Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

Join us for an exciting conversation with two exceptional Classical Conversations students who are making waves in the competitive yo-yo world! Thomas Rajan (Challenge II, Alabama) and James Heder (Challenge B, Florida) share their incredible journey from picking up their first yo-yos during COVID to competing on national and international stages. Thomas finished 5th at the 2025 U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest, while James placed 16th at the World Yo-Yo Championship in Prague. In this episode, they break down the fascinating world of competitive yo-yoing, explaining how competitions are scored (60% technical skill and 40% entertainment value) and what it takes to compete at the highest levels. They discuss their practice routines, with Thomas practicing up to eight hours a day and James maintaining a rigorous daily schedule except for his Classical Conversations day. Both students credit their Classical Conversations training in public speaking, debate, and presentations with helping them build confidence performing in front of large crowds at competitions. They share insights into their mentorship relationships with top competitors, the challenges of creating competition routines, and the importance of consistency under pressure. James even demonstrates some of his highest-scoring horizontal tricks on camera, showing the incredible skill and precision required at this level.   This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by: Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education—And How We Can Win It Back – A new book written by Robert Bortins and Alex Newman. Discover the shocking truth about how current education reform efforts may actually accelerate the destruction of educational freedom. Through meticulous research, Woke and Weaponized traces the philosophical roots of educational corruption from Robert Owen and John Dewey to critical race theory, while offering practical strategies for families ready to pursue genuine educational independence. Join our exclusive list to be notified the moment it becomes available — plus receive special launch updates and insider information. www.WokeAndWeaponized.com   National Number Knockout 2027 Does your student think math is boring? What if they stopped seeing math as drill work and started seeing it as an exciting mental sport? That's the power of National Number Knockout, a nationwide mental math competition that's transforming how students think about numbers. Here's how basic Number Knockout works: Students ages 10-14 use three dice and a 6x6 grid to create as many mathematical equations as possible in just 60 seconds. It's fast, strategic, and seriously addictive. In spring of 2027, 16 national finalists will compete aboard a Caribbean cruise for grand prizes. But the real win? Whether your student makes it to nationals or just plays at home, they're building lightning-fast mental math skills and genuine mathematical confidence—watching them fall in love with mathematics. National Number Knockout—where math becomes a game, and every student can win. Visit www.classicalconversations.com/n2k to find free resources and learn about the 2027 competition.

Is the Bitcoin cycle dead, or are we just getting started? With Bitcoin hovering around $92K and institutional adoption accelerating, the crypto landscape is more confusing—and exciting—than ever. Robert and Will break down the wild crypto year of 2024-2025 and debate what's coming in 2026. They explain the GENIUS Act that ended the "Biden war on crypto," why stablecoins could drive down costs across the economy (0.3% fees vs 3-10% traditional payments), and how companies like Visa are building crypto payment rails. But it's not all bullish. They dive into the Japan carry trade unwinding, the dangers of government-controlled CBDCs, and the big question: Is this Bitcoin cycle over or just delayed? Will argues we're in a lengthening cycle driven by global liquidity. Robert thinks the blow-off top is behind us and October 2026 will be the next buying opportunity. They also preview the Clarity Act coming in Q1 2026, which could open the floodgates for institutional investment in the broader crypto space beyond just stablecoins. Whether you're "hodling" or on the sidelines, this episode offers practical insights on navigating an unpredictable market. Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Always do your own research. This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by: Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education—And How We Can Win It Back – A new book written by Robert Bortins and Alex Newman. Discover the shocking truth about how current education reform efforts may actually accelerate the destruction of educational freedom. Through meticulous research, Woke and Weaponized traces the philosophical roots of educational corruption from Robert Owen and John Dewey to critical race theory, while offering practical strategies for families ready to pursue genuine educational independence. Join our exclusive list to be notified the moment it becomes available — plus receive special launch updates and insider information. www.WokeAndWeaponized.com

What if everything you've been told about fixing our public schools is wrong? Join Robert Bortins as he sits down with Sheri Few, founder and president of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE), for a sobering look at the state of American education and why reform may be impossible. Sheri shares alarming statistics: only one-third of fourth and eighth graders read or do math at grade level, and 54% of U.S. adults read below sixth grade level. But the problem goes far deeper than poor academics. Learn about USPIE's groundbreaking documentary "Truth and Lies in American Education," which exposes the Marxist ideologies, fake history, and anti-Christian propaganda replacing reading, writing, and arithmetic in schools across America. Sheri addresses the "not in my school" mentality many parents have and provides practical steps for investigating what's really being taught in your district. She also shares why the federal government only contributes about 10% of most states' education budgets, making it entirely feasible to restore local control and parental authority. Whether you're already homeschooling or still have children in the system, this episode offers both sobering truth and hope for the future of American education and liberty.   Resources: https://www.uspie.org/   This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by: Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education—And How We Can Win It Back – A new book written by Robert Bortins and Alex Newman. Discover the shocking truth about how current education reform efforts may actually accelerate the destruction of educational freedom. Through meticulous research, Woke and Weaponized traces the philosophical roots of educational corruption from Robert Owen and John Dewey to critical race theory, while offering practical strategies for families ready to pursue genuine educational independence. Join our exclusive list to be notified the moment it becomes available — plus receive special launch updates and insider information. https://robertbortins.com/woke-and-weaponized/

What can homeschoolers be thankful for this year? Join Robert Bortins for a special Thanksgiving edition of the Refining Rhetoric podcast as he shares the top 10 things homeschoolers should be thankful for in 2025. From protected educational freedom and the classical education renaissance to colleges actively recruiting homeschoolers, this episode celebrates the victories and blessings in the homeschool movement. Learn why homeschooling resources are more abundant than ever, how Classical Conversations is leading the charge with over 3,000 global communities, and why universities now recognize homeschoolers' intellectual curiosity and maturity. Plus, hear about the upcoming book "Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education and How We Can Win It Back." Whether you're a seasoned homeschool parent or considering homeschooling for your family, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and reasons to celebrate as we close out 2025.   This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by: Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education—And How We Can Win It Back – A new book written by Robert Bortins and Alex Newman. Discover the shocking truth about how current education reform efforts may actually accelerate the destruction of educational freedom. Through meticulous research, Woke and Weaponized traces the philosophical roots of educational corruption from Robert Owen and John Dewey to critical race theory, while offering practical strategies for families ready to pursue genuine educational independence. Join our exclusive list to be notified the moment it becomes available — plus receive special launch updates and insider information.  www.WokeAndWeaponized.com   CC Graduate Certificate in Classical Studies Classical Conversations is excited to announce the launch of our new accredited Graduate Certificate in Classical Studies, a 12-credit hour program designed specifically for homeschooling parents who want to deepen their understanding of classical Christian education. This graduate certificate program provides academic recognition for your dedication to classical learning while offering a pathway to advanced study through our partnership with Southeastern University. Register today to secure your spot in this transformative educational experience.  https://ics.regfox.com/ma-certificate

What if the test gatekeeping college admissions was designed to celebrate—not undermine—your classical education? Discover how one alternative is changing the game for homeschoolers and classical students across America. In this milestone episode, Robert Bortins sits down with Soren Schwab (VP of Partnerships) and Noah Tyler (CFO) from the Classical Learning Test to celebrate 10 years of offering an alternative to the College Board's monopoly. The conversation opens with a stunning revelation: after hiring David Coleman—the chief architect of Common Core—in 2015, the College Board transformed the SAT so dramatically that its longest reading passage is now between 25-125 words. That's literally the length of a tweet. This is what "college readiness" has become. The CLT offers something radically different: Instead of politically biased content and tweet-length passages, students engage with C.S. Lewis, Aristotle, Dickens, and Abraham Lincoln. Parents report their children actually asking to read more after encountering authors on the test—something that would never happen with the SAT or ACT. And because homeschoolers can take it from home through video proctoring, test anxiety is significantly reduced. What You'll Learn: How homeschoolers went from "a little weird" to the most sought-after students on college campuses The expansion story: from garage startup to 320+ accepting universities and recognition in 15 states Legislative victories breaking the College Board's monopoly in Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and beyond The exciting announcement about "Enduring Course Exams"—CLT's alternative to AP, starting with humanities subjects where the College Board's ideological capture is most egregious   Resources: https://www.cltexam.com/   This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by: Classical Conversations Alumni Network Classical Conversations launched its Alumni Network in May 2025, creating the first comprehensive platform for CC graduates and parents to stay connected beyond Challenge IV. Discover job opportunities, network with fellow alumni, and access exclusive content featuring CC success stories. Learn more at https://ccalumni.network/ and join the community that's empowering CC alumni and parents to connect, thrive, and inspire through their shared legacy of Christian, classical education.