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 without the words to express them, and highlights how classical education – with its focus on grammar, logic, and rhetoric – equips students to become articulate, thoughtful communicators who can engage the world with truth and clarity.
Andrew unpacks the decline he’s witnessed over three decades in students’ vocabulary and attention spans, and why reading aloud, memorizing beautiful language, and teaching students to write and speak persuasively are not just academic exercises but essential skills for life and faithfulness. He challenges parents and educators to see education not merely as preparation for wealth and comfort, but as formation for mission in the world.
With practical encouragement, humorous reflections, and deep conviction, Andrew calls us back to raising students who can read, think, write, and speak well for God’s glory and the good of others.
🎧 Tune in to hear:
- Why reading aloud and memorizing are vital for language development
- How writing well prepares students for any vocation
- The role of rhetoric in equipping students to stand firm in today’s culture
- Encouragement for parents and teachers to stay the course in cultivating eloquence
Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills.
Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development from the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him “the funny man with the wonderful words.” He and his beautiful, heroic wife, Robin, have homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of fifteen, making their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Connect with Andrew: