Looking for some summer reading inspiration for yourself or your children? Two particular 20th century authors are most beloved around the Veritas (and, Christian in general) community: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein. This episode gives a new perspective on why these authors and their works are so enduring, influential, and simply wonderful.

Listen in on a fun and insightful discussion with Mr. Paul Miller, a local pastor who also teaches upper grade Omnibus (humanities and Great Books) here at Veritas. Paul's love for Lewis and Tolkein is infectious as he has taught their works in 7th and 8th grade Secondary Omnibus, and this conversation will either ignite an excitement for these authors and thinkers in yourself, or rekindle your interest and inspire you to journey back to Narnia and Middle Earth or pore over Mere Christianity and Miracles.

If you've ever wondered why we bring up these two Brits so often in our classes and discussions - or if you're already an ardent fan of their works - we're pretty sure you'll have great fun listening to Paul talk with our Head of School Ty Fischer about Lewis, Tolkein, and why they belong not only in a school's curriculum, but also on your family's bookshelf.

This episode was originally released in June 2023.

This episode, originally released in early 2024 as part of Season 3 of Cultivate, is a recording of a talk given by Dr. Albert Mohler to our secondary students during a visit he paid to Veritas.

Dr. Mohler – a prominent Christian thinker, author, podcast host, and President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary –shares his testimony and discusses how his upbringing (and, specifically, how his challenging questions about faith were handled) shaped his faith and leadership.

Emphasizing the importance of Christian education and the transformation he witnessed through mentorship, Mohler's testimony exhort us – parents, young adults, and teenagers alike – in the importance of discerning truth from lies, engaging critically with culture, and the essential role of the church community in grounding Christian faith.

Summer's here (well, at least officially for Veritas families as school is out for the year!), and so it's the perfect opportunity to close out our Cultivate season with some summer reading recommendations courtesy of a few recent graduates from the Class of 2025.

Get to know some of our seniors - Meghan Spanjer, Annika Martin, and Daniel Huang - as they share some of their favorite books that they have read here at Veritas (as well as books they've read outside of school that have impacted them). You'll see a theme in the works they've chosen (hint: these may not necessarily be considered "light beach reading"), and likely be inspired to check out some of these influential works of literature which will challenge your viewpoints, provoke deep thought, and perhaps spur you to greater action to advance God's kingdom here on earth wherever you are called!

This season of Cultivate has been sponsored by Hershey Financial Advisers, a wealth management firm located at North Point Boulevard in Lancaster leading people to make better financial decisions and empowering them to fulfill a vision beyond themselves.