Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast

Episode

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  Kathleen O’Toole and Robert Pondiscio on The Promise and Peril of AI in the Classroom 10.08.2026 36mnt

  Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, and Robert Pondiscio discuss his Atlanta Classical Academy commencement speech, the value of learning together in a community, and the promise and perils of AI in education. Robert Pondiscio is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and an affiliate of AEI’s James Q. Wilson Program in K–12 Education Studies, where he focuses on K–12 education, curriculum, teaching, school choice, and charter schooling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Orators and Philosophers 03.08.2026 20mnt

  Kevin H. Gary, associate professor of education at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the differences between orators and philosophers, the disciplines of rhetoric and philosophy, and how teachers can cultivate a balance between rhetoric and philosophy in the classroom. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Partnering with Parents to Ensure Student Success 27.07.2026 19mnt

  Rosa Kubala, kindergarten teacher and student leadership advisor at Founders Classical Academy of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how parents can help to prepare their child for success before they enter the classroom, the role of parents in education, and the many lessons she has learned in her time as a kindergarten teacher. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Kathleen O'Toole on Liberal and Civic Education 20.07.2026 19mnt

  Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture elaborating on the relationships between liberal, civic, and moral education and their aims. Dr. O'Toole delivered this lecture as part of the Classical Education Forum on Hillsdale College's campus on February 12th, 2026. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  America 250: Jazz 13.07.2026 20mnt

  Chris McCourry, artist and director of jazz ensembles at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the principles of jazz music, what makes a great jazz musician, and what jazz music can teach us about democracy. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  America 250: Voting Theory 06.07.2026 23mnt

  Thomas I. Treloar, professor of mathematics and dean of faculty at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the mathematics behind voting, how voters decide how to cast their vote, and why we'll never develop a perfect voting system. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  America 250: Athletics 29.06.2026 22mnt

  Gwendolyn Yarbrough, part of the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office and former member of the Teacher Support team, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the history of physical education in America, the influences of the German Turnen movement, and how schools should think about the relationship between physical formation along with intellectual and moral formation. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Talking to Students About Classical Education 22.06.2026 20mnt

  Paul Mittermeier, Upper School Humanities teacher at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how classical education should be explicitly discussed in a classical school, how to help teachers explain the importance of what they teach to students, and how to answer common questions students might have about classical education. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Kathleen O’Toole and Patrick Whalen on Physical Education 15.06.2026 46mnt

  Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Patrick Whalen to discuss the virtues of physical education. Patrick Whalen is founder and CEO of Iliad Athletics. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Joy of Literary Analysis 11.06.2026 1j 1mnt

  Justin A. Jackson, Edrie Seward Kennedy chair in English and chairman and professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the discipline of literary analysis and his new book The Elements of Analysis: An Introduction to Careful Reading. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence seminar, “The Art of Teaching: Literature” in October 2025. The Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, an outreach of the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, offers educators the opportunity to deepen their content knowledge and refine their skills in the classroom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Bridging Art and Music 01.06.2026 24mnt

  Noah Bush and Gina Capaldi join host Scot Bertram to discuss art as a discipline, how the arts change students for the better, and building collaboration between art and music teachers. Noah is upper school music and fine arts director, and Gina is an art, art history, and studio art teacher at Orange County Classical Academy in Orange, California. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Cultivation of Wonder in the Classical Community 25.05.2026 22mnt

  Michele DiCristoforo, lead third grade teacher at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss instilling a sense of wonder in students, extending the sense of wonder to wider classical education community, and discovering resources for teachers looking to improve their pedagogy. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Kathleen O'Toole and Matthew Mehan on The American Book of Fables  18.05.2026 32mnt

  Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Matthew Mehan to discuss his new book The American Book of Fables. Matthew Mehan is associate dean and associate professor at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College in Washington, D.C.. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Principles of Pedagogy in Mathematics 11.05.2026 57mnt

  Jonathan Gregg, assistant professor of education at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on instilling wonder in your students when teaching mathematics. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence seminar, “The Art of Teaching: Mathematics” in September 2025. The Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, an outreach of the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, offers educators the opportunity to deepen their content knowledge and refine their skills in the classroom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Aeneid and Roman Mythology 04.05.2026 18mnt

  Eric Hutchinson, associate professor of classics and chairman of Collegiate Scholars Program at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the foundations of Roman mythology, best practices for teaching Virgil's The Aeneid, and the differences between Aeneas and other heroes of antiquity. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Success in Teaching Modern Language in Classical Schools 27.04.2026 24mnt

  Diana Kinser, French teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss teaching a modern language at a classical school, how modern languages helps teach students virtue, and the rewards from seeing students succeed. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Kathleen O’Toole and Charles R. Kesler: The Declaration of Independence 20.04.2026 39mnt

  Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Charles R. Kesler to discuss the Declaration of Independence and the legacy of the American Founding. Charles R. Kesler is editor of the Claremont Review of Books and professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Virtue of Ambition: A Panel Discussion 13.04.2026 43mnt

  Join Michael Berndt, director of curriculum at the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, Allison Postell, assistant professor of Philosophy at Hillsdale College, Paul Rahe professor of history and Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee chair in the western heritage at Hillsdale College, and Joshua Gibbs, director of the classical teaching institute, for a panel on the classical virtue of ambition.  The four discuss whether the virtue of ambition can exist in a Christian world, ambition in the classical worldview, and the importance of developing excellence. This panel was held at the Classical Education Forum in February, 2026. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Vision for a Classical School 06.04.2026 18mnt

  Kayla Cruthers is the Head of School at Ivywood Classical Academy in Plymouth, Michigan. Join Scot Bertram as he and Kayla discuss why classical education is important to a community and how Hillsdale’s K-12 Education Office helped shape her understanding of and vision for an American Classical Education.  Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  In Defense of Logic 30.03.2026 22mnt

  Paul Mittermeier, Upper School Humanities teacher at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the importance of formal logic, why formal logic plays such an important role in classical education, and how formal logic helps student improve their reading comprehension. Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.