The Consortium Podcast

This is Episode 79 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Andrew Pudewa recounts his own educational experience, discusses the nine units of learning to write taught at the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and shares his concerns about AI and the future “think nots” produced by modern schooling. Andrew's current most recommended book: Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Presenting around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, and spelling. Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan (Suzuki Method) and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him “the funny man with the wonderful words.” He and his beautiful, heroic wife, Robin, homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of nineteen, making their home in Northeastern Oklahoma’s picturesque Green Country.

This is Episode 78 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Dr. David Russell Mosley discusses his love of poetry and especially Dante, describes his pilgrimage into loving and teaching Classical Christian Education at Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame, and gives us an inside look into his current and upcoming writing projects. Dr. Mosley's current most recommended book: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. David Russell Mosley has a PhD in theology from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, and is a humanities teacher at the Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame. Mosley is the author of several liturgical and poetic works. He is married to his wife Lauren and the father of twin boys, Theodore and Edwyn. In his spare time, he likes to read fiction and poetry, as well as write fiction and poetry; work in the garden; smoke pipes; drink good ale and whiskey; write hand-written letters; and read to his children.

This is Episode 77 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Carrie Eben discusses what it means to be a good teacher. She dives into just a few of the ten pedagogical principles found in her and Dr. Christopher Perrin's new book The Good Teacher. Learn more about the principles here. As a Master Teacher at the CiRCE Institute, Carrie invites homeschool teachers, brick-and-mortar teachers, and even just life-long learners to explore what it means to be a truly good teacher. Visit her website here. Carrie Eben's current most recommended book: Reaching Out: The Three Movements of The Spiritual Life by Henri Nouwen Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. For over twenty-six years, Carrie Eben has championed classical education in both the private school classroom and homeschool arenas. She currently serves as founding board member at Sager Classical Academy in Siloam Springs, AR and is a Head Mentor for the CiRCE Institute Master Teacher Apprenticeship for the Ozark Mountain region. As a consultant, she develops and delivers customized workshops and mentorship for administrators, teachers, and parents in both classical school and homeschool settings. Carrie holds a BSE in Intermediate Education, a MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Oklahoma State University and is currently a PhD (ABD) candidate in the Great Books Humanities program at Faulkner University. She is co-author of The Good Teacher: Ten Pedagogical Principles That Will Transform Your Teaching with Dr. Christopher Perrin. She loves to sing, read, horseback ride, and provide hospitable places for transformative conversations in her home.

This is Episode 76 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. This episode is a monologue by Dr. Scott Postma, entitled "Cosmos or Chaos: Words Create Worlds" taken from Volume 4 Issue 1 of The Consortium Journal. Do words have intrinsic meaning or are they defined only by the general consensus? How important is language to individuals' effective fight back against evils and manipulations? Find this essay and other Classical Christian works in The Consortium Journal here. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. Dr. Scott Postma is a veteran educator living in northern Idaho with his bride of more than 30 years where he leads Kepler Education and practices the ancient art of Tsundoku. He earned a PhD in Humane Letters at Faulkner University and blogs at scottpostma.net.

This is Episode 75 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Dr. Louis Markos discusses his introduction to Classical Christian Education through Greek Mythology and his own personal heritage, the absolute necessity of the Great Books in education, and his hopes and cautions for the future of Classical Christian Education. Find Dr. Louis Markos' written works here. Louis Markos' current most recommended books: The Way of Dante by Richard Hughes Gibson Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. Dr. Louis Markos is a Professor of English and Scholar in Residence at Houston Christian (formerly Houston Baptist) University, where he holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities. He is a teacher, author of thirty published books and two lecture series, and a popular speaker in Houston. Louis holds a BA in English and History from Colgate University and an MA and PhD in English from the University of Michigan.

This is Episode 74 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Andrew tells the story of how he became a devoted teacher via the pursuit of his now wife, delves into the meaning of “seminar” or “socratic discussion” which is the backbone of the Cana Academy, and takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable, developing HISTORY250 project. Andrew Zwerneman's current most recommended books: Remembered Past: John Lukacs On History Historians & Historical Knowledge Mark Twain Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. Andrew Zwerneman is the co-founder and president of Cana Academy and the Writer/Narrator for HISTORY250. For 40 years, he has taught and consulted in secondary schools that emphasize classic humanities. He is the founder and owner of The Academy Project, LLC, which wrote the original curricula and trained faculties for 2 academies. Andrew is a popular keynote speaker and workshop director. Since 2020 he has concentrated much of his work on the renewal of history as a central field of study in our schools. Andrew holds a B.A., A.B.D. from University of Notre Dame and an M.A. from St. John’s University. He blogs weekly and is the author of History Forgotten and Remembered (2020) and The Life We Have Together: A Case for Humane Studies, A Vision for Renewal (2022).

This is Episode 73 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Josh Gibbs discusses how he received a Classical Christian Education from Logos School, his journey into teaching literature, founding Gibbs Classical and The Classical Teaching Institute, and his thoughts on the future of Classical Christian Education. 2026 CiRCE Youth Conference Josh Gibbs most recommended book to date: Class by Paul Fussell Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. Joshua Gibbs is the director and co-founder of The Classical Teaching Institute at The Ambrose School in Meridian, Idaho. He is the creator of the Proverbial podcast, the In the Trenches podcast, and the author of How to Be Unlucky, A Parley with Youth, and Love What Lasts. In 2019, Gibbs authored Something They Will Not Forget, in which he described his pioneering use of classroom catechisms, which are now found in many classical Christian schools in America and abroad. His pamphlet, “A Short Introduction to Classical Christian Education,” is used by hundreds of schools to introduce prospective families to classical education. For the last six years, Gibbs has been teaching classical literature online at Gibbs Classical, where an extensive back catalog of classes are available.

This is Episode 72 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Marlin Detweiler discusses how he discovered Classical Christian Education by reading Doug Wilson's Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, starting a Classical Christian School with R. C. Sproul, and founding Veritas Press and Veritas Scholar's Academy. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. Marlin Detweiler has been a forerunner in classical Christian education for more than 30 years, serving the movement through leadership, curriculum development, and school formation. With his wife, Laurie, he helped found three classical schools and has been deeply involved in writing, editing, and publishing curriculum used worldwide. He is the president and founder of Veritas Press, which provides classical educational resources for homeschools and Christian schools and operates Veritas Scholars Academy, an online school serving more than 10,000 students. Marlin has spoken in dozens of cities on classical education and served for 22 years as a founding board member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools, including two years as its initial chairman. He and Laurie have raised four Christian sons—Jameson, Brandon, Travis, and Parker—and are blessed with four daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

This is Episode 71 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Timothy Knotts gives a plenary talk on Responsible Rhetoric: Persuading Toward Truth. This talk was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Timothy Knotts is a co-founder of the Consortium, and lives in Windsor, Connecticut with his wife, Cynthia, and their four protégés. He is the author of Reasoning Together: Philosophy, a soon to be released high school introduction to philosophy, and is occasionally published on the CiRCE and Kepler blogs. Timothy is a Lead Curriculum Developer for Classical Conversations, a CiRCE Institute certified master teacher, a recovering attorney, an amateur poet, and lover of the beautiful.

This is Episode 70 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Eric Cook teaches a breakout session on the Prudent Teacher. This lesson was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Eric Cook is the President of the Society for Classical Learning (SCL). Eric has been formally associated with SCL for over a decade serving in multiple roles, including Executive Director and Board Chair. He was the Head of School at Covenant Classical in Fort Worth, TX for 13 years before joining SCL full time. Prior to Covenant, Eric was the Head of Upper School at Faith Christian School in Roanoke, VA. Eric also taught and served in leadership at several public schools. Eric earned a bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University, and a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from Northern Kentucky University. He is currently working on an EdS in Classical School Leadership from Gordon College. Eric has taught a myriad of subjects from philosophy to thesis. He consults with schools and coaches leaders in a variety of contexts. He speaks and presents at conferences around the country. Eric and his wife, Liz, have six children. They live in Richmond, Virginia, home of the SCL headquarters.

This is Episode 69 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Heatherly Sylvia delivers a breakout session on Homeschooling Classically: Beyond the Trivium. This lesson was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Heatherly Sylvia is passionate about the Word and words; her love of literature, language, and classical pedagogy is contagious. A passionate speaker, teacher, and mentor, she has a reputation for making difficult concepts approachable and practical. Heatherly is co-founder of the Classical Learning Consortium for New England (now NECCE) and lives with her husband and two children in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

This is Episode 68 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Heatherly Sylvia delivers a breakout session on how to homeschooling without losing your mind. This lesson was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Heatherly Sylvia is passionate about the Word and words; her love of literature, language, and classical pedagogy is contagious. A passionate speaker, teacher, and mentor, she has a reputation for making difficult concepts approachable and practical. Heatherly is co-founder of the Classical Learning Consortium for New England (now NECCE) and lives with her husband and two children in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

This is Episode 67 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Dr. Scott Postma delivers a breakout session on Mastering the Academic Essay. Fundamentally, good writing is clear thinking made visible. This means precision is the capital concern of any essay. This talk discusses how to teach students to say what they mean and say it appropriately, precisely, concisely, and vividly. This talk was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Dr. Scott Postma lives in the chimney of Idaho with his wife of nearly 35 years. He has four adult children and more than a handful of delightfully rambunctious grand babies. He is the president of Kepler Education, edits The Consortium: A Journal of Classical Christian Education, teaches humanities courses for high school and college students, and is a religious practitioner of the ancient art of Tsundoku. He has two forthcoming books: A Primer on Classical Christian Education and a work on Recovering Christian Humanism for a Post-Christian Culture. You can find his other writings on Substack at Books and Letters.

This is Episode 66 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Dr. Scott Postma delivers a keynote address titled, "Unstupiding Ourselves: The Truth About the High Calling of Classical Christian Education." His talk takes up a case made in a 2022 article by social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, who argued that a particular change in the way social media works made the past 10 years of American life uniquely stupid. Drawing from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, Haidt accurately describes a nation that is suddenly disoriented and unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth. Dr. Postma argues classical Christian education is capable of unstupiding society in the generations to come by restoring a sensus communis and cultivating rational public discourse. This talk was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Dr. Scott Postma lives in the chimney of Idaho with his wife of nearly 35 years. He has four adult children and more than a handful of delightfully rambunctious grand babies. He is the president of Kepler Education, edits The Consortium: A Journal of Classical Christian Education, teaches humanities courses for high school and college students, and is a religious practitioner of the ancient art of Tsundoku. He has two forthcoming books: A Primer on Classical Christian Education and a work on Recovering Christian Humanism for a Post-Christian Culture. You can find his other writings on Substack at Books and Letters.

This is Episode 65 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Sarah Abbott teaches the practice of "Navigating Stories with Students." Her talk provides criteria for classifying books by certain qualities and she provides examples of four kinds of stories that need to be negotiated: whole stories, broken stories, bent stories, healing stories. This talk was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Sarah Abbott is a classical educator and student with over twenty-five years of experience teaching, training, writing, coaching, and administrating. She serves as the Head of Outreach and Teacher Training for the Consortium, which allows her to do exciting things like lead a one-of-a-kind book club in her home and conduct trainings in classical pedagogy. Sarah is a Lecturer of Classical Education at Southeastern University and an Area Representative for Classical Conversations. Since graduating her homeschooled son, Sarah now devotes her time to learning about literature and the arts to discover connections between them and culture, and ultimately to uncover what it means to be human.

This is Episode 64 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education. In this episode, Sarah Abbott teaches the practice of "Truth Through Narration." Her talk provides models for helping students grow in attention and retention by using the method of "retelling after hearing or seeing." Charlotte Mason noted, “The mother who trains her child to strict accuracy of statement about things small and great fortifies him against temptations to the grosser forms of lying…” This talk was given at the 2024 Consortium conference in Maynard, MA on July 12-13, 2024. Kepler's Consortiums provide resources and regional connections for Christian families, teachers, and educational organizations to expand the reach of classical education and foster human flourishing for generations to come. The New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) exists to point New England to the unifying Truth found in Christ and His creation, the Good of fellowship with like-minded individuals, and the Beauty reflected in great works of literature, science, and art, through teaching, conversation, and conferences. Sarah Abbott is a classical educator and student with over twenty-five years of experience teaching, training, writing, coaching, and administrating. She serves as the Head of Outreach and Teacher Training for the Consortium, which allows her to do exciting things like lead a one-of-a-kind book club in her home and conduct trainings in classical pedagogy. Sarah is a Lecturer of Classical Education at Southeastern University and an Area Representative for Classical Conversations. Since graduating her homeschooled son, Sarah now devotes her time to learning about literature and the arts to discover connections between them and culture, and ultimately to uncover what it means to be human.