EPISODE · May 12, 2026 · 1H 22M
Episode 18: Dr. Andrew Salzmann
from The Making Every Class Catholic Podcast · host Dr. Brett Salkeld
In this episode of the Making Every Class Catholic podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Andrew Salzmann of Benedictine College for an engaging conversation on a fundamental question: What is an education? Drawing from theology, philosophy, and classroom experience, Andy invites us to reconsider education not as information transfer or product generation, but as a process of formation—one that shapes how students think, feel, act, and ultimately love.Together, we explore a rich Catholic vision of the human person, one rooted in potential, habit, and growth. Framed by the idea of education as exercise, we explore how students develop intellectual and moral excellence through repeated, meaningful action—much like athletes or musicians. We contrast this with modern “productionist” approaches to schooling, where outcomes and outputs often overshadow the deeper formative purpose of learning. Along the way, we draw connections to everything from Jesuit pedagogy and classical liberal education to contemporary challenges like AI, grading, and student disengagement.We also get concrete: what it looks like for teachers to act as coaches rather than mere lecturers, how imitation serves as the foundation for true creativity, and why practices like competition, repetition, and detailed feedback are essential for real growth. From grammar lessons to baseball fields, we highlight the joy students experience when they gain genuine competence—and how that joy reveals something essential about human flourishing.Finally, we turn to the ultimate aim of education: the formation of our loves. Drawing on thinkers like Aquinas and Bonaventure, Andy shows how intellectual formation opens the door to deeper love—of truth, of others, and of God. Whether through moments of insight, beauty, or awe, education becomes a path not just to knowledge, but to wonder and gratitude. This episode offers both a philosophical framework and practical vision for educators and parents who want to form not just capable students, but fully alive human beings.Music by Braden Kuntz
What this episode covers
In this episode of the Making Every Class Catholic podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Andrew Salzmann of Benedictine College for an engaging conversation on a fundamental question: What is an education? Drawing from theology, philosophy, and classroom experience, Andy invites us to reconsider education not as information transfer or product generation, but as a process of formation—one that shapes how students think, feel, act, and ultimately love.Together, we explore a rich Catholic vision of the human person, one rooted in potential, habit, and growth. Framed by the idea of education as exercise, we explore how students develop intellectual and moral excellence through repeated, meaningful action—much like athletes or musicians. We contrast this with modern “productionist” approaches to schooling, where outcomes and outputs often overshadow the deeper formative purpose of learning. Along the way, we draw connections to everything from Jesuit pedagogy and classical liberal education to contemporary challenges like AI, grading, and student disengagement.We also get concrete: what it looks like for teachers to act as coaches rather than mere lecturers, how imitation serves as the foundation for true creativity, and why practices like competition, repetition, and detailed feedback are essential for real growth. From grammar lessons to baseball fields, we highlight the joy students experience when they gain genuine competence—and how that joy reveals something essential about human flourishing.Finally, we turn to the ultimate aim of education: the formation of our loves. Drawing on thinkers like Aquinas and Bonaventure, Andy shows how intellectual formation opens the door to deeper love—of truth, of others, and of God. Whether through moments of insight, beauty, or awe, education becomes a path not just to knowledge, but to wonder and gratitude. This episode offers both a philosophical framework and practical vision for educators and parents who want to form not just capable students, but fully alive human beings.Music by Braden Kuntz
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Episode 18: Dr. Andrew Salzmann
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