EPISODE 32 - The Benedictine Book Binder

Episode 32 February 23, 2025 00:49:55
EPISODE 32 - The Benedictine Book Binder
The Sower
EPISODE 32 - The Benedictine Book Binder

Feb 23 2025 | 00:49:55

/

Show Notes

Josh Bowman talks with Matthew K. Michels OblSB, who is a professional bookbinder and writer, and the owner of Black Cowl Bindery. He is also an Oblate of the Order of Saint Benedict associated with Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

In addition to talking about the craft of bookbinding, we also discuss the idea of human scale, running a small business, common arts education, the trades, vocation, virtue, localism, Westerns, beer, and more! It's also painfully obvious that you're listening to two Midwesterners. 

Check out Black Cowl Bindery at https://www.blackcowlbindery.com/ 

We mentioned and highly recommend Matthew Crawford’s book, Shop Class as Soulcraft, though we apologize for getting the name wrong. (We said “shop craft” instead): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/301618/shop-class-as-soulcraft-by-matthew-b-crawford/ 

To learn more about us, our events, this Podcast, our journal, Pietas, to sign up for our newsletter, and make your tax deductible gift, please go to https://ciceroniansociety.org/

0:00 Introduction

1:56 What a Bookbinder Does

5:48 How He Got Started

10:00 Common Arts Education

16:15 Why Tradesmen Should Read

19:36 Glorifying God Through the Trades

25:10 Small Business

34:17 Local Connections

39:31 Westerns and Masculine Virtue

46:55 Where to Learn More

 

Other Episodes

Episode 2

August 09, 2022 00:49:59
Episode Cover

EPISODE 2 - Black Liberation Through the Marketplace with Rachel Ferguson

James Patterson chats with Rachel Ferguson about her recent book with Marcus Witcher called BLACK LIBERATION THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE https://www.amazon.com/Black-Liberation-Through-Marketplace-Heartbreak/dp/1637583443  https://ciceroniansociety.org/ 

Listen

Episode 39

June 01, 2025 00:27:12
Episode Cover

EPISODE 39 - Sean Sirks on Math, Metaphysics, and King Lear

This episode continues a series interviewing our first ever cohort of conference fellows. Here, Josh talks with Sean Sirks, a graduate student at Virginia...

Listen

Episode 48

August 24, 2025 01:17:46
Episode Cover

EPISODE 48 - Aristocratic Voices Then and Now

Josh Bowman leads a discussion of Aristocratic Voices: Forgotten Arguments about Virtue, Authority, and Inequality (Lexington Books, 2025) co-edited by Richard Avramenko and Ethan...

Listen