HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

The Heights School
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Welcome to HeightsCast, the podcast of The Heights School. With over 200 episodes, HeightsCast discusses the education of young men fully alive in the liberal arts tradition. The program engages teachers and thought-leaders in the educational/cultural space to support our community of listeners: parents, teachers, and school leaders seeking to educate the young men in their care. Instead of downloads, HeightsCast's most important metric for success is the unknown number of thoughtful discussions it prompts in homes, faculty lunchrooms, and communities around the country and the world. Thank you for listening; thank you for continuing the conversation.

  1. 2d ago

    Joseph Bissex on Teaching with Body Language: How Movement Shapes Learning

    Posture and facial expression are the most instant methods of communication. And we come to know something better when we can act it out in the real world. With these principles in mind, Joseph Bissex, Heights English and drama teacher, uses the mind-body connection to advantage his students in the classroom. By deploying movement in his lessons, he teaches the boys to be aware of their own body language in order to understand texts and become more compelling communicators. But it's more than just a method for learning English and drama—it's a general tool for the teacher's toolbox. Mr. Bissex tells us that if you can be attentive to your own body language, you strengthen your own teaching; and if you're attentive to the body language of others, "you start to see stories all around you." Chapters: 3:39 Body language reveals disposition 5:36 Deliberate body language 9:03 A "disembodied" age 11:32 Physical-izing your lessons 13:26 Observing student body language 15:14 Example class exercises 18:34 Parenting with intentional body language 21:07 Awareness: a trainable skill Links: Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell "Making People Happy Makes You Happier, Too" by Arthur Brooks, The Atlantic Also on the Forum: Drama as a Teaching Tool: Freeze-Frame Tableaux by Joseph Bissex The Teacher's Voice featuring Tom Steenson Featured Opportunities: Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (November 7, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Joseph Bissex on Teaching with Body Language: How Movement Shapes Learning

  2. Oct 22

    Michael Moynihan & Mark Grannis on Rising to the Challenge: Resolutions of an AI Task Force

    Last December, our headmaster assembled a team of faculty to consider the challenges of AI in education. After six months of reviewing the research, reflecting on the school's mission, and discussing at-length the possibilities and implications of AI for both teachers and students, this task force published its report in July. The report is a way to communicate the school's ongoing thought process around AI policies and procedures, rooted in virtue. Today we welcome two members of the task force, upper school head Michael Moynihan and upper school logic and history teacher Mark Grannis, to share some takeaways from the group's discussions. They explain how they use—and how they don't use—AI in their own classrooms, as well as how they frame the issue to students and parents. Chapters: 3:19 AI's rapid arrival 5:47 The Heights AI Task Force 9:35 AI use for teachers 13:09 AI misuse for teachers 17:44 Restructuring strategies: homework, quizzes, remedial modules 22:47 Don't give up on writing assignments 25:40 Value work over outcomes 29:44 Writing as thinking 35:25 Trust in a school community 41:33 Non-AI digital resources in education 44:42 The role of parents Links: "Making AI Work for the Good of Our Students," Report of the Heights AI Task Force, 2026 ChatGPT Holds These Truths to be Self-Evident by Mark Grannis Teaching Sovereign Knowers Series by Michael Moynihan The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning—and How to Help Them Thrive Again by Jared Cooney Horvath Also on the Forum: Struggling in Math: Where Digital Tools Can Assist in Academic Virtue featuring David Maxham The Walled Garden: Critical Considerations for Classroom AI featuring Andrew Cantarutti Classroom Habits of Attention in the Age of AI featuring Andrew Cantarutti AI and the Take-Home Essay by Dr. Matthew Mehan Featured Opportunities: Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (November 7, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Michael Moynihan & Mark Grannis on Rising to the Challenge: Resolutions of an AI Task Force

  3. Oct 15

    Pat Love & Shane O'Neill on Making Room for Mistakes: Education as Imitation, Mistakes, and Improv

    This age of AI puts a spotlight on the differentiated power of "thinking well." But the best way to teach students to think well is counterintuitive: we have to be willing to make mistakes. Students and teachers alike will have to get comfortable with the idea of mistakes as part of the journey toward critical engagement. In this week's episode, music teacher Pat Love and middle school teacher Shane O'Neill liken education to good jazz. Students absorb the traditions, imitate the masters, try to make it their own, and learn by trial and error under a trusted guide. Chapters: 2:37 The jazz and education analogy 7:50 Making space in the classroom to try—and fail 9:46 Teacher habits for student agency 15:21 Tests, assignments, seminars 18:54 The educative power of imitation 22:42 Grades, and when a kid is "playing scared" 27:43 Turning correction into learning 31:07 Fewer one-right-answers 37:06 Drawing out participation 41:48 Transmitting a culture, not just a subject 43:58 Addressing philosophical mistakes Links: The Risk of Education: Discovering Our Ultimate Destiny by Luigi Giussani Also on the Forum: The Art and Act of Knowing—and What It Means for Teaching featuring Dr. Jonathan Buttaci Educating Boys: Nature, Risk, and the Making of Men by Dr. Joseph Lanzilotti Teaching Sovereign Knowers Series by Michael Moynihan Featured Opportunities: Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (November 7, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Pat Love & Shane O'Neill on Making Room for Mistakes: Education as Imitation, Mistakes, and Improv

  4. Oct 9

    Alvaro de Vicente on Men for the World: On Every Man's Vocation

    Admittedly, today's world is far from the Garden where the world began. If we think of our vocations as "recovering the Garden," we may wonder whether it is best to go out into the world with a missionary spirit or retreat to morally safer spaces and protect the flame. Which has the better impact on the world and our families? Can one go into the world and not lose his soul? And what does the world really need from us? In his annual Headmaster's Lecture, Alvaro de Vicente encourages us to encounter the world with Christian confidence. We win it back through our families and professional work—and we should prepare our sons to do the same. For, Mr. de Vicente argues, there is no tension here: going into the world to serve with a Christian spirit is good for the world and good for the man. Chapters: 3:52 Our sons going into the world 6:11 The world: God's gift to man 13:15 Sin: breaking the gift 18:32 Christ: redemption of the gift 20:42 Evil resides where good leaves 28:81 Winning back the world 30:12 How the Church views worldly professions 39:56 What work is for 42:30 The limits of "good" work 48:19 Good work is formative 50:22 Encouraging the next generation Links: "Chapter V: The Manners of the Christians" in Epistle to Diognetus by Mathetes Forty Gospel Homilies by Pope St. Gregory the Great The Way of the Cross by St. Josemaría Escrivá Gaudium et Spes pastoral constitution by the Second Vatican Council Also on the Forum: The World Needs Your Son to Be Professionally Ambitious by Alvaro de Vicente Elon Musk, Mother Teresa, and Why Catholic Schools Should Be Secular by Nate Gadiano Featured Opportunities: Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (November 7, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Alvaro de Vicente on Men for the World: On Every Man's Vocation

  5. Oct 1

    Kyle Blackmer on Heights Clans and the Need for Festival

    This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the institution of the Heights Clans. These competitive bodies engage in festivity six days a year, including two full Clan Days every All Saints Day and Feast of the Annunciation. This participates in the rich liturgical and intellectual traditions of authentic feasting, using the building blocks of worship, arts, food, and games. Today on HeightsCast, middle school teacher and clans gamemaster/meister Kyle Blackmer explores why a school—or any community—should consider a commitment to these rituals of festival. Chapters: 4:28 Pieper's definition of festival 7:33 Each festival unique to its place 9:01 Heights Clan Days 15:03 Why feasting is important 20:43 Connecting a student body 22:19 A liturgical basis 24:28 Preparation: the fast before the feast 28:21 Practical challenges to festival Links: The Heights Student Life: Clans, containing more information about our four clans and clan festival days In Tune with the World: A Theory of Festivity by Josef Pieper "The Immortal Power of Astonishment and Laughter" by G. K. Chesterton Around the Year with the von Trapp Family by Maria von Trapp The Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen Also on the Forum: In Defense of Victory by Kyle Blackmer Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 3, 2026) Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (November 7, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Kyle Blackmer on Heights Clans and the Need for Festival

  6. Sep 24

    Alvaro de Vicente on the Scope of Mentoring

    At The Heights, every teacher functions as a mentor for students. This is more than a figure of speech; it's the character of certain student-teacher relationships with routine check-ins oriented toward holistic personal growth. This week on HeightsCast, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente considers the scope of different kinds of advisory, and outlines his vision for what makes real, effective mentorship. Chapters: 4:36 Whether all teachers are mentors 9:07 All advisory: goals, agency, and disposition 12:40 Spiritual direction and coaching 16:29 The scope of our mentoring program 20:20 Primary relationships for growth 23:17 Secondary supports for growth 26:49 A holistic mentor 28:23 Mentees of another faith 31:06 Handling big questions Links: The Heights School Mentoring Program, including links to the mentoring handbook and topics by age Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta by St. Teresa of Calcutta Also on the Forum: The Mentoring Playlist on The Heights Forum, containing essays and podcasts on the topic Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 3, 2026) Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (November 7, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Alvaro de Vicente on the Scope of Mentoring

  7. Sep 17

    David Maxham on Struggling in Math: Where Digital Tools Can Assist in Academic Virtue

    There's a sea of online math supplements, from drills to games to whole courses, all promising advancement for your struggling student (or your stellar student who has outpaced his cohort). What kind of program, if any, is right for your student? Under what conditions are digital tools most effective? Heights math teacher David Maxham gives us an extremely practical guide to the best digital resources out there and how to use them effectively. He also shares the failure modes you may not see coming when "hiring" a digital tutor for your child. Chapters: 2:19 Digital tools at a liberal arts school 3:47 For students at both ends of the spectrum 11:41 Online drills: assisting academic virtue 14:12 Parent guidance still needed 18:56 Benefits of in-person lessons 23:32 How digital data can help teachers 27:08 Getting student buy-in, gaining confidence 32:22 Whole online courses: Math Academy over Khan 41:44 Remediation without embarrassment 46:46 Common pitfalls to outside help Links: Math Facts Lab drills, broadly recommended by Mr. Maxham Rocket Math drills, also mentioned Math Academy courses, recommended by Mr. Maxham Khan Academy courses, Mr. Maxham says best as a supplement, not as a class Matific, gamified math practice Beast Academy The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning—and How to Help Them Thrive Again by Jared Cooney Horvath Also on the Forum: Automaticity and Creativity by David Maxham Automaticity: Where 'Rote' Fits into the Liberal Arts featuring David Maxham How to Help Your Son When He Struggles Academically: Part I by Michael Moynihan How to Help Your Son When He Struggles Academically: Part II by Michael Moynihan Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 3, 2026) – link coming soon Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (early November 2026) – link coming soon Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    David Maxham on Struggling in Math: Where Digital Tools Can Assist in Academic Virtue

  8. Sep 10

    Dr. Jonathan Buttaci on the Art and Act of Knowing—and What That Means for Teaching

    How do we know whether we know something? How do we know whether our son or student has apprehended a lesson? Sometimes we hear the liberal arts discussed as a "beholding of great things." But Catholic University professor Dr. Jonathan Buttaci reminds us they are liberal arts—implying a craft or adept handling of knowledge. In other words, coming to know something is not passive at all. It's an act. And that act does not primarily belong to the teacher. This week on HeightsCast, Dr. Buttaci talks epistemology and what the role of the teacher really is in bringing young people to knowledge. Chapters: 3:59 Knowledge: active, not passive 12:56 Practical ends of knowledge 18:02 Contemplation: Buttaci v. Pieper 24:04 Liberal arts 30:16 Knowing bestows freedom 35:29 Where truth and creativity meet 42:27 The power of the teacher 43:52 How teachers can preserve the joy of discovery 57:59 Teaching rote, grindstone skills 01:05:08 A teacher's job is joyful Links: Education Is Not about Content Transmission by Dr. Andrew Abela, notes on a presentation by Dr. Jonathan Buttaci Magnifica Humanitas, papal encyclical by Pope Leo XIV Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper The Idea of a University by John Henry Newman Also on the Forum: Automaticity and Creativity by David Maxham Automaticity: Where 'Rote' Fits into the Liberal Arts featuring David Maxham The Teacher's Voice featuring Tom Steenson Teaching Sovereign Knowers Series by Michael Moynihan Featured Opportunities: Headmaster's Lecture at The Heights School (October 3, 2026) – link coming soon Fall Open House at The Heights School (October 24, 2026) Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School (early November 2026) – link coming soon Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 11-13, 2026)

    Dr. Jonathan Buttaci on the Art and Act of Knowing—and What That Means for Teaching
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Welcome to HeightsCast, the podcast of The Heights School. With over 200 episodes, HeightsCast discusses the education of young men fully alive in the liberal arts tradition. The program engages teachers and thought-leaders in the educational/cultural space to support our community of listeners: parents, teachers, and school leaders seeking to educate the young men in their care. Instead of downloads, HeightsCast's most important metric for success is the unknown number of thoughtful discussions it prompts in homes, faculty lunchrooms, and communities around the country and the world. Thank you for listening; thank you for continuing the conversation.

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