Why do so many students find history boring, and how can we change that?
In this episode, Kaitlin sits down with Zack Edwards, educator, game designer, and CEO of Historical Conquest, to explore how storytelling and gamification can completely transform the way children learn history. Drawing from his own negative experiences with traditional history education, Zack shares how interactive games, emotional connection, and goal-oriented learning dramatically improve engagement and retention.
This conversation is especially encouraging for homeschool parents who want to move beyond textbooks and worksheets and help their children love learning. From understanding learning styles to creating meaningful educational experiences that stick, Zack offers practical insights—and inspiring examples—of what education can look like when it’s fun, personal, and purposeful.
Show Notes
In this episode, we discuss:
Why history is often taught in a way that disconnects students from real people and real stories
How storytelling creates emotional attachment—and why that matters for long-term retention
The difference between true gamification and “educational junk food” apps
How games can boost retention rates far beyond lectures and rote memorization
Why homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to personalize education
The role of competition, goals, and rewards in motivating learners
Understanding and supporting different learning styles at home
How gamified learning can strengthen family connection—not replace it
Why safe, values-aligned alternatives to mainstream gaming platforms matter
Featured Guest:
Zack Edwards is an educator, game designer, and CEO of Historical Conquest, as well as President of Xogos Gaming—an educational gaming platform offering a safe, standards-aligned alternative to mainstream online games. His mission is to make learning engaging, memorable, and meaningful through play.
Resources & Links:
Email Zack: https://www.xogosgaming.com/
Historical Conquest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalConquest
Whether you’re a homeschool parent, educator, or simply someone who wants kids to love learning again, this episode will leave you inspired—and full of practical ideas you can use right away.
To discover more support for your Catholic homeschool adventure, here are some valuable resources for you:
Grab your coffee, and let’s homeschool together!
