Kolbecast

AMDG. The Kolbe Academy Class of 2025 has graduated, and it's time to celebrate! Kolbe Chaplain Fr. Charlie Archer, Executive Director Mary Rowles, Kolbe teacher Brendan Murphy, President of Walsh University Dr. Tim Collins, and three accomplished Kolbe graduates take the stage to share their reflections on Kolbe's education and their rousing exhortations for the Class of 2025.   Related Kolbecast episodes:  100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth  132 Monday Morning Assembly and 242 Finish Line in Sight featuring student speakers Dhilan Matthews & Colin Lengyel  Episodes with Brendan Murphy: 169 No Made-Up Answers and 218 The Questions behind the Questions  Episodes with Elizabeth Hoxie: 89 The Master Blueprint, 112 Cura Personalis: The Intro, 136 Cura Personalis: The Sequel, 213 This Is a Beginning, and 21 To Live Fully Alive  159 Now We See in Part  Other relevant links:  Watch the entire 2025 commencement ceremony here.   More about Dr. Tim Collins, president of Walsh University  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “Sister, is God a person for you, or an idea?”   Diocesan priest, author, and former hermit Fr. Wayne Sattler joins the Kolbecast to share his life-story from high school teacher to almost-married to hermit; his two books, which originated in his notes from years leading spiritual retreats; spiritual direction, or as he prefers to call it, “spiritual friendship”; relating to God as a person, not as an idea, which is the theme of one of his books; and so much more. Fr. Sattler's humor, hope, and humility shine through every story he tells, and his words reflect the wisdom he has gained from his years of experience counseling others.   Links mentioned & relevant:  Books & articles by Fr. Wayne Sattler:   Remain in Me and I in You – Relating to God as a Person, Not an Idea  And You Will Find Rest: What God Does in Prayer  Wasting Time with God, an article on Catholic Exchange  Other books:  The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance by Josef Pieper  Seeking Spiritual Direction by Rev. Thomas Dubay S.M.   Related Kolbecast episodes:  183 Gratuitous Gifts: Sherry Weddell on Charisms  123 A Change of the Ages, 213 This Is a Beginning, and 224 Forming Apostolic Hearts with Msgr. James P. Shea  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. In Kolbe's new astronomy program, the sky's the limit of what students can learn. Astronomy teacher Antonia Castro and course developer Vanessa Delgado are here to discuss the third quadrivium subject and Kolbe's updated astronomy program. The duo examine why astronomy is the “mother of the scientific field” and explain their efforts to bring students a foundational experience in applied mathematics and physics, while also sparking wonder at the grandeur of God's creation. “Everything is difficult if you don't know what it is,” Antonio reflects. “But once you start looking into it, step by step, it's easy,” he promises.  From building telescopes to mapping relative distances, this astronomy course has something for the most theoretical mind to the most practical learner.  Links mentioned & relevant:   Exploring the Heavens: Kolbe Academy's High School Astronomy Course with link to free download/preview of text and course materials  Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham  Vatican Observatory podcast  Related Kolbecast episodes:  107 Wander & Wonder and 241 Renew, Resolve, Reengage with Vanessa Delgado  249 Stories Crafted with Care from Kolbe Academy Press  259 Seeing the Story: Classical Reflections on Art  114 Kolbe Academy Past, Present, and Future featuring Kolbe Academy Executive Director Mary Rowles  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “Don't feel like it's too late— you can pick this up and study and learn about it anytime you want.”   Author of the brand-new book We Have a Pope Katie Bogner and Kolbe kindergarten teacher Kimberly Wolf join the Kolbecast to share their experience talking to young students about the new pope and papal election process. Katie explains the inspiration behind her new book, how she simplified her explanation of a papal conclave to make it appropriate for young readers, and what her writing process looks like (“They have all actually started as really detailed spreadsheets,” she notes). Kimberly shares stories of watching the papal election with her students and the questions they asked, as well as how she used Katie's resources in her classroom. The duo reflects on avoiding politics in the midst of papal news and the importance of continuing celebration. “Ride this wave as Catholics,” Katie says, “Keep celebrating.”   Related links:  We Have a Pope published by the St. Paul Center & illustrated by Kortnee Senn of Studio Senn  Follow @stpaulcenter @emmausroadpublishing and @katherine.bogner on Instagram.  Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  184 Hope & Wonder and 248 Intentionality & Purpose for Lent & Holy Week with Katie Bogner & Shari Van Vranken  Spotlights on Kolbe Academy's online elementary program:  81 The When and the How of Online Elementary  82 Move & Groove  122 Bridge Year  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. In a continuation of last week's episode, Lisa Popcak shares her advice for new homeschooling families, including what aspects of education matter most and what worked in her own family. “I had promised her… you will be 100% fine,” Lisa recalled. “And sure enough, she got recruited by her college… and got almost a full ride to be a pre-med student.”     Lisa reflects on her children leaving the home for college, navigating hard seasons in the home, liturgical living, and so much more.     Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  261 Flow & Connection through Learning, the first part of our conversation with Lisa Popcak  255 Family Life as Liturgy with Dr. Greg Popcak  131 It's All about Relationship with Danielle Bean  62 Due Diligence with Darren Jones of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)  105 Not Just for Special Occasions  Related links:   CatholicHOM (Households on Mission)  CatholicCounselors.com  More2Life Radio & podcasts  Books by Dr. Greg & Lisa Popcak  Momfidence podcast  BeDADitudes podcast  Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers by Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté  Books by the Popcaks mentioned in this conversation:  Discovering God Together: The Catholic Guide to Raising Faithful Kids  Parenting Kids with Grace (birth to age 10)  Parenting Your Teens and Tweens with Grace  Once upon a Lifetime Podcast  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Catholic podcaster and co-founder/vice-president of  CatholicCounselors.comLisa Popcak shares her wisdom on homeschooling and raising children in the faith. Lisa advocates for “flow” rather than structure in the homeschool day and paints a picture of what a rich— but achievable— prayer life looks like in a busy home. “We have to get away from the idea that our prayer life has to be rigorous,” Lisa says. “If our children are called to a rigorous monastic life, God will give them the grace for that. We have many saints who were… and many saints who went a different way.”     Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  255 Family Life as Liturgy with Dr. Greg Popcak  131 It's All about Relationship with Danielle Bean  Related links:   CatholicHOM (Households on Mission)  CatholicCounselors.com  More2Life Radio & podcasts  Books by Dr. Greg & Lisa Popcak  Momfidence podcast  BeDADitudes podcast  Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers by Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.  “I always knew I liked these things and I knew they were beautiful, but now I know why.”   In a special sneak peek episode, Kolbe Academy team members Carol Gilpin, Stephanie Foley, and Therese Prudlo join the Kolbecast to discuss the brand new art history and architecture book. The trio discusses the layout of the new art book, revealing the thought process and design work that went into the new text. “It's like we're having a conversation with that artist… a real human connection,” Stephanie reflects.   Whether you are considering purchasing this book for your children or interested in picking up a beautiful, readable art book for yourself, this episode is a must-listen!   Related Kolbecast episodes:   194 Visual Literacy with Amanda Shepherd  249 Stories Crafted with Care featuring Carol Gilpin, Stephanie Foley, and Stasha Becher  186 Full Circle (of Fifths) and 201 The Soundtrack of Life with Carl Hasler and Olivia Knuffke on the topic of music  Links mentioned & relevant:  Pope John Paul II's Letter to Artists  Art History text  The “Not-Artistic” Parent's Guide to Art Appreciation with free download/preview of artist spotlights  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Do you worry about finding a strong community for your children outside the home? Homeschooling moms Dee-dee and Krysten join the Kolbecast to share about their homeschool communities. Filled with practical advice and anecdotes from their years of experience, Dee-dee and Krysten's conversation makes building a thriving community feel accessible to anyone.   Dee-dee started her own homeschooling group after moving to an area that didn't have a strong homeschooling community. What started as a small gathering in Dee-dee's household snowballed into a huge community of homeschool families. “The most successful groups are the ones that grow organically,” Deedee notes. Her homeschool group now offers copious enrichment activities such as drama, theatre, and a brown bag lunch program for the needy in the community.  Krysten runs the largest homeschool group on a military base in the nation. Krysten addresses the ins and outs of running a homeschool non-profit organization, from cautionary tales to inspiring successes in evangelization. “God will open the doors that need to be open,” Krysten says. “Lean into what God is calling you to do.”  Related Kolbecast episodes:  214 A Long View with Charles & Dee-dee Mihaliak  155 Mission Intent: Pathways to Serve and 156 Mission Intent: Formed to Serve with and about homeschooling military families  105 Not Just for Special Occasions addressing socialization  3 Dramatic Arts and 73 Through Beauty and Technology with Dolores Mihaliak  208 A Mosaic of Experience and 246 Orientation toward the Eternal with Kolbe Academy alumnus Charlie Mihaliak  Relevant links:  School & Co-op Partnerships with Kolbe Academy  Adoro Te, the homeschool group that Dee-dee and her family helped found  Cultivating Friendships and Enriching Social Activities for Homeschool Students from the Kolbe Academy Help Center  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. What do parents need to know before their children enter middle school or high school? Curriculum Director Maggie Hayden and Principal Nicole O'Connor are back once again to discuss classical education at the 6-12 grade level.   Maggie and Nicole share their years of expertise working with students, outlining what parents and students can expect both developmentally and academically as they transition from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school. The duo emphasizes the importance of exploration, curiosity, and integration; explains why literature and grammar are the focal point of the middle school years; and details why the Classical Composition course is so highly recommended through middle and high school. Next, Maggie and Nicole turn their attention to high school, discussing the methodology behind Kolbe's program, the “big questions” the program centers around, why “religion” becomes “theology” when studied in high school, and so much more.   Related links:  Summer Reading Program  How to Get Started at Kolbe  Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant  243 Drawing Distinctions – Classical Education, Liberal Arts, and Liberal Education  256 An Education That Reflects God's Beauty  61 Middle Ground with middle school teachers Alex Pischke & Amanda Hayes  203 Guided Freedom with Classical Composition teachers Sarah Foulkes & Grace Berg  14 We Don't Think Those Words Mean What You Think They Mean with Nicole O'Connor discussing the classical subjects of Logic & Rhetoric   Kolbecast Humanities series:   220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity   225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page   229 Take a Note from Homer   234 Adding Color to What Is Black & White   239 Divine Plot Twist  245 The Odyssey's Allegorical Outlook  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “They are children of God and they are worthy of an education that reflects God's beauty.”   What does a classical education even look like in grades K-5? Curriculum Director Maggie Hayden and Principal Nicole O'Connor join the Kolbecast to answer just that question. Maggie and Nicole explain how they rebuilt the Kolbe elementary curriculum to reflect classical methodology and principles of Ignatian education. “We were looking at what things the little kids have to know in K-2 to be able to do third through fifth, then sixth through eighth grade, and up to high school,” Maggie explains.   Maggie and Nicole discuss what goals are appropriate at each grade level, and areas of concern to watch for; break down the reason behind the recent curriculum development and the Catholic, classical methodology that inspired Maggie and Nicole's work; dismantle misconceptions about classical education; give sneak peeks at new materials coming soon; and pack in dozens of helpful tips for parents of K-5 students.    Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant  243 Drawing Distinctions – Classical Education, Liberal Arts, and Liberal Education  248 Intentionality & Purpose for Lent & Holy Week with Katie Bogner & Shari Van Vranken (guest cohost: Maggie Hayden)  100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth  247 Lightbulb Moments for Young Readers  197 Tools in a Toolbox: Student Support Services  203 Guided Freedom, a conversation about Classical Composition  Other relevant links:  Implementation of Ignatian Education in the Home by Kolbe Academy co-founder Francis Crotty  Kolbe Academy's Student Support Services  Learn more about Kolbe's early education programs by reading the posts below—and download a free week-long preview of each program to explore for yourself: Nurturing Little Hearts – Read about Kolbe Academy's Preschool Program + Download the Preschool Preview: A Week to Explore Welcome to a Year of Wonder – Read about Kolbe Academy's Kindergarten Curriculum + Download the Kindergarten Preview: A Week to Explore Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Host of EWTN's More2Life podcast, founder of CatholicCounselors.com, and developer of the CatholicHÔM app Greg Popcak joins the Kolbecast to share his wisdom on making your home into a living, vibrant domestic church. “What does a domestic church spirituality even look like,” Dr. Popcak asks, “that would treat family life— the craziness, the busyness, the scatteredness of family life— as a feature, not a bug, of Catholic spirituality?”   In today's episode, Dr. Popcak reveals his insights from years of counseling homeschooling families and parents, including some common pitfalls to beware of; explains what an “emotional bank account” is, and how to make sure your children's stay full; analyzes the scientific data on how to raise your children into faithful, Catholic adults; reveals where burnout comes from -- and how to treat it; unpacks what we mean by a “domestic church,” and how you can make your home into one; and shares his advice for those interested in pursuing a counseling career.   Whether you're a homeschooling parent looking to deepen your family connection and faith, or a student considering a future career in counseling, this episode has something for you.  Links mentioned & relevant:  CatholicHOM (Households on Mission)  CatholicCounselors.com  More2Life Radio & podcasts  Books by Dr. Greg & Lisa Popcak  Related Kolbecast episodes:  188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety  with Dr. Kevin Majeres  250 Made for Relationship with Kenna Millea  66 Bonhomie à la Kolbe, which features a discussion on domestic church  254 Art & Laraine Bennett Offer Freedom from Anxiety  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Clinical counselor Art and psychologist Laraine Bennett join the Kolbecast to discuss anxiety and mental health, the temperaments, their recent publications, and so much more.   Art and Laraine talk about how anxiety can manifest dramatically differently in different people, and how to identify it in your life or in the lives of your children; explain what anxiety is and how to approach it; break down what NOT to do if you recognize anxiety in your children, and present helpful strategies you can implement in your home today; and the tie between scrupulosity and anxiety.   Links mentioned & related:   Anxiety: a Catholic Guide to Freedom from Worry and Fear by Art & Laraine Bennett and Lianna Haidar  The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt  The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris  The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt Relevant Kolbecast episodes  176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett  226 Cultivating Habits of Excellence with Dr. Andrew Abela   219 The Upside of Anxiety  with Dr. Kevin Majeres   238 Accompaniment, Hope, Integration, and Resilience with Pat Millea  250 Made for Relationship with Kenna Millea  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Author, editor, and professor Joseph Pearce joins the Kolbecast to introduce his new book, Classic Literature Made Simple: 50 Great Works of Literature in a Nutshell. Joseph's new book is an excellent introduction to classic literature for any Kolbe student, or the perfect all-in-one guide for parents who want to be able to discuss great works of literature with their students, without having to set aside hours from their busy schedule to read the books.    Joseph discusses his work as a publisher, including advice for Kolbe students who are interested in having their writing published someday; reveals his one “must-read” book, and a book you might be surprised to see on his list of 50 great works; shares his insight on how to read great works of literature, and how to respond if your children push back against the great works. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at his writing process and hints at his newest project: Great Books for Good Men.   Visit his website jpearce.co and check out his podcast The Authority.   Joseph Pearce's books mentioned in this conversation:   Classic Literature Made Simple: Fifty Great Books in a Nutshell  The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful   The What Every Catholic Should Know series  Related Kolbecast episodes:  49 Revealed through Story with Joseph Pearce 144 The Word Made Known with Mark Brumley of Ignatius Press  226 Cultivating Habits of Excellence with Dr. Andrew Abela  Kolbecast Humanities series:   220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity   225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page   229 Take a Note from Homer   234 Adding Color to What Is Black & White   239 Divine Plot Twist  245 The Odyssey's Allegorical Outlook   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.   “When I get to heaven, I'll ask him.”   “What if he's not in heaven?”   “Then you can ask him.”   First introduced to Fulton Sheen through her research on his famous converts, historian Cheryl Hughes tells the fascinating story of Fulton Sheen's life. Dr. Hughes brings history to life with hilarious anecdotes and touching narratives. Listen in to hear facts such as the surprising connection between Fulton Sheen and Frank Sinatra; his Emmy acceptance speech, including the writers he credited for his success; Sheen's opposition to secularism and communism; his friendship with Pope Saint John Paul II, who learned English through listening to Fulton Sheen; the miracle attributed to Fulton Sheen, and the current status of his beatification process; and details such as Sheen's real height, Irish Catholic upbringing, and more.   Links mentioned & relevant:  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Convert Maker by Dr. Cheryl Hughes  Steven refers to when Archbishop Sheen helped launch Thomas Aquinas College  Chautauqua character studies   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “Go be a pilgrim of hope! There's somebody in your life who needs the story of hope.”   Pilgrimage leader, author, and catechist Joan Watson joins the Kolbecast to share everything you need to know about the Jubilee Year of Hope. Joan explains the biblical and historical roots of the Jubilee Year, and how the laity were the impetus behind the first Jubilee. She dissects the imagery behind the special Jubilee doors opened only once every twenty-five years and reveals ways to receive indulgences this year without even leaving your hometown. Joan gives her advice for those traveling to Rome, the must-see pilgrimage sites she visited this year, fasting recommendations for the Jubilee Year, and so much more.  Links mentioned & relevant Kolbecast episodes:  Joan's book Opening the Holy Door  Opening the Holy Door small group discussion guide  Kolbecast episode 235 The Disposition of Pilgrimage  Kolbe 2025 Commencement site named an official pilgrimage church in Georgia  Kolbe Academy 2025 Commencement registration form  Kolbecast episode 160 A Legendary Occasion, reflections and observances from those who attended Kolbe Academy's 2023 Commencement  Pope Francis's letter Spes Non Confundit ( “Hope Does Not Disappoint”)  Pope Benedict's encyclical Spe Salvi (“On Christian Hope”)  Katie Bogner's blog post on the Holy Door on her blog Look to Him and Be Radiant  Kolbecast episodes 184 and 248 with Katie Bogner & Shari Van Vranken  John Bergsma's book Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God's Favor  More about and with Joan:  website  Substack  YouTube channel  In Via podcast by Verso Ministries  Other related links:  US Conference of Catholic Bishops' website feature on Jubilee 2025  Vatican Jubilee 2025 website: Iubilaeum 2025  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Clinical Director and Co-Founder of the Martin Center for Integration and host of This Whole Life podcast Kenna Millea joins the Kolbecast to discuss the ins and outs of relationships under a Catholic lens. “If you don't like relationships here,” Kenna comments. “I think heaven's going to be a big bummer— because that's what it's going to be.”   Kenna offers her expert insight into common challenges in family dynamics, from the relationship between the spouses to how parents interact with children.  She unpacks how our relationships with others can impact our relationship to God and how the sacraments can impact our social life. Kenna shares her advice for those interested in pursuing a career in Catholic therapy and explains the differences among the types of mental health fields. Finally, Kenna suggests a selection of mental health books for families looking to strengthen their relationships with one another and build a happy, holy home.  Links mentioned & relevant:  The Martin Center for Integration  Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson  The Whole Brain Child and other books by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel  The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander  Related Kolbecast episodes:  238 Accompaniment, Hope, Integration, and Resilience with Pat Millea  227 Sensory Awareness & Problem Solving with occupational therapist Caitlin Russ  176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett  188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “When a child opens a book, I don't want him to be overwhelmed by what's on the page. I want him to open the book and be excited.”   Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Kolbe's publishing branch? Kolbe team members Stasha Becher, Carol Gilpin, and Stephanie Foley bring you an insider perspective on Kolbe's publishing program, from development to product review. The group discusses why Kolbe launched their publishing branch; how they integrate classical principles into their books, even at a Pre-K level; the science behind their font size and word count choices; advice for people who want to become copy editors or graphic designers; and a glimpse into their upcoming and past projects.   Relevant links:  Kolbe Academy bookstore  When the Earth Was Flat: One Boy's Life at the Edge of the Millennium by Dr. Jordan Almanzar  Kolbe Preschool Program  Preschool and Kindergarten Look & Learn books  Kolbe's Art History text  Related Kolbecast episodes:  103 Above & Beyond with Nancy Nelson of the Kolbe Academy Bookstore  83 This Is Only a Test, 137 Remember Your Whys, 162 Let Latin Conquer You, 248 Intentionality & Purpose for Lent & Holy Week with Maggie Hayden  59 The Secret Whiteboard, 70 First Draft: A Parent In-Service, 124 In This Together, 156 Mission Intent: Formed to Serve, and 230 A Multi-Pronged Approach to College Prep with Erica Treat  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “Advent is all cozy and sparkling lights… but Lent on the other hand, kids do not look forward to as much.”   Looking for a new way to engage your children during this Lent? All About Advent and Christmas author Katie Bogner and illustrator Shari Van Vranken join the Kolbecast to announce their new book, All About Lent & Holy Week: Sharing the Seasons of Repentance & Salvation with Children. Their new Lenten guide is suitable for students of all age levels, with multiple layers of content for students to engage with. “That is something I very rarely see in a book,” Curriculum Director Maggie Hayden comments, “I feel like it just met the whole group at a level where they are interested.”   The group's conversation ranges over a wide variety of liturgical topics, including Lenten practices, such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; each member shares their family's Lenten practices, providing a wide variety of inspiration to draw from. The group also discusses the feast days in Lent, both how we should celebrate them and why. Finally, the group discusses all things Holy Week, and strategies to engage children of every age level in the holiest week of the year. Links mentioned & relevant:  Get your copy of All about Lent & Holy Week here!   Katie & Shari's first book: All about Advent & Christmas: Sharing the Seasons of Hope & Wonder with Children  Katie's blog Look to Him and Be Radiant, which has a wealth of resources suitable for home, parish, or school use for Lent/Easter and many other aspects of liturgical living and catechesis   Shari's website Catholic Paper Goods  Catholic Paper Goods on Etsy  Follow @stpaulcenter, @emmausroadpublishing, @katherine.bogner, and @catholicpapergoods on Instagram.  Related Kolbecast episodes:  184 Hope & Wonder with Katie Bogner & Shari Van Vranken  192 Kitchen Doings  194 Visual Literacy with Amanda Shepard  198 The Sign of Our Salvation with Dr. Gilbert Lavoie  150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Reading is a daunting topic for many homeschooling parents. Luckily, Kolbe teachers and Master's Level Education Specialists Kristi Cramer and Jenny Todesco are here to help.  Kristi and Jenny answer the most-asked questions about reading, providing easy-to-digest answers and actionable steps that you can begin today. Tune in to learn how to assess your child's reading ability at home; when your child should begin reading; common difficulties to watch out for and when to reach out for help; and the resources available in Kolbe Academy for struggling readers. “In education, there's a rule of thumb,” Jenny comments, “if by third grade, a student is struggling in reading… [that] is when you would start looking at some interventions.”   This episode is the all-in-one guide for homeschooling parents embarking on the journey to literacy, filled with a wealth of knowledge and practical tips you can implement today.   Related Kolbecast episodes & relevant links:  197 Tools in a Toolbox: Kolbe Academy's Student Support Services  124 In This Together  125 Call the Advisor  147 Building Blocks for Reading Success  Kolbe Academy's Student Support Services  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Alumni and CVS health general management program developer Charlie Mihaliak steps onto stage to share an inspiring message about the importance of education in the current cultural moment. "What we're facing right now," Charlie declares, "is an idolatry of this farce of limitless freedom as the key to happiness." Charlie reminisces on his own journey to happiness, from his own Kolbe graduation to becoming a business major-- a major he quickly switched, choosing theater as his focus instead. Charlie reflects on the lessons he learned during this chapter of his life; why he considers theatre as "three-dimensional metaphysics"; the challenges facing students today; and why more choices equates to less happiness.   Kolbe Chief Operations Officer and grandson of the founders Chris Rowles takes the spotlight next to share an inspiring reflection on the development and growth of Kolbe Academy from its earliest days in the 1980s. "They didn't have the internet to find each other, but somehow they still did," Chris remarks. Chris advocates for Kolbe families and discusses Kolbe's fundraising initiatives aimed at providing accessible education to all. "With your help," Chris adds, "we can ensure that our students are prepared not just academically, but spiritually and morally for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”   To learn more about or contribute to Kolbe Academy's financial assistance program, click here.     Related Kolbecast episodes:  213 This Is a Beginning, speeches from 2024 Commencement in Atlanta  224 Forming Apostolic Hearts, a speech given by Msgr. James Shea to those in attendance at the dinner where Charlie's and Chris's remarks were recorded  18 Homer and the Hunger Games and 208 A Mosaic of Experience featuring Charlie Mihaliak  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. From sea monsters and magic spells to archery contests and family reunions, this book has something for everyone. Join Bonnie, Steven, and Jordan as they dive into the great Homeric epic, the Odyssey. The group discusses major themes to watch out for in the Odyssey, including family life and wisdom; considers the must-ask questions, like whether Odysseus changes throughout the story; and provides you with a complete summary in easy-to-digest pieces.   Whether you're reading the Odyssey for yourself or just want to know what to ask your children about, this is the episode for you. Don't miss it!   Related links & Kolbecast episodes:  The Odyssey and related study materials in the Kolbe Academy bookstore  Kolbecast Humanities series:  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page  229 Take a Note from Homer  234 Adding Color to What Is Black & White  239 Divine Plot Twist  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. College decisions have you feeling overwhelmed? Join Kolbe students Bella, Jeremiah, and Gianna as they share their experiences attending Newman Guide colleges' summer programs.  The students discuss the ups and downs of navigating college decisions, providing insight into their thought processes along the way.  Experience Benedictine's and Christendom's summer programs vicariously through their eyes and get ready to be inspired in your own college journey.    Relevant links:  Benedictine College's Catholic summer youth camps early bird discount ends 1 Feb 2025! Christendom College's Best Week Ever  The Cardinal Newman Society  Kolbecast episodes mentioned & related:  84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society  185 Developmentally Appropriate Independence with Joshua and Alyssa from The Pines Catholic Camp  233 Incarnational Education at Wyoming Catholic College  61 Middle Ground  166 Dr. John Cuddeback on Dwelling Together Richly  123 A Change of the Ages and 213 This Is a Beginning with Msgr. James Shea  171 Forming Financial Disciples with Jonathan & Amanda Teixeira of WalletWin  243 Finish Line in Sight  235 The Disposition of Pilgrimage with Joan Watson  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. What is classical education, exactly? Join Steven and Bonnie as they delve into the founding principles of Kolbe Academy and reveal surprising facts about classical education, including why history is not part of the liberal arts; the differences between classical education, liberal arts, and liberal education; why classical programs reject textbooks; why no one can be classically educated without being a disciple; and so much more.   If you ever wondered about the why behind the Kolbe curriculum, or you just want to know more about classical education, this is the episode for you.     Related links & Kolbecast episodes:  Thomas Aquinas College's “Blue Book”   70 First Draft: A Parent In-Service  100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth  240 Entry Points for Evangelization: Jimmy Mitchell's Let Beauty Speak  109 A Lifetime Venture with Dr. George Harne, who now serves as president at Christendom College  93 Good Thinking  111 What Treasures Remain  226 Cultivating Habits of Excellence with Dr. Andrew Abela  105 Not Just for Special Occasions – Rebecca Czarnecki on socialization  2024-25 Humanities series:  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page  229 Take a Note from Homer  234 Adding Color to What Is Black & White  239 Divine Plot Twist  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Kolbe seniors Ignatius, Dhilan, and Agnes join the Kolbecast to share an insider look at life as a Kolbe student. From their honor society activities to aerial acrobatics and magic, these students keep their schedules packed. The students share a range of experiences of homeschooling life, from taking music lessons at the University of Notre Dame to life on the road. What do all the students have in common? An impressive list of accomplishments and a love for learning that shines through in every sentence.   Listen to hear about the challenges and successes these students have met with in their senior year, their advice for Kolbe students, and their future plans.     related Kolbecast episodes & links:  132 Monday Morning Assembly  99 Gifted, Graced, and Formed  163 Postcards from France  241 Renew, Resolve, Reengage  186 Full Circle (of Fifths) and 201 The Soundtrack of Life with Dr. Carl Hasler and Mrs. Olivia Knuffke  196 Adaptable Asynchronous & Dynamic Digital Homeschool Options  148 Engage & Apply  141 From Homeschooling to The Merry Beggars with Peter Atkinson  24 Rise & Shine with Anthony & Clare Gath  124 In This Together and 125 Call the Advisor  Cultivating Friendships and Enriching Social Activities for Homeschool Students  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. What questions should homeschool parents be asking halfway through the academic year? Homeschooling moms and Kolbe employees Vanessa Delgado and Elyse Williams join the Kolbecast to talk about what to do— and not do!— if you've fallen behind; how to deal with burnout and unmotivated kids; when you should change courses and how to do it; when to start planning next year's courses; the role of ability tests; and so much more.   Vanessa and Elyse will leave you feeling understood and encouraged, ready to take on second semester.  Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  107 Wander & Wonder with Vanessa Delgado & Nikki Shaffer  207 A Privilege of a Lifetime with Elyse Williams  232 Part of the Family: Parents & Advisors as Partners  29 The February Staredown  140 Burnout Happens  83 This Is Only a Test  176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett  183 Gratuitous Gifts: Charisms with Sherry Weddell  59 The Secret Whiteboard  214 A Long View  74 Special Teams: Kolbe Dads  Related links:  Articles from the Kolbe.org Help Center:  Late & Mid-Year Enrollment  High School Planning folder  High School Graduation Planner   Interest & Ability Tools  Grade Reporting  Standardized Testing  Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation aptitude testing  Scripture readings for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. “This is about making heaven crowded.”    Assistant principal at Jesuit High School and author Jimmy Mitchell shares his many years of experience evangelizing in his new book, “Let Beauty Speak.”     Jimmy reveals how to identify the right individualized approach to talk to someone about the faith as well as the role of beauty in conversion. He discusses his life story, from joining the seminary to traveling the world.     “At the age of thirty-eight, I feel like I've lived three lives,” Jimmy muses, “there's very few things I haven't done.”     Tune in to hear inspiring anecdotes from Jimmy's ministry work; his favorite story about St. Ignatius; when music becomes immoral; the coming renewal in classical architecture and music; and Jimmy's experience as a Catholic entrepreneur and music manager in Nashville.     Links mentioned & relevant:  Let Beauty Speak by Jimmy Mitchell  Jimmy's website   The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Cardinal Robert Sarah with Nicolas Diat  The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux  Kolbe Academy's Let Beauty Speak series  Session 1: Introduction, Wonder & Freedom  Session 2: Friendship & Prayer  Session 3: Leisure & Work  Related Kolbecast episodes:  27 An Appreciation of Wonder  34 A Beauty-Linked Life with Professor Carol Reynolds  71 A Sight for Sore Eyes with Chris Lewis of Baritus Catholic  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Join Bonnie, Steven, and Jordan as they unpack the famous Greek play, Oedipus Rex. The tragic play slowly unravels the story of the downfall of the infamous king, Agamemnon. From murder to unexpected Biblical connections, there is no shortage of material to cover. The team reveals everything you need to know about Oedipus Rex, from historical context to major plot points, including must-ask questions and conversation starters to share with your children or think about on your own. The team discusses what you should learn in a liberal arts education and the tools you can develop in high school to keep you a step ahead; the surprising subjects that aren't classical; how one saint changed the game in classical education; “the blue book” and what it teaches; and why the Humanities Series is the perfect segue into the Christmas celebration. Listen to the end to hear a special sneak peek into the next Humanities episode, introducing a classical epic that completely subverted the expectations around Greek culture and social views.   Links mentioned & relevant:  Five Misconceptions about the Liberal Arts from the CLT Journal  René Girard, Theology, and Pop Culture, to which Jordan Almanzar contributed a chapter  Conversations about Jimmy Mitchell's Let Beauty Speak  Session 1  Session 2  Session 3   Implementation of Ignatian Education in the Home by Kolbe Academy co-founder Francis Crotty  Related Kolbecast episodes:  in this Humanities series:  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page  229 Take a Note from Homer  234 Adding Color to What Is Black & White  221 A Survey and a Starting Point  188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres  109 A Lifetime Venture with Dr. George Harne  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Catholic youth minister and podcaster Pat Millea joins the Kolbecast to share his journey from parish work to beginning an integrated Catholic therapy center. Pat explains what “integration” means; how a good therapist should sit with their clients; what “admonishing the sinner” really looks like; why parents shouldn't protect their children from failure or suffering; how to guide children through discernment; the real meaning of self-care; why telling someone to “offer it up” can be unkind; how our day to day suffering can still be redemptive; and advice for beating the holiday stress. Listen to the end for a few special insights from Pat's years of ministry experience!   Links mentioned & relevant:  The Martin Center for Integration  Episodes of the This Whole Life Podcast  Jonathan Heidt's The Anxious Generation  Related Kolbecast episodes:  227 Sensory Awareness & Problem Solving with Caitlin Russ  21 To Live Fully Alive  188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres  206 Loaves & Fishes  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Kolbe science teacher of almost 30 years Leslie Spencer has stories to tell. Before she joined the Kolbe team, Leslie lived in a yurt in China while working as an English teacher. More recently, Leslie traveled to Athens and investigated recent archeological discoveries. Leslie reveals details about what the team uncovered that you have never heard before! Leslie discusses the greatest discoveries of the last 100 years; shares her wisdom on educating high school students, including advice for students who are afraid of being wrong or speaking in front of others; advises parents on how to teach science at home and have fun doing it; and unveils the two reasons why everyone should study science— spoiler alert: they are probably not what you think!     Links mentioned & relevant:  Prayer to the Holy Spirit and article about the prayer's author, Cardinal Mercier  American School of Classical Studies at Athens  photo from Mrs. Spencer's trip to the Malcom H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science at The American School of Classical Studies Related Kolbecast episodes:  100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth  97 Advocates & Bridge Builders with the Kolbe Academy deans  197 Tools in a Toolbox: Kolbe Academy's Student Support Services  89 The Master Blueprint featuring Kolbe Academy science instructors   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. From social work to homeschooling to becoming a published author, Belinda Terro Mooney has done it all. In a heartwarming episode, Belinda shares the lessons she learned raising and homeschooling her seven children; navigating the challenges of ADD and ADHD in her own home; leaving behind a successful career to homeschool; reentering the work force to support her family after her husband's death; and how her personal journey with God and the saints carried her through good times and bad. Belinda will leave you feeling understood in your struggles and inspired to take the next right step in your journey, whatever that may be.   Belinda's books:  Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day (also available on Amazon)  A Look at Life: Poetry for Reflection  Christ the King: Lord of History: The Continuing Story  by Anne Carroll & Belinda Terro Mooney  More about Belinda:  website  Instagram  Facebook  LinkedIn  Pinterest  Belinda's recommended links:  Amen App  Formed.org    Related Kolbecast episodes:  100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth  197 Tools in a Toolbox: Student Support Services  38 Pro Omnibus Contendit  105 Not Just for Special Occasions  63 The Saints Speak for Themselves with the Holy Heroes parents Ken & Kerri Davison  150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney  214 A Long View with longtime Kolbe parents Charlie & Dee-dee Mihaliak  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Looking to deepen your relationship with God this holiday season? Join our conversation with Catholic pilgrimage leader and podcaster Joan Watson to discuss her experience in Catholic ministry. Joan shares impactful stories from her pilgrimages, including her transformative trip to Rome at age 15; explains the difference between a pilgrimage and a vacation; teaches us how to make a pilgrimage at home; lays out everything you need to know before taking a pilgrimage; and reveals details about her upcoming book and Jubilee year pilgrimage opportunities. Tune in for uplifting stories and transformative insight to inspire you in your faith.   More about and with Joan:  website  Substack  YouTube channel  In Via podcast by Verso Ministries  Joan's book Opening the Holy Door will be available on Dec 6, 2024.   Related Kolbecast episodes:  73 Through Beauty and Technology  108 Time Stood Still  163 Postcards from France  191 A Windown into the Ancient World with Mike Aquilina  Other relevant links:  US Conference of Catholic Bishops' website feature on Jubilee 2025  Vatican Jubilee 2025 website: Iubilaeum 2025  The Catholic Traveler website & podcast  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. The Humanities Series is back! Join Bonnie, Jordan, and Steven for the grand finale of The Iliad. This episode covers everything you need to know about The Iliad, from the significance of burying the dead to the role of women in the Ancient World. The team breaks down the answers to complex questions, like what the afterlife meant to the Greeks and the deeper meaning behind Achilles' shield. Each topic starts with a synopsis, so you can follow along even if you have not read The Iliad before. Finally, don't miss the unexpected connection between The Book of Job, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and The Iliad!   Links mentioned & relevant:  Jordan's recent appearances  Trending with Timmerie  Morning Air  Jordan's most recent article on PrimeMatters.com  Register here to view recordings from the Newman Guide/Kolbe Academy College Fair 9 Oct 2024.  Let Beauty Speak by Jimmy Mitchell  Let Beauty Speak discussions   Session 1  Session 2  Related Kolbecast episodes:  in this Humanities series:  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page  229 Take a Note from Homer  123 A Change of the Ages and 224 Forming Apostolic Hearts featuring Msgr. James Shea  162 Let Latin Conquer You  111 What Treasures Remain  212 Portable Treasure    Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Trying to find the right college for you? Join Wyoming Catholic College President Kyle Washut and alumna Catherine Mershon for a virtual tour of campus life. President Washut reveals a connection between Wyoming Catholic and the Marian apparition site in Green Bay, Wisconsin; discusses the divine call to educate the youth in the wilderness; shares his personal journey from working in coal mines to becoming president of Wyoming Catholic College; explains why the Wyoming Catholic school year starts with a backpacking trip; and proposes the benefits of Wyoming Catholic's technology policy.   Kolbe graduate and Wyoming Catholic alumna Catherine shares what inspired her to leave South Carolina to come to Wyoming Catholic College; introduces Wyoming Catholic's PEAK program; suggests what every student needs for PEAK week; reveals her perspective on the no-phone policy; and suggests why horsemanship is beneficial for anyone's formation.   To find out more about Wyoming Catholic College:  request more information  Discover Wyoming Catholic College webinar  Wyoming Catholic College presentation at Kolbe Academy's Spring 2024 College Fair  Founders' Scholarship PEAK Summer Program  The Eucharist Podcast with President Washut at Dr. Jeremy Holmes  The After Dinner Scholar podcast    Related Kolbecast episodes:  24 Rise & Shine and 27 An Appreciation of Wonder featuring Kolbe alumni who went on to Wyoming Catholic College  2024 Humanities series on ancient Greek literature and history  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page  229 Take a Note from Homer  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. What exactly is a Kolbe advisor? Advisors Rylan Buchanan and Krysten Pizzurro join the Kolbecast to share an insider-look at how the academic advisor team collaborates with parents and students to meet their academic goals, from course selection to college planning. Rylan and Krysten talk about their backgrounds in homeschooling and their journeys to becoming Kolbe advisors; how the advisor role developed into what it is today; the services available to families; the questions everyone should ask their advisors; and some surprising ways your advisor might be able to help you in your homeschooling journey.   Links mentioned & relevant:   Help Center article on parent partnership meetings  2024-25 parent partnership meeting schedule  Grade Reporting section in Kolbe.org Help Center  Scheduling the Elementary and Middle School Day article  Principle of Subsidiarity article  Related Kolbecast episodes  228 No Holding Back  151 Joyful Discoveries for Preschoolers  197 Tools in a Toolbox: Student Support  61 Middle Ground  230 A Multi-Pronged Approach to College Prep  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

Amb. Eduard Habsburg, archduke of Austria and ambassador of Hungary to the Holy See, joins the Kolbecast to discuss his brand-new book, Building a Wholesome Family in a Broken World. Amb. Habsburg expresses the difference between American and European attitudes towards homeschooling, faith, and family life; gives a glimpse into his life as a Catholic, homeschooling father and ambassador; lays out the historical view of homeschooling; breaks down the principle of subsidiarity in American vs. European politics; and shares his guide to building a happy, fulfilling marriage and family life, including practical tips for young adults to implement now. Listen in for thought-provoking– and at times, countercultural– insights into today's family life.   Books by Eduard Habsburg:  The Habsburg Way  Building a Wholesome Family in a Broken World  Dubbie: The Double-Headed Eagle  Related Kolbecast episodes:  92 Protect, Guide, Prepare, Empower  226 Cultivating Habits of Excellence with Andrew Abela  150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney  Follow Amb. Habsburg on X (Twitter). Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Applying to college is no easy feat. From PSATs to transcripts, college visits, and gap years, it can feel like the decisions are endless. In this episode of the Kolbecast, we break down every stage of the college application process, from building a strong transcript to choosing the right college for you. Returning guest Erica Treat and academic adviser Cecilia Byers join the Kolbecast to share their insider expertise and easy hacks you can implement now to set yourself or your child up for success in the college world.   Timestamps   7:45 college visits  12:10 the college planning you should do BEFORE high school    15:20 signing up for the PSATs  16:40 how to organize your college planning approach  21:33 building a well-rounded transcript   26:20 advice for those who are not going to college; how to optimize your gap year for your future   35:05 help center & college resources   38:27 action items for high school seniors   44:50 better questions to ask at college visits  Links mentioned & relevant:  Kolbecast page on the Kolbe Academy website with filters for sorting through the catalog of episodes   College Planning landing page on the Kolbe Academy website  Sections of the kolbe.org Help Center:  College Planning   Career Guidance & Discernment  College Planning Timeline  Kolbe's college partners  Register here to view recordings from the Newman Guide/Kolbe Academy College Fair 9 Oct 2024    Related Kolbecast episodes:  118 Odysseys in Catholicism in which Steven shares his conversion story  59 The Secret Whiteboard discussing discernment for life after Kolbe  175 A Both-And Approach with Dr. Jonathan Sanford of The University of Dallas, one of Kolbe Academy's college partners   77 The Road Less Traveled  40 Windshield Time  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Wishing you could engage with your kids on their Greek literature course? Or trying to read the Iliad for the first time yourself? Bonnie, Jordan, and Steven are here to help. In this installment of the humanities series, the group unpacks the first six books of the Iliad and breaks down the essential takeaways, including the role of the gods; how fate acts in the story; the view of women in Ancient Greece; why the real hero might not be who you think; and why we should read the Iliad in the first place. This episode will walk you through everything you need to know to have a deep, meaningful discussion with your children about one of the greatest works of literature in the Western World.   *This recording contains some spoilers.*  previous Kolbecast episodes in this series:  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  225 On the Same (Greco-Roman) Page  15 Asparagus Moments  226 Habits of Excellence with Dr. Andrew Abela  111 What Treasures Remain  212 Portable Treasure  Texts & resources referenced:  Werner Jaeger's Early Christianity and Greek Paideia  The Iliad  The Histories by Herodotus  The Scapegoat by René Girard  Fr. Laux's Introduction to the Bible  The Catechism of the Catholic Church  Kolbe Classics Conference - Greek Era  Catechism in a Year by Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Press  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. When COVID-19 broke out, Kathleen decided to enroll her daughter in Kolbe Academy until the pandemic ended. Four years later, Kathleen's daughter is still a Kolbe student and almost two years ahead of her peers in school— and she's not slowing down any time soon. Kathleen discusses how she navigates being a homeschooling parent while maintaining her full-time job; adjusting the course plan to meet her daughter's interests; maximizing the flexibility of Kolbe's program; the benefit of sports for competitive students; and gives an intimate look at what day-to-day life can look like for a Catholic homeschooling family.     Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  82 Move & Groove with Eileen Duryea & Sarah Lee  124 In This Together and 125 Call the Advisor  61 Middle Ground  99 Gifted, Graced, and Formed  164 This Is Not a Kolbe Infomercial  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Why do my kids always fidget during school? Why am I always overstimulated by loud noises? Why does my house feel tense right now? Occupational therapist and mom of five Caitlin Russ has the answers to these questions and more. Caitlin breaks down occupational therapy and emotional regulation; easy steps to optimize your homeschool environment for learning; how to emotionally regulate yourself as a parent; how to help your child understand and reframe their own behavior; and why you need to see an occupational therapist right now.  Throughout the episode we reference This Whole Life episode 50 Senses & Regulation.  Caitlin mentions the below resources:  Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske  The Whole Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson  Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J Hanscom  Sensory Integration and the Child by A. Jean Ayres  Zones of Regulation the concept of labeling regulation levels at green, yellow, red, blue  The OT Butterfly, a website for a pediatric OT who has great resources for families to try  The Sensory Connection Program another helpful website talking about sensory  American Occupational Therapy Association,  helpful for any aspiring OTs  Related Kolbecast episodes:  167 Sanity & Sanctity with Johanna Seagren of Interior Kingdom  176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett  188 Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Do you want to build your own “super habits”? Founding dean of CUA business school and Forbes contributing writer Dr. Andrew Abela promises that “super habits” are the secret to a successful—and happy— life. He reveals the three steps to building “super habits;” highlights the connection between neuroscience and virtue; argues that good ethics are the most effective business practices; and paints an entirely new picture of classic virtues and success. Stay tuned to the end to hear details about Dr. Abela's upcoming book, Super Habits: The Universal System for a Successful Life.  Links mentioned & related:  Dr. Abela's book Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life  Catholic University of America   Dr. Abela references Pope Saint John Paul II's encyclical Centesimus Annus   St. Thomas Aquinas on the virtues  A Latin-English Dictionary of St. Thomas Aquinas by Roy J. Deferrari  Follow Dr. Abela on Forbes.com, Substack, and Linkedin    Relevant Kolbecast episodes  188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres  176 The Agenda Is to Grow -- Art & Laraine Bennett and the Temperaments  84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society, publisher of the Newman Guide  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Join Bonnie, Steven, and Jordan for the next installment in their continuing conversation about the humanities, sprinkled with fascinating tidbits of history and their best advice on reading The Iliad with your children or even on your own! The group discusses their own progress reading The Iliad with their families; the benefit to seeing a time before Christ; why we approach the gods differently than early Christians; the relationship between ancient history and myth; what to look for when reading The Iliad and what to talk about with your children. Whether you're a student, homeschooling parent, or just a history buff, there is something in this conversation for you.   Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant   220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity (the first episode in this series) 196 Adaptable Asynchronous & Dynamic Digital Homeschool Options  102 A Great Commission, featuring former Kolbe teacher Ellen Finnegan  Texts referenced  Fr. Laux's Introduction to the Bible  The Catechism of the Catholic Church  The Iliad  Greek Reader  Other relevant links:  Dr. Mary Mumbach on Reading Big Books  The Pillar Post 27 Aug 2024 discussing (among other things) the pronunciation of St. Augustine's name  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Monsignor James Shea, president of the University of Maryland, spoke to Kolbe supporters and friends at the Leaders in Catholic Education event the night before 2024 commencement. Listen in to Msgr. Shea's speech in this episode, where he describes the apostolic work on the forefront of Catholic secondary education as we live in the first post-Christian society, the scheme of self-initiated salvation, and the way we can be converted even more deeply.  Relevant Kolbecast episodes:  123 A Change of the Ages with Msgr. Shea  213 This Is a Beginning, speeches from Commencement 2024  Monsignor Shea's books:  From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age  The Religion of the Day  Other books and works published by U Mary Press  Related links:  Support Kolbe Academy and our families   The Synthetic Impulse in Catholic Life by Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores  Tolkien quotes:   https://aleteia.org/2018/03/25/j-r-r-tolkien-turned-to-this-during-his-darkest-hour   https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/jrr-tolkien-three-amazing-quotes   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

Jake Weidmann knows the science behind his art. With a background in psychology, Jake is now a professional artist and calligrapher. On today's episode, he shares the history of calligraphy and why it is so important to human beings; explains why you should turn off autocorrect; breaks down the psychological impact of sending hand-written letters; advocates for starting handwriting young; and divulges his best tips and favorite resources for calligraphy beginners.  More information about Jake & the resources he mentions:  Jake's website  The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH)  3.5 minute penmanship video  Penmaking video  Why write? Ted talk A Craftsman's Legacy TV episode  Michael Sull  Brian Goulet of The Goulet Pen Company  John DeCollibus  F. B. Courtney and Louis Maderasz  Kolbe Academy bookstore penmanship offerings   Spencerian Handwriting Course   Writing Our Catholic Faith instructional series  Relevant Kolbecast episodes:  216 Searching for Something We've Forgotten with Trae Bailey  143 Partners in a Liberal Arts Renewal with CLT's Soren Schwab  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. PhD biologist and stem cell researcher Dr. Daniel Kuebler wasn't always a science major. Dr. Kuebler began his academic as an English major at Catholic University of America before transitioning to biology for his master's and doctoral degrees. Now a professor of science at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. Kuebler educates a new generation of students on biology and the "big questions," from evolution to the latest developments in cell research to the history of science itself.  Dr. Kuebler discusses the benefits of a well-rounded education, citing his background as an English major; reveals what inspired him to become a scientist; shares his cure for "boring" science classes; gives insight into the impact of faith on cell research; and drops hints about his forthcoming book, podcast and current scientific research.  Links mentioned & related:  Purposeful Universe, of which the Purposeful Lab podcast is a part  Magis Center  Society of Catholic Scientists  Kolbe Academy college partnerships   Pope Pius XII's encyclical Humani Generis   Pope Benedict XVI's book In the Beginning  Bishop Robert Barron video Is Religion Opposed to Science? at ReasonFaithScience.com  Fr. Robert Spitzer of the Magis Center speaking to Kolbe Academy students on the Four Levels of Happiness  Fr. Spitzer's talk to Kolbe Academy students: Eucharistic Miracles  Relevant Kolbecast episodes:  188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities  89 The Master Blueprint  21 To Live Fully Alive  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Looking back on four years and more than 220 episodes of the Kolbecast since its relaunch in August 2020, Jordan, Steven, and Bonnie reminisce on many memorable conversations and guests. Longtime and new Kolbecast listeners alike will find something of interest and inspiration from the array of episodes covered today.  To sort through the library of Kolbecast episodes, visit this page on the Kolbe website and use the filters to find what you're looking for. Send your episode suggestions to podcast@kolbe.org  Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  1 Kolbecast Relaunch  28 A Pessimist with Hope: A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Esolen  198 The Sign of Our Salvation: Dr. Gilbert Lavoie on the Shroud of Jesus  191 A Window into the Ancient World with Mike Aquilina  179 Translation Tug of War  with Dr. Matthew Minerd  188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities and 219 The Upside of Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Majeres of Optimal Work  167 Sanity & Sanctity with Johanna Seagren of Interior Kingdom  204 Habits of Ownership with Jacob Imam of The College of St. Joseph the Worker  175 A Both-And Approach with Dr. Jonathan Sanford of The University fo Dallas  84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society  123 A Change of the Ages with Msgr. James Shea of The University of Mary, who is also featured on ep 213 This Is a Beginning  183 Gratuitous Gifts with Sherry Weddell  176 The Agenda Is to Grow with Art & Laraine Bennett  Daniel Bielinski on 139 Glorifying God through Film and 217 Spoilers of a Sort  92 Protect, Guide, Prepare, Empower with Cathy & Nicolai Lund  Charlie Mihaliak on 18 Homer and the Hunger Games and 208 A Mosaic of Experience as well as ep 213 This Is a Beginning  3 Dramatic Arts with Dolores Ann Mihaliak  8 Great Expectations with Colleen Carroll Campbell  Dr. Don Prudlo on ep 39 Reclaiming the Territory, 40 Windshield Time, 78 The Kolbe Man Show, and 111 What Treasures Remain  36 Embrace the Fifth Day with Therese Prudlo, who also appears on several other Kolbecast episodes  74 Special Teams: Kolbe Dads  214 A Long View with Dee-dee & Charlie Mihaliak, parents of five Kolbe grads  Dr. John Cuddeback on ep 166 Dwelling Together Richly  199 Do Good Work and Read Good Work with Jason Craig of Sword & Spade  60 Mission: Possible  61 Middle Ground  164 This Is Not a Kolbe Infomercial with Kolbe mom Lindsey  190 The School of Patience with Tricia Kavanagh, another Kolbe mom  209 Kolbe Kids Give Gems of Information with three of Tricia's sons, one of whom also appears on ep 213 This Is a Beginning  173 A Deeper and Greater Joy with Kolbe alumni transitional Dcn. Charles Ohotnicky and Fr. Ambrose Dobrozsi  215 New School Year Starter Kit with Dean of Admissions Jeanne Anne Ford and Customer Support Supervisor Colleen Pilon  118 Odysseys in Catholicism  45 Grace Perfects Nature with Dr. Peter Malinoski and Jody Garneau  Mrs. Elizabeth Hoxie appears on several episodes including 21 To Live Fully Alive, 89 The Master Blueprint, 112 Cura Personalis: The Intro, 136 Cura Personalis: The Sequel, and 213 This Is a Beginning  140 Burnout Happens  100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Mrs. Dianne Muth  119 The Hope Throughout with Tom & Noelle Crowe  134 For Tinkerers of All Ages with Kolbe dad and HAM radio enthusiast Chris Ranck  Kolbe Advising Manager Mrs. Ashley Massey's Kolbecast debut was episode 66 Bonhomie à la Kolbe  105 Not Just for Special Occasions with small business owner, Kolbe homeschooling mother, and etiquette expert Rebecca Czarniecki--known professionally as Mrs. B  162 Let Latin Conquer You  220 Decoding Mythology to Reveal Christianity  32 Reflections of His Light with two Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa who are Kolbe alumnae; one tells a sweet story of leaving some “Easter eggs” for her younger sibling to find.  207 A Privilege of a Lifetime with Kolbe mom turned advisor Elyse Williams  63 The Saints Speak for Themselves with the Holy Heroes parents (also Kolbe parents) Ken and Kerri Davison  150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney  116 Things I Would Tell My Students with Jordan Almanzar  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.  Like many Kolbe Academy parents, Jordan will be embarking on a trip through the Kolbe ninth-grade Greek history and literature courses this school year with his daughter. To chronicle that odyssey, he, Steven, and Bonnie are starting a new series of episodes to discuss the various texts and themes encountered along the way. Listen in as the group makes ready to set sail by defining terms, musing on the humanities in general, and drawing upon René Girard and his book The Scapegoat.    Relevant Kolbecast episodes:  60 Mission: Possible  162 Let Latin Conquer You  102 A Great Commission, featuring former Kolbe teacher Ellen Finnegan   100 In the Beginning with Kolbe Academy co-founder Dianne Muth  191 A Window into the Ancient World with Mike Aquilina  123 A Change of the Ages with Msgr. James Shea  183 Gratuitous Gifts: Charisms with Sherry Weddell  202 A Great Conversation and 210 Firm Grounding with Kolbe mom Deirdre Mundy  Links mentioned & relevant:   The Scapegoat by René Girard  René Girard, Theology, and Pop Culture, featuring a chapter by Dr. Jordan Almanzar  Jordan's writings at PrimeMatters.com, including this newest article What ‘Christian' Really Means  Bishop Barron on René Girard  Robert Barron – Jesus and the Scapegoat (2002)  Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland, discussed in Kolbecast episode 191 with Mike Aquilina   I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by René Girard  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG. Catholic psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majeres rejoins the Kolbecast for a discussion on anxiety: one of the most common, but also most misunderstood, emotions.  Working from the definition that anxiety is an urge to avoid challenge, Dr. Majeres describes how he helps his clients live by ideals that they freely commit to rather than living under the control of their past; explains how you don't defeat things by forgetting them, but by building new things; and alludes to how mindfulness plus metaphysics equals contemplation. Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:   188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities  185 Developmentally Appropriate Independence discussing summer camp  Related links:  Optimal Work  Jonathan Heidt's The Anxious Generation  Dr. Russ Harris's The Happiness Trap  Dr. Eli Lebowitz's Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD and other resources  Dr. Donna Pinkus's Growing Up Brave  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!   The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.  The high school years are formative as teenagers develop autonomy and independence in the world.  In this episode, theology teachers Dan Angel, Brendan Murphy, and Nick Senz share their experiences of and perspectives on teaching apologetics, morality, and more to high schoolers.  The conversation includes discussions of open question boxes and cultural references in class, connecting on an interpersonal social level with their students, and how they respond to resistance and skepticism from their students about cultural and societal big questions.  Kolbecast episodes mentioned & relevant:  195 Greatness Awaits with Dan & Bobby Angel  169 No Made-Up Answers with Brendan Murphy & Wes Stratman  91 Kernels of Truth with Nick Senz & Chrissy Almanzar  151 Joyful Discoveries for Preschoolers discussing Kolbe Academy's preschool program  179 Translation Tug of War with Dr. Matthew Minerd, which briefly discusses Kolbe Academy's twelfth grade theology course  Related links:   Catechism of the Catholic Church  YOUCAT and YOUCAT for Kids  St. Mary's Press bibles for children and youth  Ascension Press  Fr. Mike Schmitz  Bishop Robert Barron at Word on Fire  Jesus of Nazareth trilogy by Joseph Ratzinger  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.  We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.  The art of storytelling involves decisions about perspective, themes, and emphasis, and good storytelling goes on to inspire questions and discussions.  Dan Bielinski rejoins the Kolbecast on this special bonus episode to describe storytelling decisions and discussions related to his feature film, End of the Rope available for Kolbe families to stream as a financial aid fundraiser.  In the context of moviemaking and movie-watching, he, Bonnie, Steven, and Maggie Hayden discuss discerning family viewing choices, questions of justice and community, and the phenomenon of anger begetting anger.  *contains spoilers* If you're considering watching the film and *don't* want to hear spoilers, stop the recording at 23:50 until you've seen the film, then come back to hear discussion about some of the plot points.   To sign up for Kolbe's special End of the Rope viewing event 9-18 August 2024, complete this form   Kolbecast episodes mentioned and relevant:  139 Glorifying God through Film with Daniel Bielinski of Canticle Productions discussing his movie Sanctified  162 Let Latin Conquer You with Maggie Hayden, one of a three-episode series on language including 161 Fostering a Linguistic Consciousness with Agostina Cavasotto and 163 Postcards from France  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.  We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.  We're all searching for something we've forgotten.  Today's guest describes his search for reintroduction to reality through both foundational texts and sense experiences.  Trae Bailey, currently Director of Residence Life at Belmont Abbey College and formerly Dean of Student Life at Magdalen College, highlights familial and societal dynamics that are important conduits for the fullness of reality, describes the importance of students taking on responsibility of their education, and emphasizes the importance of wonder.  Relevant Kolbecast episodes:  27 An Appreciation of Wonder  188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges As Opportunities  212 Portable Treasure with Abigail Palmer  Hear more from Trae on The Classical Education Podcast and read his writing on Substack  Links mentioned and relevant:  Jordan mentions leading a book club discussion about Fr. Gereon Goldmann's memoir Shadow of His Wings  Trae hosted a few episodes of Magdalen College's From the Summit podcast, which is still available on podcast platforms.   The conversation includes a reference to a conversation with Autumn Kern on her podcast The Commonplace   News article on the origins of the Integrated Humanities Program at the University of Kansas    Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.  We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

AMDG.  Just enrolled?  Considering enrolling?  Returning but feeling overwhelmed?  Today's episode is for you.  Dean of Admissions Jeanne Anne Ford and customer support supervisor Colleen Pilon share their go-to guidance on organization and inspiration for a new school year, from answering the top questions they get on repeat to tips and tricks they recommend on the regular.  Together with Bonnie and Steven, they provide practical pointers on balancing structure and flexibility.  Relevant Kolbecast episodes  105 Not Just for Special Occasions, concerning socialization  103 Above & Beyond with Nancy Nelson from the Kolbe Academy bookstore  32 Reflections of His Light with Kolbe Academy alumnae Sister Margaret Mary and Sister Anne of the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa  211 Continuity & Community with advisors who discuss ways that Kolbe advisors can help that families might not have thought of  Links mentioned & related:  The chat feature that Colleen mentions is accessible on the Kolbe Academy homepage.  Schedule an appointment with a Kolbe advisor via the Academic Advising services page  Course selection support page  Welcome Packet including how to submit grade reports  Academics & Advising articles, including Scheduling Recommendations and Organizing the School Year  Kolbe Bookstore's Buy Back Program    Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.  We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!