St. Thomas More Academy Podcast

In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants discuss the topic of paying attention. The ability to pay attention is a critical life skill, but not unlike prayer it is one of those things we tell people (especially students) to do, without really explaining how they go about doing it. We share some thoughts on the subject and suggests listeners also download these podcasts on the subject as well: The Heights Forum podcast with Kevin Majeres:        The Freedom to Form Bonds: Kevin Majeres on Mindfulness and Attention                   The Art of Manliness podcast on focus and paying attention:  Podcast #832 The Power of Unwavering Focus 

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants sit down for a conversation with STMA Alumnus Deacon John De Guzman ('14) about his time at the Academy, his studies at St. Charles Borromeo College Seminary, and Theological College Seminary at Catholic University of America. Deacon John also discussed his discernment and vocation to the priesthood, offering words of wisdom for others discerning a call to the Priesthood or Religious Life. Please pray for Deacon John and Deacon Erik Reyes as they prepare for their ordination to the Priesthood on Saturday, June 4th at 10:00am at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. 

In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants express gratitude for the wonderful students we get to build relationships with at STMA. 

In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss the parent suggested topic of nihilism. We ended up discussing both nihilism and apathy as they are closely related and often overlap.  They are both topics worthy of much longer conversations, but we hope this relatively brief episode might provide some insights to the topic as we see it. Hopefully, this is helpful in thinking about our contemporary culture and the modern world our young people are growing up in. We also hope it might be of some small help for those who struggle with either issue personally or in someone they love. Links below are to the video and article mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8IVA_iVofo https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481314954/shows-about-nothing/

In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, Charles McCants and Adriana Watkins discuss the discernment of gifts and talents. We have all been given unique gifts and talents by Our Lord and are expected to multiply them throughout our lives in who we are called to BE and what we are called to DO. But when we express this to young people it can sometimes be difficult for them to figure out on their own exactly what their talents (or attributes) are in order to multiply them.  We hope this conversation might be of use to everyone as we look for the unique gifts/talents/attributes in our lives that we can use to God's greater glory. 

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Mr. Charles McCants sit down for a conversation with STMA Alumnus Andrew Mistele ('18) about his time at the Academy, his studies in Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University ('22), and where he's headed after graduation. 

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss accreditation and the fact that is neither necessary nor a guarantor of excellence in schools. It is commonly held that "Schools must be accredited." But who says, and what is accreditation? What does it do? What are its limitations? We've heard people say, "You can't get into to college if you go to a school that isn't accredited." And yet, STMA, which has never even sought accreditation, has a 100% college placement record over 20 years. Every graduate has successfully placed into four year colleges, including some of the most selective in the country. Add to this the number of homeschool students that go to schools like Harvard and Princeton every year, and it's easy to see that a statement like that is false on its face. More to the point, there are thousands of schools in the United States that are accredited, but truly terrible schools. So in today's episode we take a deeper dive into the myth of accreditation. 

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, Charles McCants and Kelly Jackson discuss work ethic as it relates to being a student with good academic outcomes. As teachers and administrators an ongoing challenge is trying to understand why some otherwise very good students don't seem to get the grade outcomes the (or their parents) hope for at the end of term. But when we look closely at those students that earn top outcomes, we see a consistent attribute: a strong work ethic.  In this episode, we discuss what that looks like with a fundamental understanding that learning is not about mindless passive consumption, but proactive, positive engagement and hardworking in class and outside of class when studying. Put more simply, students with the best outcomes are almost always mindful proactive producers. But a real challenge in our modern world is that countless media corporations are doing everything in their power to make passive consumption as effortless as possible, and a lot of their energy is directed at our young people. 

In response to a parent request, Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss leadership formation for children. Upon reflection, it seems that leadership really comes down to some very fundamental ideas: Authority, trust, and responsibility. Looking to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, as the ultimate leader, we understand that his authority was not his own, it was given to him by his Father in Heaven, who loves and trusts him with the responsibility of the salvation of the world - and leading souls to it perpetually. From this we can understand that parents, and by extension teachers, are given authority and responsibility over and for their children. In love, we then grant age appropriate authority and responsibility to our children over tasks that start small and grow over time. Chores, academic work, even free play time can be ways in which we form the attributes necessary in children to be good leaders as adults. We hope this conversation is as thought provoking for listeners as it was for us in thinking through what it means to form faithful and virtuous leaders.  The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed 

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss how STMA handles academic and behavioral formation conversations.  Understanding that we should properly model relationships on the Holy Trinity, and by extension the family as a foundational human relationship, at STMA, academic and behavioral formation is not a bureaucratic or institutional process. We look to the faithful and functional family as the model for how we might address any challenges that arise during a student's time at STMA. This approach may be unique for some parents based on experiences at other schools, or their own experience in school. Our belief is that our human and spiritual formation should not be a matter of demerits, strikes, and detentions, but rather relational conversations ordered to best outcomes. We hope this episode will help to explain our approach to this aspect of student engagement. 

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin. Going chapter by chapter we discuss how the leadership principles learned by officers leading the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War can apply to our roles as parents, students, and teachers as we work together for best outcomes.   

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants continue discussing what it means to trust the process at STMA.  Pastores Dabo Vobis - Pope St. John Paul II Art of Manliness Podcast: The Power of Team Captains

Deacon Brad Watkins, Dr. Jake Noland, and Charles McCants discuss what it means to trust the process at STMA. 

Deacon Brad and Dr. Noland discuss Nassim Nicholas Taleb's book Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder

Welcome to the St. Thomas More Academy podcast.  Deacon Brad Watkins, Headmaster of the Academy, is joined by Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty, to talk about the formation of the whole person, especially young men and women in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, all to the greater glory of God. Thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope it is helpful. In this episode we try to figure out how to podcast again and have a conversation about the state of the school since our last episode at the time of the 2020 shelter at home orders due to the Covid pandemic.  Links to videos discussed in the podcast: Education at the Crossroads Episode number 1 with Mr. Robert Luddy Education at the Crossroads Episode number 3 with Deacon Brad Watkins and Dr. Jake Noland  

Dr. Cal Newport says, Do fewer things. Do them better. Know why you’re doing them. Welcome to the St. Thomas More Academy podcast.  Deacon Brad Watkins, Headmaster of the Academy, is joined by Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, to talk about the formation of the whole person, especially young men and women in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, all to the greater glory of God. Thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope it is helpful. In this episode we pick up a conversation from Episode 13 on Dr. Cal Newport's book, Deep Work. Recently, Dr. Newport posted a series of discussions on his blog, Study Hacks, that he summed up as “Do less, do better, know why.” We thought this was a great topic for conversation, and something we can all reflect on in our own lives, but might be especially helpful for students.  Cal Newport: Study Hacks Blog Cal Newport: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Jessica Lahey: The Gift of Failure:How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed Jocko Willink and Lief Babin: Extreme Ownership Simon Sinek:  Start With Why (book) Simon Sinek: Start With Why Ted Talk (video) BBC Article: What Leader Are You? It Depends On Your Parents

Welcome to episode fourteen of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast. Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, for a conversation with STMA Alumna Julia French ('18) about her time so far at the University of Notre Dame and her time at the Academy.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. We only ask in return that you pray for our entire school community and our mission. 

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul says, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) And from the Book of Proverbs, "In all toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23) Welcome to the St. Thomas More Academy podcast. We’re here to talk about the formation of the whole person, especially young men and women in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, all to the greater glory of God. Thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. If you find these conversations helpful, we would be grateful to those willing to rate, review, and share with others who might find them useful.  In this episode, Deacon Brad Watkins, Headmaster of the Academy, is joined by Dr. Jake Noland, Dean of Faculty, and Mr. Charles McCants, Classics Teacher and Student Life Coordinator, for a conversation about Deep Work, based on the book of the same title by Dr. Cal Newport. This is a timely topic, especially as the COVID-19 Coronavirus has forced the closure of our school and we take student formation to a distance learning/online format.  Deep Work defined: “Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.” (from Deep Work, by Cal Newport) Shallow Work defined: “Noncognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. These efforts tend to not create new value in the world and are easy to replicate.” (from Deep Work, by Cal Newport) Deep Work by Dr. Cal Newport Digital Minimalism by Dr. Cal Newport The Shallows by Nicholas Carr iGen by Jean Twenge Technopoly by Neil Postman Irresistible by Adam Alter Mind Change by Susan Greenfield World Without Mind by Franklin Foer Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace (video) We are grateful for your support and humbly ask that you pray for our mission to form young men and women, the whole person, to the greater glory of God. Until next time, take care and God bless. St. Thomas More, pray for us  

Welcome to episode twelve of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast. Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, for a conversation with STMA Alumna Aubrey Leaser ('19) about her time so far at the University of Virginia and her time at the Academy.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. We only ask in return that you pray for our entire school community and our mission. 

In the fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Our Lord says, Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” In this episode of the STMA Podcast, Ms. Christina Geradts and Mr. Charles McCants, STMA Student Life Coordinators, join our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins and Dr. Jake Noland, STMA Dean of Faculty, for a conversation about commitment. What does it mean to be men and women of our word, people who follow through on our commitments - especially in what is now frequently referred to as the “age of bail.” The Golden Age of Bailing by David Brooks Make a Schedule (Video) by Jordan Peterson As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. We only ask in return that you pray for our entire school community and our mission.   

Welcome to episode ten of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast. Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, for a conversation with STMA Alums Alex Winger ('18) and Connor Mulligan ('19) about college and their time at the Academy.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. We only ask in return that you pray for our entire school community and our mission. 

Dr. Leonard Sax, in his book, The Collapse of Parenting, wrote: “We now live in a culture in which kids value the opinion of same aged peers more than they value the opinion of their parents, a culture in which the authority of the parents has declined not only in the eyes of the children, but also in the eyes of the parents themselves.” In the 15th Chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Our Lord says, “If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.” Welcome to episode nine of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast. Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, for a conversation about peer orientation.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. We only ask in return that you pray for our entire school community and our mission.  The Collapse of Parenting by Dr. Leonard Sax Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld, PhD. and Gabor Mate, MD

In his first letter to the Corintians, St. Paul said, “When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.” Welcome to episode eight of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast. Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, for a conversation specifically about the formation of boys and young men, and what some are calling, "The Boy Crisis." They discuss thoughts about how we got here, the challenges boys and young men face, and the critical role positively enriching father's play in their son's (and daughter's) lives.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. We only ask in return that you pray for our entire school community and our mission.  The Boy Crisis by Warren Farrell, Ph.D. and John Gray, Ph.D. Faith of the Fatherless, Paul Vitz, Ph.D. Successful Father by James Stenson The Collapse of Parenting by Dr. Leonard Sax Boys Adrift by Dr. Leonard Sax Why Honor Matters by Tamler Sommers, PhD. Hold On to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. and Dr. Gabor Mate

Welcome to episode six of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast.   Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, as they continue discussing FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) from our website. These are questions we often receive from prospective families, current families, and people outside of the Academy trying to gain insights into our excellent outcomes.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful.

Welcome to episode six of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast.   Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, as they discuss FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) from our website. These are questions we often receive from prospective families, current families, and people outside of the Academy trying to gain insights into our excellent outcomes.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful.

Welcome to episode five of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast.   Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins our headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, as they discuss our mission to form the whole person, and what that means, especially here at St. Thomas More Academy.  As always, we thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope this episode proves helpful. Pastores Dabo Vobis - Pope Saint John Paul II Program for Priestly Formation  

Episode 4 - Exercise “Remember that bodily exercise, when well ordered...is also a prayer by means of which, you can please God our Lord.” St. Ignatius of Loyola “There is a moral imperative to take care of what you’ve been given.” Fr. Mike Schmitz Welcome to episode 4 of the St. Thomas More Academy podcast.  This is Deacon Brad Watkins, Headmaster of the Academy, with you from our campus in Raleigh, NC.  We’re here to talk about the formation of the whole person, especially young men and women in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, all to the greater glory of God. Thank you for this download and taking the time to listen. We hope it is helpful. Today, Dr. Jake Noland, our STMA Dean of Faculty and Athletic Director, joins me again as we continue a mini-series discussing ways that students can improve their ability to positively engage their faith, relationships, and school life.  In this episode we discuss exercise, what we consider to be one of the three foundational aspects of being a positively engaged learner, along with sleep and diet, and how critical exercise is to the development and healthy maintenance of our bodies and minds. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by Dr. John Ratey The Soft American by John F. Kennedy The Motivation Factor Trailer - La Sierra High School/JFK Challenge (VIDEO) The (Political) Science of Salt by Gary Taubes The Hyponatremia of Exercise, Part 1 by Dr. Tim Noakes Is Sitting the New Smoking by Selene Yeager Death of the Calorie by Peter Wilson Wanna Stay Healthy? You Better Be Moving All Day Long by Christopher Keyes Sit, Stand, Sit: The new science about how to best use your standing desk by Sandee LaMotte

Dr. Jake Noland joins Deacon Brad Watkins as we continue a mini-series discussing ways that students can improve their ability to positively engage their faith, relationships, and school life. In this episode we discuss diet, what we consider to be one of the three foundational aspects of being a positively engaged learner, along with sleep and exercise, and how critical a balanced and well ordered diet is to the development and healthy maintenance of our bodies and minds. It is important to note that we are not registered dietitians or trained nutritionists, but have spent a fair amount of time studying information related to health, diet, and nutrition - especially as they relate to the formation of the young people we work with everyday.  Below we have provided links to a number of sources of information that listeners may find interesting or helpful.  Michael Pollan’s, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (Book) Michael Pollan’s, In Defense of Food (Seven Words short YouTube video) Dr. Terence Kealey on the Myth of Scientific Objectivity (VIDEO) Dr. Norman Kaplan, The Deadly Quartet Time: The Hidden Dangers of Skinny Fat Why people become overweight. Insulin, blood sugar, diabetes.  Whey protein and stress/cognitive performance.  Sugar addiction/not feeling full/over eating.  Sugar and inflammation.  Sugar and weight gain.  Soft Drinks - Latest Study The number of under-25s with Type 2 diabetes doubles in five years amid obesity epidemic Importance of O3/O6 fat ratio.  Fish oil and inflammation.  Here’s what actually happens in your body when you eat fat.

Dr. Jake Noland joins Deacon Brad Watkins as we begin a mini-series discussing ways that students can improve their ability to positively engage their faith, relationships, and school life. In this episode we discuss sleep, what we consider to be one of the three foundational elements, along with diet and exercise, and how it can improve almost every aspect of our lives. Conversely, we discuss how the lack of sleep can negatively impact our lives. All of the scientific information referenced in this podcast about sleep is from Dr. Matthew Walker’s 2017 book entitled, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. If you would like to learn more about sleep and the latest science related to it, we highly recommend Dr. Walker’s book. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:2 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24 References for this podcast: Dr. Matthew Walker Google Talks "Why We Sleep" Good to Go by Christie Aschwanden (sleep as the best sports recovery method) - Strength Running Podcast.  Laird Hamilton Morning routine of a professional big wave surfer “Take Sleep Seriously” Jocko Willink A Navy SEAL explains why you should get up at 4:30 am every day Next Big Thing: Sleep Science Is Becoming the NFL's Secret Weapon Eat, drink and sleep like a footballer Nick Littlehales: the man who showed Cristiano Ronaldo how to sleep R. R. Reno, Fighting the Noonday Devil Dusty Gates, Why Leisure is a Remedy for Sloth

Dr. Jake Noland joins our Headmaster, Deacon Brad Watkins, for a conversation about positively engaged learners. Dr. Noland serves as the Dean of Faculty at STMA, but also teaches logic, bioethics, philosophy, economics, and a number of electives, and currently serves as our Athletic Director and head coach for men’s soccer team, and our women’s basketball and soccer teams.   In this episode we will discuss some of our thoughts around positive engagement, not just in school, but also in our faith and life. Conversely, we talk about challenges when we are not intentionally predisposed to learning, especially with regard to sleep, diet, and exercise. Finally, we’ll discuss ways we can become more positively engaged and the outcomes we might see. Books Referenced: iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us by Dr. Jean Twenge Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by Dr. John Ratey, MD Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Dr. Matthew Walker