Classical Commons

Classicist and Cost of Glory host Alex Petkas joins us to explore how the ancient heroes still speak to modern life, why the classics matter for moral formation, and how his journey from gamer to scholar to entrepreneur reveals the enduring relevance of the classical tradition. In this episode, we discuss:
📖 Why heroic examples are central to the classical tradition
📖 The rise and fall of classics departments—and why it matters
📖 What it means to form men of greatness in a post-classical world

LINKS:
➡️ The Cost of Glory: https://www.costofglory.com/

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

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For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Allison Ellis, founder of Mount Titano Media, joins the Classical Commons Podcast to share how her journey from finance to homeschooling led her to advance liberal arts tradition for a new generation through publishing. In this rich conversation, full of encouragement for teachers and homeschooling parents, we explore:
📖 Why we should start transmitting the tradition earlier than we think
📖 Kids' innate capacities for memory and performance
📖 Recovering the “scholar-warrior” ideal: martial arts and the liberal arts

LINKS:
➡️ Mount Titano Media: https://www.mounttitanomedia.com/
➡️ "Finding Our Words": https://www.mounttitanomedia.com/products/finding-our-words-words-that-made-america-paperback
➡️ "Heroines of History": https://www.mounttitanomedia.com/products/heroines-of-history
➡️ "Climbing Parnassus" by Tracy Lee Simmons: https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/educational-resources/climbing-parnassus/

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

What do we gain reading together in the classroom? Poet and master teacher Christine Perrin joins us to reflect on poetry as a shared encounter. Drawing from decades of experience, she offers a powerful vision for how poetry can shape souls. In this episode, we discuss:
📖 The "choral" dimension of reading together
📖 Why Gen Z students fear taking interpretive risks—and how to invite them in
📖 How to delay analysis in favor of immersive, formative reading
📖 Encountering poetry not as a puzzle to solve, but as a relationship to enter

LINKS:
➡️ The Honors College at Messiah University: https://www.messiah.edu/ug-commencement/graduate-resources/honors
➡️ Gordon in Orvieto semester program: https://www.gordon.edu/academics/undergraduate/global-education/programs/gordon-in-orvieto
➡️ "Blue Swallows" by Howard Nemerov: https://allpoetry.com/The-Blue-Swallows
➡️ "Truth and Method" by Hans-Georg Gadamer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Method
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Is the traditional fine arts apprenticeship dead? Master painter and teacher Juliette Aristides joins us to explore the calling of the artist, the lost tradition of the Atelier, and how beauty and leisure shape the soul. In this episode, we discuss:
📖 The soul-shaping power of leisure, stillness, and contemplation
📖 Why artists must learn how to see before they can create
📖 The essential role of parents and educators in modeling a rich inner life

LINKS:
➡️ Aristides Arts: https://www.aristidesarts.com
➡️ "The Inner Life of the Artist": https://www.phaidon.com/monacelli/art-and-photography/the-inner-life-of-the-artist-conversations-from-the-atelier-9781580936576/
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Wednesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Is classical ed for everyone? Can it thrive in communities that have endured the "soft bigotry of low expectations?" Hope Academy founder Russ Gregg joins us to share a powerful story of urban educational renewal through classical Christian education. In this episode, we discuss:
📖 Founding Hope Academy in Minneapolis’ highest-poverty neighborhood
📖 The kind of teacher needed for the hardest and holiest work
📖 Why low expectations are a form of cruelty
📖 Building deep partnerships with parents

LINKS:
➡️ "Planting Pivot": https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/planting-pivot-christian-school/
➡️ Spreading Hope Summer Webinar series: https://spreadinghopenetwork.org/events-news/
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Tuesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Is it constitutional to grant charters to religious schools? Kate Anderson of the Alliance Defending Freedom joins us to discuss St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond—a live Supreme Court case over a classical Catholic school's state charter.  

LINKS:
➡️ The Alliance Defending Freedom: https://adflegal.org/
➡️ St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond on SCOTUSblog: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/st-isidore-of-seville-catholic-virtual-school-v-drummond/
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Tuesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

How do we work with students who aren't "math people?" What are we to make of math's relationship to the liberal arts? Dr. Francis Su (Harvey Mudd College), author of "Mathematics for Human Flourishing" joins us to discuss humane math pedagogy from all angles!

LINKS:
➡️ Francis' book: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300258516/mathematics-for-human-flourishing/
➡️ Francis' exercises and discussion questions: https://www.francissu.com/flourishing-discussion
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Tuesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Music education used to be different. How was it different, and what do educators—whether in public schools, classical schools, or of homeschool students—need to know to teach music effectively and humanely? Music and culture educator Dr. Carol Reynolds joins us to explore:

📖 How music appreciation has changed in the last 100 years
📖 What teachers and students need to know about the history of western music
📖 Why Americans don't sing in public
📖 How to teach music to the post-COVID generation

LINKS:
➡️ ProfessorCarol.com: https://professorcarol.com/
➡️ Smithsonian Journeys with Dr. Reynolds: https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/experts/dr-carol-reynolds/
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Tuesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

How can schools start building beautiful buildings again? There are some very encouraging projects in the works that can provide a blueprint! Architect Nicolas Charbonneau joins us to explore:

📖 The training of a classical architect
📖 The evidence for why people prefer traditional architecture
📖 Nicolas' recent work in classical schools
📖 What it takes for a school to take on a traditional architecture project

LINKS:
➡️ Harrison Design: https://www.harrisondesign.com
➡️ St. Benedict's Classical Academy: https://www.stbca.org/
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Tuesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.

...

For viewers interested in: Classical education, liberal arts, ICLE, SCL, ACCS, CLT, Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Tate, Susan Wise Bauer, Well-Trained Mind, Classical Conversations, Spencer Klavan, Latin schools, Great Hearts, Memoria Press, Tracy Lee Simmons, Hillsdale College, University of Dallas, UDallas, UATX, University of Austin, Joshua Gibbs, CiRCE, Jonathan Pageau, Anglican schools, Orthodox schools, Catholic schools, Reformed schools, Doug Wilson, Inklings, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Pints with Aquinas, St. John's College, Great Books, the trivium, the quadrivium, John Senior

Can classical education serve students with special needs? Can it stay classical? Can it be truly humane? Amy Richards, author of "Disability and Classical Education," joins us to explore:

📖 Wendell Berry's "Great Economy" for the classroom
📖 The dangers of trying to "solve" difference or provide "access" to systems not built with difference in mind
📖 Disability as a call to wonder
📖 A real vision of classroom success

LINKS:
➡️ "Disability and Classical Education": classicalacademicpress.com/products/disability-and…
➡️ The MAT in Classical Teaching at Templeton: templeton.eastern.edu/academics/mat-classical-educ…
➡️ Transcript for this episode: coming soon

Are you interested in teaching at a classical school? A school administrator in need of talent and resources? A supportive parent, business owner, or lobbyist?

Classical Commons is building a network of classical K-12 schools, exceptional teachers, and pedagogical resources to advance classical liberal arts education in the 21st century. We're a unique digital community connecting growing schools with job searchers and other interested parties within the movement.

Join us every Tuesday at 1 PM ET for conversations from the cutting edge of K-12 classical ed, and join our community at www.classicalcommons.org.