Opening Question

It seems like new things are always the best things - there’s better technology, better medicine, better scientific advancement today than 10 years, 5 years, even 1 year, ago. But is that true for ideas, as well? Do ideas get better with time, or can we still learn things from the philosophers of old? Join Ellie, Paul, and Fred in our quest to discuss what CS Lewis calls “chronological snobbery” i...

You might get the impression that we love to ask questions over here, but we don’t care so much about the answers at the end of the road. Far from it. In this episode, Ellie, Paul, and Fred lay out all the answers you ever wanted to hear. Okay, maybe not. But we do talk through some answers.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executive Producer: Ellie Martin Editor and...

With no exams to test your knowledge, no cheat sheets with plot summaries, and just a big stack of books to show for a semester’s worth of work….what exactly can you say you “learned” in your first semester of Torrey? Paul, Fred, and Ellie talk through some misconceptions about what we all think learning is today. Is college just about memorizing facts and figures - or about something more long-la...

Here’s something that drives new students crazy: we don’t tell them their grade until the very end of their final oral exam! But we’ve got lots of good reasons for withholding this seemingly central token of modern education. Hear from Fred, Ellie, and Paul to find out why.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executive Producer: Ellie Martin Editor and Producer: Timothy...

Books change, tutors come and go, but your cohortmates are forever. When students begin their time in the Torrey Honors College, they are assigned to a cohort that is theirs for all four years. What is our reasoning behind keeping cohorts the same? What are the academic goods of pursuing an education with the same group of people? Ellie, Fred, and Paul talk through this Torrey tradition in today’s...

In our class discussions, students and faculty work hard together to learn from the text on the table. But as it turns out, the way that students rely on each other, the tutor, and the text can make or break the conversation. Hear from Paul, Fred, and Ellie on the not-so-obvious importance of trust in class.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executive Producer: Ellie...

Imagine signing up for a survey of British Lit, only to discover a systematic theologian is your prof. Torrey’s like that - but multiplied by a hundred! Central to our philosophy of education is a robust interdisciplinary approach to the books we read. So why is a theologian teaching you Shakespeare in our class sessions? Join Fred, Ellie, and Paul to find out.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul S...

Here in the Torrey Honors College, we ask our students to read around 125 books over their four years with us. It’s a lot, we know! So, what if reading isn’t really your thing? Ellie, Fred, and Paul talk through approaching a life of reading, both in college and beyond.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executive Producer: Ellie Martin Editor and Producer: Timothy Hou...

One-on-one pairings with a faculty member for four years... Nope, this isn’t a PhD program - it’s undergrad! In fact, it’s one of the most important things we do here in the Torrey Honors College. What’s our philosophy of academic mentorship, and why do we dedicate so much time and thought to this part of our students’ education? Two mentors (Dr. Paul Spears and Dr. Fred Sanders) and an old mentee...

Did you know it only takes about 15 minutes to read Ephesians? Or that almost half of Genesis is dedicated to the story of Joseph? We can sometimes fall into the habit of reading small selections of Scripture, but never full books. In today’s episode, Paul, Fred, and Ellie discuss the practice of reading the 66 books of the Bible as books, and what can happen when you encounter Scripture in this w...

One of the biggest hurdles to learning is the fear of messing up. But we all do it! And in fact, some of the best opportunities for growth happen when we make mistakes and learn from them. Paul, Fred, and Ellie talk through the fear of being wrong, the courage it takes to admit it, and the growth that comes from embracing it.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executiv...

It’s not only the name of our podcast! Opening questions are a central part of our pedagogy, launching off each and every one of our classroom discussions. Go behind the curtain with Paul, Fred, and Ellie to learn how tutors at the Torrey Honors College develop opening questions and guide conversations in session.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executive Producer:...

For a Great Books Program at a faith-based university, our curriculum has all of the usual suspects - Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Shakespeare, and the Bible. But a few book selections surprise people. Join Paul, Fred, and Ellie as we talk through why certain books made the final cut, and what we can learn from these unlikely sources.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Exe...

As it turns out, knowing how to read doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to read! Paul, Fred, and Ellie discuss reading in a brand new context - not just as a way to pass the time or a fun hobby, but as an integral part of learning, pushing yourself, and growing as a person.  Hosted by: Ellie Martin, Dr. Paul Spears, and Dr. Fred Sanders Executive Producer: Ellie Martin Editor and Producer: Timo...

Every year, new high school graduates begin the transition to college, where they select a major and begin dreaming of their future vocation. But to get there, they have to dedicate a big chunk of their undergraduate degrees to this thing called “general education.” What’s that all about? Why is it such a large part of the undergrad education? Join Dr. Paul Spears, Dr. Fred Sanders, and Ellie Mart...