HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

"Porque me da la gana!" In his book Friends of God, St. Josemaría writes, "I opt for God because I want to, freely, without compulsion of any kind." But how can we teach our children to use their freedom for the good in this whole-hearted way? For that matter, how can we as adults orient our wills toward the same? In this episode of HeightsCast, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente explores the delicate relationship between obedience and freedom. He provides us with a framework to think about man's condition of freedom, and how we as parents can transition our children forward from obedience to the rest of the virtues. Chapters: 3:03 The universe as a playground of freedom 5:49 Our parenting goal of becoming dispensable 7:34 External freedom: liberties granted by external forces 19:37 Internal freedom: purposeful self-determination 26:00 Obedience as a temporary training ground for internal freedom 29:57 Avoiding parent perfectionism 32:07 The apostolate of imperfect dinners 33:02 Being models for our children 34:47 The importance of predictability 36:51 "Porque me da la gana": because I deeply want to 42:12 Parenting is an art, not a science Links: Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) Pastoral Letter from February 10, 2024 by Fernando Ocáriz, Prelate of Opus Dei Also on the Forum: Freedom in the Upper School by Rich Moss Why Boys Need to Be Given Freedom by Andrew Reed Moral Imagination, part I with Alvaro de Vicente Moral Imagination, part II with Alvaro de Vicente

In this episode Dr. Kevin Majeres offers his thoughts on two recent books: Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier. Both books seek to tackle major questions such as screens and socials, overprotective parenting, anxiety and depression, and the appropriate response to those conditions. Dr. Majeres optimistically offers helpful and poignant suggestions to parents fully aware seeking to mindfully raise mindful children. Chapters 4:23 The Anxious Generation, introduction and analysis 10:39 Social media and social comparison 11:03 Proven connection between social media and anxiety, depression 15:10 Bonds formed online versus in person, the "rupture and repair" process 17:26 Primary impact on boys: video games, pornography, disengagement 22:02 Pessimism fueled by social media 24:43 Costs of screen time, impact on sleep 27:17 Screens and the left hemisphere of the brain 31:40 Children must be frustrated every day 35:31 Haidt's anti-fragile model 40:40 Debate over the age for smart phones 44:20 Bad Therapy, introduction and analysis 51:31 Educative therapy approach 56:41 Discerning necessary therapy 1:00:19 Anxiety is adrenaline waiting to be invested 1:03:58 Maintaining optimism Links: Optimal Work, Dr. Majere's online platform with podcasts and courses Optimal Work #191: How to Help an Anxious Generation Thrive Optimal Work #190: Is All Therapy Bad Therapy? Optimal Work #180: How to Discipline Your Children While Deepening Your Bond with Them The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt MIT Study on Facebook and Anxiety 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas Phelan No Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson The Gardner and the Carpenter by Alison Gopnik On McGilchrist and the Left Brain by Sebastian Reiche Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier Leonard Sax's critique of Bad Therapy Also on the Forum: Technology in the Home by Michael Moynihan From Anxiety to Adventure featuring Kevin Majeres His Anxiety and Ours featuring Alex Berthé Welcome to the Web featuring John Beatty When Is Your Son Ready for a Smart Phone? featuring Alvaro de Vicente Smart Phones: Why Wait When He's "the Only One" featuring Joe Cardenas On Freedom and Phones featuring Alvaro de Vicente

This episode explores the theory and the practice of the Polis Method of language instruction which relies on a variety of methods to offer students an immersive experience of second language acquisition. We are joined by Dr. Christophe Rico, Dean of the Polis Institute, and Mr. Guillermo Dillon, Latin teacher at the Northridge Preparatory School in Chicago, Illinois.

This week we feature a lecture by Fr. Carter Griffin, rector of the Saint John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., to Heights Fathers on magnanimity. This virtue calls us to stretch forth towards greatness, but with humility; to have an unshakable confidence in the victory of good over evil, but to walk slowly; to know ourselves to be loved by an all powerful father, but to be unmoved by either praise or slander. As we help our sons to grow in virtue, Father Griffin encourages us, as fathers, to foster in ourselves this, the jewel of all the virtues which gives us confidence and certainty that God has a plan, and that we have a role in it. Father Carter Griffin St. John Henry Newmann: Warfare the Condition of Life St. Thomas Aquinas on Magnanimity https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3129.htm Teaching Through Immersion Workshop at Northridge Preparatory School June 17-21, 2024 Alexandre Havard on Magnanimity and Great Hearts

In this week's episode, Mr. Michael Moynihan discusses freedom in education. Michael traces the development of our philosophical understanding of freedom through the centuries, starting with the Greeks and moving into the modern age. Next he presents the Christian ideal of freedom as a resolution and expansion of these conflicting understandings, along with some implications of this new freedom for our work in the classroom.

This week's episode features Mr. Alexander Havard, an internationally recognized authority on leadership and virtue. Mr. Havard gives us, as parents and teachers, a beautiful introduction to the virtue of magnanimity. In addition, Mr. Havard helps us understand the critical role of the human heart in the process of first embracing and then living a life of virtue. A good education shapes not only intellect and will, but heart as well. Listen in to hear why that is the case, and how we can go about offering a great education to the great souls entrusted to us. Links: AlexHavard.com Books: Free Hearts: Understanding Your Deepest Motivations Created for Greatness: The Power of Magnanimity And more...

Parenting in the digital age is a daunting task, especially when it comes to protecting boys from online dangers like pornography and social media manipulation. Chris McKenna offers practical strategies for parents, emphasizing the importance of open communication, vigilance, and setting protective measures in place. The podcast delves into the effects of social media platforms on teenagers, the challenges of navigating online content, and the need for parents to actively monitor and guide their children through the digital landscape.

For many people today, avoiding existential despair is like shoveling water from a damaged ship: the effort, no matter how valiant, is ultimately futile. Stuck in an immanent frame, a frame which lacks any real transcendence, one is left without a substantial source for hope. The above remains true, though in different ways, even for believing and practicing Christians. As children of our current culture, that culture shapes even our faith. This week on HeightsCast, we welcome back Dr. R. J. Snell, the Director of Academic Programs at the Witherspoon Institute and the editor-in-chief of Public Discourse. In the episode, Dr. Snell discusses his recently published book, Lost in the Chaos, in which he offers an examination of the theological virtue of hope and an application of that virtue to our current times. More than an optimistic personality trait, more than a virtue that looks forward to a time in which all shall be made right, and more than a nostalgia that pines for a past in which all is thought to have been right, R. J. encourages us to see hope as a supernatural gift whereby we trust now in the agency of God even while evil perdures around us. Chapters 2:55 What is hope? 7:30 The "in the end" attitude 11:00 Job and hope in the darkness 14:00 The metaphysics of despair 18:55 Safety-ism 21:55 Despair as the desire to disappear 24:30 How immanence affects even the believer 26:46 Temptations of believers and non-believers 31:40 The twin dangers of utopianism and fundamentalism 36:35 The small teams and the little flocks 42:20 The importance of loving people as they are 44:15 Re-evaluating our approach to reason and our capacity to see reality 50:50 Expanding reason 54:35 Feelings as hooks into reality 1:01:00 Towards a more human way of seeing 1:02:00 Take-aways 1:05:05 A parting blessing Also on the Forum Work and Acedia: On Our Original Vocation with R. J. Snell Leisure and Acedia: On Contemplative Homes in a Frenetic Age with R. J. Snell

This week we feature a lecture offered by Head of Upper School, Michael Moynihan, at the most recent Teaching Vocation Conference. In his presentation, Michael encourages us as teachers to engage our students as free and rational agents, even when they don't want to be engaged as such. Michael offers us some helpful insights into the principles that should guide our teaching, as we lead our students to becoming seekers of truth, rather than consumers of information produced by others.

Many of us assume that college will inevitably follow on high school's heels, but why? Why go to college, and, once there, how do we make the most of the "college experience?" University of Dallas' President, Dr. Jonathan Sanford, shares his thoughts on these questions and offers guidance as to how this experience should be different at a Catholic liberal arts university. Our approach to friendship, study, and reality is shaped by our university years. But so too are our university years shaped by our expectations heading into it. Higher ed is a place where most of us can find whatever it is we are looking for. Dr. Sanford's conversation calibrates our students to make sure they are looking for the right things.