Classical Et Cetera

The Memoria Press Podcast Network

Join the educators, authors, publishers, and visionaries at Memoria Press to unpack and understand the world of classical education.

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#243
Wednesday · 44 min
The Best From 1500–1799
Classical Et Cetera continues our best-books-by-century series, this time spanning 1500 to 1799 — from Gutenberg's press to the eve of the Romantics. Returning guest Kyle Janke joins Jessica, Paul, and Tanya to build a reading list from Don Quixote, Shakespeare, Paradise Lost, and more. Along the way: is Dracula secretly a Christian classic, why this era gave us more thinkers than storytellers, and how to read difficult old books without giving up. Don Quixote – Cervantes Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe Moll Flanders – Daniel Defoe The Vicar of Wakefield – Oliver Goldsmith Tom Jones – Henry Fielding Paradise Lost – John Milton Pilgrim's Progress – John Bunyan Gulliver's Travels – Jonathan Swift Candide – Voltaire The Faerie Queene – Edmund Spenser Lyrical Ballads – Wordsworth & Coleridge Shakespeare John Donne George Herbert Samuel Johnson The King James Bible Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire – Edward Gibbon Descartes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Adam Smith, Machiavelli, Thomas More Newton, Galileo, Copernicus Common Sense – Thomas Paine The U.S. Constitution The Federalist Papers Benjamin Franklin's autobiography Jonathan Edwards, Cotton Mather *Best Books by Era* Greece: https://youtu.be/dijEqf0kcAM?si=9kVIpElDUhPlexqW Rome: https://youtu.be/gMcuWkz6XQ4?si=HzXnHEfm6wQBlzhz Middle Ages: https://youtu.be/rDB05FAPP0U?si=YuKH062Kr6uBrRak
#242
September 23 · 45 min
Teaching a Child to Read: Where to Start & What Works
Can your child sound out a word, or just guess from the picture? On this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ , Jessica, Martin, and Paul are joined by returning guest Michelle Tefertiller to talk about teaching a child to read! We cover how to know if your child is reading-ready, what mastery actually looks like, where to start, and why a step-by-step phonics approach works when guessing doesn't. Whether you're just beginning to teach reading or wondering if you're on the right track, this one's for you. Learn more about our program here: Phonics & Spelling | Memoria Press: Classical Education What We're Reading from This Episode: "Wisdom and Innocence" Joseph Pearce (Martin) "The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales" The Brothers' Grimm (Paul) "Between Shades of Gray" Ruta Sepetys (Jessica) "The Iliad" Homer (Michelle)
#241
September 16 · 48 min
Everyone You Know Is a Character in Shakespeare
Why do we spend so much time on William Shakespeare, and is he still worth it? This _Classical Et Cetera_ talks about why Shakespeare remains everywhere, even in a culture that rarely reads him. From his mastery of human nature to Harold Bloom's idea that Shakespeare "invented the human," this conversation makes the case for reading him well. Start where it works for you, and remember that reading just one play is a real accomplishment! Browse our Shakespeare Collection: https://www.memoriapress.com/shakespeare/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=237 *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" Alexander McCall Smith (Martin) "Wisdom and Innocence" Joseph Pearce (Martin) "Christy" Catherine Marshall (Tanya) "But For The Grace" Peter Grainger (Tanya) "Girl With a Pearl Earring" Tracy Chevalier (Tanya) "Growth of the Soil" Knut Hamsun (Paul) "The Trumpet of the Swan" E. B. White (Paul) "Winnie-the-Pooh" A. A. Milne (Jeremy) "The Abolition of Man" C. S. Lewis (Jeremy)
#240
September 9 · 47 min
The Grandparent's Role in Homeschooling and Classical Education
Every child needs support in their educational upbringing, and grandparents are often the ones who provide it! In this Classical Et Cetera Michelle Tefertiller joins Paul, Tanya, and Martin to talk about the role grandparents can play in education, whether at home or in a classical school. From reading aloud and celebrating small victories to filling gaps and simply being there on the hard days, grandparents offer something that no curriculum can. Their support may be what children remember most! *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "The Iliad" Homer (Michelle) "Growth of the Soil" Knut Hamsun (Paul) "The Kid from Tomkinsville" John R. Tunis (Martin) "The Innocence of G.K. Chesterton" Gerald Bullett (Martin) "Christy" Catherine Marshall (Tanya)
#239
September 8 · 43 min
What a Norwegian Brain Study Reveals About Handwriting
Why teach handwriting when everyone types? This Classical Et Cetera makes the case for penmanship in a classical education—and the reasons run deeper than nostalgia. Veteran first-grade teacher Julia Lasoi joins us to explain what handwriting forms in a child that a keyboard never will: from the Norwegian brain research on writing by hand, to the discipline and beauty of forming each letter, to the surprising return of mandated cursive in America. Browse our penmanship curriculum right here! https://www.memoriapress.com/penmanship/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=235 *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "Between Shades of Gray" Ruta Sepetys (Tanya) "A Natural History of Dragons" Marie Brennan (Tanya) "The Glassmaker" Tracy Chevalier (Tanya) "A History of Philosophy: Volume I" Frederick Copleston (Martin) "The Screwtape Letters" C.S. Lewis (Julia) "Battling Unbelief" John Piper (Julia)
#238
August 26 · 48 min
When Should You Teach Your Child to Read? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
The core four are back for another mailbag episode! We're answering questions like: When should you teach your child to read? How do you use Memoria Press with non-native English speakers and families overseas? How do you teach the Reformation without taking sides? Plus more! Thanks to everyone who wrote in. Keep the questions coming by emailing us as podcast@memoriapress.com! *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "Silas Marner" George Eliot (Paul) "After Humanity" Michael Ward (Tanya) "The Abolition of Man" C.S. Lewis (Tanya) "An Accidental Death" Peter Grainger (Tanya) "Politics" Aristotle (Martin) "A History of Philosophy: Volume I" Frederick Copleston (Martin)
#237
August 19 · 45 min
Music and Art Were Never Meant To Be Electives
How do you teach music from a classical perspective? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Carol Reynolds joins us to make the case that music and the arts were never meant to be a "Friday elective." Whether you're a new teacher, a homeschool parent, or someone who never learned to read a note, this conversation offers real footing: why the pedagogy already exists, why folk songs and hymns are the foundation, and how short, familiar works can do more than grand masterpieces. Practical, encouraging, and full of reassurance for teaching music at any level. *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "The Odyssey" Homer (Martin) "Against the Grain" Peter Lovesey (Tanya) "The Abolition of Man" C.S. Lewis (Tanya) "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris" David McCullough (Carol) "The Romance of Orthodoxy" Fr. Homer F. Rogers (Carol) "Land" Maggie O'Farrell (Jessica)
#236
August 14 · 41 min
Tolkien's Hidden Gem: Farmer Giles of Ham
Margin Notes is back! This week, the gang tackles J.R.R. Tolkien's short story, _Farmer Giles of Ham_ . A humble farmer accidentally scares off a giant, earns a legendary sword, and ends up face to face with a dragon—all while the king and his knights argue about their hats. The conversation covers greed, good and bad pride, government incompetence, and what Tolkien is really saying about the common man as hero. Margin Notes is a book club podcast from the team behind Classical Et Cetera, where host Paul Schaefer sits down with three classically educated undergraduates to discuss one great book per episode. Get your copy of _Farmer Giles of Ham_ right here: https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/read-alouds/farmer-giles-of-ham/
#235
August 12 · 29 min
Standardized Testing Is Broken. Here's the Fix.
What if standardized testing isn't the problem—but the tests themselves are? Jeremy Tate, founder of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), joins Classical Et Cetera to explain why the SAT and ACT keep getting easier, and how a test built on the Western tradition could change what students read, learn, and become. Learn more about the CLT right here: Classic Learning Test (CLT) - Assessments for Grades 3-12 *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "A Natural History of Dragons" Marie Brennan (Tanya) "Villete" Charlotte Bronte (Paul) "The Things We Never Say" Elizabeth Strout (Jessica) "The Brothers Karamazov" Fyodor Dostoevsky (Jeremy) "The Body Teaches the Soul" Justin Whitmel Earley (Jeremy)
#234
August 11 · 51 min
Frankenstein Review - Who is the Real Villain? | Great Books Explained
Margin Notes is back, and on this episode the group tackles Mary Shelley's Frankenstein! The conversation covers the danger of playing God, the necessity of community, and the question at the heart of the book—is the creature truly a villain, or a victim of the man who created him and the world that rejected him?
#233
August 5 · 49 min
Macbeth Review - Beyond the Play | Discussions, Questions & Analysis
Margin Notes is back! This time, the gang tackles William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The conversation covers ambition and its consequences, the danger of consequentialism, and the age-old question of fate versus free will. Is Macbeth the villain of his own story, or a victim of forces beyond his control? Margin Notes is a book club podcast from the team behind Classical Et Cetera, where host Paul Schaefer sits down with three classically educated undergraduates to discuss one great story per episode. Purchase Macbeth right here! Macbeth - Memoria Press: Classical Education
#232
July 29 · 45 min
Classical Et Cetera Reacts to Nolan’s Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has finally arrived—and the Classical Et Cetera team went to see it together! In this episode, we discuss our reactions to Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic poem and ask the big questions: Can a modern film capture the spirit of an ancient hero? Was it a faithful adaptation, or a great film that tells a very different story? What do we gain and lose when a classical work is reimagined for a modern audience? Purchase our _Odyssey_ Complete Set right here! https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/classical-studies/odyssey-set/231 *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "The Great Divorce" C.S. Lewis (Paul) "The End of the Affair" Graham Greene (Paul) "The Abolition of Man" C.S. Lewis (Tanya) "A Natural History of Dragons" Marie Brennan (Tanya) "Absent in the Spring" Mary Westmacott (Tanya) "The Hadacol Boogie" James Lee Burke (Tanya) "Will Robie Series" David Baldacci (Martin) "Land" Maggie O'Farrell (Jessica)
#231
July 22 · 1 hr 7 min
The Return of the Epic: Malcolm Guite and Arthurian Legends
Poet and priest Malcolm Guite joins Classical Et Cetera to talk about his award-winning Arthurian epic, Galahad and the Grail! We explore why the great stories still matter, how he writes poetry meant to be read aloud, and what it means to recover wonder in a modern age. This is a conversation about poetry, legend, and the enduring power of the imagination. We hope you enjoy it! *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "The Sign of the Four" Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Malcom) "The Boundless Deep" Richard Holmes (Maclcom) "Farewell, My Lovely" Raymond Chandler (Martin) "Dominion" Tom Holland (Martin) "Absent in the Spring" Mary Westmacott (Tanya) "Death of a Pig" E.B. White (Tanya)
#230
July 15 · 41 min
Homer Goes Hollywood: Your Odyssey Guide Before the Movie
Everything You Need to Know Before Nolan's Odyssey Read These Translations Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of _The Odyssey_ is almost here, so the team is sitting down to revisit Homer's epic! They walk through the poem's structure and themes—the long journey home, Penelope and the suitors, Telemachus coming of age, and what a pagan world teaches us. Then they compare the major translations (Butler, Wilson, Fagles, and more) and offer recommendations for young readers and adults alike. Finally: what they hope Nolan gets right, and what to know before seeing the film. Purchase our _Odyssey_ Complete Set right here! https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/classical-studies/odyssey-set/229
#229
July 8 · 37 min
Turn Off the TV & Read More Books | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
This week is another Classical Et Cetera Mailbag episode! We're answering your questions on cursive, how teachers and parents both bear responsibility for a child's education, how to build a love of reading in a large family, and whether it's wise to let a child specialize in one talent or sport. We also talk through what it looks like to raise children with classical, Christian values when your surrounding community doesn't share them. Send us more questions at podcast@memoriapress.com! *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "Farmer Giles of Ham" J.R.R. Tolkien (Paul) "The Calamity Club" Kathryn Stockett (Tanya) "Northanger Abbey" Jane Austen (Tanya) "The Christmas Companion" Skye McAlpine (Dee) "City of God" St. Augustine (Dee) "Things We Never Say" Elizabeth Strout (Jessica) "To Kill a Mockingbird" Harper Lee (Paul) "Notes from Underground" Fyodor Dostoevsky (Paul)
#228
July 1 · 36 min
What History Teaches Us About Classical Education
How old is classical education, and where does it come from? Today, we answer a listener question and dig into the history—Greece, Rome, and beyond—to show that classical education is older than you think. And no matter where you're from, this tradition has room for you. Join the conversation! *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "The Violent Bear It Away" Flannery O'Connor (Paul) "The Country of the Pointed Firs" Sarah Orne Jewett (Tanya)
#227
June 24 · 40 min
The Greatest Medieval Literature: Dante, Beowulf, and Beyond
The Middle Ages aren't just the Dark Ages! It's one of the richest literary eras in Western history. This week's Classical Et Cetera finds Jessica, Tanya, Paul, and Dr. Dan Scheffler building a reading list for the medieval world. From Beowulf and the Arthurian legends to Dante's Divine Comedy, Boethius, and Thomas Aquinas, there's so much to read here. Whether you're new to medieval literature or filling in the gaps, this conversation will show you what to read, where to start, and why these books still matter. Best Books of the Middle Ages (476–1450 AD) Literature picks: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Beowulf Le Morte d'Arthur Canterbury Tales The Song of Roland Troubadour/lyric poetry of the Middle Ages The Decameron Philosophy & Theology picks: Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Anselm Bede The Divine Comedy C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image
#226
June 23 · 50 min
Introducing Margin Notes: A Book Club from Memoria Press
Margin Notes is a new book club podcast from the team behind Classical Et Cetera! Join Paul Schaeffer and three undergraduate students—each educated with Memoria Press curriculum—as they tackle great books and why they matter. We're starting with Wendell Berry's "Fidelity," a short story about a farming community in rural Kentucky. At its heart, this story is about what it means to belong somewhere: both to a place and to a people. It's a beautiful and moving piece of writing, and it made for a great first conversation. Purchase the book right here! https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/mcp/fidelity/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=MARGINNOTES&utm_campaign=001 #classicaleducation #highlandslatinschool #notredamecollege #lipscomb #bayloruniversity
#225
June 17 · 43 min
My Child Refuses to Do Schoolwork. Here's What Actually Helps.
Every homeschool parent hits this wall. In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common and frustrating challenges in home education: the child who just won't do the work. Is it attitude, or is something else going on? We discuss how to diagnose the real problem, why outside accountability matters more than you think, and what simple changes actually move the needle. If you're in the thick of it, this one's for you. *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "Farmer Giles of Ham" J.R.R. Tolkien (Paul) "The Marriage Portrait" Maggie O'Farrell (Jessica) "The Calamity Club" Kathryn Stockett (Tanya) "Miss Benson's Beetle" Rachel Joyce (Tanya) "Why Knowledge Matters" E.D. Hirsch (Martin) "The Schools We Need" E.D. Hirsch (Martin) "The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion" Beth Brower (Martin)
#224
June 10 · 35 min
The Best Resources for Classical Education: Journals, Books & More
What are the most essential resources for classical education, and where do you even begin? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Jessica, Paul, Tanya, and Martin share the books, journals, and periodicals that have most shaped their thinking on classical education. From Climbing Parnassus and G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy to the Wall Street Journal's review section, this is the list that we keep coming back to! Resources mentioned in this episode: • Climbing Parnassus - Tracy Lee Simmons • The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them - E.D. Hirsch • Orthodoxy - G.K. Chesterton • In Defense of Classical Education - Livingston • Seven Myths About Education - Daisy Christodoulou • Great Ideas from the Great Books - Mortimer Adler • Student's Guide series - Intercollegiate Studies Institute • Modern Age, The New Criterion, First Things magazines • Simply Classical - Cheryl Swope • The Classical Teacher magazine (free subscription on memoriapress.com) Have a question for the podcast? Email us at podcast@memoriapress.com

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