Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

Latest Episodes:

What We Can Learn From Historical Fiction with Jim Hodges of Jim Hodges Audiobooks Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

What can we learn from reading (or listening to) historical fiction? In this episode, Robert interviews Jim Hodges of Jim Hodges Audiobooks, a beloved resource among families around the world, most notably for productions of the historical novels of G. A. Henty. Here, Jim discusses his life before founding Jim Hodges Audiobooks: what homeschooling was like in the 1980s as a military family, being a reluctant homeschooler turned homeschool advocate, and how one teacher's encouragement changed the trajectory of his life. Later, he praises G. A. Henty's historical fiction, sharing what these novels can teach readers about history and godly, heroic masculinity. With decades of experience reading and narrating both historical nonfiction and fiction, Jim also recalls the most important lessons he has learned from history. And finally, as one making a living from his passion, he offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Show notes: RefiningRhetoric.com/jim-hodges

Join Leigh Bortins every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. eastern on the Words Aptly Spoken book club! To learn more, visit LeighBortins.com/book-club-info.

Telling the Future with the 15 Tools & Why Classical Crypto Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

In this shorter-than-usual episode, Robert uses the fifteen tools of classical learning to understand current events and cryptocurrency. First, he examines why property taxes are causing citizens of blue cities to relocate to red states and how these property taxes are related to the government funding of private education through school vouchers. In the Classical Crypto segment, Robert goes back to the basics and explains why this segment is a part of Refining Rhetoric. He discusses the history of money and how Bitcoin solves many of the fiat-related problems that have been around since money first became a store of value.

Show notes: RefiningRhetoric.com/telling-the-future

Get tickets for the upcoming film Miracle in East Texas, directed by Kevin Sorbo and starring both Kevin and Sam Sorbo (a Classical Conversations® family), at SorboStudios.com.

Why a Homeschool Dad is Running for NC Lieutenant Governor with Allen Mashburn Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

Our nation is only as great as our families. In this episode, Robert interviews pastor Allen Mashburn, running candidate for North Carolina Lieutenant Governor. Allen is a pastor of over twenty-five years, a podcast host, and a homeschool dad. Here, Allen focuses on the importance of the nuclear family, the Christian's and the church's roles in politics (drawing from biblical examples), what it means to be the salt and light of the earth, and why he, as a pastor, is running for office. In addition, Robert and Allen discuss gun control and safety (including nuances like permitless carry), the next steps in fighting abortion post the Dobbs decision, spiritual warfare in politics, and why the 2024 presidential election may be the most important yet in our country. This is a conversation for more than just NC residents, addressing crucial issues at a national level.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/allen-mashburn

Get your copy of Scribblers at Home: Recipes from Lifelong Learners today and start encouraging your children to develop strong learning habits early on at ScribblersatHome.com.

Doing Hard Things for Christ with Robert's Executive Assistant Sara Sullards [Challenge Series] Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

In this first-ever in-person episode, Robert interviews Sara Sullards, his Executive Assistant and a Classical Conversations® Challenge graduate, about doing hard things for Christ. Encouraged by her parents and inspired by the book Do Hard Things, Sara was called to mission work at an early age. In this conversation, she describes how God strengthened her faith through mission trips to Alaska, how an intentional prayer life can make all the difference in one's faith, and why teenagers should consider serving on mission trips, as well as suggesting a few ways parents can encourage their children to hone their spiritual gifts. In addition, Sara shares how she came to work for Classical Conversations and what it's really like working at the home office. Post-interview, Robert considers whether businesses should adapt to using AI tools and Will recaps the recent BRICS summit and Bitcoin's flash crash earlier this month.

Show notes: RefiningRhetoric.com/Sara-Sullards

Get your discount on Museum of the Bible tickets by logging into your CC Connected account, and learn more about what's happening at the museum on their website at MuseumoftheBible.org.

From Classroom to Cockpit: A Classical Conversations Alumnus Soars as Pilot and Mentor with Mayson Foster [Challenge Series]] Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Are Classical Conversations® students equipped to pursue their passions? Continuing this month's theme of bringing Challenge students and graduates onto the show, Robert welcomes Mayson Foster, a flight instructor at Louisiana Tech University, to share about his journey from homeschooling to becoming a pilot. Mayson discusses the path to earning a pilot's license, the value of his family's support in this journey, and how being classically educated equipped him with the knowledge and skills to succeed. Plus, the two discuss the national shortage of commercial airline pilots and potential solutions to this crisis. From recalling his first flight to sharing the life lessons he has learned from flying, Mayson encourages Challenge students that achieving their dreams is possible. After their conversation, Robert analyzes the effects of the UPS shipping strike and Will discusses Twitter's rebrand to X, the platform's potential integration of XRP, and the crypto token Chainlink.

Show notes: RefiningRhetoric.com/Mayson-Foster

Join Leigh Bortins every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. eastern on the Words Aptly Spoken book club! To learn more, visit LeighBortins.com/book-club-info.

Regulating Memes, Creative Entrepreneurship, and More with Micah Burk [Challenge Series] Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Is entrepreneurship a real career? In this conversation, Robert talks with Micah Burk, a Classical Conversations® Challenge graduate and recent college graduate of Oklahoma Christian University, where she studied public communications and leadership development and served as student body president. Starting her first business at age eleven, Micah shares her experience finding her feet in the world of entrepreneurship—from founding a social media agency and landing a first client to viewing her business as a creative outlet and why rejecting clients is sometimes the best decision. In addition, Micah speaks to what it means to achieve success as a Christian, offers book recommendations (and general reading advice) for driven individuals, shares her thoughts on why teenagers should get involved in politics, and discusses the importance of knowing your "why" when it comes to achieving goals. Finally, Micah addresses a question on every homeschool parent's mind for their student: did she feel prepared for college? After their conversation, Robert breaks down the Biden administration's recent ban on incandescent light bulbs and examines the UK's attempt to hold crypto memes up to financial guidelines.

Show notes: RefiningRhetoric.com/Micah-Burk

A Classical Conversations® parent who recently completed the Classical Learning Cohort said that the program helped her to become "a better communicator, listener, assessor, and teacher in [her] home with [her] girls." To learn more about the Classical Learning Cohort, visit ClassicalConversations.com/Cohort.

Flipping the Script: Challenge Student Interviews Robert | Featuring Dominic DiPiero Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

The script is flipped in this episode as Robert takes the seat of the interviewee while Classical Conversations® Challenge student Dominic DiPiero asks him both professional and personal questions. In their quick conversation recorded at our 2022 National Conference, Robert shares his favorite part about working for Classical Conversations, what program he would go back and enroll in, advice for students entering Challenge, why Challenge graduates excel in the workplace, how he spends his spare time, and what Classical Conversations' goals are for the long-term future. Post-interview, Robert uses the fifteen tools of learning to analyze the Hunter Biden/IRS situation and then considers Congressman Ritchie Torres's view that the SEC should stop viewing cryptocurrencies as securities in the wake of the SEC v. Ripple case.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/dominic-dipiero

Healthy assessments strengthen families. To learn which homeschool testing options are available for your student, visit classicalconversations.com/assessment-options.

Restoration of the Mind: A Biblical Approach to the Mental Health Crisis with Danielle Hodges [Challenge Series] Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

August is CC student month! In this conversation, Robert speaks with Danielle Hodges, a Classical Conversations® Challenge graduate currently enrolled at Truett McConnell University studying to become a biblical counselor. After experiencing firsthand God's healing through biblical counseling during her teen years, she has made it a goal to pursue helping others in a similar way through a Christ-centered approach to counseling. Here, Danielle discusses the differences between secular and biblical counseling, examples of counseling in the Scriptures, why Gen Z members are making mental health issues part of their identities, resources and tactics for listeners to learn about biblical counseling and apply its principles in everyday conversations, and her thoughts on the causes and impacts of the teenage mental health crisis, considering whether or not social media is to blame. Plus, Danielle shares how God used her relationship with her mom to help her overcome anxiety as a teenager. Stay tuned after the interview as Robert examines whether recent inflation statistics are being falsely reported and Will celebrates the upcoming conclusion to the SEC v. Ripple case.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/danielle-hodges

Transformative Theology with Dr. Samuel Bierig of Spurgeon College Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

What does learning true biblical theology at a college level look like? In this episode, Robert sits down with Dr. Samuel Bierig. A Classical Conversations® dad, Sam is the vice president of undergraduate studies, college dean, and assistant professor of biblical studies at Spurgeon College, a private Christian college in Kansas City, Missouri. In this conversation, Sam discusses what it means to be a good shepherd, the importance of hermeneutics and exegesis, balancing multiple responsibilities, strategies for reading the whole Bible in one year, why a college degree is still worth the cost, and all things Spurgeon College—including degrees, core values, and the school's focus on the true biblical theology. After the interview, Robert explains why thousands of new jobs are affecting the stock market and examines Bitcoin's recent 13-month high.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/samuel-bierig

What Gen. Z Wants From Education with Dr. Charles Scott | Oral Roberts University Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

What does it mean to offer students a "whole-person education"? In this third conversation in our college series this July, Robert sits down with Dr. Charles Scott, the Vice President of External Affairs at Oral Roberts University (ORU), a private Christian college located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose mission is "to develop Holy Spirit-empowered leaders through whole-person education to impact the world." They discuss what a whole-person education looks like practically at ORU, what cultural challenges college students face today, how to prepare students for work as worship, how to engage Generation Z students for Christ, and how Christ-centered businesses can serve the community around them. After the interview, Robert addresses the lowest decline in writing and math scores in decades in the U.S. and Will explains Blackrock's proposed Bitcoin ETF.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/charles-scott

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