ClassicalU Podcast

In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, Jesse Hake speaks with Dr. Patrick R. Manning about his book Be Still and Know: Contemplative Practice for Christian Schools and Educators. Drawing from the deep wells of the Christian contemplative tradition—from the Desert Fathers and Mothers to Benedictine, Ignatian, and Dominican spirituality—Manning argues that contemplation is not foreign to Christian education but central to it. He explores how reframing time, cultivating attention, and building intentional rhythms of silence and prayer can transform classrooms into “attention sanctuaries” in an age dominated by distraction. The conversation addresses pressing concerns such as student mental health, shrinking attention spans, and the pressures of productivity culture, offering both theological grounding and practical strategies for school leaders and teachers.In dialogue with themes familiar to classical educators—such as those explored in ClassicalU courses The Scholé Way and The Monastic Tradition of Education by Christopher Perrin, and John Amos Comenius: A Visionary Reformer of Schools by Dr. David I. Smith—the episode connects contemplative practice to a broader recovery of attention in Christian schooling. Manning engages contemporary voices such as James Lang in Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It, Matthew Crawford in The World Beyond Your Head, and James Williams in Stand Out of Our Light, while drawing on the spiritual wisdom of Simone Weil in Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God, Wilfrid Stinissen in Eternity in the Midst of Time, and Sofia Cavalletti in The Development of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Through practices such as Lectio Divina and the Ignatian Examen, he calls Christian schools to reclaim their heritage—not by retreating from excellence, but by rediscovering how stillness strengthens attention, deepens community, and renews the soul of education. 

In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, host Jesse Hake—joined by Scholé Academy Director Dr. Joylynn Blake—welcomes the leaders of Scholé Academy’s three Houses of Study: Monika Minehart, Fr. Nathan Dickinson, and Presb. Maria Koulianos. As representatives of three great Christian traditions, Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican, these classical educators engage in a rich conversation on soul craft, or spiritual formation that is both personal and communal. Drawing from spiritual practices found in the Book of Common Prayer and the Student Prayer Book, the Orthodox vision of theosis, and Catholic sacramental life, the guests reflect on how Christian education shapes the whole person. Informed by C. S. Lewis’s image of the Great Hall in Mere Christianity, the discussion explores how shared Christian foundations give way to distinct faith traditions where formation is lived out with depth and integrity.Throughout, the educators describe how The Great Hall and Scholé Academy’s Houses— Aquinas House, Canterbury House, and St. Raphael School—cultivate theological clarity without dilution, honoring real differences while remaining united by the tenets of the Nicene Creed. The episode offers a compelling picture of classical Christian education as soul craft—patient, relational, and rooted in tradition—made tangible even within online classrooms. Explore courses at Scholé Academy where thoughtful attention has been given to the concept, courses, and the atmosphere that foster formative Christian education. ClassicalU courses closely related to this episode are School Culture Symposium: Top Presenters on Community and Virtue Formation and The Scholé Way.

In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, Jesse Hake speaks with Dr. Shannon Valenzuela about her new course releasing this spring on medieval literature and the harmonics of story. Beginning with Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy and culminating in Dante’s Divine Comedy, Dr. Valenzuela shows how medieval authors understood stories as reflections of cosmic order, proportion, pattern, and harmony—a “story math” that structures their designs and animates their themes. Her approach integrates literature with the the quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. The conversation ranges across texts such as Beowulf, Cædmon’s Hymn, The Dream of the Rood, and Judith, revealing how Anglo-Saxon poetry unites heroic culture with Christian theology. Turning to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, including the General Prologue, Knight’s Tale, Wife of Bath’s Tale, and the comic Tale of Sir Thopas, the episode highlights medieval play, parody, and invention. Dr. Valenzuela also explores medieval drama through The Chester Play of Noah’s Flood and The Second Shepherds’ Play, alongside continental works like Christine de Pizan’s City of Ladies and Chrétien de Troyes’s Knight of the Cart. Throughout, the discussion contrasts harmony with disorder by examining monstrosity, transgression, and imbalance, engaging thinkers from Aristotle’s Poetics to Hildegard of Bingen. The episode invites educators to recover a vision of reading and learning in which literature, theology, mathematics, and music together disclose a world that is meaningful, ordered, and alive. Watch for Dr. Valenzuela’s forthcoming ClassicalU Course “The Harmonics of Medieval Storytelling” in the early spring of 2026.Listeners may also be interested in other ClassicalU courses mentioned such as Junius Johnson’s “Teaching Medieval History: The Age of Light”and “Women in the Liberal Arts Tradition”.

In this Christmas-season episode, Jesse Hake speaks with author, retired parish priest, and former university chaplain Addison Hodges Hart about Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, and the meaning of the Nativity, drawing on stories and poetry ranging from Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas, C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and "The Turn of the Tide", John Masefield’s The Box of Delights, to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Their conversation touches on the legends of St. Nicholas—his dowry gifts for the three daughters, the tale of the three murdered boys, and even the stories set beautifully to music in Benjamin Britten’s St. Nicolas Oratorio. Hart reflects on Mary through the lens of The Protoevangelium of James and the theological symbolism found in iconography, echoing themes explored in his own book Four Gospels: Four Hearts, One Lord: reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in Context.The discussion explores the wisdom of keeping Advent through fasting and restraint, enriched by traditional carols such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and recordings from the Robert Shaw Chorale. The episode warmly recommends ghost-story traditions associated with Christmas—especially works by M. R. James, E. F. Benson, and Arthur Machen—alongside Hart’s own collection Patapsco Spirits: Eleven Ghost Stories. Hart shares how Norwegian customs, from the Jule Nisse to festive foods like lamb ribs and kohlrabi, shape the season where he lives. Throughout the conversation, the Incarnation emerges as a cosmic event—one that overturns the powers of darkness, fulfills ancient hopes, and invites Christians to keep both Advent and Christmas with depth, joy, and imagination. Listeners may enjoy further writings by Hart at the Pragmatic Mystic: An Orthodox Miscellany. Additionally, listeners may be interested in Bishop Eric Varden’s book Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses and ClassicalU's course “Chastity as the Power to Love: A Discussion as Parents and Teachers on the Reconciliation of the Senses Toward the Fullness of Desire” that will release soon in our last newsletter before Christmas.

D. C. Schindler, philosopher and John Paul II Institute professor known for work on freedom and metaphysics, discusses metaphysical and theological foundations of classical education. He explores awe, beauty, authority, and the need to begin formation with receptivity to being. He warns against culture-war distortions and urges low-tech habits, liturgy, and a sacramental vision of learning.

Dr. Christopher Perrin, a scholar in classical Christian education, shares profound insights on leadership grounded in virtue and the liberal arts. He discusses how humility and confidence coexist in true leadership, emphasizing service over dominance. Perrin draws connections between modern leadership literature and classical virtues, exploring the importance of grammar, logic, and rhetoric in cultivating wise leaders. He also highlights educational practices, such as retreats and commonplace books, which sustain intellectual growth and moral character in school leadership.

In this wide-ranging conversation, sociologist, educator  and ClassicalU course presenter Angel Adams Parham joins Jesse Hake to explore the idea of an “American classical education.” Drawing, in part, upon her work on “The Black Intellectual Tradition” and Women in the Liberal Arts Tradition, Angel makes a compelling case for expanding our understanding of classical education to include voices like Olaudah Equiano, Phyllis Wheatley, Benjamin Banneker, and Martin Luther King Jr. She argues that these thinkers not only embraced the ideals of freedom, justice, and human dignity but also challenged the American project to live up to them. The episode examines how figures often seen in opposition to the Western canon actually engage deeply with classical texts, bringing them to life in prophetic and transformative ways. Angel also shares success stories from her curriculum work in Nyansa Classical Community and offers hopeful signs of renewal in both K–12 and university contexts. Angel believes a true classical education must be capacious, critical, and living—one that welcomes students of all backgrounds into conversations about ancient truths with contemporary relevance. See also this episode with Dr. Kelisha B. Graves about her book on educator and civil rights activist Nannie Helen Burroughs.

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, scholar Louis Markos joins host Jesse Hake to discuss his upcoming ClassicalU course, and forthcoming companion book on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Markos explores Dante’s visionary architecture of Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, not merely as allegory, but as a deeply experiential and spiritually transformative journey. Sharing his creative process for writing in Dante’s voice, he reflects on the beauty of the medieval cosmological model and its resonance with Christian truths, classical education, and even contemporary longing for spiritual depth. The episode dives into topics such as hierarchy, theosis, pilgrimage, classical myth, and the enduring influence of Dante on C. S. Lewis and modern Christian imagination. Listeners will also hear practical encouragement for teaching Dante, including translation tips, thematic frameworks, and connections to Lewis’s Great Divorce and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Whether you're new to Dante or a seasoned reader, this episode offers a compelling invitation to walk with the poet through realms of sin, repentance, and divine glory. Other ClassicalU course mentioned is Myth Made Fact.

In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, host Jesse Hake interviews John Mays, the founder of the Novare Science curriculum. The discussion centers around Mays' new course, "Cultivating Wonder Throughout the School" as a help to educators integrating a sense of wonder and mystery into their teaching across various subjects. Mays shares his journey from focusing on wonder in the sciences to expanding his approach to encompass the entire school curriculum, including subjects like math, languages, history, and literature. He addresses the challenges posed by lifeless teaching and the modern withdrawal of children from nature, exacerbated by social media and safety concerns. Mays advocates for a teaching approach that highlights the mystery and awe inherent in subjects, using examples like DNA replication and historical anecdotes to engage students deeply. He emphasizes the importance of creating "holy moments" in the classroom, where students are profoundly moved and inspired. The episode concludes with practical examples of how teachers can cultivate wonder, such as integrating music, poetry, and visual imagery into lessons, and encouraging students to engage with nature and art.

Kim Warman, lower school dean and teacher at Coram Deo Academy in Carmel, Indiana, shares insights from her new ClassicalU course, Launching Your Classical Classroom, which provides practical support for new grammar school teachers. She reflects on her own educational journey, having experienced both non-classical and classical education before attending Hillsdale College and teaching at several classical schools. Kim emphasizes the importance of preparing a classroom environment that fosters peaceful, joyful learning and encourages teachers to build strong routines and relationships from the outset. She highlights the value of creative, hands-on projects for student engagement and mentorship and teacher collaboration for professional growth and classroom stability. Of great importance, Kim advocates for read-alouds, narration, and strategic scheduling to balance rigorous content with creativity and movement. She also underscores the critical role of proactive parent partnerships in fostering student success and community support. Above all, Kim encourages teachers to begin simply, focus on essentials, and then gradually add creative flourishes as they gain confidence.