The Opening Question

Forged and Composed: Timeless Ways of Living

The Opening Question

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In the inaugural episode of the Forged and Composed podcasts, our hosts come together for a conversation about what it means to “forge” and “compose” a life marked by beauty, order, and purpose. Their dialogue explores human flourishing, focal practices, and the formative power of beauty, art, and community. Drawing on personal experience, they reflect on hospitality, generosity, nature, and the role of exemplars in shaping lives marked by meaning and fulfillment. Join us at the beginning.

Contributors

Christine Perrin photo

Host

Christine Perrin

Podcast Host and Contributing Writer

Christine is a poet and the host of the Composed podcast sponsored by the Humanitas Institute.

Dr. Brian Williams photo

Host

Dr. Brian Williams

Podcast Host and Contributing Writer

Brian A. Williams (DPhil, Oxon) is Dean of the Templeton Honors College, Professor of Ethics and Liberal Studies, and Co-Director of the MA in Classical Teaching at Eastern University in Philadelphia. He is the founding editor of Principia: A Journal of Classical Education, speaks internationally on classical education, and serves on several academic and educational boards, including the Classic Learning Test (CLT). Previously, he taught at Cair Paravel Latin School and the University of Oxford. Dr. Williams earned degrees in theology and Christian ethics from Regent College and the University of Oxford, and his research focuses on education and formation in the Christian Intellectual Tradition. Brian is a runner, art collector, and traveler, having visited over 40 countries, often in search of sites and cities of the ancient world. He is married to Kim, a visual artist and teacher, and has three children: Ilia, Brecon, and Maeve.