Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins
Refining Rhetoric with CEO Robert Bortins. A podcast where faith, business, politics, and classical education meet. Join us as we use the Classical tools of rhetoric to seek truth in every arena of life.
10
Woke and Weaponized: The Full Story with Alex Newman
<p>What if the architect of America's public school system was literally taking orders from demons through Ouija boards?<br /> Join host Robert Bortins as he talks with co-author Alex Newman to discuss their new book "Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education and How We Can Win It Back." This isn't hyperbole—it's documented history every Christian parent needs to know.<br /> Alex reveals shocking truth about Robert Owen, the intellectual godfather of public education, who openly admitted communicating with spiritual entities through séances to receive his vision for reshaping society. Owen's explicit goa...
Are School Vouchers Really Empowering Parents?
<p>"There is no such thing as vouchers without government control. They just simply don't exist."<br /> Join host Robert Bortins as he sits down with KrisAnne Hall, constitutional attorney, former prosecutor, and founder of Liberty First Society. With her background in constitutional law and as a former homeschool parent, KrisAnne delivers a compelling legal and biblical argument against government-funded school choice programs.<br /> KrisAnne explains why the federal government has zero constitutional authority over education and reveals how states have traded their sovereignty for federal dollars. Drawing from nearly two decades of warnings, she exposes what's already happening in...
The Soviet Infiltration of American Education with Dr. Joshua Pierson
<p >"The enemy is not at the gate—the enemy has infiltrated our classrooms."</p> <p >Join host Robert Bortins for the first episode in a powerful School Choice Week series as he sits down with Dr. Joshua Pierson, who contributed to "Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education and How We Can Win It Back."</p> <p >In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Pierson—a retiring counterintelligence agent with 25 years of experience—reveals the shocking history of Soviet infiltration into American education. Drawing from his extensively researched appendix, he traces a direct line from 1917 Soviet intell...
It's Not About Education, It's About Discipleship
<p>What if the biggest threat to the next generation of Christians isn't coming from outside the church—but from a decision Christian parents make every weekday morning?<br /> Join Robert Bortins as he sits down with Paul and Gena Suarez, publishers of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and founders of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, for a powerful conversation about the future of Christian education.<br /> Paul and Gena share their 30-year homeschooling journey and explain why they've shifted their focus from education to discipleship—and why this makes homeschooling a church issue that pastors can no longer ignore. They discuss the explosive grow...
America's Sewers Have Become Open Cemeteries
<p>Overturning Roe v. Wade was never the finish line—it was only the starting gun. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life and Students for Life Action, joins Refining Rhetoric to reveal why the pro-life movement's real battle is just beginning and where it's being won or lost right now. Discover why she launched Students for Life 20 years ago with the vision that Roe would be reversed (when everyone told her she was naive), how chemical abortion pills have become the leading cause of infant death with 1 in 10 women ending up in the ER, and why flushing babies down to...
43% of Americans Believe Civil War is Coming
<p>Ever wonder why every poll seemed to show Kamala Harris winning, yet Trump dominated the election? Mark Mitchell from Rasmussen Reports pulls back the curtain on the billion-dollar polling industry's most carefully guarded secrets. Discover how establishment pollsters use proprietary panels filled with left-leaning city dwellers to sandbag anti-establishment candidates by 20+ points, why FiveThirtyEight was really just a psychological operation funded by Disney and the New York Times, and how polling is weaponized to move the Overton Window on everything from reparations to LGBT issues. Mitchell reveals the shocking truth about why Gen Z is flirting with socialism (hint...
Stop Killing Your Legacy: A Call to Biblical Fruitfulness
<p>What if the real sign of wealth isn't your bank account, but the number of kids around your dinner table? Chocolate Knox from CrossPolitic joins Refining Rhetoric to flip the script on modern family planning. With seven kids and counting, Knox shares why he and his wife decided to "replace the stupid people" in their family lineage and create a new generation that honors God. Discover how God has faithfully provided through every season, from figuring out how to fit everyone in one vehicle to navigating the transition from public school indoctrination to classical Christian education. Knox unpacks why...
Fight, Laugh, Feast: Reclaiming Culture Through Faith and Politics
<p>What happens when a Christian show gets canceled 20+ times but refuses to stay silent? Gabe Rench, founder of CrossPolitic, joins Refining Rhetoric to share his journey from launching a faith-and-politics show in 2016 to building a multi-platform network that's discipling Christians to engage culture boldly. Discover why he believes the church is responsible for America's condition, how his team is pivoting to deeper content in 2025, and why Christian business leaders need to stop burying their talents. Plus, learn about the surprising stat showing how Christians in Seattle could flip the city conservative overnight if they simply showed up to vote...
2026: The Year Christians Stop Outsourcing Their Calling
<p>Is America on the brink of collapse—and are Christians ready to respond?<br /> Welcome to the first episode of Refining Rhetoric for 2026! As we kick off the new year, host Robert Bortins tackles the pressing issues facing Christian families, homeschoolers, and business owners in an increasingly chaotic world.<br /> In this episode, you'll discover:<br /> • Why America's $38 trillion debt crisis (which just grew by $1 trillion in 76 days) matters for your family's future<br /> • The spiritual battle behind cultural conflicts—from controversial elections to shocking legal cases abroad<br /> • How only 6% of Christians hold a biblical worldview according to Barna research...
Why All Homeschoolers Need Good Lawyers
<p > What happens when a school district demands you teach content that isn't legally required? Military wife and homeschool mom Jennifer Moye found herself in exactly that situation when New York officials insisted she add AIDS education to her sixth-grader's curriculum—or face truancy charges.</p> <p > In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Jennifer shares her unexpected journey from compliant homeschooler to constitutional defender. After moving to upstate New York in 2019, she faced increasing demands from her local school district, culminating in a requirement that went beyond what homeschool law actually mandated. With three boys to educate and a military fa...
