The Commonplace Autumn Kern

Once you begin looking at curricula, it doesn’t take long to notice there’s a lot of overlap on the book lists. Homer. Plato. Plutarch. Dante. Milton. It can leave a mom wondering why we have to read these books in classical education. To get that answer, however, we have to ask a slightly different set of questions: Why do some stories last and why does that matter?
I’m joined today by Mr. Joshua Gibbs to discuss why loving stories that last—whether in book, music, or film—is a matter of the soul.
Footnotes for this episode
Gibbs Classical
Gibbs Classical: Classes
The Cedar Room | Josh’s column at the Circe Institute
Proverbial Podcast
Love What Lasts
How to Be Unlucky
Something They Will Not Forget
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You can find the full episode notes here (including my footnotes for this episode). You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)
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Join the 800+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and Virtues and Vices!

While moms may be the ones buying the books, it’s the family that inhabits the worlds within them. The atmosphere, habits, and ideas of our home are shaped by the stories we read together which means we’re forming the minds, imaginations, and hearts of everyone involved. Whether you’ve just heard about living books or you’ve been reading the classics for years, you have to ask yourself: Are we building a family literary life of truth, goodness, and beauty?
I’m joined by Shay and Catherine Gregorie to discuss how we can inhabit stories with our children, speaking into existence worlds that show them God’s hand in the uncommon and common moments of our lives.
Footnotes for this episode
Wolfbane Books
The King of All Things, Shay & Catherine Gregorie
The Forgotten King, Kenneth Padgett & Shay Gregorie
The Story of God Our King, Kenneth Padgett & Shay Gregorie
The Story of God with Us, Kenneth Padgett & Shay Gregorie
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
The Wingfeather Saga, Andrew Peterson
The Wilderking Series, Jonathan Rogers
The Year of Miss Agnes, Kirkpatrick Hill
The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
The Trumpet of the Swan, E.B. White
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You can find the full episode notes here (including my footnotes for this episode). You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)
---------
Join the 800+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and Virtues and Vices!

As we discussed last season, there is a marked difference in how one moves in the classical world and the modern world. The classical world is a symphony; the modern, a machine. The classical world is harmonious; the modern is fragmented. The classicist is an encounter-er; the modern man, a manipulator.
If there is a single idea to explain these differences, I’d venture to say it’s recognition of Christ as the logos. To really dive into the power of story, we must first look to the unifying Principle who holds all things together. Then we have to ask: How does He give form to everything?
I’m joined by Mr. Andrew Kern to discuss what it means that Christ is the logos and how this reveals the grandeur of God in the world.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Davenant Hall.
Davenant Hall, the educational wing of The Davenant Institute, is refounding the medieval university for the digital frontier. They’ve graciously offered The Commonplace listeners a discount for first-time auditors for this Trinity term. Use commonplacetrinity24 to receive $25 off your fee and to receive Reforming Classical Education after registration closes. Registration ends on March 29th, and you can learn more here.
Pst. I’ll see you fellow auditors in Dr. Hoskin’s Early Christian Worship class!________
Footnotes for this episode
CiRCE Institute
The CiRCE Guide to Reading, Kern and Lipinski
Classical Education, The Movement Sweeping America, Kern and Veith
The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis
__________
You can find the full episode notes here (including my footnotes for this episode). You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)
---------
Join the 800+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and Virtues and Vices!

Once upon a time, there were mothers with the power to build worlds with their words. Will you be one of them?
That’s the question I’m posing to you, dear listener, this season. But not without first answering some of your story questions.
Ps. Did you catch our season trailer? It’s magic.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by Davenant Hall.
Davenant Hall, the educational wing of The Davenant Institute, is refounding the medieval university for the digital frontier. They’ve graciously offered The Commonplace listeners a discount for first-time auditors for this Trinity term. Use commonplacetrinity24 to receive $25 off your fee and to receive Reforming Classical Education after registration closes. Registration ends on March 29th and you can learn more here.
Psst. I’ll see you fellow auditors in Dr. Hoskin’s Early Christian Worship class!
__________
You can find the full episode notes here: https://www.thecommonplacepodcast.com/podcast/ep04-00
You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)
---------
Join the 800+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and Virtues and Vices!

It’s time to end season three but we’re not leaving the classical world beyond the wardrobe. We’re just going to go camping.
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You can find the full episode notes here (including my footnotes for this episode). You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)
---------
Join the 700+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Virtues and Vices, Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and How to Start a Classical Charlotte Mason Co-op!

I couldn’t start closing out this third season without answering the question in the back of everyone’s minds: Do I really need to teach my kids Latin and Greek?
__________
You can find the full episode notes here (including my footnotes for this episode). You can leave the podcast a rating and review here. (I thank you!)
---------
Join the 675+ mother-teachers in Common House (It’s like a Patreon, but better.) where we think deeply and learn together through full courses, bonus minisodes, monthly Q+A video calls, resources, and more!Right now, you can join a number of self-paced courses like Virtues and Vices, Charlotte Mason Habits 101, and How to Start a Classical Charlotte Mason Co-op!