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 vital forms of discipleship in our time.

In this conversation:

• Harkness vs. Socratic: what’s the same, what’s different, and how each keeps the text at the center rather than opinion.
• Truth matters: how Christ-centered schools avoid “bad talk radio” and anchor discussion in authorial intent, Scripture, and absolute truth.
• Formation over performance: why silence, restraint, and student discovery create stickier learning than efficient lectures.
• K–12 on-ramps: how Justin’s team trains 7th–12th graders in names, manners, eye contact, question stems, and textual evidence.
• Home practices: simple dinner-table question bowls, “roses & thorns,” and “heaven & earth” prompts that cultivate a household of inquiry.

🎧 Join Davies Owens and Jacob Hess as they unpack how to fill our homes and classrooms with better stories that train hearts to love what God loves.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
Schedule an introduction with Champion Group
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 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 information: why habits shape what we love (Charlotte Mason; James K. A. Smith).
• Worship in every moment: practical ways to make the ordinary sacred using tools like Every Moment Holy.
• Why fiction matters: Jacob’s The Bright Abyss (think Star Wars meets Tolkien) as a case study in shaping imagination.
• A takeaway for this week: identify one small ritual that tells a better story—and practice it faithfully.

🎧 Join Davies Owens and Jacob Hess as they unpack how to fill our homes and classrooms with better stories that train hearts to love what God loves.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Bright Abyss
• RSVP Now for ADVANCE Retreat

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
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 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 her own classical Christian upbringing, Hannah shares how she came face-to-face with the confusion around womanhood in her Gen Z college years and why she’s now committed to recovering a vision of classical femininity—the preservation and reflection of truth, goodness, and beauty in womanhood.

Together they discuss:

• Why Gen Z women often prioritize career over marriage and family—and what that reveals about cultural messaging.
• The gap between “pioneer bonnets” and modern feminism—and why girls need something more rooted and hopeful in between.
• How role models, from Princess Catherine to contemporary Christian entrepreneurs, can embody duty, beauty, and service.
• Practical ways parents and schools can guide daughters toward confident, Christ-centered womanhood.

From family photo walls to auditing media habits, Hannah offers tangible steps to help reframe femininity not as performance, but as calling. This is a conversation for parents, educators, and young women alike who long to celebrate the true, good, and beautiful in a culture that has lost its way.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
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 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.

Jarrod - music teacher at Geneva Academy, author of Bach to the Future and editor of Raise the Song - makes the case that the creative arts are not extras but vital ways we reflect our Creator and form our children’s affections. He explains why hymn-singing, music literacy, and participatory art are as essential to discipleship as books and doctrine, helping students love what is true, good, and beautiful in tangible ways.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why the church historically led the way in the arts—and why we need to reclaim that vision today
• How hymns carry theology, unity, and gratitude across generations
• Why music literacy is a core skill, not an optional enrichment
• Practical ways families and schools can weave rich music and art into daily life

The arts aren’t just about self-expression - they are about imaging God and passing on the faith. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about recovering beauty in education, worship, and the home.

Resources Mentioned:

• Raise the Song
• Bach to the Future

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
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.

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 pastor to leading one of the most influential organizations in the space, Darrell offers a front-row look at what’s changing in public education, why families and pastors are seeking new options, and how the Herzog Foundation is stepping in with practical support.

Discover:

• Why the “yellow bus” may look the same but is headed to a very different destination than a generation ago
• How the Herzog Foundation Institute is equipping schools with free training and resources
• The role of parents, pastors, and schools in raising up salt-and-light disciples
• Why the rapid growth of Christian education is more than a trend - it’s a movement

🎧 Join us as we explore how the Herzog Foundation is helping families and schools build the next generation with wisdom and faith.

Resources Mentioned:

Schedule an introduction with Champion Group

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
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 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 highlights why so many boys are disengaging from schools, church, and even family life - and what we can do about it. From the importance of rites of passage, to the value of single-sex education, to the power of farming and trades as apprenticeships into manhood, this conversation offers parents and school leaders practical insights for re-embodying learning and lengthening the runway into adulthood. You’ll also hear about The Joshua Program, a new vocational discernment gap-year track for young men ages 17–20.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

Why boys today struggle with school, work, and even forming families

How rites of passage and mentorship shape healthy masculinity

The four pillars of St. Dunstan’s Academy: Christian formation, classical academics, farming life, and trades

Practical steps for parents and schools to cultivate responsibility, resilience, and community

Resources Mentioned:

https://mereorthodoxy.com/common-arts-that-matter

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.

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 the tendency toward “escapist” schooling, reminding parents that while protection has its place, our ultimate goal is preparation - raising wise, eloquent, Christ-centered young people who can engage culture with courage, persuasion, and hope. From the dangers of over-censorship to the importance of modeling faith at home, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical advice for families and educators alike.

Tune in to hear:

• Why rhetoric—not coercion—is the cultural tool our kids need most
• The danger of turning schools into “protectatories” rather than preparatories
• How parents model either fear or faith in everyday life
• Practical encouragement for both parents and teachers on raising confident, persuasive disciples

Resources Mentioned:

Wisdom and Eloquence (Parent Edition) – Classical Academic Press

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.

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.