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Welcome to Mind Inclined, a free platform for people who love to learn. Join author, professor, and college president Mark Canada, Ph.D., for inspiring podcasts, essays, lectures, and tours designed to elevate your mind, your life, and your world.
We invite you to subscribe to our free Mind Travel newsletter, attend a lecture, and/or join us for one of our upcoming travel opportunities in New York, Philadelphia, or London—or on Route 66!
What do you want to do?
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Participate
Mark speaks to academic and general audiences on a variety of topics in literature, history, and more. Lectures may be virtual or in-person and can be booked by emailing Mark.
Upcoming Lectures & Tours
Frederick Douglass: Author, Abolitionist, Activist
August 11, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium, Indiana University Kokomo
If you have questions, contact Mark at mark.canada@mindinclined.org
The United States has come a long way since Frederick Douglass escaped slavery, wrote his story, and became a leading abolitionist—but recent tragedies and rhetoric show there is still much work to be done. What can we learn from Douglass? In this lecture, we will explore the life and work of one of America’s greatest voices for freedom, equality, and education, not only for African-Americans, but also for others facing oppression in the nineteenth century. We will see some of the trials and triumphs of his life as a slave, sample some brilliant and moving passages from his slave narrative, explore his work as a newspaper editor and activist, and consider takeaways that we can use to make a better, more inclusive America in our own day.
The French Encounters of Benjamin Franklin & Thomas Jefferson, 1776 to 1789
The work of diplomacy brought two Founding Fathers, first Benjamin Franklin and then the much younger Thomas Jefferson, to Paris in the late eighteenth century. There, the atmosphere and people of France brought out various fascinating facets of their personalities. Join Mark and historian Chris Young for this look at their very different experiences in France.
Click here to register.
The Other Benjamin Franklin: A Revolutionary Before the Revolution
September 10, 2026
6 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium, IU Kokomo
If you have questions, contact Mark at mark.canada@mindinclined.org
When Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, he was 70 years old—a Founding Father, yes, but also old enough to be an actual father of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Like all of us, however, Franklin was once young. Unlike most of us, he also pioneered the study of electricity, invented the lightning rod and even a musical instrument, transformed his city with civic innovations, and penned some of the greatest literature of his age. (He also ran away from home, made his share of mistakes—which he called “errata”—and generally lived a fascinating, often humorous life worthy of a book—which he himself wound up writing.) In this lecture, we will trace this life over the decades before the American Revolution, catching a glimpse of the revolutionary personality of our funniest Founding Father.
Listen & Learn
Mark's Greatest Hits
Do you like American history? Philosophy? Literature? Business? An amazing narrator?
I finished these lectures in two days. You won't be disappointed.
Tim
One of the best
Huge Poe fan and you could absolutely tell Mark has a passion for the subject matter. Plus he's a great narrator! Would highly recommend this for anyone interested in learning more about Poe in a short amount of time.
Erin
So good!
Well-written and thoughtful, the essays are scholarly but still accessible.
Anonymous
So good!
Who is Dr. Mark Canada?
Mark Canada, Ph.D.
elevating minds for over 25 years
Mark Canada, Ph.D., has been elevating minds for three decades. An award-winning professor and nationally recognized university leader, he is also a prolific author of articles and books, including the Audible Originals Edgar Allan Poe: Master of Horror and Ben Franklin’s Lessons in Life. His lectures on a variety of subjects —from American authors to the Lewis & Clark expedition to the English language--have made him a favorite among lifelong learners. In 2024, he founded Mind Inclined, a learning enterprise featuring his Mind Travel newsletter, podcasts, virtual tours, and in-person lectures and tours.
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