Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Reverend Jennifer Ryden, senior chaplain at Hope College . The two discuss the changing educational and cultural landscape and its effect on the relationship between identity and belonging. Ryden also talks about the intersection of her English major and her work in ministry and Hope’s unique way of grounding vocational work in the liberal arts. She...

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Reverend Robert Ingram, a founding member of the Geneva School, and Dr. Stephen J. Nichols, President of Reformation Bible College (RBC). The three discuss the beginnings and mission of the Geneva School and of RBC and how the Christian, classical education movement has changed over time. They also explain the dangers of failing to follow up a class...

On this episode of Anchored , Kimberly is joined by Sarah Mackenzie, the author of Teaching from Rest and The Read Aloud Family and the host of the Read Aloud Revival podcast. The two discuss the definition of curriculum, the importance of a restful demeanor in establishing a love of learning, and tips for homeschooling families that find themselves trying to do it all. Mackenzie also emphasizes t...

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Erin Valdez, Policy Director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and member of the CLT Board of Academic Advisors. The two discuss Valdez’s experience growing up as a homeschooled student in the eighties and how educational policy affected her experience. She also cites Albert Cheng’s research, as explored in last week’s episode , and the reality...

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Albert Cheng, professor at the Department of Education Reform in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. The two discuss Cheng’s recently published research study that captures and evaluates the growth in charter school enrollment and how it is even greater in classical charter schools. They also explore additi...

On this episode of Anchored , our Vice President of Partnerships Soren Schwab is joined by Dr. David Alexander, Vice President of Academic Affairs and a professor of philosophy at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California. The two discuss Dr. Alexander's educational and spiritual journey and how it revealed to him the necessity and value of the liberal arts. They also explore what...

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Dr. Matthew Bianco, the Chief Operations Officer for the CiRCE Institute and a head mentor in the CiRCE Apprenticeship Program . He is also the author of Letters to My Sons: A Humane Vision for Human Relationships . He discusses how he discovered classical education after attending public school and serving in the U.S. Air Force. He also shares info...

On this episode of Anchored , Noah is joined by Joseph Pearce, the author of several books including literary biographies on figures such as Tolkien and Chesterton , and anthologies of great poetry including Poems Every Catholic Should Know and Poems Every Child Should Know . He discusses his educational background and shares tips for becoming a good writer. He also discusses favorite works of lit...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Hannah Frankman, founder of the rebelEducator blog which shares ideas on how to improve your child’s education. She shares about her background in homeschooling and her perspective on effective school choice policy. She also discusses changes in American society that have made homeschooling more accessible and demand reforms to public education. Yo...

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Dr. Veronica Gutierrez, director of the Great Books Program en Español at the Angelicum Academy and a Faculty Fellow in History at Hildegard College in Costa Mesa, CA. She discusses her educational journey and how studying the Great Books helped her to embrace her Mexican American heritage.

On this special episode of Anchored, we are joined by Joshua Gibbs, who reads a version of his pamphlet “ A Short Introduction to Classical Christian Education .” Joshua Gibbs is a teacher, lecturer, expert on pedagogy, and author of several books including the upcoming Love What Lasts: How to Save Your Soul from Mediocrity . He is also an Alcuin Fellow and member of the Templeton Honors College a...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Kimberly Farley, CLT’s Director of Homeschool Partnerships, as well as her daughter Maddie, a junior studying Communications at Union University in Jackson, TN. They discuss their experiences as a homeschooling family and share lessons that they learned along the way. They also share tips for choosing a college for homeschool families. You can hear...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Katharine Savage, founder and head of school at Philadelphia Classical School in Philadelphia, PA. They are also joined by Katharine’s daughter Lily who is an incoming freshman at Grove City College . They discuss the founding and growth of Philadelphia Classical School, navigating the college selection process, and formative books and stories for...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy and CLT’s Director of Homeschool Partnerships Kimberly Farley are joined by Matthew Bullington, a college admissions consultant and the president & CEO of UniversityReady . He discusses how college admissions’ attitudes towards homeschool students have shifted over the years, going from unfamiliar and disinterested to seeking out students who were educated...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Dr. Tom St. Antoine, director of the honors program at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL. He discusses how Palm Beach Atlantic University is one of the many CLT partner colleges that are thriving in the midst of national enrollment declines. He also shares about his own educational background and provides information for student...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Monsignor James Patrick Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. He is also the author of From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age . He discusses the unique challenges of evangelization in the modern age and provides resources for the apostolic mission. He also shares information for students...

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Jonathan Brush, president and CEO of Unbound , a college alternative focusing on project-based education, Christian leadership development, and hands-on experience in the real world. He discusses the history and mission of Unbound and the strong and lasting connections that Unbound students develop. He also describes the unique approach to education...

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Eric Wearne, Associate Professor in the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University and Director of the Hybrid Schools Project . He is also the author of  Defining Hybrid Homeschools in America: Little Platoons . He describes the explosive growth of hybrid schools in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and explains the unique position that...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, president of Christendom College in Front Royal, VA. He discusses his upbringing in the Catholic faith, recounts stories from his time studying and living in Rome, and shares insight into the life of a college president. He also shares details for students interested in attending Christendom College.

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Randan Steinhauser, founding partner of Steinhauser Strategies and an advocate for school choice who also worked on education reform policy for former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. They discuss the rapid growth of the school choice movement and explain why more and more families are choosing classical education. They also urge voters to...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Trevor Wright and Arooba Asim. Trevor is the founder of Two Story Books in Statesboro, GA. Arooba is a social media influencer and former co-host and producer of the Anchored podcast. They discuss the need for interpersonal socialization, the lack of public gathering spaces in our built environments, and ways that Gen Z is pushing back against nega...

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by Dr. Ben Merkle, president of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, ID. He discusses his educational background, his journey to higher education administration, and New Saint Andrews College’s commitment to teaching the liberal arts from a reformed theological perspective.

On this episode of Anchored , Soren is joined by Brad Layland, CEO of the FOCUS Group and author of Turning Donors into Partners: Principles of Fundraising You’ll Actually Enjoy . He is also the founder of Veritas Classical School in St. Augustine, FL. He shares advice for classical school founders to cultivate meaningful relationships, raise capital funds, and prepare their school for success.

On this episode of Anchored , Jeremy is joined by the founder of Christian Halls International , Dr. Nicholas Ellis. Dr. Ellis shares about his unique life experiences, including growing up in the Brazilian Amazon and studying at Oxford University. He also discusses Christian Halls International’s mission to return the responsibility of educational and personal formation of students to local commu...

On this episode of Anchored , Noah is joined by Jamie Buckland, a homeschooling mother of 16 years and the founder of West Virginia Families United for Education , a grassroots organization that supports school choice for all families. She is also the founder of Appalachian Classical Academy , a hybrid school based in Flat Top, WV. They discuss Jamie’s work to defend educational rights, the rapid...