ClassicalU Podcast (Jesse Hake)

In this inaugural episode, Jesse Hake speaks with Dr. Nicole Koopman about the history of classical Christian education and her own experience with it. Dr. Koopman is a teacher at Cair Paravel Latin School, one of the three oldest classical Christian schools in America, and she is currently recording a new course with ClassicalU.com called "Women in the Tradition". 

In episode 8, Jesse talks with Latin educator Karen Moore about her experiences as a teacher, her recent graduate studies, and as she visits to record two new courses on ClassicalU: one on Virgil’s Aeneid and another on Teaching Latin with Art & Archaeology. 

 ClassicalU Director Jesse Hake speaks with Junius Johnson about the challenges that students and teachers are facing in the modern world and how the classical tradition approach can alleviate some of these problems. Watch for two forthcoming courses on ClassicalU with Dr. Johnson about teaching fairy stories (also to release as a digital book) and the theology of beauty and the imagination. We will also have lectures from Dr. Johnson on how to teach Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, “The Ethics of Elfland” by Chesterton, Hamlet, Macbeth, The Cosmic Trilogy by C. S. Lewis, and Cur Deus Homo by Anselm.

David Seibel, the Head of School at Coram Deo Academy (in Carmel, Indiana), discusses his forthcoming book and ClassicalU course on Recovering the Lost Tools of Leadership.

Jesse Hake talks with author and Grove City College professor Jeffrey Bilbro about his forthcoming course on ClassicalU about how teachers can cultivate Wendell Berry's virtues of renewal within their classrooms. Bilbro's course is based on his book Virtues of Renewal: Wendell Berry’s Sustainable Forms and relates to material in existing ClassicalU courses including The Art of Poetry and Scholé (Restful) Learning. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to watch for our new course with Jeffrey Bilbro on ClassicalU in coming months.

In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, we welcome back Christine Perrin to talk about the deeply Christian engagement with the epic tradition found in Marilynne Robinson’s novels. Christine has taught these novels over several years with profound blessings in the lives of students. The conversation explores the themes of homecoming (nostos) and glory (kleos) and how these novels illuminate the virtue tradition, drawing connections to Aristotle, Homer, and C.S. Lewis, while also addressing themes of co-suffering, the Beatitudes, and the tension between virtue and grace. Christine Perrin shares pedagogical strategies for guiding students through these texts. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or lifelong learner, this episode offers profound insights into how literature can show us virtue and shape us in it.

In this episode, Jesse chats with Karen Moore about her work with the new Tournament of Laurels event for Latin students. Karen has a couple of new courses coming soon on ClassicalU.com, and don’t miss her existing course on Essential Latin. (Please note that this episode will be followed by another with Karen Moore focused on her own teaching experience and her new teacher training courses and that we recorded these in the reverse order so that our references to them in the recordings are backwards.)

Jesse Hake interviews Fr. Wesley Walker on a wide range of topics related to classical Christian education, including the work and influence of Hugh of St. Victor, the importance of incorporating American literature and history into the classical curriculum, the connections between teaching and priestly vocations, and contemporary resources relevant to the classical Christian renewal. Topics covered include the "Common Arts Education" course with Chris Hall, Fr. Wesley's podcast and newsletter at The Classical Mind, and Nate Marshall's essay "Craft and Theology: The Renaissance" inspired, in part, by Hugh of St. Victor.

In this episode, Christopher Perrin engages with both Junius Johnson and Christine Perrin on the topics of contemplative, embodied, sacramental, and liturgical learning. Together they consider how these truths should inform our classroom practices in light of a sacramental sense of time, the church calendar, and the fact that humans are embodied creatures. Among others, this conversation relates to content in "Scholé (Restful) Learning" with Christopher Perrin, "Theology of Beauty and the Imagination: A Guide to Wonder" course with Junius Johnson and "The Art of Poetry" with Christine Perrin.

 In this episode ClassicalU Director Jesse Hake speaks with Bill Carey about computer programming and mathematics. A course named "Socratic Mathematics," led by William Carey, was recently just published to ClassicalU and several additional recorded conversations between Bill and Dr. Christopher Perrin are available to watch. 

The respective directors of Scholé Academy and ClassicalU, Joylynn Blake and Jesse Hake, mix work and pleasure in this unscripted conversation about the essence and inspiration of classical education. Jesse inquires about the personal history and stories that lie behind Joylynn's love for educational opportunity. Along the way, they chat about their work as colleagues at Classical Academic Press and some of the things that have inspired and moved them. In conversation, Joylynn mentioned books including Educating for Shalom by Nicholas Wolterstorff, A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis, A Child's History of the World by V.M. Hillyer, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, The Scholé Way by Christopher Perrin, The Black Intellectual Tradition by Dr. Anika Prather and Dr. Angel Parham, and, most recently, the primary sources curated in the Humanitas series. The two also mention ClassicalU courses that have benefitted them and the teachers and families they support, including Wendell Berry’s Virtues of Renewal with Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, The Black Intellectual Tradition and the Great Conversation with Dr. Anika Prather & Dr. Angel Parham, and Disability and Classical Education with Dr. Amy Gilbert Richards, and the David Bentley Hart commentary course.  With laughs, a moment of tears, and a few beating drums, Joylynn and Jesse enjoy each other's company in the company of ideas.

While recording for his new ClassicalU course on teaching, school leadership, and the history of education, David Hicks sat down for a conversation. In this second of two parts, he answers a question about hiring Ron DeSantis as a school teacher and shares more on our American identity crisis, on the importance of gratitude, and on Marcus Aurelius and the goal of perfection. David ends by considering the key points in his 1981 book Norms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education which calls for educators to once again focus on developing conscience and style.

Jesse Hake chats with Sarah Flynn, a classical Christian education pioneer in Australia and founder of Logos Australis. Sarah is an educator with a background in ecology, environmental studies, and Aboriginal studies in addition to being instrumental in promoting classical education in Australia. Among other topics, Sarah and Jesse consider relationships between integrating indigenous approaches to knowledge and the principles of classical education. ClassicalU courses mentioned include The Liberal Arts Tradition and The Art of Poetry.

 In this bonus Nativity episode, Jesse Hake chats with Wheaton College Professor of Art History, Matthew Milliner about Mary and his book Mother of the Lamb: The Story of a Global Icon. Among several connections made to the classical liberal arts, this conversation overlaps with much in Jesse's "Lecture 12: Mythic Cosmos" in ClassicalU's course on Women in the Liberal Arts Tradition. Start your journey with ClassicalU today and unlock insights that last a lifetime. Use code ClassicalChristmas2024 at checkout by 12/31 to enjoy 50% off your first two months!  

Brian Williams (Dean of the Templeton Honors College as well as the College of Arts & Humanities at Eastern University, and General Editor of Principia: A Journal of Classical Education) talks with Jesse Hake about “Women in the Liberal Arts Tradition” which is the third graduate course available in partnership with Templeton Honors College's MAT. 

Danielle Bennette Dukes reflects on her course "Teaching with a Golden Thread" and shares about ideas for a retreat in New Orleans with a small number of educators seeking to spend more time reflecting on the theme of place and its relation to our capacities as Christians to see goodness and beauty in our world and to develop this capacity in our students. If you are interested in a possible retreat with Danielle, please provide us with your name, contact info, and any feedback here or by email (support@classicalu.com).

Jesse speaks with Dr. Junius Johnson about a forthcoming new course on ClassicalU about music education. Dr. Johnson's love and knowledge regarding classical music (including his professional experience playing the French horn) are inspiring.

ClassicalU Director Jesse Hake speaks with Junius Johnson about imagination and fairy stories. Watch for two forthcoming courses on ClassicalU.com with Dr. Johnson about teaching fairy stories (also to release as a book!) and the theology of beauty and the imagination. ClassicalU will also have lectures from Dr. Johnson posting soon on how to teach Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, “The Ethics of Elfland” by Chesterton, Hamlet, Macbeth, The Cosmic Trilogy by C. S. Lewis, and Cur Deus Homo by Anselm.

Jesse speaks with Dr. Amy Richards about her all-new course entitled Disability and Classical Education: Student Formation in Keeping with Our Common Humanity and her forthcoming book with us on this topic.

In this episode, ClassicalU Director Jesse Hake speaks with Nate Antiel who is an editor with Classical Academic Press, currently working primarily on our new Humanitas line. He also supports the team of the classcial education journal Principia. Nate also has teaching experience in the Trinity Schools and holds three masters degrees related to literature, theology, and teaching. Mr. Hake and Mr. Antiel chat together in this episode about all of these things.

Get to know ClassicalU's new full time team member Rebecca Richard as she and director Jesse Hake talk about the love of learning, late blooming, Charlotte Mason, scholé, and life at sea. You will also hear about Rebecca's personal top picks among our courses: Common Arts Education by Chris Hall, Charlotte Mason: A Liberal Education for All by Jason Barney, and Disability and Classical Education by Dr. Amy Richards. Some of the many books that Rebecca mentions during the conversation include: Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry, The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, Consider This by Karen Glass, The Scholé Way by Christopher Perrin, and Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf.

Joelle Hodge (author and Classical Academic Press executive leader) shares with Jesse Hake about the forthcoming ClassicalU course "Women in the Liberal Arts Tradition" that will be available for graduate credit with the Templeton Honors College's Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and that Joelle developed as part of her masters degree work in the MAT program.

In this episode, Jesse Hake talks with author, professor, and executive leader Dr. Kelisha B. Graves about her book on educator and civil rights activist Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879 to 1961) as well as about what is broken and how we should respond to today's predominant "factory model" of education. Our conversation also considered the educational legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and several other figures from "The Black Intellectual Tradition and the Great Conversation" course on ClassicalU.

ClassicalU Director Jesse Hake speaks with Christine Perrin about her most recent lecture and her research interests, which include participatory reading and other practices in the literature classroom as well as educating the poetic imagination and the nature and recovery of a musical education. Professor Perrin is currently recording a lecture for a forthcoming course with ClassicalU.com called "Women in the Tradition" and has an existing course called "The Art of Poetry". 

As Junius Johnson was recording three forthcoming new courses for ClassicalU.com about Augustine, medieval history, and music, Jesse Hake recorded this conversation with him about God and time in theology and philosophy. (For more, see our course on Essential Philosophy with David Schenk as well as Junius Johnson's courses on Theology of Beauty and the Imagination and On Teaching Fairy Stories.)

While recording for his new ClassicalU course on teaching, school leadership, and the history of education, David Hicks sat down for a conversation. In this first of two parts, he shares about the Christian life, classical architecture, monasticism, and his forthcoming book The Stones Cry Out (releasing fall of 2024 from Classical Academic Press). The first question in this episode references David's review of the book How to Be a Sinner by Peter Bouteneff.