Best CiRCE Institute Podcasts (2025)

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S7, E4: Inside Supreme Court Advocacy 36:08

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5d ago36:08

36:08

Dr. Tom Varaicalli of the Honor's College talks with ADF’s John Bursch about preparing for high-stakes cases, the cultural and legal battles around life and gender policy, and the Constitution’s protection of religious exercise. They also discuss public opinion, tech and AI concerns, and the daily prayer habits that sustain a lawyer’s work.…

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Here's to Snail Mail! 36:26

8d ago36:26

36:26

Letter writing might be a lost art, but our guest, Reagan Dregge, will encourage you to grab some paper and a favorite pen and surprise a friend with a card or a note in the mail. Reagan explains how letter writing has become a creative hobby, encouraged her as a writer, and established dear and lasting friendships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

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S7, E3: Finding Your Journey of Faith and Transformation 58:44

20d ago58:44

58:44

Belmont Abbey Campus Minister Carmen Alexander and our guest Paul J. Kim discuss his journey of faith, the challenges of living as a young adult in a secular world, and the importance of community, sacraments, and personal growth.

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A New Book about Navigating Literature with Your Children 36:07

22d ago36:07

36:07

In this episode, Renee and Karen talk with their guest, Megan Saben, about her new book Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child's Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story, which she co-authored with three friends. She explains how the best books contain Truth with a capital T and tell stories that contain the form and themes of the best Sto…

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A Beautiful New Children's Book Club Resource! 28:12

30d ago28:12

28:12

We are back with an episode about the Beehive Book Club, a new resource by Hayley Croft and Haley Bouffard. Listen as we chat about how their book club for kids turned into two volumes (so far) called Family Favorites and Read the World. Be encouraged with ideas on how to enjoy books with your own kids and how to start a club with friends. Hosted o…

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S7, E2: A Reflection on Wisdom and Foolishness 33:57

1M ago33:57

33:57

Professor James Neff, of the Belmont Abbey Honors College, shares an original reflection on wisdom and foolishness and the Gospel of Luke.

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S7, E1: The Realism of St. Augustine in a Utopian Age with Mike Foley 33:30

2M ago33:30

33:30

In this episode of Conversatio, Dr. Joseph Wysocki welcomes Dr. Michael Foley—a professor in the Great Texts Program at Baylor University and a Catholic theologian known for his engaging work at the intersection of faith, culture, and education. Together, they explore what it means to be Augustinian in an age of confusion. Listen now!…

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Have you ever heard of a Supra? 33:27

3M ago33:27

33:27

Listen as Renee and Karen talk about the Supra, a tradition of hospitality from the country of Georgia in which guests gather around the table with good food and offer a series of toasts on a wide range of topics. The structure of the Supra ensures that each guest feels welcome and comfortable and builds community as guests linger long into the eve…

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Guest Tonya Rozelle, leader of The Hearth, on how community nurtures the homeschool mom 29:05

3M ago29:05

29:05

In this episode, Renee and Karen interview Tonya Rozelle about the CiRCE community for moms called The Hearth. They discuss the life-giving benefits of reading books and discussing ideas around classical education in community and how exploring truth, goodness, and beauty together is nurturing for moms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo…

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A chat with author Mandi Gerth about her new book on cultivating habits in the classical classroom and homeschool 30:42

3M ago30:42

30:42

Mandi's book, Thoroughness and Charm: Cultivating the Habits of a Classical Classroom, offers readers beautifully written principles of classical education and practical ideas and tips for creating a culture that nurtures our children and embodies the tradition. Listen for inspiration to encourage you as you make plans for the fall and for ideas to…

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Hamlet: Q&A (rerun) 1:28:37

3M ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they answer your questions about Hamlet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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S6, E10: Myth as Medicine with Alec Bianco, Circe Institute 41:32

3M ago41:32

41:32

Alec Bianco of the Circe Institute shares about how our fairy tales can heal our broken culture. Listen now!

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Hamlet: Act V (rerun) 1:15:44

3M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they discuss the concluding act to Shakespeare's masterpiece, an act in which we get the famous graveyard scene and the stage littered with bodies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Hamlet: Act IV (rerun) 1:16:15

4M ago1:16:15

1:16:15

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dig into the crucial fourth act of Hamlet. They discuss Laertes coming the fore, Ophelia's tragic demise, Claudius devious behavior, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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S6, E9: Reclaiming Catholic Education with ICLE's Dr. Ryan Messmore 19:35

4M ago19:35

19:35

In this new episode of Conversatio, Dr. Tom Varacalli welcomes Dr. Ryan Messmore from ICLE, to discuss the importance of Catholic teaching, and how many Catholic schools need to reclaim their Catholic identity. Listen Now!

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Hamlet: Act III (rerun) 1:22:22

4M ago1:22:22

1:22:22

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dive into the crucial, famous third act of Hamlet. In this episode they discuss the "to be or not to be" speech, Claudius' prayer, and Polonius death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Hamlet: Act II (rerun) 1:34:33

4M ago1:34:33

1:34:33

Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dive into the drama of Hamlet, Act II! They discuss the way everyone is watching everyone else in this act, Pelonius as parent, the appearance of Rosencrans and Guildenstern, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Making the Most of Your Summer 26:21

4M ago26:21

26:21

The summer is nearly here and Renee and Karen offer suggestions for making the most of your summer schedule while leaving room to discard the schedule and go to the pool! These days and years are fleeting; read books in the hammock, eat the ice cream, learn a new skill, make lasting memories! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat…

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1432. Retelling a Story for Vocabulary Acquisition (SLA #94) 11:02

4M ago11:02

11:02

In this episode of SLA Insights, Dr. Jennifer Noonan discusses various techniques for vocabulary learning, focusing on the method of retelling stories as a means of indirect vocabulary acquisition. She emphasizes the importance of comprehension and context in learning new words, and outlines the process of preparing texts for students. The episode …

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Hamlet: Act I (rerun) 1:05:39

4M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

It's finally time to discuss the grandaddy of all of Shakespeare's plays! That's right, it's time for Hamlet and Tim, Heidi, and special guest Andrew Kern are ready to dig deep. In this episode they discuss why this play matters so much, the initial structure of the play, the themes and problems Act I introduces, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See…

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S6, E8: The Great American Experiment with Richard Graber of the Bradley Foundation 34:31

4M ago34:31

34:31

In this episode of Conversatio, Emmett McGroarty of Belmont House sits down with Richard Graber, President of the Bradley Foundation. They discuss Graber’s path through politics and diplomacy, the mission and influence of the Bradley Foundation, and the shifting landscape of American conservatism. Listen now!…

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Ideas for End-of-Year Assessments 37:48

5M ago37:48

37:48

Join Renee and Karen as they talk about the importance of assessing not only the end of the academic year, as in the skills, ideas, and facts learned, but also the growth and maturity that has taken place in your children and in yourself. They also chat about how assessment is a tool for planning the next year, and that to not finish a curriculum i…

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1431. "Recycled Words" Procedure for Vocabulary Acquisition (SLA #93) 13:13

5M ago13:13

13:13

In this episode of SLA Insights, Dr. Jennifer Noonan discusses vocabulary learning and acquisition, focusing on a specific procedure called 'Recycled Words.' This method, developed by Mary E. Blake and Patricia Majors, involves a series of steps designed to enhance vocabulary learning through various activities and modes. The conversation covers th…

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Henry V: Act V (rerun) 1:04:26

5M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

Join Heidi and David for the conclusion of their conversation about Shakespeare's classic history play, Henry V. Conversation explores King Henry's honesty (or lack thereof) in the final scene with Princess Katherine, the role of the commoners in the play, performing Henry, and (of course) more on teaching Shakespeare. Remember: subscribe, rate, an…

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1430. Imaging, Instantiation, and the Key Word Technique for Vocabulary Acquisition (SLA #92) 11:00

5M ago11:00

11:00

In this episode of SLA Insights, Dr. Jennifer Noonan discusses effective strategies for improving vocabulary learning, focusing on three main techniques: imaging, instantiation, and the keyword technique. Each method emphasizes the importance of creating strong memory traces through intentional engagement with vocabulary. The episode also addresses…

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Henry V: Act IV (rerun) 1:12:32

5M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation touches on the build-up to the battle, stage/film interpretation of Henry's famous speech, the historical context of the battle and Shakespeare's take on it, Henry finally showing some emot…

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1429. Matthew 26 Part 2 (Living in Greek 64) 9:04

5M ago9:04

9:04

This conversation explores the 26th chapter of Matthew, focusing on key events such as Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before the high priest, and Peter's denial. Each segment delves into the emotional and spiritual significance of these moments, providing insights into the themes of faith, betrayal, and redemption.Tun…

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1428. Vocabulary Flashcards (SLA #91) 17:40

5M ago17:40

17:40

In this episode of SLA Insights, Dr. Jennifer Noonan discusses the effectiveness of vocabulary flashcards for language learning. She emphasizes the importance of repetition and direct learning, providing strategies for selecting words, creating flashcards, and practicing with them. The episode covers various techniques to enhance vocabulary acquisi…

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Henry V: Act III (rerun) 1:18:44

5M ago1:18:44

1:18:44

Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation explores the way Shakespeare brings the artifice of the play to the fore, the double meaning of the word "breach," Henry's obsession with duty (and chivalry), the way act three treats the h…

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1427. The Hobbit - feat. Dr. Holly Ordway (Christ and Classics 43) 1:01:46

5M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

In this episode of the Christ in Classics podcast, host Colton Moore engages with Dr. Holly Ordway, a prominent scholar on Tolkien, to explore the themes of heroism in 'The Hobbit'. They discuss Dr. Ordway's personal journey with Tolkien's works, the role of literary criticism, and how hobbit-ness shapes heroism. The conversation also delves into G…

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1426. Matthew 26 Part 1 (Living in Greek 63) 6:53

5M ago6:53

6:53

In this conversation, the speaker delves into the teachings of Jesus as presented in the 26th chapter of Matthew, exploring themes of betrayal, the Last Supper, and the significance of Jesus' actions. The discussion highlights the importance of faith, the role of Judas, and Peter's denial, providing insights into the deeper meanings of these biblic…

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The Conclusion of Norms and Nobility 31:29

5M ago31:29

31:29

Join Renee and Karen for Chapters 11 and 12 and the Epilogue of Norms and Nobility. They discuss Hicks' compelling answer to the question, "Why read the classics?", his statement that the heart of the curriculum is humane letters, and his last two beautiful paragraphs in which he describes true learning. We hope you were encouraged to read along wi…