Uncommon Sense - The Official Podcast of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton

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 https://www.chesterton.org/advent Check out our whole Advent & Christmastide series playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm8wkRUR11ar3uer8l1EJ0S9hgAR1Ddz1 OTHER LINKS: G.K. Chesterton, "The History of Christmas": PART 1: https://library.chesterton.org/the-history-of-christmas-55156/ PART 2: https://library.chesterton.org/the-history-of-christmas-cont-35676/  Who Were The Magi? (Dave Armstrong) - https://www.ncregister.com/blog/who-were-the-magi The Dating of Christmas (Jimmy Akin) - https://jimmyakin.com/2014/11/the-dating-of-christmas.html  Christmas is Pagan REBUTTED (Joe Heschmeyer) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KBFfWe1KcQ  Christmas and Pagan Roots (U.S. Catholic) - https://uscatholic.org/articles/202312/glad-you-asked-does-christmas-have-pagan-roots/  Christmas, Pagan Romans and Frodo Baggins (Father Dwight Longenecker) - https://dwightlongenecker.com/christmas-pagan-romans-and-frodo-baggins/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT Consider making a donation: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ Visit our Shop at https://www.chesterton.org/shop/  

Stacey Bowman, VP Advancement for the Society of G.K. Chesterton, with a special message for Giving Tuesday 2025. Donate today at https://give.chesterton.org/EOY2025.

[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 podcast@chesterton.org. Join us for Advent at chesterton.org/advent. Get your Chestertonian Christmas gifts at chesterton.org/store/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/

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 podcast@chesterton.org. Sign up for "Gifts of Gratitude" and download our free resources at https://chesterton.org/advent.  The "Snapdragon" episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9sz7gDX94 FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/  

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 podcast@chesterton.org. Learn more about Emily Stimpson Chapman: https://www.emilystimpsonchapman.com/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

[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 https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/four-men/ You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

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 podcast@chesterton.org. Mentioned in this episode: Word on Fire Show: https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/wordonfire-show/ FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

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 podcast@chesterton.org. Mentioned in this episode: "The Hastiness of Modern Journalism" by G.K. Chesterton: https://library.chesterton.org/funerals-are-for-the-living-27276/ "A Defense of Skeletons" by G.K. Chesterton: https://library.chesterton.org/the-defendant-66905/#a-defence-of-skeletons Last year's All Hallowstide Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to5eTF2gAyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtppIqGMrOs FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

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 podcast@chesterton.org. Essays mentioned in this episode: "The Hastiness of Modern Journalism" by G.K. Chesterton: https://library.chesterton.org/the-hastiness-of-modern-journalism-68950/ "Type A behavior pattern: some of its pathophysiological components" by Meyer Friedman, MD: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1807381/ "Rendering to God" by Dr. Jacob Imam: https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2025/09/rendering-god-jacob-imam.html FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

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 podcast@chesterton.org. Essays mentioned in today's episode:  "Three Ways of Reading History": https://library.chesterton.org/three-ways-of-writing-history-27303/ "Introduction" to the Song of Roland: https://library.chesterton.org/introduction-18111/ "A View of William the Conqueror": https://library.chesterton.org/a-view-of-william-the-conqueror-86512/ Check out The Troubadours discussing "Belloc vs. Tolkien on 1066": https://www.youtube.com/live/fkjyAibwUlw?si=mdlr2c0tGrY-1pG1 FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

[RE-AIRING] Celebrating the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, Joe and Grettelyn look at some of Chesterton's Marian poems celebrating the "Queen of Victory." #chesterton #blessedmother #mary #virginmary #rosary #lepanto You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

Joe and Grettelyn talk about Saint Therese of Lisieux, also known as "The Little Flower," on the eve of her feast day, and the many things she and Chesterton have in common. Learn about the similarities in their spiritualities, their common virtues, and more! #littleflower #thelittleflower #thereseoflisieux #chesterton You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

Grettelyn is back! In this episode, she and Joe talk about the passing of seasons in life, the messages God and nature are trying to communicate, and how to pay attention to the important daily graces we receive without becoming distracting by an overwhelming news cycle. Also, pumpkin spice. #autumn #fall #pumpkinspice #pumpkinspiceseason #pumpkinspiceeverything The essays mentioned in this episode are: https://library.chesterton.org/the-silly-season-and-serious-discussion-92853/ https://library.chesterton.org/serious-things-in-holiday-time-london-82147/ You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

Joe interviews Dale about his brand new book, I Also Had My Hour: An Alternative Autobiography of G. K. Chesterton. Buy a copy today! https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/i-also-had-my-hour/ You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

No new episode this week, owing to the Labor Day holiday. Instead, since this week is also the beginning of football season, we re-present this special episode on Chesterton's great Marian poem about (American) Football!  You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

Back to school! Joe and Lee talk about "back to school" season, the opportunities for reflection it affords, and reminisce about some special classes and teachers in their own lives. You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/  

"The Catholic Church is like a thick steak, a glass of red wine, and a good cigar." "Fairy tales are more than true – not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten." "Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out." Joe and Lee look at some quotations commonly attributed to G. K. Chesterton and answer the question: did Chesterton really say that? They also rank the quotations investigated on a tier chart of plausibility. This is a fun one - don't miss it! #chesterton #fakequotes  You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:30 - Topic Intro 03:25 - Introducing our Ranking Chart 04:33 - "Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car." 07:45 - "If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God." 10:33 - "When Man ceases to worship God he does not worship nothing but worships everything." 15:42 - "The Catholic Church is like a thick steak, a glass of red wine, and a good cigar." 19:45 - "In Catholicism, the Pint, the Pipe and the Cross can all fit together."  23:20 - "A man knocking on the door of a brothel is knocking for God." 27:43 - "When it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." 29:55 - "I've searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees." 32:37 - "A woman uses her intelligence to find reasons to support her intuition." 36:34 - "Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions." 39:47 - (Lee is sad.) "Fairy tales are more than true – not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten." 44:16 - "Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out." 48:50 - The Complete Chart and Summing Up FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT US DONATE TO THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ SHOP IN OUR STORE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/

Joe and Lee chat about sundry summery things: the Chesterton conference, summer reading, and what's coming up in the Fall. You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. MOMENTS IN THIS VIDEO: 01:59 - Conference Recap - Overall Impressions  07:05 - Reconnecting with New and Old Friends 08:20 - New Orleans Fondly Remembered 10:36 - Marc Barnes on Jazz 18:03 - ACS Books Evangeline 22:04 - Father Brown Card Game Preview 25:26 - Joe and Lee's Summer Reading 42:03 - Society Check-in - Chesterton Schools Network 47:09 - The Knights of the Apostolate 52:21 - Wrapping Up SUPPORT THE SOCIETY: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ BECOME A KNIGHT: https://www.chesterton.org/knights/ BUY EVANGELINE: https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/evangeline-a-tale-of-acadie/  FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc

Dale Ahlquist explores the Chestertonian way of the Church Militant, marching hopefully to our heavenly reward. You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT Consider making a donation: https://www.chesterton.org/give/  Visit our Shop at https://www.chesterton.org/shop/

Joe and Lee continue last week's conversation on the new revolution in technology and economics, so-called "Artificial Intelligence," and decide that we do, in fact, probably need a new Rerum novarum. You can contact us at podcast@chesterton.org. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestertonsociety Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanChestertonSociety X: https://twitter.com/chestertonsoc SUPPORT Consider making a donation: https://www.chesterton.org/give/ Visit our Shop at https://www.chesterton.org/shop/