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Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Robert Bortins
A podcast where faith, business, politics, and classical education meet. Join us as we use the Classical tools of rhetoric to seek truth in every arena of life.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago36 min
How One Homeschool Dad Built a Christian College in Oxford
Timothy Edwards spent nine years teaching in Idaho, taught himself out of the UK's university system entirely, and then went and built his own Christian college a stone's throw from Oxford. What could go wrong? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Timothy Edwards — founder and first principal of Selden College, a new classical Christian liberal arts college in Oxford, England. Timothy holds a PhD from Oxford, an MA from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and spent nine years as Dean and Fellow of Theology at New St. Andrews College in Idaho before moving home to plant something new. He and Robert trace his path from a PE-teacher-in-training's senior thesis on Britain's burgeoning Christian school movement, to homeschooling his own six children, to finally founding Selden — and why he built it to bypass the UK's A-level system entirely in favor of a bespoke entrance exam and interview. The conversation gets into the details that make this more than an origin story: why Selden's first cohort spent two weeks walking the actual sites of biblical Israel as part of their coursework, and why Hebrew — a language built on ambiguity rather than rigid grammatical forms — changes the way you encounter Scripture compared to reading it in translation. Timothy also makes the case that Christian higher education isn't just a shelter from a hostile culture but a good in its own right, worth building for its own sake. For homeschool families wondering what a genuinely classical, Christian college pathway looks like — and what it could mean for programs like Classical Conversations that run all the way to 18 — this one's worth the full listen. Give it a listen and see what it takes to build something lasting out of nothing but conviction and prayer. Learn more about Selden College: https://seldencollege.org This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse — Operation Christmas Child. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Your homeschool community can be part of this global mission by packing gift-filled shoeboxes full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items that are sent to children in over 100 countries. Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Make Operation Christmas Child part of your school year leading up to National Collection Week, November 16–23. Learn more about how you can join this ministry at https://samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
- 1 weeks ago36 min
Originalism, Religious Freedom & AI: Abraham Hamilton III
What does the Bible have to do with how judges read the Constitution — and why should Christian parents be worried about AI chatbots raising their kids? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins talks with Abraham Hamilton III — lawyer, homeschool dad of six, and General Counsel for the American Family Association — about biblical hermeneutics, constitutional originalism, and the fight for religious freedom in America. Abe unpacks why the Founders expected lawyers to understand Scripture, how the "living Constitution" mindset severed law from its original meaning, and what Europe's collapse into censorship should warn American Christians about. He also gets personal — sharing why Ephesians 6:4 convicted him and his wife to start homeschooling 15 years ago, and how AFA is pushing back on AI's growing influence over kids. Whether you're wrestling with how faith should inform civic life or just want a homeschool dad's take on keeping your kids safe online, this conversation is packed with conviction, clarity, and a challenge to be wise, not woke. Follow Abraham Hamilton III: @HamiltonCorner (X, Instagram, Facebook) Listen to The Hamilton Corner podcast: wherever you get your podcasts Watch on AFA Streaming: https://www.afa.net/ American Family Radio: https://www.afr.net/
- 2 weeks ago39 min
Katy Faust: The Industry Buying and Selling Children
What happens to children when marriage gets redefined? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Katy Faust — founder and president of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children's right to their mother and father — to talk about the fallout of the Obergefell decision, the rise of commercial surrogacy, and how "big fertility" has turned children into a commodity. Katy walks through how IVF and surrogacy have created what she calls a marketplace of children — one that preys on desperate infertile couples and economically vulnerable women alike (including military wives), and one where, as she puts it, no laws protect the child; the contract protects the adults. She and Robert also discuss the scrubbing of "mother" and "father" from parenthood statutes, the rise of designer babies and selective reduction, and why she believes Christians are uniquely called to defend the fatherless. Katy closes with a direct challenge: become an expert on these issues, and join the Greater Than campaign — a coalition of conservative leaders working to overturn gay marriage on behalf of children. This is a heavy episode, but Robert calls it one of the most important the show has done all year. Katy's website: https://katyfaust.com/ Them Before Us: https://thembeforeus.com/ Greater Than campaign: https://greaterthancampaign.com/
- 3 weeks ago33 min
Dr. Albert Mohler on Why Christians Need to Be "Loud" Again
Why are so many historically Christian colleges quietly abandoning their roots — and what does it take to raise a generation that won't? In this episode of *Refining Rhetoric*, host Robert Bortins sits down with Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Boyce College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, to talk about raising faithful Christian kids, the secular pressures pulling Christian colleges off course, and why parents need to be "loud" about their convictions instead of silent. Dr. Mohler names the three "exit points" where Christian kids are most vulnerable — leaving the home, adolescence, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood — and explains why the 18-to-22 window matters more than parents think. He also unpacks his push to add the Truth in Unity Amendment to the Southern Baptist Convention's Constitution, why he believes Christian colleges are only ever one generation from drifting (citing Harvard's own Puritan founding), and why he's convinced America's Christian roots are recoverable, not lost. Whether you're weighing where to send your student after homeschooling or just trying to raise kids who can articulate what they believe and why, this conversation is a bracing, hopeful case for staying convictional — and loud about it. Dr. Albert Mohler's site & The Briefing: https://albertmohler.com/ Boyce College: https://boycecollege.com/ This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by the 2027 CC Family Cruise featuring the National Memory Master Competition, the National Number Knockout Competition, & the National Commencement. The CC Family Cruise is setting sail May 2-8th, 2027, departing from Galveston, Texas, and your whole family is invited! Onboard, you can enjoy CC Signature events and exclusive perks like group dining, merchandise, events, onboard credit, and time with Leigh and Robert Bortins. Space is filling up quickly, so visit classicalconversations.com/cruise to start your booking today!
- Aug 19, 202635 min
The Last Line of Defense: Why Christian Employers Must Speak Up
What if employers — not politicians — are the last line of defense for freedom in America? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Linda J. Hansen — founder of Prosperity 101, former deputy chief of staff on Herman Cain's historic presidential campaign, and pioneering homeschool mom of six — to unpack why Christian employers can no longer afford to stay on the sidelines. Linda traces the remarkable journey from a divine call at her firstborn's birth to the national stage of the 999 Plan, and explains how that same conviction birthed Prosperity 101 — a practical framework for equipping employees with the economic literacy, civic knowledge, and biblical worldview they need to protect their own freedom. She breaks down the seven mountains of culture, the real cost of minimum wage mandates, and why a legislator will always listen to 50 constituents before one lobbyist. The conversation covers everything from grassroots activism and the Tea Party movement to why classical education and critical thinking are the antidote to a culture that's lost its moral compass. If you're a business owner, a homeschool parent raising the next generation of citizens, or a Christian who's been told to keep quiet about faith and politics — this episode will challenge you and equip you. Politics is involved with you whether you're involved with it or not. It's time to flip the script. Prosperity 101: https://prosperity101.com Follow Linda on X & LinkedIn: @Linda_J_Hansen
- Aug 12, 202639 min
Band of Friends: How One Dad Is Redeeming Kids' Entertainment
What does it take to build entertainment kids actually love that parents can actually trust? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins talks with John Forystek, media veteran and creator of the faith-driven animated franchise Band of Friends, and DJ Gravitt — a Classical Conversations graduate and the show's producer and songwriter. John, whose background spans record labels, publishing, and global media, describes the moment he stopped watching cartoons as an executive and started watching them as a father of four — and the five-point values framework his team built (moral and ethical, relational and social, emotional and personal growth, spiritual and character, and generosity and service) after consulting Christian counselors, rather than just aiming for "safe." DJ shares how Classical Conversations' emphasis on critical thinking, music theory, and self-directed learning prepared him to help build out the show's world — and how CC's story sequence chart shows up directly in how Band of Friends episodes are written. Whether you're a parent tired of handing your kids a tablet full of over-sexualized content, or a homeschool student wondering what a career in storytelling could look like, this conversation is a reminder that good stories still shape culture — and that Classical Conversations grads are already out there making them. Follow along and join the Band of Friends community: https://bandoffriends.tv/ This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse — Operation Christmas Child. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Your homeschool community can be part of this global mission by packing gift-filled shoeboxes full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items that are sent to children in over 100 countries. Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Make Operation Christmas Child part of your school year leading up to National Collection Week, November 16–23. Learn more about how you can join this ministry at https://samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
- Aug 5, 202633 min
Victoria Roberts: From Homeschool to LSU National Championship
Can a homeschooler really compete at the Power 5 level? Victoria Roberts just came one tenth of a point from proving it — helping LSU finish runner-up at the 2026 national championship. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins talks with Victoria, a Classical Conversations graduate who trained 14 years at Elmwood Gymnastics Academy and is now one of the first CC grads to compete in Division I gymnastics at the Power 5 level. Victoria breaks down how homeschooling and CC Plus dual enrollment prepared her to balance 16+ hours a week of gymnastics with college coursework — work she says left her better prepared for LSU than a traditional school schedule would have. She talks candidly about the recruiting process as a homeschooled athlete in a state with few big gyms, the late-arriving offer from LSU that changed everything, and the mindset shift between a nerve-filled freshman year and a breakout sophomore season. She also opens up about what almost losing meant to the team, how camaraderie carried them further than talent alone, and how her faith has only deepened under the pressure of D1 competition. Whether you're a homeschool parent wondering if elite athletics and academics can coexist, or you're raising a future athlete of your own, Victoria's story is proof that the two aren't in competition — they can build each other. Tune in for a conversation full of perseverance, faith, and a homeschool-to-college pipeline more families should know about. Victoria's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicctoriaroberts
- Jul 29, 202642 min
Former AZ Superintendent Exposes the Truth About Common Core
What happens when the person hired to fix government education discovers it can't be fixed — because it's doing exactly what it was designed to do? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Diane Douglas, Arizona's former Superintendent of Public Instruction (2015–2019), to talk about her fight against Common Core, the truth behind so-called "empowerment scholarship accounts," and why she believes the only real fix for American education starts with getting the government out of it entirely. Diane walks through the three "epiphany moments" that pulled her out of government schooling and into the fight — from discovering outcome-based education to sitting through a PTA meeting where the numbers simply didn't add up. She takes listeners inside the state board of education that holds more real power than any elected superintendent, explains why she pushed (unsuccessfully) to bring Hillsdale's classical Barney Charter curriculum into Arizona schools, and unpacks the chilling term she kept hearing used for children: "human capital." She also issues a warning for parents who think school-choice funding is a clean win — it's still government money, with government strings attached. Diane now serves on the Educational Advisory Board for Public School Exit, helping families find a way out of a system she says isn't broken, but working exactly as intended. This conversation is a wake-up call for anyone who still believes the system just needs "more good people" to fix it from the inside. Learn more about Diane's work: https://www.publicschoolexit.com/
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About Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins
A podcast where faith, business, politics, and classical education meet. Join us as we use the Classical tools of rhetoric to seek truth in every arena of life.
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