Episode 29: Top 2 of 2022 with Andrew Pudewa

Summary

To kick off 2023, we are re-releasing two of our favorite episodes from last year, starting with this conversation with Andrew Pudewa. Andrew is the founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) and is a longtime partner and friend of Classical Conversations®. Speaking around the world, Andrew is known for presenting the skills of writing, teaching, and thinking with clarity and wit. Through IEW seminars and curriculum, he has helped students of all ages become better communicators and critical thinkers. Andrew graduated from the Talent Education Research Institute (known for the Suzuki method) in Matsumoto, Japan, and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development from the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert interviews Andrew about his work at IEW, literacy in the United States, how to write with excellence, and Andrew’s secrets for losing weight and staying healthy.

Quote

“My goal now is to die young at an old age.”

Andrew Pudewa

Topics

• Intro to Andrew Pudewa [1:35]
• Andrew’s background, family, and work at IEW [1:54]
• How Andrew decided to teach writing using the Suzuki method [3:55]
• The effects of America’s poor writing problem [8:02]
• Andrew’s advice for people struggling to learn to write [12:06]
• Andrew’s most memorable stories of parents using IEW to teach their children [13:52]
• Ad: American Heritage Girls [16:35]
• The importance of providing good examples of writing for students to imitate [19:09]
• How Andrew collects jokes and why humor is important to add to teaching [24:36]
• Andrew’s weight loss secrets [27:16]
• Farewell to Andrew [32:01]
• Outro [33:57]

Mentions

• Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
• The Basic Principles of the Suzuki Method Using the Mother Tongue Approach | Talent Education Research Institute
• The Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning | IEW
• Structure and Style for Students | IEW
• Dr. James B. Webster | IEW
• The Challenge Program | Classical Conversations
• The Essentials Program | Classical Conversations
• The New York Times
• Substack
• “Why and How Music Will Save the World” | IEW
• Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself by William Li | Amazon
• Challenge IV | Classical Conversations
• The Arts of Language Podcast | IEW
• Blog | IEW
• Forum | IEW
• Newsletters | IEW
• Events | IEW