Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

Vainglory isn’t just about wanting attention — it’s one of the seven deadly sins that quietly poisons everyday life. In this episode, we dig into the messy fallout it creates: discord, obstinacy, the need to be “different” just to stand out, even hypocrisy. These aren’t abstract ideas; they’re the habits that make living with each other harder than it needs to be. If you’ve ever wondered why small conflicts spiral, why apologies never come, or why tension lingers in the air, this episode shows how vainglory sits at the root of it all.Notes:

Read the relevant Articles from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 132, Article 4. Whether vainglory is a capital vice.

Part 2 of 2, Question 132, Article 5. Whether the daughters of vainglory are suitably reckoned to be disobedience, boastfulness, hypocrisy, contention, obstinacy, discord, and love of novelties?

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

Glory isn’t the problem — empty glory is. In this episode, we break down the vice of vainglory and why it’s everywhere today, especially online. You’ll hear what makes the desire for glory praiseworthy, what makes it hollow, and how to think about recognition in a way that doesn’t backfire. If you want a practical guide to avoiding empty applause while still aiming at real excellence, this one’s for you.Notes:

Read the relevant Articles from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 132, Article 1. Whether the desire of glory is a sin.

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

Most people assume ambition is harmless — even admirable. But once you pin down what ambition actually is, the picture changes fast. In this episode, we break open a definition that reveals why ambition can cross the line into sin, and why the hunger for honour is far trickier than it looks. We also dig into the surprising way prestige can be used for someone else’s good, not your own. If you’ve ever wondered whether honour can be handled responsibly, this one is worth your time.

Notes

Read the relevant Articles from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 131, Article 1. Whether ambition is a sin.

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

We talk about “respecting nature” all the time — the oceans, the forests, the planet. But what about human nature? In this episode, we take a hard look at the sin of presumption — the temptation to push past our limits and manipulate what’s meant to be received, not redesigned. It’s the arrogance of trying to be more than human, and the cost is always the same: we lose touch with what makes us human at all. Along the way, we debunk the myth of “my body, my choice”, explore why the pursuit of virtue isn’t a solo sport, and why having a moral “coach” matters as much for the soul as it does in the gym.

Notes

Read the relevant Articles from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 130, Article 1. Whether presumption is a sin.

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

Magnanimity might sound lofty, but it’s meant to be lived. In this episode, we dig into the hidden practical wisdom of Aquinas’s Summa —the kind that’s tucked between the objections and replies. Step by step, we uncover some of the practical elements of this virtuous desire for honour. But this isn’t a passive listen: to really get it, you’ll need to read along, wrestle with the text yourself, and catch the insights I can only gesture toward in the episode. The links are in the show notes below —bring your curiosity and your courage.

Notes:

Read the relevant Articles from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 129, Article 3. Whether magnanimity is a virtue.

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

We all want to be respected, admired, even celebrated—but that craving can easily twist into vanity. In this episode, we go straight to the heart of the tension between ambition and humility and uncover the forgotten virtue that helps us balance the two: magnanimity. It’s the greatness of soul that aims high without losing humility—the art of desiring honor for the right reasons, and in the right measure. We explore why honor alone can never make a person happy, what true recognition actually looks like, and how magnanimity transforms our hunger for esteem into the pursuit of genuine excellence.

Read the relevant Articles from the Summa Theologica here:

The first article we discuss:

Part 1 of 2, Question 2, Article 2. Whether man’s happiness consists in honours.

The second article we discuss:

Part 2 of 2, Question 129, Article 1. Whether magnanimity is about honours.

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

We love to talk about resilience or fortitude —but most of us have no idea what it really looks like. It isn’t just grit. It isn’t just endurance. And it definitely isn’t pretending you’re fine when you’re not. In this episode, we unpack the many faces of resilience—from patience and perseverance to the forgotten virtues of magnificence and magnanimity. Each reveals a different way of holding your ground when life hits hard. Knowing the difference isn’t academic—it’s practical power. Because once you see the shape your resilience takes, you can stop confusing passivity for patience, or stubbornness for strength—and start using the right kind of toughness when it actually matters.

Read the relevant Article from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 128, Article 1. Whether the parts of fortitude are suitably assigned?

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

Fear is supposed to protect us—but what if it’s the very thing that’s killing our courage?

In this episode, we pull fear apart and find two very different forces at work: one that keeps us alive, and one that keeps us from living. The first warns us of danger. The second whispers excuses. It silences voices, weakens conviction, and turns leaders into bystanders. We explore how fear—when left unchecked—becomes more than hesitation; it becomes moral failure.

If you’ve ever found yourself holding back because of what others might think, this episode will make you question whether that fear is just natural… or something much darker.

Read the relevant Article from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 125, Article 1. Whether fear is a sin?

Love this content? Become a paying subscriber and help create more.

Support via Substack (from $5 a month) | Support on Patreon (from $1 a month)

Thank you !

When we hear the word martyrdom, we often imagine distant lands and people caught in the grip of extremists. But martyrdom isn’t only a story that happens “somewhere else.” In this episode, we uncover the unexpected faces of martyrdom in our own communities, exploring how sacrifice, suffering, and the pursuit of meaning even unto death manifest much closer to home.

Prepare to challenge assumptions, widen perspectives, and see how the concept of martyrdom is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

Read the relevant Article from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 124, Article 5. Whether faith alone is the cause of martyrdom?

Please support the creation of more episodes like this by signing up as a paying member on Patreon or right here on Substack. Your support would mean the world to me! Thank you!

Doing good is supposed to make us feel good , right?

WRONG!

Let's be honest. Doing good doesn't always give us a warm fuzzy feeling. In fact, it often down-right sucks. But why is that the case? Find out in this episode of "Summa Made Simple", where we discuss why doing the right thing isn't usually pleasant and delightful.

Read the relevant Article from the Summa Theologica here:

Part 2 of 2, Question 123, Article 8. Whether the brave man delights in his act?

Please support the creation of more episodes like this by signing up as a paying member on Patreon. Your support would mean the world to me! Thank you!