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AMDG. For all homeschooling families roughly following a standard school year of August through May, October becomes an important time to examine how the year is going so far and to make any adjustments.   In this episode, Kolbe advisors Rylan Buchanan, Pam Castor, and Krysten Pizzurro join Bonnie and Steven to discuss some of the most regular questions and problems that come up and to remind our Kolbe families that this is a great time of year to check-in with their advisor.  Learn more about Kolbe’s Instructional Support Services.  Related Kolbecast episodes:  Advisor series:  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  319 Tapestry in the Making  320 College Considerations  321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile  323 Ordinary Days   232 Part of the Family  77 The Road Less Traveled with Celeste Cuellar  203 Guided Freedom: a discussion on Classical Composition  215 New School Year Starter Kit with Jeanne Anne Ford and Colleen Pilon  36 Embrace the Fifth Day    Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today we’re traveling north of the border to Canada’s only Newman Guide college! Our guest is Dr. Patrick Craine, president of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Dr. Craine tells us about his and the college’s background and what makes Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College unique.We think that you’ll enjoy this trip to another Newman Guide School combined with a visit to our friends up north.  Links mentioned and relevant:  Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College website  The Cardinal Newman Society’s profile of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College  Kolbe Academy named to Newman Guide’s list of recommended K-12 schools  Catherine Doherty cause for canonization website  Related Kolbecast episodes:  123 A Change of the Ages and 224 Forming Apostolic Hearts with Msgr. James Shea  204 Habits of Ownership with Jacob Imam of St. Joseph the Worker College  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today Steven and Bonnie are joined by Kolbe’s Agostina Cavasotto and Sarah Howard to discuss the transcendentals of the true, the good and the beautiful. From art and music, literature and history, to poetry and plays, we discuss the merits of being exposed to these and how we can make them a part of our classical homeschooling experience.  Related Kolbecast episodes:  Advisor series:  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  319 Tapestry in the Making  320 College Considerations  321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile  323 Ordinary Days  324 Common Pitfalls and Stumbling Blocks   328 Doing the Human Things   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress of the Order of Preachers is the promoter of the Rosary for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph and leader of the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage. He is also a regular host of the Godsplaining podcast.  In addition to hearing about Fr. Kress and his vocation, we’re able to find out more about the Dominican order and its charisms. He also tells us about the fourth annual Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage on September 26, 2026, in Washington D.C. and streamed online.   Links mentioned and relevant:  The 2026 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage (in-person and virtual participation)  Dominican Friars | Province of St. Joseph  more about Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, OP   Godsplaining.org  Aquinas 101 series  Thomistic Institute  The Hillbilly Thomists  Related Kolbecast episodes:  183 Gratuitous Gifts: Sherry Weddell on Charisms  285 Joy, Light, Sorrow, and Glory - The Way of the Rosary with Shannon Wendt  119 The Hope Throughout with Tom & Noelle Crowe of The American Catholic History Podcast  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. There are a lot of discussions going on regarding AI and its impact on the world and the appropriate ways that it can be used. Kolbe theology department chair Nick Senz and curriculum director Maggie Hayden join Bonnie and Steven to discuss Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas which addresses these issues. We discuss the encyclical itself and some practical takeaways as we continue to explore this important issue.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas  Related Kolbecast episodes:  322 Intentionality, Greatness, Dignity, Vision, Faith: Commencement 2026  327 The Intentional Homeschooling Household with John & Sofia Cuddeback  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today we welcome Dr. John Cuddeback to the Kolbecast. This time he’s brought his wife, Sofia, with him Many people will be familiar with John and Sofia from their work on Life-Craft, whether it is retreats, writings or podcasts. Our focus today is on John’s new book, The Intentional Household. In this book, John explores eight principles for building and maintaining an intentional household. We explore these principles and discuss practical steps for making this a reality.  Links mentioned and relevant:  The Intentional Household: Living as if People Matter by John Cuddeback  The Intentional Household podcast episode 36  True Friendship: Where Virtue Becomes Happiness by John Cuddeback  Life-craft.org,  Related Kolbecast episodes:  166 Dr. John Cuddeback on Dwelling Together Richly  188 Dr. Kevin Majeres Sees Challenges as Opportunities   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today we welcome Dr. Tim Collins to the Kolbecast. Dr. Collins is the president at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio –  a Newman Guide school. We get to hear a bit about Dr. Collins’s background, what great things are happening at Walsh University, and what makes it unique among the Newman Guide colleges. Dr. Collins also shares his experience and wisdom in discernment and how we can always be in communication with God for guidance, especially for those big questions and decisions.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Walsh University, one of Kolbe Academy’s college partners  CatholicHigherEd.com, a tool for families by Dr. Collins  Let the Fire Fall by Fr. Michael Scanlon  The Brothers of Christian Instruction  Related Kolbecast episodes:  265 Chosen to Be a Saint: Commencement 2025 featuring Dr. Collins as keynote speaker  183 Gratuitous Gifts: Charisms with Sherry Weddell  84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of The Cardinal Newman Society  123 A Change of the Ages and 224 Forming Apostolic Hearts with Msgr. James Shea  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today we welcome homeschooling mother, historian, editor, and author Dr. Dixie Dillon Lane to the Kolbecast. Dixie has recently written a book about the history of homeschooling called Skipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How it Went Mainstream.  Through research, Dixie traces the origins of homeschooling through the lens of the homeschool movement in Southern California and its evolution to its current form today. In addition to this history, Dixie also shares her wisdom and experience as a homeschooling mother to talk about the benefits of homeschooling and navigating some of the challenges that it can present.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Dixie’s book Skipping School: A History of Homeschooling in the United States and How It Went Mainstream  Dixie on Substack  The Bad Moms Homeschool, Dixie's collaboration with Ivana Greco and Nadya Williams  Hearth & Field   Research by Ivana Greco & Elliot Haspel on stay-at-home parents  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today we’re joined by three experienced homeschooling mothers and Kolbe Academy academic advisors. Rylan Buchanan, Diana Hayes, and Sarah Turley take up the topic of common pitfalls and stumbling blocks that can come up when homeschooling. From planning to balancing multiple children, avoiding burnout and surviving times of illness and disruption, our guests provide us with a great deal of practical wisdom along with a reminder to be kind and patient with ourselves.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Kolbe Academy’s Family Advising Services  Kolbe Academy’s Partnership Meetings  Related Kolbecast episodes:  Advisor series:  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  319 Tapestry in the Making  320 College Considerations  321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile  323 Ordinary Days   232 Part of the Family   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today, Kolbe Advisors Michelle Koechle, Jennifer Thomas and Sarah Turley join the Kolbecast to discuss approaches to homeschooling and what a day of homeschooling might look like.   From schedules and spaces to adjusting to moves and when the unexpected comes up, our guests give us some models for what this can look like and some wisdom on how we can adjust.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Kolbe Academy’s Family Advising Services  Kolbe Academy’s Student Support Services  Related Kolbecast episodes:  Advisor series:  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  319 Tapestry in the Making  320 College Considerations  321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile  197 Tools in a Toolbox: Kolbe Student Support Services  232 Part of the Family: Parents & Advisors as Partners  269 Resources and Roadmaps  203 Guided Freedom (Classical Composition)  256 An Education that Reflects God’s Beauty with Nicole O’Connor and Maggie Hayden  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today, we bring to you the speakers from the 2026 Kolbe Commencement.   Kolbe Academy’s senior enrollment director Jon Bates serves as Master of Ceremonies, introducing Fr. Raymond Pendelton, who gives the invocation, and Kolbe Academy’s chief academic officer Megan Lengyel, who gives the welcome address. Then we hear from student speakers Laura Hill and Holden Mora, Kolbe instructor and theology chair Nick Senz, and Dr. Stephen Minis, president of Benedictine College.   We hope that you enjoy the words of wisdom from all of these individuals, however, if you’d like to jump to a particular speaker, here are the timestamps for each speaker:  Invocation by Fr. Raymond Pendleton: 01:16  Welcome address by Mrs. Megan Lengyel: 02:41  Laura Hill: 04:36  Holden Mora: 12:03  Nicholas Senz: 31:14  Stephen Minnis: 53:41  Relevant links & Kolbecast episodes:  Kolbecast episodes with faculty speaker Nick Senz:   300 The Gift of the Sacraments with Brendan Murphy discussing Nick’s book on the sacraments  91 Kernels of Truth with Chrissy Almanzar  Watch the entire 2026 commencement ceremony here.  Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, is one of Kolbe Academy’s college partners.   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today, Kolbe advisors Pam Castor, Abby Ehlers, and Krysten Pizzurrro join the Kolbecast to discuss extra-curricular activities in homeschooling. Homeschooling is certainly about educating the minds of our children, but we’re always striving to bring about the well-being of the whole person. Activities outside of schooling can play an important role in this, with activities such as sports, serving in the parish, and groups such as scouting.   These advisors give us some examples of how this can be done and provide us with advice on how to find balance.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Articles from the Academics & Advising section of the Help Center:  Scheduling Recommendations  Cultivating Friendships and Enriching Social Activities for Homeschool Students   Scheduling the Elementary and Middle School Day  Extracurricular Activity Tracker  High Academics, Non-Academics, and Activities  Related Kolbecast episodes:  258 Seeking, Finding, and Building Community - Groups and Extracurriculars  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  320 College Considerations  125 Call the Advisor  284 Flexibility and Structure for the Early Years with Pam Castor and Emmanuelle Wilhelm  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Kolbe Academy advisors Cecilia Byers and Elyse Williams return to the Kolbecast in a conversation about preparing students for college.   From early preparations to discerning what might be the right field and the right college, Cecilia and Elyse provide great advice on how to navigate this journey and also how our Kolbe families can lean on them as advisors to help them along the way.  Links mentioned and relevant:  Career Guidance and Discernment section of Kolbe’s Help Center website  Interest & Ability Tools article  High School Graduation Plan Progress article  College Planning section of Help Center  Related Kolbecast episodes:  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  230 A Multi-Pronged Approach to College Prep  296 Tips for Testing Success  241 Renew, Resolve, Reengage with Elyse, which discusses various types of career and aptitude testing  84 The Essence of Catholic Education and 157 Renewal, Revival, Variety, and Unity with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society  Episodes with the College Partners and Life after Kolbe tags on the Kolbe.org/Podcast page  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Today, Kolbe Advisors Rylan Buchanan and Sarah Howard join the Kolbecast to offer some tips and advice on homeschooling. They also remind us of how Kolbe’s family advisors can help our parents effectively navigate their homeschooling journey.  As Sarah points out, homeschooling can be a bit like making a tapestry. When you’re in the thick of it you can see the knots and it can look messy, but when you turn it around, you can see the beautiful work that has been done.   Advisors like Rylan and Sarah help our families with that homeschooling work and can also encourage us to see the beautiful progress when we’re in the thick of it.  Links mentioned & relevant:  Kolbe Academy’s Family Advising Services  HSLDA.org   Help Center articles  Grade Level Course Selection Guides  6th-12th Grade Math & Science Sequence  High School Graduation Plan Progress and Fillable Graduation Planner  Scheduling Your Elementary and Middle School Day  Scheduling Your High School Day  Monitoring & Verifying Store Credit  Related Kolbecast episodes:   197 Tools in a Toolbox: Kolbe Student Support Services  232 Part of the Family: Parents & Advisors as Partners  269 Resources and Roadmaps  243 Drawing Distinctions - Classical Education, Liberal Arts, and Liberal Education  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!

AMDG. Kolbe’s own Neva Hernandez joins Bonnie and Steven to welcome Dr. Matthew Mehan to the Kolbecast. Dr. Mehan is a best-selling author and the Associate Dean and Professor of Government at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College’s Washington D.C. campus.   As we come to our country’s 250th birthday, we discuss history, poetry and Dr. Mehan’s new book The American Book of Fables.   This new book explores our country and its history through the eyes of American animals and has materials for “Littles”, “Middles” and “Bigs” and with its beautiful illustrations can be enjoyed by the whole family.  Links mentioned and relevant:  The American Book of Fables by Dr. Matthew Mehan  Trailer for The American Book of Fables  Mr. Mehan’s Mildly Amusing Book of Mythical Mammals and The Handsome Little Cygnet, also written by Dr. Matthew Mehan and illustrated by artist John Folley  Dr. Mehan is @mtmehan on Instagram and X  Watch trailers for Dr. Mehan's books on YouTube  Dr. Gerard Wegemer of the Thomas More Studies program at the University of Dallas  Relevant Kolbecast episodes:  192 Kitchen Doings, Neva’s Kolbecast debut  175 A Both-And Approach with Dr. Jonathan Sanford, president of the University of Dallas  312 Educating for Liberty with Dr. Tom Harmon  Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you’d like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to [email protected] and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We’d be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!