About the Episode:

With daily headlines on AI's effect on culture I've begun to wonder if we ought to be less concerned about powerful computers passing the Turing test or more worried about weak humans failing it. AI has begun to colonize our hearts, minds, bodies, expression/communication, environment, integrity, and the limp response is alarming. Alarmists want to explicitly ban it, compromisers want to cautiously allow it, and cynics want to let it voraciously conquer us. But I think bolstering and defending those things that make us human is the only way to stop the steady, subtle, and stealthy encroachment of AI's influence in our humanity. I've read a lot about this and have several ongoing conversations within my creative community and English department. I would draw on the work of Matthew Crawford, Paul Kingsnorth, George Zarkadakis, and Gary Marcus in my comments on this.

About Natalie Scarlett

Former English instructor at Liberty Common High School, Natalie is a writer and director with a background in the performing and literary arts. She has spent her career exploring how creativity and culture shape the human experience.

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In this episode of Common Knowledge, hosts Brett Harkey and Chris Reynolds sit down with Liberty Common School instructors Steve Ronen and Jenny Cardenas to discuss one of the most gripping pursuits in American history—the twelve-day manhunt for John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

The conversation follows Booth’s desperate flight through the Maryland and Virginia countryside, the efforts of Union soldiers and detectives who tracked him, and the cultural aftermath of a nation reeling from tragedy.

References:

Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson

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In this episode of Common Knowledge, hosts Brett Harkey and Chris Reynolds are joined by Liberty Common School math and engineering instructor Kay Lannen, who brings more than two decades of experience in the engineering field and holds ten U.S. patents. Together, they delve into the fascinating world of invention and discovery—tracing the patent process from idea to innovation. Mrs. Lannen shares insights from her own experience as a patent-holder, offering a rare look at how timeless human ingenuity continues to transform ideas into enduring contributions to the common good.

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In this episode of Common Knowledge, hosts Brett Harkey and Chris Reynolds are joined by Liberty Common School instructor Jason Mayer to explore the historical significance of the Sepoy Rebellion. Often overlooked in popular history, this pivotal uprising reshaped the trajectory of colonial rule and set the stage for global changes between 1870 and 1914. The discussion highlights how the rebellion’s legacy continues to shape both European and Indian history today.

About Jason Mayer

Jason teaches history at Liberty Common High School and currently serves as the department chair. He has taught for 27 years—15 of those at Liberty Common School.

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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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• Liberty Common School Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.libertycommon.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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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).

Connect with Liberty Common School:

• 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:

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In this episode, we explore the work of contemporary author Kate DiCamillo. Known for beloved novels like Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and Flora & Ulysses, DiCamillo’s writing captures deep truths about the human condition through accessible and engaging stories for young readers. Jenna Allen and Steven Ronen join us to discuss how DiCamillo, despite being a relatively newer author, contributes meaningfully to the "Great Conversation" of literature — engaging with timeless themes like hope, friendship, loss, and redemption — and why her works have resonated so deeply with readers of all ages.

Books Mentioned In This Episode

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Tale of Despereaux

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Because of Winn-Dixie

Tiger Rising

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Connect with Liberty Common School:

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