Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

Is Richard Dawkins a Christian nationalist? Robert and Chris discuss the prominent atheist's surprising identification as a "cultural Christian" and author J. K. Rowling's clash with the "woke" left over Scottish hate laws. The hosts explore whether Christian principles benefit society at large and why it's vital for Christians to engage in politics.   Richard Dawkins Article   J. K. Rowling Artic...

Discover how Stoa empowers students through classical education principles, fostering confidence and resilience. Join Robert Bortins in this episode of "Refining Rhetoric" as he explores the world of speech and debate with guests Angela Childress and Beth Nieva from Stoa, a National Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate League. Learn about starting a club, participating in tournaments, and integr...

Is the American college education system failing? In this episode of "Refining Rhetoric," CEO Robert explores the pitfalls of government involvement in education funding, focusing on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Highlighting bureaucratic inefficiency and overreach, the discussion emphasizes the need for self-reliance, community building, and adherence to ethical principles...

Drawing on his own experience with homeschooling his seven children, New Hampshire's Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut discusses his approach to home education and reforming the state's education system. He advocates for individualized learning over traditional models, and his initiatives are to innovate and humanize education in his role as commissioner.   www.education.nh.gov   Learn more ab...

In this "Refining Rhetoric" episode, host Robert Bortins evaluates President Biden's performance on issues like the economy, climate, and more, using Politico's report card. Will discusses cryptocurrency trends, particularly Bitcoin, offering his insights and criticisms.   Politico's Report Card   Gender Transition Lawsuit   Learn more about the Copper Lodge Library at https://copperlodgelibrary.c...

In this "Refining Rhetoric" episode, Robert Bortins and guest Lynne Taylor discuss the misconceptions around education as a basic human right and the dangers of school choice. Taylor critiques the Common Core standards and emphasizes the importance of individualized education over government-controlled standardization.   Lynne's Website: https://www.commoncorediva.com/   Join other homeschool pare...

In this episode of "Refining Rhetoric," CEO Robert Bortins explores the intricate world of Bitcoin, emphasizing its relevance amidst rising inflation and the depreciating value of fiat currencies. Whether you're new to cryptocurrency or seeking to expand your understanding, this episode offers valuable insights into Bitcoin's role as digital gold and its potential as a hedge against inflation.   R...

In this episode of "Refining Rhetoric," CEO Robert Bortins interviews Kathy Gibbens, a dedicated homeschool mom, business owner, and host of the "Filter It through a Brain Cell" podcast. They dive deep into the realms of critical thinking, logical fallacies, and the importance of discerning truth in an era dominated by relativism and emotional appeals. Join them as they explore how classical educa...

In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert Bortins and Chris Blackburn discuss the "He Gets Us" campaign, exploring whether it accurately represents Jesus's teachings and its impact on society's view of faith. They delve into the challenges of depicting religious figures in modern media and what that means for viewers. Listen in for a compelling talk on how faith is portrayed today and its effec...

What if you sold your house and homeschooled in an RV? In this "Refining Rhetoric" episode, host Robert Bortins chats with Adam Powers, a veteran turned homeschooling dad living in an RV with his family. He offers advice to dads on getting involved in their children's education and discusses the benefits and challenges of their unique lifestyle.    The Copper Lodge Library series from Classical Co...

In this episode of "Refining Rhetoric," Robert Bortins and Chris Blackburn explore the consequences of U.S. payments to Iran, linking them to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, rising oil prices, and inflation. Through a classical education perspective, they discuss the importance of informed citizenship and community engagement in tackling these issues. The episode concludes with a Classical Crypto s...

Do you want to know to be more organized, confident, and influential? In this "Refining Rhetoric" episode, Robert Bortins hosts Mark Ramsay of Hip Socket, discussing the fusion of classical education with modern business strategies. The conversation also touches on the importance of early work experiences for students and previews Mark's upcoming book, "The Lost Tools of Business," highlighting th...

In this episode of "Refining Rhetoric," Robert focuses on the United States' declining birth rates and its societal implications. The discussion centers on the need to revive traditional family values and Christian principles to counteract this trend. Additionally, for Classical Crypto, Will touches on the SEC's approval of Bitcoin ETFs and its potential impact on finance.     You're invited to ou...

In this episode of "Refining Rhetoric," host Robert Bortins is joined by historian and author Jane Hampton Cook. They discuss the importance of original source documents in understanding the Founding Fathers, the role of integrity in leadership, and the challenges of modern media and freedom of speech.   CC parents, tutors, and Directors—sign up for the Classical Learning Cohort to level up your s...

Robert discusses the recent controversy surrounding Harvard University and its former president, Claudine Gay. The episode delves into the issues of plagiarism, diversity, and critical race theory at Harvard, highlighting how Claudine's hiring was influenced more by her race and gender than her academic excellence. Robert also explores the broader implications of such ideologies in academia and so...

Does a college degree guarantee a job? In this episode, Robert talks with Dr. Benjamin Merkle, president of New Saint Andrews College, a classical Christian college in Idaho. In their conversation, Ben speaks to why NSA and other colleges are looking for students with a classical education background, how NSA is able to keep their tuition costs affordable and transparent, how a college can keep a...

What is truth? Our world is overrun with subjective truth, postmodernism, and emotionalism, where everyone's "truth" is equally valid and there's no such thing as objective truth. But this is a lie. As Refining Rhetoric is all about seeking the capital-T Truth in every arena of life, throughout the course of 2023 Robert asked his guests to weigh in with their definitions of truth. In this wrap-up...

Are video games good for your child? Some can be! In this episode of Refining Rhetoric , Robert talks with Brent Dusin, founder and CEO of TruPlay Games, a media company creating video games, comics, and video content centered on stories with a Christian worldview. With high-quality Christian content and no in-app purchases, no chatrooms, and no ads, TruPlay is truly unique in the video game indus...

Can civility save our country? In this episode, Robert talks with Alexandra Hudson, an award-winning journalist, speaker, and author of the book The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves . "A refugee from the federal government," Alexandra grew up in a home that prioritized politeness and viewed education as a lifestyle. Yet when she began working for the U.S. Departm...

Are you your child's best teacher? In this episode, Robert reacts to a video of Leigh Bortins and Corey McKeown, director of the Trinity Homeschool Academy (T.E.A.C.H.) in Tampa, Florida, discussing the rise of homeschooling with Pete Hegseth on Fox and Friends. In the video, Corey explains why there has been an explosion of homeschooling in her state due to the success of homeschool co-ops where...

What should your child's classical education look like in the modern world? In this episode, Robert talks with Andrew Kern, founder and president of the CiRCE Institute, co-author of The Lost Tools of Writing , and one of the leading figures in the classical education movement. Here, Andrew identifies why the true purpose of classical education is to cultivate wisdom and virtue through the nourish...

Is the earth really only a few thousand years old? In this episode, Robert speaks to Eric Hovind, founder of Creation Today, a Christian apologetics ministry with a mission to share the Gospel to the entire world. Eric relates his personal testimony and journey with apologetics, clarifies what "apologetics" really means, delves into his approach to apologetics in the digital age, underscores the c...

Is there hope for Gen Z? In this current events episode, Robert explores the reasons why Gen Z boys are leaning conservative twice as much as liberal, as discovered by a recent survey that contradicts the widely held narrative that Gen Z has a leftist bent. Then, in Classical Crypto, Will returns to consider what might happen to the crypto market if the government shuts down and to give a quick ov...

We plan for all the major goals in our lives—retirement, a career, a new car or home purchase. So, why don't most of us create plans for raising our children, which is far more important? In this episode, Robert speaks to Dr. Josh Mulvihill, an author, speaker, and advocate for family discipleship and biblical parenting. Josh was a church pastor for twenty years and now serves on the board of Awan...

Can movies save education? Here, Robert talks for the second time on Refining Rhetoric with Hollywood actress, podcast host, and Classical Conversations® parent and Director Sam Sorbo about her family's upcoming film Miracle in East Texas . The film, delayed due to COVID-19, is now coming to theaters nationwide for an exclusive release on the weekend of October 29–30 and tells the true story of th...