Nathan Beacom, founder and executive director of the Lyceum Movement, joins The Catholic Morning Show to explain why in-person, generous conversation is essential to healing a divided public square. He previews the fourth annual Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas, a two-day event exploring the pursuit of happiness through philosophy, culture, and community. Beacom shares the ancient roots of the Lyceum tradition and the practical habits that can help anyone become a better, more charitable conversation partner.
Nathan Beacom traces the Lyceum Movement back to a desire, born out of pandemic isolation in 2021, to revive an almost 200-year-old American tradition of neighbors gathering to discuss the big questions of life face to face. He explains how the movement takes its name from ancient Athens, where Aristotle taught in the garden known as the Lyceum, and how that same spirit now animates Tallgrass, the Lyceum's flagship annual festival in downtown Des Moines.
This year's theme, the pursuit of happiness, ties into the 250th anniversary of America's founding and will be explored from angles ranging from philosophy and mental health to the impact of artificial intelligence. Beacom also shares a reflection from Pope Leo XIV, paraphrasing the pope's teaching that truth is not a territory to be defended, but a good to be shared — a fitting theme for a festival built on generous, truth-seeking dialogue. He closes with the Lyceum's "habits of healthy conversation," including seeking truth over victory and reading others charitably.
Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas
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