Stay ConnectedThe Commons, hosted by Brian Phillips, features conversations and contemplations about school life and leadership. Whether you are a headmaster or a homeschooling mom, these conversations are here to help your vocation with purpose, wisdom, and virtue.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this final episode of season four, Brian Phillips reflects on changes in classroom culture and the role technology has played in those changes. The days of walking into a high school or college classroom and asking students to quiet down seem long gone. So what does that mean for teachers?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Brian Phillips and Matt Bianco discuss how parents are portrayed in film and the media. Is the apparent “war on the family” intentionally destructive, or are parent portrayals rooted in something else entirely?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the episode, Brian Phillips talks with Dr. Gordon Wilson (Senior Fellow of Natural History at New St. Andrews College) about his recent works: A Different Shade of Green: A Biblical Approach to Environmentalism & the Dominion Mandate and The Riot & the Dance (which includes a biology text and two stunning feature-length documentary films).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week's episode, Brian Phillips and Matt Bianco talk about conflict, difficult people, and learning to deal wisely with both.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips interviews Dr. Pano Kanelos (President of St. John’s College), to discuss life at St. John’s, classical education at the college level, and the spirit of inquiry.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to season four of The Commons with Dr. Brian Phillips! In episode 4.1 classical educator and pastor’s wife Dana Gage joins Brian Phillips for a talk about how classical education and church life intersect. Gage tells her story of what it’s like to serve as both a teacher and pastor’s wife in NYC, and further discusses her article, “Neglecting the House of God?”
If you like this episode please be sure to rate and review wherever you get podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Classical educators frequently discuss Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, but of these three, Beauty is the most misunderstood. In this episode of The Commons, a podcast about school leadership, Dr. Brian Phillips is joined by Brian Daigle of Mud House Art for a conversation about Beauty and aesthetics in our schools and homeschools.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
St. Benedict wrote that an abbot should "so regulate and arrange all matters that souls may be saved and the brothers may go about their activities without justifiable grumbling." In this episode, Brian Phillips explores that idea, reflecting on how we can lead our schools and home schools in ways that bless those we serve.
Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
In the episode, Brian discusses our tendency to assume the worst of others, our "age of outrage," and how we must guard ourselves and our schools against it.
Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brian Phillips is joined by Keith McCurdy, President and CEO of Total Life Counseling in Roanoke, Virginia. In addition to his over 30 years of counseling experience, Mr. McCurdy has spoken at the annual conferences for the Society for Classical Learning (SCL) and the Association of Christian and Classical Schools (ACCS).
In this episode, Brian and Keith discuss the value of struggle, how hardship makes us stronger, and how those truths can be applied by parents and teachers alike.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to the Commons, a podcast about school leadership with Dr. Brian Phillips. On this week's episode Brian continues his reflections on enduring during the challenging month of February, with a particular focus on teaching through those "blahs" and the need for persistent prayer.
Remember: Subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
As every educator knows, February is the longest month of the year. In this episode, Brian discusses the important role prayer plays in fighting off the anxiety, apathy, and frustrations of February.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Every teacher and homeschooling parent wrestles with what to read to their students and when to read it, especially when it comes to books with potentially problematic content. So in this episode, Brian Phillips talks with teacher and writer, Angelina Stanford, about the role of magic, wizards, and witchcraft in literature.
Thanks for listening. Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
In this episode Brian contemplates the spiritual nature of leading an academic community, with some help from The Rule of St. Benedict.
Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
This episode is a change of pace as Brian talks with his son, Asher, about homeschooling: a fun but helpful reminder of the ways our students and children view school life.
Remember: Subscribe, rate, review.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Brian offers some thoughts about school life and leadership based on the following quote from Marcus Aurelius:
“First thing every morning tell yourself: today I am going to meet a busybody, an ingrate, a bully, a liar, a schemer, and a boor. Ignorance of good and evil has made them what they are. But I know that the good is by nature beautiful and the bad ugly, and I know that these wrong-doers are by nature my brothers, not by blood or breeding, but by being similarly endowed with reason and sharing in the divine.”
Help us spread the word: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Brian interviews Jennifer Dow (Founder of Paideia Fellowship) about homeschool co-ops: how to start one, how to evaluate one, and how to decide which kind of co-op is right for your family.
Help us spread the word: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
In this episode, Brian is joined by his brilliant daughter, Temperance, for a conversation about books and reading. They discuss favorite book series, reading habits, and a comparison of Middle Earth and Hogwarts!
Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
In this episode, Brian is joined by Jeremy Tate, the President of Classic Learning Initiatives, an organization which created the Classic Learning Test, an alternative to the SAT and ACT, that values tradition more than progressivism. Conversation touches on the history of standardized testing, the current state of testing, why he and his team wanted to offer an alternative, how they pulled that off, and more.
Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to The Commons, a podcast featuring conversations and contemplation about the challenges of school life and leadership, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips.
Here in the first episode of this new season, Brian reflects on the difficulty of decision fatigue, a trial that most leaders know well, and offers some strategies for defeating it.
Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons, which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode seven of season two, Brian Phillips chats with author, speaker, and pastor, Dr. George Grant about the lives, motivations, and influences of some of the key figures of the Great Awakening.
--
This season of The Commons is brought to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons, which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode seven of season two, Brian Phillips chats with guest Gerald Bray, professor at Beeson Divinity School and Knox Theological Seminary, about the lives, motivations, and influences of some of the key figures of the Reformation, including many of the forerunners of the movement.
--
This season of The Commons is brought to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons, which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode six of season two, Brian Phillips chats with guest Karen Marsh, author of Saints and Sinner: 25 Christian Who Transformed My Faith, about the lives of Francis and Clare of Assisi, two of the most venerated and influential figures in Christian history.
--
This season of The Commons is brought to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons, which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode five of season two, Brian Phillips chats with guest David Hicks, author of Norms and Nobility, about the amazing life and incredible influence of St. Benedict, perhaps the most important monk of all time.
--
This season of The Commons is brought to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode four of season two, Brian Phillips chats with guest Karen Wright Marsh, author of Vintage Saints and Sinners: 25 Christians Who Transformed My Faith, about the miraculous life of St. Augustine. Topics include his place in Church history, his struggles, and the influence of his devout, Godly, praying mother.
--
This season of The Commons is brought to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode 2 of season three, Brian Phillips chats with guest Wes Callihan about the life and times of the Cappadocian Fathers: Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Naziansus, and Basil the Great.
--
This season of The Commons is bright to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons which focuses on ten key figures and movements in church history!
Here in episode 2.2 Brian Phillips chats with guest Greg Wilbur about the life and times of St. Ambrose, with a particular consideration of Ambrose's role in developing the hymnography (and modes of worship) of the Christian faith.
--
This season of The Commons is bright to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons which focuses on the key figures and movements in church history.
Here in episode 2.1 Brian Phillips chats with guest Wes Callihan about John Chrysostom's unforgettable role in the early church.
This season of The Commons is bright to you by New College Franklin. Learn more at newcollegefranklin.org.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of The Commons which, as Brian Phillips explains in this short preview, will focus on the key figures and movements in church history.
Every Thursday for the next ten weeks we'll be releasing a new episode exploring the lives and work of people like St. Augustine, the Cappadocian Fathers, St. Benedict, Thomas Aquinas, and the Puritans.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with Dr. Keith McCurdy (M.A., Ed.S.) of Total Life Counseling, about raising sturdy kids. Topics include why parents are so interested in this topic, why struggle is good for children, advice for parent/teacher relationships, the value of academic struggle, growing sturdy children in the homeschool, children and technology, and more.
***
This episode is brought to you by our good friends at New College Franklin. Set up a campus visit now!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with Dr. Craigh Bernthal, professor of English at Cal State Fullerton, about J.R.R. Tolkien. Dr. Bernthal is the author of Tolkien's Sacramental Vision: Discerning the Holy in Middle Earth.
Topics include:
- How Dr. Bernthal discovered a love of Tolkien
- What a sacramental vision is and how Tolkien captures it
- Tolkien as medievel in a modern world
- Tolkien's interesting story
- and much more
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with Dr. Gregory Thornbury, President of The King's College in New York City, about the challenges of running a Christian, Liberal Arts-driven college in a place like New York City.
Topics include:
***
This episode is brought to you by our friends at the Institute for Excellence in Writing, purveyors of Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization. Learn more here.
***
As always, press the arrow above to listen. Or subscribe to the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network via iTunes here or on Stitcher here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with special guest Angelina Stanford about why mystery stories matter as cultural artifacts.
Topics include: why mystery stories are so beloved, why it's right that we love them, how they respond to nihilistic modernism, and much more.
***
This episode is brought to by our friends at Roman Roads Media, purveyors of the Old Western Culture series, featuring Wes Callihan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with our very own Chuck Hicks (head of operations and resident music scholar here at CiRCE) about bluegrass music, the southern agrarians, and classical education.
Topics include:
Musical selections discussed in today's episode:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with David Goodwin, President of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, and Kirk Vanderleest, headmaster at the Ambrose School in Boise, Idaho, about the challenges of school leadership.
Topics include:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Commons, Brian Phillips chats with Dr. Keith McCurdy of Total Life Counseling about raising study kids. Topics include our culture's over-consideration of emotion, what it means to be sturdy, expectations and responsibilities, increased rates of anxiety in our children, dealing with teenagers, the influence of technology on kids, and how to help kids be contributing members of a family.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating, and the ideas they offer us.
In this episode, Brian chats with author S.D. Smith. Conversation touches on his new book, his web project for parents called Story Warren, creating good children's literature for adults, and the relationship between the critic and the curator.
***
If you like this podcast please consider contributing to our end of year fundraising efforts. We need to raise another $6500 in the next 3 weeks. Every amount helps. Head over to circeinstitute.com/donate to help!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating, and the ideas they offer us.
In this episode, Brian chats with our man Matt Bianco about which student is more complete: the jock or the nerd. Discussion centers on the role of music, gymnastics, and play in a classical education, with a hearty helping of Plato along the way.
As always, press the arrow above to listen or subscribe to the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network via iTunes here or on Stitcher here.
***
This episode of the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network is brought to you by The Classic Learning Test, a liberal-arts-based alternative to the SAT and ACT. Learn more at CLTEXAM.COM.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons, hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In this episode, Brian chats with our man Matt Bianco about Ray Bradbury's contemporary classic, Fahrenheit 451, and the connections the guys see between it and the Benedict Option: that is, what does it have to say about living in a culture that is falling apart?
***
This episode of the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network is brought to you by our good friend Professor Carol. Click here to save 25% on all music and art history resources!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brian chats with Jonathan Rogers, author of Saint Patrick (among other biographies), about the remarkable faith - and fascinating legends - of St. Patrick.
***
This episode of the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network is brought to you by New College Franklin and Roman Roads Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, The Commons contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode seven Brian chats with Jonathan Rogers, author of The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O'Connor (among other biographies), about the remarkable faith and challenging work of Flannery O'Connor.
***
This podcast is brought to you by Noet Scholarly Tools.
Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, The Commons contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode six Brian chats with Stephen Mansfield, author of The Search for God and Guinness (among other biographies), about the remarkable legacy of the famous Guinness family, of Guinness beer fame. The Guinness story is a remarkable story of faith, generosity, and compassion you won't want to miss.
***
This podcast is brought to you by:
Noet connects you to the Western tradition—the great books and their timeless wisdom. Noet applies modern research tools to these classic works—smart searches, original-language tools, and more—helping you join the great conversation like never before. Plus, with the free Noet app, you can take the works of the ages with you, wherever you go. Click here to learn more. Use code CIRCE20 at checkout to save 20%!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips, The Commons contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode five Brian chats with scholar, teacher, story-teller, and speaker, Wes Callihan, about the remarkable legacy of St. Gregory of Tours. Topics of conversation include miracles, early Medieval church history, and much more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode three Brian chats with noted pastor, teacher, writer, and speaker, Dr. George Grant, about the legacy - and adventures - of President Theodore Roosevelt. Topics of conversation include Roosevelt's faith, his family, and the times he convinced the Secret Service to let him explore.
***
This episode is brought to you by our dear friend Professor Carol whose Circle of Scholars offers online courses in music and the fine arts (all of which CiRCE listeners can access for free for 90 days here).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode three Brian chats with writer and speaker, Angelina Stanford, about the literary (and Christian) legacy of the Celts. Topics of conversation include the church fathers on the pagan writers, medieval Christian use of allegory, how English literature is really Celtic literature, and much more.
***
Angelina Stanford has an MA in English literature and has taught in various Christian classical classrooms for almost 20 years. She also works as a freelance writer and editor and is a columnist for Home Educating Family magazine. This year she completed her tenth year of homeschooling and she recently joined the online teaching community at the Harvey Center for Family Learning. She is co-host of Close Reads, another podcast from the CiRCE Institute.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode two Brian chats with musician and scholar, Greg Wilbur, about one of history's most important artists: composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Gregory Wilbur is Chief Musician at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN, as well as Dean and Senior Fellow of New College Franklin—a Christian liberal arts college that he helped to start. He enjoys discipling students and walking them through classics of literature, film, and music. He earned his Masters in Music Composition at the University of Alabama. He is the author of Glory and Honor: The Music and Artistic Legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach and has released two CDs of his compositions of congregational psalms, hymns and service music. In addition, he writes for choir, orchestra, film and chamber ensembles. His wife, Sophia, homeschools their daughter, Eleanor, and they all enjoy reading, cooking, taking walks and enjoying life in middle Tennessee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Commons is a brand new podcast from the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network. Hosted by Dr. Brian Phillips this show contemplates the lives and times of people worth imitating.
In episode one Brian chats with Dr. Ben Merkle, author of The White Horse King and president of New Saint Andrews College, about King Alfred the Great, one of history's most underrated characters.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
