BaseCamp Live

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 scho...

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 ...

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 m...

What happens when we teach science and math not just as technical subjects—but as opportunities for wonder, worship, and wisdom?

In this summer flashback episode, Davies Owens is joined by renowned classical educator Ravi Jain, co-author of The Liberal Arts Tradition and a leading voice in the recovery of classical science education. Too often, classical schools are seen as focused on the humanities, while math and science remain un...

Summer Flashback: Virtue in Action with Tim Dernlan

How do we move virtue from a vague school value to a transformative life habit? In this special Summer Flashback episode, we revisit one of our most impactful conversations with Dr. Tim Dernlan, joined by two of his high school students. Recorded five years ago but more relevant than ever, this episode explores how one classical Christian school brought virtue to life through inten...

Do sports build character—or just fill the calendar? In this Live Sturdy conversation, Christian counselor Keith McCurdy joins host Davies Owens to explore the role of athletics in the lives of students and families. From travel teams and over-scheduled lives to the hidden virtue of humility after a tough loss, Keith brings decades of experience as a counselor, coach, and classical school board member to help us navigate the tensio...

In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by educator and apologist Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to tackle a challenge every Christian parent and teacher faces: raising kids to think clearly and biblically in a culture driven by feelings, relativism, and confusion.

Elizabeth shares her journey from classroom teacher to worldview coach and offers simple, practical ways to train even young children to recognize...

Curious about ZipCast? In this special bonus episode of BaseCamp Live, host Davies Owens sits down with his daughter Hannah to answer the most common questions schools ask about ZipCast—what it is, how it works, and why it’s become a game-changing communication tool for classical Christian communities.

Together, they pull back the curtain on ZipCast’s purpose, features, and new 2.0 platform—from weekly parent engagement and custom s...

Building Lifelong Readers: How Families and Schools Can Instill the Joy of Reading

Reading is not a natural ability—it must be intentionally taught, cultivated, and modeled. In this episode, host Davies Owens is joined by educator and reading specialist Dorrie McKoy—who also happens to be his sister—to explore why so many children struggle with reading today and how classical Christian schools and families can work together to rever...

What Do Strong Families Actually Do Each Day?

Your family's culture is shaped by the little things—how you say goodbye in the morning, whether you pray together, how often you share a meal. In this insightful conversation, Jim Mhoon, counselor and longtime Focus on the Family leader, joins Davies Owens to talk about the daily rhythms and rituals that set thriving families apart.

With practical examples and decades of experience, Jim ...

Classical Christian education isn’t just for a privileged few—it’s a banquet meant for everyone. In this inspiring episode, Davies Owens is joined by Russ Gregg, founder of Hope Academy in Minneapolis and the Spreading Hope Network. Russ shares how his journey began 25 years ago with a simple but powerful question: How do we love our neighbors as ourselves, especially when it comes to education?

From navigating the real challenges o...

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that affects more families than you might expect—dyslexia—and how classical Christian schools can not only accommodate but help students thrive.

Our guest, Rebecca Dornbusch, is a reading specialist and devoted mom who’s on a mission to help dyslexic students become “victorious readers.” She brings both professional insight and a deep, faith-filled perspective, reminding us that this challenge...

In this encouraging episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens is joined by Joanna Hensley, Lower School Headmaster at Wilson Hill Academy, mom of six, and passionate classical educator. Together, they explore what it means to be intentional curators of our children’s education—without letting school overwhelm the joy of home life.

Through her personal journey—from studying Latin as a college student to parenting across continents—Joann...

In this episode, we explore a word that has largely faded from everyday conversation yet holds the key to rebuilding a fractured culture—fidelity. Join Dr. Robert P. George, esteemed professor at Princeton and leading voice in public ethics, as he makes the case for Fidelity Month and shares why faith in God, strong families, and love of country are the three pillars our society must reclaim.

Together with host Davies Owens, Dr. Geo...

Is your home emotionally safe? In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, families are struggling more than ever with conflict, stress, and disconnection. In this episode, host Davies Owens sits down with Rob Hayes-St. Clair and Michael Cox, the duo behind the Core 4 Framework and Parenting Made Peaceful, to discuss a better way forward.

Drawing from biblical truth, restoration therapy, and years of experience mentoring families an...

What’s the real purpose of education? Is it just about passing tests—or passing the torch of civilization itself?

In this episode, Dr. Louis Markos, professor, prolific author, and champion of classical Christian education, returns to share insights from his new book, Passing the Torch: An Apology for Classical Christian Education. Drawing from Plato to C.S. Lewis, he makes the compelling case that education is soul formation, not s...

As parents, we’re not meant to raise our children alone. Community matters—partnering with schools, churches, and other families helps shape a shared vision and a strong culture for our children. Yet, in a world where busyness and digital distractions dominate, meaningful communication between home and school has never been more challenging.

In this episode, Davies Owens and his daughter, Hannah, dive into the crucial but often forg...

Welcome to Classical Essentials, a special Best of Basecamp Live series!

Over the years, we've explored the core principles of classical Christian education, and one of the most overlooked yet essential elements is beauty. In this final episode of our Classical Essentials series, we revisit a critical conversation about why beauty is not just decoration—it’s foundational to understanding truth and goodness.

Nick Duncan, professional ...

Welcome to Classical Essentials, a special Best of BaseCamp Live series! Over the years, we've had incredible conversations unpacking the foundational ideas of classical Christian education. In this series, we're bringing back some of the most popular and essential episodes to help parents, educators, and school leaders better understand the core principles that make this movement so impactful.

In this episode, Dr. Chris Schlect tac...