

Like the early philosophers and theologians before us, we are seeking to nourish our souls, discover the truth, and live in the world, but not of it. Welcome to the Magnus Podcast where John Johnson and Larissa Bianco hope to connect contemporary thinkers to conversations from the catacombs in the classical, Christian tradition before us. The Magnus Podcast is a production of the Albertus Magnus Institute, Inc. Dedicated to the promotion of another sort of learning, the Albertus Magnus Institute seeks to invite all into the truth, ”Omnes ad Veritatem.”
Like the early philosophers and theologians before us, we are seeking to nourish our souls, discover the truth, and live in the world, but not of it. Welcome to the Magnus Podcast where John Johnson and Larissa Bianco hope to connect contemporary thinkers to conversations from the catacombs in the classical, Christian tradition before us. The Magnus Podcast is a production of the Albertus Magnus Institute, Inc. Dedicated to the promotion of another sort of learning, the Albertus Magnus Institute seeks to invite all into the truth, ”Omnes ad Veritatem.”
Episodes

Monday Aug 25, 2025
Ep. 113 - Introductory Seminar: The Iliad and the Odyssey
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Please enjoy listening in on the first seminar of the first Magnus Cohort!
The 2027 Cohort began their three year journey with Dr. David Arias in September of 2024, and they will finish their third year in the summer of 2027!
The 2028 Cohort will begin this September. Do you want to be apart of something like this? Find out how you can join the 2028 Cohort this Fall!

Friday Aug 15, 2025
Ep. 112 - On A Midsummer Night's Dream
Friday Aug 15, 2025
Friday Aug 15, 2025
Dr. Travis Cooper recently facilitated this lively discussion on Shakespeares classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream.
If you weren't there live, here is your chance to listen!
At AMI, we believe in the power of great questions that lead to more questions, in an education that focuses on discernment and freedom.
Senior Fellow, Dr. Jospeh Hattrup sums it up beautifully,
"In our culture nowadays... there's just so much of a reality where you're being fed ideas. This is what you're supposed to think about the world. This is what you're supposed to think about all sorts of human issues- whatever they might be, political, moral, religious. There's so many questions.
And it really is a serious question... in developing yourself as a person in your education... Am I really developing myself into somebody who sees truth as independent of fashion, independent of fads, independent of current events? Can I see it... as timeless and everlasting, but as something that I can really possess with other people as a common good through the discipline of my own mind?
Do you want this form of education for yourself? See how the Magnus Fellowship can provide just such an education.

Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
Ep. 111 - Ad Fontes: Latin, Tradition & Faith
Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
What is the value of Latin, really?
John Johnson joins Father Peter Hannah to discuss why all the cool people are studying Latin, as well as the Novus Ordo vs traditional Latin mass; Father Peter reminds us how latin is a time honored way to return our culture to the traditions we have discarded. They also discuss his experience in the Magnus Fellowship teaching the Latin course that broke the internet.
Watch the first of 8 classes from Introduction to Ecclesial Latin here:
Join the Fellowship today!

Friday Jul 04, 2025
Ep. 110 - History: The Liberal Art
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Happy 4th of July!
Celebrate our country’s independence with this extra special discussion with Dr. Richard Ferrier, tutor at Thomas Aquinas College. John Johnson and Dr. Ferrier discuss the complex question of, “Is history a liberal art?” They discuss this question by looking closely at American rhetoric, creeds, conspiracies, great people and cornerstone events from our founding until now.
If you can’t listen in one go, break it up. You don’t want to miss the end.
Calvin Coolidge’s speech on the 150th anniversary of our country’s independence: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-the-celebration-the-150th-anniversary-the-declaration-independence-philadelphia
Join the Magnus Fellowship today!

Monday Jun 30, 2025
Ep. 109 - AI and the Free Mind Part II
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
John is back to discuss AI and the digital world, this time with AI thought leader and entrepreneur, Drago Dimitrov. They discuss how binary AI fits into our symbolic world and continue to tackle the difficult question, “How should Catholic Christians and liberal artists respond to this instrumental end of AI?”
Follow Drago on X: @Dragodimitrov
holyhabits.app

Saturday May 24, 2025
Ep. 108 - AI and the Free Mind Part I
Saturday May 24, 2025
Saturday May 24, 2025
Ryan Khurana, AI technologist, strategist, and thought leader, joins John Johnson to discuss AI and the digital world. They compare the personhood, creativity, and relationships gifted to man to the counterfeit personhood of AI. They begin to tackle the difficult question, “How should Catholic Christians and liberal artists rightly respond to the instrument that is AI?”
Stay tuned for Part II of the AI conversation with another special guest.
Join the Fellowship today!
magnusinstitute.org/fellowship

Tuesday May 13, 2025
Ep. 107 - A Community of Learning for Liberal Education
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
“Of all the forms of education, there is one that is best and most perfected and that education has come to be known as liberal education.” - Dr. David Arias
The Magnus Podcast season 5 has arrived! We open with the recording of our recent webinar where we discussed our Cohort Program and the value of liberal education with Dr. Joseph Hattrup, Dr. David Arias, and AMI's Larissa Bianco.
Magnusinstitute.org/institute to learn more!

Friday Dec 20, 2024
Ep. 106 - What is Knowing?
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Friday Dec 20, 2024
How do we know that what we know is true? What does it mean to participate in the truth? What is the object of the will?
Dr. Thaddeus Kozinki joins John to discuss Plato’s divided Line and the levels of being and knowledge.
Read his article Plato and Participation
Learn more about the Albertus Magnus Institute!
Learn more about Father Owen Carroll

Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Ep. 105 - Consecration of Self: Understanding the Order of Techne and Technology
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Are digital tools inherently bad? How should we respond to the problem of tech? How do we know if what we are building is good?
Don't be a tool...just use one. Join John Johnson and Austin Klise, the founder of Klise Consulting as they discuss techne and technology and the implications therein.
You can find Austin @ kliseconsulting.com
Learn more about the Albertus Magnus Institute!
Learn more about Father Owen Carroll

Monday Nov 25, 2024
Ep. 104 - The Dignity of a Liberal Artist
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Join John Johnson and Angel Adams Parham as they have a discussion about race befitting the dignity of a liberal artist.
Angel Adams Parham is Associate Professor of Sociology, senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, and Associate Director for the major in Political and Social Thought at the University of Virginia. Through her research in historical sociology, she engages in inquiry that examines the past in order to better understand how to live well in the present and envision wisely for the future.
Learn more about the Albertus Magnus Institute!
Learn more about Father Owen Carroll