Libsyn Directory

Dr. Stephen Smith on Educating Leaders with Thomas More

Release Date: 02/19/2026

Dave Maxham on Automaticity: Where ‘Rote’ Fits into the Liberal Arts

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

Could creativity and intellectual freedom actually depend on the rote? Following up on his recent article for the Forum, math teacher Dave Maxham dives into why fundamentals and drills are integral to creativity—not hindrances. Between the “drill and kill” and the “free inquiry” camps lies the golden mean: an understanding that mastery and even delight in the basics allows for real, nimble handling of creative problems. Chapters: 3:19 Defining automaticity, creativity 7:09 The automatic enables the creative 15:14 Returning to basics, overcoming boredom 19:14 Struggle and...

Andrew Reed on Parenting through the Middle School Doldrums

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

featuring Andrew Reed by Alvaro de Vicente by Dr. Joseph Lanzilotti featuring Dr. Stephen Smith Featured Opportunities: Parents’ Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026) – link coming soon at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – waitlist at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026) – link coming soon

Andrew Cantarutti on Classroom Habits of Attention in the Age of AI

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

Today, we have an increasing store of research to evaluate the claims of educational tech. Where does it assist or upend our goals as a school? Where does it support or bypass our students’ intellectual sovereignty? Can it be used constructively? This week on HeightsCast, writer and educator Andrew Cantarutti shares with us the research on digital tools, and especially AI, in K-12 education. In passionate detail, he also lays out how a school can cultivate the habits of attention by its curriculum, pedagogy, character, and even the physical school building. Chapters: 3:05 Cantarutti’s...

Tom Steenson on the Teacher’s Voice

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

Volume, pitch, pace, tone, inflection: the human voice is our primary teaching instrument. The spoken word has not just a logos and an ethos but an embodied and personal quality—which comes with enormous advantages. This week, twenty-five-year Heights veteran Tom Steenson shares a valuable reflection on the human voice and how we use it in the classroom. He includes many practical examples of how to engage students, express expectations, correct without disruption, and love your students by using your voice with intention. Chapters: 3:11 The humanity of voice 5:14 The...

Alvaro de Vicente on the Role of Parents in the Conspiracy for the Good

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

When we join a school community, it should be to join forces with teachers, administrators, and other families in the “conspiracy for the good” of our children. In this multi-engine partnership, how do parents best play their role as the stewards of their child’s whole-person formation? In this rebroadcast from 2022, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente covers the idea of wise, willing, and informed partnership with your children’s school; what it really means to the “primary educators”; how a school can be compatible with that philosophy; and the importance of parent friendships....

Dr. Stephen Smith on Educating Leaders with Thomas More

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

Does a talented person have a duty to serve others? What do leading citizens really need to live well, freely, impactfully—even greatly? How do we, parents and educators, order the educational goods? “When I think of Thomas More’s life, writings, and example, I think: here are the materials we need to answer those questions.” So says Dr. Stephen Smith, professor at Hillsdale College and co-director for the Center for Thomas More Studies. St. Thomas More not only provided a robust theory of education and duty in his writings, but also a praxis of that education by his heroic actions at...

Bill Dardis on Teaching Religion with Multiple Faiths in the Room

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

“Charity and clarity” are the lodestars when teaching middle school boys with various faith backgrounds—and who are developing faith dispositions of their own. Bill Dardis teaches middle school religion and eighth grade core at The Heights. In his sixteen years of experience, he’s navigated many tricky waters with the boys, with the ultimate goal to bring them into a deeper and more engaged relationship with faith. Chapters: 3:19 Inviting boys deeper into their faith 8:17 A religion teacher has to pray 9:16 Following student questions 11:27 Charity: respecting parents’ moral...

Arthur Brooks on Your Calling and How to Find It

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

The crisis of meaning among young people gets a lot of press; but a quieter crisis of calling afflicts every generation today. Dr. Arthur Brooks says the causes are the same: not knowing what our life is really and ultimately for. In his talk at The Heights Forum Convivium 2025, Dr. Brooks shares the facts about calling—where neuroscience, psychology, and theology all agree, and how he (finally) found his. He goes on to say that helping young people to discover the true Christian purpose of life and then one’s personal calling is the missionary work of teachers. Chapters: 00:04:12...

Kevin Twomey on Frantic Families: Three Questions for a More Intentional Life

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

Kevin Twomey is a husband, father, and a principal consultant at Table Group, founded by Patrick Lencioni, which specializes in helping executive teams build a healthy operational work culture. Lencioni’s book, The Three Big Questions, brings that same expertise to bear on the modern frantic family: helping parents find their family identity, create intentional priorities, and live with more order and purpose. Chapters: 4:01 Typical family operations 9:09 Frantic families in a frantic world 14:36 What makes your family unique? 21:57 Parent leadership 26:02 What is your...

Colin Gleason on the Father as Protector

HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

The first images of a “protector” that flash through our minds might be the warrior, the superhero, the movie star physically holding back evil from invading the world…. Our lower school head, Colin Gleason, casts a different vision: the benevolent king, the merciful brother, the knight at vigil in the sanctuary. Yes, our role as fathers is to protect—most often through a steady presence that communicates security to our children. When we do our job well, they can live with confidence. In his talk from the Fatherhood Conference last fall, Colin identified five battlegrounds for...

More Episodes

“When I think of Thomas More’s life, writings, and example, I think: here are the materials we need to answer those questions.”

So says Dr. Stephen Smith, professor at Hillsdale College and co-director for the Center for Thomas More Studies. St. Thomas More not only provided a robust theory of education and duty in his writings, but also a praxis of that education by his heroic actions at the Tower of London in 1535. Dr. Smith joins us this week to discuss how More’s life and education can be a pattern for our one-day leading citizens.

Chapters:

2:32 The living image of a great man

8:49 More’s philosophy of learning

12:50 Virtue in the first place

16:25 Love of good advice

18:48 Leading citizenship: skill and integrity

24:51 Pride as the enemy

29:32 On modern times: “Do not abandon the ship”

35:14 Mentorship: time and attention

46:39 Hope and humor

54:21 Thomas More as a father

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