on the anvil, with Andrew Culp

Education. Middle School boys. Blacksmithing. This episode of the Be Worth* Following Podcast is a one-of-a-kind. 

Andrew Culp is the founder and principal of the Anvil Academy, a learning community that is focused on mentoring boys through the messy and formative years of middle school. While it may seem that education for middle school boys has little to do with leadership, Andrew’s insights are profound and applicable. 

In this episode you will learn the story of how Anvil was birthed and why. Most importantly, you will be invited to apply the metaphor of the anvil and formation to your own life and leadership.

 

Show Notes

Transcript of the episode

In this episode you’ll Hear:

  • The Anvil Academy is an innovative hybrid education for middle school boys that integrates learning with intentional formation.

  • You must have a standard by which your life is formed.

  • A “fellowship of the hammer” is the community who you have trusted to be pivotal in your formation.

Things to listen for:

[02:34] Andrew’s origin story
[08:30] How Andrew ended up in the field of education
[10:40] Andrew’s profession begins to shift
[14:26] The idea of Anvil academy is birthed
[19:42] What Anvil looks like today
[26:39] Real responsibility 
[31:34] Why Anvil Academy Exists / Blacksmith analogy
[38:03] What Andrew has seen at Anvil
[43:24] What’s next for Anvil and Andrew
[46:21] Tim’s Take

Additional Resources

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
Learn more about The Aperio
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn
The Anvil Academy

About Andrew . . .

Andrew is Founder and Principal of The Anvil Academy, a learning community that is focused on mentoring boys through the messy and formative years of middle school. Andrew has been a leader in the field of education his entire career, starting as a teacher and moving through several different contexts to the one he finds himself in today, that is in an unconventional yet extraordinarily intentional learning environment. Andrew leads young men through what he calls “Mind-On, Heart-Engaged, Hands-Dirty” experiences, looking to help shape the next generation of young men who will become leaders in their vocations, communities, and families.