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."

It's true that the art of conversing may be dwindling in our culture. Being able to relate to others well in a variety of situations - and engage on a breath of topics - is a skill that is deeply appreciated by others, and beneficial for ourselves, too.

Especially now, coming into the holidays when we find ourselves in an array of social settings with family, friends, and even strangers, being equipped with the mindset and skills for good conversation will make Christmas gatherings all the more pleasant for everyone.

Our host, Head of School Ty Fischer, is joined in this episode of Veritas alumni Jesse Brooks and Dean of Students and Omnibus/Rhetoric teacher Graham Dennis to talk about what makes for a good conversation, and how we can help cultivate in ourselves and our children the desire and skill to carry on good conversation.

After all, that a big part of what we're doing at Veritas – fostering students who can listen well and speak thoughtfully on topics that truly matter, and who excel at relating with one another in Christ because they've been trained regularly in talking around the table.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located at North Pointe Blvd. in Lancaster, PA, leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

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 and why students feel so deeply connected here.

In this lively conversation, Veritas teachers Rhonda Forbes and Caleb Ploutz, Director of Events Rona' Martin, and our Head of School Ty Fischer explore the heart behind our many feasts: what they look like, why we host them, and how beauty, celebration, and intentional effort mark a child’s education in profound ways. They unpack how these joyful, carefully crafted events help form students’ souls in virtue, truth, beauty, and goodness. Enjoy!

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Boulevard in Lancaster, leading people to  make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

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 increasingly obsessed with the efficiency that artificial intelligence tools promise?

Our host, Veritas Head of School Ty Fischer is joined in this by two guests who are employed in various STEM fields and are in the thick of some of this AI usage - Jack DeWeese, a software developer and Veritas alumnus Zach Spykstra, a mechantronics engineer.

They will dive into:

• How most AI programs actually work (they're not actually intelligent).
• Thoughts on how (or even if) parents and Christians can use these tools rightly and with discernment.
• What kind of education will serve the next generation growing up in an AI-fueled world...and how kids can set themselves apart by maintaining their God-given abilities to reason, think, and create freely.
• Warnings on the use of too much AI.
• Why (or whether) it matters if humans or a machine created content that we use.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located on North Pointe Blvd. in Lancaster, PA, leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

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 North Pointe Blvd in Lancaster,  leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

Key takeaways include the importance of shared experiences, commitment, mutual challenge, and bearing each other’s burdens in relationships. The conversation delves into the struggles faced by students in forming and maintaining relationships, the role of parents, the impact of technology, and how to navigate romantic interests responsibly. The discussion highlights how Veritas encourages intentional, godly friendships and handles romantic relationships among students, and emphasizes a balance of guidance, grace, and community involvement in fostering healthy friendships and relationships.

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 crises.

Listen in to his discussion with Head of School Ty Fischer as Carl shares what led him to delve into these weighty and critical topics, as well as important insights for parents as we seek to raise our children to form and found their identity in Christ first and and foremost.

This season of Cultivate is sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisors,  a wealth management firm located at North Point Boulevard in Lancaster, leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.

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 workforce than shaping engaged citizens.

Enjoy this conversation with David Goodwin, bestselling co-author of The Battle for the American Mind and President of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, as he dives into the progressive takeover of the modern education system, and how it differs from what a true, good, and beautiful education should be to shape the hearts and minds of each generation.

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. Paul Miller, a local pastor who also teaches upper grade Omnibus (humanities and Great Books) here at Veritas. Paul's love for Lewis and Tolkein is infectious as he has taught their works in 7th and 8th grade Secondary Omnibus, and this conversation will either ignite an excitement for these authors and thinkers in yourself, or rekindle your interest and inspire you to journey back to Narnia and Middle Earth or pore over Mere Christianity and Miracles.

If you've ever wondered why we bring up these two Brits so often in our classes and discussions - or if you're already an ardent fan of their works - we're pretty sure you'll have great fun listening to Paul talk with our Head of School Ty Fischer about Lewis, Tolkein, and why they belong not only in a school's curriculum, but also on your family's bookshelf.

This episode was originally released in June 2023.

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 challenging questions about faith were handled) shaped his faith and leadership.

Emphasizing the importance of Christian education and the transformation he witnessed through mentorship, Mohler's testimony exhort us – parents, young adults, and teenagers alike – in the importance of discerning truth from lies, engaging critically with culture, and the essential role of the church community in grounding Christian faith.

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 they have read here at Veritas (as well as books they've read outside of school that have impacted them). You'll see a theme in the works they've chosen (hint: these may not necessarily be considered "light beach reading"), and likely be inspired to check out some of these influential works of literature which will challenge your viewpoints, provoke deep thought, and perhaps spur you to greater action to advance God's kingdom here on earth wherever you are called!

This season of Cultivate has been sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located at North Point Boulevard in Lancaster leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves. 

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 Aaron Lielbriedis (class of 2020). They'll share their stories of how classical Christian education uniquely prepared them for success in their STEM fields. The conversation turns to:

• What they most appreciated - and what they would most like to change - about their Veritas education.
• How each of them maintained their faith as they navigated college and secular science fields.
• How a liberal arts education specifically equipped them for college and their careers, giving them advantages of traditionally-educated peers.
• Fun discussions on automotive and power generation technologies, and more!

Thank you to our Cultivate Season 4 sponsor, Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located at North Point Boulevard in Lancaster leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.