BaseCamp Live

Latest Episodes:

The Art of the Question with Mandi Gerth Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Good conversations with our children do not just happen. They require intentionality, attention, and the courage to ask questions that may take more than a few seconds to answer.

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens welcomes back Mandi Gerth to explore how the questions we ask shape not only daily conversation, but the long-term relationship we hope to have with our children as adults. Drawing on her experience as a teacher and parent, Mandi explains that a good question opens what she calls an “expectant vacancy.” The challenge is that we must be ready for what fills that space.

Together, they unpack three kinds of questions parents can practice:

Questions that check for understanding and invite narration, not just yes-or-no answers

Follow-up questions that build intellectual habits, encouraging evidence, comparison, and thoughtful reasoning

Big-idea questions that help children contemplate virtue, faith, and moral responsibility at every age

Mandi also offers a wise reminder for parents of teens. Do not be shocked by what they say. Create a home where doubts and hard questions can be voiced safely. Ask follow-ups. Stay present. Keep pointing them toward truth.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why “How was your day?” rarely leads to meaningful connection
How follow-up questions quietly form habits of wisdom
Why big conversations are not just for upper school students
How intentional dialogue today builds relationships that last for decades

This episode is a practical and hopeful reminder that asking better questions is not about performance. It is about love, formation, and walking closely with our children as they grow.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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 info@basecamplive.com

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

Training Life Skills for the Next Generation with Mitchell Slater Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Students today need to be deeply formed to love what is true and beautiful, and they also need practical skills and confidence that comes from real life experiences they can carry into college, career, and beyond.

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens sits down with Mitchell Slater, founder and CEO of Slater Strategies, to talk about entrepreneurship, risk, and why many students are not being prepared for real life as well as they could be.

Mitchell shares his story of growing up homeschooled in Alaska, learning hard work through real responsibilities, and starting his first business at 17 because his parents gave him room to try and learn. Together, they unpack why failure is such a powerful teacher, why our culture fears it, and how schools can create safe environments for students to practice real-world problem solving.

They also dive into Mitchell’s SMT program, which trains a small team of students to help tell their school’s story through marketing, communication, and community engagement, without handing students unrestricted tech or social media access.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why students need life prep, not just college prep
How parents can encourage kids to take healthy risks and learn from failure
What “marketing” includes beyond social media, including storytelling, writing, newsletters, and campus experience
How SMT works and why it can feel like a modern, dynamic version of the yearbook team
A simple shift in language that helps kids think like problem-solvers: “What problem do you want to solve?”

You will leave with practical encouragement for how to help students become real world ready, with confidence rooted in faith, responsibility, and meaningful work.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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

What is Classical Christian Education? with David Diener Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

“What is classical Christian education?” sounds like an easy question, until you try to answer it.

In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by Dr. David Diener, professor of education at Hillsdale College and executive director of the Alcuin Fellowship, to offer a clear, grounded explanation of what classical Christian education is and what it is not. They explore why this approach begins with the purpose of education, not just the methods, and how it aims to form students into a certain kind of human being, equipped to live well in this life and the next.

You will also hear how classical Christian schools differ from many modern models that treat education primarily as a transaction for career readiness, and why “integration” matters more than adding spiritual elements onto an otherwise secular framework.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why the goals of education shape everything else, curriculum, culture, and classroom life
How classical Christian education connects belief and practice so formation is not an afterthought
Why “you have to see it” is often the best explanation, and what to look for when you visit a school
How this approach prepares students for a rapidly changing world, including AI, by prioritizing thinking, communication, and wisdom
What distinguishes a truly classical and truly Christian school beyond slogans and aesthetics

If you have ever struggled to explain classical Christian education to a neighbor, a grandparent, or even yourself, this conversation gives language for what many families sense: this is not nostalgia, it is a living tradition that forms students for faithfulness, clarity, and courage.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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

Classical Home Habits with Jeff Hendricks Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Healthy habits are one of the greatest gifts we can give our children because habits quietly shape what they love and who they become. In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by Jeff Hendricks, headmaster at Providence Christian School of Texas, for a practical conversation about how formation happens through repeated, everyday actions.

Jeff defines a habit as a repeated action that becomes instinctive. It begins with conscious effort, but over time it becomes automatic, like driving a car. That matters because the virtues we hope to see in adulthood, generosity, courage, hospitality, do not appear overnight. They are built through small faithful practices.

A key theme throughout the conversation is that there is no neutral setting. Every child is learning habits of one kind or another, intentionally or passively. Jeff also addresses a common misconception: habit formation can sound harsh or overly strict, but discipline on the front end leads to freedom later. Like musicians and athletes, children gain joyful confidence when foundational skills become second nature.

Jeff shares several “best of” habits Providence emphasizes with families:

Prayer and reading God’s Word: not necessarily formal or elaborate, sometimes simply reading Scripture together and praying. The point is consistency and priority.
Attention: children cannot learn without it. Jeff offers practical ways to train attention at home, including multi-step instructions, narration, picture study, and observation exercises.
Obedience: responding right away and all the way, with the understanding that respectful questions can happen at the right time. This trains children to relate rightly to God-given authority.
Neatness and orderliness: restoring order to a space and to routines, even when it takes more time than doing it yourself.
Serving others: training children to defer preferences and practice small acts of service that slowly reorient the heart away from self.
Working hard and doing your best: building a “work before play” rhythm, teaching excellence without overwork, and helping children grow into wise self-management.

In closing, Jeff encourages educators to keep habits simple and intentional, and he encourages parents that it is never too late to begin. Start where you are, choose one habit, and keep it steady. Often the best change is the one you quietly begin and faithfully continue.

Resources Mentioned:

Practical Tips for Teaching Habits to Your Children (pdf)

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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

What Are We Training Our Children to Love? with Keith McCurdy Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Augustine argued that many of our biggest problems come not from loving bad things, but from loving good things in the wrong order. In this episode, Davies Owens sits down with counselor and Live Sturdy president Keith McCurdy to talk about the “ordering of loves” and why it impacts everything from marriage health to family culture to kids who flourish.

Keith walks through a common modern pattern: world, kids, family, marriage, God, and why that order quietly drains families. Then he offers a clear, biblical alternative and a few simple practices that can create real change without turning your life upside down.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why family stress often traces back to a foundation problem, not a scheduling problem
The difference between work life balance and work life harmony
Why “date night” can fail, and what works better for exhausted parents
Three small rhythms that rebuild connection fast: weekly calendar syncs, daytime dates, and a tech free last hour
Why healthy families learn to say no to good things to protect what is best

If you feel like you are doing a lot of good things but still not cultivating a truly connected home, this episode will help you reset the order and start rebuilding with hope, clarity, and simple steps you can try this week.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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

Alumni Interview with Ashton Lawrence Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Many listeners have been asking for more alumni interviews, and this episode delivers. Davies Owens sits down with Ashton Lawrence, an Ambrose School graduate who joined the classical Christian world in fifth grade and stayed through graduation. Ashton reflects on the early challenges of adjusting to a more rigorous environment, the slow-burning value of logic and Latin, and the way great teachers helped the pieces “click” over time.

As the conversation unfolds, Ashton connects the classroom to real life, from learning to spot fallacies in everyday arguments to building the kind of clear communication and steady conviction that helps a young adult navigate college, friendships, and vocational decisions with maturity. Along the way, he shares how family conversations, meaningful friendships, and hands-on experiences shaped him into someone who can read deeply, think carefully, and also solve real problems in the shop.

Tune in to hear:

Why Ashton’s “late entry” into classical Christian education in fifth grade became a formative turning point
How Tolkien, Shakespeare, and the great books helped shape his imagination, loves, and view of virtue
What logic training changed for him immediately, especially in how he listened, argued, and communicated
Why students sometimes struggle to understand the “why” behind classical education, and what schools can do better
How a classical foundation helped him thrive socially and spiritually at a large Christian university
Why the liberal arts and the common arts belong together, and how hands-on problem solving reveals real wisdom

Ashton’s encouragement to parents and school leaders is simple and hopeful: stay the course. Even when students resist or do not fully appreciate the rigor in the moment, the fruit often shows up later, with gratitude, clarity, and strength for the road ahead.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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

Recovering Wisdom in America with Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

In a world filled with distraction, content overload, and cultural confusion, raising children who are wise, discerning, and grounded can feel daunting. In this episode, Davies Owens sits down with Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, to explore how families can recover wisdom in America through small, faithful practices at home rather than sweeping overhauls.

Marissa challenges parents to reclaim confidence as their children’s primary educators and encourages them to start with “micro, atomic habits” that build courage and clarity over time. Together, they discuss why young people are surrounded by information yet starving for meaning, and how virtue, responsibility, and service shape true maturity.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why wisdom and discernment matter more than information alone
How small, consistent habits can shape children over time
A balanced approach to technology that emphasizes discernment over fear
Why story, enjoyment, and edutainment can open doors to deeper learning
How household rituals reinforce gratitude, responsibility, and meaning

Formation happens in the ordinary. A few intentional habits, practiced faithfully, can anchor children in truth, cultivate wisdom, and give families hope for the next generation.

Resources Mentioned:

Check out Wilson Hill Academy's Free Guide

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy

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

Best of BaseCamp Live: How the Ancients Shaped Virtuous People with Dr. Louis Markos Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Davies Owens briefly steps into the archives to revisit a valuable conversation with Dr. Louis Markos on how the ancient world understood virtue, education, and human flourishing, and why those insights remain essential today.

Dr. Markos explains how the Greeks and Romans, though lacking Christian revelation, asked the right questions about human nature, moral formation, and the purpose of education. Figures such as Socrates and Plato modeled humility, rational discourse, and civic responsibility, forming a vision of education aimed not merely at usefulness, but at virtue.

Together, Davies and Dr. Markos explore why classical Christian education continues to draw from this ancient inheritance. Far from being outdated, a liberal arts education grounded in timeless truths prepares students to engage a modern, technology-driven world with wisdom, clarity, and courage.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why modern culture undervalues what is old
How ancient thinkers approached virtue and human purpose
Why education must aim beyond skills and utility
How classical learning prepares students for real-world work
Why civilization must be cultivated in order to endure

Join us as we revisit this conversation and rediscover why the ancients still shape virtuous people today.
Resources Mentioned:

Check out Wilson Hill Academy's Free Guide

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

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

Future Jobs for Students in an AI World with Tami Peterson Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how work gets done across nearly every industry. As automation accelerates and technology reshapes careers, parents and educators are asking pressing questions. What kinds of jobs will still exist? How should students prepare for an uncertain future? And what kinds of skills will truly endure?

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, host Davies Owens is joined by Tami Peterson, founder and CEO of Life Architects Coaching. Together, they explore how AI is transforming college admissions, career pathways, and workforce expectations, and why human formation matters more than ever.

Davies and Tami discuss how colleges are already responding to AI’s influence, particularly in admissions. With AI-generated essays becoming commonplace, many schools are rethinking how they evaluate applicants and are placing renewed emphasis on in-person writing, oral exams, classroom engagement, and mentorship-driven learning environments. These shifts highlight a growing desire to see how students actually think, reason, and communicate.

The conversation then turns to the workforce and what lies ahead for today’s students. While some technical roles may decline or evolve, employers increasingly value qualities that technology cannot replicate.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

How AI is reshaping college admissions and evaluation
Why character, work ethic, and critical thinking are becoming more valuable than narrow technical skills
The growing importance of human-centered abilities like leadership, creativity, and discernment
Why trades and hands-on work are being rediscovered as meaningful, stable career paths
How helping students understand who they are prepares them for any future job market

Throughout the discussion, one theme remains clear. Technology will continue to change, but students who know how they are uniquely made and what problems they are called to solve will be best equipped to adapt. Rather than chasing job titles or trends, this episode encourages families and schools to focus on forming resilient, thoughtful, and grounded young people who are ready for whatever the future holds.

Resources Mentioned:

Check out Wilson Hill Academy's Free Guide

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

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

The Countercultural Rhythm of Great Teaching with Carrie Eben Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

What is a good teacher?

Most of us can name a teacher who made a lasting impact, not just through information, but through formation, awakening curiosity, shaping understanding, and building confidence. In this BaseCamp Live episode, host Davies Owens sits down with classical educator and mentor Carrie Eben, co-author of The Good Teacher: 10 Pedagogical Principles That Will Transform Your Teaching, to explore the often-overlooked piece of classical Christian education, how we teach, not only what we teach.

Carrie has spent more than 25 years serving in classical education across schools and homeschooling. She is a founding board member at Sager Classical Academy in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and a head mentor for the Searcy Institute Master Teacher Apprenticeship in the Ozark Mountain region. Together, Davies and Carrie discuss why classical schools must often “make” teachers through mentorship and apprenticeship, and why pedagogy matters because the teacher is not merely delivering content, the teacher is shaping the classroom culture and the student’s loves.

The conversation centers on two foundational principles that set the rhythm for great teaching:

Festina Lente, “make haste slowly,” a reminder that learning cannot be rushed. Wonder, contemplation, repetition, and embodied learning take time, and growth happens step by step.

Carrie also turns to the importance of assessment, explaining that it should align with the purpose of education and the nature of the student, not simply a score. She highlights relational approaches like narrative assessment, and practical options like narration, oral work, debates, and live demonstrations of understanding, especially in a world navigating new pressures like AI.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

Why pedagogy is central to classical Christian formation
How “make haste slowly” reshapes classrooms and homes
Why “much, not many” protects depth, wonder, and love of learning
How assessment can become more relational, meaningful, and aligned with virtue
Encouragement for teachers who want language and confidence for what they are already doing well

Multum non multa, “much, not many,” a call to prune. Depth matters more than volume, and fewer things done well forms students more effectively than trying to cover everything.
Resources Mentioned:

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

The Herzog Foundation
The Champion Group
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast
Wilson Hill Academy
Life Architects Coaching

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