HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

The Heights School
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HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

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. Dale Ahlquist on G. K. Chesterton

    6 DAYS AGO

    Dale Ahlquist on G. K. Chesterton

    A surprising number of Catholic conversions in the last hundred years begin with one man: G. K. Chesterton. A modern Catholic favorite, Chesterton looms large in subjects as diverse as theology, satire, marginalia, philosophy, politics, and mystery fiction. Our guest today is Dale Ahlquist, founder and president of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton. His own journey of conversion started with Chesterton’s The Everlasting Man. In our conversation, we visit many of Chesterton’s ideas, concluding with the much misunderstood “distributism”—a Chestertonian practical philosophy and the subject of Ahlquist’s co-edited book of essays titled Localism: Coming Home to Catholic Social Teaching. Chapters: 1:53 Conversion by way of Chesterton 6:17 Chesterton: a “complete thinker” 8:16 Reading recommendations 12:05 The opening of Everlasting Man 13:56 The ending of Man Who Was Thursday 17:16 Fairy tales and fundamental truths 19:18 “The twitch upon the thread” 22:27 Defining distributism, or localism 30:13 Localism for D.C. (sub)urbanites 33:44 Founding schools: localism in action 39:11 Family enterprises 42:19 The contributors to Localism 45:31 Creating a life of localism where you are Links: Localism: Coming Home to Catholic Social Teaching edited by Dale Ahlquist and Michael Warren Davis The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton G. K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense by Dale Ahlquist Common Sense 101: Lessons from G. K. Chesterton by Dale Ahlquist Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton St. Thomas Aquinas by G. K. Chesterton St. Francis of Assisi by G. K. Chesterton Father Brown: The Essential Tales by G. K. Chesterton “The Roots of the World” by G. K. Chesterton The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G. K. Chesterton   Men in the Making, Alvaro de Vicente’s substack featuring original articles Featured Opportunities: What Should a Catholic University Be? at The Heights School (December 7, 2024) Also on the Forum: Episode 1: The Homework Problem, newly launched Forum Faculty Podcast hosted by Tom Cox featuring round-table discussions with veteran teachers

    52 min
  2. Alvaro de Vicente on the Vocation of Fatherhood

    NOV 7

    Alvaro de Vicente on the Vocation of Fatherhood

    The task of fatherhood is critical, dynamic—and daunting. How could one address hope to address it all? During the Fatherhood Conference at The Heights School this month, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente boiled it down to this: God chose this for you. You are called. Accepting this simple starting point should give fathers the confidence to take on the role, and the humility to seek God’s grace while doing so. Chapters: 3:02 Fatherhood as vocation 9:20 Vocation as your position on the team 12:09 The mission: bring your family to heaven 13:29 Fatherhood is a partnership with God 16:07 A father’s example of piety and virtue 27:06 Offering our children direct guidance 30:37 Offering them our time 34:05 Witnessing to the world 36:54 Being open to God’s grace 40:41 Messy is fine 45:20 You’re the man for the job Links: Men in the Making, Alvaro de Vicente’s substack featuring original articles Pastoral Letter on New Evangelization, 2 October 2011 by Javier Echevarría, former prelate of Opus Dei Christ Is Passing By by Josemaría Escrivá “In Joseph’s Workshop” by Josemaría Escrivá Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Episode 1: The Homework Problem, newly launched Forum Faculty Podcast hosted by Tom Cox featuring round-table discussions with veteran teachers On Emotional Presence and Imperfect Parenting featuring Alvaro de Vicente Paternal Presence featuring Alvaro de Vicente The Father and His Family featuring Michael Moynihan

    51 min
  3. Dr. George Harne on Receiving Beauty

    OCT 31

    Dr. George Harne on Receiving Beauty

    What is beauty? Is it definable? What is it for, how are we drawn to it—and why do we sometimes resist it? This week we welcome Dr. George Harne, president of Christendom College and an accomplished medieval and music history scholar. Drawing on his perspective as head of a vibrant Catholic liberal arts college, he speaks to us about the liberal arts as a path of study driven by beauty and contemplation, in pursuit of a true vision of reality. Chapters: 2:02 Liberal arts: what free people study 5:51 Versus “humanities” or “classical education” 7:46 Why study them 9:43 Music as a liberal art, fine art, liturgical art 13:16 Teaching art and contemplation 18:24 Defining contemplation 21:21 Contemplating music 24:45 Music with our family 28:19 Receiving beauty objectively, subjectively 29:42 Beauty under suspicion today 34:24 A Catholic liberal arts education Links: Only the Lover Sings: Art and Contemplation by Josef Pieper The Arts of the Beautiful by Etienne Gilson Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Episode 1: The Homework Problem, newly launched Forum Faculty Podcast hosted by Tom Cox featuring round-table discussions with veteran teachers Defining the Liberal Arts featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan Order and Surprise: On Beauty and the Western Tradition featuring Dr. Lionel Yaceczko Why a Liberal Arts Education Today featuring Michael Moynihan The Idea of the Liberal Arts University featuring Dr. Thomas Hibbs

    43 min

  4. OCT 24

    Dr. Jeremy Beer on Charitable Giving and the Quest for Belonging

    Dr. Jeremy Beer’s study of American society over the last 200 years, overlaid with psychology research and statistics about American charitable giving, has brought about his recent book: The Quest for Belonging. The book directly advises nonprofit and fundraising leaders, though it just as much informs the everyday giver. This week on HeightsCast, Beer helps us see that charitable giving at its best is not a distant act of beneficence but an intimate act of community. It allows those who participate to become more rooted in the reality of social belonging, making for a healthier society in more ways than one. Chapters: 3:56 American cultural tradition of “association” 7:39 Four pillars of civil society 9:04 American society, in particular 16:53 Gradual decline of American association, of belonging 21:33 Giving and religious affiliation 25:04 Giving and localism 28:02 Giving as a democratic exercise 31:31 Nonprofits have a role in belonging 33:50 The goods of associating ourselves 34:36 To whom do you owe? 41:07 Giving and the Catholic tradition Links: The Quest for Belonging: How the Most Effective Nonprofit Leaders Understand the Psychology of Giving by Jeremy Beer Givers, Doers, and Thinkers, Jeremy Beer’s podcast A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri J. M. Nouwen Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024)

    49 min
  5. Dr. Andrew Abela on Superhabits

    OCT 17

    Dr. Andrew Abela on Superhabits

    It turns out that modern psychology, neuroscience research, “habit hacks,” and popular self-help literature can all be summed up in one very classical idea: the virtues. So asserts Dr. Andrew Abela, founding dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America. This week on HeightsCast, he helps us unpack his new book, Superhabits, in which he rebrands the virtues as “superhabits” to suit the contemporary discourse. Then, with the help of Thomas Aquinas and about a dozen gripping stories, Dr. Abela shows us how these superhabits of virtue are described, developed, and supported by modern research as the way to live a good life. Chapters: 2:20 Virtues: the essential human operating system 5:19 Humans pre-wired for virtue 9:14 Psychology research, self-help books all point back to virtues 17:57 “Anatomy of Virtue” diagram 25:57 The role emotions play 29:12 Virtue gets easier! 33:21 Translating virtue into “superhabits” 37:19 Redirecting anger with gentlefirmness 43:22 Finding restful leisure with eutrapelia 48:41 Where to begin Links: Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life by Andrew Abela Dr. Abela’s Substack featuring blog posts and articles “The Anatomy of Virtue” by Andrew Abela, including his diagram of Aquinas’s categories of virtue Treatise on the Virtues by Thomas Aquinas Further reading: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Atomic Habits by James Clear Tiny Habits by B. J. Fogg The Virtues by John Garvey Learning the Virtues that Lead You to God by Romano Guardini The Heart of Virtue: Lessons from Life and Literature Illustrating the Beauty and Value of Moral Character by Donald DeMarco Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Free Hearts and Magnanimity featuring Alexandre Havard From Anxiety to Adventure: On Reframing Challenges featuring Kevin Majeres Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. I featuring Joe Cardenas Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. II featuring Joe Cardenas

    55 min
  6. Alvaro de Vicente on Forming Loyal Men in a Culture of Sentimentalism

    OCT 10

    Alvaro de Vicente on Forming Loyal Men in a Culture of Sentimentalism

    The sentimentalism of our greater culture is a formidable—yet surmountable—challenge to young men. Our sons are relentlessly encouraged to follow their affections and feelings wherever they might lead, whatever their commitments. How can we, as parents and teachers, help our boys to become men who love the world without being pulled off course by the sentiments and affections that are a natural aspect of our God-given humanity? As part of our parent lecture series at The Heights School, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente offers his insights to navigating the cultural challenge of sentimentalism by using the virtue of loyalty as a ballast. For when the feelings fail, loyalty helps us to stay the virtuous course—where our yes is yes and our no is no. Chapters: [00:02:11] The erosion of loyalty, rise of sentimentalism [00:05:14] Loyalty: a virtue that trains other virtues [00:12:36] Sentimentalism: when feelings dominate [00:17:47] How sentimentalism undermines the good [00:30:01] Modern boys and sentimental morals [00:30:48] Training the sentiments [00:32:39] Naming them [00:35:22] Practicing self-discipline exercises [00:38:02] Setting limits on pleasurable activities [00:39:13] Confronting “emotional attacks” [00:42:16] Harnessing the sentiments to promote virtue [00:47:54] Stories of loyalty [00:55:21] Don't commit lightly: let your yes be yes [00:59:20] The grace to succeed as parents Links: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Featured Opportunities: Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. I featuring Joe Cardenas Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys’ Affectivity Pt. II featuring Joe Cardenas

    1h 1m

  7. OCT 3

    Bishop Erik Varden on Man and Masculinity

    Last weekend, The Wall Street Journal published a front-page story on American young men and the crisis of masculinity. It featured hard stories of the “aimless and isolated”—but could ultimately offer no solutions. This week on HeightsCast, we’re pleased to welcome Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway. Bishop Varden has authored several books exploring human personhood, including topics of masculinity and femininity. He helps us get the lay of the land both culturally and spiritually in this so-called moment of crisis. His Excellency then shares the vision of masculinity that he finds in scripture and tradition, so that we may bring these ideas into our homes and to our sons. Chapters: 2:59 Man fully alive: is my life fruitful? 5:09 A crisis of masculinity 11:06 Language for a constructive conversation 14:11 ‘Man,’ ‘woman,’ ‘human person’ called into question 17:39 Vision of the human person in Genesis 26:38 Complementarity of the sexes 30:19 Masculinity and femininity as dual poles 38:29 Manliness: to pour oneself out in protection of another 42:08 Accepting our fragility 48:49 Communicating masculinity to modern boys Links: Coram Fratribus, Bishop Erik Varden’s blog featuring homilies, articles, and “marginalia” Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses by Erik Varden Entering the Twofold Mystery: On Christian Conversion by Erik Varden The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance by Erik Varden “America’s Young Men Are Falling Even Further Behind” by Rachel Wolfe, WSJ 28 September 2024 Featured Opportunities: Headmaster’s Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024) Fathers Conference at The Heights School (November 2, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Stewards of the Universe: Men Fully Alive featuring Alvaro de Vicente The Man Fully Alive: On Our Vision featuring Alvaro de Vicente

    57 min
  8. Keeping the Good In: The Voices Our Sons Hear

    SEP 26

    Keeping the Good In: The Voices Our Sons Hear

    It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out. So writes the fictional devil Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood in C. S. Lewis’s epistolary novel The Screwtape Letters. But where devils may wish to keep the good out, Heights headmaster Alvaro de Vicente highlights the ways we as parents can keep the good in. By aligning our family culture with the good voices we hope our sons will hear—and leaving space to allow the Divine voice and the voice of one’s own conscience to be heard—we help our sons form a good vision of themselves and the world. Chapters: 4:55 Why The Screwtape Letters 8:18 A devil’s job is keeping the good out 11:09 Three voices: people, the Divine, and the conscience 14:58 Unpacking the term ‘voice’ Advice for keeping the good in: 18:05 Slow down the noise 23:45 Promote contemplative times 26:20 Reserve time to read 29:41 Cultivate the art of conversation 32:12 Conspire for the good with their teachers 36:40 A slow roll-out for new family initiatives Links: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Featured Opportunities: Headmaster’s Lecture at The Heights School (October 5, 2024) The Art of Teaching Conference at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2024) Also on the Forum: Who am I?: The Question of Persona featuring Alvaro de Vicente Ways to Foster a Family Culture by Alvaro de Vicente Raising Contemplative Sons featuring Colin Gleason

    39 min
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About

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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