Ascend - The Great Books Podcast

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick delivers an unapologetically curmudgeonly critique of Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey.
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23 Raw Thoughts on the New Odyssey Movie https://www.patreon.com/greatbooks/posts/23-quick-on-164190324
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Fresh off a twelve-week deep dive into Homer’s epic with thousands of listeners, Deacon argues that the movie is no mere adaptation but a modern ideological rewriting that flattens Homer’s rich characters, mutes the divine, and replaces sacred myth with progressive lessons about shame, war, race, and power.
From Odysseus reduced to a guilt-racked figure who “defies the gods,” to the deliberate recasting and reframing of Helen, Menelaus, Circe, Athena, and even guest-friendship itself, Deacon contends that Nolan’s version marries cultural illiteracy with calculated compromise—and that both the film and the culture’s eager defense of it reveal far more about us than about Homer.
Yet this is more than a film review. Deacon uses the movie as a lens to examine how stories shape a civilization’s soul, why myths matter more than mere fiction, and why Christians and lovers of the Western tradition must resist the slow leftward drift of endless compromise.
SCHEDULE
July 28, 2026 - Holy Eros: An exploration of eros in Plato, the Bible, and Christian thought
August 4, 2026 - Plato's Hipparchus
August 11, 2026 - Plato's Lovers
August 18, 2026 - Plato's Hippias Minor
August 25, 2026 - Plato's Ion
September 1, 2026 - Enduring Chill by Flannery O’Connor
September 8, 2026 - Red Shadows by Robert E. Howard
September 15, 2026 - Chivalry by Neil Gaiman
CHAPTERS (Updated)
00:00 — Intro: why this review matters
01:00 — Piety toward Homer and the problem with the film
03:05 — Why the movie is not a “conservative Trojan horse”
05:05 — The danger of relativism and compromise
07:10 — Myth vs. fiction: why adaptation matters
10:10 — Odysseus as a shame-filled hero
12:50 — Menelaus, Helen, and the film’s cultural messaging
15:30 — How Nolan flattens characters and tension
18:05 — Penelope and the loss of the rooted-bed scene
21:10 — Casting, modern language, and suspension of disbelief
23:55 — Calypso and the removal of Odysseus’s moral triumph
26:25 — Athena as shame and post-traumatic projection
29:55 — Nolan’s treatment of the Trojan War
32:55 — The Lystragonians and armor/costume criticism
35:05 — The cult of Nolan vs. the cult of Homer
37:00 — Gods, superstition, and the muted divine
39:15 — The slaughter of the suitors
41:10 — Guest-friendship, Xenia, and Christian themes
43:00 — Circe, the deer, and the soul of the crew
44:55 — Pacing, emotional investment, and the bard
KEYWORDS
Christopher Nolan Odyssey movie review, Homer Odyssey film adaptation critique, Ascend the Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, cultural illiteracy in modern cinema, myth versus fiction in storytelling, Odysseus shame and guilt, Nolan casting controversies Helen Menelaus, Circe Athena Penelope Telemachus character changes, xenia guest friendship Golden Rule, Trojan War regret in film, Defy the Gods tagline analysis, classical education and Great Books, piety toward Homer, liberalism compromise in culture, upcoming Plato Republic study, Holy Eros episode, short Platonic dialogues Hipparchus Lovers Hippias Minor Ion, Short Story September Flannery O’Connor Robert E. Howard Neil Gaiman Melville, and Western civilization sacred myths.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick hosts Dr. Patrick Deneen to discuss his NEW BOOK: The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.
Pick up the AMERICAN ODYSSEY out today!
https://a.co/d/01rpYuwt
23 Observations on the new Christopher Nolan Odyssey Movie
https://www.patreon.com/greatbooks/posts/23-quick-on-164190324
In this special episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Garlick welcomes back renowned Notre Dame political thinker Dr. Patrick Deneen—author of Why Liberalism Failed and Regime Change—to celebrate the release of his brand-new book, The American Odyssey: What an Ancient Story Reveals About Our Divided Souls.
Fresh off a 12-week deep dive into Homer’s epic, the conversation reveals why Odysseus is the ultimate “proto-American” hero: a restless seeker torn between the hunger for home and the irresistible call of the frontier. Deneen traces this tension from the ancient text through Dante’s damning portrayal of Odysseus as a villain of forbidden knowledge, to the Renaissance reinvention of him as the triumphant explorer who metaphorically discovers America itself.
What makes this episode unmissable is how Deneen unlocks Aristotle’s radical claim that humans are political animals precisely because we are neither beasts nor gods, the “citylessness” that turns Ithaca into a Cyclopean free-for-all, and the startling parallels between Odysseus’ refusal of immortality and Huck Finn’s decision to “go to hell.”
Pairing iconic American stories like The Wizard of Oz, Field of Dreams, and Huckleberry Finn with Homer’s timeless episodes, Deneen shows that the Western tradition isn’t locked in dusty classics—it’s alive in our movies, novels, and national character, especially as America marks its 250th anniversary. Dive in and discover how an ancient tale of departure and return still maps the divided soul of a nation that can’t stop exploring… or longing for home.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Patrick Deneen and the Book
01:54 Deneen's Return to Homer and the Odyssey
03:59 Odysseus as a Proto-American Figure
06:59 The Tension Between Flourishing and Discontent
12:07 Odysseus and the Pioneering Spirit of America
19:02 The Shift in Odysseus' Image from Medieval to Renaissance
27:01 Odysseus as a Figure of Forbidden Knowledge
34:08 The Connection Between Odysseus and Columbus
40:02 The Polis and Citylessness in Homer and Aristotle
48:07 The Return of the Polis and the Homecoming
56:06 Huckleberry Finn as an Odyssean American Hero
59:45 The Western Tradition in Popular Culture
Key words: Ascend Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick, Dr Patrick Deneen, The American Odyssey book, Homer Odyssey, Odysseus proto-American hero, Why Liberalism Failed, Regime Change, Western tradition, Aristotle Politics, man political animal, apolis citylessness, Dante Inferno Odysseus villain, Renaissance explorers, Columbus Amerigo Vespucci, American character, pioneering spirit, frontier homecoming, Calypso immortality, Huckleberry Finn, Field of Dreams, Wizard of Oz, 250th anniversary Declaration of Independence, Notre Dame political science, Homeric studies, great books podcast, Platonic dialogues, American soul, divided souls, political theory, classical literature, Americana, Odyssey episodes.

Today, we end our 12-week study of the Odyssey with a discussion on Books 23-24 with Dr. Justin Jackson and Dr. Benedict Whalen of Hillsdale College alongside host, Dcn. Harrison Garlick.
There is yelling, laughter, cursing, and general chaos--but more of Homer's truth is unearthed in the process.
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Check out Dr. Justin Jackson's Substack working through the Bible.
Check out Dr. Justin Whalen at Hillsdale College.
The long-awaited homecoming unfolds with Odysseus and Penelope's emotional reunion, the famous test of the immovable olive-tree bed, and the climactic confrontation with the suitors' vengeful families. The conversation crackles with insight as the guests unpack Penelope's cunning, Odysseus' complex character, parallels to Achilles and Heracles, and the poem's meditation on fidelity, mortality, justice, and the costs of homecoming.
Dr. Jackson brings contrarian fire—challenging heroic ideals, celebrating the domestic, and wrestling openly with whether Odysseus' reckoning is justice or raw revenge—while Dr. Whalen offers sharp textual observations on themes of rootedness, temptation, and the poem's unresolved tensions.
Expect yelling, laughter, heartfelt disagreement, and the kind of raw intellectual energy that makes great books come alive.
Whether you’ve followed the whole series or are just dipping in, this capstone will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the Odyssey. Stick around after the discussion for a look ahead at Plato’s Republic and more. If you love the Great Books, this is unmissable.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Finishing the Odyssey Journey
04:46 - Host Welcome & Episode Setup
06:27 - Guest Introductions: Dr. Justin Jackson & Dr. Benedict Whalen
07:04 - Dr. Jackson’s New Book on Reading Literature
16:28 - Diving into Book 23: Penelope Learns Odysseus Has Returned
21:07 - Penelope’s Skepticism & the Secret Signs
25:05 - The Great Rooted Bed Test & Recognition Scene
36:36 - Odysseus & Penelope Reunion, Emotional Moments
47:05 - The Final Labor & Comparison to Heracles
59:11 - Temptations: Calypso, Nausicaa & Penelope
1:11:32 - Transition to Book 24: Laertes & the Avenging Families
1:15:26 - Achilles & Agamemnon in the Underworld
1:35:02 - Reunion with Laertes & Proof Scenes
1:49:10 - Dolius, the Final Battle & Deus Ex Machina Ending
2:11:04 - Reflections on Justice, Revenge & the Poem’s Message
2:16:50 - Closing Thoughts & Upcoming Episodes
Keywords
Odyssey Books 23 and 24, Homer's Odyssey finale, Odysseus Penelope reunion, rooted bed test, immovable olive tree bed, suitors slaughter, Ithaca homecoming, Penelope cunning, Odysseus homecoming, Great Books podcast, Ascend podcast, Hillsdale College professors, Dr. Justin Jackson, Dr. Benedict Whalen, Homer teacher philosopher, Telemachus maturation, Achilles Agamemnon underworld, Laertes reunion, Poseidon penitential journey, justice vs revenge Odyssey, classical literature podcast, Western canon Odyssey analysis, father son reunion Odyssey, Penelope faithfulness, heroic fate comparison, Plato Republic preview.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick welcomes Dr. Alex Priou to discuss Book 22 of the Odyssey, the Slaughter of the Suitors.
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Check out Dr. Priou's new Substack: The Close Read.
What happens in Book 22?
Odysseus stands at the threshold of his home, cries out to Apollo, and lets loose an arrow straight through the neck of Antinous (22.15). Chaos erupts in the hall as bread and meats are soaked in a swirl of bloody filth (22.21). Eurymachus attempts to broker a truce with Odysseus, but it is rejected (22.57); he then calls the suitors to arms and is slaughtered (22.73). Telemachus brings armor and weapons to his father, the swineherd, and the cowherd (22.121), but the goatherd sneaks weapons to the suitors (22.151).
On his second run, the cowherd and swineherd intercept the goatherd, tie him up, and hang him from the rafters (22.196). Athena first arrives in the guise of Mentor (22.217) and then perches like a sparrow on the rafters, assisting Odysseus with her man-destroying shield of thunder (22.250). The suitors fall into panicked madness as Odysseus and his men wheel into the slaughter, slashing left and right, with grisly screams breaking from cracked skulls and the floor awash with blood (22.311).
Odysseus spares the bard and the herald but shows no mercy to the prophet (22.327). The slaughter complete, Eurycleia summons the disloyal female servants, who help carry out the corpses and clean the gore (22.458–471). Telemachus oversees the disloyal women being slowly hanged in the courtyard—a pitiful, ghastly death (22.487)—while the goatherd is retrieved and mutilated to death by the swineherd and cowherd (22.500). Odysseus purifies his home with fire and brimstone (22.518), and the book ends with the loyal maidservants surrounding their king as he breaks down and weeps (22.528).
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
04:40 Exploring the Odyssey: Book 22 Overview
06:58 The Role of the Gods in the Odyssey
09:55 Justice and Revenge in the Slaughter of the Suitors
12:54 Imagery of Food and Gore in Homer
14:49 The Cyclops Narrative and Guest Friendship
18:51 Antinous: The First Death and Its Implications
22:36 The Role of Recognition in Justice
25:05 Eurimachus and the Plea for Mercy
29:18 Piety and the Restoration of Order
32:53 The Political Landscape of Ithaca
33:48 Purging and the New Order in Ithaca
34:18 The Balance of Power and Leadership Lessons
35:24 Pedagogical Journeys: Odysseus and His Men
37:39 Divine Endorsement and the Purging of the Unworthy
39:35 Odysseus's Transformation: From Arrogance to Understanding
41:36 The Role of Recognition in Identity
43:08 The Consequences of Identity and Wisdom
46:29 The Tragedy of Odysseus and Penelope
48:42 Telemachus's Growth and Inexperience
53:12 Divine Justice and the Nature of the Fight
58:11 The Role of Prophecy and Piety in Justice
01:05:23 The Nature of Piety and Accountability
01:06:59 Eros and the Path to Ascent
01:09:52 Self-Reflection and the Nature of Desire
01:13:10 Justice and the Fate of the Maidservants
01:23:36 The Consequences of Disloyalty
01:30:37 Recognition and Political Rule
Discussion:
Dr. Priou and Dcn. Garlick examine the justice of the slaughter, noting that while Antinous dies without recognizing Odysseus, the goatherd Melanthius suffers one of the most gruesome tortures in Homer—strung up and mutilated in language echoing the barbaric king Echetus. They discuss the hanging of the disloyal maidservants, Telemachus’s role in their execution, and why such violence may be necessary to purge disloyalty and restore order. Key themes include the restoration of piety, the shift from a decayed oligarchic rule by the suitors to a new natural aristocracy involving loyal servants, Odysseus’ pedagogical journey, and the tension between recognition, glory, and the establishment of a stable political regime supported by fear of the gods.
Overall, the episode portrays Homer as a profound teacher on the ugly necessities of justice and political founding.
The speakers reflect on how the book repudiates certain Iliadic values like vaunting over the slain, emphasizes cleansing and purification, and sets the stage for the final books. Dr. Priou highlights Odysseus’s cunning, the limits of rhetoric, and the need to curtail eros for civilized life, while both Dr. Priou and Dcn. Garlick encourage listeners to confront uncomfortable questions about revenge, mercy, and the role of divine and human violence in re-founding a polity.
Next week our 12-week study of the Odyssey ends with Books 23-24!

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, we are discussing Books 20 & 21 with Mr. Thomas Lackey and Dr. Frank Grabowski.
NEW ARTICLE: Why Should Christians Read Homer?
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In this episode of Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and guests Dr. Frank Grabowski and Thomas Lackey dive into Books 20 and 21 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the stage is set for the long-awaited slaughter of the suitors. The portents multiply: Theoclymenus’s terrifying vision of the palace drenched in blood and gore, Athena’s divine orchestration, and Penelope’s masterful test with Odysseus’s legendary bow. Amid feasts for Apollo, disloyal servants, and growing frenzy, Odysseus the beggar masters his patience while Telemachus comes fully into his own—echoing the father-son reunion and the maturation arc that began in Book 2.
The conversation has rich insights on Homeric anthropology, the thumos (spirited), xenia’s sacred bonds, ritual symbolism, and the limits of repentance under divine justice.
Listeners will relish the similes, prophecies ignored at peril, subtle Christological resonances, and the masterful dramatic pause Homer builds before the violence erupts in Book 22. Whether you’re tracking Odysseus’s cunning, Telemachus’s growth, or the poem’s deeper moral and theological layers, this episode delivers fresh appreciation for why the Odyssey endures.
Don’t miss it—especially with Dr. Patrick Deneen joining soon to connect the epic to our own age.
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