Cultivate: A Veritas Academy Podcast

"If you let me get through this war, I am going to find you when I'm grown up. And I am going to love you, and I am going to tell everybody about how terrific you are. You just wait." Those are the words of a 10-year-old Eleanor, huddled in a basement during one of the many bomb raids she survived in Nazi Germany, to her "invisible, wonderful friend" - before she knew his t...

Summer's right around the corner, so for those of you who are already compiling your summer reading list for those beach or mountain vacations, we've got some great recommendations for you! In case you haven't noticed, we read a lot here at Veritas. And we don't read just any old drivel. Our students and teachers dive headfirst into the Great Books of the Western world. So, this gr...

Our guest in this episode is Andrew Kern, author and founder and CEO of the CiRCE Institute , who is a national leader in the classical Christian education movement. He and Ty Fischer talk about how a true education can and should point students to the glory of God, and, in so doing, provide an answer to our culture's "meaning crisis." Their dynamic conversation touches on scripture,...

Why read a bunch of facts about something in a textbook when you can get a first-hand account of what happened from someone who was there in the room where it happened? That's pretty much the concept of using the Great Books as the textbooks of choice in classical Christian education. At Veritas, a distinctive feature of secondary education is the Omnibus program, a comprehensive curriculum th...

Is virtue something that is innate? Or can it be learned, practiced, and grown in our lives? It's an important question, especially for students and young adults who are discovering God's calling and purpose for their lives. Last year, we were privileged to host Dr. Grant Horner, Director of the Classical Liberal Arts Program at The Master's University, to speak with our 11th and 12th...

If you've never been part of a church that uses catechisms regularly in their worship liturgy, you might not be familiar with this historical tradition and biblical teaching tool. You may even have a foggy view of catechisms as a dry and monotone concept. This podcast will help bring the notion of catechisms to life for your family, and help you see how you can use this valuable tool - which has b...

Dr. Ben Merkle, President of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, ID, spoke with Veritas juniors and seniors last year about the value of a college education...or, perhaps more accurately, the (often) lack of real value in today's typical college education. His talk will give parents and students a new perspective on college, helping you rethink your reasons for investing in higher education a...

It's one of the most essential, basic skills imparted in education - that is, the skill of reading. And when that skill is unlocked in a child, their world opens up, and their education expands with greater joy and success. Kindergarten is where that happens for most kids, and while it is such a basic and crucial part of education, different methods for teaching kids to read have been champion...

In our last episode on Logic, you may remember our guests defining Logic as "the art and science of reasoning well." In this episode, we're continuing that trend and talking about, well, art and science! At Veritas, one of our science teachers has a unique background and set of skills that, at first glance, may seem like it doesn't all match up. Amanda Crooks teaches biology, ana...

Middle schoolers can be argumentative. And it can drive parents crazy. But they are blossoming into young adults who will need to communicate and sometimes argue ideas in the real world soon enough. How do we equip them with the tools to not only think through their own beliefs, but to critically process new ideas, and sift through arguments to find and promote TRUTH above all? Enter the LOGIC pha...

One thing that many alumni and students will say upon reflecting on the merits of their Veritas education is: "I learned how to carry on a good conversation." The art of conversing seems to be dwindling in our culture. Being able to relate to others well in a variety of situations - and engage thoughtfully on a breadth of topics - is a skill that is deeply appreciated by others, and beneficial for...

As the holidays approach, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on feasting. Many of our families will soon gather around tables filled with long-cherished traditions—rituals that bind us together in joy and gratitude. In Classical Christian education, tradition isn’t just appreciated; it’s essential. Feasting is woven into the fabric of our school culture, shaping why families love Veritas...

Does it give you pause when you see a photo, video, or story and you wonder "Is this real, or was it created by AI?" Does it even matter anymore whether the art and information we're interacting with was created by human or machine? And, how is classical Christian education - so deeply focused on cultivating well-read, well-written, and well-spoken students - still relevant in a world that is incr...

Graham Dennis, Dean of Students, and Adam Timmons, Director of Houses and secondary teacher at Veritas Academy, talk with Ty Fischer about the significance of relationships among students, and what parents can do to help their child foster relationships that honor God and honor each other. This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers , a wealth management firm located at Nor...

Season Five of the Veritas Cultivate podcast officially kicks off with this thought provoking conversation with historian, theologian, and author Dr. Carl Trueman, who was our school's commencement speaker in May 2025. His bestselling books Strange New World and  The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self offer thoughtful, biblical examination and response to our culture's current identity cr...

This episode was originally released in September 2023. As we head back to school, it's apropos to consider the "why" of education. Why do we send out child off to school for hours a day (or spend hours a day homeschooling)? To what end? Believe it or not, the true aim of education as we know it in America has shifted over the centuries - becoming more about preparing an efficient wo...

Looking for some summer reading inspiration for yourself or your children? Two particular 20th century authors are most beloved around the Veritas (and, Christian in general) community: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein. This episode gives a new perspective on why these authors and their works are so enduring, influential, and simply wonderful. Listen in on a fun and insightful discussion with Mr. Pau...

This episode, originally released in early 2024 as part of Season 3 of Cultivate, is a recording of a talk given by Dr. Albert Mohler to our secondary students during a visit he paid to Veritas. Dr. Mohler – a prominent Christian thinker, author, podcast host, and President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary –shares his testimony and discusses how his upbringing (and, specifically, how his c...

Summer's here (well, at least officially for Veritas families as school is out for the year!), and so it's the perfect opportunity to close out our Cultivate season with some summer reading recommendations courtesy of a few recent graduates from the Class of 2025. Get to know some of our seniors - Meghan Spanjer, Annika Martin, and Daniel Huang - as they share some of their favorite books that the...

Liberal arts education - like what we ascribe to at Veritas - can get the (wrongly assumed) reputation of being irrelevant for modern STEM fields, thanks to what is perceived as a humanities-heavy curriculum. We cry foul on that argument - and our alumni prove it invalid as well! Hear a conversation with two Veritas alumni who are both flourishing as engineers - Zach Spykstra (class of 2012) and A...

In this episode, Veritas Head of School Ty Fischer talks with one of our sixth grade teachers, Ibrahim "Ibby" Rios, who came to Veritas Academy after many years teaching in the public school system in Philadelphia, in Chester County, and Maryland. Hear his story of what spurred him on to seek a different kind of education, not only to teach, but for his own children, and what it was abou...

Did you know that students at Veritas (and other classical Christian schools) begin learning Latin in second grade? And, they continue it as a required part of their curriculum through 7th grade? And furthermore, some elect to study Latin as their language of choice in 9th - 12th grade, too? And we know many parents might be saying: "Um...why? Isn't it a dead language? Why would you spend...

It may seem antiquated, and it's fallen out of fashion in most modern education circles, but memorization - once a staple of school - is very much alive (and awesome) here in the Veritas Academy Grammar School grades. Why do we adhere to rote memorization as a primary learning tool for young kids? Two big reasons - because it works (really, really works), and because it's fun! And it may look quit...

Teachers, school administrators, and parents alike can attest - this time of year can be pretty rough and active in terms of discipline needs for students. But we realize that discipline is a year-round endeavor, one that is both challenging and crucial in the spiritual development of our kids. Veritas Head of School Ty Fischer, Principal Dr. Dan Spanjer, and Dean of Students Graham Dennis have be...

The doldrums of Februrary are legendary for being something of a nightmare for teachers, school administrators, parents, and even kids. Cabin fever kicks in, and as the temperatures outside plummet, sometimes the tempers can rise. Many a school principal across the country can probably attest to the uptick in disciplinary issues that seems to present itself around this time of year. So, it's a...