Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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In part one of the 500th episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker reflect on the history and growth of the Arts of Language podcast. They share lighthearted stories about podcast listening habits and discuss how far the podcast has come since its early days. The conversation turns to memorable episodes, such as interviews with Andrew’s son about the hidden strengths of dyslexia, guest appearances from Dr. Leonard Sax and Dr. Carol Swain, and discussions of books like How to Think like Shakespeare.

Go to Part 2 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-500-what-are-we-really-doing-here-part2) .
Go to Part 3 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-500-what-are-we-really-doing-here-part3) .

Referenced Materials
• Episode 54: What Are We Really Doing Here? Part 1 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-54-what-are-we-really-doing-here-part-1)
• Episode 197: While Andrew's Away – Living with Dyslexia—An Interview with Chris Pudewa, Part 1 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-197-while-andrews-away-living-dyslexia%E2%80%94-interview-chris-pudewa-part-1)
• Episode R07: Why Gender Matters – An Interview with Dr. Leonard Sax (iew.com/support/podcast/r07-why-gender-matters-interview-dr-leonard-sax)
• Episode 398: Think like Shakespeare, Part 1 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-398-think-shakespeare-part-1)
• Episode 382: Announcing IEW’s Partnership with Hillsdale College! (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-382-announcing-iew%E2%80%99s-partnership-hillsdale-college)
• Episode 481: Writing across the Curriculum with Dr. O’Toole (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-481-writing-across-curriculum-dr-otoole)
• Amber O’Neal Johnston (heritagemom.com/about/)
• Heidi St. John (heidistjohn.net/)
• MomStrong 365 A Daily Devotional to Encourage and Empower Everyday Moms (heidistjohn.myshopify.com/collections/books-by-heidi/products/momstrong-365-a-daily-devotional-to-encourage-and-empower-everyday-moms)
• The Read-Aloud Family (readaloudrevival.com/raf/) by Sarah Mackenzie
• Episode R05: Are You a Part of a "Read-Aloud Family"? A Conversation with Sarah Mackenzie (iew.com/support/podcast/r05-are-you-part-read-aloud-family-conversation-sarah-mackenzie)
• Episode 435: Becoming Homeschoolers with Monica Swanson (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-435-becoming-homeschoolers-monica-swanson)
• Episode 282: A Visit with Dr. Carol Swain† (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-282-visit-dr-carol-swain-%E2%80%A0)
• Episode 264: The Benefits of Mastery Education (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-264-benefits-mastery-education)
• Episode 299: The Profound Power of Poetry (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-299-profound-power-poetry)
• Episode 283: A Bookish Discussion, Part 1 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-283-bookish-discussion-part-1)
• Episode 272: The Different Stages of Learning (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-272-different-stages-learning)
• Episode 273: Culture, Curriculum, and Care, Part 1 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-273-culture-curriculum-and-care-part-1)
• Episode 281: Talking about the Intangibles (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-281-talking-about-intangibles)
• Episode 296: Impacting English Language Learners with Structure and Style (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-296-impacting-english-language-learners-structure-and-style)
• Episode 288: Reaching the Reluctant Writer, Part 1 (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-288-reaching-reluctant-writer-part-1)
• Episode 293: Process versus Product (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-293-process-versus-product)
• Episode 294: Writing across the Curriculum (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-294-writing-across-curriculum-3)
• Episode 269: The Mighty Pen – Teaching Students to Change the World through Language (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-269-mighty-pen-teaching-students-change-world-through-language)
• Episode 311: Optimizing Instruction for Boys and Girls (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-311-optimizing-instruction-boys-and-girls)
• Episode 306: Speaking of Spelling (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-306-speaking-spelling)
• Episode 305: Homeschool 101, An Interview with Sam Sorbo (iew.com/support/blog/homeschool-101-interview-sam-sorbo-podcast-episode-305)
• Episode 447: Alternative Learning with Jennifer Mauser (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-447-alternative-learning-jennifer-mauser)
• Episode 478: What’s in Your Audible Account? (iew.com/support/podcast/episode-478-audible-account)
• Soul School by Amber O’Neal Johnston (heritagemom.com/ambersbooks/#soul)
• Twelve Days of Christmas Giving (iew.com/Christmas)
• Episode 261: When Technology in Education Makes Sense (https://iew.com/support/podcast/episode-261-when-technology-edu...