Uncommon Sense
The Podcast of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, where we talk about everything under the sun with a Chestertonian perspective, as well as the writings and legacy of G.K. Chesterton himself. The podcast is hosted by Joe Grabowski. Want to give us feedback? Email podcast@chesterton.org.
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What G.K. Chesterton Knew About Technology That Took Science 15 Years to Prove
06/02/2026
What G.K. Chesterton Knew About Technology That Took Science 15 Years to Prove
G.K. Chesterton once observed that after learning to do a great many clever things, the next great task would be learning not to do them. That line, from an early essay on Queen Victoria, has taken on new force as American schools reverse decades of tech-first policies—test scores and students' mental health alike in decline. In this episode, Joe and Grettelyn trace the screen crisis back to first principles, exploring how Chesterton's warnings against educational fads, his conviction that machines make us like machines, and his insistence that a thing worth doing is worth doing badly all speak directly to what Jonathan Haidt's data is now confirming. In This Episode: The G.K. Chesterton quote from Varied Types that frames the whole conversation—and why his intuition about educational tinkering was more than a hunch How the Chesterton Schools Network's longstanding tech-light philosophy has been vindicated by over 15 years of data, a UNESCO report, and the Fortune magazine story that started this episode What Chesterton's insight about machines making us like machines explains about the neuroscience of distraction—and why phone-free classrooms alone aren't enough Why G.K. Chesterton's principle that a thing worth doing is worth doing badly is the most important counter-argument to AI in education and the arts Practical steps for parents: building social pacts with other families, the case for delaying smartphones, and the Chesterton Schools Network as a proven alternative Chapters: 00:00: Welcome and Introduction 01:15: The Chesterton Schools Network's Tech-Light Philosophy 03:38: G.K. Chesterton on Learning Not to Do Clever Things 05:42: Jonathan Haidt and the Books Behind the Movement 09:06: UNESCO's Findings on Technology and Learning 13:35: How Devices Short-Circuit Attention and Memory 19:47: Embodied Learning—Handwriting, Doodling, and What Screens Miss 28:21: Schools Reversing Course: The Fortune Magazine Story 35:11: A Thing Worth Doing Badly: Chesterton vs. AI 44:13: Practical Steps for Parents and a Path Forward Resources Mentioned: — G.K. Chesterton — Jonathan Haidt — Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt FOLLOW US: SUPPORT: Produced by
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The Edwardian Socrates: G.K. Chesterton as Philosopher
05/26/2026
The Edwardian Socrates: G.K. Chesterton as Philosopher
Landon Loftin, editor of Chesterton and the Philosophers and a speaker at this summer's Chesterton Conference, joins Joe Grabowski to discuss the first book to put G.K. Chesterton in direct conversation with figures of the Western philosophical tradition. Together they trace how G.K. Chesterton's literary and journalistic genius concealed a rigorous philosophical mind that professional academia has been slow to recognize—and why that neglect says more about the academy than about Chesterton. In This Episode: How a peer-reviewed journal's rejection of an essay on G.K. Chesterton and Hume sparked the idea for an entire edited volume Why G.K. Chesterton's best philosophical arguments are embedded in fiction and journalism rather than technical prose, and why that's a compliment to him, not a liability The essay on Chesterton and Aristotle, and how G.K. Chesterton understood virtue as a furious clash of opposites rather than a mild Aristotelian mean G.K. Chesterton's distinctive philosophical method: taking thinkers like Hume and William James more seriously than they took themselves, thereby dismantling their own arguments A preview of Loftin's Chesterton Conference talk on G.K. Chesterton as "the Edwardian Socrates," and what that comparison reveals about philosophy as a vocation versus a profession Chapters: 00:00: Introduction 00:26: Welcome and introducing Landon Loftin 01:25: Loftin's background: teaching, Owen Barfield, and G.K. Chesterton 03:03: Chesterton and the Philosophers: overview and contributors 04:43: Origin of the book: the rejected Hume essay 08:13: Book structure and Joe's essay on Chesterton and Kierkegaard 14:20: Chesterton and Aristotle: virtue as furious clash of opposites 18:30: G.K. Chesterton's philosophical method: out-Huming Hume 24:46: G.K. Chesterton as defender of philosophy 30:35: G.K. Chesterton's model of disagreement: furious friendship 33:52: Conference preview: "The Edwardian Socrates" Resources Mentioned: FOLLOW US SUPPORT Produced by
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How Frances Chesterton Found Her Way to Rome
05/19/2026
How Frances Chesterton Found Her Way to Rome
One hundred years ago, Frances Chesterton quietly entered the Catholic Church on All Saints Day—the feast she chose for herself. In this episode, Grettelyn and Joe sit down with Nancy Carpentier Brown, author of The Woman Who Was Chesterton, to explore Frances's spiritual journey ahead of Nancy's talk at the 2026 Chesterton Conference. In This Episode: How Frances Blogg became a devout Anglican through the Clewer Sisters at St. Stephen's College—and why that formation made her path to Rome harder, not easier The branch theory, and why Frances's emotional attachment to Anglicanism was every bit as powerful as G.K.'s intellectual arguments for Catholicism Gilbert's extraordinary patience: four years of waiting, never pressuring Frances—and how the Chestertons' story mirrors that of Scott and Kimberly Hahn The pivotal moments behind G.K.'s 1922 conversion: his near-death illness, Frances's anguished letter to Father O'Connor, and the death of his father Frances's reception into the Church on All Saints Day, 1926—quiet, discreet, in High Wycombe with Father Walker—and the New York Times headline that followed a week later Chapters: 00:00: Introduction & Welcome 01:00: Why 2026? The Year of Frances and St. Francis 03:24: G.K.'s Spiritual Formation Before They Met 06:29: Frances's Faith Journey and the Clewer Sisters 09:08: What Held Frances Back: Branch Theory and the Heart 13:22: G.K.'s Illness and Frances's Letter to Father O'Connor 16:27: G.K.'s Father, Cecil, and the Decision to Convert 20:09: Mutual Spiritual Freedom: Neither Held the Other Back 24:42: All Saints Day, 1926: Frances Enters the Church 30:00: Conference Preview and Closing Thoughts Resources Mentioned: FOLLOW US: SUPPORT: Produced by
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What Hangs Straight on a Crooked Wall: Chesterton's Marian Poetry
05/12/2026
What Hangs Straight on a Crooked Wall: Chesterton's Marian Poetry
In honor of May, Our Lady's Month, Joe and Gretalyn each bring a favorite Marian poem by G.K. Chesterton to share with the other—without any advance coordination. Gretalyn reads "Images," a meditation on six titles from the Litany of Loreto drawn from Chesterton's 1926 collection Queen of the Seven Swords, while Joe shares "Crooked," a lesser-known 1933 poem from GK's Weekly that captures a more introspective, mature side of his Marian devotion. Together they explore what these poems reveal about Chesterton's lifelong love for Our Lady, the apologetics of Marian devotion, and the paradox at the heart of his faith: that the world only looks right when you learn to see it through her. In This Episode: How Chesterton's "Images" weaves six titles from the Litany of Loreto—Mirror of Justice, Tower of David, House of Gold, Tower of Ivory, Ark of the Covenant, and Seat of Wisdom—into richly layered verse Why 1926, the year Frances Chesterton entered the Church, gives "Images" a deeper biographical resonance What it means when Marian devotion troubles someone, and why Joe and Gretalyn suggest that reaction is worth examining carefully Chesterton's Marian apologetics in Lepanto—and the single line that cuts to the heart of the controversy What "Crooked" reveals about a quieter, more subdued Chesterton in 1933, writing in the shadow of a world beginning to come apart Chapters: 00:00: Introduction & May as Our Lady's Month 02:36: Gretalyn Reads "Images" 07:06: Unpacking the Litany of Loreto 11:03: Chesterton's Lifelong Marian Devotion 14:38: Mary as a Touchpoint for Converts 21:16: Mary in Scripture: Luke and the Magnificat 23:59: Lepanto and the Defense of Mary 27:51: Joe Reads "Crooked" 28:17: Discussion of "Crooked" 33:16: Chesterton's Mature Mariology Resources Mentioned: FOLLOW US SUPPORT Produced by
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Celebrating Chesterton's Vision of Sanity at the 2026 Conference
05/05/2026
Celebrating Chesterton's Vision of Sanity at the 2026 Conference
Gretelyn Darkey and Joe Grabowski invite listeners to join them this June at the 2026 Chesterton Society Conference in Ave Maria, Florida. This year's conference celebrates three remarkable centenaries: the publication of The Outline of Sanity, The Queen of Seven Swords, and Frances Chesterton's conversion to the Catholic Church. With speakers including Dale Ahlquist and Nancy Brown, the conference promises talks on distributism, sanity in an insane world, and Frances's journey to Rome. In This Episode: The 2026 conference returns to a university campus setting with dorm-style lodging at Ave Maria, recapturing the old-school Chesterton conference atmosphere Three major centenaries: The Outline of Sanity (1926), The Queen of Seven Swords (1926), and Frances Chesterton's conversion to Catholicism (1926) Dale Ahlquist will explore what Chesterton meant by sanity and how the modern world alters humans to fit conditions rather than shaping the world to fit the human soul Nancy Brown will speak on Frances Chesterton's four-year journey to Rome after Gilbert's conversion, offering hope for those navigating similar family situations Ave Maria's Catholic town center, built around a striking church, embodies Chestertonian localism and provides the perfect setting for this year's theme Chapters: 00:00: Welcome and Conference Announcement 00:24: Ave Maria, Florida—Location and Registration 01:09: Return to University Campus Format 03:27: First Theme: The Outline of Sanity 100th Anniversary 06:40: Speakers on Distributism and Localism 16:09: Second Theme: The Queen of Seven Swords 19:59: Third Theme: Frances Chesterton's Conversion 25:19: Nancy Brown on Frances's Journey to Rome 28:05: Afterglow and Conference Experience 34:20: Closing Invitation Resources Mentioned: FOLLOW US SUPPORT Produced by
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The Man Who Carried a Swordstick and a Pen: Holly Gyger Lee on Writing Chesterton for Young Readers
04/28/2026
The Man Who Carried a Swordstick and a Pen: Holly Gyger Lee on Writing Chesterton for Young Readers
GK Chesterton was many things—journalist, philosopher, poet, and debater—but what does his life look like through the eyes of a young reader? In this episode, Joe sits down with Holly Gyger Lee, author of the new young reader's biography The Man Who Carried a Swordstick and a Pen, to explore what drew her to Chesterton, what surprised her in the research, and why a boy who didn't fit the classroom mold became one of the most prolific writers in the English language. From Charlotte Mason's "living books" philosophy to Chesterton's theology of play, this conversation is a delight for readers of all ages. In This Episode: How Holly discovered GK Chesterton through C.S. Lewis—and why The Man Who Was Thursday wasn't the right entry point The Charlotte Mason "living books" philosophy that inspired Holly to write a biography for young readers What surprised Holly most in her research: Chesterton the unconventional student, and the headmaster's famous remark—"He is six feet of genius" The swordstick, the cloak, and how Frances shaped the image of a man who was a walking anachronism—out of time, and for all times Chesterton's theology of play and leisure, from the Toy Theater essay to his belief that the heavy work is the play Chapters: 00:00: Welcome and Introduction 00:54: Holly's Background, Homeschooling, and Life in North Carolina 04:01: Discovering Chesterton Through C.S. Lewis 09:11: Charlotte Mason, Living Books, and the Inspiration Behind the Biography 13:39: The Swordstick, the Cloak, and Chesterton's Persona 16:18: Chesterton on Leisure, Play, and the Toy Theater 19:14: Taking Children Seriously—Chesterton, Tolkien, Lewis, and MacDonald 24:32: Research Surprises: The Unconventional Student 28:43: The Junior Debating Club, Frances, and a Life of Hospitality 33:37: Holly's Current Projects and Where to Find Her Resources Mentioned: FOLLOW US: SUPPORT: Produced by
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What Bilbo and Boethius (and Chesterton) Teach Us About Adventure
04/21/2026
What Bilbo and Boethius (and Chesterton) Teach Us About Adventure
What does it mean to be inconvenienced? Chesterton has a paradoxical answer. Joe Grabowski and Grettelyn Darkey unpack one of Chesterton's most beloved aphorisms — "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered; an inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered" — tracing it from its original context in a real 1906 London flood, through the essay "On Running After One's Hat," and all the way to Boethius, St. Lawrence, and the Christian vocation to embrace the cross. In This Episode: The original context of the quote in Chesterton's essay "On Running After One's Hat" from All Things Considered, prompted by the great London flood of June 1906 What running after a windblown hat has to do with Innocent Smith in Manalive—and why the sport of hat-hunting haunted Chesterton's imagination for years The difference between a sunny attitude and a genuinely Chestertonian embrace of inconvenience, and why it matters on a spiritual level Boethius, St. Lawrence, and St. Peter hanging upside down—what the saints reveal about the adventure of embracing the cross The thread running through all of Chesterton: how a single paradox in a flood-inspired newspaper column illuminates his entire worldview Chapters: 00:00: Introduction 01:52: Parsing the Quote 04:50: Bilbo Baggins and Engaging with Life 07:49: The 1906 London Flood 20:23: Running After One's Hat 23:05: Innocent Smith in Manalive 28:41: The Thread of Chesterton's Philosophy 35:00: Daily Inconveniences 37:06: The Spiritual Dimension Resources Mentioned: by G.K. Chesterton (includes "On Running After One's Hat") by G.K. Chesterton by Boethius FOLLOW US SUPPORT Produced by
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Chesterton on Almsgiving, Art, and American Idiom
04/14/2026
Chesterton on Almsgiving, Art, and American Idiom
In this episode, Grettelyn Darkey and Joe Grabowski walk through three newly unearthed Chesterton essays from the latest issue of Gilbert Magazine—exploring almsgiving, portraiture, and a delightful transatlantic linguistic puzzle—and invite you to discover why the magazine is one of the best-kept secrets in Chesterton studies. In This Episode: Why Chesterton's "promiscuous charity" upends our instinct to vet the needy before giving—and what that reveals about the giver's own soul The overlooked personal dimension of almsgiving versus institutional philanthropy, and how Chesterton draws on virtue ethics to expose the difference A debate as old as the daguerreotype: does a photograph capture truth, or does a painted portrait go deeper—and what does Chesterton mean when he says truth is a "moral state"? Chesterton's fondness for paradox applied to art, literature, and the limits of realism How a single American phrase, "rare steak," sent Chesterton on a linguistic rabbit trail through Irish immigration and transatlantic idiom in 1934 Chapters: 00:00: Introduction 00:24: Welcome & the Gilbert Read-Along Format 02:12: The Significance of Almsgiving 04:07: "On Giving Money to Beggars"—Chesterton's Humor and Opening 10:03: Prudence, Charity, and Getting the Monkey Off Your Back 14:40: Personal Giving vs. Institutional Philanthropy 20:49: Transitioning to "Portraits" 22:00: Photography vs. Portrait Painting in 1901 26:29: Truth in Art and Chesterton's Paradox 36:28: "A Query for Philologists"—Why Americans Call It "Rare" Resources Mentioned: by G.K. Chesterton FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop: Produced by
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Reclaiming Joy in a Mechanical World w/ Filmmaker Nick Bash
04/07/2026
Reclaiming Joy in a Mechanical World w/ Filmmaker Nick Bash
Joe Grabowski sits down with Nick Bash, a Biola University alum who studied filmmaking alongside the Rhetoric Honors Great Books Program, to discuss his senior thesis short film The Last Bonaparte—a loose adaptation of Chesterton's The Napoleon of Notting Hill. In This Episode: How film, as a relatively young art form, is still learning to match the depth and immersion of literature What Chesterton's Orthodoxy revealed to Nick about joy, and how that discovery drove the making of The Last Bonaparte The communal nature of filmmaking and how the process of telling a story begins to mirror its themes How setting the film in 2084 draws on Orwellian themes to sharpen Chesterton's critique of standardization and bureaucracy Why Tolkien's philosophical writings on creativity convinced Nick that faithful Christian storytelling means crafting a story, not a sermon Chapters: 00:00: Introduction 00:36: Nick's Background: Biola, Great Books, and Chesterton 03:06: Film as a Young Art Form 05:50: Drama, Embodiment, and the Communal Art of Filmmaking 09:39: Film as Synthesis of the Arts 14:02: Reclaiming Joy in a Machine-Oriented World 18:52: Chesterton, Orwell, and the Year 1984 25:34: Tolkien on Adventure and Sub-Creation 28:42: Story vs. Allegory Resources Mentioned: FOLLOW US | | SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop: Produced by
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The Poetic Genius of G.K. Chesterton's "The Donkey"
03/24/2026
The Poetic Genius of G.K. Chesterton's "The Donkey"
In this episode, Joe talks about one of Chesterton's most famous, but still too little studied, poems, "The Donkey." Learn a bit more about the poem through a New Critical based reading, consider just some of the allusions that may have shaped the poem in Chesterton's mind, and - perhaps - discover anew a great source for Lenten meditation! ##### FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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"The Ireland That We Dreamed Of"
03/17/2026
"The Ireland That We Dreamed Of"
Happy Saint Patrick's day! In this episode, Joe talks about some of Chesterton's insights upon and sympathies with the Irish, particularly their faith and culture. Mentioned in this video: "Irish Politics and Irish Religion" by G.K. Chesterton: On Chesterton and Michael Collins: On the "Turning the Tide" report: Archbishop Eomon Martin's introduction of the report: ##### FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Join the Knights of the Apostolate: Visit our Shop at
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A Thing Worth Doing is Worth Doing Badly?
03/10/2026
A Thing Worth Doing is Worth Doing Badly?
In this episode, Joe talks about a (in)famous Chesterton quotation, often misunderstood, sometimes misapplied. He digs into its origins and context(s) and shares some interesting facts about it you may not know! ##### FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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Preparing for a Patriotic Year, with G.K. Chesterton
02/24/2026
Preparing for a Patriotic Year, with G.K. Chesterton
In this episode, Joe talks about how Chesterton can help us mark the year of America's semiquincentennial and previews some future chats about the subject that we'll be hosting on the channel. Mentioned in this video: Our Groundhog Day episode: "On Neighbors and Nations" by G.K. Chesterton: ACS Books new edition of Chesterton's "What I Saw in America": SPECIAL NOTE Join us for Lent - still time if you haven't signed up! Visit today! FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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A Special Invitation for Lent!
02/17/2026
A Special Invitation for Lent!
Happy Mardi Gras! In this episode, Joe extends a special invitation to join the Society this Lent to approach the paradox of suffering in the Christian life through the lens of Our Lady of Sorrows and with help from G.K. Chesterton. Learn more about our offerings this Lent, about our proposed practice of lectio divina, and hear from Saint John Paul II on Mary's example of participatory suffering. To sign up, visit: Mentioned in this video: Our most recent Advent campaign: Pope St. John Paul II's "Salvifici Doloris": FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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Of Groundhogs and Grace
02/03/2026
Of Groundhogs and Grace
Recorded February 2, in this episode Joe reflects on the day's special occasion. Yes, that one. Which is to say both. Or, all three. Hear his musings on the Presentation (and the Purification), Simeon's prophecy, the "missing years" of Jesus' life, and... a certain famous Pennsylvania rodent. Want to see Punxsutawney Phil's prediction? Watch here: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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The Snow and the Silence
01/27/2026
The Snow and the Silence
Have you ever noticed how quiet it is after a snowstorm? The silence reminds us of the noise we so easily tune out the rest of the time. But what about the other sources of noise in our life, the ones we deliberately tune into? Joe reflects on the snow and silence and why tuning out of the noise is sometimes a very necessary thing. In this episode: Gerard Manley Hopkins' "The Habit of Perfection" - read online here: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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Chesterton on the Meaning of a New Year
01/13/2026
Chesterton on the Meaning of a New Year
Joe reads a brief essay from G.K. Chesterton about the meaning of a New Year. Happy New Year! FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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Merry Christmas! A Special Message from the Society
12/30/2025
Merry Christmas! A Special Message from the Society
No new episode this week, but please see this special Christmas message from Joe Grabowski. Visit to make a Christmas gift to the Society today! FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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Chesterton, Christmas, and Nostalgia
12/23/2025
Chesterton, Christmas, and Nostalgia
Joe and Grettelyn speak about nostalgia, what it means, why Christmas is an occasion for feeling it, and what Chesterton says that might shed some light on it! Please consider a year-end gift to the Society. Visit to donate today! Merry Christmas! FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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RE-AIRING: Saint Nicholas, Santa, & Father Christmas!
12/16/2025
RE-AIRING: Saint Nicholas, Santa, & Father Christmas!
FROM THE ARCHIVES: (Originally aired 12-3-2024) Grettelyn and Joe speak with their colleague, Tyler Blanski, about Saint Nicholas, why Father Christmas shows up in Narnia, what Jupiter has to do with it, and more! To sign up for the Society's daily Advent quotations from Chesterton, along with reflections and Scriptures on which to meditate, visit Check out our whole [2024] Advent & Christmastide series playlist: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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RE-AIRING: Is Christmas Pagan? (No, it isn't)
12/09/2025
RE-AIRING: Is Christmas Pagan? (No, it isn't)
FROM THE ARCHIVES: (Originally aired 12-10-2024) Grettelyn and Joe speak about some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding Christmas, and how we can respond to them (with Chesterton's help)! To sign up for the Society's daily Advent quotations from Chesterton, along with reflections and Scriptures on which to meditate, visit Check out our whole Advent & Christmastide series playlist: OTHER LINKS: G.K. Chesterton, "The History of Christmas": PART 1: PART 2: Who Were The Magi? (Dave Armstrong) - The Dating of Christmas (Jimmy Akin) - Christmas is Pagan REBUTTED (Joe Heschmeyer) - Christmas and Pagan Roots (U.S. Catholic) - Christmas, Pagan Romans and Frodo Baggins (Father Dwight Longenecker) - FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT Consider making a donation: Visit our Shop at
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Special #GivingTuesday Message from Stacey Bowman
12/02/2025
Special #GivingTuesday Message from Stacey Bowman
Stacey Bowman, VP Advancement for the Society of G.K. Chesterton, with a special message for Giving Tuesday 2025. Donate today at .
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RE-AIRING: G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, and Christmas
12/02/2025
RE-AIRING: G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, and Christmas
[RE-AIRING] It’s a Chestertonian Christmas Carol! Joe Grabowski joins the show to lead us down the path of G.K. Chesterton’s take on Charles Dickens and his love of Christmas. It’s a very, merry episode with no Scrooges allowed. Tune in to this episode! https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense #chesterton #gkchesterton #christmas #charlesdickens #achristmascarol #jesus #spirit #carol #dickens Contact us at . Join us for Advent at . Get your Chestertonian Christmas gifts at FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT:
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Gifts of Gratitude - Advent with G.K. Chesterton
11/25/2025
Gifts of Gratitude - Advent with G.K. Chesterton
In this episode, Joe and Jen talk about the upcoming Advent reflection series from the Society of G.K. Chesterton, "Gifts of Gratitude." #advent #christmas #chesterton #gkchesterton #gratitude You can contact us at . Sign up for "Gifts of Gratitude" and download our free resources at . The "Snapdragon" episode: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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Building Catholic Culture, with Emily Stimpson Chapman
11/18/2025
Building Catholic Culture, with Emily Stimpson Chapman
In this episode, Grettelyn interviews Emily Stimpson Chapman about faith, hospitality, community and the Catholic worldview. #theologyofhome #theologyofplace #chesterton #gkchesterton #community #hospitality You can contact us at . Learn more about Emily Stimpson Chapman: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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RE-AIRING: Belloc's "The Four Men" with Deacon Nathan Allen
11/11/2025
RE-AIRING: Belloc's "The Four Men" with Deacon Nathan Allen
[RE-UPLOAD] No new upload this week, but enjoy this re-airing from last year, appropriate for the season: Belloc and the Four Men! In this episode, Joe talks with Deacon Nathan Allen, who annotated ACS Books' version of Hilaire Belloc's delightful novelette, "The Four Men." #belloc #gkchesterton #hilairebelloc #chesterton #thefourmen To buy ACS Book's "The Four Men" visit You can contact us at . FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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Chesterton and Cardinal Newman
11/04/2025
Chesterton and Cardinal Newman
In this episode, Joe talks about the newest Doctor of the Church, Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, and some of the connections between his thought and G.K. Chesterton's. #chesterton #gkchesterton #johnhenrynewman #cardinalnewman #saintjohnhenrynewman You can contact us at . Mentioned in this episode: Word on Fire Show: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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Funerals are for the Living? Our Halloween episode!
10/28/2025
Funerals are for the Living? Our Halloween episode!
Can you tell it's Joe's favorite time of year? Join him and Grettelyn as they discuss All Hallows', funerals, the customs of the poor, and more! We did have a slight technical hiccup in the making of this episode when Joe's camera went away for a bit. If you spot it, leave us a comment with the timestamp and the appropriate emoji (you'll know which that is). This is where we find out who watches the whole episode and who's reading to the show notes! #chesterton #gkchesterton #daysofthedead #halloween #allsaints #skeletons You can contact us at . Mentioned in this episode: "The Hastiness of Modern Journalism" by G.K. Chesterton: "A Defense of Skeletons" by G.K. Chesterton: Last year's All Hallowstide Series: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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Hurry, the Early Bird, and the Earlier Worm - Chesterton on Modern Journalism
10/21/2025
Hurry, the Early Bird, and the Earlier Worm - Chesterton on Modern Journalism
Joe talks about the hurry and haste of modern life, especially modern journalism, with some insights from G.K. Chesterton - and a couple cardiologists! What is "hurry sickness"? How can we resist the pressure to rush to judgment? What does it mean to be "Type A"? And why does Chesterton extol the benefits of sleeping in and being late to breakfast? Find out today! #chesterton #gkchesterton #journalism #hurry #hurrysickness You can contact us at . Essays mentioned in this episode: "The Hastiness of Modern Journalism" by G.K. Chesterton: "Type A behavior pattern: some of its pathophysiological components" by Meyer Friedman, MD: "Rendering to God" by Dr. Jacob Imam: FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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Chesterton on Studying History: Hastings & "The Heart of History"
10/14/2025
Chesterton on Studying History: Hastings & "The Heart of History"
Joe and Grettelyn talk about finding "the heart in history," and how Chesterton can help us get excited to learn even about obscure things of the past — like the Battle of Hastings! Today is the anniversary of that great battle in 1066, which shaped the whole Western world. What does it mean for us? Why should we care? Listen in and read along! #chesterton #history #gkchesterton #battleofhastings #normaninvasion #williamtheconqueror You can contact us at . Essays mentioned in today's episode: "Three Ways of Reading History": "Introduction" to the Song of Roland: "A View of William the Conqueror": Check out The Troubadours discussing "Belloc vs. Tolkien on 1066": FOLLOW US Instagram: Facebook: X: SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: BECOME A KNIGHT: SHOP IN OUR STORE:
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