Voice Notes from the Organized Homeschool

You might picture a former special education teacher running her homeschool by the clock. Rachel Zera’s kids play all morning and start lessons when they’re ready, and her oldest sometimes finishes two or three days of work in one sitting. In this episode, I chat with Rachel Zera , a former special education teacher with a master’s in autism spectrum disorder. She now homeschools her three kids in...

Joy Golden never set foot in a public school until she was hired to work in one. Five years of teaching made her more certain of what she’d always believed: her own kids would learn at home. In this episode, I chat with Joy Golden , a former third grade public school teacher and homeschool mom of two little ones. She grew up unschooled, homeschooled, cyber schooled, and privately schooled. Joy tal...

She spent a full year supporting homeschool families before she homeschooled her own kids. By the time she started, she had already built a network of tutors, classes, and resources. In this episode, I chat with Margie Figueroa , a former public school teacher and reading instructional coach in South Florida who now homeschools her 15-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son while running her own onl...

One December, Katie Doughty set aside math, language arts, writing, and everything else on the schedule for almost three weeks. Her kids came out of it with about 50 comfort kits for people experiencing homelessness, and Katie came out of it seeing learning differently. In this episode, I chat with Katie Doughty , a former first and second grade teacher in Seattle who is heading into her sixth yea...

Everyone assumed homeschooling would come easy to a teacher with ten years in the classroom. Jennifer Doddington says it was harder than teaching — because first she had to learn how to stop being a teacher. In this episode, I chat with Jennifer Doddington , a former public school teacher of ten years with a gifted endorsement, now heading into her fifth year homeschooling her three children. Jenn...

Every summer, before her kids open a single book, Keisha spends weeks planning lessons she won’t teach for months — because once the school year starts, there’s no time to plan as she goes. In this episode, I chat with Keisha , a full-time high school teacher in Brooklyn, NY and homeschooling mom of two — a rising 5th grader and a rising 9th grader. Keisha shares how a rough first grade year led h...

Morgan Farr wasn’t diagnosed with autism until she was already deep into motherhood — and it reshaped how she built her entire homeschool. In this episode, I chat with Morgan Farr , an Army wife of thirteen years, homeschool mom of four, and founder of Dog-Eared Press, currently stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Morgan shares the backwards-planning philosophy her homeschooled husband’s family p...

After six years of homeschooling four kids, why did Stacey Al Hassani decide her son needed to go back to a traditional classroom? In this episode, I chat with Stacey Al Hassani , a British expat and homeschool mom of three in Dubai, six years into a homeschool journey that started almost by accident during COVID. Stacey opens up about the honest story behind her eldest son’s return to traditional...

By June every year, Laura Morgan has already mapped out all 40 weeks of her homeschool year — science, history, and art, planned before summer even starts. In this episode, I chat with Laura Morgan , a former high school social studies teacher and homeschool mom of three in eastern North Carolina, now eight years into homeschooling. Laura walks through the planning system she built to homeschool f...

How does a homeschool mom go from downloading someone else’s planner to building nine of her own apps in a single week? In this episode, I chat with Amber Sanders , the creator behind Playful Homeschool Mom and a homeschool mom of two — a six-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. Amber shares how the pressure to have every day perfectly planned pushed her from over-preparing straight into “win...

You’ve probably compared your homeschool to someone else’s highlight reel at some point. Frances Bowen finally learned to stop — and it changed how she measures a good day. In this episode, I chat with Frances Bowen , a Christian mom of four boys — ages 25, 17, 16, and 13 — finishing her sixth year of homeschooling and settling into the more independent rhythms of the teen years. Frances gets hone...

Textbooks sat untouched, and YouTube had quietly become the teacher — that’s when Brittani Edwards decided seventh grade was going to look different this year. In this episode, I chat with Brittani Edwards , a former elementary school teacher turned virtual tutor and homeschool mom of two, about to homeschool both of her children full-time for the first time this fall. Brittani shares why she pull...

She had her dream job in reach — then walked away to homeschool her son instead. In this episode, I chat with Blanca Montelongo , an Air Force veteran, wife of 15 years, and homeschool mom of two in Texas who’s now going on eight years into her homeschool journey. Blanca shares the faith-driven decision that pulled her away from a career she loved and into homeschooling — a decision that, looking...

Did you know you can homeschool your kids without being the one who teaches them? In this episode, I chat with Anne Machalek , a second-generation homeschooler who has turned her love of teaching into a full-time career serving other homeschool families — without being anyone’s mom. Anne shares what it was like growing up with a rotating cast of teachers (including her own older brother), how an u...

Monica’s oldest was five when they started formal lessons — and it was a struggle. A year later, at six, everything clicked. In this episode, I chat with Monica, a mom of three (ages seven, four, and one) in her fourth year of homeschooling. She runs her homeschool from Small Quiet Lessons, centering it on faith, simplicity, and connection. Monica shares what “deschooling” actually looks like day...

In Nigeria, some toddlers are expected to read fluently by age three. Patience Ngamira looked at that pressure and chose a completely different path for her son. In this episode, I chat with Patience Ngamira , a Zimbabwean mom based in Lagos, Nigeria, who has been homeschooling her son since he was just 20 months old. Patience shares what pushed her to opt out of Nigeria’s high-pressure early educ...

If “plan for next school year” is sitting on your mental to-do list and just looking at it makes you tired, then this one’s for you. We’re three weeks into Ready 2026 (the 21-day planning group I’m hosting right now), and I’ve been paying close attention to what’s actually working for the moms inside. Not theory. Not what should work. What’s genuinely moving the needle for real homeschool moms pla...

As a homeschool mom, you’re carrying a lot. You’re not just mom. You’re teacher, schedule-keeper, curriculum-chooser, and everything in between. And somewhere in all of that, it’s really easy to put yourself last. In this episode, I’m sharing the mindsets that keep me grounded, the ones I come back to when the weight of it all starts to feel like too much. We’re talking about what it actually mean...

How to Plan Your Homeschool Year in 21 Days Are you a homeschool mom feeling overwhelmed by planning the next school year? In this episode, I’m sharing my complete 21-day homeschool planning system designed to help you organize curriculum, set goals, and prepare for the 2026-2027 school year — without the stress and mental overload. Whether you’re a new homeschooler making your first big decisions...

Your first year of homeschooling isn’t about perfection — it’s about pivoting with purpose. In this episode, I talk with Tiffany Smith (@rooted.inlearning), a Florida homeschooling mom of two who made the transition from corporate life to full-time motherhood and homeschooling. Tiffany shares what her first year really looked like — the lessons, the pivots, the planning tweaks, and the wins that g...

In this episode of The Torch Mom Podcast with Tia Lilley, I share my story of walking away from a career in education to build a life of freedom through homeschooling. I open up about my journey from being a 26-year-old principal and workaholic to becoming a homeschool mom who finally found peace, purpose, and joy at home. We talk about the fears I faced leaving the system, how motherhood complete...

What happens when a teacher-turned-homeschool-mom decides to create the kind of learning environment her kids actually need? In this episode, I chat with Casondra Radford , a mom of four, lifelong educator, and founder of Rad Arts Academy —a creative, culturally-rooted homeschool co-op that began with just four kids and has grown to serve more than 30 families in one year. Casondra shares her jour...

What happens when you follow your intuition and build a homeschool that truly fits your family? In this episode, I chat with Yarelly Briceno , a homeschooling mom of two and psychology student who’s passionate about helping families create peaceful, individualized learning at home. She shares how she started homeschooling in 2019, what it’s like raising a neurodivergent child, and how she balances...

It’s official—the Homeschool for Freedom Expo is happening! In this solo episode, I share the vision behind one of the biggest projects I’ve ever taken on: organizing and hosting a brand-new homeschool expo for families in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area in summer 2026 . If you’ve ever wished for an event that celebrates all homeschoolers—secular and religious, new and experienced, eclectic an...

Can you really homeschool with four little ones—and no support system? In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Garcia , a mom of four who started homeschooling her oldest at four years old after feeling called to keep her kids home. Melissa shares her honest, faith-filled journey of overcoming fear, finding confidence, and creating peace in the middle of motherhood chaos. You’ll hear: * Why a lon...