Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

Mar 05 2025 159 ep. 34 mins 99
Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins Podcast artwork

Refining Rhetoric with CEO 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.

  Religion & Spirituality  Business
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Created to Create: The Divine Purpose Behind Human Craftsmanship with Luke Kolbie

Mar 05 2025 35 mins  
What if the solution to our throwaway culture lies in ancient educational methods and traditional craftsmanship? Robert interviews Luke Kolbie, CEO of Russell Moccasin Company and founder of Kingfisher Leather Works. Luke shares his remarkable journey from homeschooled Classical Conversations student to successful business leader and advocate for sustainable craftsmanship. Luke dis

How I Raised a Scientist

Feb 26 2025 33 mins  
Can a classically-educated student excel in STEM fields? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert welcomes Courtney Sanford, a homeschool mother and associate professor of fine arts at Bryan College, who shares her family's journey with classical education. She discusses how incorporating art and hands-on learning enhanced her children's education, including one son's path to m

Freedom Isn't Free: A Civil Rights Pioneer's Warning

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From sitting at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in 1960 to advocating for educational reform today, civil rights pioneer Clarence Henderson shares his remarkable journey of courage and conviction. Henderson recounts his firsthand experience during the historic Greensboro sit-ins and discusses how that watershed moment shaped his lifelong mission as a champion for freedom. Th

Teen Leadership Schools

Feb 12 2025 44 mins  
From Fortune 30 IT executive to nonprofit leader - Chris May shares how TeenPact Leadership Schools is transforming youth through hands-on civic engagement and faith-based leadership training at state capitals nationwide. Discover how this unique program is equipping the next generation of leaders through real-world political simulations and discipleship, with opportunities for stu

America's Happiest Christian Campus

Feb 05 2025 32 mins  
Can a Christian university create both spiritual depth and genuine joy? Dr. Michael Lindsay, President of Taylor University, reveals how his institution ranks #3 for happiest students nationwide while maintaining spiritual and academic rigor. In this episode, the Princeton-educated sociologist shares insights on developing faith-centered leaders, navigating college admissions, and

School Choice Week Wrap-Up: Freedom vs. Federal Control

Jan 31 2025 24 mins  
From federal executive orders to state legislation battles, the school choice landscape is rapidly evolving - but are these changes moving us toward educational freedom or greater government control? In this thought-provoking wrap-up of School Choice Week, Robert delivers a comprehensive analysis of recent developments in education policy, including the latest federal executive ord

Education Independence: The Best Choice

Jan 30 2025 36 mins  
Why did homeschooling succeed without government funding, while “school choice” demands it? We wrap up School Choice Week with Jim Mason, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), about an alternative to school choice that aligns with limited government principles. Mason breaks down HSLDA's proposal for education tax credits, explains how the homeschool mo

Words for Warriors

Jan 29 2025 45 mins  
Is 'school choice' really about choice, or is it a Trojan horse for greater government control? In this School Choice Week episode, Robert hosts author and education advocate Sam Sorbo to examine the language and implications of the school choice movement. Drawing from her experience as a homeschool parent and author of 'Words for Warriors,' Sorbo unpacks how government-funded educ

Get Involved in the Fight Against School Choice

Jan 28 2025 57 mins  
Should conservatives who oppose universal basic income support 'universal basic education'? We continue our School Choice Week series as Robert speaks with grassroots activist Aundrea Gomez about the contradictions in conservative support for school choice. Gomez, a former teacher and engaged citizen from Tennessee, breaks down how government funding of private education expands ra

Sweden’s Alarming Tale on School Choice

Jan 27 2025 49 mins  
Could government-funded “school choice” lead to less educational freedom? We continue our School Choice Week series with journalist and Classical Conversations Senior Fellow Alex Newman for an in-depth discussion on school choice policies. Newman shares insights from his international experience, particularly in Sweden, and examines how government-funded education initiatives h