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Kolbecast episodes

  • 326 Discerning & Discovering Joy at Walsh University with Dr. Tim Collins

    AMDG. Today we welcome Dr. Tim Collins to the Kolbecast. Dr. Collins is the president at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio –  a Newman Guide school. We get to hear a bit about Dr. Collins’s background, what great things are happening at Walsh University, and what makes it unique among the Newman Guide colleges. Dr. Collins also shares his experience and wisdom in discernment and how we can always be in communication with God for guidance, especially for those big questions and decisions. 

    Links mentioned & relevant: 

    • Walsh University, one of Kolbe Academy’s college partners 
      • CatholicHigherEd.com, a tool for families by Dr. Collins 
        • Let the Fire Fall by Fr. Michael Scanlon 
          • The Brothers of Christian Instruction 
          • Related Kolbecast episodes: 

            • 265 Chosen to Be a Saint: Commencement 2025 featuring Dr. Collins as keynote speaker 
              • 183 Gratuitous Gifts: Charisms with Sherry Weddell 
                • 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 and 224 Forming Apostolic Hearts with Msgr. James 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 [email protected] 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! 

                    1 hr
                  • 325 Skipping School with Dixie Dillon Lane

                    AMDG. Today we welcome homeschooling mother, historian, editor, and author Dr. Dixie Dillon Lane to the Kolbecast. Dixie has recently written a book about the history of homeschooling called Skipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How it Went Mainstream. 

                    Through research, Dixie traces the origins of homeschooling through the lens of the homeschool movement in Southern California and its evolution to its current form today. In addition to this history, Dixie also shares her wisdom and experience as a homeschooling mother to talk about the benefits of homeschooling and navigating some of the challenges that it can present. 

                    Links mentioned & relevant: 

                    • Dixie’s book Skipping School: A History of Homeschooling in the United States and How It Went Mainstream 
                      • Dixie on Substack 
                        • The Bad Moms Homeschool, Dixie's collaboration with Ivana Greco and Nadya Williams 
                          • Hearth & Field  
                            • Research by Ivana Greco & Elliot Haspel on stay-at-home parents 
                            • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                              1 hr 1 min
                            • 324 Common Pitfalls and Stumbling Blocks

                              AMDG. Today we’re joined by three experienced homeschooling mothers and Kolbe Academy academic advisors. Rylan Buchanan, Diana Hayes, and Sarah Turley take up the topic of common pitfalls and stumbling blocks that can come up when homeschooling. From planning to balancing multiple children, avoiding burnout and surviving times of illness and disruption, our guests provide us with a great deal of practical wisdom along with a reminder to be kind and patient with ourselves. 

                              Links mentioned & relevant: 

                              • Kolbe Academy’s Family Advising Services 
                                • Kolbe Academy’s Partnership Meetings 
                                • Related Kolbecast episodes: 

                                  • Advisor series: 
                                      • 313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year 
                                          • 319 Tapestry in the Making 
                                              • 320 College Considerations 
                                                  • 321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile 
                                                      • 323 Ordinary Days  
                                                        • 232 Part of the Family  
                                                        • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                          1 hr 3 min
                                                        • 323 Ordinary Days

                                                          AMDG. Today, Kolbe Advisors Michelle Koechle, Jennifer Thomas and Sarah Turley join the Kolbecast to discuss approaches to homeschooling and what a day of homeschooling might look like.  

                                                          From schedules and spaces to adjusting to moves and when the unexpected comes up, our guests give us some models for what this can look like and some wisdom on how we can adjust. 

                                                          Links mentioned & relevant: 

                                                          • Kolbe Academy’s Family Advising Services 
                                                            • Kolbe Academy’s Student Support Services 
                                                            • Related Kolbecast episodes: 

                                                              • Advisor series: 
                                                                  • 313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year 
                                                                      • 319 Tapestry in the Making 
                                                                          • 320 College Considerations 
                                                                              • 321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile 
                                                                                • 197 Tools in a Toolbox: Kolbe Student Support Services 
                                                                                  • 232 Part of the Family: Parents & Advisors as Partners 
                                                                                    • 269 Resources and Roadmaps 
                                                                                      • 203 Guided Freedom (Classical Composition) 
                                                                                        • 256 An Education that Reflects God’s Beauty with Nicole O’Connor and Maggie Hayden 
                                                                                        • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                          53 min
                                                                                        • 322 Intentionality, Greatness, Dignity, Vision, and Faith - Commencement 2026

                                                                                          AMDG. Today, we bring to you the speakers from the 2026 Kolbe Commencement.  

                                                                                          Kolbe Academy’s senior enrollment director Jon Bates serves as Master of Ceremonies, introducing Fr. Raymond Pendelton, who gives the invocation, and Kolbe Academy’s chief academic officer Megan Lengyel, who gives the welcome address. Then we hear from student speakers Laura Hill and Holden Mora, Kolbe instructor and theology chair Nick Senz, and Dr. Stephen Minis, president of Benedictine College.  

                                                                                          We hope that you enjoy the words of wisdom from all of these individuals, however, if you’d like to jump to a particular speaker, here are the timestamps for each speaker: 

                                                                                          • Invocation by Fr. Raymond Pendleton: 01:16 
                                                                                            • Welcome address by Mrs. Megan Lengyel: 02:41 
                                                                                              • Laura Hill: 04:36 
                                                                                                • Holden Mora: 12:03 
                                                                                                  • Nicholas Senz: 31:14 
                                                                                                    • Stephen Minnis: 53:41 
                                                                                                    • Relevant links & Kolbecast episodes: 

                                                                                                      • Kolbecast episodes with faculty speaker Nick Senz:  
                                                                                                        • 300 The Gift of the Sacraments with Brendan Murphy discussing Nick’s book on the sacraments 
                                                                                                          • 91 Kernels of Truth with Chrissy Almanzar 
                                                                                                            • Watch the entire 2026 commencement ceremony here. 
                                                                                                              • Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, is one of Kolbe Academy’s college partners.  
                                                                                                              • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                                                1 hr 14 min
                                                                                                              • 321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile

                                                                                                                AMDG. Today, Kolbe advisors Pam Castor, Abby Ehlers, and Krysten Pizzurrro join the Kolbecast to discuss extra-curricular activities in homeschooling. Homeschooling is certainly about educating the minds of our children, but we’re always striving to bring about the well-being of the whole person. Activities outside of schooling can play an important role in this, with activities such as sports, serving in the parish, and groups such as scouting.  

                                                                                                                These advisors give us some examples of how this can be done and provide us with advice on how to find balance. 

                                                                                                                Links mentioned & relevant: 

                                                                                                                • Articles from the Academics & Advising section of the Help Center: 
                                                                                                                  • Scheduling Recommendations 
                                                                                                                    • Cultivating Friendships and Enriching Social Activities for Homeschool Students  
                                                                                                                      • Scheduling the Elementary and Middle School Day 
                                                                                                                        • Extracurricular Activity Tracker 
                                                                                                                          • High Academics, Non-Academics, and Activities 
                                                                                                                          • Related Kolbecast episodes: 

                                                                                                                            • 258 Seeking, Finding, and Building Community - Groups and Extracurriculars 
                                                                                                                              • 313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year 
                                                                                                                                • 320 College Considerations 
                                                                                                                                  • 125 Call the Advisor 
                                                                                                                                    • 284 Flexibility and Structure for the Early Years with Pam Castor and Emmanuelle Wilhelm 
                                                                                                                                    • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                                                                      48 min
                                                                                                                                    • 320 College Considerations

                                                                                                                                      AMDG. Kolbe Academy advisors Cecilia Byers and Elyse Williams return to the Kolbecast in a conversation about preparing students for college.  

                                                                                                                                      From early preparations to discerning what might be the right field and the right college, Cecilia and Elyse provide great advice on how to navigate this journey and also how our Kolbe families can lean on them as advisors to help them along the way. 

                                                                                                                                      Links mentioned and relevant: 

                                                                                                                                      • Career Guidance and Discernment section of Kolbe’s Help Center website 
                                                                                                                                        • Interest & Ability Tools article 
                                                                                                                                          • High School Graduation Plan Progress article 
                                                                                                                                            • College Planning section of Help Center 
                                                                                                                                            • Related Kolbecast episodes: 

                                                                                                                                              • 313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year 
                                                                                                                                                • 230 A Multi-Pronged Approach to College Prep 
                                                                                                                                                  • 296 Tips for Testing Success 
                                                                                                                                                    • 241 Renew, Resolve, Reengage with Elyse, which discusses various types of career and aptitude testing 
                                                                                                                                                      • 84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society 
                                                                                                                                                        • Episodes with the College Partners and Life after Kolbe tags on the Kolbe.org/Podcast page 
                                                                                                                                                        • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                                                                                          56 min
                                                                                                                                                        • 319 Tapestry in the Making

                                                                                                                                                          AMDG. Today, Kolbe Advisors Rylan Buchanan and Sarah Howard join the Kolbecast to offer some tips and advice on homeschooling. They also remind us of how Kolbe’s family advisors can help our parents effectively navigate their homeschooling journey. 

                                                                                                                                                          As Sarah points out, homeschooling can be a bit like making a tapestry. When you’re in the thick of it you can see the knots and it can look messy, but when you turn it around, you can see the beautiful work that has been done.  

                                                                                                                                                          Advisors like Rylan and Sarah help our families with that homeschooling work and can also encourage us to see the beautiful progress when we’re in the thick of it. 

                                                                                                                                                          Links mentioned & relevant: 

                                                                                                                                                          • Kolbe Academy’s Family Advising Services 
                                                                                                                                                            • HSLDA.org  
                                                                                                                                                              • Help Center articles 
                                                                                                                                                                  • Grade Level Course Selection Guides 
                                                                                                                                                                      • 6th-12th Grade Math & Science Sequence 
                                                                                                                                                                          • High School Graduation Plan Progress and Fillable Graduation Planner 
                                                                                                                                                                              • Scheduling Your Elementary and Middle School Day 
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Scheduling Your High School Day 
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Monitoring & Verifying Store Credit 
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Related Kolbecast episodes:  

                                                                                                                                                                                        • 197 Tools in a Toolbox: Kolbe Student Support Services 
                                                                                                                                                                                          • 232 Part of the Family: Parents & Advisors as Partners 
                                                                                                                                                                                            • 269 Resources and Roadmaps 
                                                                                                                                                                                              • 243 Drawing Distinctions - Classical Education, Liberal Arts, and Liberal Education 
                                                                                                                                                                                              • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                55 min
                                                                                                                                                                                              • 318 Matthew Mehan, an Aesop for America

                                                                                                                                                                                                AMDG. Kolbe’s own Neva Hernandez joins Bonnie and Steven to welcome Dr. Matthew Mehan to the Kolbecast. Dr. Mehan is a best-selling author and the Associate Dean and Professor of Government at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College’s Washington D.C. campus.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                As we come to our country’s 250th birthday, we discuss history, poetry and Dr. Mehan’s new book The American Book of Fables.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                This new book explores our country and its history through the eyes of American animals and has materials for “Littles”, “Middles” and “Bigs” and with its beautiful illustrations can be enjoyed by the whole family. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                Links mentioned and relevant: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                • The American Book of Fables by Dr. Matthew Mehan 
                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Trailer for The American Book of Fables 
                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Mr. Mehan’s Mildly Amusing Book of Mythical Mammals and The Handsome Little Cygnet, also written by Dr. Matthew Mehan and illustrated by artist John Folley 
                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Dr. Mehan is @mtmehan on Instagram and X 
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Watch trailers for Dr. Mehan's books on YouTube 
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Dr. Gerard Wegemer of the Thomas More Studies program at the University of Dallas 
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Relevant Kolbecast episodes: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                            • 192 Kitchen Doings, Neva’s Kolbecast debut 
                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 175 A Both-And Approach with Dr. Jonathan Sanford, president of the University of Dallas 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                • 312 Educating for Liberty with Dr. Tom Harmon 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                • 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  59 min
                                                                                                                                                                                                                • 317 Saints in the Making with Lisa Hendey

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  AMDG. We are joined by mother, grandmother, author, speaker, and podcaster Lisa Hendey. Many parents, or at least their children, will be familiar with Lisa’s Chime Travelers series of books, which explore children who travel through time to meet saints who help them solve problems in their own time. The books have recently been made into an animated television series. We discuss the origins of the series and the process of bringing these wonderful stories on screen. We also visit about Lisa’s wide-ranging writing and speaking for audiences of all ages. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Links mentioned and relevant: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Chime Travelers website 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Chime Travelers trailer 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Lisa’s website 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Lisa’s Substack 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Holy Cross Family Ministries 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Lisa’s books 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Chime Travelers series
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • The Handbook for Catholic Women 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • The Grace of Yes 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Danielle Bean’s Substack 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Related Kolbecast episodes: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • 303 Hallow and the Road Home 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • 308 Understand, Live, and Share the Faith with The Augustine Institute 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • 131 It’s All about Relationship with Danielle Bean 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • 133 An Audience of One with Kolbe Academi alumni turned students of John Paul the Great Catholic University 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • 73 Through Beauty and Technology with Leila Castillo and Dolores 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 [email protected] 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! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          49 min

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        About Kolbecast

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        From the publisher's feed

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The official podcast of Kolbe Academy with lively discussions on home & distance education, Kolbe Academy, and our Catholic community.