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.

As parents, it's easy to believe that everything depends on us. If we just choose the right curriculum, set the right boundaries, or say the right words, our children will turn out well.

But Scripture reminds us that we were never meant to carry that burden alone.

In this episode, bestselling author and Bible teacher Jodie Berndt joins Davies Owens to explore one of the most powerful, and often most neglected, tools God has given parents: prayer. Drawing from decades of experience as a mother, speaker, and author of the Praying the Scriptures series, Jodie shares practical ways to pray God's Word over our children through every season of life.

Rather than treating prayer as a last resort or a religious obligation, this conversation invites parents to see it as a daily relationship with God that not only shapes our children, but also transforms our own hearts.

Tune in to hear:

• Why prayer is far more than asking God for outcomes
• How praying Scripture gives depth and confidence to your prayers
• Finding peace in seasons of waiting and uncertainty
• Encouragement for parents carrying guilt, anxiety, or fear
• Practical ways to begin praying, even if you don't know where to start
• How prayer changes us while we wait for God to work in our children
• Why no child is ever beyond God's reach

Whether you're raising toddlers, teenagers, or adult children, this episode offers biblical encouragement to entrust your family to the One who loves them even more than you do.

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.

After years of encouraging families through counseling, conferences, and conversations on BaseCamp Live, Keith McCurdy's long-awaited book, Raising Sturdy Kids, has finally arrived.

In this episode, Davies and Keith celebrate the book's release while exploring the foundational principles behind it. Rather than focusing on quick parenting fixes, Keith explains why healthy struggle, responsibility, and service are essential for helping children grow into capable, resilient adults.

Together they discuss why modern parenting often prioritizes comfort over character, how children move from consumers to contributors, and why it's never too late to strengthen the foundations of your family.

Tune in to hear:

• Why healthy struggle is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children
• The importance of moving kids from consumers to contributors
• How responsibility and service build maturity and resilience
• Why parenting is about raising future adults - not simply happy children
• Encouragement for parents who feel they've already made mistakes
• The story behind Keith's new book and why he finally decided to write it

Whether you're parenting toddlers, teenagers, or adult children, this conversation offers practical encouragement and timeless wisdom for raising children who are prepared not just for school, but for life.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
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.

What exactly is Classical Christian Education?

Ask ten people, and you might get ten different answers. Is it about Latin? The Great Books? The Trivium? Character formation? Academic excellence?

In this foundational episode of our series, What is Classical Christian Education?, Davies Owens sits down with one of the pioneers of the modern classical movement, Dr. Robert Littlejohn, to answer that very question.

Drawing from more than three decades of experience founding schools, training educators, and shaping the movement itself, Dr. Littlejohn explains why Classical Christian Education is far more than an educational method. It's a timeless approach to forming wise, articulate, faithful young men and women who are prepared not just for college or careers—but for life.

Together, Davies and Robert explore why this centuries-old model may be exactly what families need in today's rapidly changing world.

Tune in to hear:

• Why Classical Christian Education continues to grow around the world
• The surprising story that convinced Robert Littlejohn to start a classical school
• Why challenge—not ease—often produces joy in learning
• What makes a classical education different from simply adding Bible classes to a modern curriculum
• Why subjects like Latin and logic still matter today
• How classical schools cultivate "sticky faith" that endures into adulthood
• Why the Great Books remain relevant in every generation
• How timeless wisdom prepares students for a rapidly changing technological world

To receive a free copy of Robert’s book Wisdom and Eloquence for Parents for a limited time go to www.WisdomAndEloquence.org, and click on “Contact” to fill out your information for the free book.

Whether you're exploring Classical Christian Education for the first time or have been part of the movement for years, this conversation offers a compelling vision for educating children with both wisdom and hope.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
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.

Parents often spend so much time navigating the needs of today that it's easy to lose sight of where we're ultimately headed. But what if raising children begins with keeping the end in mind?

In this episode, Davies Owens welcomes Dr. Jennifer Freeman of the Rooted Families Initiative to discuss a framework for family discipleship that helps parents understand the unique opportunities and challenges of every stage of childhood—from infancy through young adulthood. Drawing from decades of mentoring college students and families, Jennifer shares practical wisdom for raising children who grow into wise, discerning adults who love Christ.

• Why parenting is most effective when we keep the end goal in view.
• Jennifer's five stages of family discipleship and how each stage requires something different from parents.
• How to encourage healthy independence without withdrawing guidance.
• Why meaningful conversations become increasingly important during the teen years.
• How parents can prepare young adults for adulthood without trying to control every outcome.
• Why seasons of questioning and doubt can become important milestones in developing mature faith.
• Practical encouragement for trusting God's work in your children's lives through every stage.

Rather than offering another parenting formula, Jennifer encourages parents to see themselves as beloved caregivers, partnering with God as He forms their children over time. Whether you're holding a newborn, navigating middle school, or preparing to launch a young adult, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and practical guidance for every season.
Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
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.

What happens after we realize that education is about far more than information transfer?

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens sits down with David Goodwin, president of the Association of Classical Christian Schools and co-author of the New York Times bestselling book Battle for the American Mind. David's newest book, Forging the American Mind, serves as a practical guide for parents and educators who want to understand not only why classical Christian education matters, but how it actually works.

Tune in to hear:

• Why Battle for the American Mind resonated with so many parents and educators
• What paideia is and why it shapes every child's understanding of truth, identity, and purpose
• Why the most important question in education is not "What do you know?" but "How do you know?"
• How Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis continue to influence the classical Christian education movement
• Practical examples of classical education in action, from great books and handwriting to Socratic discussion and dialectical learning
• How adults who feel they "missed out" on a classical education can begin pursuing one today

Along the way, David offers a compelling vision for recovering the lost tools of learning and cultivating wisdom, virtue, and intellectual freedom in the next generation. Whether you're a parent, educator, school leader, or lifelong learner, this conversation will help you think more deeply about what education is for and how it shapes both individuals and culture.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
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.

How do we faithfully raise children in a culture that constantly fragments their attention?

In this episode of Base Camp Live, Davies Owens welcomes Suzanne Phillips of Beacon Parent for a thoughtful and deeply encouraging conversation about parenting in an age of distraction, anxiety, and cultural confusion. Rather than offering another parenting checklist, Suzanne shares a biblical framework for becoming the kind of parent your children can follow.

Together, they explore what Suzanne calls the seven facets of a “Beacon Parent,” including the supremacy of Christ, expressed honor, intentional legacy, transformative wisdom, humble courage, secure identity, and personal responsibility.

Along the way, they discuss:
• Why everything starts at home
• The difference between knowledge and wisdom
• How technology is reshaping childhood
• Why honor is disappearing from families
• The dangers of fear-based parenting
• Why children need gradual responsibility
• How parents can lead with clarity instead of anxiety

This conversation is both practical and hopeful for parents seeking to raise grounded, thoughtful, Christ-centered children in a rapidly changing world.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
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.

Friendship does not happen automatically anymore. In a world filled with distraction, busyness, and surface-level interaction, many adults and students are struggling to form meaningful relationships.

In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens sits down with Dirk Bellamy to discuss the growing loneliness crisis and why friendship is becoming one of the greatest challenges of modern life. Drawing from his own experience of realizing he had virtually no close friendships, Dirk shares the practical and deeply personal journey that led him to write his book, Why We Ask.

Together, they explore:

• Why proximity is not the same as connection
• The difference between acquaintances, friends, and close friendships
• How asking better questions transforms relationships
• Why intentionality matters in building community
• How parents can help children develop friendship skills
• The connection between friendship, meaning, and authentic belonging
• Why curiosity and humility are essential for healthy relationships

This conversation offers practical encouragement for parents, educators, and anyone longing for deeper connection in an increasingly disconnected culture.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why “How was your day?” is often the wrong question
• The four levels of conversation, from small talk to deep talk
• Why men and women often approach friendship differently
• How meaningful friendships are intentionally cultivated
• Why authentic belonging is essential for human flourishing

Whether you are trying to deepen your own friendships or help the next generation learn how to connect well, this episode offers wisdom, hope, and practical next steps.

Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:

Wisdom and Eloquence
The Herzog Foundation
Life Architects
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.