The Optimistic Curmudgeon

Chase Spears, host of Finding Your Spine, joins Josh to discuss his essay "Only a Conservative Military can Defend America." They discuss Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the role of the military, what it would take to have a conservative military, and where they both find hope for a brighter future. Woke is not yet done in the US military, because "personnel is policy." We also discuss Harvard, and why the US military is ending its War College fellowship with Harvard.

Finding Your Spine - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWhObhyW9BweItep_VZ-TmWcM4P_IW5WN

Only a Conservative Military can Defend America." - https://www.realcleardefense.com/2026/02/05/only_a_conservative_military_is_capable_of_defending_the_united_states_1163008.html 

Graham Dennis is a Dean of Academics for Veritas Academy and an elder in the CREC; he also holds a PhD in philosophy. In this wide ranging conversation, he introduces a particular way of reading culture through the lens of "procreative" and "decreative." From there, the conversation turns to C.S. Lewis, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength, gender, transgender, Phillip Rieff, Life among the Deathworks, Narnia, literary theory, Augustine's ordo amoris, and a host of other topics. Enjoy!

Nathan Gwinn of Freedom of Education tells his story as a teacher, a principal, and an author of the Franklin Standards, a new approach to reinvigorating science education.

The way we teach science matters. In avoiding biological truth, all kinds of social problems emerge. One primary way to counteract bad ideas is to rediscover the wonder and beauty that lie at the root of good scientific exploration. With discussion of birth, death, and sex, this is a conversation to enjoy.

Freedom in Education - https://freedomined.org/

Larissa Phillip's essay "Dreaming about Going Back to the Land? I did it" in  ⁨@thefreepress⁩  - https://www.thefp.com/p/larissa-phillips-going-back-to-farm-from-brooklyn 

The Franklin Standards: Model K-12 State Science Standards - https://www.nas.org/storage/app/media/Reports/Franklin%20Standards/Franklin_Standards_9.25.pdf 

Frank Clement of America's Christian Credit Union joins Josh for a discussion of classical education, Christian banking, and the role that financial institutions can play helping new organizations begin. Check out their work here: https://americaschristiancu.com/ 

Martin Cothran, co-founder of  @memoriapress , discusses his entry into classical education, the challenges facing classical education today, and the reason he and Cheryl Lowe founded Memoria Press. Cothran is the author of two logic books, many, many articles, and teaches for  @MemoriaCollege . We also discuss Kentucky politics, and reflect on the future of the classical education renewal movement. The liberal arts are essential to forming the next generation, and classical education is the best way for students to learn the timeless truths that form human potential into actuality.

Memoria Press: https://www.memoriapress.com/

Memoria College: https://memoriacollege.org/

Martin Cothran Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Martin-Cothran/author/B00J249LUA 

Junius Johnson discusses Edmund Spenser's great poem, The Faerie Queene. With a great focus on allegory, symbolism, pageantry, and characters, this conversation is a great place to start if you want to get into Spenser. And if you've made the journey to Faerie, this conversation will be a great refresher on the best poem in 16th century England! Redcrosse Knight, Una, Duessa, Archimago, Britomart, Venus, Cupid, Athegall, Arthur, the Garden of Adonis, the Cantos of Mutabilities, and more! When is the right age to read The Faerie Queene? How should one approach it? We discuss these questions, and a lot more.

Definitely check out Junius Johnson Academics - https://academics.juniusjohnson.com/

Here is Josh's preferred edition of The Faerie Queene - https://www.amazon.com/Spenser-Faerie-Queene-2nd-Edmund/dp/1405832819/ 

Josh interviews his students in Modern Communications as part of a bonus episode commemorating the Fifth of November. Guy Fawkes, traditions, integralism, constitutional order, "Jeeniors," and more. What happens when you have a good conversation with alert, well read students? Listen, and find out! 

And if you enjoy this one, be sure to check out Anya and Matthew's show, Broke but Balanced here: https://www.youtube.com/@BrokeButBalanced 

Thaddeus Kozinski makes a compelling case for why every student should read Plato's Republic with an excellent teacher. Plato discourses on justice, reality, the human condition, and highlights the possibilities philosophy extends for comprehending our place in the cosmos. Kozinski explicates the Allegory of the Cave, and illustrates throughout the conversation the importance of classical education for recovering a healthy civilization.

Dr. Kozinski's Books

Modernity as Apocalypse: Sacred Nihilism and the Counterfeits of Logos - https://www.amazon.com/Modernity-Apocalypse-Sacred-Nihilism-Counterfeits/dp/1621384837/

Covid 19 and the War Against Reality - https://www.amazon.com/Covid-19-War-Against-Reality/dp/B0F131LDHS/

Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thaddeus-J.-Kozinski/author/B00448NFJC?ccs_id=504bf5ee-4d59-43a5-b58d-8807a3692ed2 

Timothy Knotts of  @Classical_Conversations  explains the latest CC textbook: Reasoning Together Philosophy. He outlines the nature, tradition, and value of philosophy, highlighting the need for homeschool families to be well versed in philosophy. Along the way, he discusses the nature of classical education, the role classical ed plays in creating culture, and the need for increasing biblical literacy. With much discussion of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Rousseau, and a few others, this is a conversation not to miss! And be sure to check out Tim's other role as a founder of the New England Consortium of Classical Educators Conference!

Links: Classical Conversations: https://classicalconversations.com/

The New England Consortium of Classical Educators: https://www.newenglandcce.com/

Buy the book here: https://tinyurl.com/5569uhcy 

Larissa Phillips, columnist at  @thefreepress , shares her journey into and out of feminism. Raised in a radical Leftist family, Larissa experienced first hand the limitations of her own physiology. Over the course of her adulthood, she found peace and joy with her husband, her children, and now her farm. This is a rambling conversation that concludes with a discussion of Larissa's work teaching adults essentials of literacy. Check out her work via links below.

"How I Became a Wife" - https://www.thefp.com/p/larissa-phillips-becoming-a-wife-marriage

Larissa's Free Press author page: https://www.thefp.com/w/larissa-phillips

"Toward Ruin or Recovery" on  @Quillette  (Warning: paywalled) - https://quillette.com/2024/03/20/toward-ruin-or-recovery-celeste-marcus-liberties-journal-yascha-mounk-feminist-metoo/

The Volunteer Literacy Project - https://www.volunteerliteracyproject.org/