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John’s lecture from LifeCraft Day at the Barn is a hard-hitting presentation of why music and dance matter, of the problems we face in this area today, and of what we can do to harness their power for good in our homes and communities.

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Hospitality is much more than just a nice way to spend time with people; in the loss of real hospitality households have suffered a serious wound. Join John and Sofia in discussing the fuller nature of hospitality and why and how to rediscover it for the sake of fulfilling the deepest calling of the household.

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What to do for our children’s ‘education’ is one of the most important and difficult issues. This immediately demands some clear thinking about the overall goal in raising children. Join John and Sofia in a wide-ranging discussion that addresses how to think about academic formation in light of the deeper issue of personal formation through every-day life in the home.

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Are dishes, laundry, and cleaning more of a woman’s work? Is it important for men to do such work in the home? If so, why? Join John and Sofia in considering an important and challenging aspect of making a household today.

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The pervasive decline in manners leaves many wondering what can be done and what difference it makes. Join John and Sofia in considering age-old principles that both show how crucial good manners are and point to how we can work to restore them, starting in our own homes.

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Vacations have a significant role in making a household. With an intentional approach, grounded in a couple of key distinctions and principles, we can make our vacations restful and fun even as we build relationships and deepen our family culture. Join Sofia and John in thinking about this unconsidered aspect of family life.

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An Interview with Chris Vander Woude

The heroic death of Tom Vander Woude highlights the extraordinary beauty of his ‘ordinary’ life. You will be deeply moved by this account of a man’s death and life as told by his son. Here is an inspiring yet down-to-earth example of a true man of the household for our times, whose potential cause for canonization is being considered.

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We know that how we raise our children will make them different from many of their peers, but often we don’t recognize just what this really means for them. John and Sofia discuss how the challenge of being different calls both for a careful examination of what we ask of our children as well as a readiness to understand and enter their suffering. These principles apply also to anyone striving for a truly human life today.

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You want to bring the power of great music to your home but don’t know where to begin. It can be daunting. Here are five concrete steps that anyone can take. Join Sofia and me in addressing how to act on the principles discussed in The Hidden Power of Music episode. We name many of our favorite pieces, artists, and musical groups of various genres.

Chapters

The Power of Music in the Home

08:01 Changing Our Musical Choices

14:15 Establishing Music Rules in the Home

31:40 Assigning Great Music to Family Members

39:11 The Role of Sacred Music

41:33 Loosening the Bow Strings: The Role of Music in Life

42:56 Exploring Classical Music: Recommendations and Insights

45:14 Folk Music vs. Classical Music: Understanding the Differences

49:06 The Impact of Music on Movement and Celebration

55:11 Choosing Festive Music: Enhancing Gatherings and Celebrations

01:00:52 Music Appreciation: Engaging with Classical Music Together

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Easter is the feast of all feasts. It undergirds all true festivity and leisure. Yet we often struggle to celebrate it well. John and Sofia offer a practical approach to how our Easter celebration—including before and after Easter Sunday—can transform and elevate our homelife and provide a focal point and pattern for the whole year

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