The Classical Academy Podcast

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Your friendly guide to the world of classical Christian education. Presented by Trinity Classical Academy.

Trinity Classical Academy


    • May 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Classical Academy Podcast is a highly informative and engaging podcast that offers a helpful look into classical Christian education. In a world that can often be confusing to many, this podcast provides clarity and understanding, making it applicable to those in the field of education who want to better comprehend the importance of both a Christian education and what makes classical education special and unique. The podcast also delves into the relevance of classical education in the ever-growing STEM/STEAM fields, showcasing how it serves as a foundation for success in these areas.

    One of the best aspects of The Classical Academy Podcast is its accessibility. Whether you are a classical educator or simply have a curious mind, this podcast caters to everyone. The hosts present complex ideas in an engaging manner, making it easy for listeners to grasp concepts even if they are not well-versed in classical education. Furthermore, the podcast covers a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, and practical applications of classical education, ensuring that there is something for everyone to learn from each episode.

    Another commendable aspect of this podcast is its ability to strike a balance between being educational and entertaining. The hosts seamlessly blend facts and insights with humor, keeping listeners engaged throughout each episode. This combination makes the content more enjoyable and ensures that listeners stay invested in the discussions on classical Christian education.

    While there are numerous positive aspects about The Classical Academy Podcast, it is important to acknowledge that there may be some drawbacks as well. One potential downside could be the niche nature of the content. As this podcast focuses specifically on classical Christian education, those who are not interested in or familiar with this subject matter might find it less appealing or relevant. However, given that it aims to cater primarily to individuals within this particular field or those seeking knowledge on this topic, its narrow focus can also be seen as one of its strengths.

    In conclusion, The Classical Academy Podcast is an exceptional resource for those looking for insights into classical Christian education. Its accessibility, informative content, and engaging presentation make it valuable for both classical educators and those with a general interest in education. With a perfect blend of humor and knowledge, this podcast is certainly worth a listen for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of classical Christian education and its relevance in today's world.



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    Latest episodes from The Classical Academy Podcast

    The House System, with Kaeli Collver

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 22:43


    High school students at Trinity love their House System. But new students and families may wonder what exactly are these “Houses”? Just some Christianized Hogwarts from Harry Potter? Or something deeper, richer, most powerful?   Kaeli Collver, Trinity's Dean of the House System, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Milton's Paradise Lost, with Dr. Grant Horner

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 40:25


    John Milton—the sixteenth-century blind Puritan poetic genius, reviled by some, beloved by most, second in greatness only to Shakespeare—pens an epic poem: Paradise Lost. In astonishing beauty and depth, he retells the tragic fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But did he make Satan the poem's hero?    Dr. Grant Horner, Professor of English, Renaissance, and Reformation at the Masters University, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. You can learn more about Dr. Horner's book, John Milton: Classical Learning and the Progress of Virtue, by clicking this link. 

    Classical Education in America, with Zach Weichbrodt

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 28:21


    Classical ideas profoundly shaped the United States, from the colonial era to the Revolution and Founding to the Civil War and beyond. But how exactly did “Athens” and “Rome” help build “Washington”? Zach Weicbrodt, Trinity's Dean of Classical Learning, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Reading the Old Testament, with Aaron Fudge

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 23:51


    The Old Testament is long, sometimes perplexing and, well, old. Yet great treasures lie within. How do classical Christian educators help their students extract truth and wisdom from the Old Testament?     Trinity's Dean of Students Aaron Fudge will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Singapore Math, with Sarah Hwang

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 21:29


    “Why would they change math?! MATH is MATH!!” complained Mr. Incredible in Incredibles 2. Many parents sympathize. What's this new type of math called Singapore Math? Is it just extra work for no reason? And does it fit with Classical and Christian values? Trinity grammar school teacher Sarah Hwang will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    CS Lewis's Problem of Pain, with Eric Margrave

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 24:15


    If God is good and all powerful, why does he allow pain? It's one of the deepest questions Christians wrestle with, and one we pose to our Seniors in their Apologetics class. To help them form an answer, we give them a brilliant little book by CS Lewis. What do our students learn about suffering and God through reading The Problem of Pain?  Trinity apologetics teacher Eric Margrave will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Available on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and more!

    Building Sturdy Kids, with Keith McCurdy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 27:31


    We must make our kids feel happy… right? Keith McCurdy, an experienced family therapist and popular Classical Christian education speaker, argues that following feelings leads to disaster. Instead, the path to growth, maturity, and lasting happiness—at school and home—means embracing healthy struggle.  How can parents and teachers work together to produce thriving, sturdy children? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    The Brothers Karamazov, with Jandy Hardesty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 20:38


    Who killed Fyodor Karamazov? Wealthy, boorish, debauched: the man made many enemies. The prime suspects are his three sons. Was it Dimitri, the hot headed eldest? Ivan, the atheist intellectual? Or young Alyosha, who loves holy living?  This murder mystery is at the heart of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. Dostoyevsky's tale is a masterpiece, filled with unforgettable characters, narrative tensions, and theological depth. But are high school seniors up to the task of reading The Brothers Karamazov? Trinity literature teacher Jandy Hardesty will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Learning Logic, with Sally Leon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 33:00


    Teaching logic to middle schoolers—isn't that asking for trouble? Or perhaps it's just what the doctor ordered: young men and women learning careful, responsible rules of reasonable argument. Still, it takes a bright and brave teacher to guide thirteen-year-olds into the land of logic. Find out how and why it's done, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Augustine's Confessions, with Andrew Selby

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 24:24


    Augustine had wealth, prestige, power—and gnawing void inside. How did God draw this sinner to himself? How did this restless man find rest? Augustine revealed all in his Confessions. Hear what Augustine confessed in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.  Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA.

    Classical Astronomy, with Eric Margrave

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 26:54


    Are the stars, planets, and the galaxies in the night sky just a swirling mass of chaos? Or a divine dance of beauty, harmony, and order? And does being a Christian help or hinder our quest to understand the universe—and our place in it?   Find out how studying Johannes Kepler's revolutionary approach to classical astronomy helps us answer these questions, in this friendly guide to the world of Classical Christian education.   Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA.

    Writing the Chreia, with Laurie Sachs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 22:33


    Ancient writing teachers trained students to produce powerful and elegant writing on command. How? Through a writing practice called the “Chreia.” Find out how the Chreia works and how it trains students in wisdom, in this friendly guide to the world of Classical Christian education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA 

    “Living Like Weasels,” with Donny MacAdam

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 27:37


    How do weasels live? And why would a famous writer like Annie Dillard write a stylish, provocative, and potentially life-changing essay about living like one? Find out in this friendly guide to the world of Classical Christian Education.     If you would like to read the short essay for yourself, you can do so from this link.  Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA.

    Napoleon, with Morgan Geiser

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 29:02


    Napoleon Bonaparte: hero or villain? Military genius or narcissistic tyrant? A curious historical figure to forget or one who helped make the modern world? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA

    The Logic of English, with Sarah Robertson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 21:02


    Literacy is the foundation of all learning. But learning to read English can seem messy, illogical, even random. It doesn't have to be, though. Find out how the “Logic of English” program makes reading clear and simple in this friendly guide to the world of classical Christian education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA.

    Educating for Maturity, with Joe Rigney

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 23:22


    The Bible and Ancient Greek and Roman education: do these really go together? Joe Rigney, theologian and author of Live Like A Narnian, joins us to explain how the Biblical pattern of priest, king, and prophet gives us a model for raising mature, thoughtful students, ready to engage and transform the world.     Find out more in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    A Scientific Defense of Faith, with Dr. Mark Phillips

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 34:05


    America's fastest growing religion is atheism, fueled by believing that science contradicts the Bible. But, as Dr. Phillips argues, the Bible's truth actually is supported by recent scientific discoveries! Find out how we can use science to defend the Christian faith in this friendly guide to Classical Christian education. 

    Parenting Teens Today, with Bjorn Bjornsson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 29:28


    Raising teens has never been easy. But add smartphones and a pandemic: it's a recipe for toxic stress. We see it at home and in the classroom. How can parents help teens overcome today's challenges? Bjorn Bjornsson, a pastor and licensed marriage and family therapist, helps us find out in this in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, with Zach Weichbrodt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2023 25:50


    Boethius weeps in prison. Devotion to virtue, study, and public service resulted only in false accusations and a death sentence. Stripped of his career, his books, his family, all that remains is what he carries in his soul.   Yet, Boethius picks up a pen, and pours out a masterpiece of philosophical depth and poetic beauty. How should a classically-educated Christian respond in the face of suffering and evil? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    The Wisdom Pyramid, with Brett McCracken

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 35:22


    Today's technologies flood us with an endless stream of information—and it's making our minds and hearts sick. How can we find health and seek wisdom in our digital age? Brett McCracken, author and senior editor at the Gospel Coalition website, shares the strategy from his book, The Wisdom Pyramid, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Sophocles' Antigone, with Jennene Margrave

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 23:57


    A foolish king, an unjust law, a young woman grieving a family tragedy: it's the recipe for gut-wrenching, nail-biting drama in Sophocles' Antigone. This timeless play—written by ancient Greece's greatest playwright—dives into the depths of the human condition and asks, “is there hope in a tragic world?” Learn more about this masterpiece in our friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. A special note: Trinity Classical Academy's rhetoric school theater class will perform Antigone on January 13-14, 2022. We hope to see you there!

    Meaning at the Movies, with Mark Gould

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 31:39


    Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter: movies move our hearts and form our minds. How does classical Christian education equip students to see the deeper meanings of movies, and even start making their own?   Feature film director and Trinity film teacher Mark Gould shows us how, in this friendly guide to classical Christian education. 

    Much Ado About Nothing, with Jandy Hardesty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 22:46


    A bride who dies to live. A groom deceived by comrades. An unexpected romance. A buffoon constable who actually uncovers the truth. Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing has all this and more. But does this comedy about “nothing” contain hidden depths? Find out in this friendly guide to classical Christian education.

    Beowulf, with Zach Weichbrodt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 27:05


    Legendary swords, mead halls, and gory monsters fill the Old English tale of Beowulf. But what can the story teach us about heroism and faith during dark times?   Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Homer's Odyssey, with Chris Leigh

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 25:52


    The great hero Odysseus sits on the seashore of an island paradise next to a stunning goddess—and weeps. Why is honor, skill, beauty and treasure not enough? Find out in this friendly guide to classical Christian education. 

    US Constitution, with Liz Caddow

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 26:03


    The Constitution is a true national treasure. What happens when classical Christian students study it, debate it, memorize it? And on the senior trip to DC, did Mrs. Caddow try to steal it? Find out more in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    Why Study Latin? With Lucy Banduk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 22:09


    Latin: isn't it too difficult, too grammar-focussed, too ... useless? Not at all! Find out why Latin is so rewarding to study—and how you might already speak Latin without knowing it—in this friendly guide to Classical Christian education. Bonus:  Youtube Link to Lucy Banduk's TrinityU lecture, “I came, I saw, I spoke Latin” Youtube Link to Ricky pronounces “ough” words on I Love Lucy

    Science vs. Religion? with Dr. James Ungureanu

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 27:52


    Science and religion at war… is a myth! But it's a powerful one. Where did it come from? And how should Classical Christian schools teach the proper relationship between faith and science? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

    CS Lewis's Great Divorce, with James Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 23:20


    What if the citizens of Hell visited Heaven? The visitors will be surprised, challenged, and potentially transformed—as will modern readers of CS Lewis's visionary novel, The Great Divorce. Find out more in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Available on Spotify, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.

    Conspiracy Theories Meet Classical Education, with Shea Ramquist

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2022 34:47


    Chemtrails, Flat Earthers, Moon Landings, Aliens: conspiracy theories swirl around us like never before. Why is that? And how does Classical Christian Education help us tell fact from fiction?

    Euclid's Elements, with Sarah Carty

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 18:23


    Euclid's Elements of Geometry set the standard for mathematical thinking for over 2000 years. In studying carefully crafted proofs, students learn not only geometry and logic—they encounter the beauty of God's universe.

    Aesop's Fables, with Rebekah Richardson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 27:45


    Do Aesop's humble fables still matter today? Yes! Fables cultivate wisdom, start students on the “progymnasmata” writing program, and prepare them to share the gospel.

    Dante's Inferno, with Zach Weichbrodt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 32:49


    700 years after Dante's death, his Inferno still stands as the greatest work of Christian imagination. But what happens when high school students delve with Dante into the depths of hell?

    Influential, Optimistic, Faithful Alumni, w/ Andrew Richardson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 31:05


    Alumni from Classical Christian schools are influential, optimistic faithful—far more than alumni from any other type of school. So says the Good Soil Report from the University of Notre Dame. But why? A Classical Education veteran helps us find out on the Classical Academy Podcast.

    Classical School Alumni: Successful, Independent, Traditional, with Aaron Fudge

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 43:07


    A stunning scientific report concludes that classical Christian school alumni do better in college and career, are more independent of mind, and more traditional than graduates from any other type of school. But why? A classical Christian teacher helps us find out on the Classical Academy Podcast

    A Study Proves the Classical Difference, with Wally Caddow

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2020 27:17


    How can you tell if an education works? Look at the graduates. In this episode, we look at a report from the University of Notre Dame called “The Classical Difference,” a survey of thousands of graduates from various types of schools. How does classical Christian education stack up?

    Faithful Learning: Learning the Faith, with Dr. Matt Dixon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2020 35:38


    What makes a Classical Christian School truly Christian? Is it slapping a Bible verse on the mission statement or praying before class? Or does the integration of faith and learning go deeper than that? Find out on the Classical Academy Podcast…

    Top Classical Education Myths, Debunked! with Elizabeth Hosmann

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2019 26:01


    What myths hold parents back from exploring Classical Christian education? In this episode, admissions director Elizabeth Hosmann dissects and debunks some of the biggest misconceptions about Classical Christian schools.

    Searching With Science, Finding Faith. With Dr. Mark Phillips

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019 26:58


    How do you combine classical education, science, theology, and comedy? Today, we answer that question with a former animal surgeon, biochemist, pastor, missionary, and standup comedian, who also serves as Trinity's chair of the Department of Theology and Science.

    Who Killed Classical Education? with Dr. Andrew Selby

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 28:58


    All schools in the West were classical schools until about 100 years ago. So what happened? Join us as we unravel the mystery of who killed Classical Education—and how it came back to life.

    Is it Rocket Science? Classical Education & STEM, with Atherton & Sarah Carty

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2019 36:31


    Parents know that classical education teaches students to be excellent readers and writers. But what about math and science? What if classical education can provide future engineers the secret to their success? We interview STEM "power couple" Atherton and Sarah Carty—aerospace engineer and Trinity math teacher—to find out. 

    The Secret of Trinity's Growth, with Liz Caddow

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2019 25:07


    How does a school start with only 20 students and grow to almost 600 students in 20 years? Hear Liz Caddow share about the trials and triumphs of Trinity Classical Academy's early years—and learn how starting your own school can make you feel like Indiana Jones.

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