Hoplite Radio

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...

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 w...

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 co...

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...

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 educationHow Ridgeview supports students academically and personallySchool culture, expectations, and family involvementTune in to lear...

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...

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...

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 StarrettSpark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. RateyThe Comfort Crisis by...

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:<...

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.

All books referenced in this episode are available for purchase in the Ridgeview Bookshop:
4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanThe Quest for Character by Massimo PigliucciClassical English Style by Ward Farnsworth

Literature faculty and theatre director Mr. Binder joins us on Hoplite Radio to discuss the benefits of a performing arts program.