The Sower

Lessons in statesmanship from American and international politics.

Presentations by Richard Jordan (Baylor University), David Clinton (Baylor University), and Jordan Cash (Michigan State University).

Video recording of a panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 13, 2026.

0:00 The Sower Episode 110 Introduction by Christopher Anadale
0:30 Panel Introduction by Tom Pope
1:47 Richard Jordan, Prudence and Providence
19:31 David Clinton, James Brown Scott's Changing Views on International Society and the Prospects for Peace
47:18 Jordan Cash, Completing the Constitution: Competing Logics in the First Congress

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2027 Colloquium on Uncivil Discourse, January 23-24 in Scottsdale, AZ: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conferences/colloquium2027/

2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13, Registration is now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/2027-conference-registration/

Apply to enroll in Logres Institute courses: https://www.logresinstitute.org/enroll-populi

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

Cicero's influence on Coriolanus & Liberal Education in The Tempest

Presentations by Katherine Bradshaw (Ancient Language Institute) and Ted Richards (University of Mississippi).

Video recording of a panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 13, 2026.

0:00 The Sower Episode 109 Introduction by Christopher Anadale
2:18 Katherine Bradshaw, The Ciceronian Tragedy of Shakespeare's Coriolanus
22:13 Ted Richards, For the Liberal Arts Without Parallel: Prospero's Practical Reason

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2027 Colloquium on Uncivil Discourse, January 23-24 in Scottsdale, AZ: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conferences/colloquium2027/

2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13, Registration is now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/2027-conference-registration/

Apply to enroll in Logres Institute courses: https://www.logresinstitute.org/enroll-populi

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

In this episode Josh Bowman welcomes Ciceronian Society President James Patterson, and his co-author Thomas Howes, to discuss their recent book, Why Postliberalism Failed, published by the Acton Institute.

Why Postliberalism Failed: https://shop.acton.org/collections/featured-products/products/why-postliberalism-failed

James M. Patterson is an Associate Professor in the Baker School of Public Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is also a research fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy, and contributing editor and podcast host at Law & Liberty. He is the author of Religion in the Public Square: Sheen, King, Falwell, oh yeah…he’s also President of the Ciceronian Society. 

Thomas D. Howes is Editor-in-Chief of The Vital Center, founder of the Reagan Caucus and Reagan Caucus Action, and a Lecturer in Politics at Princeton University.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

2026 Fall Symposium: "Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World." October 22-24, 2026 in Holland, Michigan. Registration is now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/

2027 Colloquium on Uncivil Discourse, January 23-24, 2027 in Scottsdale, Arizona: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conferences/colloquium2027/

2027 Spring Conference, March 11-13, 2027 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Registration is now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/2027-conference-registration/

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Apply to enroll in Logres Institute courses: https://www.logresinstitute.org/enroll-populi

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

Is artificial intelligence a threat to human(e) culture? In this episode of The Sower, Ethan Alexander-Davey presents his critique of the AI juggernaut and suggests steps to mitigate the damage it is doing. Based on his June 2026 presentation to the Academy of Philosophy and Letters.

Ethan Alexander-Davey is associate professor of political science at Campbell University, where he teaches all the courses on political theory and constitutional law. He is co-editor, with Richard Avramenko, of Aristocratic Souls in Democratic Times, and Aristocratic Voices: Forgotten Arguments about Virtue Authority and Inequality, both published by Lexington Books.

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

In this episode, Josh Bowman interviews Dr. Sean Keilen, Professor of Literature at UC Santa Cruz and the founder of Shakespeare Workshop. Professor Keilen is the Head of Dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare as well, and his most recent book is Shakespeare’s Scholars: Three Lessons from the Liberal Arts, published by Princeton University Press. We focus on that particular work, as well as Shakespeare’s plays, Love’s Labors Lost and The Tempest. We also talk about the liberal arts, the study of literature, and the life of scholars generally.

Sean’s book, Shakespeare’s Scholars: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691272634/shakespeares-scholars

More about Sean: https://campusdirectory.ucsc.edu/cd_detail?uid=keilen

Santa Cruz Shakespeare: https://santacruzshakespeare.org/

Shakespeare Workshop at UC Santa Cruz: https://thi.ucsc.edu/centers/shakespeare-workshop/

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

On the value of place and the future of localism in American politics.

Presentations by Tyler Moore (University of South Dakota), Wayne Braudrick (Frisco Bible Church), George Harrell (The George Buchanan Forum), and Luke Sheahan (Duquesne University).

Video recording of a panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 13, 2026.

0:00 The Sower Episode 105 Introduction by Christopher Anadale
0:45 Panel introduction by William Batchelder
4:04 Tyler Moore, What is Localism and Why Do We Need It?
20:43 Wayne Braudrick, A Biblical Place Study from John 1-2
35:57 George Harrell, From Nomads to Natives -- Recovering a Sacramental Vision of Place
51:41 Luke Sheahan, A Right to Community: Green v. Miss USA, the Assembly Clause, and Associated Self-Government

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2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI. Registration open through October 5, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/

2027 Colloquium on Uncivil Discourse, January 23-24 in Scottsdale, AZ: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conferences/colloquium2027/

2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13, Registration is now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/2027-conference-registration/

Apply to enroll in Logres Institute courses: https://www.logresinstitute.org/enroll-populi

About the Logres Institute: https://www.logresinstitute.org/

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

In this episode, Josh Bowman welcomes Dr. Jared Ortiz, professor of Religion at Hope College and Founder of the Saint Benedict Institute. We discuss the Institute as well as a new project of Jared’s, reflecting on sacramental and liturgical metaphors of baseball.

Saint Benedict Institute: https://www.saintbenedictinstitute.org/

More about Jared: https://hope.edu/directory/people/ortiz-jared/index.html

Hope College: https://hope.edu/

Constructing the Universe: https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Constructing-Universe-Mathematical/dp/0060926716

The Chosen: https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Novel-Chaim-Potok/dp/0449213447

Art Can Help: https://artcanhelp.substack.com/

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

In this episode Josh Bowman welcomes Dr. Andrew Mitchell of Grove City College, and his student Hannah, to discuss the Lux Mea Intercollegiate Colloquium held in October.

This is a great opportunity for faculty and staff from various honors colleges to read and think together, and to experience a taste of the life of the mind. The Ciceronian Society is proud to sponsor this event.

Register for the Lux Mea Colloquium: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1472/17/interior.aspx?sid=1472&gid=1&pgid=5021&cid=17222&fid=17222

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2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI. Registration open through October 5, 2026: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/

2027 Colloquium on Uncivil Discourse, January 23-24 in Scottsdale, AZ: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conferences/colloquium2027/

2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13, Registration is now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/2027-conference-registration/

Apply to enroll in Logres Institute courses: https://www.logresinstitute.org/enroll-populi

About the Logres Institute: https://www.logresinstitute.org/

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

In this episode Josh Bowman welcomes a selection of the instructors serving in the Ciceronian Society’s new Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies. We talk about our seminar style, the opportunities and challenges of teaching online, and kinds of readings and courses that excite us, and what it means to be a good student. Joining this particular episode we have Josh Herring, Annie Crawford, Sean Hadley, and Tracey Leary.

About the Logres Institute: https://www.logresinstitute.org/

Apply to enroll in Logres Institute courses: https://www.logresinstitute.org/enroll-populi

The Sower Episode 87, introducing the Logres Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzgJ_YLCCHs

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The 2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI. Registration now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/

Also, our 2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13, 2027

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To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

The continuing relevance of C.S. Lewis to our own time and place. 

Presentations by Rod Miller (Hendrix College) and Clayton Carver (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary).

Audio recording of a panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 14, 2026.

0:00 The Sower Episode 101 Introduction by Christopher Anadale
0:35 Rod Miller: That Hideous Job
16:21 Clayton Carver: The Pursuit of Happiness: A Lewisian Perspective on the American Dream

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The 2026 Fall Symposium: “Scholars and Educators in a Brave New World”, Oct 22-24 in Holland, MI. Registration now open: https://ciceroniansociety.org/fall-symposium/

The 2027 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach, VA, March 11-13. https://ciceroniansociety.org/conference-spring/call-for-conference-papers/

To learn more about the Ciceronian Society, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and to make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

Check out our other weekly podcast, Cicero On Duties: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3