Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

What if the path to healing childhood trauma starts with a truth most people overlook? Join us as Rachel Davidson reveals how Kids Alive International is transforming the lives of sexually abused children across seven countries—and what every parent needs to know about prevention right now. In this powerful episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Rachel Davidson, Chief Ope...

What if the crisis in education isn't about test scores—but about truth itself? Join Robert Bortins as he sits down with Billy Hutchinson, Education Specialist at the Colson Center, for a timely conversation about the worldview battle shaping our children's futures. With only 2% of Gen Z holding a biblical worldview (according to Barna research), the statistics are sobering. But this isn't a doom-...

What if everything we've been told about making college "affordable" is actually making it more expensive and worse? Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Ben Merkle, President of New St. Andrews College and Oxford-educated scholar who wrote the foreword to "Woke and Weaponized." As one of fewer than a dozen colleges that refuse all federal student loan dollars, Dr. Merkle offers a rare insider perspe...

"The government doesn't give you money because they love you. Government gives money so they can have power." Join host Robert Bortins as he sits down with Rachael Jensen, homeschool advocate and mother of six in Arizona—the state hailed as the "gold standard" for school choice. Rachael contributed Appendix A to "Woke and Weaponized" and shares what's really happening on the ground with ESA (Empow...

What if the architect of America's public school system was literally taking orders from demons through Ouija boards? Join host Robert Bortins as he talks with co-author Alex Newman to discuss their new book "Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education and How We Can Win It Back." This isn't hyperbole—it's documented history every Christian parent needs to know. Alex r...

"There is no such thing as vouchers without government control. They just simply don't exist." Join host Robert Bortins as he sits down with KrisAnne Hall, constitutional attorney, former prosecutor, and founder of Liberty First Society. With her background in constitutional law and as a former homeschool parent, KrisAnne delivers a compelling legal and biblical argument against government-funded...

"The enemy is not at the gate—the enemy has infiltrated our classrooms." Join host Robert Bortins for the first episode in a powerful School Choice Week series as he sits down with Dr. Joshua Pierson, who contributed to "Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education and How We Can Win It Back." In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Pierson—a retiring counterintelligence...

What if the biggest threat to the next generation of Christians isn't coming from outside the church—but from a decision Christian parents make every weekday morning? Join Robert Bortins as he sits down with Paul and Gena Suarez, publishers of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and founders of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, for a powerful conversation about the future of Christian education. Paul and Gena sha...

Overturning Roe v. Wade was never the finish line—it was only the starting gun. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life and Students for Life Action, joins Refining Rhetoric to reveal why the pro-life movement's real battle is just beginning and where it's being won or lost right now. Discover why she launched Students for Life 20 years ago with the vision that Roe would be reversed (when...

Ever wonder why every poll seemed to show Kamala Harris winning, yet Trump dominated the election? Mark Mitchell from Rasmussen Reports pulls back the curtain on the billion-dollar polling industry's most carefully guarded secrets. Discover how establishment pollsters use proprietary panels filled with left-leaning city dwellers to sandbag anti-establishment candidates by 20+ points, why FiveThirt...

What if the real sign of wealth isn't your bank account, but the number of kids around your dinner table? Chocolate Knox from CrossPolitic joins Refining Rhetoric to flip the script on modern family planning. With seven kids and counting, Knox shares why he and his wife decided to "replace the stupid people" in their family lineage and create a new generation that honors God. Discover how God has...

What happens when a Christian show gets canceled 20+ times but refuses to stay silent? Gabe Rench, founder of CrossPolitic, joins Refining Rhetoric to share his journey from launching a faith-and-politics show in 2016 to building a multi-platform network that's discipling Christians to engage culture boldly. Discover why he believes the church is responsible for America's condition, how his team i...

Is America on the brink of collapse—and are Christians ready to respond? Welcome to the first episode of Refining Rhetoric for 2026! As we kick off the new year, host Robert Bortins tackles the pressing issues facing Christian families, homeschoolers, and business owners in an increasingly chaotic world. In this episode, you'll discover: •    Why America's $38 trillion debt crisis (which just grew...

What happens when a school district demands you teach content that isn't legally required? Military wife and homeschool mom Jennifer Moye found herself in exactly that situation when New York officials insisted she add AIDS education to her sixth-grader's curriculum—or face truancy charges. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Jennifer shares her unexpected journey from compliant homeschooler to...

Your child's AI companion knows them better than you do—and it's learning how to manipulate them. Are we prepared for what comes next? In this eye-opening conversation, host Robert Bortins sits down with Randan Steinhauser, CEO of Steinhauser Strategies and recent fellow at the Center for Governance of AI, to discuss the profound implications of artificial intelligence on our families, children, a...

Join us for an exciting conversation with two exceptional Classical Conversations students who are making waves in the competitive yo-yo world! Thomas Rajan (Challenge II, Alabama) and James Heder (Challenge B, Florida) share their incredible journey from picking up their first yo-yos during COVID to competing on national and international stages. Thomas finished 5th at the 2025 U.S. National Yo-Y...

Is the Bitcoin cycle dead, or are we just getting started? With Bitcoin hovering around $92K and institutional adoption accelerating, the crypto landscape is more confusing—and exciting—than ever. Robert and Will break down the wild crypto year of 2024-2025 and debate what's coming in 2026. They explain the GENIUS Act that ended the "Biden war on crypto," why stablecoins could drive down costs acr...

What if everything you've been told about fixing our public schools is wrong? Join Robert Bortins as he sits down with Sheri Few, founder and president of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE), for a sobering look at the state of American education and why reform may be impossible. Sheri shares alarming statistics: only one-third of fourth and eighth graders read or do math at grade...

What can homeschoolers be thankful for this year? Join Robert Bortins for a special Thanksgiving edition of the Refining Rhetoric podcast as he shares the top 10 things homeschoolers should be thankful for in 2025. From protected educational freedom and the classical education renaissance to colleges actively recruiting homeschoolers, this episode celebrates the victories and blessings in the home...

What if the test gatekeeping college admissions was designed to celebrate—not undermine—your classical education? Discover how one alternative is changing the game for homeschoolers and classical students across America. In this milestone episode, Robert Bortins sits down with Soren Schwab (VP of Partnerships) and Noah Tyler (CFO) from the Classical Learning Test to celebrate 10 years of offering...

What if the people writing our laws aren't the ones we elected? The shocking truth about who really runs Washington—and how 22-year-olds shape policy that affects millions. Robert Bortins sits down with Ed Corrigan, President and CEO of the Conservative Partnership Institute, to pull back the curtain on how Washington really works. With over 25 years navigating Capitol Hill and leading the Trump t...

Bitcoin hit $126,000... then crashed $23,000 in a single day. What happened? And more importantly, is this the top or just the beginning? In this episode, Robert unpacks the most volatile month in crypto history, reveals why gold is crushing every other investment in 2025, and explains what the global shift away from the U.S. dollar means for your money. If you're wondering whether to buy the dip...

What if homeschooling your children could land you in jail? In 1984, that wasn't a hypothetical—it was reality. Discover how one mom's brave stand against a state superintendent's threats helped spark a movement that changed education in America forever. Join Robert Bortins for a powerful conversation with homeschooling pioneer Zan Tyler, who began her journey in 1984 when the South Carolina State...

Young adults today are 1,600% more likely to identify as transgender than people over 50. Every family may not struggle with this issue—but every family will face it. Are you ready? In this critical episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Jeff Myers, President of Summit Ministries and author of the new book Raising Gender Confident Kids , for an unflinching conversati...

He had never stepped in front of a camera before. He almost ignored the audition opportunity completely. But when Robert Amaya finally sent in that tape for Courageous, it launched a career that would transform both faith-based filmmaking and his own family forever. In this inspiring episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with actor, speaker, and mentor Robert Amaya to discuss...