The Dunces' Corner

Theology. Community. Dunceness.

About the show

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.

The Dunces' Corner on social media

Episodes

  • 14: The Divine Physician with Dr. Kristin Collier

    April 3rd, 2022  |  1 hr 26 mins
    bioethics, catholic, healthcare, theology

    Dr. Collier on the Christian Renewal of Healthcare/Lenty Lent/Worse Penance Game
    The Dunces welcome Dr. Kristin Collier who shares her conversion from secular humanist to Christian and the difference this makes as a doctor.

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    13: The Franciscan Option

    April 21st, 2021  |  1 hr 18 mins
    catholic, franciscan, humor, professors, students, theology

    Fr. Agustino on The Franciscan Option/The Secret of Franciscan Poverty/Emptiness and Humility/Trivia
    Corruption in the clergy. Financial scandal. The need for a New Evangelization. Our time? Try the 12th century. It's time for the Franciscan Option.

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    12: Going on Vocation

    March 2nd, 2021  |  1 hr 29 mins
    catholic, discernment, marriage, priesthood, professors, religious life, students, theology, vocation

    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.

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    11: The Scary but Not So Scary End of the World (aka the Halloween episode)

    October 31st, 2020  |  1 hr 41 mins
    candy, catholic, death, halloween, heaven hell, saints, theology

    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.

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    10: The Election Apocalypse

    October 3rd, 2020  |  1 hr 26 mins
    catholic, election, politics, social teaching, theology

    The Political Landscape/Principles to Guide Engagement in Politics
    Dr. Meinert's growing peas. Catherine's engaged. Daniel and Avera join the show. The Dunces shine the light of the faith on the current political landscape.

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    9: Coming Soon (2nd Season Preview)

    October 1st, 2020  |  2 mins 5 secs

    A preview of our first episode of the sophomore season, which will be dropping soon!

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    8: The Dunces Do Netflix, part 2

    May 6th, 2020  |  1 hr 7 mins
    catholic, culture, hollywood, media, movies, netflix, streaming, the good place, theology, tv

    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; they talk philosophical ethics; and Dr. Meinert and Trey play the "Guess the Plot" game.

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    7: The Dunces Do Netflix, part 1

    April 24th, 2020  |  1 hr 11 mins
    catholic, culture, hollywood, media, movies, netflix, streaming, theology, tv

    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 it lights her on fire. She, Dr. Pedraza, Dr. Meinert, Brady, Elise, and Trey talk about it, and then they offer some of their favorite picks. Part 1 of 2.

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    6B: I Will Not Leave You Orphans

    April 6th, 2020  |  27 mins 31 secs
    bishops, catholic, coronavirus, dunces, priests, sacraments, theology

    B-Side: I Will Not Leave You Orphans
    Fr. Brad Doyle and priestly fatherhood during the coronavirus.

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    5: We're All Lonely. Together.

    March 23rd, 2020  |  1 hr 48 mins

    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 understanding of solitude and participation in community. Finally, the crew offers advice on how to live in these potentially isolating times.

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    4B: A None Among Us

    March 6th, 2020  |  29 mins 13 secs

    B-Side: A None Among Us
    Lanie and her journey.

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    3: How to Get the Most Out of Lent (aka have an exce-LENT)

    February 23rd, 2020  |  1 hr 16 mins

    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 for 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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    2: Dr. Abigail Favale Goes into the Deep

    February 6th, 2020  |  1 hr 26 mins
    conversion, feminism, gender, theology

    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.

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    1: Evangelizing the Nones

    January 23rd, 2020  |  59 mins 28 secs
    evangelization, nones, theology

    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.