Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

What would it take to raise a generation that's grateful — not just grievance-driven — about America? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with presidential historian, award-winning screenwriter, and author Jane Hampton Cook to explore America's 250th anniversary, the faith of the Founding Fathers, and why reclaiming gratitude is essential to preserving the republic...

What would it take to reclaim education — and America itself — from a system designed to produce dependency instead of thinkers? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Sam Sorbo — actress, homeschool advocate, and filmmaker — to talk about public school failure, parental rights, Christian homeschooling, and what America's 250th anniversary should make every paren...

What does it look like when a classical Christian education meets a national civics competition? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with two Classical Conversations students — Owen Burrill and Elisha Hoey — who were selected as national finalists in the U.S. Presidential 1776 Award, a civics competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education celebrating Ame...

What does it actually take to raise boys who become faithful, purposeful men — in a generation that's been told they have no purpose? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Braeden Sorbo — CC alumni, author of Embrace Masculinity , and cultural commentator with over 2 million followers — to talk about Christian masculinity, Gen Z's real struggles, and what parent...

Is the psychedelic renaissance a spiritual threat — or just medicine? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Gary Stockton, a Classical Conversations Challenge IV graduate, to discuss his senior thesis: Stay Sober, Stay Alert: A Christian Guide to Mysticism. Gary's 32-source academic argument — drawing from Johns Hopkins research, C.S. Lewis, Voddie Baucham, and...

What does it actually take to raise children of character in a culture that's lost its moral compass? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Kirk Cameron — actor, filmmaker, and homeschool advocate — to talk about biblical parenting, the homeschool awakening, and what it means to be a faithful father in a post-truth world. Kirk shares the three non-negotiables he...

What does it really mean to write with conviction in a world where everyone's doing somebody's bidding? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with award-winning author and Union University journalism professor Dr. Ted Kluck — 30 books, ESPN bylines, and a Christianity Today Book of the Year winner — to talk about faith, writing craft, and what it looks like to redeem...

What happens when a libertarian Bitcoin OG, a 14-year homeschooling veteran, and a classical curriculum pioneer walk into the same platform? You get Firefly. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Jordan Page — founder of Firefly Education Network, nationally recognized musician, and longtime Bitcoiner — to talk about why he built a decentralized, all-in-one home...

The college cartel is charging $40,000 in average student debt — and Classical Conversations is done letting CC graduates walk into it unprepared. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins and CC Plus director Will McCreery announce the Classical Fellowship: a brand-new program combining affordable online college (50% scholarship through Southeastern University) with in-person coh...

AI is already in your child's world — whether you've given them access or not. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Ryan Kennedy, COO of the Florida Citizens Alliance, to break down what AI policy actually means for parents, what data is being collected on your kids, and why the fight in Washington right now could determine how much say you have in the matter....

Is artificial intelligence a threat to your child's education — or proof that classical education was right all along? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Classical Conversations founder and aerospace engineer Leigh Bortins to explore what 40 hours a week of AI research taught her, why classical education uniquely prepares students for an AI-driven world, and h...

Is AI quietly shaping your child's worldview — without your permission? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with tech entrepreneur and founder of Wisdom Forge, Jeff Gross, to talk about what's really at stake when Christian families hand kids the keys to AI tools without biblical guardrails. Jeff has launched over 10 ventures since age 15 and now builds AI formatio...

Is artificial intelligence a useful tool — or a danger to your family? In this episode of the Refining Rhetoric podcast, Robert kicks off AI Week with a frank, faith-grounded look at how he's been using AI as an adult: as a thought partner, writing editor, health coach, and financial tracker — and where it's started to go wrong. From the brain science behind classical education to George Orwell's...

What happens when a 20-year Critical Race Theory advocate begins to question everything she believed about race, justice, and the church? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Monique Duson — co-founder of the Center for Biblical Unity — to unpack why she left the CRT framework behind and what the Bible actually teaches about racial unity, justice, and the body...

The Department of Justice has indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center — and it's a moment many Christian conservatives have been waiting years for. In this special episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Wade Miller, Executive Director of the Center for Renewing America and former political director for Senator Ted Cruz, to break down exactly what the DOJ is alleging and...

What does it look like to build a family legacy that outlasts you by seven generations? In this episode of the Refining Rhetoric podcast, host Robert Bortins sits down with Bill High — CEO of Legacy Stone and co-author of The Legacy Life with Hobby Lobby founder David Green — to discuss how Christian families can build a multi-generational legacy of faith, generosity, and intentional vision. Bill...

What happens to your child's faith when they leave home for college? On this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Finny Kuruvilla — Harvard MD, MIT engineer, homeschool dad of nine, and founder of Sattler College — to discuss the crisis in Christian higher education and why he built a tuition-free, classical Christian college in downtown Boston. From the iron law o...

What does it actually mean to abolish abortion — not just restrict it? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Classical Conversations graduate and Students for Abolition president Pate Anglin to discuss why a biblical abolitionist framework goes further than the mainstream pro-life movement — and how student chapters across 8 states are taking that fight to colle...

What if government education isn't just failing — but is fundamentally, morally wrong? On this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Bradley Thompson, political philosopher at Clemson University and executive director of the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism, to make the abolitionist case for education freedom. From the moral foundations of laissez-faire cap...

Matt Hangen discovered something revolutionary while working as a missionary well driller in Togo: the traditional charity model was failing Africa's water crisis. After losing 117 pounds to illness and watching communities struggle with donated solutions that broke down, he pioneered a different approach. Water4 uses donations as seed capital to build wholly-owned water businesses that operate su...

What does it actually take to raise resilient sons and lead your family with strength? On this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Brandon Shriner — founder of the Warrior 3 Project, former Division I wrestler, CrossFit regional competitor, and co-owner of Revive Chiropractic — to explore the powerful connection between physical health, biblical masculinity, and s...

What happens when Christians stop thinking for themselves — and hand that job to AI? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Ben Holloway — philosopher, professor at Judson College at Southeastern Seminary, and incoming Bruce Little Chair of Christian Philosophy — to explore why classical Christian education depends on mastering language, logic, and the great...

Is Bitcoin's bear market your best buying opportunity? On this episode of the Refining Rhetoric podcast, host Robert Bortins and crypto-savvy co-host Will McCreery break down the 2025 crypto market — covering the Bitcoin halving cycle, why altcoins underperformed, the case for dollar cost averaging, and what to watch for heading into 2026–2029. Bitcoin hit an all-time high near $126,000 in October...

What if the best way to change culture isn't through politics or protests—but by faithfully living out a biblical worldview right where you're planted? Discover how to raise disciples who think faithfully about every area of life. In this episode, Robert sits down with Mike Shcutt, Executive Director of Worldview Academy, to discuss how Christians can bridge the gap between biblical truth and cult...

What would you give up to stand for truth? For Kayleigh Bush, the answer was a crown. When Kayleigh Bush was crowned Miss North Florida in August 2024, she had no idea she'd soon face a choice that would make national headlines. Just four weeks after her crowning, she was presented with a revised Miss America contract that redefined "female" to include biological males who have undergone surgical...