Making The Leap
Making The Leap is a weekly podcast hosted by Christine and Chris Stigall. The Stigalls recently made the leap to Christian education, pulling their daughter out of a public school and sending her to a private Christian school. The Stigalls want to empower other families to choose the school that’s best for them and break free from the status quo. They speak with society experts, educators, legislators, psychologists, and other parents to uncover the hidden truths in education and lay the groundwork for change.
Learn more at MakingTheLeapPodcast.com. This podcast is produced by the Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation.
Episodes
153 episodes
The Final Leap: Wrapping Up 3 Years Of Making The Leap
After three years and over 150 episodes, we’re saying goodbye to Making The Leap. In this final episode, we reflect on our journey, the lessons we’ve learned, and the incredible community that has joined us along the way. From the earl...
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Episode 152
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19:07
LIVE From NRB 2025 - Part 2
In this episode of Making The Leap, we’re back with Part 2 from the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) Convention in Dallas, Texas! Join us for conversations with inspiring guests who are shaping the future of faith-based education and digit...
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Episode 151
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41:24
LIVE From NRB 2025 - Part 1
Join us for a special episode of Making The Leap, recorded live from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention! We had the incredible opportunity to speak with inspiring leaders, content creators, and change-makers in Christian me...
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Episode 150
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43:43
The Challenges Of Christian Parenting
In this episode of Making The Leap, we reflect on the journey of Christian parenting, faith, and education. As we navigate challenges with our teenage daughter’s Christian school experience, we openly discuss doubts, lessons learned, and the ro...
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Episode 149
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38:27
SPECIAL EDITION 3: Mom To Mom
In this episode of Making the Leap, Christine Stigall sits down with Angela Swain, Christian school mom and professor of music at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to discuss faith, motherhood, and education. Angela shares her journey fr...
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Episode 148
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49:57
Straight From The Lion's Mouth
In this episode of Making the Leap, Chris and Christine Stigall sit down with Josh Mann, managing editor of The Lion, to explore how faith-based journalism is equipping parents with the truth about education, culture, and policy. From the rise ...
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Episode 147
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33:47
Revolutionizing Education: Virtual Reality, School Choice, and the Fight for Reform | Erika Donalds
In this episode of Making the Leap, we sit down with Erika Donalds, founder and chairwoman of Optima Ed, to discuss the groundbreaking innovations reshaping education. From virtual reality classrooms to the benefits of school choice and dismant...
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Episode 146
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30:39
2025 Brings Big Opportunities For Christian Educators
Our annual deep-dive into the core of what the Herzog Foundation is really all about: growing Christian education and helping it thrive. If you're a Christian school teacher, administrator, board member, donor, or simply interested in th...
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Episode 145
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41:07
Public Schools Hiding "Trans"-actions
Chris and Christine take today's show through some of the headlines in education that caught their eye. A brand new member of Congress stopped by to read to some elementary school kids. But just who it was and what was read and who sponsored th...
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Episode 144
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33:06
SPECIAL EDITION 2: Mom To Mom
Chris and Christine profiled the Mackey family back in 2023 who found themselves in very similar circumstances as the Stigalls. They made a full leap from public education to homeschool in their personal lives. The Herzog Foundation...
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Episode 143
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34:43
Reflecting On 2024: Highlights From Making The Leap Podcast
Join us as we look back on a year of inspiring conversations and thought-provoking moments on Making the Leap. From creating a culture of giving to innovative educational models, hear highlights from our most impactful episodes of 2024. Featuri...
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Episode 142
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25:38
Is Your Christian School Truly Biblical?
In this episode of Making the Leap, host Chris Stigall sits down with Roger Erdvig, author and director at Summit Ministries, to explore what it means to provide a truly biblically based Christian education. They discuss practical ways to evalu...
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Episode 141
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31:05
The Next Secretary of Defense Knows Christian Education
Off the top, Chris and Christine discuss the shocking news of a Wisconsin Christian school shooting this week. How in the world did a Christian school miss a troubled young woman like this? The Stigall explore why a lack of scrutiny and a "take...
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Episode 140
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39:02
Meet The Woman Who Kept Men Out Of Her Women-Only College
Saint Mary's College, an all women's Catholic school not far from the University of Notre Dame is the lone female-only school left in the United States. 19-year-old sophomore Macy Gunnell who worked in the admissions office while taking c...
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Episode 139
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22:50
SPECIAL EDITION: Mom To Mom
We're trying a new feature here at Making the Leap. The concept is simple. Now that the Stigalls have "made the leap" to Christian education and have a better understanding of all that goes into the decision, Christine decided to ta...
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Episode 138
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39:03
The Only Christian School In Town
This episode might reflect one of the biggest "leapers" we've ever featured. Both geographically and in terms of educating her kids. Stephanie Murray was a young mother in Boston whose husband's work to her to Park City, Utah. She began by plac...
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Episode 137
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29:49
The Poison Politics Of Public School
It's no secret the presidential election of 2024 simply broke some people. But what if it broke one of your kids' school teachers? The Stigalls react to some headlines in the days and weeks surrounding this election. They also...
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Episode 136
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53:02
Who Says You Can't Have A Job And Homeschool?
Are you a professional who thinks you don't have the time or resources to make a change in your child's education? One of the most impressive stories we've heard on the show is that of Constance Bradley. She began with a son in public school wh...
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Episode 135
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39:10
Church, School, And Home. How Do Yours Compare?
Have you heard of RenewaNation? They are an organization near and dear to our hearts. They share many of the same objectives of our parent organization, The Herzog Foundation. In addition to impacting schools with a Biblical w...
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Episode 134
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40:21
These Moms Carry A Big Political Stick
If you're a concerned parent about the state of your community's schools, odds are you've heard of Moms for Liberty. They've played a big roll in the presidential election cycle, with candidates since the primaries attempting to court their sup...
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Episode 133
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31:16
Elections, The Church, And Your Kids
With a major, national election just around the corner, the Stigalls contemplate with their pastor, Dr. Ken Parker the role of the church and its leaders' in discussing civics, voting, and education with our school-aged kids and how they do or ...
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Episode 132
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44:27
Could Your Kids Be Our Next Ambassador?
Chris and Christine have a pretty cool job at the Herzog Foundation getting to talk to you every week on this podcast. But if you know anyone headed for college or is currently enrolled in, or about to finish their college education - you shoul...
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Episode 131
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43:00
Does Your Child's School Make The Grade?
We bring back a familiar voice to Making the Leap this week. Ginny Gentles - a senior fellow at Independent Women's Forum - has now joined with a fairly new D.C. based organization called the Defense of Freedom Institute where she serves as the...
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Episode 130
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26:55
How One Christian School Literally Rose From The Ashes
Sometimes we hear churches find reasons why opening their doors to Christian schools or homeschool programs doesn't work for them. We've never heard of a church totally destroyed, only for the leadership to declare - "We must rebuild, and this ...
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Episode 129
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29:11
Creating A Pod School - One Year Later
Join Chris and Christine this week as they talk with Joelle Fortin and Kelly Lyman, a dynamic pair of moms who have been working to create a pod school in southeast Pennsylvania. Joelle and Kelly share their experiences, success and strategies ...
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Episode 128
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42:20