Kolbecast

313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year

AMDG.  Today we are joined by three Kolbe academic advisors and veteran homeschool moms to get some advice on how to make a good start to homeschooling in general and specifically homeschooling with Kolbe Academy.  
Kristin Pizzurro, Jennifer Thomas, and Elyse Williams have years of homeschooling experience. They discuss everything from finding your homeschool space, preparing for a new year to different ways to structure your day. All with an eye to making homeschooling fruitful for the whole family. 
Links mentioned and relevant: 
Principle of Subsidiarity Article in Kolbe website Help Center 
Welcome Packet 
Sarah Mackenzie’s Teaching from Rest 
Bookstore section of Kolbe Help Center 
Related Kolbecast episodes: 
124 In This Together, Krysten Pizzurro’s Kolbecast debut 
207 A Privilege of a Lifetime, introducing Elyse Williams 
211 Continuity & Community: Homeschooling on Base with Jennifer Thomas & Krysten Pizzurro 
103 Above and Beyond featuring now-retired Kolbe bookstore manager Nancy Nelson 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

312 Educating for Liberty with Dr. Tom Harmon

AMDG. Today we are joined by the University of St. Thomas’s Dr. Tom Harmon, who catches us up on the many good things happening at UST but also tells us about the recent grant that the university received from the National Endowment for the Humanities to promote the strengthening of civic life.  
Links mentioned and relevant: 
More information about UST’s NEH grant 
The University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, one of Kolbe Academy’s college partners 
Related Kolbecast episodes: 
72 Participatory Citizens 
119 The Hope Throughout with Tom & Noelle Crowe of The American Catholic History Podcast 
290 There is No Neutral with Brett Salkeld 
Office Hours with Clara Davison of Holy Heroes 
109 A Lifetime Venture with Dr. George Harne, formerly of UST/currently of Christendom College 
84 The Essence of Catholic Education with Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

311 Serving Christ and Discovering Truth at Belmont Abbey College

AMDG. As the end of the school year approaches and Kolbe Academy prepares to graduate another class of students, we combine a college visit with an alumnae meet up when Kolbe graduates and Belmont Abbey students Hannah Feeney and Lily Robinson join the Kolbecast.  
Hannah and Lily give us a virtual tour of this Newman Guide college in North Carolina and share their experiences of their life there.  
We also reminisce on their Kolbe days and talk about how their Kolbe experience prepared them well for their life as students after graduation. 
Links mentioned & relevant: 
Belmont Abbey College 
Kolbe Academy’s College Partnerships 
Related Kolbecast episodes: 
93 Good Thinking, Hannah’s Kolbecast debut 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

310 Dr. Greg Bottaro on Holy Curiosity in the School of Love

AMDG. Many of our listeners will be familiar with today’s guest. Dr. Greg Bottaro is a Catholic psychologist, founder of the CatholicPsych Institute, host of the Being Human podcast, author, husband and father of eight children who are all presently under the age of 12.  
Dr. Bottaro joins the Kolbecast to discuss integration and what that means and Catholic anthropology. We also discuss his new book: The Power of Listening Well. This new book shares important information for everyone but is especially an excellent resource for parents who are learning to help their children with difficult problems and to have difficult conversations. 
Links mentioned & relevant: 
CatholicPsych and the Being Human podcast 
Dr. Greg Bottaro on Substack 
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal 
Gaudium et spes 
Related Kolbecast episodes: 
Dr. Brett Salkeld on episodes 290 There Is No Neutral and 298 Educating for Freedom 
270 Dr. Peter Kreeft on Joy, Suffering, Conversion, and Truth 
146 Our Call to Holiness and 196 Greatness Awaits with Bobby Angel 
45 Grace Perfects Nature with Dr. Peter Malinoski 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

309 Keeper of the King with Emily Stimpson Chapman

AMDG. Today we welcome author, speaker and podcaster, Emily Stimpson Chapman back to the Kolbecast! 
It seems that Emily is becoming a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. She’s been busy with even more new books and joins us to discuss them and to share her wisdom.  
Her new book is Joseph, Keeper of the King, a children’s book about St. Joseph and his role as the father of our Lord.  
This is part of a collection of books that she’s worked on with Scott Hahn and illustrator Tricia Dugat through Emmaus Road Publishing.  
Links mentioned and relevant: 
St. Joseph, Keeper of the King 
The entire ‘God’s Word for God’s Children’ set by Emily Chapman and Dr. Scott Hahn will be available at 20% off from April 7–30, 2026. 
Journey through Scripture series 
The Story of All Stories 
The Visitation Sessions podcast 
Study with Emily Stimpson Chapman in Austria May 2026  
St. Paul Center 
Emily’s website 
Emily’s Substack Through a Glass Darkly 
Related Kolbecast episodes: 
130 The Gifts We Have, Emily’s Kolbecast debut, and 287 Emily Stimpson Chapman Sees the World with Catholic Eyes 
291 Good St. Joseph, Keeper of the Mystery with Fr. Serafino Lanzetta 
Poetry 
168 The Adventure of a Lifetime featuring Melissa Dee of the Saints Alive podcast 
150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

308 Understand, Live, and Share the Faith with the Augustine Institute

AMDG. Today, Steven and Bonnie are joined by Erik Hesla, director of curriculum at the Augustine Institute.  
In addition to sharing a bit about the history of the Augustine Institute, Erik tells us a bit about all of the great things that are happening over there! 
Whether it is their graduate program, their books and formation materials, the Formed platform, or the Amen app, it’s wonderful to hear about all of the amazing things that are happening in the educational apostolate of the Augustine Institute! 
Links mentioned & relevant: 
The Augustine Institute 
Formed.org 
Amen app 
Handing Down the Faith by Amy Adamczyk and Christian Smith 
Word of Life series 
The Homer Encyclopedia  
Related Kolbecast episodes: 
144 The Word Made Known with Mark Brumley of Ignatius Press 
150 A Family Apostolate: Liturgical Living with Kendra Tierney  
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

307 In Tune with Capital B Beauty

AMDG. Today, Bonnie and Steven are joined by Kolbe teachers Olivia Knuffke and Carl Hasler to discuss music and music theory. They begin with a discussion of the importance of music and its place in a classical education and follow with an account of music from the perspective of Plato. We also discuss the role of the Church in understanding music and the role of music in the life of a Christian.  
We discuss how the understanding of music theory helps to open our minds to the beauty that we hear in music, and the classes and resources that Kolbe offers to help students come to this understanding.  
Be prepared for a litany of musical puns as you join us in this conversation. 
Links mentioned & relevant: 
Kolbe Academy course catalog for more information about the Music Theory course  
Pope St. John Paul II’s Letter to Artists 
Related Kolbecast episodes 
186 Full Circle of Fifths and 201 The Soundtrack of Life, the first two conversations in this musical series 
242 Finish line in Sight with (among others) Ignatius, student co-founder of Kolbe’s St. Cecilia music club 
263 Exploring God’s Cosmos: Astronomy for Everyday People 
34 A Beauty-Linked Life with Professor Carol Reynolds 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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! 

306 Offering Redemptive Suffering with Megan Hjelmstad

AMDG. As someone who deals with chronic pain, author, speaker, mentor, and proud hockey mom Megan Hjelmstad shares her insights on redemptive suffering and talks about her book Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering. Whether it’s dealing with a cold, a broken water heater, or chronic pain, we can all be reminded of the benefits of joining our suffering to Our Lord’s and offering it up.  
Links mentioned & relevant: 
Megan’s book Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering and accompanying study guide 
Megan’s website 
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 podcast@kolbe.org 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!