In this episode, we dive deep into the world of mathematics as more than just numbers and equations. Our guest, a passionate math instructor, shares his journey of discovering Plato’s Republic and explores how ancient philosophy can transform our understanding of math today. Through rich discussions, he explains why math is essential to human flourishing, offering insights into its power to shape minds and nourish the soul. From the concept of zero and its unique historical roots to the role of calculus in the church and beyond, he reveals how math has always intertwined with humanity’s deepest questions. Join us as we explore why studying math can be a path to personal growth and fulfillment, and why, as Plato believed, mathematics is truly a pursuit for the human spirit. About Torgun Lovely Torgun Lovely has been with Liberty Common School for 16 years, working in various teaching and leadership capacities. He started as the school’s mathematics specialist, teaching classes while overseeing the school’s k-9 mathematics program. In 2010, as the school was expanding to offer grades 10-12, he helped orchestrate what was to become the State of Colorado’s top-performing high-school mathematics program. In 2013 he was promoted to serve as the school’s first assistant principal, and then was promoted into the high-school principal position in January of 2018. More recently he has resumed his role as a mathematics instructor and as the chair of the mathematics department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics as well as a master's degree in business administration, both from Colorado State University. He and his lovely wife of 23 years, Kathy, have raised two lovely children, Hannah (21), and Mathias (19) – both of whom are proud graduates of LCHS. Additional Resources

Math for English Majors by Ben Orlin

Math with Bad Drawings by Ben Orlin

Here's Looking at Euclid by Alex Bellos

Mathematical Mysteries by Calvin C Clawson

The Number Devil by Hans Magnus Enzensberger

Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su

A Most Elegant Equation by Stipp

Euclid in the Rainforest by Joseph Mazur

Zero by Charles Seife

The Republic by Plato

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LCHS Spanish Instructor Paulina Deitrick dives into the fascinating world of magical realism, a captivating genre that has profoundly influenced Latin American literature.

She will explore the works of celebrated authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude and how popular films like Disney's Encanto bring elements of magical realism to mainstream audiences.

Tune in to discover how magical realism transcends mere storytelling, offering a window into the soul of Latin America’s people and their complex relationship with reality, imagination, and history.

Additional Resources:

Authors:

• Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude, Love in the Times of Cholera, No One Writes to the Colonel)
• Isabel Allende (The House of the Spirits, Eva Luna, Tales from Eva Luna, The Sum of our Days, The Infinite Plan, The Wind Knows my Name)
• Jorge Luis Borges (especially Fictions, The Library of Babel, Borges and I)
• Julio Cortázar (Hopscotch, Letter to a Young Lady in Paris, Cronopios, Famas)
• Laura Esquivel (The Law of Love, Like Water for Chocolate, Malinche)

Movies:

• Encanto
• Big Fish
• Pan's Labyrinth
• Inception
• Edward Scissorhands
• Midnight in Paris
• Amelie
• Chocolat

Art:

• Gonzalo Endara Crow

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Imagination and creativity are popular words (rightly so), but words like remembrance are not so trendy.

Jared Dybzinski looks at what C.S. Lewis (specifically his Narnia series) and other authors have to say about the poetic imagination and the relationship between knowledge and participatory remembrance.

About Jared Dybzinski Jared Dybzinski is an English Instructor and head of the English department at Liberty Common High School. He studied applied linguistics as an undergraduate at Moody Bible Institute and is currently in a graduate program at the University of Dallas, working on his masters degree in humanities, with a concentration in classical education.

Mr. Dybzinski has been married to his wonderful wife Natalie for eighteen years. They love raising their four daughters and one son. Mr. Dybzinski enjoys most anything outdoors, but especially fly fishing and golf. He enjoys worshiping the Holy Trinity and coming under great works as a means to that great End.

Helpful Links

Liberty Common School Website: ⁠www.libertycommon.org⁠

Festival of Ideas 2024: ⁠www.libertycommon.org/about/news-and-events/festival-of-ideas/speakers⁠

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