SS #172: Maximize Motivation (with Dr. Ben Merkle!!)

SS #172: Maximize Motivation (with Dr. Ben Merkle!!)

From Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling Mamas by Brandy Vencel, Mystie Winckler, and Abby Wahl

April 10, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

Dr. Ben Merkle discusses motivation in education and the role of challenge in developing initiative.

Today's guest is Dr. Ben Merkle! Dr. Merkle is the President of New Saint Andrew's College. He has served as a minister at Christ Church, Moscow and also a part-time campus minister with Collegiate Reformed Fellowship, a campus ministry of Christ Church. Dr. Merkle is the author of The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great. Mystie and Brandy decided they need to ask Dr. Merkle whether New Saint Andrew's College is hard on purpose and whether that counterintuitively provides a lot of motivation for young men (and develops initiative). You're going to love this conversation! *** The Sistership's annual Spring Training Sessions are coming up soon, which means now is the time to upgrade your membership from the free level to the Sophie level. This year's coach is none other than John Muir Laws who will be talking with us about all things nature study and nature journalling. It's going to be amazing. Spring Training can be bought separately, but more importantly (and more affordably!) it is included as part of our Sophie membership level. Just go to scholesisters.com/join and sign up! *** Go here to access today's show notes: https://www.scholesisters.com/ss172 Go here to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mystie Winckler, Brandy Vencel

Guest: Dr. Ben Merkle

Topics covered

  • motivation
  • classical education
  • homeschooling
  • initiative
  • nature study

Keywords

  • motivation
  • classical education
  • New Saint Andrew's College
  • homeschooling
  • initiative

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Saint Andrew's College, Christ Church, Collegiate Reformed Fellowship

Books & works: The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great

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