Podcast
Hoplite Radio
Hosted by Ridgeview Classical Schools · EN
Hoplite Radio explores the importance of a classical education in the modern world through engaging conversations with faculty, staff, parents, and community members at Ridgeview Classical Schools in Fort Collins, CO. Each episode delves into the benefits of a classical education, examining how time-tested teaching methods shape critical thinking, character, and lifelong learning. We also highlight the unique advantages of Ridgeview’s outdoor program, showcasing how experiences in nature foster curiosity, resilience, and a deeper connection to the world around us. Join us as we explore the intersection of rigorous academics, meaningful community, and the transformative power of learning both inside and outside the classroom.
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Classical Education, AI, and Local Business: A Conversation with the Adamos
Apr 100:34:35Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Headmaster's Perspective: Numis Dinner 2026
Mar 900:05:56Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Headmaster's Perspective: Why (our) Surveys Matter
Mar 200:02:55Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →
Ep 50: Inside Numis Night: Fundraising, Community & Parent Involvement
Feb 1600:30:40Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Headmaster's Perspective: The Magnificence of Christmas
Dec 800:07:46Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →
Ep 49: Beyond the Classroom: Why Ridgeview’s Outdoor Program Complements a Classical Education
Dec 400:57:11Tap to summarizeIn 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 Together00:16:00 – Why Outdoor Education Matters in Northern Colorado00:19:30 – The Lasting Impact of Outdoor Education at Ridgeview
Transcribe →Headmaster's Perspective: Thanksgiving
Nov 2700:07:33Tap to summarizeEat 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.
Transcribe →
Ep 48: What College Enrollment Looks Like Now — Insights from Mrs. Dixon
Nov 1700:39:03Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Headmaster's Perspective: Physical Education at a Classical School
Oct 2700:16:14Tap to summarizeIn 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.”
Transcribe →Ep 47: Ridgeview Classical Schools FAQ | A Conversation with Mrs. Robideaux & Mr. Anderson
Oct 2000:40:42Tap to summarizeCurious 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 educationHow Ridgeview supports students academically and personallySchool culture, expectations, and family involvementTune in to learn more about the mission, values, and vision behind Ridgeview Classical Schools.
Transcribe →