Ascend - The Great Books Podcast

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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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
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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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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.
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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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Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick and Dr. Frank Grabowski dive into Books 17–19 of Homer’s Odyssey, where the disguised king returns to Ithaca as a beggar.
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The conversation explores iconic moments like Odysseus’s heartbreaking reunion with his loyal dog Argos, the tense first dialogue with Penelope that raises fascinating questions about what she truly knows or suspects, and the escalating violations of xenia by the suitors. Listeners will appreciate the rich analysis of loyalty as the ultimate standard, Odysseus’s hard-won maturation in temperance and piety, and striking contrasts between faithful servants like Eumaeus and disloyal figures like Melanthius.
Homer emerges here as both poet and philosopher, using these scenes to probe justice, the nature of heroism, the city at peace, and the interplay of fate and human choice.
With Athena guiding events and the tension building toward the suitors’ doom, Deacon and Dr. Grabowski illuminate how Odysseus’ trials have prepared him not just for revenge, but for restoring order.
Whether you’re new to the epic or a longtime reader, this episode offers fresh insights that make the ancient story feel urgently relevant. Don’t miss it—subscribe and join the community as the Odyssey study continues toward its dramatic climax!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Odyssey Study
04:30 The Role of Penelope and Theoclymenus
07:14 Contrasting Characters: Eumaeus and Melanthius
10:28 Odysseus' Growth and Maturation
13:11 The Loyalty of Argos
16:26 The Test of Guest Friendship
19:10 The Fate of the Suitors
22:22 The Beggar Fight and Its Implications
24:43 Odysseus' Reflection on His Journey
27:21 The Irony of Antinous
30:45 Penelope's Anticipation and the Build-Up to Reunion
33:28 Odysseus' Moral Self-Awareness
36:37 Conclusion and Themes of Justice
42:10 The Philosopher Beggar and the Blindness of the Suitors
44:49 The Nature of Law and Lawlessness
47:33 Penelope's Cleverness and the Suitors' Downfall
52:09 Telemachus' Growth and the Stability of Society
57:19 The Reunion of Odysseus and Penelope
01:01:40 The Test of Loyalty and the Nature of Guest Friendship
01:06:23 The Subtlety of Odysseus and Penelope's Intuition
01:12:19 The Significance of Names and Identity
01:19:33 The Tension of Recognition and the Test of the Suitors
Keywords: Odyssey Books 17-19, Homer Odyssey summary, Odysseus as beggar, reunion with Argos, Penelope and Odysseus dialogue, what Penelope knows, xenia guest friendship, loyalty in the Odyssey, Argos the dog, Melanthius goat herder, Eumaeus swineherd, Theoclymenus prophecy, suitors fate, Odysseus maturation, temperance and piety, Homer philosopher, city at peace, Athena disguise, beggar fight Book 18, bow of Odysseus, scar of Odysseus, Great Books Podcast, Ascend podcast Odyssey, Frank Grabowski Homer, classical education Odyssey, Western literature analysis.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick is joined by returning mentor Dr. Frank Grabowski—Third Order Franciscan, diaconate candidate, and Dean of Faculty at Holy Family Classical School—and Latin teacher Jack Drury for a rich discussion of Odyssey Books 15 and 16.
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The conversation explores Telemachus’s maturation and homecoming, the poignant father-son reunion in the swineherd’s hut, and the deepening bonds of loyalty with Eumaeus. Listeners will enjoy thoughtful reflections on xenia (guest-friendship), Theoclymenus the mysterious prophet, Helen’s prophetic insight, Menelaus’s gracious hospitality, and the growing threat of the suitors, all while tracking themes of thumos, divine guidance, and the slow unfolding of justice.
With warmth, humor, and insight, the trio unpacks Homer’s masterful storytelling—why Telemachus must become a threat, the nobility of the “lowly” swineherd, and the beautiful (and bittersweet) dynamics of recognition and reunion.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast
09:15 Telemachus' Journey: A Coming of Age Story
15:25 Menelaus: The Gracious Host
22:57 The Arrival of Theoclymenus: A Mysterious Prophet
30:36 Odysseus and Eumaeus: Testing Loyalty
31:05 The Swineherd's Loyalty and Laertes' Mystery
32:41 Odysseus' Questions and Eumaeus' Story
34:41 The Tragic Tale of Eumaeus
38:36 Social Status vs. Moral Character
41:47 The Unique Island and Divine Justice
43:43 Guest Friendship and Telemachus' Choices
46:25 The Reunion of Father and Son
50:29 Telemachus and Odysseus: A Complex Relationship
55:27 Testing Nobility and Virtue
01:00:25 Divine Disguises and Recognition
01:04:59 The Standard of Belief
01:11:37 The Plan Against the Suitors
01:18:58 The Nature of Justice and Retribution
Whether you’re reading the Odyssey for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, this episode illuminates how these ancient books continue to form souls and speak to fatherhood, virtue, and the return to order. Perfect listening for anyone journeying through the Great Books—don’t miss it!