An Examined Education
Education & Explainer
About
A podcast from The Cambridge School, a Christian Classical School in San Diego California, where we discuss an education worth pursuing. From Faculty and Administration to scholars across academia, we sit down with renowned names in the field of education to discuss both the classical and Christian principles that focus on formation, not simply information.
Episodes
- 20 Alumni Stories - Stephen Priest
Stephen Priest graduated with the class of 2020 after attending Cambridge since second grade. He went on to Baylor University, where he majored in mathematics, philosophy, and linguistics, and is now completing a master's in philosophy at…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Josh Kapusinski
Josh Kapusinski arrived at Cambridge in eighth grade expecting to enter ninth. His first lesson was in humility. His second was that literature could do in a classroom what it had always done for him alone at home. Josh now teaches rhetori…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Aksel Yoder
Aksel Yoder graduated with the class of 2023 and spent eleven years at Cambridge. He is now in college, and on Saturday mornings he meets with a classmate to read through the Gospel of John. That Bible study is the heart of his episode. Ak…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Sam Gingrich
Samuel Gingrich graduated with the class of 2019 and now works in market research, analyzing survey data for business clients. It is exactly the kind of work that demands the full breadth of a Cambridge education at once. His episode cente…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Sophie Chin
Sophie graduated with Cambridge's eighth class in 2025, having spent the better part of her life in the community from junior kindergarten through senior year. She is now a first-year at UC San Diego studying molecular biology. She is two…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Isaiah Francisco
Isaiah Francisco enrolled at Cambridge in kindergarten and graduated thirteen years later with the class of 2023. He is now a junior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in history and minoring in International Security Studies, and i…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Nathan Kim
Nathan Kim enrolled at Cambridge in its founding year in 2006 and graduated with the class of 2020. He went on to study economics at Gordon College and now works as an implementation specialist at Epic Systems in Madison, Wisconsin. But th…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Ethan Chin
Ethan Chin graduated with Cambridge's eighth class in 2025 and has been part of the community since junior kindergarten. Now a freshman at Harvey Mudd College, he reflects on what it meant to spend formative years in a place that valued de…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Emma Kim
In this episode of An Examined Education, we hear from Emma Kim, Class of 2018, now a UC Berkeley graduate and returning faculty member at The Cambridge School. Emma reflects on her journey from student to teacher and the profound gratitud…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Anna O'Neill
In this episode of An Examined Education, we hear from alumna Anna O’Neill, Class of 2025, now a freshman at Colorado State University, as she reflects on her 13 years at The Cambridge School. Anna shares how the house system and three yea…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Mason Settergren
In this episode of An Examined Education, we hear from Mason Settergren, Class of 2024, now a sophomore at Hillsdale College studying Classics and Math. Mason reflects on how 13 years at The Cambridge School cultivated a deep and abiding i…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Sara Spinar
In this episode of An Examined Education, Sara Spinar, a member of the Class of 2025, reflects on spending her entire fourteen-year education at The Cambridge School before preparing to study Humanistic Studies at John Cabot University in…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Emma Mohler
In this episode of An Examined Education, Emma Mohler, a 2023 graduate of The Cambridge School and current student at Hillsdale College, reflects on how her time at Cambridge shaped both her intellectual curiosity and her understanding of…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Alex Chin
In this episode of An Examined Education, Alex Chin, a member of Cambridge’s eighth graduating class, reflects on spending twelve formative years at The Cambridge School before heading to Duke University. From pre-K through high school gra…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Jasmine Gingrich
In this episode of An Examined Education, alumna Jasmine Rupani Gingrich (Class of 2019) reflects on how her years at The Cambridge School shaped not only her academic path, but her understanding of grace, vocation, and faithful presence i…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Haley Hom
In this episode of An Examined Education, Cambridge alumna Haley Hom, Class of 2018, reflects on her full journey through a Cambridge education and beyond, from grammar school through law school and into her calling as an attorney. Through…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Josh Kim
In this episode of An Examined Education, Cambridge alumnus Josh, Class of 2018, reflects on how a Cambridge education continues to shape his life well beyond graduation. Now a University of Chicago graduate and founder of a venture-backed…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Katelin Sung
Transcript: (Auto-generated) Welcome to An Examined Education, a podcast from the Cambridge School. At Cambridge, we often say that education is never merely about what students know, but about who they are becoming. For 20 years, our comm…
- 20 Alumni Stories - Alyssa Kim
As The Cambridge School marks twenty years, An Examined Education opens a new season by turning to the voices that know its formation from the inside: its alumni. In this season-opening episode, we hear from Alyssa Kim, Class of 2022, now…
- Rooted in the Past: How Livy’s Storytelling Shapes Virtue and Identity
In this episode of An Examined Education, we sit down with Cambridge School Latin teacher Donny McNair to explore the Roman historian Livy and the power of narrative in shaping a civilization’s moral compass. Livy lived through the collaps…
- Rooted in Civic Virtue: How Classical Education Anchors a Flourishing Society
What holds a society together when factions clash and partisanship rises? In this episode, Kelsey Bonilla, history and government teacher at The Cambridge School, unpacks the deep connections between law, government, and a flourishing civi…
- Rooted in Community: Faith, Identity, and Flourishing in a Secular Age
In this episode of An Examined Education, host Jeff Yoder sits down with Patrick Claytor, a Bible and Latin teacher at The Cambridge School, to explore how faith and community shape personal identity and societal flourishing. Drawing on th…
- Rooted: Intellectual Virtues and the Pursuit of Knowledge
Longing to Know - Esther Meek Nicomachean Ethics Book VI - Aristotle An Essay in Regulative Epistemology by Robert C. Roberts and Jay Wood
- Rooted: Finding Stability in a Restless Age
An Examined Education, presented by The Cambridge School in San Diego, explores the foundations of classical Christian education and its vital role in today's world. In this episode, Jean Kim, founder and head of school, delves into Os Gui…
- Instilling Virtues Through Children's Literature
On Reading Well - Karen Swallow Prior
- Enduring Ideas through Senior Thesis | DJ Goodwiler
In this podcast episode, DJ discusses the evolution of senior theses in classical schools. They explore how the tradition fosters critical thinking and reflection on enduring ideas, while adapting to technological advancements. DJ emphasiz…
- Reading Guide : Moby Dick
Doug is welcomed back on the podcast to give us a reading guide on America’s epic: Moby Dick. If you have yet to listen to the full episode on Moby Dick, make sure to go back and give it a listen!
- Decoding the Depths of Moby Dick
Join us as we welcome back Doug Jones, our Literature Chair, to delve into the depths of "Moby Dick" on this week’s episode. This enlightening discussion explores Melville's creative writing prowess and the profound questions he poses to r…
- Reading Guide: Gilgamesh
Amanda Sansonetti gives us some interesting insight into Gilgamesh as well as a few helpful tips for first-time readers.
- The Humanity of Gilgamesh
Amanda Sansonetti, our 7th grade literature teacher joins us to discuss the significance of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" as the oldest surviving literary work and how it raises questions about the meaning of life and human existence, making it…
- Alumni Answer Your Questions
A host of Alumni join us to answer questions from the community about their education at Cambridge, their college experience, and more. Our next episode will continue with our Great Books and Big Ideas theme as we talk to Amanda Sansonetti…
- Reading Guide: Brave New World
In our concluding discussion on Modern American Literature, DJ returns one more time to explore the final reading guide, spotlighting Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. This guide serves as a valuable companion to maximize your understanding…
- Reading Guide: The Sound and The Fury
DJ returns with a new reading guide, this one focused on "The Sound and The Fury." It serves as an excellent resource to delve into before immersing yourself in this great book. If you haven't already, make sure to check out the episode on…
- Reading Guide: Great Gatsby
DJ gives us a few things to think about as we make our way through Great Gatsby. If you have yet to listen to DJ's conversation on Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature, be sure to go back and listen there first.
- Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature
DJ Goodwiler joins us on this week's episode to help us define what makes a great book and how some modern American literature can help us make sense of the world around us and our own interactions within it.
- Great Books and Becoming Human
Doug Jones joins us to delve into the transformative influence of great books on shaping our identity through the way we teach and learn.
- Neuroscience of the Teenage Brain
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Melissa Gingrich as our guest, who will shed light on the fascinating field of neuroscience and its relevance to the developing brain. By delving into this subject, we aim to empower parents and teachers to fo…
- Parent Partnership - The Secret to a Better Education
Russ Kapusinski joins us to talk about Parent Partnership and how parents and schools working in conjunction lead to a better education for children.
- Raising your child right - Better schools for the best kids
Colleen Dong joins us to discuss childhood development and why it is so important to find the right school for your child.
- The Best Way to Read Graphic Novels
DJ Goodwiler joins us to talk about visual rhetoric and how graphic novels provide a platform from which we can learn to utilize it in our day to day lives.
- Modern Magic - Saying the Unsayable with Poetry
Doug Jones joins the show to talk poetry--its interesting origins, why poetry is important, what can be gained from reading it, its connection to rhetoric, and he reads a few of his favorite poems for us in a special segment we have dubbed…
- Misunderstanding Math - a Liberal Art in Disguise
Jacob Mohler, the Chair of Math at the Cambridge School, joins us to talk about math as a liberal art--both how it is and is not a liberal art and why the distinction is important. Jacob's vigilant inspection of the process of math instruc…
- Changing Perspectives | Carolyn McClaskey
Carolyn McClaskey joins us to talk about how her perspective has changed now that she is a teacher's aide. Having been a Cambridge parent, Carolyn has a unique perspective on the Cambridge education now that she has had a look behind the c…
- Changing Perspectives | Emma Kim
Coming full circle, Emma Kim joins us on the podcast to talk about what it is like to go from student to teacher at her alma mater and how being classically educated affects her experience in the classroom while educating the next generati…
- Changing Perspectives | Margaret Lowing
A returning teacher shares her perspective on how things have changed since she taught here a decade ago and what her time away has made her appreciate about a Cambridge education.
- Science Experiments | Melissa Mayne & Esther Han
Science Chair, Melissa Mayne, and everyone's favorite Chemistry teacher, Esther Han, join us to walk us through some science experiments they do with the high schoolers. From editing DNA to creating your own experiment, it's no holds barre…
- Roaring 20s | 6th Grade | Kelsie Howze
WARNING! This episode contains a spoiler for a surprise event for Cambridge 6th graders! Parents with students in 6th grade or below should not listen with their students. Mrs. Kelsie Howze joins us to go over some of the fun events covere…
- Beowulf | Fourth Grade | Paula Jones
Our bard for the evening, Mrs. Paula Jones, guides us through the 4th grade literature curriculum where we dive deep into the epic Beowulf and learn of the significance it holds in the history of literature and within the intentional curri…
- Simple Machines | Second Grade | Esther Berends
Esther Berends, our second grade lead teacher, joins us on the podcast to share a unique lesson our second graders experience as they learn about ancient Egypt. This episode highlights historical integration as an organizing theme in our c…
- Playing a Role in Ancient History | Jim Hamilton
Jim Hamilton walks us through a unique lesson that he created for 8th grade history in which the students role play citizen on the brink of the Peloponnesian War to see if they would make the same mistakes. This lesson presents an opportun…