Kolbecast

AMDG. Today, Kolbe Advisors Rylan Buchanan and Sarah Howard join the Kolbecast to offer some tips and advice on homeschooling. They also remind us of how Kolbe’s family advisors can help our parents effectively navigate their homeschooling journey.  As Sarah points out, homeschooling can be a bit like making a tapestry. When you’re in the thick of it you can see the knots and it can look messy, bu...

AMDG. Kolbe’s own Neva Hernandez joins Bonnie and Steven to welcome Dr. Matthew Mehan to the Kolbecast. Dr. Mehan is a best-selling author and the Associate Dean and Professor of Government at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College’s Washington D.C. campus.   As we come to our country’s 250th birthday, we discuss history, poetry and Dr. Mehan’s new book The American Book...

AMDG. We are joined by mother, grandmother, author, speaker, and podcaster Lisa Hendey. Many parents, or at least their children, will be familiar with Lisa’s Chime Travelers series of books, which explore children who travel through time to meet saints who help them solve problems in their own time. The books have recently been made into an animated television series. We discuss the origins of th...

AMDG. Today we are joined by Kolbe homeschooling fathers Scott Patterson and Tony Guzzaldo.  As we know, homeschooling can take all sorts of forms, and today we hear how two fathers work to make homeschooling successful in their families.   We hear how their children are thriving in Kolbe’s homeschooling program and how homeschooling has enriched their relationships with their children along the w...

AMDG. Today we are joined by Rebecca Dougherty. For many years, Rebecca put her master's degrees in theology and education to work in teaching high school theology, but these days she’s putting her gifts to work homeschooling her own children and providing insight and knowledge via her podcast.   Additionally, she and her brother Fr. Gregory Pine are set to release a series of podcasts through Asc...

AMDG. Today we are joined by Kevin and Mary O’Neill, authors of the Building Blocks of Faith series which utilizes Lego blocks and figures to explore and explain the faith.  Kevin and Mary tell us about the origins of this series and the steps that go into creating the scenes and stories in the books.   We also explore typology and how the figures and stories of the Old Testament are images of the...

AMDG.  Today we are joined by three Kolbe academic advisors and veteran homeschool moms to get some advice on how to make a good start to homeschooling in general and specifically homeschooling with Kolbe Academy.   Krysten Pizzurro, Jennifer Thomas, and Elyse Williams have years of homeschooling experience. They discuss everything from finding your homeschool space, preparing for a new year to di...

AMDG. Today we are joined by the University of St. Thomas’s Dr. Tom Harmon, who catches us up on the many good things happening at UST but also tells us about the recent grant that the university received from the National Endowment for the Humanities to promote the strengthening of civic life.   Links mentioned and relevant:  More information about UST’s NEH grant   The University of St. Thomas i...

AMDG. As the end of the school year approaches and Kolbe Academy prepares to graduate another class of students, we combine a college visit with an alumnae meet up when Kolbe graduates and Belmont Abbey students Hannah Feeney and Lily Robinson join the Kolbecast.   Hannah and Lily give us a virtual tour of this Newman Guide college in North Carolina and share their experiences of their life there....

AMDG. Many of our listeners will be familiar with today’s guest. Dr. Greg Bottaro is a Catholic psychologist, founder of the CatholicPsych Institute, host of the Being Human podcast, author, husband and father of eight children who are all presently under the age of 12.   Dr. Bottaro joins the Kolbecast to discuss integration and what that means and Catholic anthropology. We also discuss his new b...

AMDG. Today we welcome author, speaker and podcaster, Emily Stimpson Chapman back to the Kolbecast!  It seems that Emily is becoming a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. She’s been busy with even more new books and joins us to discuss them and to share her wisdom.   Her new book is Joseph, Keeper of the King, a children’s book about St. Joseph and his role as the father of our Lord.   T...

AMDG. Today, Steven and Bonnie are joined by Erik Hesla, director of curriculum at the Augustine Institute.   In addition to sharing a bit about the history of the Augustine Institute, Erik tells us a bit about all of the great things that are happening over there!  Whether it is their graduate program, their books and formation materials, the Formed platform, or the Amen app, it’s wonderful to he...

AMDG. Today, Bonnie and Steven are joined by Kolbe teachers Olivia Knuffke and Carl Hasler to discuss music and music theory. They begin with a discussion of the importance of music and its place in a classical education and follow with an account of music from the perspective of Plato. We also discuss the role of the Church in understanding music and the role of music in the life of a Christian. ...

AMDG. As someone who deals with chronic pain, author, speaker, mentor, and proud hockey mom Megan Hjelmstad shares her insights on redemptive suffering and talks about her book Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering. Whether it’s dealing with a cold, a broken water heater, or chronic pain, we can all be reminded of the benefits of joining our suffering to Our Lord’s...

AMDG. Steven and Bonnie are joined by Laura Kelly Fanucci. They discuss her new book Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection and how we can live out the joy of Easter in our lives and homes. They don’t limit themselves to Easter but talk about how we can live each season of the Church in a way that fully allows us to enter the season rather than creating just another checkbox for us to com...

AMDG. Kolbe Academy’s Maggie Hayden and Jordan and Mara Matteoli join the Kolbecast for a conversation about classical languages. They discuss the benefits of studying classical languages, especially Latin, and how we can begin with learning the roots at a young age. We learn some helpful teaching tips and find out about new Kolbe books and courses to help students along their way.   Relevant link...

AMDG. “The desire to help the world pray is at the heart of what we do.”   Hallow’s Director of Children’s Content Ashley Lenz joins the Kolbecast to share the behind the scenes of the world’s most popular prayer app, the inspiration behind the Pray40 Lenten Challenge, and her guidance on where to start as a new member.     Links mentioned and relevant:  Hallow prayer app   Related Kolbecast episo...

AMDG. Standardized testing is often a miserable experience, but it doesn't have to be. Student Services Director Karen Allgood and Lower Elementary Department Chair Christina Davin reveal the testing opportunities for lower grade levels and discuss the powerful benefits of testing early and often. In addition, the duo shares practical advice about how to talk to your child in a way that builds con...

AMDG. Author, speaker, and Franciscan University theology professor John Bergsma joins the Kolbecast for a discussion you won’t want to miss. From his conversion from Protestant pastor to Catholic theologian, to the stunning revelations that have emerged since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Dr. Bergsma brings the Catholic faith alive.    We ask Dr. Bergsma about the new wave of Catholic sc...

AMDG. Kolbe theology instructors (among many other things) Nicholas Senz and Brendan Murphy return to the Kolbecast. Nicholas Senz is the author of Kolbe’s new 10th grade text Mystery and Grace. We discuss this new book and its development and get to hear both Nick’s and Brendan’s wisdom in teaching students about the sacraments.    Links mentioned & relevant:  Mystery & Grace: The Sacrame...

AMDG. As Lent begins, Pat and Kenna Millea of the Martin Center for Integration and the This Whole Life podcast return to the Kolbecast – together this time! -- and talk about making Lent a fruitful season, even if it isn’t always pleasant. They also talk to us about their participation as participants in the Lenten program Crux, which is available from Ascension Press. If you need a little suppor...

AMDG. Today theologian, author, speaker, podcaster, and homeschool father Brett Salkeld rejoins us on the Kolbecast. Brett joined us on episode 290, but we couldn’t get to everything we wanted to talk about, so he graciously returned to continue our conversation.  In today’s episode we discuss the differences between education and indoctrination, formation versus information, and explore the theme...

AMDG. Catholic clinical psychologist, author, TV and radio host Dr. Ray Guarendi joins the Kolbecast to discuss parenting, the advantages of homeschooling, and his recent and upcoming books. This episode will leave you laughing hard and thinking deeply– don’t miss it!   Links mentioned & relevant:  Dr. Ray Guarendi’s website drray.com   How to Get Along with (Almost) Everybody   Drama-Free Dis...

AMDG. Standardized testing is a minefield for parents and students, but it does not have to be. Kolbe alum Colin and current Kolbe senior Tobias join the Kolbecast to share their firsthand experiences taking the ACT, SAT, CLT, and PSAT. The duo explains the differences between the tests, breaks down how scoring works, and shares the study strategies that helped them succeed. Whether you are a pare...

AMDG. Kolbe Alumna and Holy Heroes brand manager Clara Davidson joins the Kolbecast to share how homeschooling served her both personally and professionally, her experience working in a family business, how to talk to children about complex topics, and what is next for Holy Heroes. Don’t miss this insider’s look into a beloved Catholic company!   Links mentioned & relevant:  Holy Heroes   St....