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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#238
Wednesday · 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
#223
June 3 · 51 min
Do Comprehension Questions Kill the Joy of Reading? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
It's another Mailbag episode of Classical Et Cetera! This week the Core Four tackles your questions on several topics, including whether comprehension questions steal the joy of reading, how to school multiple children together as a family, and whether your kids even need to know why they're learning Latin. We also dig into the difference between the classical virtues and the fruits of the Spirit, and what to do with the Lord's name in vain when it shows up in literature. Send us your questions at podcast@memoriapress.com. *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "After Midnight" Daphne Du Maurier (Paul) "Brideshead Revisited" Evelyn Waugh (Tanya) "Ironwood" Michael Connelly (Martin) "The Marriage Portrait" Maggie O'Farrell (Jessica) "Cloud Cuckoo Land" Anthony Doerr (Jessica)
#222
May 27 · 43 min
How to Approach Nudity in Classical Art with Students
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ the team discusses how classical educators and parents should approach nudity in classical art with students. What is the difference between beauty and sensuality? Why did classical artists portray the human form the way they did? And how can teachers guide students toward wisdom, dignity, and discernment when studying great works of art? For those interested, here is Kyle Janke’s extended preface on nudity in classical art from _A Classical History of Art_ . In it, he explains the distinction between classical and modern views of the human body, beauty, and the purpose of art: https://www.memoriapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/A-Classical-History-of-Art-Preface.pdf/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=222 Learn more about Kyle Janke’s _A Classical History of Art_ course here: https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/art-and-music/a-classical-history-of-art-set/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=222 What We're Reading from This Episode: The Burnout Generation —Anne Helen Petersen (Paul) Galahad and the Grail —Malcolm Guite (Kyle) Lila —Marilynne Robinson (Kyle) This Is Happiness —Niall Williams (Tanya) The Fountains of Silence —Ruta Sepetys (Jessica) The Odyssey —Homer (Jessica)
#221
May 20 · 43 min
Are Homeschoolers Socialized Enough?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common objections to homeschooling: socialization. Are homeschoolers actually missing out socially? Do children really need classrooms and constant peer interaction to grow into mature, capable adults? We discuss the fears many parents face, the assumptions behind modern schooling, and what truly forms children. From co-ops and friendships to peer culture and family life, we explore how homeschooling shapes social development and why “socialization” may not mean what most people think it does. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on homeschooling, community, and raising well-formed children. *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "Time of the Child" Niall Williams (Kathy) "The Dean's Watch" Elizabeth Goudge (Kathy) "This is Happiness" Niall Williams (Tanya) "The Labours of Hercules" Agatha Christie (Tanya) "The Violent Bear It Away" Flannery O'Connor (Paul)
#220
May 13 · 41 min
Is Classical Education Too Hard? Too Rigid? Too Old-Fashioned?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we discuss the “how” behind classical education. Why do we emphasize memorization, repetition, teacher-led classrooms, and rigorous books? Are these methods outdated, or are they essential to meaningful learning? We explore the purpose behind what we do, respond to common criticisms, and discuss how structure, discussion, discipline, and intellectual formation work together to shape not just knowledgeable students, but thoughtful and virtuous human beings.
#219
May 6 · 45 min
What Actually Makes an Education “Classical”?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we ask a foundational question: What actually makes an education “classical”? Is classical education simply a collection of methods and old books, or are there essential pillars that cannot be removed? The Core Four discuss Latin, literature, moral formation, the Western tradition, and why classical education is more than a modern curriculum with classical decorations added on. Join us as we explore what belongs at the center of a truly classical education. *What We're Reading* from This Episode: "Galahad and the Grail" Malcom Guite (Martin) "The Last of the Mohicans" James Fenimore Cooper (Martin) "Smiling Through the Cultural Catastrophe" Jeffery Hart (Martin) "The Sea Hawk" Rafael Sabatini (Paul) "Mary Poppins" Pamela Lyndon Travers (Paul) "The Confederacy of Dunces" John Kennedy Toole (Paul) "A Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens (Tanya) "Fountains of Silence" Ruta Sepetys (Jessica)

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