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The Mane Event

MVC

The Mane Event focuses on bridging the gap between home and school, with weekly topics geared toward parents, tweens, and teens at Monte Vista Christian School.

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12 episodes
weekly
Avg 22 min
English

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S2026 · E12
Thursday · 27 min
Home Away From Home: Inside MVC's Boarding Community
What does it take for a fourteen-year-old to thrive thousands of miles from home? Kim Dawes and Frank Lopez share how Monta Vista's boarding program builds a "triangle of care" for local and international families alike — through cultural diversity, intentional connection, and a community that feels less like a school and more like an extended family.
S2026 · E11
October 22 · 18 min
Sight Unseen: 25 Years at MVC with Paul & Glenda Lyons
They accepted a job over the phone, drove up in a U-Haul with an eight-month-old, and expected to stay a couple of years. Twenty-five years later, Paul and Glenda Lyons are Centennial honorees and still call MVC home. They look back on the early boarding days, the students who taught them as much as they taught, and their hope that MVC will keep Christ at the center of every classroom for the next hundred years.
S2026 · E10
October 15 · 23 min
Holy Ground: Three Centennial Honorees Come Home
It's Centennial weekend, and Devin Kleffer sits down with honorees Marsha Tarr (arrived 1978), Kent Tarr, and Dr. Tony Dehner (arrived 2002). They talk about the faculty fellowship that shaped the school, the joy of watching a student discover they can learn, and what it means to come home to a campus built on faith. For parents, it's a look at the teachers and the culture behind a school's first hundred years, and what they hope comes next.
S2026 · E9
October 8 · 22 min
Seen at Seventeen: How One Handwritten Note Changed a Student's Story
Dr. Deana Porterfield, MVC class of 1984 and now a university president, returns to campus for the Centennial celebration. She remembers the "non-college prep" label she carried, the music, swim team, and Heritage Trio that built her confidence, and a handwritten note from a school office staffer that she still keeps in her senior book. Host Devin Kleffer talks with her about why every adult on campus matters to a teenager.
S2026 · E8
October 1 · 30 min
What I Wish My Parents Knew About My Stress
Hormones, homework, and a brain that won't fully settle until 25 — it's a lot to carry, and most of it stays unspoken. In this conversation, two people who talk with teens every day walk through what's really driving the stress behind the bedroom door, and offer real, doable ways parents can respond: fewer words that land harder, a mailbox for the conversations too hard to say out loud, and a philosophy-first approach to screens. A must-listen for any parent ready to trade frustration for understanding.
S2026 · E7
September 24 · 19 min
Behind the Scenes: How MVC's Centennial Homecoming Comes Together
A look inside MVC's Associated Student Body as they gear up for a centennial Homecoming. ASB faculty advisor Nowassa Cupples and student officers Macy M. and Julia T. walk through the application process, how event ideas get pitched and approved, and what's on tap for this year's extra-special Homecoming Week.
S2026 · E6
September 17 · 30 min
How to Get Your Teen to Talk
Car rides, dog walks, and that short walk from the front door to the bedroom—mental health expert Erin Torr says these ordinary moments are where real connection happens. In this episode, she and host Devin Kleffer talk through how to invite conversation without forcing it, why teens hate feeling "hijacked," and how learning to sit quietly through the hard stuff now pays off in the relationship you'll have with your adult child later.
S2026 · E5
September 10 · 15 min
Just When You Think Your Kid Would Never...
Meet Leslie Barreras — beloved Spanish teacher, MVC parent, and now Dean of Students. Leslie shares why she believes every student is fundamentally good, how behavior can be retaught rather than just punished, and what she wants parents to know the next time they get that phone call. A warm, honest conversation about trust, grace, and what it really means to walk alongside a family through the hard moments.
S2026 · E4
September 3 · 16 min
Rite of Passage: Inside MVC's Personal Project
What happens when a 15-year-old gets to lead their own learning for the first time? Dean of Curriculum Amber West joins host Devin Kleffer to unpack the MYP Personal Project — a seven-month journey where sophomores choose a passion, work through a "learning pit," and discover what they're made of. From stained glass tributes to homemade arcade games, Amber shares the stories that stuck with her, plus practical tips for parents on cost, time, and support along the way.
S2026 · E2
August 27 · 28 min
Holistic Care for MVC Learners
What does meaningful mental health support for teenagers actually look like? Licensed MFT Erin Torr joins Devin Kleffer to discuss the emotional realities facing today’s teens and how parents and schools can support them without hovering. Erin explains how MVC’s care team provides wraparound support, why even seemingly well-adjusted teens may be carrying more than adults realize, and how social media and post-COVID life have intensified concerns around identity, body image, and disordered eating. She also explores the balance between giving teens privacy and staying watchful, what confidentiality means when students seek counseling, and when safety concerns require adults to intervene. For parents navigating the complicated work of raising teens, the conversation offers a grounded perspective on being present, attentive, and available while giving adolescents room to develop. To explore more topics and conversations, find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart Radio. The Mane Event is a production of Monte Vista Christian School.
S2026 · E3
August 24 · 12 min
New Year, New Routines - How to Set Your Kid Up for Their Best Year Yet
It's back-to-school season, and that "New Year's energy" is in the air. Host Devin Kleffer sits down with middle school principal Carissa Medina to unpack practical, no-checklist-required ways parents can help their learners thrive — from backpack checks and routines to the emotional prep work that really matters. Carissa shares why grounding kids in who they are, not just what they do, is the real key to a confident, successful year.
S2026 · E1
August 13 · 21 min
Deep Roots. Bold Future. Celebrating 100 Years at MVC.
On this episode of The Mane Event, we sit down with MVC Head of School, Nikki Daniels, and Chief Advancement Officer, Gretchen Cortes, and explore the history and legacy of Monte Vista Christian School. For more information about MVC's Centennial Celebration, visit mvcs.org. To explore more topics and conversations, find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart Radio. The Mane Event is a production of Monte Vista Christian School.

Showing 1–12 of 12 episodes