The Classical Academy Podcast

Your friendly guide to the world of classical Christian education. Presented by Trinity Classical Academy.

How To Tell a Story, with Alexandra Klein 11/11/2025

How To Tell a Story, with Alexandra Klein Yarns, tall tales, mysteries, romances, thrillers, myths, fables—we all love a good story. Why? On a deep level, stories and narratives shape how we see truth and gain wisdom. When students get how narratives work, they can think clearly, speak eloquently, and love what is true and good. But can you teach narratives to grammar school students? Yes, with the Progymnasmata’s Narrative stage! Find out how in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/38986420

The Canterbury Tales, with Zach Weichbrodt 10/14/2025

The Canterbury Tales, with Zach Weichbrodt Saucy stories, moralistic narratives, comic tales, cutting criticism, incisive insights, pilgrims pious and phony alike—just what was Geoffrey Chaucer up to in his provocative Canterbury Tales? Zach Weichbrodt, literature teacher extraordinaire, will help us find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/38568470

The Good Teacher, with Dr. Chris Perrin 09/11/2025

The Good Teacher, with Dr. Chris Perrin Classical Christian schools have inspiring goals for their students and offer a stunning curriculum of Homer, Plato, Dante, Shakespeare, and many more great books. But our education won’t work without good teachers. How do we spot a good teacher? How can teachers become better? And what can parents do to help? Dr. Chris Perrin, a leading figure in the Classical Christian education movement, joins the podcast to help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Click here to learn more about Dr. Perrin’s new book, . /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/38182330

The House System, with Kaeli Collver 05/14/2025

The House System, with Kaeli Collver High school students at Trinity love their House System. But new students and families may wonder what exactly are these “Houses”? Just some Christianized Hogwarts from Harry Potter? Or something deeper, richer, most powerful? Kaeli Collver, Trinity’s Dean of the House System, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/36358690

Milton’s Paradise Lost, with Dr. Grant Horner 04/16/2025

Milton’s Paradise Lost, with Dr. Grant Horner John Milton—the sixteenth-century blind Puritan poetic genius, reviled by some, beloved by most, second in greatness only to Shakespeare—pens an epic poem: Paradise Lost. In astonishing beauty and depth, he retells the tragic fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But did he make Satan the poem’s hero? Dr. Grant Horner, Professor of English, Renaissance, and Reformation at the Masters University, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. You can learn more about Dr. Horner's book, /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/36099165

Classical Education in America, with Zach Weichbrodt 03/31/2025

Classical Education in America, with Zach Weichbrodt Classical ideas profoundly shaped the United States, from the colonial era to the Revolution and Founding to the Civil War and beyond. But how exactly did “Athens” and “Rome” help build “Washington”? Zach Weicbrodt, Trinity’s Dean of Classical Learning, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/35796720

Reading the Old Testament, with Aaron Fudge 03/03/2025

Reading the Old Testament, with Aaron Fudge The Old Testament is long, sometimes perplexing and, well, old. Yet great treasures lie within. How do classical Christian educators help their students extract truth and wisdom from the Old Testament? Trinity’s Dean of Students Aaron Fudge will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/35426270

Singapore Math, with Sarah Hwang 01/24/2025

Singapore Math, with Sarah Hwang “Why would they change math?! MATH is MATH!!” complained Mr. Incredible in Incredibles 2. Many parents sympathize. What’s this new type of math called Singapore Math? Is it just extra work for no reason? And does it fit with Classical and Christian values? Trinity grammar school teacher Sarah Hwang will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/34942805

CS Lewis’s Problem of Pain, with Eric Margrave 12/17/2024

CS Lewis’s Problem of Pain, with Eric Margrave If God is good and all powerful, why does he allow pain? It’s one of the deepest questions Christians wrestle with, and one we pose to our Seniors in their Apologetics class. To help them form an answer, we give them a brilliant little book by CS Lewis. What do our students learn about suffering and God through reading The Problem of Pain? Trinity apologetics teacher Eric Margrave will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Available on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and more! /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/34348750

Building Sturdy Kids, with Keith McCurdy 11/12/2024

Building Sturdy Kids, with Keith McCurdy We must make our kids feel happy… right? Keith McCurdy, an experienced family therapist and popular Classical Christian education speaker, argues that following feelings leads to disaster. Instead, the path to growth, maturity, and lasting happiness—at school and home—means embracing healthy struggle. How can parents and teachers work together to produce thriving, sturdy children? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/33818386

The Brothers Karamazov, with Jandy Hardesty 10/16/2024

The Brothers Karamazov, with Jandy Hardesty Who killed Fyodor Karamazov? Wealthy, boorish, debauched: the man made many enemies. The prime suspects are his three sons. Was it Dimitri, the hot headed eldest? Ivan, the atheist intellectual? Or young Alyosha, who loves holy living? This murder mystery is at the heart of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. Dostoyevsky’s tale is a masterpiece, filled with unforgettable characters, narrative tensions, and theological depth. But are high school seniors up to the task of reading The Brothers Karamazov? Trinity literature teacher Jandy Hardesty will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/33358902

Learning Logic, with Sally Leon 09/24/2024

Learning Logic, with Sally Leon Teaching logic to middle schoolers—isn’t that asking for trouble? Or perhaps it’s just what the doctor ordered: young men and women learning careful, responsible rules of reasonable argument. Still, it takes a bright and brave teacher to guide thirteen-year-olds into the land of logic. Find out how and why it’s done, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/33177067

Augustine’s Confessions, with Dr. Andrew Selby 08/20/2024

Augustine’s Confessions, with Dr. Andrew Selby Augustine had wealth, prestige, power—and gnawing void inside. How did God draw this sinner to himself? How did this restless man find rest? Augustine revealed all in his Confessions. Hear what Augustine confessed in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/32565832

Classical Astronomy, with Eric Margrave 05/15/2024

Classical Astronomy, with Eric Margrave Are the stars, planets, and the galaxies in the night sky just a swirling mass of chaos? Or a divine dance of beauty, harmony, and order? And does being a Christian help or hinder our quest to understand the universe—and our place in it? Find out how studying Johannes Kepler’s revolutionary approach to classical astronomy helps us answer these questions, in this friendly guide to the world of Classical Christian education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/31289467

Writing the Chreia, with Laurie Sachs 04/15/2024

Writing the Chreia, with Laurie Sachs Ancient writing teachers trained students to produce powerful and elegant writing on command. How? Through a writing practice called the “Chreia.” Find out how the Chreia works and how it trains students in wisdom, in this friendly guide to the world of Classical Christian education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/30799358

“Living Like Weasels,” with Donny MacAdam 03/18/2024

“Living Like Weasels,” with Donny MacAdam How do weasels live? And why would a famous writer like Annie Dillard write a stylish, provocative, and potentially life-changing essay about living like one? Find out in this friendly guide to the world of Classical Christian Education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/30358783

Napoleon, with Morgan Geiser 02/15/2024

Napoleon, with Morgan Geiser Napoleon Bonaparte: hero or villain? Military genius or narcissistic tyrant? A curious historical figure to forget or one who helped make the modern world? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/29962793

The Logic of English, with Sarah Robertson 01/22/2024

The Logic of English, with Sarah Robertson Literacy is the foundation of all learning. But learning to read English can seem messy, illogical, even random. It doesn’t have to be, though. Find out how the “Logic of English” program makes reading clear and simple in this friendly guide to the world of classical Christian education. Presented by TrinityU, a service of Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita, CA. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/29583118

Educating for Maturity, with Joe Rigney 12/11/2023

Educating for Maturity, with Joe Rigney The Bible and Ancient Greek and Roman education: do these really go together? Joe Rigney, theologian and author of , joins us to explain how the Biblical pattern of priest, king, and prophet gives us a model for raising mature, thoughtful students, ready to engage and transform the world. Find out more in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/28940418

A Scientific Defense of Faith, with Dr. Mark Phillips 11/13/2023

A Scientific Defense of Faith, with Dr. Mark Phillips America’s fastest growing religion is atheism, fueled by believing that science contradicts the Bible. But, as Dr. Phillips argues, the Bible’s truth actually is supported by recent scientific discoveries! Find out how we can use science to defend the Christian faith in this friendly guide to Classical Christian education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/28498046

Parenting Teens Today, with Bjorn Bjornsson 10/10/2023

Parenting Teens Today, with Bjorn Bjornsson Raising teens has never been easy. But add smartphones and a pandemic: it’s a recipe for toxic stress. We see it at home and in the classroom. How can parents help teens overcome today’s challenges? Bjorn Bjornsson, a pastor and licensed marriage and family therapist, helps us find out in this in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/28241072

Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, with Zach Weichbrodt 09/12/2023

Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, with Zach Weichbrodt Boethius weeps in prison. Devotion to virtue, study, and public service resulted only in false accusations and a death sentence. Stripped of his career, his books, his family, all that remains is what he carries in his soul. Yet, Boethius picks up a pen, and pours out a masterpiece of philosophical depth and poetic beauty. How should a classically-educated Christian respond in the face of suffering and evil? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/28011756

The Wisdom Pyramid, with Brett McCracken 08/15/2023

The Wisdom Pyramid, with Brett McCracken Today’s technologies flood us with an endless stream of information—and it’s making our minds and hearts sick. How can we find health and seek wisdom in our digital age? Brett McCracken, author and senior editor at the Gospel Coalition website, shares the strategy from his book, , in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/27698754

Sophocles’ Antigone, with Jennene Margrave 12/15/2022

Sophocles’ Antigone, with Jennene Margrave A foolish king, an unjust law, a young woman grieving a family tragedy: it's the recipe for gut-wrenching, nail-biting drama in Sophocles’ Antigone. This timeless play—written by ancient Greece’s greatest playwright—dives into the depths of the human condition and asks, “is there hope in a tragic world?” Learn more about this masterpiece in our friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/25232250

Meaning at the Movies, with Mark Gould 11/15/2022

Meaning at the Movies, with Mark Gould Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter: movies move our hearts and form our minds. How does classical Christian education equip students to see the deeper meanings of movies, and even start making their own? Feature film director and Trinity film teacher Mark Gould shows us how, in this friendly guide to classical Christian education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/24945306

Much Ado About Nothing, with Jandy Hardesty 10/14/2022

Much Ado About Nothing, with Jandy Hardesty A bride who dies to live. A groom deceived by comrades. An unexpected romance. A buffoon constable who actually uncovers the truth. Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing has all this and more. But does this comedy about “nothing” contain hidden depths? Find out in this friendly guide to classical Christian education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/24641160

Beowulf, with Zach Weichbrodt 09/20/2022

Beowulf, with Zach Weichbrodt Legendary swords, mead halls, and gory monsters fill the Old English tale of Beowulf. But what can the story teach us about heroism and faith during dark times? Find out in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/24435036

Homer’s Odyssey, with Chris Leigh 08/16/2022

Homer’s Odyssey, with Chris Leigh The great hero Odysseus sits on the seashore of an island paradise next to a stunning goddess—and weeps. Why is honor, skill, beauty and treasure not enough? Find out in this friendly guide to classical Christian education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/24044439

US Constitution, with Liz Caddow 04/29/2022

US Constitution, with Liz Caddow The Constitution is a true national treasure. What happens when classical Christian students study it, debate it, memorize it? And on the senior trip to DC, did Mrs. Caddow try to steal it? Find out more in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/22957625

Why Study Latin? With Lucy Banduk 03/18/2022

Why Study Latin? With Lucy Banduk Latin: isn’t it too difficult, too grammar-focussed, too ... useless? Not at all! Find out why Latin is so rewarding to study—and how you might already speak Latin without knowing it—in this friendly guide to Classical Christian education. Bonus: /episode/index/show/theclassicalacademypod/id/22486208

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