In this episode of Common Knowledge, hosts Brett Harkey and Chris Reynolds welcome Liberty Common School instructor Alysa Balfour for a thought-provoking exploration of two timeless works: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Together, they uncover surprising connections between Lewis’s satirical insights on human temptation and Aurelius’s stoic reflections on virtue and self-mastery. The discussion situates both works within “The Great Conversation,” tracing how ideas from vastly different eras and traditions still speak to one another—and to us—about the moral struggles and philosophical questions that shape the human experience.

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In this episode, librarian Paige Gowing and English instructor Lander Hultin join to explore the work of celebrated author Gary D. Schmidt. Best known for his deeply moving young-adult novels, Schmidt’s storytelling addresses universal themes—identity, resilience, empathy, and moral growth—through richly drawn characters and historical settings.

He’s received two Newbery Honors (Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy in 2005; The Wednesday Wars in 2008), a Printz Honor, and a National Book Award finalist nod for Okay for Now. His most recent works include Just Like That (2021), The Labors of Hercules Beal (2023, winner of the Josette Frank Award), and the forthcoming A Day at the Beach (2025).

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• Liberty Common School Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.libertycommon.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Bees don’t just make honey—they model a universe of order, purpose, and cooperation that has captivated thinkers from Aristotle to modern naturalists. In this episode, we’re joined by third-grade instructor and backyard beekeeper Meghan Duran for a conversation blending classical education, natural science, and philosophical reflection. From the hum of the hive to the habits of virtue, this is a conversation about what it means to live thoughtfully—even at the scale of six legs and two wings.

About Meghan Duran

Megan teaches third grade at Liberty’s Plato campus. She has an associate’s degree in elementary education, a bachelor's degree in Business, and a master's degree in Teaching and Learning. She loves cornhusker football, honey bees, and USA wrestling.

Connect with Liberty Common School:

• Liberty Common School Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.libertycommon.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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