ClassicalU Podcast

Jesse Hake interviews Fr. Wesley Walker on a wide range of topics related to classical Christian education, including the work and influence of Hugh of St. Victor, the importance of incorporating American literature and history into the classical curriculum, the connections between teaching and priestly vocations, and contemporary resources relevant to the classical Christian renewal. Topics covered include the "Common Arts Education" course with Chris Hall, Fr. Wesley's podcast and newsletter at The Classical Mind, and Nate Marshall's essay "Craft and Theology: The Renaissance" inspired, in part, by Hugh of St. Victor.

Jesse Hake chats with Sarah Flynn, a classical Christian education pioneer in Australia and founder of Logos Australis. Sarah is an educator with a background in ecology, environmental studies, and Aboriginal studies in addition to being instrumental in promoting classical education in Australia. Among other topics, Sarah and Jesse consider relationships between integrating indigenous approaches to knowledge and the principles of classical education. ClassicalU courses mentioned include The Liberal Arts Tradition and The Art of Poetry.

In this episode, Christopher Perrin engages with both Junius Johnson and Christine Perrin on the topics of contemplative, embodied, sacramental, and liturgical learning. Together they consider how these truths should inform our classroom practices in light of a sacramental sense of time, the church calendar, and the fact that humans are embodied creatures. Among others, this conversation relates to content in "Scholé (Restful) Learning" with Christopher Perrin, "Theology of Beauty and the Imagination: A Guide to Wonder" course with Junius Johnson and "The Art of Poetry" with Christine Perrin.

Jesse Hake talks with author and Grove City College professor Jeffrey Bilbro about his forthcoming course on ClassicalU about how teachers can cultivate Wendell Berry's virtues of renewal within their classrooms. Bilbro's course is based on his book Virtues of Renewal: Wendell Berry’s Sustainable Forms and relates to material in existing ClassicalU courses including The Art of Poetry and Scholé (Restful) Learning. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to watch for our new course with Jeffrey Bilbro on ClassicalU in coming months.

In this episode, Jesse Hake talks with author, professor, and executive leader Dr. Kelisha B. Graves about her book on educator and civil rights activist Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879 to 1961) as well as about what is broken and how we should respond to today's predominant "factory model" of education. Our conversation also considered the educational legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and several other figures from "The Black Intellectual Tradition and the Great Conversation" course on ClassicalU.

While recording for his new ClassicalU course on teaching, school leadership, and the history of education, David Hicks sat down for a conversation. In this second of two parts, he answers a question about hiring Ron DeSantis as a school teacher and shares more on our American identity crisis, on the importance of gratitude, and on Marcus Aurelius and the goal of perfection. David ends by considering the key points in his 1981 book Norms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education which calls for educators to once again focus on developing conscience and style.

While recording for his new ClassicalU course on teaching, school leadership, and the history of education, David Hicks sat down for a conversation. In this first of two parts, he shares about the Christian life, classical architecture, monasticism, and his forthcoming book The Stones Cry Out (releasing fall of 2024 from Classical Academic Press). The first question in this episode references David's review of the book How to Be a Sinner by Peter Bouteneff.

Jesse speaks with Dr. Junius Johnson about a forthcoming new course on ClassicalU about music education. Dr. Johnson's love and knowledge regarding classical music (including his professional experience playing the French horn) are inspiring.

Jesse speaks with Dr. Amy Richards about her all-new course entitled Disability and Classical Education: Student Formation in Keeping with Our Common Humanity and her forthcoming book with us on this topic.

As Junius Johnson was recording three forthcoming new courses for ClassicalU.com about Augustine, medieval history, and music, Jesse Hake recorded this conversation with him about God and time in theology and philosophy. (For more, see our course on Essential Philosophy with David Schenk as well as Junius Johnson's courses on Theology of Beauty and the Imagination and On Teaching Fairy Stories.)