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The Dunces' Corner
The Dunces' Corner
Author: Brian Pedraza
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© 2026 Brian Pedraza
Description
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.
23 Episodes
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Live from 2026's The Franciscan Experience/Community, Poverty, Eucharist, and Saints
Time is flying. Julia's married. Dr. Ragusa's comparing our phones to the Ring. Dr. Pellegrin wins an ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny. Fiona's lifting people up. Anthony tells us the State of the TFE Union. And a non-Theo major, non-Theo minor named Curtis sneaks onto the show. TFE participants give us great memories and questions, including Rie, Noah, Rocky, Samuel, Sophia, Ben, Aubry, and Becca. These are some amazing high school students, y'all. Really.
You can learn more about TFE at https://franu.edu/mission/campus-ministry/tfe-summer/index.html.
TFE Live Show/Memories, Shoutouts, and Ask Us Anything
Don't call it a comeback. The Duncepod gets resurrected for a live show at The Franciscan Experience 2025. Some of the Dunces have vocation updates. Participants share illuminating memories from an incredible week with FranU's theology institute, give shout outs, and ask tough questions. Siblings show a lot of love. Jesus calls us to be poor and serve the poor. Claire was a pelagian (sort of). You were predestined to read this.
You can learn more about TFE at https://franu.edu/the-franciscan-experience-summer-institute.
TFE 2024 Live Show/Ask Us Anything/Air Horns Everywhere
The Dunces are back live at The Franciscan Experience 2024. Dr. David Moser joins the show with old-timers Dr. Pedraza, Rachael, and Josh. New majors, Ignazio and Chandler, get in the mix, and Chris the Philosopher makes a long overdue appearance. Stellar high school students share some of their favorite memories from the week and how they found Christ in the Eucharist, theological study, the poor, and each other. They also ask some tough questions about God's love and our sinfulness, Creation, the ending of the Glory B, the "unforgivable sin," and Dr. P's guitar playing "skills." Oh, and Josh has big news, and it's the Year of Chris.
TFE is a one-of-a-kind high school theology institute that introduces students to the riches of the Catholic faith through communal life, mass and liturgy of the hours, academic theology, service to the poor, and daily prayer. See https://franu.edu/the-franciscan-experience-summer-institute.
Shout out to Kevin McLeod for his "Elevator Music."
B-Side: Called by Name
Fr. Andrew tells the captivating, sometimes funny, sometimes gut-wrenching story of Jesus calling him to the priesthood.
B-Side episodes bring you a story that gives flesh to a topic talked about in a previous episode. See Episode 12, "Going on Vocation."
Music Credits:
"Reawakening", "Comfortable Mystery 2", "Still Pickin", "Country Ballad 2"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other songs licensed by Jamendo.
Dr. Vukov/Feast of St. Francis/A.I. and Humanizing Technology or Technologizing Humans/A.I. vs. Meat Computers
Dr. Joe Vukov from Loyola Chicago visits the Dunces' Corner to talk all things Artificial Intelligence and Technology. Josh and Ben join the show. Dr. Vukov shares his conversion from Protestant to atheist to Catholic and the harrowing story of how he became a philosopher. The Dunces talk about whether A.I. is actually intelligent and if the human brain is a mere meat computing machine. Finally, Dr. Pedraza and Dr. Vukov put Rachael, Sr. Ref, Josh, and Ben to the test against catholic.chat. Does A.I end up terminating humanity in this catechizing competition? You'll have to find out.
Props to the people at www.catholic.chat
This desctiption was not made with A.I. but might have been better if it were.
Come with me if you want to live.Special Guest: Dr. Joe Vukov.







