In this edition of Notes From The Quad, Brandon LeBlanc sits down with Saint Constantine College Provost, Dr. Timothy Bartel to discuss Longfellow. Drawing on Dr. Bartel's scholarly work and Brandon's cultural familiarity they focus on Longfellow's Evangeline in particular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

In this episode of Quiddity, we go back to an interview with David Hicks by David Kern. David Hicks answers some listener questions about classical education, books, and his book, Norms and Nobility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christine and Brandon read aloud Affliction (IV) by George Herbert. This beautiful meditation on suffering in this world with the hope of the next is poignant and timely for our hosts. If you need it, we hope it is for you too. FORMA Symposium: https://circeinstitute.org/events/forma-symposium/ Send questions and comments to podcasts@circeinstitute…

In this episode, Brandon sits down with author, translator, and podcaster Deacon Nicholas Kotar. A son of Soviet refugees and a first-generation graduate of the Classical Renewal, Dn. Nicholas is a unique voice in literature and education today. Brandon talks to him about his own educational experience and how it has shaped his work bringing the Sl…

In this Episode our resident composer introduces Brandon to Tone Poems with Richard Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks. Sheet Music: http://en.instr.scorser.com/D/19118.html Sheet Music and Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5r9KG1eyc Center for Western Studies: https://www.centerws.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…

Christine and Brandon read aloud The Beautiful Changes by Richard Wildbur. They discuss his interplay between nature and memory. Send questions and comments to podcasts@circeinstitute.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Mason Hodges joins Brandon for another installment of our music literacy feature. In this episode, John talks us through Igor Stravinsky's Firebird, fairytales, and getting a new musical to the stage. John's show: https://www.goldenthemusical.com/ The Green Room 42: https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo…

It may seem like Classical Education is the antithesis to the modern concept of "data-driven education" which has a tendency to reduce everything, including people, to a data point on a spreadsheet. But that doesn't mean data and research don't have a place in the Classical renewal. In this conversation, Brandon LeBlanc is joined by Dr. Albert Chen…

In this episode, Brandon visits with Dr. Ryan Messmore and Trae Bailey of Magdalen College. They discuss The Integrated Humanities Program at The University of Kansas, including Trae's interviews with graduates of the program. Trae and Ryan also share the role poetic knowledge plays in the life and curriculum of Magdalen College. Magdalen College: …

Christine and Brandon read aloud Fisk Jubilee Proclamation, by contemporary poet Tyehimba Jess. This poem comes from Jess's 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry-winning book Olio. They discuss Jess's masterful marriage of form and content and spectacular word choice. Olio: https://bookshop.org/a/1329/9781940696201 Jess discussing Jubilee Singers: https:/…

In this episode, Brandon visits with Alex Petkas, the founder of Ancient Life Coach and host of the Plutarch Podcast, The Cost of Glory. They discuss what led Alex away from academia to approach Plutarch and other classics from a different angle. Listen in on the conversation about Plutarch's relevance today, as well as Plutarch's Life of Sulla. Fi…

Christine Perrin returns for the third installment of Poet's Corner and we return once more to Hopkins for Patience. Join us as we discuss Hopkins's inscape, including Hans Boersma's reflections on the sacramental character of the body of Hopkin's work. More from Christine: https://classicalacademicpress.com/products/the-art-of-poetry-teachers-edit…

In this episode Brandon connects with a panel of friends, old and new, to discuss the development of regional Consortiums of Classical Educators. Apprenticeship graduates Timothy Knotts, Jessie Smith, and Carrie Eben, as well as President of Kepler Education, Scott Postma, discuss the formation and goals of these consortiums and how they seek to se…

Join Brandon as he sits down with Heather Shirley, who has been hosting "Book in a Day" events for a decade. They discuss where the idea came from, the benefits of reading aloud in groups, and the various forms the events can take. Heather shares advice on how to choose the books and plan the events, so you can enjoy all the benefits with your frie…

As we approach the end of he school year, it is a good time to revisit a conversation between Andrew Kern, Brian Phillips, Chuck Hicks, and David Kern about how to get the most out of your summer. Join the Quiddity conversation! https://circe.circle.so/c/quiddity/ Send questions & comments to podcasts@circeinstitute.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.c…

This week Brandon sits down with Head of School and Head Mentor Moly Rychner. They discuss Molly's journey from Room Mom to Head of School. On that journey, Molly has a lot to share on the importance of peer and mentor relationships for teachers and headmasters and how to cultivate it. CiRCE Apprenticeship: https://circeinstitute.org/apprenticeship…

This week Brandon sits down with homeschool veteran, school founder, and head mentor, Christine Mooradian. They discuss Christine's experience providing classical education for a special needs child and how that influenced her decision to start a hybrid school. They also cover the advantages and challenges of the hybrid model as well as the importa…

Christine Perrin returns for the second installment of Poet's Corner and we return to Hopkins for Peace. Join us as we discuss a form created by Hopkins and how he marries that form to content, to reflect on and yearn for peace. More from Christine: https://classicalacademicpress.com/products/the-art-of-poetry-teachers-edition https://classicalacad…

As we approach the end of Lent, it is a good time to return to a conversation between Brian Phillips and David Kern. Different traditions approach Lent in various ways, but for all it a preparation for the Paschal Season. Brian leads us in a contemplation of how that shared preparation holds leasons for Teachers and Parents in particular. Send ques…

John Hodges joins Brandon for another installment of our music literacy feature. In this episode, John talks us through Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms...after a short rabbit trail through the Louvre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Head Master Thomas Fickley for a conversation about the Kansas Integrated Humanities Program and its educational offerings. Send questions and comments to podcasts@circeinstitute.org or join the conversation at https://circe.circle.so/c/quiddity/ From the show: Two Tramps In Mud Time: https://www.youtube.com/…

This is the first of what we hope to be regular appearances by poet, author, and teacher Christine Perrin. Christine takes Brandon through a contemplation of Gerard Manley Hopkins' The Starlight Night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Brandon sits down with author Jimmie Moglia. They discuss Moglia's situational dictionaries of Shakespeare and Dante as well as forthcoming Shakespeare and Gibbon projects. Send questions and comments to podcasts@circeinstitute.org Moglia's Website: http://www.yourdailyshakespeare.com Moglia contact: jimmie.moglia@gmail.com Hosted o…

At 88 years old, Wendell Berry released two books in 2022, one fiction and one non-fiction. In light of that, we are revisiting an interview with Laura Dunn, the director the Wendell Berry documentary Look and See. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mentorship has been a common thread throughout classical education. And it is at the center of what we do here at CIRCE. With that in mind, revisit this conversation between two of our Apprenticeship Head Mentors, Buck Holler and Matthew Bianco. Send questions, comments, or suggestions to podcasts@circeinstitute.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

This week, Brandon and Matt sit down with Andrew Case, co-creator of Aleph with Beth and Free Hebrew Online. They discuss the impetus and goals of Andrew and Bethany's ministry and the benefits of the direct method for text reading and translation. LINKS: Free Hebrew Online: https://freehebrew.online/ Aleph by Beth: https://www.youtube.com/playlist…

John Hodges joins Brandon again for a new feature on music literacy. In this installment, he walks us through part of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro". He takes into Mozart'sunique contributions to Opera. Glyndebourne 1973 performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IugFH6PxeMQ 1994 Performance with English subtitles https://www.youtube.com/watch…

As we close out the Christmas season with Epiphany in the West and Theophany in the East, I wanted to revisit a conversation between Christine Perrin, Matthew Bianco, and David Kern. Their discussion of T.S. Eliot's The Journey of the Magi helped me instantly fall in love with this poem. I hope you enjoy it as much as me. - Brandon Leblanc. Importa…

CiRCE has several of our most popular talks available free to to stream from our website in our Free Audio Library. In this episode we present one of those talks, Further Up and Further In: An Exploration of the Classical Quadrivium by Andrew Kern. Find more audio at the links below. Free Audio Library: https://circeinstitute.org/free-audio-library…

In this installment of our periodic conversations with friends of CIRCE working in higher education Brandon chats with Erik Ellis of Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, MI. Their conversation ranges over what is classical education, the place of language, and in particular Latin and Greek, as well as the opportunities at Hillsdale. Hosted on Acast. See…

With football heading into the home stretch, basketball and hockey heating up, and the special gift of a holiday World Cup upon us, we revisit a conversation from the archives about the place of sports in education: That episode was called "Quit Being So Gnostic and Care About Sports" and featured old friends, David Kern, Brian Philips, and Chuck H…

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Buck Holler and Monique Neal to talk about how we learn languages, in particular, via the direct method. Monique and Buck have advice for where to start at home or in the classroom and the goals to keep in mid as you go. Links mentioned: https://www.savvas.com/index.cfm?locator=PS31Nh https://www.na.cambridge…

This week we dig deep into the Quiddity archive for a conversation between David Kern and Christine Perrin about reading and teaching poetry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Brandon visits with Vigen Guroian to discuss his recent address on Grammar and Fairytales in a world rejecting meaning. They also discuss Vigen's book Tending the Heart of Virtue and its soon-to-be-released expanded new edition. Hear the talks: https://www.patreon.com/circeconference https://tinyurl.com/CIRCEAudioGet the Book: h…

This is the first of what we hope will become a series of periodic conversations with friends of CIRCE working in colleges and college programs that value a classical education. In this episode, Brandon chats with Matthew Smith of Hildegard College in Costa Mesa, CA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Drop in on Dr. Matthew Bianco and Katerina Kern for no-holds-barred free-for-all on the most important stories to give your children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we dig deep into the Quiddity archive for a conversation between Andrew Kern, Matt Bianco, and David Kern on how to get good questions from a reluctant student. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Bianco and Katerina Kern debate the merits of museums as curators of beauty. They discuss context versus access, democratizing or neutering transcendence, preserving or petrifying the past, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Quiddity is part two of an interview between Katerina Kern and Jonathan Pageau about symbols, stories, and the patterns that lead us to God. Portions of this interview were originally published in the FORMA Journal, Issue 17. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

This episode of Quiddity is part one of an interview between Katerina Kern and Jonathan Pageau about symbols, stories, and the patterns that lead us to God. Portions of this interview were originally published in the FORMA Journal, Issue 17. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

In this episode, Brandon LeBlanc sits down with Dr. Justin Jackson for a follow-up conversation from the 2022 National Conference about atonement in medieval poetry. They cover The Great Chain of Being, choices in translation, Vernacular Theology, and much more. You can find Dr. Jackson's conference talk here: https://www.circeinstitute.org/store/a…

Welcome back to Quiddity! This week, we are sharing part two of a discussion on the Ideal School between Dr. Matthew Bianco and Katerina Kern. In this episode, they flip the script and Matthew presents his vision and answers questions from Katerina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Join Katerina Kern and Dr. Matthew Bianco as they discuss the complex notion of an "ideal" school. Here in part one, Katerina offers her own definition of an ideal school and fields questions from Matthew in return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his National Conference Plenary, "There Are Worlds and There Are Worlds," John Hodges brought us into the interplay between the seen and the unseen. The topic was too rich for a single session, so Brandon sat down with him to dive deeper into the waters. You can find John’s talk in which he takes the audience through the music of The Firebird as…

Join Katerina Kern and Matthew Bianco as they discuss the importance and role of the gods of Greek mythology, especially the pantheon gods of Homer's work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of the rebooted Quiddity, Andrew Kern, Heidi White, Matthew Bianco, and Katerina Kern discuss the nature of beauty in a prelude to their day-long pre-conference, "Beauty Will Save the Child." Join them, then check out additional resources and opportunities at the links below. Virtual National Conference: https://www.circeinsti…

The CiRCE Podcast Network is getting back to our roots. The original podcast, "Quiddity", is returning! Join us for new conversations in the classical spirit of inquiry and old favorites from the Quiddity vault. Look for our first new episode the week of July 4 wherever you listen to The CIRCE Podcast Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…