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Latin is often dismissed as outdated or impractical - especially in an age of Google Translate and global languages like Spanish or Mandarin.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 teacher - to unpack the surprising relevance of Latin today.

Together they explore:

• Why Latin is more than a “dead language” and remains the bedrock of Western civilization
• How learning Latin strengthens logic, attention, and critical thinking
• The way Latin opens doors to Scripture, church history, and the Great Books
• Why wrestling with Latin builds the discipline and fortitude our distracted culture desperately needs
• How Dr. Kim’s new curriculum brings joy, depth, and even prayer into Latin study

🎧 If you’ve ever wondered why your child’s school requires Latin - or if it’s really worth the effort - this conversation will give you a fresh, thought-provoking perspective.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

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 matters most - learning and growing in virtue. From the practical benefits to the deeper cultural and spiritual significance, this episode unpacks why what students wear really does matter.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

• Why uniforms can be a powerful tool for unity and order
• How clothing choices affect a child’s sense of identity and focus
• Practical ways schools and parents can rethink uniforms as formation, not just dress code

 Listen in to rethink uniforms - not as a restriction, but as a tool for shaping hearts and minds.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

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 literature, and a Christian worldview shaped Alex’s path from public school to a deep embrace of the classics.

Together, they explore why Christians should read pagan literature, the difference between formation and information, and how ancient texts can lead students toward truth and scripture. With memorable stories - from Marcus Aurelius-inspired dance moves to processing grief through The Iliad - this conversation offers both encouragement and practical ideas for parents and educators seeking to form thoughtful, faithful young people.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

• How classical education forms hearts and minds across generations
• Why reading pagan literature can prepare students to receive the gospel
• Ways families can naturally instill a love for great books
• The difference between simply learning information and being formed in virtue
• Real-life classroom moments where ancient texts shaped faith and character

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

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 and the mission of classical education, the challenges of teaching to a test, and the dumbing down of rigor and content, especially in the humanities. 

Sarah shares her own journey from AP instructor to advocate for better assessments and introduces CLT’s new Enduring Courses, an emerging alternative that honors intellectual virtue, great books, and oral expression. If you’ve ever wondered whether AP or dual credit is still the right path - or what better options may be on the horizon - this conversation is a must.

🎧 Join us to discover:

• Why more classical schools are rethinking AP courses
• How assessments shape teaching and mission
• What makes CLT’s Enduring Courses a game-changing alternative

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

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, the 3D Worldview Survey, which helps parents and schools evaluate students in all three dimensions - head, heart, and hands - to spark meaningful discipleship and spiritual growth. This isn’t a spiritual report card—it’s a catalyst for real conversation and next steps.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

• Why so few students (and even pastors) hold a consistent biblical worldview
• What schools and parents can do to bridge the gap between belief and behavior
• How the 3DWS can be used to shape school culture and mentor students more effectively

Don’t just hope your students are growing—know how to help them take the next step.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

What if the key to raising thoughtful, balanced, and flourishing kids isn't found in big moments - but in the quiet rhythms of daily life?

In this episode, Davies Owens welcomes back Joanna Hensley, head of lower school at Wilson Hill Academy, pastor’s wife, and homeschool mom of six. With wisdom rooted in classical Christian education and a deep love for Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, Joanna shares practical ways families can cultivate meaningful habits, routines, and wonder even in the unstructured days of summer.

From math games and nature walks to reading “living books” and resisting digital distractions, this conversation is packed with creative ideas for shaping lifelong learners without turning your home into a classroom.

Whether you're parenting preschoolers or teens, this episode offers realistic, life-giving rhythms that bring formation, not just information.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

• Why rhythm—not intensity—is the key to lasting impact
• How to train the habit of attention in a distracted world
• What it looks like to partner with others in community-driven formation

You don’t need more to-do lists - you need better rhythms. Start here.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

In this lively and thought-provoking Summer Flashback episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens is joined by AJ and Graeme - hosts of the Classical Stuff You Should Know podcast - for a conversation that’s anything but dry. With humor and deep insight, they explore the enduring value of the Great Books and why these ancient texts still matter in today’s fast-paced, tech-saturated world.

What do old works like Plato’s Republic, Lewis’s Abolition of Man, and the Epic of Gilgamesh have to do with raising wise, virtuous kids in 2025? More than you think. AJ and Graeme argue that these works don’t just fill students with facts - they shape souls, build moral reasoning, and connect readers with timeless questions of virtue, mortality, and purpose.

• Along the way, you’ll hear about:
• The danger of reducing education to "skills" alone
• How reading trains sentiments and cultivates character
• Why kids actually love Plato (yes, really!)
• And what a classical education offers that modern schooling can’t

Whether you’re a parent wondering why your school insists on Dante and Homer, or an educator seeking fresh ways to inspire students, this conversation is a must-listen.

🎧 Tune in and rediscover the delight, relevance, and real-world impact of the Great Books - and why they’re more urgent than ever for the next generation.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

 

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

In this summer flashback episode of BaseCamp Live, host Davies Owens revisits an insightful conversation with Megan Atherton, founder of Common Sense Classical and program director at Golden View Classical Academy.

Megan addresses a common concern: Is classical Christian education elitist? She explores why many prospective families feel intimidated by the uniforms, rigorous curriculum, and emphasis on excellence – and how these schools can communicate their mission with humility, gratitude, and dignity.

Key topics include:

• Why classical education is not just for the elite
• How schools can cultivate excellence without fostering arrogance
• The difference between making judgments and being judgmental
• Why classical education is for every child whose family is on board with the mission
• Practical ways parents and educators can nurture confidence and humility in students

Megan shares candid insights on how classical schools can better welcome families, build inclusive communities, and form students marked by wisdom, virtue, and grace – not prideful elitism.

🎧 Whether you’re a school leader, teacher, or parent navigating these questions, this episode will encourage and equip you.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

Welcome to this summer flashback episode of BaseCamp Live! In today’s conversation, host Davies Owens revisits a powerful interview with Andrew Pudewa, founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

In an age of shrinking vocabularies, short attention spans, and over-reliance on screens, Andrew shares why writing and speaking well are more critical than ever. He explains that students cannot think complex thoughts without the words to express them, and highlights how classical education – with its focus on grammar, logic, and rhetoric – equips students to become articulate, thoughtful communicators who can engage the world with truth and clarity.

Andrew unpacks the decline he’s witnessed over three decades in students’ vocabulary and attention spans, and why reading aloud, memorizing beautiful language, and teaching students to write and speak persuasively are not just academic exercises but essential skills for life and faithfulness. He challenges parents and educators to see education not merely as preparation for wealth and comfort, but as formation for mission in the world.

With practical encouragement, humorous reflections, and deep conviction, Andrew calls us back to raising students who can read, think, write, and speak well for God’s glory and the good of others.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why reading aloud and memorizing are vital for language development
• How writing well prepares students for any vocation
• The role of rhetoric in equipping students to stand firm in today’s culture
• Encouragement for parents and teachers to stay the course in cultivating eloquence

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

In a world ruled by FOMO—the fear of missing out—what if the real antidote isn’t more digital connection, but less? In this encouraging episode, Davies Owens sits down with author and digital wellbeing advocate Christina Crook to explore the power of JOMO - the Joy of Missing Out.

Christina shares her story of stepping away from technology, launching a global movement, and helping parents and schools reclaim space for what matters most: real connection, creativity, and Christ-centered joy. From setting tech boundaries to building intentional family habits, this episode is packed with practical advice for parents, educators, and school leaders navigating the challenges of raising kids in a hyperconnected world.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why “shame-based” digital parenting doesn’t work
• How schools and parents can build healthy tech boundaries together
• How to create joyful alternatives to screen time
• What JOMO really means—and how to live it out

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at [email protected]

Don't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.