The Dunces' Corner
Theology professors and their students talk about faith, reason, and culture. The conversation is sometimes erudite, sometimes humorous, not explicit though usually mature, always authentic. B-Side episodes give a closer look at people in the local community who give flesh to the topics discussed. *Views expressed belong solely to the speaker and, sometimes, only temporarily.
Episodes
April 20, 2021 • 78 min
The Franciscan Option/The Secret of Franciscan Poverty/Emptiness and Humility/Trivia
The Dunces welcome special guest Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, to shed some light on what St. Francis can teach us about renewing the Church and the world today. Dr. Meinert asks about the secret to Franciscan poverty, Avera wants to know how best to empty herself so that God can fill her, and Catherine asks for tips on becoming humble. Fr. Agustino dr...
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March 2, 2021 • 89 min
SNES vs. N64/What is a Vocation/The Counsels and the Married Life/Advice for Discerning Vocation
The Dunces try to release some steam for those caught in the vocation discernment pressure cooker. Brady tells us the glories of his newfound married life and gets video games wrong. Catherine discerns a vocation and lives to tell about it. Elise cracks open a can of Edith Stein. Topics include the relationship between general vocations...
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October 30, 2020 • 101 min
Musings on the Last Things/Saints and Martyrdom/The Halloween Candy Power Ranking
The Dunces tackle topics related to eschatology and get you ready for All Saints, All Souls, and the Candy Triduum. Daniel takes Hell seriously. Catherine has an existential crisis and wonders who or what the Anti-Christ is. Avera gets shook by the young saints God is raising up. Dr. Meinert tells us why endurance is more primary than attack. Dr. Pedr...
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October 2, 2020 • 86 min
The Political Landscape/Principles to Guide Our Engagement in Politics
Dr. Meinert's growing peas. Catherine's engaged. Daniel and Avera join the show. Highlights include: Catherine and Daniel lamenting political discourse in our country; Avera on the black Catholic experience of political, spiritual, and mental slavery; Dr. Meinert on the idolatrous aspects of political discourse dettached from transcendence; Dr. Pedraza o...
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September 30, 2020 • 2 min
A preview of our first episode of the sophomore season, which will be dropping soon!
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May 5, 2020 • 67 min
The Dunces on the Good Place/"Guess the Plot" Game
In the concluding half of the special double-episode, Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Catherine, Brady, Elise, and Trey analyze the Good Place by giving out various awards including: the Atlas Award (for who carried the show), the Saul-Paul Award (best redemptive arc), and the award for the Best Theological/Philosophical Moment. The episode comes with a little nihilism (with a si...
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April 23, 2020 • 71 min
How Catholics Should Approach Media/Our Favorite Movies and Shows
Amidst procrastination, Catherine stumbles upon a video about how Catholics should approach movies and TV shows, and she, Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Brady, Elise, and Trey talk about it. They dive into how their parents censored or did not censor what they watched, how to scrutinize culture when you're a part of it, and end by offering you some of the movies and s...
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April 5, 2020 • 27 min
B-Side: I Will Not Leave You Orphans
Fr. Brad Doyle and priestly fatherhood during the coronavirus. Some people are worried that their shepherds have abandoned them. This story tears back the veil.
B-Side episodes bring you a story that gives flesh to a topic talked about in a previous episode. See Episode 5, "We're All Lonely. Together."
Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Address: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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March 22, 2020 • 108 min
Life in the time of Coronavirus/The Loneliness Epidemic/St. Thomas and JPII on Community
Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Catherine, Elise, and Trey talk life in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, then share stories of loneliness and trying to form community. Dr. Meinert sheds a little wisdom via St. Thomas on friendship, and Dr. Pedraza sets the record straight on JPII's anthropology while emphasizing the pontiff's understandi...
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March 6, 2020 • 29 min
B-Side: A None Among Us
Lanie and her journey. One of the first steps in addressing the rise of the nones is understanding their stories. Here's one from someone from our hometown.
B-Side episodes bring you a story that gives flesh to a topic talked about in a previous episode. See Episode 1 on "Evangelizing the Nones."
Bergoglio's Lecture: http://communio.stblogs.org/Pope%20Francis%20on%20the%20Religious%20Sense.p...
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February 23, 2020 • 76 min
Lenten Penances/ Why You Can't Feast without Fasting/ Lenten Would-You-Rather Game
Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Brady, Catherine, Hunter, and Trey talk about how to do Mardi Gras, how to avoid haphazard Lenten plans, the four ways you can relate to created goods, and making Lent a training in love. Then they play a Lenten version of "would you rather." Episode comes with a dose of St. Francis and a side of fried squirrel...
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February 6, 2020 • 86 min
Dr. Favale's Conversion/ Student Questions/ Wives' Questions / Either-Or Game
Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Catherine, Ansleigh, and Brady welcome Dr. Favale to the show to talk about her journey from Protestantism to Postmodern Feminism to the Catholic Church. Then they force her to be a heretic.
Dr. Favale's book: https://wipfandstock.com/into-the-deep.html
Some of Dr. Favale's articles: https://churchlifejournal.n...
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January 23, 2020 • 59 min
Introducing the Dunces / How I Got into Theology / Bishop Duca / Evangelizing the Nones
Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Catherine, Elise, Ansleigh, and Ally talk about the "Nones," why they stayed in the Church when so many of their peers are leaving, and what to do about it.
Bp. Barron's Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hk7hr5dYRA&feature=youtu.be&t=4544
Music credits:
"Too Cool",...
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