Self Directed

We received an email asking if we were up for recording an episode with Eric Balance. We are living in a yes mode, so here is our talk with Eric.  Eric has been through a transformative journey from a heavy addiction to dedicating his life to helping people live a more spiritual life. To embrace his own big life changes, he changed his name to 'Eric Balance,' reflecting his search for eq...

We got an email with great questions from a listener. Instead of a long email answer, we invited Josie to interview us for an episode. Josie doesn't use her last name, so we lovingly call her Just Josie :) Josie is navigating the tides of raising young children while embracing the principles of unschooling. Josie's tale of transition from the simplicity of van life to the rich complexiti...

Blake Boles is an unschooling advocate and author of the book 'Why Are You Still Sending Your Kids To School' he also runs transformative teen programs called Unschool Adventures. In this episode, we also explore the transformative power of alternative education. We examine the conventional education system's limitations and champion personalized learning paths, inspired by notable...

Dean Bokhari, the innovative creator of Flash Books. Dean shares his journey from avid reader to pioneering a new way of consuming literature, offering a lifeline for those strapped for time but eager to dive into self-help and business books. Our conversation takes a significant turn as we address the topic of masculinity and its impact on childhood education. As fathers and entrepreneurs, we del...

Few experiences rival the thrill of breaking the shackles of conventional life and embracing the open road. Our guest, Kelly Halldorson, and her family did just that, converting a school bus into a mobile home and traversing through 35 states over three years.  Kelly called their project The Unschool Bus, and they inspired us to purchase a bus and travel the world, so it only felt natural to conne...

Meet Karen Ricks, a brave woman who relocated from the US to Japan, reshaping her life and changing her perspective on education. Her journey is an invitation to a new world where societal expectations about education and productivity are dismissed, and personal goals are set free from the need for external validation. From living in snowy Japan to exploring the warmth of Bulgaria and Italy, Karen...

Randall Hardy joins us for a conversation on the complexities of parenting and the journey to adulthood. Randall shares insights from his own parenting journey; and together, we promise to redefine your understanding of 'childism', family dynamics, and preparing children for adulthood. You'll learn to identify and rectify the problematic ways we sometimes communicate with children a...

Dive into an enlightening episode of our podcast where we explore the transformative world of alternative education models with Patrick Farenga, a luminary in the homeschooling and unschooling arena. This episode promises an in-depth look at the evolution of education, from traditional classrooms to innovative concepts like charter schools and micro-schools, and the impact of the global pandemic o...

Unschooling enthusiast Alex Wildrising joins us for this episode. Have you ever considered unschooling but grappled with doubts and skepticism? Together with Alex, we guide you through our journey, pointing out the significance of relationships, open dialogue, mutual trust, and understanding in reshaping perspectives, especially of skeptical partners. Navigating through the podcast, we unravel the...

Are you ready to challenge the status quo and question conventional wisdom? Join us, as we welcome back Jen Keefe in a revolutionary conversation that has the potential to shatter traditional assumptions about education, parenting, and societal norms. We examine the journey of Jen's daughter, who, despite being homeschooled, exceeded all expectations and aced her driving test, proving that ho...

Meet Bria Bloom, Executive Director of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education (ASDE) and a passionate advocate for alternative education methods. Raised in the philosophy of self-directed education, Bria didn't attend conventional schooling until age 16. She later designed her own baccalaureate and earned an M.S. in early childhood education. Today, she wears multiple hats: running PDX Flyi...

Laurie A Couture is an expert in childhood developmental trauma and attachment, and the author of "Nurturing and Empowering Our Sons" and "Instead of Medicating and Punishing." In this episode, Laurie shares her groundbreaking insights and introduces the Couture Protocol, a transformative 12-dimensional system for trauma recovery, emphasizing the importance of tailoring educati...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Miró Siegel, the son of Laini Liberti. In this episode, Miró shares his remarkable journey into the world of worldschooling, including the exhilarating experience of giving a TED Talk alongside his mother. Their adventure began unexpectedly, with a leap from their conventional life in Los Angeles into the world of full-time travel. Miró takes us through t...

Torsten Klaus is a pioneering advocate for unschooling, a devoted father of three unschooled children, and the founder of Young Cre8ors. Torsten's passion for creativity and storytelling began in his youth when he fell in love with typewriters, cassette recorders, and the art of crafting handmade newspapers and audiobooks. This early passion evolved into a career in journalism in Berlin, wher...

🗓️ Recorded September 4st, 2023. 📍Blaye, France We've all been there: doubting our intelligence and our worth, feeling inadequate due to someone else's labels. Our guest, Nicole Kenyon, knows this feeling all too well. She was labeled as "stupid-ish" at a young age, but that certainly didn't define her. From her journey of breaking free from this label and finding her pas...

Jen Keefe is an inspiring unschooling mom who has taken the bold step of challenging traditional educational norms.  Jen's personal struggles with mental health profoundly influenced her journey from conventional education to the liberating world of unschooling. These experiences shaped her unique approach to parenting, emphasizing the paramount importance of honesty, trust, and open dialogue...

We are again joined by Erika Davis-Pitre, one of our favorite people when it comes to unschooling. In our talk,  we confront the pressing issues of ageism and racial disparities in education, focusing on the empowerment of students from diverse backgrounds through homeschooling and unschooling. Our journey begins with a personal anecdote—a poignant encounter with ageism involving a seven-year-old...

This is a repost of an interview Lizz Quain from Trailblazing Families did with Cecilie Conrad. The conversation moves beyond the typical travel tales; we plunge into the depths of unschooling and how it complements the nomadic lifestyle beautifully. Cecilie shares the roller-coaster ride of transitioning to unschooling, navigating the pandemic, and choosing to stay in mainland Europe. We'll...

Join us for an eye-opening episode as we sit down with Randall Hardy, a fervent advocate for homeschooling and unschooling. Randall and his family have been at the forefront of the home education movement, challenging the status quo and advocating for parental rights in the UK. In this episode, Randall delves into the current political climate affecting home educators, particularly in England and...

Explore the transformative power of unschooling with Pam Laricchia, host of the popular 'The Exploring Unschooling Podcast.'  Dive into the art of fostering enriching parent-child relationships, redefining success, and experiential learning. Pam is the author of several books on Unschooling, and if you are new to the game, we suggest you read her books 'What is Unschooling`' an...

In the summer of 2021, we drove to Turkey to spend two weeks with Chris Attwood and his wonderful family. Before Chris and family arrived, we had time to roam the city - we met up with Raqauy Danziger, a famous Darbuka player you can meet in one of our bonus episodes.  Raqauy introduced us to belly dancer Iana Komarnytska, and photographer and drummer Pedro Bonatto. Pedro and Iana have a youtube c...

Ever dreamt of packing up your life and traveling the world? That’s exactly what our guest, Rachel Carlson, and her family did. Rachel shares her family's exhilarating journey of full-time travel, encapsulating the beauty of stepping away from conventional norms to embrace a world brimming with adventures. Rachel shared her family's transition into a nomadic lifestyle, selling their home...

Meet Raquy Danziger - a celebrated Darbuka performer, teacher, and composer known worldwide for her expertise on the Middle Eastern Darbuka drum.  We are a full-time traveling family. We love art, music, and people and interview some of the wonderful people we meet. We met Raquy in Istanbul, Turkey, where she is now based. About Raquy Hailing from unlikely Western roots, Raquy has distinguished he...

Together with our dear friend Sarah Beale, we delve deep into the pursuit of a 'good life.'  Sarah shares her incredible journey of transitioning from the traditional Australian school system to an unstructured, unschooling approach. Dive into an enriching exploration of the power of choice, and the significance of maintaining a fluid, flexible approach to life. Sarah's idea of a &a...

Meet Mark Lupescu, also known as Mark Lupan - a celebrated handpan maker and player known worldwide for his beautiful Lupan Handpans. Have you ever tried the handpan or just listened to it? For me, it was love at first sight. The first time I tried one, I knew there was no going back. We were on La Palma, and a friend had borrowed a handpan and wanted us to try it. Three months later, my first han...