The Mason Jar is a podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode, Cindy answers more listener questions.

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

As always, press the arrow above to listen or subscribe to the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network via itunes here or on Stitcher here. 

*****

This podcast is brought to you by The Harvey Center for Family Learning. 

Use code circe20 to save 20% on their two year family membership. 

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this episode David is joined by Martin Cothran and Jamie Cain to discuss the value of the traditional western story. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by Romans Roads Media.

Use code CIRCE2016 to get any video series free when you buy their first series, The Epics, which features the teaching of Wes Callihan. 

This podcast is also presented by The Harvey Center for Family Learning. 

Welcome to A Perpetual Feast, where Andrew Kern and Wes Callihan talk about Homer (and whatever else comes up). 

In episode three they discuss books about Homer, poetic diction in Homer and beyond, and much more. 

*****

This podcast is brought to you by The Harvey Center for Family Learning. 

Use code circe20 to save 20% on their two year family membership. 

Close Reads is a book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. Here in episode 14 they discuss chapters 24-25 of Wendell Berry's novel, Jayber Crow. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by:

This podcast is brought to you by Romans Roads Media.

Use code CIRCE2016 to get any video series free when you buy their first series, The Epics, which features the teaching of Wes Callihan. 

This podcast is also presented by The Harvey Center for Family Learning. 

In this episode of The Mason Jar, Cindy Rollins interview Jeannette Tulis about cultivating young artists, students as individuals, the relationship between art and nature studies, and much more. 

*****

This podcast is brought to you by Romans Roads Media.

Use code CIRCE2016 to get any video series free when you buy their first series, The Epics, which features the teaching of Wes Callihan. 

Close Reads is a book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. Here in episode 13 they discuss chapter 23 (the famous "The Way of Love" chapter) of Wendell Berry's novel, Jayber Crow. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by:

This podcast is brought to you by Romans Roads Media.

Use code CIRCE2016 to get any video series free when you buy their first series, The Epics, which features the teaching of Wes Callihan. 

The Mason Jar is a podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode, Cindy answers more listener questions.

*****

This podcast is brought to you by Romans Roads Media.

Use code CIRCE2016 to get any video series free when you buy their first series, The Epics, which features the teaching of Wes Callihan. 

Welcome to episode two of A Perpetual Feast, where Andrew Kern and Wes Callihan talk about Homer. That's it. Just Homer.

In episode two they discuss their favorite translations, reading Homer for the first time, and Homer's poetic dialect. 

*****

This podcast is brought to you by Romans Roads Media.

Use code CIRCE2016 to get any video series free when you buy their first series, The Epics, which features the teaching of Wes Callihan. 

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy talks to Katie Hudgins about self-education, books, narration, and more. 

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

***

Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, The Commons contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode seven Brian chats with Jonathan Rogers, author of The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O'Connor (among other biographies), about the remarkable faith and challenging work of Flannery O'Connor. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by Noet Scholarly Tools.

Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy answers more listener questions.

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy.

***

This podcast is brought to you by Noet Scholarly Tools.

Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this advent-themed episode, Christine Perrin and Matt Bianco join David to discuss T.S. Eliot's poem, The Journey of the Magi. 

• As promised here is the ancient church hymn Christine reads during the show: http://oca.org/saints/troparia/2013/12/25/103638-the-nativity-of-our-lord-god-and-savior-jesus-christ
• And here is the painting she refers to: http://m1.i.pbase.com/g2/48/619748/2/146773021.ZW4GpVUs.jpg

****

This podcast is brought to you by Noet Scholarly Tools. 

Noet offers a suite of tools and texts for scholarly work in the classics. It serves disciplines that involve original-language research and text comparison—classical studies, philosophy, intellectual history, and more. Noet Research Libraries give professors, students, and scholars advanced academic resources: original-language tools, fast searches, and side-by-side study of related texts. Plus, with the free Noet mobile app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!

Close Reads is a book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 12 they discuss chapters 19-22 of Wendell Berry's novel, Jayber Crow. 

As promised, here is the link to our reading and recording schedule for our Jayber Crow discussions. We hope you'll read along with us!

Welcome to episode one of A Perpetual Feast, where Andrew Kern and Wes Callihan will talk about Homer. That's it. Just Homer. In episode one they discuss why they chose this name for their show and why  they love Homer so much. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by Noet Scholarly Tools.

Noet offers a suite of tools and texts for scholarly work in the classics. It serves disciplines that involve original-language research and text comparison—classical studies, philosophy, intellectual history, and more. Noet Research Libraries give professors, students, and scholars advanced academic resources: original-language tools, fast searches, and side-by-side study of related texts. Plus, with the free Noet mobile app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go.

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this episode, David Kern chats on the phone with Gregory Wolfe, editor of IMAGE Journal and author of the new book The Operation of Grace: Further Essays on Art, Faith, and Mystery. Topics of conversation include what it means to be a Christian artist, cultivating the next great Flannery O'Connors, and why IMAGE changed its subtitle. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by:

Noet offers a suite of tools and texts for scholarly work in the classics. It serves disciplines that involve original-language research and text comparison—classical studies, philosophy, intellectual history, and more. Noet Research Libraries give professors, students, and scholars advanced academic resources: original-language tools, fast searches, and side-by-side study of related texts. Plus, with the free Noet mobile app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go.

Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, The Commons contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode six Brian chats with Stephen Mansfield, author of The Search for God and Guinness (among other biographies), about the remarkable legacy of the famous Guinness family, of Guinness beer fame. The Guinness story is a remarkable story of faith, generosity, and compassion you won't want to miss. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by:

Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!

The Mason Jar is a podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy talks to noted Charlotte Mason blogger, Wendy Capehart, about, among other things, whether a Charlotte Mason education is better for girls than boys. 

To send in a question for a future episode, please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by:

Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!

Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, The Commons contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode five Brian chats with scholar, teacher, story-teller, and speaker, Wes Callihan, about the remarkable legacy of St. Gregory of Tours. Topics of conversation include miracles, early Medieval church history, and much more. 

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy answers more listener questions.

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by Noet Scholarly Tools.

Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!

Close Reads is a book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 11 they continue their ongoing discussion of Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow. This time they discuss chapters 16-18. 

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this episode, Professor Carol Reynolds discusses music instruction, developing musical imagination, and traveling the world on cultural tours. Featuring a guest appearance by Andrew Kern. 

***

This podcast is brought to you by our friends at Noet. Noet offers a suite of tools and texts for scholarly work in the classics. It serves disciplines that involve original-language research and text comparison—classical studies, philosophy, intellectual history, and more. Noet Research Libraries give professors, students, and scholars advanced academic resources: original-language tools, fast searches, and side-by-side study of related texts. Plus, with the free Noet mobile app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go.

Close Reads is a book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 9 they continue their ongoing discussion of Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow. This time they discuss chapters 10-12. 

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this episode, Martin Cothran, of Memoria Press, discusses the disturbing disenchantment in our modern times, the problem with modern science, and books (of all kinds). Discussion touches on G.K. Chesterton, children's literature, reading habits, Walter Scott, gravity, Charles Taylor, and fairy tales. 

The Mason Jar is a podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy talks to Anne White about, among other things, the role of Plutarch in a Charlotte Mason approach. 

To send in a question for a future episode, please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

As always, press the arrow above to listen or subscribe to the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network via itunes here. 

Close Reads is a book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 8 they continue their ongoing discussion of Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow. This time they discuss chapters 10-12. 

As promised, here is the link to our reading and recording schedule for our Jayber Crow discussions. We hope you'll read along with us!

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy answers more listener questions.

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 7 they continue their ongoing discussion of Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow. This time they discuss chapters 7-9. 

As promised, here is the link to our reading and recording schedule for our Jayber Crowdiscussions. We hope you'll read along with us!

***

This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 days here). 

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy talks to Karen Glass, author of the acclaimed new book, Consider This: Charlotte Mason and Classical Education. 

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

***

This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 days here). 

The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode three Brian chats with noted pastor, teacher, writer, and speaker, Dr. George Grant, about the legacy - and adventures - of President Theodore Roosevelt. Topics of conversation include Roosevelt's faith, his family, and the times he convinced the Secret Service to let him explore. 

***

This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 days here). 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 7 they continue their ongoing discussion of Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow. This time they discuss chapters 3-6. 

As promised, here is the link to our reading and recording schedule for our Jayber Crowdiscussions. We hope you'll read along with us!

***

This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 days here). 

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy answers your questions. 

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode three Brian chats with writer and speaker, Angelina Stanford, about the literary (and Christian) legacy of the Celts. Topics of conversation include the church fathers on the pagan writers, medieval Christian use of allegory, how English literature is really Celtic literature, and much more. 

***

Angelina Stanford has an MA in English literature and has taught in various Christian classical classrooms for almost 20 years. She also works as a freelance writer and editor and is a columnist for Home Educating Family magazine.  This year she completed her tenth year of homeschooling and she recently joined the online teaching community at the Harvey Center for Family Learning. She is co-host of Close Reads, another podcast from the CiRCE Institute.   

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this episode, Andrew Pudewa explains the value of practice, discipline, and repitition. Discusssion touches on Mr. Pudewa's experiences learning the violin in Japan from the famous Dr. Suzuki, what made Frederick Douglas "America's greatest orator since Patrick Henry", and practical tips for effectively including repitition and practice in our homes and classrooms. 

***

This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 days here). 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 6 they begin a discussion of Wendell Berry's beloved novel Jayber Crow. 

****

This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 here). 

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy talks to Dr. Jack Beckman, chair of the teacher's college at Covenant College and board member of The Charlotte Mason Institute, about the rigor of a Charlotte Mason approach to education, teaching CM at the college level, his favorite current books, and much more. 

***

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

***

This episode is brought to you by:

Arete Scholars exists to help economically disadvantaged children reach their highest potential through educational opportunity. Through private contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, Arete awards need-based K-12 scholarships and empowers parents to place their children in schools that best suit their unique gifts and learning needs.

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

In this episode Cindy answers listener questions about nature studies and kids who don't want to sit still, the relationship between the Trivium and Charlotte Mason, and what Morning Time looked like in her home. 

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 5 they discuss Harper Lee's new/old novel, Go Set a Watchman, the controversial - and probably not very good - follow up to her beloved To Kill a Mockingbird. 

******

This episode is brought to you by: The Arete Scholars

Arete Scholars exists to help economically disadvantaged children reach their highest potential through educational opportunity. Through private contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, Arete awards need-based K-12 scholarships and empowers parents to place their children in schools that best suit their unique gifts and learning needs.

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In this episode, Christine Perrin; poet, teacher, and speaker from Classical Academic Press; joins us to discuss how to effectively teach and read poetry. Topics include: the anxiety that often comes with teaching poetry, Robert Frost, understanding metaphor, poetry as science, and much more. 

This episode is brought to you by: 

Arete Scholars

Arete Scholars exists to help economically disadvantaged children reach their highest potential through educational opportunity. Through private contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, Arete awards need-based K-12 scholarships and empowers parents to place their children in schools that best suit their unique gifts and learning needs.

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

Here in episode 52, John Hodges, director of the Center for Western Studies and an experienced conductor and composer, explains why he thinks we take music too seriously, how to cultivate good listeners of music (it begins, he claims, with cultivating humble listeners), and what he would listen to if he could only listen to one piece of music (forever). 

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

Here in Episode 2, Cindy interviews blogger (and homeschooling veteran) Kim Neve about homeschooling Charlotte Mason-style during the high school years. She also introduces Mason's ideas of "narration" and "the science of relations". 

To send in a question for a future episode please email David  or Cindy. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

Welcome to Quiddity, the original podcast from the CiRCE Institute, featuring interviews and ideas that are important to Christian classical education. 

In episode #51, author/blogger/speaker/mom, Sarah Mackenzie, joins David Kern to provide some speciifc tips on how best to teach from a state of rest, what teaching from rest could look like in a traditional school setting, what's new in the updated second edition of her book, Teaching From Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakeable Peace (out August 3rd), and much more. 

You can find Sarah at amongstlovelythings.com and you find a copy of her book at classicalacademicpress.com. 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host David Kern to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 4 they discuss Jean Paul Sartre's French existentialist short story, The Wall, the tale of a Spanish Civil War-era soldier who is facing death by a firing squad. 

The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode two Brian chats with musician and scholar, Greg Wilbur, about one of history's most important artists: composer Johann Sebastian Bach.  

Gregory Wilbur is Chief Musician at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN, as well as Dean and Senior Fellow of New College Franklin—a Christian liberal arts college that he helped to start. He enjoys discipling students and walking them through classics of literature, film, and music. He earned his Masters in Music Composition at the University of Alabama. He is the author of Glory and Honor: The Music and Artistic Legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach and has released two CDs of his compositions of congregational psalms, hymns and service music. In addition, he writes for choir, orchestra, film and chamber ensembles. His wife, Sophia, homeschools their daughter, Eleanor, and they all enjoy reading, cooking, taking walks and enjoying life in middle Tennessee.    

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

Here in episode 3 they discuss P.G. Wodehouse's wonderful short story, The Aunt and the Sluggard. 

In this, the 50th episode of Quiddity, our flagship podcast, David Kern interviews Carol Zaleski, co-author of The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings. 

Discussion touches on the role of WWI in their collective lives, how the Inkling would respond to the issues of our day, and why Charles Williams and Owen Barfield belong in the same conversation with Lewis and Tolkien. Enjoy!

The Mason Jar is a new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network in which acclaimed speaker/blogger Cindy Rollins joins host David Kern for a monthly exploration of the ideas, works, and influence of Charlotte Mason.

Here in Episode 1, Cindy provides an introduction to Charlotte Mason and explains why Charlotte has been so influential in her own teaching. 

To send in a question for a future episode please email David via david@circeinstitute or Cindy via cindy@ordo-amoris.com. 

To learn more about Charlotte Mason's biography please visit amblesideonline.org. 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

In episode two they discuss Macbeth, as Tim and Angelina try to convince David to like it more. 

Close Reads is a new book club podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network, featuring Angelina Stanford and Tim McIntosh, who join host, David Kern, to discuss Great Books and the authors who create them. 

In episode one they discuss Flannery O'Connor's famous short story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (with a brief aside on the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen). 

The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating. 

In episode one Brian chats with Dr. Ben Merkle, author of The White Horse King and president of New Saint Andrews College, about King Alfred the Great, one of history's most underrated characters. 

In this week's episode of Quiddity, we bring you Andrew Kern on The Christ-centered Curriculum, a lecture presented in Cincinnati at the Midwest Homeschool Convention, April 2015. 

In this episode, Sarah Mackenzie, of amongstlovelythings.com, and noted speaker, Cindy Rollins, share their thoughts on summer reading, turning vacation into "learning experiences", using summer for your own edification, and more. 

In this episode of the show, we bring you another lecture from Andrew Kern, What is Socratic Teaching, presente at the Indiana Home Educators Convention in March 2015. 

In this week's episode we bring you a recent talk by Andrew Kern, presented at the Indiana Home Educator's Convention, in which he argues that reading challenging books like the Iliad and the Odyssey can bring greater pleasure than less challenging fare, and that they're more likely to enrich your home and the souls who live there. Plus, he offers some tips on how to approach these difficult books. 

In this week's episode author and journalist, Rod Dreher, joins the show to discuss his fantastic new book, How Dante Can Save Your Life: The Life-Changing Wisdom of History's Greatest Poem, out this month from ReganArts. Conversation touches on the power of story to change lives, how Dante helped Rod's faith grow even in the face of some deep family drama and a debilitating illness, and why everyone should read The Divine Comedy. 

Rod is a senior editor of The American Conservative and the author of Cruncy Cons and The Little Way of Ruthy Leming. His work has appeared in numerous publications including the New York Post, the Dallas Morning News, National Review, First Things, and the Wall Street Journal, and broadcast on NPR's All Things Considered and BBC Radio.  He lives in St. Francisville, Louisiana, with his wife Julie and their three children.

You can buy a copy of the book here. And you can find Rod's blog at The American Conservative here. 

In this week's episode Dr. Louis Markos joins the show to discuss his new book, C.S. Lewis: An Apologist for Education, out this month from Classical Academic Press as part of their new Giants in the History of Education series.

Discussion touches on what pedagogical issues of our own time Lewis would be preoccupied with,  his love of the medieval cosmological order and what it has to do with education, and why he wasn't necessarily a fan of democracy in the classroom. 

Click here to read a sample chapter from the book. 

In this week's episode of Quiddity, David Kern chats with S.D. Smith, author of the new fantasy novel, The Green Ember, and editor of Storywarren.com. Conversations covers topics like homeschooling on the mission field, the insanity of being a writer, what it was like to grow in a West Virginia holler, and much more. 

Visit Storywarren.com for more. 

In this episode of Quiddity, David Hicks joins David Kern to answer some listener questions about classical education, books, and his book, Norms and Nobility. 

In this episode of the Quiddity podcast, we break down our Bard Madness Shakespeare bracket, predicting who we think should win and who we think will win. 

In this week's episode of the Quiddity podcast, Matt Bianco, Education Director for Classical Conversations, joins Andrew Kern and David Kern to discuss how to draw good questions from students who seem uninterested or reluctant. 

Learn more about the great work of CC at classicalconversations.com.

In this episode of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast, John Hodges, Chris Perrin, and John Mark Reynolds join David Kern to discuss what makes a good college, what every potential college student should know, and some alternatives to traditioanl college (with a note on debt and student loans). 

In this week's episode of Quiddity, Dr. Brian Phillips shares some thoughts on how teachers and parents can use the season of Lent to help students (and themselves) focus on the "genuine order of things". 

In this week's episode of Quiddity, the podcast of the CiRCE Institute, David Kern chats with Sarah Mackenzie, athor of Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakeable Peace about what it means to teach from rest, getting through the February slog, favorite books of 2014, and various challenges of homeschooling. 

Sarah blogs at amongstlovelythings.com

Join David, Andrew, Brian, Graeme, and Chuck for another discussion on Shakespeare's masterpiece. This week we conclude the discussion with Act 5. 

And we're back! In this new episode of the Quiddity podcast we discuss Act 4 of Hamlet. 

Welcome, once again, to our discussion of Hamlet! In this episode we discussion Act 3, Scenes 3-4: the fall out of the play-within-the-play. Enjoy! 

P.S. Please excuse the loud performance of Gertrude by one Mr. Andrew Kern . . . 

Welcome, once again, to our discussion of Hamlet! In this episode we discussion Act 3, Scenes 1-2, two of the most important scenes in the play. Enjoy! 

Welcome to our discussion of Hamlet! Here in part 3 we discuss Act 2: The Spies. 

Welcome to our discussion of Hamlet! Here in part 2 we discuss Act 2.  We banter about Hamlet's sanity, Ophelia's purity, Polonius' manipulations, and TS Eliot's . . . wrong-ness . . .

In this week's edition of Quiddity Andrew Kern and Tim McIntosh, our friend from Gutenberg College, discuss Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, Earnest Hemingway'sThe Sun Also Rises and the fractured post-World War 1 culture - and how our modern times aren't so far off from the 1920's. They reflect on what this means for teachers and parents in 2014. 

Welcome to our discussion of Hamlet! Over the next several weeks we'll be discussing Hamlet, one act a time, here on the Quiddity pdocast. In this eposidoe we preview our discusison and talk about first impressions of the play. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, Andrew Kern and the podcast crew reflect on ways to cultivate a love of learning: what to worry about, when to be patient, and even a little bit about the role of video games. 

In this week's edition of the podcast Brian Phillips, Chuck Hicks, and David Kern contemplate the important of sports - and physical activity in general - for classical educators. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity we are proud to present a recent interview with Andrew Kern, conducted by popular blogger and author, Sarah MacKenzie. In this conversation Andrew and Sarah discuss teaching from a state of rest - which also happens to be the subject of Sarah's new book, which you can learn more about here.  In fact, this interview is a part of the digital companion to the book. Many thanks to Sarah for letting us present this interview! 

Check out a sample of the book here and make sure you check out her blog here. 

For many classical educators, whether in the home or in a more traditional school, summer can be a strange season - a sort of in-between period. Almost like a warm, green, beach-infused purgatory. On the one hand summertime means a break in all the busy-ness of the school year, on the other hand it can be terrifying because it means a break in all the momentum you spent the year building. In this podcast Andrew Kern, Chuck Hicks, Brian Phillips, and David Kern discuss how to optimize the summer time. Hint: they talk a lot about letting the anxiety go. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE Podcast, we discuss our Great Books Bracket and reveal the Final Four. Then we discuss who we think will win it all. Yes, we're taking this thing very seriously. 

While we thoroughly enjoy our weekly coversations here on the podcast - and the interviews that often come with them - there are far wiser folks out there who we think you should hear too. That's why from time to time we bring you a favorite lecture from one our annual conferences. In this week's edition of Quiddity, we present a lecture from the esteemed Dr. Peter Kreeft called "What Judgment Means to the Pursuit of Wisdom". This lecture was presented at the 2013 CiRCE conference in Baltimore, MD. 

In this edition of Quiddity, we discuss the new Coen Brother's movie: the much buzzed about, Inside Llewyn Davis. We talk plot, acting, music, Wittgenstein, and much more. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, the podcast of the CiRCE Institute, Brian Phillips, Chuck Hicks, and David Kern introduce this year's CiRCE Magazine. We preview each of the magazine's articles and talk about the role silence plays in our lives, raising boys, and other topics the magazine brought up. 

To sign up for the magazine click here. 

In this week's episode of Quiddity, the podcast of the CiRCE Institute, Andrew Kern, Graeme Pitman, Chuck Hicks, Brian Phillips, and David Kern contemplate the value of the novel, what makes a novel great, and whether character or theme is more central to a novel's success. Then we interview Greg Wolfe, director of the Seattle Pacific MFA program in creative writing and publisher of Image Journal, about Slant Books--his new literary imprint--and the novels it's published so far. 

Question of the episode: What is your desert island (ha...) novel? 

In the first 2014 edition of Quddity, the podcast of the CiRCE Institute, Andrew Kern and Brian Phillips discuss what truly classical assessment should look like, how to assess our students in a way that treats them human beings, and much more. 

In this Christmastime edition of Quiddity, the podcast of the CiRCE Institute, Brian Phillips talk to author, pastor, and educator, Dr. George Grant, about Christmas traditions in his home, his work setting up classical Christian schools in Indonesia, and much more. Then we conclude the podcast with a lively - and strange - game of Christmas-themed trivia. You won't want to miss either segment. 

And Merry Christmas from the CiRCE team! 

In this episide of Quddity, the CiRCE podcast, Chuck Hicks, Brian Phillips, Graeme Pitman, and David Kern discuss Christmas traditions (both commemorative and celebrative), Christmas gift ideas, and why Dicken's A Christmas Carol has resonated for so long. 

In this episode of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast, Chuck Hicks, Brian Phillips, Graeme Pitman, and David Kern contemplate whether beauty is, as the common saying claims, in the eye of the beholder. They may or may not provide any useful conclusions, but the conversation was interesting nonethless. 

For this week's podcast we bring you a wonderful 2013 conference talk from Memoria Press's Martin Cothran called Les Miserables vs Schreck: The Difference Between Ironic and Heroic Literature and the Difference It Makes. 

Modern literature and film have largely abandoned the heroic mode in favor of the ironic. All modern narrative seems to subvert rather than exalt. What is the heroic and how does it differ from the ironic and what are the implications of the answer to this question? Can the modern soul still be reached by a heroic story? To what extent is the ironic story a legitimate narrative form? How have Christian writers responded the modern emphasis on the ironic?

As always, click the arrow above to listen, or click here to find this episodes, and all the others, on iTunes. 

In this episode of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast, David Kern and Brett McCracken discuss Joss Whedon's interesting new film adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. They compare it to the famous Kenneth Branaugh/Emma Thompson version, consider the merits of setting the play in a modern context, and much more. 

Click here to read Brett McCracken's review of the film for Christianity Today.

In this edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast, Brian Phillips, Chuck Hicks, and David Kern discuss what it means to have a "life in reading". Plus we discuss fall traditions (including books we like to read this time of year) and life in the South. There's even talk of eating bear and how to pronounce "Appalachian". 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast, we offer this 2013 conference talk from  Dr. Christopher Perrin, the director of the Alcuin Fellowship, the co-chair of the Society for Classical Learning, and the publisher of Classical Academic Press. 

We are familiar with some traditional Latin commendations like cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.  We are also very familiar with the grades with which we were branded (A, B, C, D and F) and the composite GPA which has also defined our humanity.  What most of us don’t know is how any of these designations emerged and to what purpose.  In this seminar, we will trace the origins and evolution of “grades” (from the middle ages to the present) and contrast modern assessment to traditional methods that were not so data-driven, nor well-acquainted with multiple-choice exams.   We will conclude with a discussion of mentorship in contrast to metrics and consider who some secular modern writers who are decrying the prevailing curriculum of “test-prep.”  We will also discuss how more traditional methods of assessment can be implemented within a system of education that demands numerically-based grades.

In this edition of Quiddity, The CiRCE Podcast, we chat with Alissa Wilkinson, chief film critic at Christianity Today and professor at The King's College in New York City. Alissa shares some thoughts on helping students solve writer's block, how to cultivate good readers, and how homeschooling helped improved her writing. An prolific writer, who has an MFA from Seattle Pacific University and has worked on Wall Street in information technology, Alissa offers a unique and experienced perspective on the many challenges that accompany both writing and teaching writing. 

In this edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE Podcast and the audio companion to this website, Debbie Harris describes what it's like teaching classically in an inner city school, how to cultivate a love of beauty in students who rarely see anything beautiful, and why good classroom management and school culture is driven by relationship. 

Debbie Harris, a longtime speaker at our conference, graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies (with a California K-8 certification) and has spent twelve-plus years as a classroom educator, primarily in the elementary grades. She has taught at Foundations Academy in Boise, Idaho and Hope Academy, an inner city classical school, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She lives in Oakdale, Minnesota with her husband and two sons. Debbie has focused on mentoring teachers in classroom management strategies and classical techniques since 2002. Beginning in 2006, she has served as the Dean of Teaching Staff and Curriculum at Hope Academy. She works for the CiRCE Institute as a consultant in classroom management.

Click here to learn more about Hope Academy. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast, CiRCE President Andrew Kern joins Brian Phillips and David Kern to explain his claim that, in our age, we have more than three times the necessary time to teach the seven Liberal Arts to our students. The conversation touches on the power and role of metaphor in teaching, why imitation is so important, and what an education that focuses on these Liberal Arts looks like, even in the youngest of students. 

From the 2013 CiRCE Conference: A Contemplation of Judgment
July 2013; Baltimore, MD 

The making of judgments requires some sort of standard against which to make measurements. While the normal nihilism of contemporary culture is often described as being thoroughly without standards, all judgments assumed to be merely expressions of preference, very few people possess the Promethean confidence to assert their preferences requires some sort of standard against which to make measurements. While the normal nihilism of contemporary culture is often described as being thoroughlywithout standards, all judgments assumed to be merely expressions of preference, very few people possess the Promethean confidence to assert their preferences rful arbiters of quality.

In this week's episode of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast and the audio companion to this website, David Kern chats with author and culture critic Brett McCracken, whose new bookGray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, came out earlier this month from Baker Books. They talk about why he was motivated to write this book, how to cultivate cultural discernment in young people, and why so many recent books have challenged common Chrisitian conceptions of cultural engagement. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE podcast and the audio companion to circeinstitute.org, David Kern chats with Cindy Rollins and Dr. Chris Perrin about starting the year off well. Topics of conversation include how to avoid biting off more than you can chew, what to do when you inevitably do, and how to keep learning from being a "School year" thing. 

In this week's edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE Podcast and the audio companion to circeinstitute.org, Dr. Brian Phillips and David Kern offer a follow-up conversation to last week's discussion about teaching literature without killing it, this time a contemplation on fairy tales, the Moral Imagination, and why stories should never end with the words "and they all lived happily ever after". 

In this edition of Quiddity, the audio companion to circeinstitute.org, Dr. Brian Phillips and David Kern discuss the art of teaching great literature in such a way that reckons with the fact that many students will hate the process. What is the nature and purpose of literature and how can we can teach it according to both? What role does "the spark notes" approach play and how do we deal with what Flannery O'Connor referred to as the "mystery and manners" of literature? 

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Repond in the comment section below or on Facebook or Twitter. 

Standardized tests have been in the news a lot lately. 

As the new Common Core initiatives take root, our national educational system increasingly insists and depends upon them. Yet in places like New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and others, students, parents, and teachers are responding - and the media is taking note. 

In the newest edition of our Quiddity podcast, Brian Phillips and David Kern discuss these stories and consider what it all might mean for classical educators. 

In the April 2012 edition of Quiddity, the CiRCE Podcast, we had the really fun opportunity to interview Cindy Rollins. Cindy is a regular contributor to our website and blogs here. Cindy has more than 20 years experience as a homeschooler and therefore has a wealth of knowledge (very nearly second to none!).

In this conversation we discussed good books for children grades 7 and under, some of which are classics of which you’ve probably heard (Little House On the Prairie) and others are works with which you may not be so familiar (the works of John Buchan and Little Britches).

Cindy has some really interesting things to say about those Little House books (some bold claims) and about how to deal with questionable language in children’s literature.
So sit back – or run or drive or however you listen – and enjoy.