Classical Christian education often talks about forming students to love what is true, good, and beautiful. But how does that formation actually happen?

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens is joined by author, educator, and podcaster Heidi White to explore the formative power of stories. Heidi shares how literature shaped her own life and explains why great books do far more than communicate ideas or teach moral lessons. They awaken desire, give children models worthy of imitation, and help them wrestle with some of the deepest questions of what it means to be human.

Drawing from her book The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire in Literature and Life, Heidi explores the tension between what we want and what we know we ought to do, and how that struggle appears again and again in great literature, Scripture, and our own lives.

Davies and Heidi also get practical about reading with children. How much should parents explain? Should we protect children from darker moments in stories? And how can we ask questions that invite genuine thought rather than turning every book into another moral lesson?

This conversation is an invitation to see education differently: not simply as the transfer of information, but as the formation of loves, desires, imagination, and ultimately, the human soul.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast

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.

Modern education often trains students to absorb information, reproduce it on a test, and move on. But is that really learning?

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens talks with Charley Dewberry, co-founder, Academic Dean, and tutor at Gutenberg College, about what it means to teach students to truly think. Drawing from his unusual journey through science, philosophy, biblical studies, and education, Charley challenges the idea that knowledge is simply a collection of facts. Instead, he argues that education should develop the skills students need to perceive carefully, read deeply, communicate well, and pursue truth with humility.

Charley explains why we tend to see what we expect to see, how our assumptions shape our understanding, and why encountering people and ideas that challenge us can be essential to genuine learning. He also discusses authorial intent, Great Books, the developmental stages of education, and why younger students need opportunities for curiosity, discovery, and experience before they are ready to wrestle with increasingly complex ideas.

The conversation also turns practical. What can parents and teachers do right now? Charley encourages adults to model a love of learning themselves, create room for discovery, listen seriously to those who think differently, and protect time for the kinds of conversations that technology increasingly pushes aside.

In an age when information and instant answers are everywhere, this conversation is a reminder that education is about something much deeper: forming people who know how to think, listen, learn, and seek what is true.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast

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.

Many parents love classical Christian education until one of their children doesn’t seem to “fit the mold.”

Does classical education only work for naturally academic students? Or should an education rooted in truth, wisdom, and Christ be accessible to far more children?

In this Summer Flashback, Davies Owens welcomes educator and school consultant Heather Lloyd to explore how classical Christian schools can better serve students with learning differences without compromising academic excellence. Together they discuss what truly defines classical Christian education, challenge misconceptions about rigor, and offer practical ideas for schools seeking to cultivate both truth and love in every classroom.

Tune in to hear:

• Why “rigor” shouldn’t define classical Christian education
• What the “mythical middle” is and why it matters
• How schools can better serve students with learning differences
• Practical ideas for creating classrooms where more children can flourish
• The non-negotiables of authentic classical Christian education
• Why Charlotte Mason still has much to teach today’s educators

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, administrator, or school founder, this conversation offers encouragement and practical wisdom for building classrooms where every child is invited to pursue truth.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast

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.

Strong families don’t happen by accident. They are built through ordinary habits, shared life, and intentional choices.

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens is joined by Laura Kraus, founder and CEO of the Family Digital Foundation, to explore why the family remains the foundation of every healthy society. Drawing from history, modern research, and her own work at the intersection of technology and family life, Laura explains why our homes shape everything from character formation to the future of civilization.

Together they discuss how today’s distractions, overscheduled lives, and personalized technology can quietly erode family relationships, and how parents can reclaim the simple practices that build lasting bonds.

Tune in to hear:

• Why the family is the “first institution” that shapes every other institution.
• What decades of research reveal about the connection between close family relationships and lifelong happiness.
• How technology is changing family life, for better and for worse.
• Practical ways to strengthen family bonds through everyday rhythms.
• Why saying “no” to overscheduling may be one of the best gifts you can give your children.
• How healthy families create healthier communities and cultures.
• A hopeful vision for using technology to serve families instead of competing with them.

Whether you’re raising young children, navigating the teen years, or simply wanting to build a stronger home, this conversation offers both encouragement and practical wisdom for cultivating a flourishing family.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
Wisephone by Techless
ZipCast

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.