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 Grettelyn Darkey and Joe Grabowski. Want to give us feedback? Email podcast@chesterton.org.

This week Marie and Grace are finishing Book 2 of Manalive , reading the final chapters, “The Wild Weddings; or, the Polygamy Charge” and “How the Great Wind Went from Beacon House”.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

A joint project of the Society of G.K. Chesterton's UncommonSense podcast and Pints with Chesterton.

Direct download: Manalive_4and5_conclusion_-_12_15_21_1.55_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Pints with Chesterton's Marie and Grace continue through Manalive… This week they read and discuss Book 2 Chapter 3, The Round Road; or, The Desertion Charge.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

A joint project of the Society of G.K. Chesterton's UncommonSense podcast and Pints with Chesterton.

Direct download: Manalive_Book_2_chpt3_-_11_30_21_2.09_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Marie and Grace continue through Manalive… This week they read and discuss Book 2 Chapter 2, The Two Curates; or, The Burglary Charge.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

A joint project of the Society of G.K. Chesterton's UncommonSense podcast and Pints with Chesterton.

Direct download: Manalive_Bk_2_Chpt_2_-_11_30_21_1.33_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Grace and Marie are continuing through Manalive… This week they read and discuss Book 2 Chapter 1, The Eye of Death; or, The Murder Charge.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

A joint project of the Society of G.K. Chesterton's UncommonSense podcast and Pints with Chesterton.

Direct download: Manalive_Part_2_chapter_1_-_11_30_21_9.38_AM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

This is a rebroadcast of the video located here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDDNzdFnwMI
 
The Transatlantic Chesterton: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of Chesterton's Visit to America
 
We were honored to welcome Mr. Dale Ahlquist to deliver our 3rd Annual Notre Dame Chesterton Lecture. Dale, as is well-known, is a leading Chestertonian in the US, and perhaps the world. We were so grateful for his wonderful wit and wisdom in conveying not only the life and work of G.K. and Frances, but also Chesterton's spirit. It was a remarkable gift to all of us!
Dale reflected on the striking observations Chesterton made about America and the unique perspective of America he gave us. He also shared an update on the great and growing appreciation of Chesterton outside of his native England.
 
chesterton.org
Direct download: Transatlantic_Chesterton_Dale_-_11_30_21_8.42_AM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:17am EDT

Grace and Marie are continuing through Manalive… This week we’re reading Chapter Five, The Allegorical Practical Joker.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

A joint project of the Society of G.K. Chesterton's UncommonSense podcast and Pints with Chesterton.

Direct download: Manalive_Chapter_Five_-_11_1_21_9.29_AM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Grace and Marie are still reading Manalive! This week we’re reading The Garden of the God, chapter four.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

Direct download: Manalive_Chapter_Four_-_10_25_21_4.17_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Grace and Marie are back again reading Manalive! This week we’re reading The Banner of Beacon, chapter three.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

Direct download: Manalive_Chapter_Three_-_10_25_21_3.55_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Continuing on their Manalive journey, Grace and Marie discuss the second chapter of Chesterton’s comedic novel, Manalive, The Luggage of an Optimist.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/manalive-ignatius/

Direct download: Manalive_Chapter_two_-_10_25_21_3.36_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Grace and Marie begin Chesterton’s comedic novel, Manalive, discussing the first chapter which is entitled “A Great Wind Came to Beacon House”.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/manalive-ignatius/

Direct download: Manalive_PWC_Chapter_1_-_10_25_21_3.11_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

In this first episode of Manalive, Grace and Marie introduce themselves and explain why they liked this particular book of G.K. Chesterton and how you can read along with them.

PintswithChesterton.com

https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/manalive-ignatius/

chesterton.org

Direct download: Volume_19_Number_1_Womanalive_-_10_20_21_11.45_AM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Jeremy Tate of the Classical Learning Test's Anchored podcast interviews Dale Ahlquist about a wide range of Chesterton topics and even quizzes Ahlquist on his knowledge of Chesterton quotes and their sources. Enjoy!

https://www.cltexam.com/podcast

chesterton.org

Direct download: Anchored_CLT_Dale_Ahlquist_-_10_25_21_2.46_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:57pm EDT

Nancy Brown and Noel Culbertson welcome Grace Krause and Marie Bates of Pints with Chesterton to talk about their Chesterton journey. Find out the best way to read Orthodoxy and more.

pintswithchesterton.com

chesterton.org

Direct download: Season_18_No_2_NancyNoelGraceMarie_-_10_7_21_2.10_PM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

Welcome back! We start a new season with Nancy Brown, our original host, and her new co-host, Noel Culbertson. Find out how they each got involved with G.K. Chesterton himself, with his writing, the Society and more on this episode of UncommonSense.

Get ready to read Manalive with our friends Grace and Marie of Pints with Chesterton by ordering your book today from: https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/manalive-ignatius/

Find Pints with Chesterton at: https://pintswithchesterton.com

Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton: chesterton.org

Direct download: Season_18_No_1_Nancy__Noel_Intro_-_10_7_21_11.12_AM.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:01am EDT

We welcome back host Nancy Brown as she turns the tables and interviews Adrian Ahlquist. In this episode, we talk about Uncommon Sense, favorite Chesterton quotes, and so much more.

Direct download: episode_0063_audio_final.mp3
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Back by popular demand! If there’s one thing we love about G.K. Chesterton, it’s his quotes. Chesterton is perhaps the most quotable writer there is. So we thought we’d pull from the archives an episode where Dale Ahlquist reveals what his favorite Chesterton quotes are and what makes them so inspirational.

Direct download: episode_0062_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Back by popular demand! If there’s one thing we love about G.K. Chesterton, it’s his quotes. Chesterton is perhaps the most quotable writer there is. So we thought we’d pull from the archives an episode where Dale Ahlquist reveals what his favorite Chesterton quotes are and what makes them so inspirational.

Direct download: episode_0062_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

What do you think Chesterton’s IQ was? Fellow Chestertonian Henry Haverstock has a good guess. Henry is a member of Mensa, which is the oldest high IQ society in the world. In this episode, we explore the intellect of G.K. Chesterton and how it may have affected his spiritual virtue.

Direct download: episode_0061_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:37pm EDT

Most of you probably don’t know about the G.K. Chesterton Collection at the University of Notre Dame London Global Gateway. It is a magnificent collection of Chesterton’s writings and personal items. In this episode, Nancy Brown and Adrian Ahlquist interview the priest who provides oversight to the collection, Fr. Jim Lies. You won’t want to miss this episode of Uncommon Sense!

Direct download: episode_0060_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:00pm EDT

Even though the Covid shutdown days were extremely difficult and dark times for many people, God was at work. Listen to the story of Lee Sondeno, a former Pentecostal, whose conversion began through watching Mass online only airing because of the pandemic.

Direct download: episode_0059_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

What does a theology professor have to say about humor? In this episode of Uncommon Sense, find out from Dr. David Deavel how humor is connected to morality and why it is essential in today’s world. David Deavel is a Catholic Studies professor at the University of St. Thomas and a frequent contributor to Gilbert Magazine.

Direct download: episode_0058_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

We should all know by now that C.S. Lewis was deeply influenced by G.K. Chesterton. But there is another renowned English writer who looked to Chesterton for inspiration: Poet, crime writer, and translator Dorothy L. Sayers. Listen to Crystal Downing, director of the Marion E. Wade Center, give a fascinating history of how Chesterton affected the philosophy and writings of Dorothy Sayers.

Direct download: episode_0057_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Listen to Dale Ahlquist’s journey from reading Chesterton for the first time to becoming the world’s leading expert on him. We are returning to the archives for this episode of Uncommon Sense. This is an interview of Dale on the Wade Center Podcast, hosted by David and Crystal Downing.

Direct download: episode_0056_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Alan C. Duncan returns to Uncommon Sense, but instead of talking about C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, this time we will be trying to figure out what Chesterton would have thought of modern rap music. Join us for this extremely entertaining and surprisingly insightful episode of Uncommon Sense!

Direct download: episode_0055_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:19pm EDT

Our 40th Annual Chesterton Conference is this Thursday through Saturday in Lisle, IL. Don’t worry, if you can’t join us in person, you can attend the conference virtually. Register at www.chesterton.org/conference. In this episode, Nancy Brown is back with us to share why the Chesterton Conference will be one of the greatest experiences of your life!

Direct download: episode_0054_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Actor, singer, and songwriter Jeromy Darling is back and he is one of our guest speakers at the 40th Annual Chesterton conference on July 29-31. In this episode, get a sneak peek of his talk, “On Becoming a Boy Again.”

Direct download: episode_0053_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:06pm EDT

Chesterton has something to say about everything, right? What about the world of medicine? Virginia de la Lastra, a medical doctor and infectious disease specialist from Chile, reveals that Chesterton has been secretly a doctor this whole time. He has a diagnosis for a world that is sick, but he also has the cure. Find out what it is on this episode of Uncommon Sense.

Direct download: episode_0052_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

On this Independence Day Special, Dale Ahlquist shares what Chesterton had to say about the Declaration of Independence and the founding of America. Happy Independence Day!

Direct download: episode_0051_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

John Walker, a professional Hollywood actor, portrays G.K. Chesterton in a new show on EWTN. This fascinating tale of how he imitates Chesterton both on stage and in life is not to be missed.

Direct download: episode_0050_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

You might know something about relics of the saints and other holy people, but would you be able to tell if a relic is real or fake? Sean Pilcher, a uniquely qualified expert, is one of the few individuals in this country that can verify relics. In this episode, Sean explains how he actually verifies a relic, why we venerate them, and at the end of the episode, we'll look at some relics of G.K. Chesterton, which are in Dale Ahlquist's possession.

Sacra Relics Website:
https://www.sacrarelics.org/

Direct download: episode_0049_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Have you ever wondered what the connection is between Star Wars and the Vatican II? That would be surprising if you have. Julian Ahlquist is here to present the case that the Star Wars saga could be an apt analogy for the history of Vatican II. In this episode of Uncommon Sense, you’ll get an entertaining way to learn about this important event in Church history.

Direct download: episode_0048_audio_final.mp3
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We are right between Chesterton’s birthday and future Feast Day, so why not talk about both? Dale Ahlquist joins again to give us all the details about the bookends of Chesterton’s life. He’ll tell us what Chesterton said about his own birthday, he’ll tell what the reactions were to his death, and he’ll reveal which famous figures were present at his funeral.

Direct download: episode_0047_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Have you signed up for our 40th Annual Chesterton conference this summer? Find out about our fascinating speakers, joyful fun, face-to-face conversations and the famous AfterGlows await those who will attend. Returning on this episode of Uncommon Sense is our beloved former host, Nancy Brown!

Direct download: episode_0046_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

There are many people who converted to Catholicism because of G.K. Chesterton. Each story is unique, but Robert Asch’s may be the most surprising. Robert was an Reform Jew who was devout and highly educated in his faith. He converted after reading Chesterton. He even went on to cofound the St. Austin Review with Joseph Pearce. What was it that Chesterton said? Listen to Robert's story on this episode of Uncommon Sense.

Direct download: episode_0045_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

What do we actually know about G.K. Chesterton’s cause of death? What illnesses did Chesterton have, physical or mental? And in the end, was Chesterton healthy or not? These are the questions that William Griffiths sought to answer in his medical research on Chesterton. Find out his official diagnosis.

Direct download: episode_0044_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

What causes someone to go from being a radical right-wing nationalist to a faithful Catholic and charitable fundraiser? The answer is G.K. Chesterton. This is the story of Stuart McCullough, who went on to found the Catholic G.K. Chesterton Society. Listen to Stuart's inspirational story of how Chesterton changed his life.

Direct download: episode_0043_audio_final.mp3
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ChesterCon21 is LIVE and back in person (and virtual) this summer! The theme of the 40th Annual G.K. Chesterton Conference is The Laughing Prophet: Finding Hope and Joy in this Crazy World. Why this theme? And what will you experience at this year’s conference? Dale Ahlquist answers these questions and more in this episode of Uncommon Sense.

Direct download: episode_p0062_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Did you know that G.K. Chesterton had a profound influence on C.S. Lewis? Much of what Lewis wrote was inspired by what he read by Chesterton. Alan C. Duncan has gone through Lewis’ original manuscripts and documented the proof! In this episode of Uncommon Sense, we get to discuss with Alan the book he recently completed, Gilbert & Jack: What C.S. Lewis Found Reading G.K. Chesterton.

Direct download: episode_p0061_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Have you ever asked yourself why God allows evil? Do you have an answer but you just can’t articulate it? In this episode, we seek the help of a brilliant Chesterton headmaster, Eric DeMeuse, from the Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee where he also teaches theology. In our conversation, we not only explore tough theological mysteries, we show how theology can be taught through literature.

Direct download: episode_p0060_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:35am EDT

Meet our new Director of Development, John Smith. John is passionate about creating a culture of gift. What does that mean exactly? In this episode, we break down the philosophy of giving and why it plays a significant role in Christian life.

Direct download: episode_p0059_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

The Easter mystery, the Resurrection of the Body, and Chesterton’s short poem, “The Donkey," are all part of this Uncommon Sense episode featuring Chesterton Society President Dale Ahlquist.

Direct download: episode_p058_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Why is music so important that we require it at Chesterton? And how does it relate to anything else? Dr. Joshua Russell may have an answer for you. Joshua is the headmaster of Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart where he also teaches courses in history, literature, music, and writing. On top of all of that, he is a concert pianist. Listen to how Joshua explains how music reflects culture and how it’s tied to everything else.

Direct download: episode_p057_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Chesterton in Iraq? The last place anyone imagined there could be a Chesterton Academy, let alone, to find out there is devotion to G.K. Chesterton in Iraq! But yes—the Kurdish regional Ministry of Education has approved a Chesterton Academy to open in Erbil, Kurdistan, an autonomous region within Iraq. Listen to the story of the exciting trip to Erbil from Laura Hassan, Director of International Programs for the Society of GK Chesterton, and Andrew Youngblood, the Director of Curriculum for the Chesterton Schools Network.

Direct download: episode_56_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Join the Apostolate in prayer by starting a group within the Frances Chesterton Rosary League (FCRL). Victoria Darkey, our coordinator of the FCRL, explains how easy it is and how important this mission is to the Apostolate of Common Sense. Learn why Gilbert’s wife Frances is the patron of the Rosary League and the significant role she played in her husband’s spiritual life.

Direct download: episode_p55_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

A professor of economics at Rawls College of Business—Texas Tech University, Alex Salter leads us on a fast-paced defense of Distributism and the main idea economists miss about it. We also discuss his up coming book on the topic, Property and Liberty.

Direct download: episode_p54_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Could the 1964 Walt Disney film Mary Poppins be about the Holy Mother of God? Julian Ahlquist explains his intricate theory about this cinematic masterpiece, and it’s practically perfect in every way.

Direct download: episode_53_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:30am EDT

Alyssa Bormes, author or The Catechism of Hockey, teaches theology at Chesterton Academy, and she gets a front row seat to watching miracles happen.

Direct download: episode_52_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

This Lent, we go on a very different journey – with St. Joseph. But how can we journey with St. Joseph, when he wasn't even alive when Jesus suffered and died? Chesterton connects Joseph with Jesus in his usual paradoxical way. Find out more with our guest, Dale Ahlquist.

Direct download: episode_51_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

David Cooney, writer of the blog Practical Distributism, joins us to explain the principles of Distributism and what he thinks of the new name, Localism. We also discuss the GameStop phenomenon and what the stock market would look like in a localist society.

Direct download: episode_50_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

If you’re a longtime fan of the podcast, you’ll recognize the voice of our next guest, Nancy Brown, who hosted our Uncommon Sense podcast for over ten years. Nancy talks about her book, The Woman Who Was Chesterton, her current role as project manager for our online school, Chesterton Cor Jesu, and the Frances Chesterton Rosary League. Join us!

Direct download: episode_49_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Joseph Pearce is a Catholic apologist who has written bestselling books on G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Shakespeare. In this episode, Joseph takes us on a journey through his past, his present and his future. The debt he owes to Chesterton plays a large part. We talk about everything from his knowledge on Shakespeare to his interview with Solzhenitsyn to how much he can bench press.

Direct download: episode_48_audio_final_cut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:47am EDT

Did you know the Chesterton Schools Networks has an online high school called Chesterton Cor Jesu? Andrew Youngblood, the headmaster of Chesterton Cor Jesu and Director of Curriculum for the network, explains how our online Chesterton Academy works and what makes our curriculum so great.

Direct download: episode_47_audio_final_mp3.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:33am EDT

It is the 100th year anniversary of G.K. Chesterton visiting the United States. In this episode of the Uncommon Sense podcast, Dale Ahlquist gives all the details of Chesterton’s trip, including which states he visited, who he met, what messages he delivered, and how Americans responded to him.

Direct download: episode_46_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:16am EDT

Father Brown Investigations: The Death of Sir Percy Coldwell, is a tabletop card game based on the beloved priest-detective created by G. K. Chesterton. We talk to the creator of FBI Nikola Bolšec of the Croatian Chesterton Society about his detective game you will not want to miss. Joining us is Joe Grabowski, a partner in marketing for this entrepreneurial adventure. Consider supporting this venture by donating to their Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fbi-game/father-brown-investigations-the-death-of-sir-percy-coldwell?ref=2raq1y

Direct download: episode_45_audio_final.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:00am EDT