The Excel College Podcast

What's in the future for the trades industry? Who's going to lead it?

In this episode of the Excel College Podcast, we take a deep dive into the future of the trades industry with AlphaTech Inc President, Joe Worley. Right now, there's a need for young leaders to be trained up and raised up in the trades, and AlphaTech Inc is doing just that (which also includes one of our C7 students)! Listen to this episode to hear more about how Joe and others like him are impacting the future of trades.

Special guest Shannon Howard shares her expertise from her time in the realm of networking and marketing, tips on how to get your foot in the door of the job you want, and how to stand out in the marketplace.

C6 alumni and Buncombe County Community Paramedic, Matthew Conlin, talks about his unique journey through Excel College and how he came to understand the significance of building your worldview before entering into the marketplace.

In his words, "I understand now why we're meant to go through the Core before entering into Practicum."

The Creative Arts are in full swing here at Excel! With several students launching into Creative Practicum tracks recently, the Creative Arts have found their home at Excel - they even have their own building! Featuring the director of Excel's Creative Arts (and the producer of The Excel College Podcast), this episode gives voice to the heart and vision of Excel Creative.

C7 has officially launched into Phase 2 of their Excel College journey - the Practicum! Get the latest updates abut what C7 is up to and all the different types of tracks they're entering into with Practicum Coordinator, Nicole Murray. With everything from animation to welding to non-profit administration, you don't want to miss this!

In this episode of The Excel College Podcast, C7 student, Koehn Manthei, and C5 alumni, Elisabeth Schneider, reminisce on their recent trip to Italy. We talk all things Italian art, food, and fun in this special episode (we'll give you a hint - everything was molto bene!).

We're sending 2023 off with some reflection as we look back on the Core with some of C7! Give this latest episode a listen to hear their favorite lessons and stories from their time in the Core, and what they're looking forward to in Practicum.

For those who may not know yet, we hosted the first ever Excel Summer Leadership Camp this past summer! Come fall, we had a few familiar faces decide they liked us so much that they came back and joined our most recent college cohort.

Give this episode a listen to hear more about Ben and Victoria's time in the Excel Summer Leadership Camp!

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

In this episode of the Excel College Podcast we have the honor of talking with CEO of Diamondback Truck Covers, Ethan Wendle. With years of experience in sifting through and hiring employees, Ethan shares the key characteristics that make a potential employee stand out, and how seeking first the kingdom in the marketplace is the foundation for becoming an outstanding employee and transforming your workplace.

In this episode of The Excel College Podcast, we take a deep dive into what it looks like to live out the Virtue of Hunger with C6 student, Matthew Stock. Listen as we unpack this third of the four virtues, and how to stay hungry in both life and the marketplace.

In this episode, Andrew Pudewa joins us to tackle the hot topic of A.I. in education and wrestle with the question, “Does A.I. have a place in the classroom?” Andrew is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills. Give this episode a listen to hear what Pudewa has to say!

Explore the third virtue that Practicum students encounter as Austin Smith unravels what it means to live a virtuously hungry life. Stay hungry, my friends.

In this episode of The Excel College Podcast, we get to talk all things Classical Conversations with C.C. tutor and C7 Excel student, Natalie Kabazzi. Give it a listen to hear about how C.C. helped prepare Natalie for her time during Excel, what she loves about the similarities, and how she came to be a Challenge tutor during her college years.

Classical conversations is one of the nation's largest educational groups for homeschooling families, and is currently hosting programs across 50 countries with family at the heart of it all.

Hear what the CEO of Classical Conversations, Robert Bortins, has to say regarding the current state of higher education, where it's headed, what changes need to be made, and why homeschooling and classical education are the future of schooling.

We've also asked practicum students to share what their specific practicum track is like and how their experience has been throughout it. In this episode, we have recent Excel graduate, Luca Williams, sharing about his time in the Data Analytics track.

We've asked practicum students to teach on what they've learned throughout their practicum to showcase how they've grown throughout their journey. Take a listen as recent Excel graduate, Cassadie Solis, takes you on a deep dive into the beauty and importance of problem solving in the workplace.

And so we come to the second of Excel's four virtues: honor. In order to honor oneself as well as other people well, we must first create a solid foundation of humility, as honoring others requires sacrifice of oneself. People that understand honor are able to submit and sacrifice their preferences for the sake of their team, leaders, and families. To honor is to serve, encourage, and call out - yourself and those around you. Take a listen as Austin Smith explains more about why honor is so important, and what it looks like to live a life through the lens of honor.

The first of the four virtues of Excel College, humility is the starting point for all of our students on their journey through the virtues. Humility cultivates the fertile soil of the heart to become a virtuous, excellent person. Take a deeper dive into what it means to be a truly humble person with Austin Smith in this latest episode of The Excel College Podcast.

We're back with the long awaited Part 2 of Elisabeth's Practicum Podcast. Give it a listen to hear more about what this recently graduated Practicum student learned during her Creative Arts endeavor, how she grew in her musical artistry, and get an exclusive listen to an original song that she recorded as part of her practicum!

Elisabeth Schneider recently graduated as the first Excel College student to run the whole course of the Bachelor's Program. In part 1 of this series, Elisabeth shares about her journey to and through the Creative Arts track, what she learned about leadership and creativity, and sets the stage for how humility was one of the biggest growing points for her throughout her student journey. Stay tuned for part 2!

In this episode, we introduce you to the pillars that form the foundation of The Excel College. Humility, honor, hunger, and health - these are the things that make up the core of Excel's DNA. Take a listen as Austin explains why students take a deep dive into these four virtues during their Practicum phase, what they mean, and why they're significant.

What exactly is a "practicum"? What does this look like practically for the students? We're glad you asked. In this episode, we've brought on Excel's Practicum Coordinator, Nicole Murray, to give some insight as to why we do a Practicum Phase, how it's structured, and some examples of what it looks like for several students.

(One year later...) Why is Theology the first subject you dive into at Excel after learning how to think critically? Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” And man, as John Calvin reminds us, “never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God.” Listen in as C7 student, Josiah Cole, talks about why Theology is important, and how it lays foundation of your studies by introducing you to Christian theism’s central claims regarding the existence, nature and acts of God and His intentions for our world.

P.S. - Go back and listen to Episode 16 of this podcast to learn about the next module in the Core - Philosophy!

Our C7 students put their communication skills to the test through the medium of podcasting! To add some spice to it, we decided to make it a competition. In this special episode of The Excel College Podcast, hear the reviews of some local places and spaces from C7's 'The Comical Critics'.

Curious as to what the Phase 1: Core Curriculum is like? Take a listen as our lead facilitator takes us on the student journey through the Core - one module at a time! From Theology to Biology to Art, learn why our curriculum flows the way it does to show the unity, diversity, and relationality of the Creator himself. 

Why is art important in today's day and age? In this episode, we chat with Andrew Haak about the significance of art in its various mediums, and how to go about appreciating all the beauty that it adds to the world. Fun fact: did you know that our students actually go to Italy to study the greatest pieces of art in person?

We study literature as a way to experience other worlds. In this episode with Cassadie Solis, we discuss how good literature offers examples of how to engage the world. Sometimes the examples are negative ones, antitheses that serve to warn us of wrong choices and evil. Sometimes the examples are heroic and highlight morality. Listen in to step into new perspectives.

Economics can be considered the capstone of our CORE curriculum because a society's economics is a reflection of its theology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, government, and so on. So what even is economics - because it's so much more than money. In this episode of the Excel College podcast, we dive in with Matt Conlin to discover how a society's economics is a reflection of it's justice and health as a whole.

As creatures created in the Image of God, we (mankind) seem to have a bent to operate in the same way as He does. Whenever a group of us is together, we seek order, authority, productivity, and unity. In this episode, we speak with Cassadie Solis to find out why this and how this tendency plays out in our modern context.

A lot of people cringe when they hear the word "government". Politics, especially in a cultural environment more polarized than ever, can inspire some pretty strong feelings. But what if government was actually a good thing and intended to help humanity flourish? In this episode of the Excel College Podcast, we explore the role of government in society and how much (or how little) it should be involved in regulating daily activities. Buckle up, this is a fun one. 

Is man dignified or deformed? Or both? Most Christians (and even non-Christians)  have wrestled with this question at some point. In this episode, Andrew Haak, our Critical Thinking faculty leads us on a journey through this question and, the answer might surprise you. We'll just say this for now: God is not embarrassed by your humanity. 

Are science and faith destined to be at odds, or do each have something to say when it comes to issues of life and creation? In this episode of the Excel College Podcast, we speak with Cassadie Solis about the authority both science AND faith have to contribute to the conversation around some of life's greatest issues - but only when they stay in their own lanes.

A lot of people talk about leadership, but few people talk about FOLLOWER-ship. But did you know that to succeed in almost area of life, you need to learn how to be a follower before you can lead? In this episode, Navy Retired- Rear Admiral Jim McNeal, a mentor with the Severn Leadership Group, joins Andrew and Isaiah to talk about the leadership (follower-ship) lessons he learned while in the service and the marketplace.

Physics is defined as the "science that deals with matter and energy and their interactions". In other words, Matter matters! And Physics teaches us how to study the material world by acquainting us with the origins, operations and occasional oddities of this cosmos that is exquisitely ordered to reveal the mind of its Maker. In this episode, listen to C6 student Cassadie Solis as she describes what it's like to study Physics through the lens of the Biblical narrative.

Medellin, Colombia was once the murder capital of the world, a place with more darkness than light. Now it's a city known for renewal, and one of the organizations shining light in the dark is Ciudad Refugio (City of Refuge). In this episode, listen to Nicole Murray talk about leading a team from Excel College on a spring break trip to serve alongside this incredible ministry.

2 + 2 = 4. Everyone knows that, right? Ah, but it's not that simple. Did you know that your belief about the nature of the universe influences how you approach mathematics? In this episode, Andrew Haak joins Andrew and Isaiah to explore how one's approach to mathematics is actually influenced by their answers to some of life's greatest questions.

In this episode of the Excel College Podcast, we have one of our favorite guests back on the show, Deon Vanstaden! Sit with us as we explore just some deep stuff about faith.

At 27 years old, Jeremy Reddinger chose to go back to college. In this episode of the Excel College Podcast, find out why he decided to enter back into the classroom and experience the story of lost dreams and redemption that God is working in his life.

In this episode, Davis Norment, one of the founders of Excel College, walks us through the framework of our unique Core Curriculum (Phase 1), emphasizing the beauty in God's Narrative within the Liberal Arts.

On this episode of The Excel College Podcast, C6 student, Cassie Solis, talks all things philosophy with your hosts, Andrew and Isaiah!

“Human reason can only take us so far. The rest of it is an act of faith - an act of the will - to get to the beginning of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord. They have to go together." - Cassadie Solis, C6

In the latest episode of The Excel College Podcast, we’re featuring one of our C6 students - Jed Groothuis! Jed has an incredible work ethic that has benefited him in his work history and his ability to land a variety of jobs - including his most current workplace at Black Mountain Home for Children. Hear more about what type of qualities make employees stand out in this episode!

Before you can embark on a journey, you have to wake up to the fact that there IS one. In this episode, Davis Norment, one of the founders of our college, joins us to introduce the journey that the Core Curriculum invites students into -- a journey that will shape the way they view reality.

In this episode, we're joined by Karen Dilbeck and a special guest host (Tammy Moye) to talk about what it looks like to seek the Kingdom each and every day.

In this episode, we're joined by Ethan Wendle, founding owner of Diamondback Truck Covers and former director of G42 Leadership Academy, to talk about the Gospel and what Jesus actually meant when He said to go and preach it. The answer might surprise you. Join in on the conversation.

A passionate pursuit of the presence of God often proceeds any move of God. In this episode, we speak with Rob Ames, a student and coach who has helped us launch a 24/7 prayer initiative dedicated to chasing after the Presence of God.

In each episode of the Excel College Podcast, we're here to bring you along on our journey of pursuing wisdom, maturity, and productivity. During C6's Critical Thinking Module, Deon Vanstaden joined us for a session on truth. Before you can identify if something is "the truth", you first need to define what "truth" even is. the answer might surprise you. Join in the conversation as Andrew and Isaiah ask Deon the question, "What Is Truth?"

During our communications module, C6 had broken up into 10 teams to produce group podcasts. We told them that if we chose a winner, they'd be published on The Excel College Podcast. All the podcasts have been published, and a winner has been chosen for this episode. Please welcome: The Perspective Collective!

In this latest episode of the Excel Podcast, we get to hear C6 student, Keturah Manwaring, share her experiences from speech week. She brought down the house for her persuasive speech with an inspiring spoken word.

In each episode of the Excel College Podcast, we ask students to take us along on their journey of pursuing wisdom, maturity, and productivity. In this episode, we're joined by one of our favorite community members, Nicole Murray. Nicole is a house captain AND student this year, and she joins us to talk about emotional health - and just how important pursuing it is to the journey of becoming a healthy and whole human.