HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive
Episodes
Educating "Practically Wise Governors": On Prudence and the Liberal Arts
23 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Matt Mehan explores the relationship between practical and speculative wisdom in the liberal arts education. He explains that "an education in the...
Leading our Sons Towards Integrity
12 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Lower School Head, Colin Gleason, offers a Heights Lecture on integrity. He shares how honesty requires far more than merely telling the truth; our bo...
On Hiring Teachers: Drafting a Faculty of Friends
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode of HeightsCast, Heights Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente discusses hiring, the attributes of the teachers he hires, and where he finds ...
U. of Dallas President, Dr. Thomas Hibbs
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Newly installed University of Dallas President, Dr. Thomas Hibbs, discusses the challenges facing higher education in the liberal arts. How should pa...
U. of Dallas President, Dr. Thomas Hibbs
19 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Newly installed University of Dallas President, Dr. Thomas Hibbs, discusses the challenges facing higher education in the liberal arts. These challe...
Patriotism and Piety: Honoring Founders and Fathers
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Dr. Matt Mehan explores the virtue of patriotism. We forget that this is a virtue, especially in a digital age that unleashes and ...
Guidelines for Dating
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mr. de Vicente: Discusses the three prerequisites for a healthy young-adult relationship: Good Intentions, Other-Centric Worldview,...
"The Talk": On the Role of Schools and Fathers
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Upper School Head, Michael Moynihan discusses how we as a School partner with fathers to help them share God's plan for marriage and ...
Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys' Affectivity Part II
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In Brief: Training in virtue requires attention not only to intellect and will, but to emotions as well. Complete virtue requires not only a knowled...
The Grindstone Skills: On Latin in Education, Part II
14 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast, Dr. Lionel Yaceczko discusses the study of Latin as the best way to develop our students' "grindstone skills": the abilities...
The Grindstone Skills: On Latin in Education, Part I
07 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast, Dr. Lionel Yaceczko discusses the study of Latin as the best way to develop our students' "grindstone skills": the abilities...
Rekindling the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
17 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, bishops around the country visit their flocks to offer the sacrament of Confirmation to young people. In this episode, Mr. Jeff Thompson s...
Emotions Fully Alive: Forming Boys' Affectivity
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Head of Mentoring, Joe Cardenas, explains the importance of training the emotions of our aspiring "men fully alive." Often we see edu...
Lying to Dumbledore: On Moral Consequentialism in Children's Literature
03 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Contemporary children's literature often celebrates children lying or worse to accomplish "good" ends. As parents of avid readers, we must be aware. J...
Decisive Parenting
29 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Heightscast, an interview with Head of Upper School, Michael Moynihan, on his new book, Decisive Parenting. For more information or to p...
Praise and Affirmation without Flattery
13 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Heights Teacher and Mentor, Alex Berthe, discusses the importance of proper praise in the moral development of boys. Our culture tends towards two ext...
Forming Men of Faith
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As a community of believing parents and teachers, passing the Faith on to our sons' is mission essential. Heights Headmaster, Alvaro de Vicente, discu...
The Strategic Enterprise of Upper School Study, a.k.a. "Homework"
22 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join two Freshman Core teachers, Gerard Babendreier and Joe Cardenas, for a discussion about how high schoolers should approach their study. To simply...
Mathematics: The Lost Liberal Art
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David Maxham explores the role of Mathematics in a Liberal Arts education. Contrary to popular perception, the Liberal Arts include a robust commitmen...
"Who am I?": The Question of Persona, Part 2
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For Part 1, click here. As boys grow into men they grapple with important questions: "who am I?"; "why am I here?"; "what is my purpose?" Mr. de Vicen...
"Who am I?": The Question of Persona
20 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As boys grow into men they grapple with important questions: "who am I?"; "why am I here?"; "what is my purpose?" Mr. de Vicente takes on the question...
On the Healing Powers of Tragedy
13 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What is "tragedy"? Actually, it's not a bad thing happening to a good person. But what, then, is it? Join Dr. Yaceczko and Mr. Mehigan for a conversat...
On Addressing Character Defects: Thoughts on Tough Love
02 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As teachers, we sometimes succumb to the desire to be liked, or to the fear of being disliked, by our students. This disposition can cost our students...
Parenting: Patience or Optimism
26 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Does your son know that you believe in him? Andy Reed on the power of optimism.
On Recess: The Benefits of Free Play
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Heights boys enjoy three recesses daily in the Lower School. It's not just a chance to stretch their legs. To the contrary, recess is viewed as a clas...
Think Bigger
12 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Rich encourages 8th grade boys and their parents to think differently and bigger about the High School decision. "Differently" becaus...
Preparing for Bad News: Raising Men Who Can Handle It
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Bad news is all around us. It always has been. It always will be. As if personal and family challenges weren't enough, we have an attention economy th...
Sarah Mackenzie on the Read Aloud Family
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast we feature Sarah Mackenzie, an author and mother who is leading a movement to bring reading aloud back into our homes. When w...
Teaching Magnanimous Dress: On the Virtue of Polish
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Heights students are given the freedom to choose their outfits, so long as they adhere to the dress code. What are the virtues that our boys can build...
On Freedom and Phones
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Headmaster, Alvaro de Vicente addresses freedom and smart phones. These devices can be incredible tools, but only if used with a proper sense of self-...
On Nature Journals and Observant Souls with Eric Heil
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last episode we addressed the importance of properly and prudently handling wildlife. Once your boy has the prudence and courage needed to fully exper...
"Can I catch it?": Eric Heil on Handling Wildlife
06 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there. A boy in your care looks earnestly into your eyes, rabid with excitement; he's found a critter and he wants to catch it. What do...
Mike Ortiz on Modern Literature: On Curating the Contemporary
03 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We are a liberal arts school, but we embrace contemporary literature that leads our students to the good, the true, and the beautiful. Not all of it d...
Arthur Brooks on Rethinking College: Why go? How? When?
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute, joins us for a conversation about college that will benefit students, parents, and teac...
School Tone, the Most Powerful Teacher
02 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our students and sons start learning the moment they set foot on campus. Every time we greet a boy in the hallway, we are teaching him. Every time we ...
Summer Reading with a Purpose
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Longano spends an episode unpacking his recent webinar on how to anchor summer reading in leisure. Can a 3rd grader actually achieve this? Yes. Ho...
The Bedrock Principle of Fatherhood
15 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Math Problem: Tackling the "I'm Terrible at Math" Mentality
09 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
American boys are failing to keep pace with their mathematical peers internationally. Our test scores aside–and we are skeptical of attempts at stan...
Teaching the Craft of Writing from the Sentence Up
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Heights teacher, Joe Breslin, discusses the problems with the contemporary approach to writing, and offers his strategy for raising craftsmen of lette...
On Pieper's Prudence, Part II
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Lower School Head Colin Gleason continues a discussion with Tom Cox and Austin Hatch on Prudence, as presented by Josef Pieper. Often we understand th...
Why Our Politics Needs Poetry: Dr. Mehan on his New Book
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why Dr. Mehan believes that "a healthy politics requires a healthy poetics." He discusses the importance of poetry in the formation of leader...
On Pieper's Prudence: A Virtue for the Great Souled
10 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Lower School Head Colin Gleason leads a discussion with Tom Cox and Austin Hatch on Prudence, as presented by Joseph Pieper. Often we understand this ...
More than Cute: Drama's Power for the Young
07 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Longano and Pat Love run a successful drama program for lower and middle school boys at The Heights. With their play coming up next week, they dis...
The Stressed Son: The Causes of Adolescent Anxiety
23 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologists and social commentators are decrying the high levels of stress experienced by the typical American teen. By most reports, more than half...
Shakespeare's Full Effect: Teaching through Drama
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The prose is beautiful, but sometimes we gloss over the full impact of the Bard's writing. Join Mr. Joe Bissex and a few of his students for a discuss...
Boys, Education, and The Heights
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Heights Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente presents his vision of education for boys. Hear our headmaster discuss the role of parents, faculty, and school i...
Smart Giving: On Stocks, Savvy Donors, and the New Year
27 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join CFO Phil McGovern and Director of Annual Giving James Kolakowski for a discussion on smart giving. The new tax laws, stock market, and end of yea...
SAT and the Common Core: A Solution to the New Alliance
19 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Tate, President and Co-Founder of the Classical Learning Test, and Kirby Hartley, Director of Outreach, join us for a conversation about the ne...
"Tell me the truth!" Leading Boys to Integrity
14 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lower School Head, Colin Gleason, offers a Heights Lecture on integrity. He shares how honesty requires far more than merely telling the truth; our bo...
Why Boys Need Mentors
29 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Boys need mentors. We know this intuitively from our observations of young and older boys alike. But why? Join Mr. Joe Cardenas (Head of Mentoring) an...
The Importance of History Pt. II
21 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Hillsdale College Dr. Matt Spalding continues his conversation with us about American History, and the theory of education in 20th century America. If...
The Importance of History
17 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Spalding discusses the importance of studying history, and the problems with the contemporary approach.
Defining the Liberal Arts
10 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Matthew Mehan unpacks the liberal arts. We can throw the term around to describe our school, but do we really understand what we mean? Is it more ...
Systems for Athletic Success
03 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Lively joins us for a podcast on Systems for Athletic Success. Why Sytems and not Goals? Scott Adams, "How to Fail at Everything and Still Win Big...
Handling Poor Grades: Steps to an Academic Reset
30 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Moynihan, Upper School Head at The Heights, offers practical and concrete guidance on how to help your son right the academic ship when his f...
The Importance of Green Time
19 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week we re-listen to an interview with Eric Heil on the importance of Green Time. Through his experience teaching 3rd graders, Eric demonstrates...
Raising Boys in an Age of Affluence Pt. II
13 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente discusses things that we can do to help our sons "walk with kings, but keep the common touch" (Kipling) in this age of af...
Raising Boys in an Age of Affluence
06 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast features the first half of a lecture delivered by our headmaster on the topic of Raising Boys in an Age of Affluence. We live in one ...
"You get to take Latin!"
29 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Heights requires its students to study Latin. Why? Is it from a love of the old? Are we simply fascinated by antiquity? To the contrary, there a...
Purposeful Study
22 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today on HeightsCast, Joe Cardenas, Head of Mentoring at The Heights, proposes 5 purposes of study. Our boys should always have a "why" in mind before...
Forming Deep Workers, Part II
15 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Cal Newport joins us for Part II of his interview on Forming Deep Workers. What does a middle or high school deep worker look like? Cal Newport di...
Forming Deep Workers, Part I
08 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As parents, we fight distraction in our lives daily. Our phones tether us to the trivial, and our inability to stay off email for even limited periods...
Dr. Mehan on The Odyssey, Mentors, and Humanitas
31 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast Dr. Matt Mehan offers his thoughts on Homer's Odyssey. In particular, Dr. Mehan focuses on the the first four books of the Od...
Tweaking the Literary Diet
13 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mr. Tom Longano for part two of his series on raising readers. He provides guidance here for refining the reading habits of two diametrically opp...
The Father and His Family
16 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As fathers, we play a central and critical role in the lives of our families. Despite that, however, we have lost many of the communities that in ag...
Three Components of a "Great" Lower School Summer
09 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
"Have a great summer!" We hear it and say it incessantly, but what are we actually wishing for our boys? 21st Century America gives boys 3 months off-...
The Morning Offering as a Daily Renewal
03 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Can a 20 second prayer transform your day? How about your son's? Heights teacher and author, Michael Ortiz, discusses how a century old norm of piet...
Stop Telling Your Son to Read: How to Inspire a Love of Reading
17 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, third grade teacher, Mr. Tom Longano, shares his experience on how to foster a love of reading in his students.
Mr. de Vicente on Moral Imagination Pt. 2
11 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast, we listen to the second part of Mr. Alvaro de Vicente's lecture on Moral Imagination.
Mr. de Vicente on Moral Imagination Pt. 1
06 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Boys develop a world view and paradigm that informs much of how they see themselves and their obligations to the world around them. This view informs ...
Who was Frederick Douglass? The Powerful Impact of a Literate Man
29 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prof. Eddie Smith, former Heights faculty and long time history teacher at American University, shares a few moments with us on Frederick Douglass to ...
The Risks of Overspecialization and Professionalized Youth Sports
21 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Athletics are many a boy's first love. So many of our own students are passionate for sport--a transformative conglomeration of play and work, melded ...
Writing and Thought; Oratory and Ethics: What we Give Our 7th Graders in the Core
09 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week's HeightsCast features Mr. Tom Cox, one of the engineers of the Heights Core Humanities Sequence, who discusses the capstone 7th grade cours...
Beginning an Uncommon Core: Part 1
27 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime Heights teacher, Mr. Gerard Babendreier, joins us in the studio to discuss the benefits to students of studying History and Literature togeth...
WWRD? On the Roman view of Citizenship and Borders
21 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A Liberal Arts education empowers citizens to make rational decisions about complex issues with reference to, among other things, our history. While...
Virtuous Use of Technology: Inspiring Our Youth to Make the Most of 21st Century Tools
09 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Mr. Joe Cardenas applies his years of experience in advisory to the tricky subject of devices. As with many things, the best way to teach good values,...
A Critique of Endo's "Silence"
26 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Mehan looks at whether this novel is a true image of apostasy and of Christian martyrdom.
An Epic Education: Tolkien in The Heights Curriculum
22 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast, we listen to an excerpt from Tom Cox's Heights Lecture on the virtues exhibited by Samwise Gamgee from J.R.R. Tolkien's The ...
Seneca for Students: The Value of Time and the Cost of Rumor
14 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Seneca's writing and wisdom are not outdated. In fact, they are relevant and helpful now more than ever. Dr. Matt Mehan explores two of Seneca's E...
On Gifts and Devices: Reconsidering Electronics under the Tree
08 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The well intentioned gift of electronics carries it sometimes unconsidered risks. Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente brings these out into the open, highl...
Celebrating Advent: On Preparing for Christmas Without Jumping the Gun
01 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Though we hear Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving, we miss an opportunity to grow with our children when we bypass Advent. Hear Mr. Tom Stee...
The Strategic Enterprise of Upper School Study, a.k.a. "Homework"
17 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Join two Freshman Core teachers, Gerard Babendreier and Joe Cardenas, for a discussion about how high schoolers should approach their study. To simply...
The Teacher as Liberal Artist
03 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We are a Liberal Arts School. What does that mean for our students, and what does that mean for our teachers? Hear Mr. de Vicente at the Open House, a...
The Purpose of Homework and the Difficulty with Online Assignments
25 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Reed (Middle School Head) and Colin Gleason (Lower School Head) talk about the purpose of homework, and then delve into the issue of online assig...
Guiding Our Boys through Modern Literature
15 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Yaceczko and Mr. Breslin discuss how we, as parents and teachers, can guide our boys through the ever expanding realm of modern children's literat...
Witnessing Faith while Teaching Religion
27 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mr. Jeff Thompson speaks about his experience as a religions teacher preparing boys for confirmation. Too often we get mired down in facts, which is...
Guidelines for Dating
31 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mr. de Vicente: Introduces two new resources to be launched on September 7, our first day of School: Heights Book Review and Th...
Mr. Eric Heil on Nature Deficit Disorder
31 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The science behind the importance of green time.
Cultivating Your Child's Intellectual Life
16 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Direct and indirect ways to promote the life of the mind at home.
Raising Contemplative Sons: The Problem with Boys
02 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Parenting: Patience or Optimism? - Mr. Andy Reed
19 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Does your son know that you believe in him? Andy Reed on the power of optimism.
Exploring and Expressing the Human Condition through Literature with Mr. Michael Ortiz
15 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast, we are joined by twelfth grade AP English teacher, Mr. Michael Ortiz, who talks about the books he reads with his students....
Family Culture with Mr. Alvaro de Vicente
18 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of HeightsCast, Headmaster of The Heights School, Alvaro de Vicente talks about his recent letter to parents on the culture of the hom...
The Arts of Liberty with Dr. Matthew Mehan - Part II
04 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of HeightsCast continues last episode's interview with Jackson Scholars' head, Dr. Matthew Mehan, on the Liberal Arts. We use the term a...
The Arts of Liberty with Dr. Matthew Mehan - Part I
22 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of HeightsCast features the first half of an interview with Jackson Scholars' head, Dr. Matthew Mehan, on the Liberal Arts. We use the...
Living and Listening to Advent with Mr. Tom Steenson & Mr. Patrick Love
08 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Mr. Tom Steenson speaks to us about living Advent well, and Mr. Patrick Love dives deep into the music department's selections for this year's Christm...
Grounding Boys in Reality with Mr. Joe Cardenas
16 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Mr. Cardenas joins us this week to talk about helping your son stay grounded in reality.
Developing Your Son's Will with Mr. Andy Reed
02 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are joined by Head of Middle School, Andy Reed, who offers his thoughts on the culture of the home, and ways to aid in the development...
Educating the Next Generation with Mr. Michael Moynihan
19 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Head of Upper School, Michael Moynihan, gives his thoughts about modern education and what The Heights is doing to fight reductionism in academics.
Storytelling with Mr. Colin Gleason
04 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
This week on HeightsCast, we interview Lower School Head, Mr. Colin Gleason, on the importance of story and narrative in education.