Making The Leap

After three years and over 150 episodes, we’re saying goodbye to Making The Leap . In this final episode, we reflect on our journey, the lessons we’ve learned, and the incredible community that has joined us along the way. From the early days of discovering Christian education to the many inspiring guests we've had, this podcast has been a life-changing experience. While this chapter ends, th...

In this episode of Making The Leap, we’re back with Part 2 from the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) Convention in Dallas, Texas! Join us for conversations with inspiring guests who are shaping the future of faith-based education and digital outreach. First, we talk with Abby Sexton from Christians Engaged to discuss her personal journey through homeschool, private school, and public educatio...

Join us for a special episode of Making The Leap , recorded live from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention! We had the incredible opportunity to speak with inspiring leaders, content creators, and change-makers in Christian media. From discussing the impact of faith-driven education and parental rights to media innovation and cultural shifts, this episode is packed with insightful conver...

In this episode of Making The Leap, we reflect on the journey of Christian parenting, faith, and education. As we navigate challenges with our teenage daughter’s Christian school experience, we openly discuss doubts, lessons learned, and the role of faith in raising independent, spiritually grounded children. Join us as we explore: ✅ The struggles of Christian parenting ✅ The impact of faith-bas...

In this episode of Making the Leap, Christine Stigall sits down with Angela Swain, Christian school mom and professor of music at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to discuss faith, motherhood, and education. Angela shares her journey from music ministry to academia, her family’s experience with Christian education, and how she navigated a cancer diagnosis while teaching her children. She a...

In this episode of Making the Leap, Chris and Christine Stigall sit down with Josh Mann, managing editor of The Lion, to explore how faith-based journalism is equipping parents with the truth about education, culture, and policy. From the rise of school choice to a landmark Supreme Court case on religious education, they discuss the key issues shaping the future. Plus, Josh shares exciting updates...

In this episode of Making the Leap, we sit down with Erika Donalds, founder and chairwoman of Optima Ed, to discuss the groundbreaking innovations reshaping education. From virtual reality classrooms to the benefits of school choice and dismantling outdated systems, Erika shares her journey as a reformer and advocate for parental empowerment. Follow Making The Leap on Facebook , Instagram , X , an...

Our annual deep-dive into the core of what the Herzog Foundation is really all about: growing Christian education and helping it thrive.   If you're a Christian school teacher, administrator, board member, donor, or simply interested in the nuts and bolts of what makes a successful school work as opposed to one that ultimately closes its doors - this is your show!  The Stigalls walk through t...

Chris and Christine take today's show through some of the headlines in education that caught their eye. A brand new member of Congress stopped by to read to some elementary school kids. But just who it was and what was read and who sponsored the event will drop your jaw. An undercover journalist poses as a mother trying to enroll her "trans" daughter in girls sports in a Dallas scho...

Chris and Christine profiled the Mackey family back in 2023 who found themselves in very similar circumstances as the Stigalls.  They made a full leap from public education to homeschool in their personal lives.  The Herzog Foundation featured the Mackeys in our Instagram stories as well and you can still find them there.  Today's conversation - mom to mom - is a deep dive into the life of a...

Join us as we look back on a year of inspiring conversations and thought-provoking moments on Making the Leap. From creating a culture of giving to innovative educational models, hear highlights from our most impactful episodes of 2024. Featuring insightful clips with guests like Cyra Loman, Elizabeth Urbanowicz, and Tony Perkins, we explore topics like donor development, biblical worldviews, and...

In this episode of Making the Leap, host Chris Stigall sits down with Roger Erdvig, author and director at Summit Ministries, to explore what it means to provide a truly biblically based Christian education. They discuss practical ways to evaluate Christian schools, integrate faith into every aspect of education, and navigate challenges like rapid school growth and cultural pressures. With insight...

Off the top, Chris and Christine discuss the shocking news of a Wisconsin Christian school shooting this week. How in the world did a Christian school miss a troubled young woman like this? The Stigall explore why a lack of scrutiny and a "take all comers" policy of Christian schools may be a dangerous mistake. Then, it wasn't too long ago Pete Hegseth was a host on Fox News and had...

Saint Mary's College, an all women's Catholic school not far from the University of Notre Dame is the lone female-only school left in the United States.  19-year-old sophomore Macy Gunnell who worked in the admissions office while taking classes at St. Mary's stumbled across something shocking in student recruitment literature.   The words "consistently live or identify as a wo...

We're trying a new feature here at Making the Leap.  The concept is simple.  Now that the Stigalls have "made the leap" to Christian education and have a better understanding of all that goes into the decision, Christine decided to talk with moms she knows who've also made the leap and how they arrived at the decision.  How is it working?  What would they do differently?  How i...

This episode might reflect one of the biggest "leapers" we've ever featured. Both geographically and in terms of educating her kids. Stephanie Murray was a young mother in Boston whose husband's work to her to Park City, Utah. She began by placing her kids in a Montessori school, before pulling them to homeschool. The Murray family quickly realized the need for a Christian scho...

It's no secret the presidential election of 2024 simply broke some people.  But what if it broke one of your kids' school teachers?  The Stigalls react to some headlines in the days and weeks surrounding this election.  They also unpack what seems to be an attempt by some "red states" and their governors and legislatures to re-introduce Scripture and discussions of faith in the...

Are you a professional who thinks you don't have the time or resources to make a change in your child's education? One of the most impressive stories we've heard on the show is that of Constance Bradley. She began with a son in public school who was so bright he was simply left aside in the classroom. As the owner of her own real estate agency with a team of eight - Constance decide...

Have you heard of RenewaNation?  They are an organization near and dear to our hearts.  They share many of the same objectives of our parent organization, The Herzog Foundation.  In addition to impacting schools with a Biblical worldview,  theirs expands into the church and the home as well. They say it is that three-stranded cord of church/school/home that, if properly aligned with a Biblical wor...

If you're a concerned parent about the state of your community's schools, odds are you've heard of Moms for Liberty. They've played a big roll in the presidential election cycle, with candidates since the primaries attempting to court their support. They aren't a partisan group. They don't pledge to a particular party. But who are they? What are their goals? Is there...

With a major, national election just around the corner, the Stigalls contemplate with their pastor, Dr. Ken Parker the role of the church and its leaders' in discussing civics, voting, and education with our school-aged kids and how they do or don't compliment our primary focus - Jesus, and the Word of God. Is your church speaking up about the issues of the day and advocating for your Ch...

Chris and Christine have a pretty cool job at the Herzog Foundation getting to talk to you every week on this podcast. But if you know anyone headed for college or is currently enrolled in, or about to finish their college education - you should let them know about THE coolest job inside our Herzog Foundation headquarters. Become a Herzog Ambassador! Today, you'll meet the diverse post-colleg...

We bring back a familiar voice to Making the Leap this week. Ginny Gentles - a senior fellow at Independent Women's Forum - has now joined with a fairly new D.C. based organization called the Defense of Freedom Institute where she serves as the Director of Education Freedom and Parental Rights. Ginny's mission is to push for more educational freedom at the national level and make parents...

Sometimes we hear churches find reasons why opening their doors to Christian schools or homeschool programs doesn't work for them. We've never heard of a church totally destroyed, only for the leadership to declare - "We must rebuild, and this time with a school!" That's the story of Victory Church in Bloomington, Illinois - home to Foundation Christian Academy. Hear from...

Join Chris and Christine this week as they talk with Joelle Fortin and Kelly Lyman, a dynamic pair of moms who have been working to create a pod school in southeast Pennsylvania. Joelle and Kelly share their experiences, success and strategies related to curriuculum and the day-to-day challenges they've encountered, relaying on faith and support from the families enrolled in their pod. Want t...