Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

Episode: Knowing Your Child’s Intelligence Style Can Unlock Their Love of Learning & Jesus | Dr. Kathy Koch

Date: December 16, 2025
Guest: Dr. Kathy Koch, founder of Celebrate Kids

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Alex Clark sits down with Dr. Kathy Koch to discuss the transformative concept of the "Eight Great Smarts"—eight distinct intelligence styles each person possesses. The conversation explores how recognizing and nurturing these God-given smarts in children (and adults) can revolutionize learning, discipline, parenting, mental health, and even spiritual growth. Dr. Kathy weaves together educational psychology, biblical principles, and practical advice, offering a powerful "remedy" for a culture that too often defines intelligence far too narrowly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Eight Great Smarts: What Are They?

• Word Smart: Think with words; enjoy reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
• Logic Smart: Think with questions; love problem-solving, fairness, and justice.
• Picture Smart: Think with eyes; visualize, doodle, remember images.
• Music Smart: Think with rhythms and melodies; sensitive to music.
• Body Smart: Think with movement and touch; active, need to move.
• Nature Smart: Think with patterns in nature; love outdoors, animals, and plants.
• People Smart: Easily read body language; skilled at social nuances, debating.
• Self Smart: Reflect deeply; require solitude, time to process internally.

“We have all eight. They have to be awakened. So let me first say that we have all eight—evidence from MRIs. When children are conceived and created by God, all eight are there.”
– Dr. Kathy Koch (16:53)

Segment Timestamps

• Initial outline of the Eight Great Smarts: [00:00 - 00:35]
• In-depth traits of each smart: [16:49 - 21:45]

Biblical Integration: Intelligence, Gifts, and Identity

Dr. Koch draws strong connections between Gardner’s framework and biblical teachings:

• Humans are intentionally and uniquely created by God (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27).
• Each person’s gifts and “smarts” are purposed for good works, not for fitting man-made molds.
• Celebrating the way God made a child is viewed as a form of worship.

”He knows what he’s doing—and when we recognize that…and don’t get in His way, we are thanking Him.”
– Dr. Kathy Koch (00:44, echoed at 55:35)

Segment Timestamps

• Biblical foundation for uniqueness: [04:42 – 05:47]
• Spiritual gifts & intelligence: [05:47 – 06:18]

Celebrating, Not Just Teaching, Kids

• Dr. Koch's own story: She was “celebrated” as a child, and wants to pass that experience on.
• The critical importance of knowing children for who they are, not just what they do.
• The pain and consequences for children who are not “seen” in their homes.
• Effective educators and parents create realistic expectations and chose to celebrate children’s unique strengths, rather than push them into boxes.

"To celebrate a kid, you pay attention to who they are, not just what they do. So important—you celebrate who they are, not just what they do."
– Dr. Kathy Koch (06:25)

Segment Timestamps

• Celebrating vs. comparing kids: [03:09 – 03:35, 06:25 – 07:58]

Dangers of Narrow Academic Intelligence & The Power Word "Smart"

• Traditional academic metrics (IQ, grades) miss or exclude many kids’ gifts; schools often only reward “word” and “logic” smarts.
• “Creative” kids (picture, music, body smart) often feel they are not smart.
• The word “smart” is powerful—kids who believe they aren't smart stop showing up, stop volunteering, and may give up on their purpose.
• Adults can also rediscover and develop their smarts later in life.

“Smart’s a power word. If we don’t think we’re smart, we don’t show up. If we don’t think we’re smart, we don’t believe in our tomorrows.”
– Dr. Kathy Koch (12:12)

Segment Timestamps

• School systems and academic smarts: [10:35 – 12:58]
• Real-life examples: [12:58 – 14:12]

Unlocking Children’s Potential: Parenting, Education & Homeschooling

• Kids misbehave often out of their strengths—e.g., body smart kids move, word smart kids talk.
• Homeschooling or alternative education can be especially valuable for kids whose dominant smarts are not nurtured by traditional schools.
• Parents should observe, nurture, and make space for strengths rather than forcing children into pre-set molds or living through their children.

"We actually misbehave out of our strengths... So what, we could gossip? Tease, name call, impress with vocabulary, demand the last word. Now, we don’t, because of the righteousness of Christ."
– Dr. Kathy Koch (24:16)

Segment Timestamps

• Misbehavior as expression of strengths: [23:34 – 25:21]
• Homeschooling freedoms: [13:50 – 14:12]
• Mistakes parents make: [29:01 – 29:36]

The Eight Smarts and Mental Health

• Recognizing all eight smarts boosts self-worth, reduces unhealthy sibling rivalry, and alleviates mental health strains.
• Giving permission for kids to “be” their smart type—e.g., self smart kids need quiet, body smart kids need to move—improves behavior and parent-child relationships.
• The model applies to neurodivergent children and those with ADHD/dyslexia; labeling should not become identity.

Segment Timestamps

• Mental/behavioral health impacts: [33:53 – 35:45]
• Neurodivergence & the Eight Smarts: [35:45 – 38:46]

Developing Smarts: Nurture, Awakening, and Labels

• All people have all eight smarts; early awakening increases long-term strength.
• Smarts can be muted by trauma, family culture, or lack of opportunity, but can be reignited later in life.
• Don't limit children by over-labeling; communicate their strengths so they can flourish, but don’t let a “smart” become an excuse for negative behavior.

Segment Timestamps

• How and when smarts show up: [26:30 – 28:55]
• Telling kids about their smarts: [41:01 – 42:44]

Fulfilling Purpose: Education, Career, Community, and Faith

• Tailor opportunities to a child’s strengths but nurture areas of interest in weaker smarts without diminishing dominant gifts.
• The Eight Great Smarts are not only learning styles—they influence relationships, careers, spiritual development, and service.
• Intelligence styles can critical inform how children approach and internalize the gospel.

“When we acknowledge children are smart in eight ways, we give them the freedom to explore Christianity in eight ways.”
– Dr. Kathy Koch (56:08)

Segment Timestamps

• Purposeful living and careers: [33:09 – 33:49; 52:08 – 53:23]
• Smarts and faith development: [56:08 – 59:55]

Spiritual Quotes & Moments

• “It honors God. He is a strategic, intentional, loving creator with a capital C. He knows what he’s doing and when we recognize that and we work with him and we don’t get in his way, we are thanking Him.”
  — Dr. Kathy Koch (00:44, repeated at 55:35)
• “When your kids feel seen and known, they feel safe and secure and that changes everything.”
  — Dr. Kathy Koch (28:55)
• “We have a tendency to get our identity from culture. It’s not healthy. I would want children and adults to know that they’ve been chosen, adopted, that they’re conquerors, that they’re warriors, that they have been created in the image of God, that they have been knit together...”
  — Dr. Kathy Koch (61:29)

Segment Timestamps

• Inspirational wisdom: [61:29 – 62:06]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The purpose of school is not entertainment, it’s to enjoy education because it’s stimulating and builds curiosity.”
  -- Dr. Kathy Koch (08:49)

• “I'm not all the way there, but I am trying every day.”
  -- Alex Clark, on the sanctification process (24:30)

• “If you have a kid who's body smart as an example and they move all the time, you have a right as a parent to say please stop...but it’s the way we communicate it. And if we give kids freedom to be who they were created to be…it’s easier for us to listen if we have a chance to talk. Sometimes we need to see misbehavior as being rooted in a smart, so we don’t paralyze it.”
  -- Dr. Kathy Koch (35:34)

• “Don’t send the kids off to school, ‘go, have fun today,’ because now you’ve taught children the purpose of school is fun, and if they’re not having fun by noon, it’s a bad day.”
  -- Dr. Kathy Koch (08:49)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00-00:35 – Introduction to the Eight Great Smarts
• 03:09-03:35 – How realizing smart differences changes parenting
• 04:42-06:18 – Biblical foundation for the Eight Great Smarts
• 16:49-21:44 – Detailed walk-through of all Eight Smarts
• 23:34-25:21 – Misbehavior as a sign of strengths
• 26:30-28:55 – How to identify and nourish a child's smarts
• 33:09-33:49 – Positive effects in families and churches who embrace the model
• 33:53-35:45 – Mental health & behavior; practical examples
• 35:45-39:04 – Neurodivergence (ADHD, dyslexia) and the Eight Great Smarts
• 41:01-42:44 – Sheltering kids vs. affirming their smarts
• 48:17-51:54 – Questions for parents to unlock intelligence in kids
• 56:05-59:55 – Eight Great Smarts & personal faith development
• 61:29-62:06 – Dr. Kathy’s remedy for a sick culture

Conclusion & Resources

Dr. Kathy Koch’s conversation with Alex Clark illuminates how understanding and celebrating the Eight Great Smarts can transform not only educational outcomes, but family dynamics, mental health, and spiritual life. The message: every child (and adult) is smart, uniquely and intentionally designed by God, and will flourish when seen, honored, and equipped to use their gifts in community.

Resources:

• Dr. Kathy Koch’s book: Eight Great Smarts
• Celebrate Kids: celebratekids.com (also on Instagram/Facebook @CelebrateKidsInc)
• For parents, teachers, and anyone wondering “Why am I alive?”—this episode is for you.

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