“Christians Are Boring Because They're Afraid”: N.D. Wilson Gets Real
What if Christians were called to be the flood instead of hiding in the ark? N.D. Wilson challenges believers to stop playing it safe and embrace a faith that's dangerously alive. Robert speaks with Wilson about his journey as a writer inspired by C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, his approach to Christian fantasy writing, and his belief that Christians should embrace wonder rather than fear. Wilson shares insights on raising children to be confident in their faith, creating joyful Sabbath traditions, and his work on nature documentaries like “Riot and the Dance” that present creation from a Christian perspective. https://ndwilson.com/ Explore the exciting new 2025 additions to the Classical Conversations Bookstore! From engaging philosophy studies with Reasoning Together to timeless classics in the Copper Lodge Library and innovative math resources like the four new domains of The Math Map and two unique math flashcard sets, these tools are designed to support classical, Christian education at every level. Visit classicalconversations.com/whatsnew/ to see all the new releases and take advantage of savings of up to $30 off in April.
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Public School Exit: Helping Christian Families Find Educational Freedom
Are your children safe at school? Discover why thousands of families are choosing to exit the public education system. In this eye-opening episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert welcomes Dran Reese, founder and president of Public School Exit. With decades of experience in education advocacy, Dran explains why her organization helps Christian families transition their children from government schools to homeschooling or private Christian education. Dran shares alarming statistics about faith loss, bullying, and inappropriate content in public schools, discusses the concerning curriculum trends across districts nationwide, and offers practical resources for parents looking to make the transition. Learn how Public School Exit serves as a clearinghouse of information, providing step-by-step guides and partnerships with quality educational alternatives like Classical Conversations. https://www.publicschoolexit.com/ Parent Practicum events are hosted around the globe each year, inspiring and equipping parents to become better “everyday educators.” Combining the encouragement of community, integration of ideas, and practice with the classical skills, Parent Practicum is a once-a-year parent investment. Let us help you find a Parent Practicum event near you at www.ccpracticum.com.
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Where Your Money Sleeps Matters: Christian Banking in a Secular World
Are you accidentally funding values that oppose your faith every time you deposit a paycheck Robert interviews Frank Clement, VP of Strategic Partnerships at America's Christian Credit Union. Frank shares how Christians can align their financial decisions with biblical values, revealing that many unwittingly undermine their faith through banking choices. "Your money doesn't just sit there," Frank explains, highlighting how deposits at major banks fund initiatives that may contradict Christian beliefs. The conversation explores faith-based banking alternatives, adoption financing opportunities, and practical wisdom for teaching children financial literacy—all while weaving in classical education principles. America’s Christian Credit Union is proud to partner with Classical Conversations to provide a full suite of banking services to CC communities across the country. Whether you’re a Licensed Director looking for better business banking or a family seeking a financial partner that shares your values, we are here to serve. We invite you to join ACCU and enjoy the many benefits of membership, including competitive returns on deposits, low-rate loans, and a nationwide network of shared branches and surcharge-free ATMs via the Co-Op Network. Click here to learn more.
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More Than STEM: Why Philosophy Remains Essential for Today's Students
Is philosophy obsolete in our AI-driven world? Timothy Knotts argues just the opposite. Robert interviews Timothy Knotts, a member of Classical Conversations' development team, about "Reasoning Together Philosophy", an anthology of original works and excerpts from philosophers, writers, and thinkers from all eras, coming Spring 2025. Timothy discusses his journey into classical education, the importance of philosophy in today's education landscape, and why learning philosophical concepts remains relevant despite our STEM-focused culture. He explains how the book helps students engage with great thinkers throughout history while balancing faith and reason. Timothy also shares insights for homeschooling parents about prioritizing what matters most in education and offers advice for fathers on staying engaged with their children's learning journey. https://info.classicalconversations.com/reasoning https://www.newenglandcce.com/ The Classical Learning Cohort offers online classes for parents to become more confident and competent Classical teachers. Through small-group lessons with trained Mentors, participants practice implementing classical skills, giving and receiving assessments, while experiencing transformative growth as a classical Christian educator. Want to learn more? Attend a free, online, Experience the CLC event at classicalconversations.com/cohort.
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The Deflationary Asset: Why Companies Are Converting Cash to Bitcoin
When election night broadcasters were still counting votes, cryptocurrency insiders already knew who won. In this exclusive in-studio interview, Robert welcomes Will McCreery to explain how this digital asset has become both a leading economic indicator and a financial revolution that's caught the attention of the White House. The duo breaks down Bitcoin's fundamentals—from its decentralized nature and limited 21-million supply to the critical "halving" cycle. They explore how business leaders like Michael Saylor transformed their companies by converting cash reserves to Bitcoin, discuss President Trump's recent crypto summit at the White House, and reveal which ISO 20022-compliant cryptocurrencies could revolutionize banking by slashing transaction times from days to mere seconds. The Classical Learning Cohort offers online classes for parents to become more confident and competent Classical teachers. Through small-group lessons with trained Mentors, participants practice implementing classical skills, giving and receiving assessments, while experiencing transformative growth as a classical Christian educator. Want to learn more? Attend a free, online, Experience the CLC event at classicalconversations.com/cohort.
Refining Rhetoric with CEO Robert Bortins. A podcast where faith, business, politics, and classical education meet. Join us as we use the Classical tools of rhetoric to seek truth in every arena of life.
Listen to Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins, Imagine Heaven Podcast with John Burke and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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