What would it take to raise a generation that's grateful — not just grievance-driven — about America? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with presidential historian, award-winning screenwriter, and author Jane Hampton Cook to explore America's 250th anniversary, the faith of the Founding Fathers, and why reclaiming gratitude is essential to preserving the republic.

Jane shares untold stories from the American Revolution — including a Quaker woman who helped save Washington's army, the forgotten black heroes of Bunker Hill, and why George Washington referenced Providence over 560 times in his writings. She also unpacks how the Declaration of Independence planted seeds of liberty that took generations to harvest, and why classical Christian education is uniquely equipped to pass these truths on to the next generation.

Whether you're a homeschool parent trying to instill love of country, a classical educator looking for a fresh angle on American history, or simply someone who wants to feel more grateful and less cynical — this conversation will leave you inspired, informed, and a little more proud to be an American.

Jane Hampton Cook's Website: https://janecook.com/

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This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:

This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.

Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.

What would it take to reclaim education — and America itself — from a system designed to produce dependency instead of thinkers? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Sam Sorbo — actress, homeschool advocate, and filmmaker — to talk about public school failure, parental rights, Christian homeschooling, and what America's 250th anniversary should make every parent stop and reconsider.

Sam spent years inside Hollywood, raised three kids through Classical Conversations, and watched her 24-year-old son — who skipped college — buy his own house. She brings receipts. In this conversation, she and Robert dig into the slow erosion of parental authority through compulsory schooling, why school teaches kids "don't ask, don't try, don't read, and don't think," and why the entrepreneurial spirit that built America can't survive inside a classroom. Sam also shares what she's bringing to a DOJ meeting with Kash Patel, Linda McMahon, and Acting AG Todd Blanche — and why she believes parents are being systematically sidelined to give institutions access to their children.

Whether you're a homeschool parent already in the fight, or a dad on the fence wondering if you could really pull this off, Sam's story — and her daughter's unforgettable "bye-bye" to the nanny — will stay with you.

Sam Sorbo's website: https://sorbostudios.com/

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:

This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.

Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.

What does it look like when a classical Christian education meets a national civics competition? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with two Classical Conversations students — Owen Burrill and Elisha Hoey — who were selected as national finalists in the U.S. Presidential 1776 Award, a civics competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Out of hundreds of thousands of eligible students, only 20 made it this far — and these two CC students are among them.

Owen and Elisha share how they tackled a study library spanning John Locke's Two Treatises of Government to Madison's notes from the Constitutional Convention, what surprised them most about the Founding (hint: virtue shows up everywhere), and how Classical Conversations' emphasis on memory work, primary documents, and impromptu speaking gave them a real edge. They also dish on their private tour of the National Archives and what it was like to see the Declaration of Independence without the crowds.

Whether you're a homeschool parent wondering if the hard work is paying off, or a student looking for a reason to dig deeper into American history, this conversation is proof that a classical education does more than prepare kids for college — it prepares them for the arena.

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:

This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.

Visit https://classicalconversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.