Shows / Classical Et Cetera
Classical Et Cetera
Join the educators, authors, publishers, and visionaries at Memoria Press to unpack and understand the world of classical education.
Episodes
- Classical Et Cetera
Why the Doors of Hell Are Locked From the Inside
Can anyone have the best of both worlds? In this _Margin Notes_ we take up C.S. Lewis’s _The Great Divorce_ — where a bus carries ghosts from a grey town to…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Best Novels Ever Written Came From This Century
If you could build a book list for a single century, what would make the cut? In this Classical Et Cetera we land on the 1800s, the century of the novel. We…
- Classical Et Cetera
This Book Gave Me Hope in a Broken World
Graham Greene’s _he End of the Affair asks whether God can draw good out of the worst we do. In this Margin Note we follow Maurice Bendrix, Sarah, and her…
- Classical Et Cetera
Why Can’t I Read Anymore? Advice for Lifelong Readers
Have you ever sat down to read and found you couldn’t focus for more than a few minutes? In this mailbag Classical Et Cetera we answer that question and more…
- Classical Et Cetera
Dostoevsky Wrote the Prototype for the Modern Loner
This episode of Margin Notes takes on Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It is the strange, bitter confession of a man who lives entirely in his own…
- Classical Et Cetera
How I Learned French in 3 Months
A bilingual mother in Canada wants to pass her French heritage on to her two-year-old, but worries there isn’t time for both Latin and a modern language. In…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Moral Problems in To Kill a Mockingbird
Some books stay with you long after the last page. In this episode of Margin Notes, the team talks through Harper Lee's _To Kill a Mockingbird_ - Is it a story…
- Classical Et Cetera
How to Tell a Great Picture Book From a Bad One
What makes a picture book worth keeping, and how do you spot the difference between a great one and a forgettable one? In this _Classical Et Cetera_ we discuss…
- Classical Et Cetera
Reading Flannery O'Connor for the First Time | Short Story Discussion
Margin Notes is back, and this episode the group tackles Flannery O'Connor's short story "Good Country People." A PhD-wielding atheist, a pious-but-hollow…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Best Preparation for STEM Isn't STEM
Is classical education "light" on STEM? A listener asked, so we answered! The short answer is "no." Classical schools run math and science straight through…
- Classical Et Cetera
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Great Books Discussion
Margin Notes is back, and this episode the group tackles Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Our conversation covers the duality…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Best From 1500–1799
Classical Et Cetera continues our best-books-by-century series, this time spanning 1500 to 1799 — from Gutenberg's press to the eve of the Romantics. Returning…
- Classical Et Cetera
Teaching a Child to Read: Where to Start & What Works
Can your child sound out a word, or just guess from the picture? On this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ , Jessica, Martin, and Paul are joined by returning…
- Classical Et Cetera
Everyone You Know Is a Character in Shakespeare
Why do we spend so much time on William Shakespeare, and is he still worth it? This _Classical Et Cetera_ talks about why Shakespeare remains everywhere, even…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Grandparent's Role in Homeschooling and Classical Education
Every child needs support in their educational upbringing, and grandparents are often the ones who provide it! In this Classical Et Cetera Michelle Tefertiller…
- Classical Et Cetera
What a Norwegian Brain Study Reveals About Handwriting
Why teach handwriting when everyone types? This Classical Et Cetera makes the case for penmanship in a classical education—and the reasons run deeper than…
- Classical Et Cetera
When Should You Teach Your Child to Read? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
The core four are back for another mailbag episode! We're answering questions like: When should you teach your child to read? How do you use Memoria Press with…
- Classical Et Cetera
Music and Art Were Never Meant To Be Electives
How do you teach music from a classical perspective? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Carol Reynolds joins us to make the case that music and the arts…
- Classical Et Cetera
Tolkien's Hidden Gem: Farmer Giles of Ham
Margin Notes is back! This week, the gang tackles J.R.R. Tolkien's short story, _Farmer Giles of Ham_ . A humble farmer accidentally scares off a giant, earns…
- Classical Et Cetera
Standardized Testing Is Broken. Here's the Fix.
What if standardized testing isn't the problem—but the tests themselves are? Jeremy Tate, founder of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), joins Classical Et Cetera…
- Classical Et Cetera
Frankenstein Review - Who is the Real Villain? | Great Books Explained
Margin Notes is back, and on this episode the group tackles Mary Shelley's Frankenstein! The conversation covers the danger of playing God, the necessity of…
- Classical Et Cetera
Macbeth Review - Beyond the Play | Discussions, Questions & Analysis
Margin Notes is back! This time, the gang tackles William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The conversation covers ambition and its consequences, the danger of…
- Classical Et Cetera
Classical Et Cetera Reacts to Nolan’s Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has finally arrived—and the Classical Et Cetera team went to see it together! In this episode, we discuss our reactions to…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Return of the Epic: Malcolm Guite and Arthurian Legends
Poet and priest Malcolm Guite joins Classical Et Cetera to talk about his award-winning Arthurian epic, Galahad and the Grail! We explore why the great stories…
- Classical Et Cetera
Homer Goes Hollywood: Your Odyssey Guide Before the Movie
Everything You Need to Know Before Nolan's Odyssey Read These Translations Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of _The Odyssey_ is almost here, so the team is…
- Classical Et Cetera
Turn Off the TV & Read More Books | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
This week is another Classical Et Cetera Mailbag episode! We're answering your questions on cursive, how teachers and parents both bear responsibility for a…
- Classical Et Cetera
What History Teaches Us About Classical Education
How old is classical education, and where does it come from? Today, we answer a listener question and dig into the history—Greece, Rome, and beyond—to show…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Greatest Medieval Literature: Dante, Beowulf, and Beyond
The Middle Ages aren't just the Dark Ages! It's one of the richest literary eras in Western history. This week's Classical Et Cetera finds Jessica, Tanya…
- Classical Et Cetera
Introducing Margin Notes: A Book Club from Memoria Press
Margin Notes is a new book club podcast from the team behind Classical Et Cetera! Join Paul Schaeffer and three undergraduate students—each educated with…
- Classical Et Cetera
My Child Refuses to Do Schoolwork. Here's What Actually Helps.
Every homeschool parent hits this wall. In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common and frustrating challenges in home education…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Best Resources for Classical Education: Journals, Books & More
What are the most essential resources for classical education, and where do you even begin? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Jessica, Paul, Tanya, and…
- Classical Et Cetera
Do Comprehension Questions Kill the Joy of Reading? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
It's another Mailbag episode of Classical Et Cetera! This week the Core Four tackles your questions on several topics, including whether comprehension…
- Classical Et Cetera
How to Approach Nudity in Classical Art with Students
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ the team discusses how classical educators and parents should approach nudity in classical art with students. What is…
- Classical Et Cetera
Are Homeschoolers Socialized Enough?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common objections to homeschooling: socialization. Are homeschoolers actually missing out…
- Classical Et Cetera
Is Classical Education Too Hard? Too Rigid? Too Old-Fashioned?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we discuss the “how” behind classical education. Why do we emphasize memorization, repetition, teacher-led classrooms…
- Classical Et Cetera
What Actually Makes an Education “Classical”?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we ask a foundational question: What actually makes an education “classical”? Is classical education simply a…
- Classical Et Cetera
Why Read Roman Literature? Essential Works from Empire to Augustine
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we continue our series on the best books of each era by turning from ancient Greece to ancient Rome. From Virgil’s…
- Classical Et Cetera
Classical Et Cetera LIVE from the Great Homeschool Convention!
This week’s Classical Et Cetera is a special one. We recorded this episode live at the 2026 Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio! You’ll find all…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Case for Reading Widely | Balance Your Book Diet
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we consider what it means to read well. Is it enough to simply read what we enjoy, or should we aim for something more?…
- Classical Et Cetera
How to Introduce Books to Toddlers and Build Lifelong Readers
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore how reading with your child should grow over time, from first books to the great classics. What should you…
- Classical Et Cetera
They Abridged THAT Classic Book?
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we tackle a common question: should students read abridged classics? Are they helpful, or do they take away from the…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Worst Books We’ve Ever Read
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we take on a risky topic: the worst books we’ve ever read. From beloved classics to modern favorites, we ask what…
- Classical Et Cetera
Why Read Ancient Greek Literature? Essential Books to Start With
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we begin a new series on the best books of each era by turning to ancient Greece! From Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey to the…
- Classical Et Cetera
Do Learning Styles Actually Exist? Teaching Students with Different Personalities
How should parents and teachers respond when children learn differently? Should the curriculum change for each child, or should the child be formed by the…
- Classical Et Cetera
Christian Nonfiction Books for Classical Readers
In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we turn from fiction to Christian nonfiction books that have shaped our faith. From _Mere Christianity_ and Augustine’s…
- Classical Et Cetera
Home Library Ideas: Organizing, Collecting, and Actually Using Your Books
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we talk about home libraries—what they are, how they grow, and why they matter. From organizing (or not organizing)…
- Classical Et Cetera
Why Imagination Matters in Classical Education
In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore the idea of "poetic knowledge"—a way of knowing that begins with experience and imagination before moving…
- Classical Et Cetera
Classroom Technology Isn’t Helping Students Learn
What happens when screens replace books and classroom technology replaces thinking? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we examine research showing how…
- Classical Et Cetera
Should Video Games Have a Place in Your Homeschool? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
In this mailbag episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we respond to listener questions on a range of parenting and homeschooling topics. We talk about limiting…
- Classical Et Cetera
Reading Goals 2026 | How to Read More Books Without Burnout
How should adults think about reading goals for the coming year—and how do you read more books without letting reading become a burden? In this episode of…
- Classical Et Cetera
The Best Way to Learn Latin: Grammar, Immersion, and the Real Goal
There is no shortage of advice about how Latin _should_ be taught—immersion, conversation, grammar-first, or a blending of methods. In this episode of…
- Classical Et Cetera
Is Classical Education Practical in a Trade & Tech World?
Is a classical education practical in today’s world of trades, technology, and rapidly changing careers? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore…
- Classical Et Cetera
What Is the Trivium? A Philosophical Introduction to the Liberal Arts
What do we really mean when we talk about the liberal arts? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we walk through the introduction to Sister Miriam Joseph’s…
- Classical Et Cetera
Classical Et Cetera Christmas Book Exchange
In this Christmas episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we trade our usual “What are you reading?” segment for a festive book exchange! The Core Four each brings a…
- Classical Et Cetera
Is Memoria Press Catholic or Protestant?
Is Memoria Press Catholic or Protestant—and what does “ecumenical” really mean in Christian education? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explain how…
- Classical Et Cetera
What Is a House System? How Classical Education Builds Leadership & Culture
What is a house system, and why do our classical schools use them? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore how the house system works at Highlands…
- Classical Et Cetera
Did Classical Education Cause the Enlightenment? | Classical Et Cetera Mailbag
We’re back with another Mailbag episode! Did classical education actually cause the Enlightenment? How does one become a classical educator? When is the best…
- Classical Et Cetera
Are Fairy Tales Closer to Scripture Than We Think?
Fairy tales are far more than simple children’s stories. In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore why these tales endure, what they offer the moral…
- Classical Et Cetera
Essential Christian Novels for Classical Readers
What are the best Christian novels to read? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we share a new list of books we think are especially worthwhile for…
- Classical Et Cetera
Should My Gifted Child Skip a Grade?
Every parent wants to do what’s best for their child—especially when that child seems ahead of the curve. But in a classical education, growth isn’t about…