Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Dr. Brian Polk, Associate Professor of Science at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. Dr. Polk discusses how his encounter with the liberal arts at the University of Southern Mississippi Honors College changed the course of his education, going from a pre-medical program as an undergraduate to specializing in chemistry and classical pedagogy as a doctoral student. He shares about his experiences as a classical educator, including his contributions to FASTly - a resource for teachers to provide quality science education within the context of Christian faithfulness. He also shares his perspective on the important role that science and natural philosophy play among the humanities in classical education.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Stephen Minnis, President of Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. President Minnis shares his perspective on the state of Catholic higher education, emphasizing the importance of faithful Catholic education that cultivates both faith and intellect. He discusses many of the changes that Benedictine College has seen under his leadership, including the establishment of the College’s Center for Beauty and Culture and the expansion of the College’s core curriculum. He further details the unique and devoted relationship that exists between the College and the Benedictine Order, highlighting the important role that the Order plays in developing student faith life and furthering the mission of the College.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee. Seth describes his journey to starting The Babylon Bee after almost being suspended from college for a satirical email he sent to his entire school. Seth discusses why satire is so effective in communicating the truth, and highlights the difference between a comedian and a propagandist. Seth also shares what he believes to be an increasing danger in modern society: people's inability to distinguish between satire and reality. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Dr. Jerome Foss, Associate Professor of Political Science at Saint Vincent College and Director of the Saint Vincent Center for Catholic Thought and Culture. Dr. Foss discusses the pitfalls many high school students encounter when preparing for college. He shares Saint Vincent College's radically different approach to education which roots itself in the heritage of Benedictine monasticism. Dr. Foss states that the goal of this approach is to create an environment where students can trust one another and engage together in challenging, meaningful conversation.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Calvin Troup, president of Geneva College. Dr. Troup shares about his undergrad experience at Geneva from 1979-1983, discussing the importance of Geneva's integrated humanities program and Christian core curriculum. Dr. Troup emphasizes that this kind of education is essential to developing practical wisdom and enabling students to interact with those around them as human beings made in the image of God. Dr. Troup also discusses his scholarly interest in St. Augustine, sharing how Augustine's City of God provides a wonderful explanation of the hope of the Gospel in a dying world.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by John Sablan, co-founder and president of World Ablaze. John shares his story of transformation after undergoing abuse at the hands of a family member and his alcoholic father. Returning to the Catholic church in his adulthood, John experienced a "prodigal son" moment that broke the bonds of trauma and abuse in his life. John describes how his children ended up at Franciscan University after being accepted to UC Davis and Berkeley and how World Ablaze helps bring families from hurting, to healing, to holiness.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Phil Cook, Executive Director of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP). Phil discusses his time serving as Vice President of Enrollment at Lee University, where he and the college administration sought to foster Christ-centered and academically excellent education. Phil shares the importance of nurturing faith in higher education and why parents should make the investment in private Christian colleges for their children. He discusses NACCAP's work to advance enrollment in Christian higher education through Christian University & College Fairs.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Andrew Zwerneman, founder and president of Cana Academy. Cana Academy is a nonprofit providing classical education resources and seminars for teachers. Andrew discusses the importance of how we teach history, highlighting the dangers of a fragmentary view which redefines the past by specific egregious failures. Andrew points out the corroded connections in modern academia between philosophy and revelation, faith and reason, and tradition and our present experience. He shares how Christianity and Western culture have fostered an extremely diverse American culture, and emphasizes the importance of focusing our history on enduring loves. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Michael Millerman, a scholar of political philosophy and author of two books: Inside "Putin's Brain" and Beginning with Heidegger.  Michael shares how he became interested in the "deep inner life of man" from a young age. Introduced to Straussian pedagogy through a professor, Michael paired his interest in mysticism with philosophy and delved into research on the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin. This research later led him to get blacklisted from a career in higher academia, but inspired Michael to create The Millerman School, where Michael teaches online courses on Plato, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and more. Michael shares the importance of a genuine study of controversial thoughts and shares why a universal yearning for the Great Books is inevitable.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Greg Wilbur, president and founder of New College Franklin, and Carolyn Weber, professor at New College Franklin and author of Surprised by Oxford.  Greg shares how he began a career in higher education after realizing the brokenness of the status quo, with colleges that focused more on job training than educating the whole person. Greg and Carolyn discuss why New College Franklin only offers one major in the Liberal Arts and why this kind of education bears fruit in students regardless of their vocation. The two discuss the importance of music in education, as well as maintaining a sense of wonder.