Hoplite Radio: Recent Episodes
Ridgeview Classical Schools
Hoplite Radio explores the importance of a classical education in the modern world through conversations with faculty and staff at Ridgeview Classical Schools in Fort Collins, CO.
At 250 years old, America is a young country. Of course, some say we are not the country we were founded to be. They claim, with some credibility, that the republic ended in 1861, and that a nation rose from its ashes. Rome lasted a little less than five hundred years, Spain has existed for a little over 500, and England for perhaps 1,100. Are any of these the countries they began as, and if not, to what or whom do they make their patriotic appeals?
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools Headmaster Mr. Anderson sits down with third-grade teacher Sydney Bogle to discuss her remarkable journey from serving tables at Silver Grill Café to leading her own classroom at Ridgeview. Sydney shares how a chance conversation with Ridgeview staff members while working as a waitress led her to discover classical education and a career she never expected. A recent graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in psychology, Sydney entered Ridgeview as a teaching assistant before unexpectedly stepping into a third-grade teaching role just days later. The conversation explores the value of charter schools, the impact of strong school communities, and how Ridgeview's classical education model develops students who are academically capable, highly literate, and grounded in character. Sydney reflects on her own experience attending a charter school, her transition into teaching, and why she believes today's students benefit from a learning environment centered on books, handwriting, discussion, and meaningful relationships rather than screens. Parents considering a classical charter school will gain insight into Ridgeview's approach to character formation, rigorous academics, and teacher support. Aspiring educators will also hear an encouraging story about how mentorship, community, and a willingness to take risks can open unexpected doors.
Mr. Anderson presents the Commencement Address for 2026 graduates. "I would like to begin as Aurelius began…with gratitude. I would like to thank the parents of the students seated behind me. Without you, and without you having chosen us, we would never have been let into these lives. We would never have been a part of their stories, and they would never have featured in so many of ours. Everyone who has delighted in them would be less without them. What was most important to you became important to us."
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools seniors Isabel and Oskar reflect on their seven-year journey through classical education, rigorous academics, outdoor education, and student life at Ridgeview. Isabel shares how mountain biking, volunteering, and the outdoor program shaped her understanding of community and self-discipline, while Oskar discusses robotics, engineering, bilingualism, and the influence of his Polish heritage on his educational journey. Together, they explore the value of classical education, senior thesis projects, outdoor trips, close-knit student culture, and balancing academics with extracurricular activities. This episode offers an authentic look at the Ridgeview Classical Schools experience for prospective families, students, and anyone interested in classical education, outdoor learning, student leadership, robotics, and college preparation.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Mr. Anderson sits down with the Adamos to explore why they chose Ridgeview Classical Schools and why they continue to stay. From first impressions during their campus tour to the lasting impact of a classical education, they discuss the importance of community, character formation, and meaningful academic challenge at Ridgeview.
The conversation also dives into the potential impact of artificial intelligence on education, examining both its promise and its risks. How can students learn to think deeply in an age of shortcuts? And what does it mean to pursue truth, not just grades?
Plus, Dominick and Chelsea Adamo share insights into their businesses, Rocket Jones, a custom software company, and Clean Air Lawn Care, a sustainable lawn care franchise, offering a closer look at the work, ideas, and entrepreneurship within our own community.
This is Mr. Anderson’s speech from the Numis Night Annual Fundraiser. Welcome. Thank you for being at Ridgeview and for being here this evening to support our school and our students. Thank you to Wendy Rankin, Stevie Daigneault, Sarah Banzhaf, Sarah Jones, Katie Johnson, Katie Gates, Lindsey Idem-Steele, Hanneke Boon, Heather Radzay, Megan Estes, Cindy Stark, Jackie Casper and Vanessa Somarriba for serving on the Numis Committee and for bringing us together tonight, and who consistently make the humble nobility we aspire to look so refined.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, we sit down with parent volunteers, Wendy Rankin and Stevie Daigneault to learn more about our annual fundraiser, Numis Night, and the Numis Committee that pulls this event together each year. Mrs. Rankin and Mrs. Daigneault share how Ridgeview Classical Schools’ biggest annual fundraiser grew into a can’t-miss community tradition that not only brings families together, but also funds real, visible improvements for students. Projects like playground upgrades, performing arts renovations, emergency classroom kits, outdoor program gear, and this year’s new upper school lockers. We talk honestly about why a single, parent-led gala works better than constant school fundraisers, how volunteering and book groups helped them find their people. Learn what makes the Numis dinner so much fun, from the themed attire and teacher experiences to the live and online auctions. You’ll also get a preview of this year’s celebration at Windsong Estate Event Center and simple ways to participate even if you can’t attend. The Numis dinner is a fundamental part of Ridgeview’s culture, supporting the classical education mission, and the powerful role of parent involvement.
In this episode, Headmaster Anderson reflects on how Christmas offers renewal in a world often marked by monotony and acedia. Drawing on classical thinkers, Scripture, and beloved works of art, music, and literature, he explores how the season invites us to see one another with dignity, rekindle joy, and embrace a deeper sense of generosity and wonder. Through traditions, storytelling, and shared celebration, Christmas becomes more than preparation—it becomes participation in what is good, beautiful, and humanizing. This uplifting reflection encourages families and listeners to slow down, be present, and rediscover the true magnificence of the holiday.
In this episode, we sit down with Mrs. Carvalho, our Outdoor Education Coordinator, and Mr. Lautenschlager, a Ridgeview parent, to discuss the growth and impact of Ridgeview’s Outdoor Program. They share their backgrounds, what brought them to Ridgeview, and how the program has evolved over the past decade. Together, we explore the benefits of time spent in nature, how outdoor experiences support student fitness, character, and academic growth, and why these trips complement our classical curriculum. We also highlight the value of parent participation on trips and why the program is meaningful for all students, not just those who consider themselves outdoorsy.
00:06:30 – Outdoor Education and Classical Education Working Together
00:16:00 – Why Outdoor Education Matters in Northern Colorado
00:19:30 – The Lasting Impact of Outdoor Education at Ridgeview
Eat too much, drag out the board games and the cards; throw the football in the yard until your fingers are numb with cold, and the let the young ones play in the piles of leaves. Build a fire, grab an old novel, put up your feet, and rejoice in the material and immaterial abundance by which you are surrounded. Enjoy your turkey, your family, and friends in good cheer and good company. Realize the myth and revel in gratitude, charity, and hope.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools welcomes longtime college advisor Mrs. Dixon, who reflects on her 11 years guiding students through the ever-changing college admissions landscape. Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Dixon discuss how college advising has evolved—from the growing complexity of admissions and rising tuition costs to shifting student priorities and the role of values in higher education. Mrs. Dixon shares insights on helping students find the right college “fit,” balancing academics with self-discovery, and preparing for life after graduation. A must-listen for parents and students navigating today’s college admissions process and seeking practical, classical wisdom for the modern world.
In the early 1930s, R.G. Collingwood, a prominent intellectual at Pembroke College, Oxford was concerned about the rise of Nazism and its implications for Britain and Europe, and borrowing a line from Book V of Livy’s Histories, he compared himself to the sacred geese dedicated to Juno in Rome that had warned of a surprise Gallic attack in 390 BC. He wrote in his autobiography in 1939, “I am a professorial goose, and my job is to honk.”
Curious about Ridgeview Classical Schools? In this episode, Mrs. Robideaux asks Mr. Anderson some of the most frequently asked questions from prospective parents and students. From Ridgeview’s classical education model to how the lottery works, this conversation offers an inside look at what makes Ridgeview distinct. Whether you’re exploring school options, preparing for enrollment, or simply want to understand how Ridgeview develops the whole student, this episode provides valuable insight straight from the source.
Topics covered include:
* What defines a classical education
* How Ridgeview supports students academically and personally
* School culture, expectations, and family involvement
Tune in to learn more about the mission, values, and vision behind Ridgeview Classical Schools.
Charlie Kirk. Born in 1993 outside of Chicago, Illinois. Married in 2021. Two children. Founder of a political and religious advocacy group. Toured college campuses debating political opponents in an open forum. Hosted a podcast. Judging by those now celebrating his death, to include elected officials and political appointees, one would expect his biography to read more like this: “participant at the Wannsee Conference, officer of the Schutzstaffel, architect of the Final Solution on the Question of the Jewish Problem, and facilitator of extermination camps.”
We recently caught up with alumnus Gavin Steed (Class of 2023) to hear about life after Ridgeview. What began with email updates to Mr. Anderson grew into a meaningful conversation about Gavin’s journey—what it means to be a Ridgeview “lifer,” how he chose his college path, the ways he found community on campus, and how Ridgeview prepared him for the adventures ahead.
In ministering to the whole person, and providing him the latitude and information to choose his own ends, exposure to nature is as essential to an education as his having acquired the ability to read or to converse.
Given the passage of nearly a quarter of a century, it is worth pausing to consider what it is that Ridgeview is about. To understand this is to contemplate shifting attitudes about education, and the changing conceptions of childhood, parenting, and the cultural conditions that make civil and political society possible.
Join us for a thoughtful conversation with Mr. Johnson, a Ridgeview Classical parent and local Fort Collins small business owner. We explore his family’s journey at Ridgeview and take a deeper look into the field of Organizational Psychology, focusing on how his company, Rev 0, equips technical experts with strong leadership skills. The episode wraps up with a reflection on the role coffee plays in fostering both community and business connections.
Learn more about Rev 0: https://rev0.org/
Learn more about Isolation Coffee: https://isolation.coffee/
Mr. Anderson presents the Commencement Address for 2025 graduates. "Why are we alive? Why do we choose to continue going on? Is that not part of Yeats’ question? What really demonstrates knowledge of a compelling answer is not what college you go to, what sports you played, what mountains you climbed, what job you get, or how much money you make, but the principles that guided your actions, the choices you made and your reasons for making them, and the life you’ve lived day by day. Not in the end. Not what you could document on your transcripts or résumé. Not what you paid a university to certify you in. Not what the state says you are. What matters is who you have been day by day."
In this episode, we sit down with two graduating seniors, Alena and Silas, to explore the Ridgeview Experience from their perspective. Alena and Silas discuss how the clubs, extracurriculars, and co-curriculars at Ridgeview helped to shape their journey. We discuss the impact of small class size, as well as the books that were read and the conversations they led to.
In this episode, we sit down with two graduating seniors, Luc and Claire, to explore the Ridgeview experience from their perspective. As students shaped by a classical education, Luc and Claire reflect on the challenges, growth, and memorable moments that have defined their journey. We discuss the impact of a classical curriculum on their intellectual and personal development, the value of a small class size, and how a focus on the liberal arts, critical thinking, and character has prepared them for life beyond graduation.
Discover why the McKnight family—Ridgeview Classical parents and Fort Collins small business owners—chose Ridgeview for their children’s education. In this engaging interview, we explore their positive experiences at Ridgeview and highlight their local landscaping company, Turf Tamers, serving the Fort Collins, Colorado community.
At Ridgeview, Valborg is a family gathering to herald spring, to steel us for the final stretch of the academic year, to form new connections between young and old, to strengthen our community, and achieve a bit of catharsis by an invigorating run through the hills at the entrance to the Big Thompson Canyon. If all goes well, it will be smokey, muddy, dirty, wet, and glorious. It will involve students with wild hair, faces painted blue, hollering boisterously, throwing axes, javelins, shooting arrows, eating, competing, and laughing. It culminates in an obstacle course and an off-track endurance run beginning at dusk and lit only by the fading sun and the participant’s headlamps. Everyone who wishes to can run the race, throw an axe, or simply enjoy a meal around the bonfire and laugh with friends.
On Saturday evening, Ridgeview held its eighth annual Numis Night. This was the best attended donor event in Ridgeview’s history. The venue, the Windsong Estate Event Center, was beautiful. Looking westward, as we bid on items, we watched the sun set over the Front Range before sitting down to eat.
Mr. Gallacher was the best of the old school. He was a gentleman. This is a powerful and sincere compliment, particularly if our definition of gentleman is not so denuded as to refer to any man, and not so restrictive as to only have an historical connotation. It is, moreover, a concept that most men believe they ought to aspire to or be regarded as.
In this episode, we join Mrs. Jhones in her classroom, where she shares insights into Uganda's history and explains how her time at Ridgeview has helped her work in Uganda. Since Ridgeview Classical Schools opened its doors, Mrs. Jhones has dedicated herself to teaching first graders and frequently travels to Uganda for mission work.
We are scouring the student body for students who believe in Ridgeview and are proud of their school. Proud of their school—not just proud of themselves. We want students who have done academically well, but we acknowledge that not every great student will have a 4.0.
This Monday is Veterans Day – the 105th since President Wilson brought it into being as Armistice Day in 1919. It is interesting to note in acknowledging this day that there are no calls for students to be released from schools on this day as there are for other holidays. A part of this might be attributable to the growing rift between those who have served, especially in combat roles, and the ordinary citizens they have served to protect.
The first Father's Group meeting exceeded all expectations in terms of attendance and interest. We have the beginnings of something that could be truly transformative, for individual fathers, their families, ours sons and daughters, and our school.
In an effort to make these periodic Perspectives more easily available to a wider audience, we will begin recording these as standalone pieces and publishing them as podcasts. With regards to this particular topic, the plan is to periodically record and publish podcasts with others in the Fathers Group on an ongoing basis to gather more perspectives and insights.
In this installment, we begin a new series featured on Hoplite Radio where we invite you to step inside the classroom with us. Each episode of this series will feature the educational expertise of the faculty here at Ridgeview Classical Schools. On today's episode we join Mr. Hayhurst, a member of our science faculty, as he teaches a lesson about the NASA Europa Clipper Mission.
Join Mr. Anderson, Mr. Carpine, and Mrs. Menon for a discussion of Ridgeview's early days, its development, and the ways in which Ridgeview is dependent upon a deep sense of community and volunteerism.
In today's conversation, we dive into the world of art with our very own, Mr. Trapp. We explore whether art plays a vital role in a well-rounded liberal arts education. By engaging with art, students are encouraged to think critically, express themselves creatively, and develop an appreciation for human experiences. Mr. Anderson asks, "what is the relationship between art and beauty?". They discuss the age-old question of what beauty truly is.
On this episode, we are talking about the Physical Education initiative at Ridgeview Classical Schools. Mr. Anderson sits down with Mr. Schohl and Mrs. Van Dixhorn exploring the rationale, inspiration, and the goals for the future of this program. How does the incorporation of a physical education program align with the classical curriculum?
Books referenced in this podcast are available for purchase in Ridgeview's Bookshop:
Built to Move by Kelly Starrett & Juliet Starrett
* Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey
* The Comfort Crisis* by Michael Easter
On this episode of Hoplite Radio, Mr. Anderson had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Carvalho, Mrs. Gaub, Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Bodak about "Teaching The Whole Student". These four educators have a unique perspective, as they are all graduates of Ridgeview Classical Schools. At Ridgeview, academic excellence is just part of the equation - we believe in developing well-rounded individuals who are also kind, compassionate and well-prepared for life beyond the classroom.
In 2015, the concept of First Responder's Day at Ridgeview Classical Schools was introduced by our Headmaster, Mr. Anderson. The idea was to encourage awareness of the work that was being done around the clock to make doing ordinary things feel ordinary, and to show students the value in a career in public service. Mr. Anderson speaks with Sheriff Stewart, who has attended this event for many years, to learn about the perspective of this event from the side of a first responder. They also discuss careers in public service and what makes these careers worthwhile.
In this podcast, we delve into the topic of a classical education and what it truly means. Mr. Anderson is joined by Dr. McMahon and Mr. Ayers to discuss whether a classical education is more than a marketing gimmick. We talk about the recent explosion of charter schools that are claiming to teach a classical education, whether or not a classical education is the same as a Christian education, the trivium and the quadrivium, as well as the role of classic languages and the Socratic Method.
Books referenced in this podcast are available for purchase in Ridgeview's Bookshop:
The Paideia Proposal by Mortimer Adler
* The Aims of Education by Alfred North Whitehead
* The Lost Tools of Learning by Dorothy Sayer
* The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
* Paradise Lost* by John Milton
Have you ever wondered what teacher training at Ridgeview entails? Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Hayhurst dive into the history of our teacher training and how it has evolved over the years.
Literature faculty and theatre director Mr. Binder joins us on Hoplite Radio to discuss the benefits of a performing arts program.
Mr. Anderson sits down with third grade teacher and Ridgeview Athletic Director Miss Grace to discuss the importance of Athletics.
Mr. Anderson sits down with our Outdoor Program Coordinator Mrs. Carvalho to discuss the history of our program and its importance, as well as the hopeful plans for its future.
Hoplite Radio is back!
Ridgeview's Headmaster Mr. Anderson opens up a dialogue with three of our veteran faculty (Mr. Ayers, Mrs. Halseide and Mrs. Mahindroo) about why someone would want to teach at Ridgeview and their own personal experiences in the school's unique environment.
In Episode 21, we are joined by Dr. McMahon and Mrs. Halseide to discuss how literature is taught at Ridgeview.
In our twentieth episode, we are joined by Ridgeview's Marie Hornback to discuss the importance of Etiquette and Penmanship in our school.
In Episode 19 of Hoplite Radio, we are joined by Dr. Cassella, Ridgeview’s Classics Department Head, to talk about the instruction of Latin.
In Episode 18, Mr. Anderson sits down with Dr. McMahon, Miss Kujawa, and Mr. Amschler for a discussion about what constitutes a classical education and the dangers in using the term classical as a marketing ploy.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, we sit down with Austin Bail to discuss his time at Ridgeview, his decision to join the Marine Corps, and the mindset of those who thrive while doing some very hard things.
In this, the sixteenth episode of Hoplite Radio, we are joined by Jill Hitchman to discuss how Ridgeview teaches students to read. Mrs. Hitchman is a Ridgeview veteran and is extremely knowledgeable about Riggs—the explicit phonics program that Ridgeview uses in its elementary school. Please join us as we discuss this critical issue in education with Mrs. Hitchman, follow up by viewing some of Mrs. Hitchman’s videos available via PowerSchool, and consider joining us for our reading groups.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, we visit with John Amschler about the importance of outdoor education, the demise of natural history in primary and secondary education, and the aspects of an education that cannot be taught in a classroom.
In this episode, we moved our recording equipment into Room 306 and recorded a discussion of parents discussing an excerpt of R.G. Collingwood’s The Idea of History. Our purpose in doing this was to give listeners a sense of what these discussions are like in the hope that they might find the material and exchanges enticing enough to join us in the future.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Mr. Anderson is joined by Mrs. Jennie Roebuck, a fourth-grade teacher at Ridgeview, and an alumna of the school. She shares her thoughts about how she came to Ridgeview as a student, where she went after graduation, how her experiences at Ridgeview have shaped her impressions of education, and where she is off to next.
Mr. Anderson is joined by Mrs. Kristina Menon to discuss how the role of principal has evolved over time at Ridgeview, and the ways in which this position has distinguished itself from the executive positions at other schools.
In an interview with Spencer Nauman, we explore the notion of economic literacy and the manner in which one acquires some measure of economic education.
This week, we welcome Mrs. Alexandra Hobaugh, a parent fairly recently arrived at Ridgeview, to talk about the parent discussion groups and the value these have for our community.
In this episode, Mr. Anderson converses with Kelly Trosper, longtime Ridgeview parent and board member about his Ridgeview story: what brought him to Ridgeview, what has driven his involvement with the school as a volunteer, and what has kept him here as an enthusiastic parent and supporter.
In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Mr. Anderson sits down and talks with another Ridgeview graduate, Jonathan Karr to discuss the impact of Ridgeview for our alumni years after graduation. As Jonathan prepares to begin his graduate studies at UC Berkley, he reflects on what he gained from Ridgeview and what it has come to mean to him as he has undertaken different kinds of study as an adult.
In this episode, we consider the impressions of what Ridgeview came to mean to Anders Jorgensen, a recent Ridgeview graduate who had attended Ridgeview since kindergarten. We frequently tell parents that we want for them to think of their enrollment at Ridgeview in terms of a thirteen-year commitment - to treat it as an experience, and not simply an experiment. From curricular considerations to extracurricular activities, Anders provides us with an insight into what Ridgeview meant to him and what it can come to mean to anyone willing to commit to it.
In this episode, we interview Zak Smith, co-owner of Thunder Beast Arms and owner of Competition Dynamics. Mr. Smith is a parent of two Ridgeview students who has provided tremendous support for our outdoor programs and adventures with students. We explore what these adventures contribute to a classical education, and in particular, the importance of discovering one’s limits as part of our student’s character formation.
The music program at Ridgeview has often dominated the lives of our students and parents. From the concerts to the musicals and madrigal performances, music has been an important part of the Ridgeview experience. Mr. Anderson and Ridgeview’s new music director, Mr. Ben Geier, converse about the place of music in a classical education in this episode of Hoplite Radio.
How is science taught at a classical school? Can a classical education produce students who will be competitive in the natural sciences? These are some of the questions we explore in this podcast with Mr. Hayhurst, Ridgeview’s Science Department Head.
In this episode, we talk with Domenic Carpine, Ridgeview’s Assistant Principal, and an employee of the school from its inception. We discuss the school’s culture, its disciplinary practices, and much else. Mr. Carpine also talks through how he first heard about Ridgeview as a parent, which will be of interest to those considering joining us at Ridgeview.
In Episode 2, Mr. Anderson, Principal of Ridgeview Classical Schools, and Mr. Herndon, a veteran history teacher at the school, examine what distinguishes the teaching of history at Ridgeview. They discuss the contingency of human experience, the intentionality of using primary sources, the role of will and circumstance in historical events, American exceptionalism, and the development of the historical imagination in students.
Episode I
Episode Title: Introduction to Ridgeview
In this episode, Mr. Anderson explores Ridgeview’s history, introduces listeners to what it is that makes a charter school different, and talks with Mr. Herndon, a veteran Ridgeview history teacher, about the sorts of things that make up the Ridgeview experience.