Hosted by OptimisticCurmudgeon2021 · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 114 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
An interview show advancing the conversation of intellectual conservatism in Education, Politics, Economy, Business, Leadership, Philosophy, and Great Books.
OptimisticCurmudgeon2021 hosts The Optimistic Curmudgeon, a education show with 114 episodes published.
Dr. Matthew Mehan calls his new book, The American Book of Fables, as a "250th birthday present" for America. Releasing today (5/19/26), this volume is filled with rhymes and songs "for Littles," fables "for Middles," an
Josh interview Dr. Tracy Gardner about her work in psychometrics, its application to national testing design, and the science of reading. Dr. Gardner has worked for the @ClassicLearningTest , @Pearson , and is now the Vi
Mandi Gerth draws from her book Thoroughness and Charm: Cultivating the Habits of the Classical Classroom to explain what teaching is, how teachers can draw on the wisdom of Machiavelli to understand their authority and
Dr. Brad Birzer of Hillsdale College analyzes the Stranger Things series finale. Birzer argues that Stranger Things is a mythology of the 1980s, and he thinks the finale episode wraps up the series well. The younger gene
Annie Crawford and Ashley Lande join Josh Herring for a discussion of psychedelics, their stories, and what people actually long for when they turn to ecstatic experiences. The conversation begins with definitions - what
Josh Bowman, Executive Director of the Ciceronian Society, explains the nature of the Ciceronian Society, and reflects on why the church needs Christian academics. He also reflects on why Christian academics need the chu
Chase Spears, host of Finding Your Spine, joins Josh to discuss his essay "Only a Conservative Military can Defend America." They discuss Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the role of the military, what it would take to hav
Graham Dennis is a Dean of Academics for Veritas Academy and an elder in the CREC; he also holds a PhD in philosophy. In this wide ranging conversation, he introduces a particular way of reading culture through the lens
Nathan Gwinn of Freedom of Education tells his story as a teacher, a principal, and an author of the Franklin Standards, a new approach to reinvigorating science education. The way we teach science matters. In avoiding b
Frank Clement of America's Christian Credit Union joins Josh for a discussion of classical education, Christian banking, and the role that financial institutions can play helping new organizations begin. Check out their
Martin Cothran, co-founder of @memoriapress , discusses his entry into classical education, the challenges facing classical education today, and the reason he and Cheryl Lowe founded Memoria Press. Cothran is the author
Junius Johnson discusses Edmund Spenser's great poem, The Faerie Queene. With a great focus on allegory, symbolism, pageantry, and characters, this conversation is a great place to start if you want to get into Spenser.
Josh interviews his students in Modern Communications as part of a bonus episode commemorating the Fifth of November. Guy Fawkes, traditions, integralism, constitutional order, "Jeeniors," and more. What happens when you
Thaddeus Kozinski makes a compelling case for why every student should read Plato's Republic with an excellent teacher. Plato discourses on justice, reality, the human condition, and highlights the possibilities philosop
Timothy Knotts of @Classical_Conversations explains the latest CC textbook: Reasoning Together Philosophy. He outlines the nature, tradition, and value of philosophy, highlighting the need for homeschool families to be w
Larissa Phillips, columnist at @thefreepress , shares her journey into and out of feminism. Raised in a radical Leftist family, Larissa experienced first hand the limitations of her own physiology. Over the course of her
C.R. Wiley of @TheTheologyPugcast explains who Tom Bombadil is. Wiley wrote In the House of Tom Bombadil with @CanonPress , and that book opens a wide ranging conversation about masculinity, femininity, dominion, dominat
Joseph Holmes advances his theory of feminism in contemporary Hollywood: only women are allowed to be positive spiritual figures. Holmes argues that Hollywood has shifted from "men bad, women good" and the "religious or
Dr. Josh Herring reflects on Season 8: The Re-Enchanting Inklings, drawing out connections between guests and suggesting what this season of The Optimistic Curmudgeon says about modernity, the Inklings, and our need to e
Annie Crawford explains Dr. Michael ward's theory of "donegality," and shows how reading The Silver Chair as C.S. Lewis's lunar novel helps explain the difference between Aslan's Country and the muddled world below. This
Mandi Gerth
teacher and classical education consultant
2 appearances on this show
Ashley Lande
1 appearance on this show
Annie Crawford
1 appearance on this show
C.R. Wiley
pastor, author, cultural commentator
1 appearance on this show
Greta Gerwig
filmmaker
1 appearance on this show
Dr. Holly Ordway
author of Tolkien’s Faith
1 appearance on this show
Michael Ward
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs · Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
1 appearance on this show
Dr James Orr
Agricultural Advisor · SICKDOGWOLFMAN
1 appearance on this show
Spencer Klavan
author
2 appearances on this show
Catherine Pakaluk
Author of Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth · The Catholic University of America
1 appearance on this show
Emmet Penney
Senior Fellow · Foundation for American Innovation
2 appearances on this show
Tyler O'Neil
Senior Editor at Daily Signal · The Daily Signal
1 appearance on this show
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The Optimistic Curmudgeon is hosted by OptimisticCurmudgeon2021. The show is categorised under education and has published 114 episodes.
The Optimistic Curmudgeon has published 114 episodes.
The Optimistic Curmudgeon regularly covers education. It sits in the education category.
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