Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

Classic Learning Test

Anchored is published by the Classic Learning Test. Hosted by CLT leadership, including our CEO Jeremy Tate, Anchored features conversations with leading thinkers on issues at the intersection of education and culture. New discussions are released every Thursday. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

  1. 2H AGO

    Forming Students Through a Biblical Worldview | Kevin Seitz

    On this episode of The Anchored Podcast, Adam Roate, Senior Director of Partnerships at CLT, is joined by Kevin Seitz, Dean of Academics at Cary Christian School in Cary, NC. Kevin shares his journey from teaching adapted PE in a public school setting to serving at a classical Christian school. Together, they discuss the importance of partnering with parents in education and how teaching through a biblical worldview helps shape students' sense of purpose and prepares them for life beyond the classroom. https://carychristianschool.org/

    37 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence | Lily Abadal

    On this episode of The Anchored Podcast, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Lily Abadal, an applied ethicist and Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. They discuss her unique journey as a first-generation college student and her passion for philosophy. They also explore the challenges and opportunities that AI presents to students and educators, and how the rise of AI could lead to a resurgence of classical educational traditions. Follow Lily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lily-abadal/

    34 min

  3. MAY 19

    Rediscovering America’s Story Through Fables | Matt Mehan

    On this episode of The Anchored Podcast, Jeremy is joined by Dr. Matt Mehan–Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Government for the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College’s Washington, D.C. campus–to explore the enduring power of fables, classical education, and the importance of shared stories in rebuilding American civic virtue. Drawing from history, literature, and the American tradition, Dr. Mehan discusses how heroes, moral imagination, and cultural inheritance cultivate civic virtue, inspire hope, and strengthen love of country. They also discuss his newly released book, The American Book of Fables, which invites readers to rediscover the beauty of America—her lands, her people, and her principles of liberty, law, and love. Written for readers of all ages, The American Book of Fables invites families to rediscover faith, freedom, self-government, and the stories worth passing on. Order The American Book of Fables today: https://www.amazon.com/American-Book-Fables-Matthew-Mehan/dp/B0G1XYVC54

    29 min

  4. MAY 14

    Building Leaders to Transform America | Jack McPherson

    Description: On this episode of The Anchored Podcast, Jeremy is joined by Jack McPherson, Director of Development for the Emerging Leaders Program at the Convention of States (COS) Foundation. Jack shares his journey from Hillsdale College to serving as a founding member of the Emerging Leaders Program, a nine-month student formation fellowship that trains young men and women in the art of American Statesmanship. Discover how classical education, statesmanship, and a commitment to the common good are shaping future public servants and restoring the true meaning of leadership. Website: cosinternship.com If anybody would like to make a gift to the Emerging Leaders Program, go to cosinternship.com and click ‘Donate Today’ in the top right. If you would like to discuss financial support with Jack in greater depth, he can be reached 24/7 at 346-212-0576, and at jmcpherson@conventionofstatesfoundation.org.

    28 min

  5. MAY 7

    Why Economic and Civic Education Matters for a Free Society | Lawrence Reed

    On this episode of The Anchored Podcast, Noah Tyler, Chief Strategy Officer at CLT, is joined by Lawrence Reed, President Emeritus, Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE). They discuss the parental involvement as the strongest predictor of student success, the significance of civics education in understanding constitutional principles, and the current state of economics education in the United States. They also reflect on historical parallels that can inform our understanding of current political trends. Dr. Reed's Forthcoming Book: Born of Ideas: How Principles, Faith, and Courage Forged America

    39 min

  6. APR 30

    Teaching Latin and Greek as Living Languages | Guillermo Dillon

    What if we’ve been teaching Latin and Greek all wrong? In this episode of the Anchored Podcast, Soren Schwab sits down with Guillermo Dillon, Senior Consultant in the U.S. for the Polis Institute, to discuss why the future of Latin and Ancient Greek depends on something bigger than textbooks, but on our understanding of why these languages must be kept alive. Guillermo makes the case that Greek and Latin should not be treated as “dead languages” or mere tools for boosting test scores, but as living gateways into the intellectual tradition of the West—the "Republic of Letters", as the American Founding Fathers referred to it. From spoken Latin and immersive pedagogy to the growing demand for trained classical language teachers, this conversation explores what it would look like to teach ancient languages as languages once again. Be sure to check out Guillermo Dillon’s forthcoming book, a practical teacher’s guide designed to help educators teach "Unus, Duo, Tres" using a communicative, immersive Latin method. This resource is built specifically to help schools and teachers bring spoken Latin into the classroom with confidence. Learn more about Guillermo and the Polis Institute here: https://www.polisjerusalem.org/ https://www.polisjerusalem.org/resource/unus-duo-tres-latine-loquamur-per-scaenas-et-imagines/ Timestamps 00:40 – Introduction & Guest Background 02:54 – Guillermo’s Educational Journey 05:16 – Growing Up Bilingual & Learning Languages 07:12 – Discovering Spoken Latin 10:50 – Why Learn Latin and Greek? 16:56 – Why Speaking Latin Matters 17:01 – The POLIS Institute & Its Mission 19:56 – The Classical Education Teacher Shortage 25:51 – Training Teachers, Not Just Buying Curriculum 30:25 – Advice for Schools Starting Latin Programs 34:30 – Guillermo’s New Book & *Unus, Duo, Tres* 38:35 – Teacher Success Stories 40:47 – A Book That Changed Guillermo’s Life: *Antigone* 43:38 – Final Thoughts & Closing #AnchoredPodcast #ClassicLearningTest #Latin #AncientGreek #ClassicalEducation #Humanities #GreatBooks #POLISInstitute #LiberalArts #TeacherTraining

    44 min

  7. APR 28

    Ben Sasse on Dying, Education, and What Matters Most

    Most people accept death as the ultimate loss—Ben Sasse embraces it with humor, hope, and a profound faith that changes how we see life, death, and education. In this deeply personal yet inspiring episode, one of America's most eloquent voices shares how a terminal diagnosis sharpened his moral clarity and deepened his understanding of what truly matters. Ben Sasse, a former senator, university president, and thoughtful advocate for classical Christian education, opens up about confronting mortality with a rare combination of honesty, humor, and faith. He recounts the moments that have shaped his view on life’s purpose, from reading old books at Oxford to serving in the U.S. Senate. You’ll discover how his fight with cancer has transformed his approach to education—focusing on cultivating virtue, love, and friendship rather than mere career success. Also joining Ben Sasse and Jeremy Tate in the conversation is Keith Nix, who has served as the Head of School at Veritas School in Richmond, VA, since 2010. We break down: The importance of reading the Great Books to gain perspective beyond our moment How classical Christian education aims to reorder our affections and nurture true friendship The vital role of intergenerational engagement in building resilient communities The radical significance of the Sabbath in cultivating gratitude and humility Ben shares moving stories about friendship, faith, and the hope that sustains him through suffering.  His candid reflections on mortality challenge us to make what time we have count—by loving our neighbor, pursuing truth, and living with eternal hope. This episode is perfect for educators, parents, and anyone wrestling with life’s biggest questions—especially in a culture fixated on outcomes and success. If you believe education is about forming humans who love goodness and beauty, you won’t want to miss this powerful conversation. 00:00 Intro  01:08 A Vision for Education   03:11 Oxford & the Power of Small Seminars   06:37 Friendship and the Good Life   08:57 Family, Education, and Moving for Values   13:15 From Public School to Classical Christian Education   16:19 The Art of Rhetoric & Great Speakers   20:12 Influences of Great Orators   23:14 A Father’s Discipline & Coaching   24:42 Challenges in Classical Christian Education   25:57 Core Values & Future of the Tradition   28:39 The Telos Debate (How Do You Say It?)   34:37 Education Beyond Job Training   35:30 Rethinking the Factory Model of Schooling   37:45 Family & Intergenerational Life   38:21 Friendship, Community, and Education   40:00 Social Media & Peer Segregation   42:10 Hands-On & Artistic Learning   45:10 Maturation, Responsibility, and Service   46:18 Over-Consumption & the Search for Purpose   47:18 Music, Math, and the Language of Heaven   48:48 Seminar-Based Learning   49:25 Facing Death & Living Well   49:54 Suffering, Resurrection, and Hope   50:39 Faith in the Face of Illness   53:45 Shared Loves & Deep Friendship   55:29 Community Across Generations   56:10 Humor, Death, and the Christian Life   57:09 The Hope of Final Victory   58:10 Beauty, Identity, and Creation   59:41 Gratitude, Legacy, and a Life Well Lived   01:00:11 Final Reflections & Memorable Friendship

    1h 2m

  8. APR 23

    The Significance of Faith, Education, and Assessment | Dr. Gary Welton

    In this episode, we chat with Dr. Gary Welton, a dedicated professor and administrator at Grove City College, about his personal journey, the unique environment at Grove City, and the role of standardized assessments like the CLT in higher education. Discover how faith influences academic pathways and the importance of preserving classical liberal arts traditions in today's educational landscape. CLT Study: https://www.gcc.edu/Home/Staff-Directory/Staff-Detail/gcc-study-finds-predictive-value-in-classic-learning-test Key topics include: Dr. Welton’s upbringing in Grove City and his faith-based education journey The advantages of Grove City College’s emphasis on classical and  Christian education Insights into the College Learning Test (CLT) and its predictive validity for college success Trends in standardized testing following the shift toward test-optional policies How classical literacy and familiarity with tradition benefit modern students Favorite books that have shaped Dr. Welton’s worldview, including Les Misérables and The Possessed Timestamps: (0:05) - Welcome and introduction to Dr. Welton’s background (1:20) - The impact of Grove City College on student development (4:44) - Dr. Welton’s faith background and experience in secular universities (8:27) - The origin and findings of the pioneering CLT outcome study (10:53) - Trends in college admissions and test requirement policies (13:08) - Validation of the CLT as a predictor of first-year GPA (14:56) - Connection between classical texts and assessment literacy (16:17) - The importance of cultural and literary literacy in education (18:24) - Unexpected results and insights from the CLT study (20:28) - Homeschooling and school background impacts on scores (24:45) - Lessons for other institutions from the CLT validation study (26:22) - The importance of focused reading for developing mature intellectual skills (28:23) - Dr. Welton’s top books and their influence on his life and work (32:14) - Closing remarks and future hopes for college assessment

    34 min
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4.8
out of 5
101 Ratings

About

Anchored is published by the Classic Learning Test. Hosted by CLT leadership, including our CEO Jeremy Tate, Anchored features conversations with leading thinkers on issues at the intersection of education and culture. New discussions are released every Thursday. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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