BaseCamp Live

BaseCamp LIVE will equip you, the parent, educator, or mentor to climb the biggest mountains as you seek to shape young people to become exceptionally prepared, compassionate, and thoughtful human beings. Our guests are thought leaders, culture watchers, and educational experts who are seeing the benefits of a classical Christian education to form students into adults who can think critically, believe with courage, and serve compassionately.

  1. 1d ago

    Bringing Up Boys | Rick Johnson

    It's been said that it's easier to raise a boy than to fix a man. But what do boys need from us to grow into confident, responsible, godly men? Between busy schedules, digital distractions, and a culture that sends confusing messages about masculinity, raising boys can feel more complicated than ever. Yet the relationships and experiences that shape young men may be simpler than we think. In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens welcomes author and fatherhood advocate Rick Johnson to explore the powerful influence of fathers, mentors, and other positive role models. Drawing on decades of work with families, Rick shares why boys need opportunities to work alongside men, learn practical skills, take on responsibility, and discover what they're capable of. From a teenager learning to build his first fire to young men finding confidence through restoring cars, this conversation offers a hopeful reminder that meaningful mentorship doesn't require elaborate programs or expensive experiences. It begins with time, consistency, and a willingness to show up. Join us as we discuss how parents, schools, and communities can work together to raise boys who are prepared to become good men. Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    Bringing Up Boys | Rick Johnson
  2. Nov 3

    Help! My Child Doesn’t Love Classical Education | Keith McCurdy

    Remember when your child loved school? They were excited to learn, happy to see their friends, and maybe even proud to wear that school uniform. Then middle school arrived, and suddenly everything changed. The homework is too hard. The rules are too strict. Other schools seem so much easier. And now your once-happy student is begging to leave. What happened? Is something wrong with the school? Are we pushing our children too hard? Or is this a normal part of growing up? In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens welcomes back counselor and Live Sturdy founder Keith McCurdy to answer a question submitted by a classical Christian school parent. Together, they explore why adolescence can bring unexpected frustration with school, how parents can respond without abandoning their authority, and why perseverance matters during these challenging years. Keith shares practical advice for listening to teenagers, acknowledging their concerns without immediately trying to fix everything, and working with schools when problems arise. Davies also raises an important question for classical Christian educators: Are we helping students understand why their education is different and what it's preparing them to become? Whether your child is entering middle school, struggling through the teenage years, or beginning to question the value of classical education, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and practical wisdom for the journey ahead. Have a question you'd like Davies and Keith to explore in a future episode? Email info@basecamplive.com. Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    Help! My Child Doesn’t Love Classical Education | Keith McCurdy
  3. Oct 27

    What Comes After High School? Rethinking the College Path with Sarah Northup

    What comes after high school? For many families, college seems like the natural next step. But what if a young adult isn't quite sure where God is calling them? Sarah Northup, co-founder and Executive Director of Worldview Institute, joins Davies Owens to explore how families can approach this important transition with greater intentionality. From the rising cost of college to the value of apprenticeships and mentorship, Sarah shares why preparing young adults for life requires more than choosing a degree or career. Discover how Christian formation, meaningful work, and a focus on the head, heart, and hands can help the next generation discern their calling and move forward with confidence and purpose. Rethinking the assumption that college is the only next stepThe financial and practical considerations surrounding higher educationContinuing Christian formation beyond high schoolApprenticeships, entrepreneurship, and meaningful workWhy employers value communication, responsibility, and adaptabilityHelping young adults discover their gifts and callingPractical questions families can ask before choosing a college or career pathSpecial Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    What Comes After High School? Rethinking the College Path with Sarah Northup
  4. Oct 20

    Communication Best Practices with Scott Barron

    We send the emails. We share the updates. We tell our children what we expect. So why do our messages still get lost? Communication is about more than delivering information. It's about building trust, strengthening relationships, and making sure the people who matter most feel heard and valued. In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens welcomes back longtime friend, educator, and author Scott Barron to discuss his new book, The Book on Communication: Featuring the Laws of the Grapevine. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Scott shares a memorable story about a school communication breakdown that inspired his approach to understanding how information travels and why the order, timing, and manner of our communication matter. Together, Davies and Scott explore six laws of effective communication, the importance of listening, and the balance between warmth and competence. They also discuss practical ways parents can strengthen conversations with their children, particularly as those children grow older and begin asking more questions about the reasons behind family decisions. Whether you're leading a school, teaching in a classroom, or navigating everyday family life, this conversation offers encouragement and practical wisdom for becoming a more thoughtful communicator. Learn more about Scott's book and resources:https://thebookoncommunication.comSpecial Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    Communication Best Practices with Scott Barron
  5. Oct 8

    Rethinking Childhood in a Digital World with Emily Harrison

    What if some of the things we’ve accepted as normal for childhood aren’t actually healthy? Children and teenagers now spend hours each day on devices, carry the internet in their pockets, and increasingly experience friendship, entertainment, and even education through technology. But as Emily Harrison explains, there is an important difference between what is common and what is actually good for children.  Emily returns to BaseCamp Live as a wave of lawsuits against major technology and social media companies begins bringing years of internal research and concerns into the courtroom. She and Davies explore what these cases are revealing about addictive design, why simply limiting screen time may not address the deeper problem, and why parents should be cautious about assuming that a product is safe simply because it is widely available.  But this conversation isn't ultimately about Silicon Valley or courtrooms. It's about the children in our homes and schools right now.Emily offers practical ways families can introduce technology gradually, create healthy boundaries around phones and social media, and give children increasing freedom without handing them unlimited access. She also shares how schools can rethink responsible technology use and create communities where choosing a different path doesn't have to mean standing alone. The goal isn't to fear technology. It's to recover a vision of childhood shaped by wisdom, relationship, responsibility, and the freedom to grow up without every part of life being mediated through a screen. Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Worldview InstituteWisdom and EloquenceThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    Rethinking Childhood in a Digital World with Emily Harrison
  6. Oct 7

    What If Educating Your Children Isn’t One More Thing? with Leigh Bortins

    When parents hear that they are the primary educators of their children, it can sound like one more responsibility to carry. But what if it’s actually good news? In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens sits down with Classical Conversations founder Leigh Bortins to rethink what education looks like in the life of a family. Leigh encourages parents to slow down and recognize the formative power of things they may already be doing: reading together, talking around the dinner table, asking questions, telling stories, spending time with good friends, and simply sharing everyday life. They also discuss why parents need community and mentors rather than more information, how the habits formed in childhood shape lifelong learners, and why classical education may be particularly valuable in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Leigh offers an important reminder for parents who wonder whether they are qualified or doing enough: education doesn’t begin when a lesson starts. Formation is happening all the time. You may already be teaching far more than you think. Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Worldview InstituteWisdom and EloquenceThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    What If Educating Your Children Isn’t One More Thing? with Leigh Bortins
  7. Sep 22

    What Do We Need to Unlearn? with Christine Norvell

    What if becoming better educated isn’t always about learning more, but about unlearning some of what we already believe? Most parents today did not grow up with classical Christian education. We bring our own experiences of school with us, along with assumptions about grades, success, learning, authority, and what education is supposed to accomplish. Often, we don’t even realize those assumptions are there. In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens talks with educator, author, and consultant Christine Norvell about the surprising importance of unlearning. Drawing on more than 25 years in classical, homeschool, and public education, Christine explores how parents and teachers can recognize inherited habits of thought and begin replacing them with something deeper and more intentional. Along the way, Mark Twain raises the uncomfortable question of where our opinions actually come from, while C.S. Lewis and his famously demanding tutor, “the Great Knock,” offer a picture of what it looks like to have our thinking challenged and rebuilt.  The conversation also gets intensely practical. What happens when students are given time to think before answering? How can parents respond to an argumentative child without simply shutting down the conversation? And how do we help young people move beyond reacting with opinions toward thoughtful discernment? Join us as we discuss moving forward in education while recognizing what we need to leave behind.Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible: Wisdom and EloquenceThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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.

    What Do We Need to Unlearn? with Christine Norvell
4.8
out of 5
196 Ratings

About

BaseCamp LIVE will equip you, the parent, educator, or mentor to climb the biggest mountains as you seek to shape young people to become exceptionally prepared, compassionate, and thoughtful human beings. Our guests are thought leaders, culture watchers, and educational experts who are seeing the benefits of a classical Christian education to form students into adults who can think critically, believe with courage, and serve compassionately.

More From Herzog Foundation

You Might Also Like