting the right answers'. This podcast discusses virtue ethics, church history, sectarian differences in approaching education, and a whole lot more.You can get the book here.Please consider becoming a founding donor for St John Henry Newman College, a new independent classical school in South Brisbane. Check out Difff's other podcast: Chiron, conversations about the past to help make sense of the present.And James' other podcast: The Art of Inquiry, inquiries into the nature of the world and humanity with expert level guests passionate about their field.Music: 'Inspiring Dreams' by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonCreative Commons CC BY 4.0
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60. Schole Explained: Leisure, Worship, and the Right to Disconnect - Leisure, Part 5
In the final episode about Josef Pieper's Leisure the Basis of Culture, we discuss the connection between leisure and worship and why secular holidays don't cut it. We also compare the totally consuming world of work to the one ring to rule them all.Please support St John Henry Newman College by donating at www.newmancollege.qld.edu.auPlease consider becoming a founding donor for St John Henry Newman College, a new independent classical school in South Brisbane. Check out Difff's other podcast: Chiron, conversations about the past to help make sense of the present.And James' other podcast: The Art of Inquiry, inquiries into the nature of the world and humanity with expert level guests passionate about their field.Music: 'Inspiring Dreams' by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonCreative Commons CC BY 4.0
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59. Schole Explained: When it's Hard to Celebrate - Leisure, Part 4
Josef Pieper connects our ability for festival and celebration with schole and leisure. If in our schools we manage our celebrations and justify them with key learnings and outcomes, and asses their relative success or failure against a checklist, it's likely our celebrations have become subsumed into the life of work. Please consider becoming a founding donor for St John Henry Newman College, a new independent classical school in South Brisbane. Check out Difff's other podcast: Chiron, conversations about the past to help make sense of the present.And James' other podcast: The Art of Inquiry, inquiries into the nature of the world and humanity with expert level guests passionate about their field.Music: 'Inspiring Dreams' by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonCreative Commons CC BY 4.0
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58. Schole Explained: Acedia is the Leisure Killer - Leisure, Part 3
In Part 3 of the series on Leisure the Basis of Culture, the discussion is all about acedia and restlessness as the opposite to leisure.Please consider becoming a founding donor for St John Henry Newman College, a new independent classical school in South Brisbane. Check out Difff's other podcast: Chiron, conversations about the past to help make sense of the present.And James' other podcast: The Art of Inquiry, inquiries into the nature of the world and humanity with expert level guests passionate about their field.Music: 'Inspiring Dreams' by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonCreative Commons CC BY 4.0
Discussions about Classical and Liberal Arts education in Primary and Secondary schools in Australia. What is it, how it might be achieved, and most importantly, why it matters.
New Zealand