The Sower

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

In this episode Josh Bowman welcomes a group of fellow Ciceronians to celebrate the 100th episode of the Sower podcast, reflecting on where we’ve been and where we’re going. We specifically hear from Rachel Ferguson, Claire Aguda-Baker, William Batchelder IV, and Chris Anadale.

Support the Ciceronian Society: https://ciceroniansociety.org/give/

Links and Images:

Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/wCt4d8ZR8JI

Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/aRQ2Z4LAJqY

Fragile Neighborhoods - https://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Neighborhoods-Repairing-American-Society/dp/0316521396/

Sir Toast (Albert Norton) - https://albertnorton.substack.com/p/notes-from-omaha

Intellectual Discipleship - https://circeinstitute.org/blog/intellectual-discipleship/

Bleep Sound Effect - Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/film-special-effects-censor-beep-88052/

On Duties podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B7f66VCvfaF3PYETBIJG4AGMpanUNE3

Pietas journal - https://ciceroniansociety.org/journal/

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

Perspectives on Adam Smith's 1776 Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

Presentations by Erik Matson (CUA), Paul Mueller (AEIR), Jordan Ballor (CRCD), and John Robinson (JMU).

Audio recording of a panel from the 2026 Ciceronian Society Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, March 15, 2026.

0:00 The Sower Episode 99 Introduction by Christopher Anadale
1:00 Panel introduction by Erik Matson
2:58 Erik Matson: Theory, Reality, and Public Policy in The Wealth of Nations
18:41 Paul Mueller: The Continuing Relevance of Wealth of Nations to Public Policy 250 Years Later
34:32 Jordan Ballor: A Biblical Myth at the Origins of Smith's Wealth of Nations
49:43 John Robinson: Adam Smith and Pope(s) Leo on the Origin and Significance of Private Property

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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. Proposals due Sept 1, 2026: 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

In this episode, Josh Bowman welcomes Ben Peterson, assistant professor in the Department of Government and Criminal Justice at Abilene Christian University. We discuss his new book, Community, Character, and the Governance of the Social Commons: Sanctuaries of Order, published by Bloomsbury Press.

We specifically address notions of social poverty, the “social commons,” and how the church might play a role in renewing the social order.

Ben's Book. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/community-character-and-the-governance-of-the-social-commons-9781978770683/
https://www.amazon.com/Community-Character-Governance-Social-Commons/dp/1666960640

Bluey Short. https://disneynow.com/video/fd69ceb7-679f-459c-a6df-95149b968eef

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

Surgeon General Report on Loneliness. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

Fragile Neighborhoods. https://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Neighborhoods-Repairing-American-Society/dp/0316521396

Men Without Work. https://www.amazon.com/Men-Without-Work-Post-Pandemic-Threats/dp/1599475979

Of Rule and Revenue. https://www.amazon.com/Revenue-California-Social-Political-Economy/dp/0520067509

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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. Proposals due Sept 1, 2026: 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