Making The Leap

You've likely heard the stories of after school clubs like the "Satan Club" popping up in some school districts after successful court fights. Chris and Christine talk with a Christian man who says we shouldn't fret or fear this development. He's created the antidote and it's called Lifewise Academy .  Their mission is to expose as many kids to the Gospel during the p...

One of the issues Christine and Chris hear repeatedly as Christian school growth explodes is, "What are Christian schools doing to accommodate my child with learning, physical, or emotional challenges?" Lorraine Hewitt is the Superintendent of Dominion Ridge Academy and the creator of the Center for Cognitive Formation. Lorraine doesn't believe there's any reason Christian scho...

We can't thank you enough for your support of Making the Leap! We're celebrating 100 episodes with a fresh new look and a terrific guest. Dan McCubbin not only leads his own church and Christian school - but since he was 19 years old, Dan has been a consultant to dozens of Christian schools across the country. Those just beginning and those who are struggling to stay afloat.  What are th...

What happens when a Virginia public school teacher feels she can no longer deal with the cultural darkness swallowing her school and classroom? Meet Dennita Miskimen, founder of The Little Red Schoolhouse in rural Virginia.  This is a powerful story of one woman's quest to introduce elementary school kids to a life on the farm, bathed in nature. She believes deeply this is the way forward to...

Chris and Christine took the show on the road for their first visit to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention . This event features thousands of folks in the Christian media space. Since Making the Leap is all about parents exploring Christian school, we thought there'd be no better place to meet people who value the movement as much as we do. Even former president Donald Trump made a...

This show may not be for every Christian school parent, but it impacts every Christian school family and certainly every Christian school operator. Whether we like talking about it or not, yes, it's a show about money. Meet professional donor development coach Cyra Lohman.  Chris and Christine explore how successful Christian schools plan, communicate, strategize, and envision a future of lon...

“Learn to build a life, not just a living” is the slogan of Excel College in North Carolina, a unique higher education experience that equips students with skills for their whole of life, including their careers, relationships, and faith. In this episode, Chris and Christine speak with Andrew Chambers, Head of Campus Life at Excel.  Andrew discusses Excel’s unique philosophy and approach to higher...

You might remember an episode last year in which a young pastor arrived at a new church and felt an immediate call to turn his empty church facility during the week into a Christian school. It was certainly a "leap" for the pastor, his wife and their older, retired congregants.  Now, with one year under his belt Chris and Christine ask - "Did it work? What should people know if they...

If you're not familiar with Sam Sorbo , buckle up for today's show! Sam is the newest addition to the Herzog Podcast Network and her unrelenting passion for home education and the Word of God naturally pours out of all she says. Hear about her mission to reach parents who say "I can't homeschool. I'm not smart enough." WARNING: She pulls no punches when it comes to pa...

Chris and Christine take some time in today's episode to comb through some education headlines that have recently caught their attention. Is your public school spending money on a software called "Kooth?" A representative in Pennsylvania is warning parents to keep watch. Then, teachers unions in some states are aggressively advocating for doing away with Praxis exams for new teacher...

Chris and Christine are often asked, "Just what is the Herzog Foundation all about? What do they do?" Today, you'll meet one of the people at the heart of the core mission of the foundation.  If you are or you know a teacher, administrator, board member, or leader in any form of Christian education - you need to know how the Herzog Foundation travels the country and invites you to c...

As Chris and Christine consider their Christian high schooler's next steps in education, they have a fascinating conversation with the founder of California-based Hildegard College -- Dr. Matthew Smith . Find out what he says makes Hildegard a fresh way to think about a Christian higher education. A way of learning he says is unlike virtually any other large, established Christian university...

Dr. Keri Ingraham joins the show to explain a new, hybrid education model that's quickly rising in popularity — College-Simulated Learning or CSL. Schools that use this education model are called University-Model schools and are accredited by NAUMS, Inc . Primarily used for high schoolers, this model is a hybrid home/in-class schedule to create more flexibility and space for small institution...

Join Chris and Christine as they recall some of their favorite conversations and moments of the 2023. Please tell us in your review if you have a favorite conversation, and thanks so much for your continued support of Making The Leap! We're looking forward to a great year of conversations in 2024 that will provide you information and encouragement to "Make The Leap" into faith-based...

Join Chris and Christine as they recall some of their favorite conversations and moments of 2023. Please tell us in your review if you have a favorite conversation, and thanks so much for your continued support of Making The Leap! We're looking forward to a great year of conversations in 2024 that will provide you with information and encouragement to "Make The Leap" into faith-base...

For over four decades, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has fought in courts for families who've always believed the best education for kids is in the home. In today's interview with HSLDA President Jim Mason, you'll hear the fascinating history and legal fight of early homeschool families to today's explosion in homeschooling as the fastest growing form of edu...

The old, conventional wisdom of K-12 kids graduating then heading off to acquire expensive degrees from four-year institutions has proven unnecessary for many students.  The trades are begging for young people to join their ranks for great salaries and benefits from an early age. Jobs that will likely pay far more than the careers of their debt-laden, four-year graduate counterparts. What about th...

After Tabia Lee penned an op-ed in the New York Post in October 2023 titled I was a DEI director - DEI drives campus antisemitism , Chris and Christine decided to have a conversation with Dr. Lee to discover exactly what you and your student need to know about it. The conversation is blunt and eye opening and as you'll hear - "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is anything but inclus...

You've gone out of your way, sometimes at great personal sacrifice to make sure your child's K-12 education is Christ-focused. But then he or she decides their college of choice is the furthest thing away from a Christ-centered environment.  Should you fight them on the decision? How do you know your child is spiritually ready? Can your child's entire education be erased on a four-y...

A unique episode of Making the Leap featuring two fearless men in their respective fields who've stood tall at great personal cost to their careers and families because they stayed true to their Christian faith.  You no doubt heard about the high school football coach fired for praying on the field. His historic victory before the Supreme Court last year wasn't widely noticed, but it was...

We're thrilled to welcome a podcasting veteran of the last seven years - Linda Kardamis to the Herzog Podcast Network. Linda's podcast Teach 4 the Heart will be offered alongside Making the Leap each week in our growing family of podcasts.  Linda visited the Stigalls in studio to discuss her background as a teacher and how God led her to begin a new career in connecting and encouraging t...

In this increasingly "inclusive" culture, many girls and young women are being faced with a shocking new reality. Boys and young men who decide they're female are now allowed to share locker rooms, bathrooms, and even take their roster spot in competitive women's sporting events in many places. Sadly, it's not exclusive to public and secular schools.  Join the Stigalls as...

Talk radio host, author, and scholar Dennis Prager joins the Stigalls and pulls no punches when discussing the state of public school. Hear his candid diagnosis of what's rotting schools from within, his lament specifically concerning his home state of California, and what he says is the "most wonderful thing" parents can do for their country and children right now.  Follow Making t...

The Washington Post just completed a deep-dive survey of parents who homeschool and their motivations for doing so. The Stigalls pour through the Post's sometimes interesting and sometimes insulting conclusions from the survey.  Dr. Keri Ingraham joins the show to thoroughly explain what ESAs or "universal school choice" means by definition and what goes into the funding formula for...

On today's episode, Chris and Christine look into the world of an average mother and citizen in her community, Buffy Smith. Buffy ran for her public school board and won. She proudly served for many years until she ultimately decided her public schools weren't the best fit for her own children. When she made the move to Christian education for her family, Buffy came under attack. Communi...