BaseCamp Live

In a world filled with distraction, content overload, and cultural confusion, raising children who are wise, discerning, and grounded can feel daunting. In this episode, Davies Owens sits down with Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, to explore how families can recover wisdom in America through small, faithful practices at home rather than sweeping overhauls. Marissa challenges parents to reclaim conf...

In this episode, Davies Owens briefly steps into the archives to revisit a valuable conversation with Dr. Louis Markos on how the ancient world understood virtue, education, and human flourishing, and why those insights remain essential today. Dr. Markos explains how the Greeks and Romans, though lacking Christian revelation, asked the right questions about human nature, moral formation, and the p...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how work gets done across nearly every industry. As automation accelerates and technology reshapes careers, parents and educators are asking pressing questions. What kinds of jobs will still exist? How should students prepare for an uncertain future? And what kinds of skills will truly endure? In this episode of BaseCamp Live , host Davies Owens is joine...

What is a good teacher? Most of us can name a teacher who made a lasting impact, not just through information, but through formation, awakening curiosity, shaping understanding, and building confidence. In this BaseCamp Live episode, host Davies Owens sits down with classical educator and mentor Carrie Eben, co-author of The Good Teacher: 10 Pedagogical Principles That Will Transform Your Teaching...

AI is moving faster than any technology humanity has ever created. For Christian schools and families committed to timeless, unchanging truth, that speed raises urgent questions. How should schools rethink testing, writing, and academic integrity? Where is the line between being informed and becoming dependent? In this episode of BaseCamp Live, host Davies Owens welcomes back Emily Harrison, a wri...

What truly sets a classical Christian classroom apart? Curriculum matters, but as Mandi Gerth explains, it is not the only or even the primary driver of formation. A child is shaped day after day by the culture of the classroom, the small liturgies, the tone of the teacher, and the habits that govern transitions, conversations, and even how class begins and ends. Host Davies Owens talks with Mandi...

Smartphones have become the default for families, but what if the default is actually harmful? In this episode, Davies Owens talks with Chris Kaspar, founder and CEO of Techless, about why modern devices were never designed with children in mind and how parents can choose a healthier path. Chris shares the moment that opened his eyes as a foster parent and explains why families today feel trapped...

Senior thesis is the capstone of a classical Christian education, and Dr. Tom Vierra believes it may be one of the most countercultural things schools do today. In this episode, Davies Owens talks with Tom, longtime classical educator and Senior Thesis Coordinator at Wilson Hill Academy, about why thesis is far more than “just a big paper.” Tom shares his path from early days at Great Hearts to he...

Classical learning has deep roots in the United Kingdom. Yet many schools in England, Scotland, and Wales have drifted toward child-led, utilitarian models that leave students unformed and unmoored. At the same time, a quiet renewal is beginning to take shape. In this episode, British educator Jamie Burns , founder of the Fellowship for Classical Learning , joins host Davies Owens to share how he...

Parents often wonder if pushing through difficult books is worth the tears and late nights. In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by Sara Osborne, author of Reading for the Long Run , as she explains why classics feel hard, how to discern real obstacles from attitude or context, and practical steps to move forward with confidence. 🎧 Tune in to hear: Why classics challenge modern readers, and wh...

Technology is changing faster than families can keep up. From social media to smartphones to the latest wave of AI “companions,” new tools are shaping how children think, connect, and even define friendship. In this episode, Chris McKenna , founder of Protect Young Eyes and a leading voice on digital safety, joins host Davies Owens to unpack what’s really happening and how parents and schools can...

Can classical schools really prepare students for STEM careers? Many parents wonder if a humanities-rich education leaves room for science and technology. Our guest, Diane Gray, scientist, musician, contractor, tutor, and mother of seven, says yes . After 12 years in biotech R&D, Diane completed a master’s in Classical Studies to explore how classical Christian education and STEM can thrive togeth...

Davies Owens welcomes Ken Rhinehart, a commercial real-estate veteran and founder of VPA Classical, to demystify how classical schools can find, fund, and secure facilities that actually serve the mission. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why facilities shape formation. Leases, landlords, and leaking roofs quietly undermine learning—and enrollment confidence. Buy vs. lease—what’s wiser right now...

We live in a culture of soundbites, but Christian parents and educators are called to form young people who listen well, think deeply, and speak with humility and grace . Host Davies Owens sits down with Dr. Justin Smith , Head of School at Little Rock Christian Academy and Herzog Foundation coach, to unpack the Harkness Method (a modern form of Socratic dialogue) and why it may be one of the most...

In this Best of BaseCamp Live flashback, host Davies Owens sits down with pastor, musician, and author Jacob Hess to explore how story, liturgy, and imagination shape the hearts of our children - and why the stories we tell matter now more than ever. 🎧 In this episode: Life is liturgy: how small, repeatable rituals - at dinner, in class, or before bed—tell the Gospel story. Formation over informa...

What does it mean to be a woman today? Our culture has turned this into a debate, but for many young women—especially in Christian homes and schools—the real struggle comes in sorting through competing voices, conflicting priorities, and a lack of clear role models. In this episode of BaseCamp Live , Davies sits down with his daughter, Hannah Owens , founder of The Swish Magazine . Drawing from he...

What role do the arts really play in a classical Christian education? For many of us, “art class” growing up felt like a filler - something fun, but hardly central to learning. Music, theater, and visual art were often seen as side activities, not essential to shaping minds and hearts. But as guest Jarrod Richey reminds us, that view couldn’t be further from the historic Christian tradition. Jarro...

One of the biggest decisions parents make is where their children go to school. With classrooms shaping faith, wisdom, and character, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode of BaseCamp Live with Davies Owens, President of the Stanley M. Herzog Foundation Darrell Jones , shares how one man’s vision has grown into a nationwide movement for Christ-centered education . From his years as a past...

What does it take to raise boys into men in today’s culture? Fr. Mark Perkins, chaplain and assistant headmaster at St. Dunstan’s Academy , joins Davies Owens to discuss the urgent challenges facing boys and the bold vision behind launching a farm, trades, and classics boys’ boarding school in the Anglican tradition . Drawing on personal experience as a teacher, minister, and father, Fr. Mark high...

In this episode of BaseCamp Live , host Davies Owens welcomes Chuck Evans - longtime leader in classical Christian education and co-author of Wisdom and Eloquence . Nearly 20 years after the book’s original release, Chuck reflects on why he and Robert Littlejohn rewrote the new parent edition, and why the balance between protecting and preparing children matters more than ever. Chuck challenges th...

Does Latin Still Matter? Why Parents Should Care About This “Dead” Language Latin is often dismissed as outdated or impractical - especially in an age of Google Translate and global languages like Spanish or Mandarin. So why do classical Christian schools keep it at the center of their curriculum? In this episode, host Davies Owens sits down with Dr. Chad Kim - author, pastor, and long-time Latin...

Uniforms in schools often stir up debate—are they too rigid, or do they actually cultivate something deeper? In this conversation, host Davies Owens is joined by Joanna Haralson , founder of Uniformee , to explore the real impact of uniforms in classical Christian schools. Uniforms aren’t just about matching outfits. They shape daily habits, reduce distractions, and help students focus on what mat...

Classical Christian education is a generational journey - and in this BaseCamp Live episode, we get a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse of how a love for the true, good, and beautiful is passed from parent to child. Dr. Louis Markos, professor, author, and longtime advocate for the great books, is joined by his son Alex, now a humanities teacher, to share how formative family habits, road-trip liter...

What happens when the tests no longer reflect the education? In this episode, Davies Owens sits down with Sarah Novlan, Chief Academic Officer at Hill Country Christian School and a doctoral candidate studying the Harkness Seminar model, to explore why the once-revered AP program is falling short in today’s classical Christian schools. Together, they unpack the misalignment between AP coursework a...

How do we know if our students are truly being formed - not just informed? In this powerful episode of BaseCamp Live , host Davies Owens is joined by educator and researcher Katherine Schultz to explore one of the most pressing questions in Christian education: how do we assess and support the formation of a child’s beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes ? Katherine introduces her groundbreaking tool,...