Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous

You chose homeschool because something about the traditional system wasn't working for your kid. But what happens when the pressure, the box-checking, and the constant pushing follow you home anyway? This episode is about homeschool freedom — what it actually means, why fear quietly rebuilds the system you left, and how mentored ownership changes the emotional tone of your entire homeschool. T...

You've wondered it. Most homeschool moms have. Is what I'm doing enough? Or does my child need something I can't give them? In this episode, I'm joined by Kimberly Bennett — Licensed Professional Counselor, homeschooling mom, and founder of the Homeschool Counseling Network — to talk honestly about when outside professional support makes sense, what to look for in a provider, and w...

Google's AI search change has been making the rounds in homeschool communities — and a lot of parents aren't sure what to make of it. In this episode I sit down with my son Kenyon, an AI researcher and author writing a book on AI safety, to separate what's actually changed from what hasn't — and what homeschool families specifically need to do about it. The short version? It's...

If writing is the subject you've been quietly skipping over, assigning without much confidence, or just hoping your kid figures out eventually… this episode is for you. Melissa Webb — founder of Write On Webb and a teacher with 30 years of experience — joins me to talk about why writing feels so hard to teach at home, why it matters more than most moms realize, and what a clear, structured app...

If May wiped you out and the couch has been winning lately — this episode is for you. The natural response to a hard season is to retract. Rest. Coast. Wait until you feel ready. But blah has gravity. And the longer you stay in it, the harder it becomes to rebuild love of learning, energy, and momentum — before a new season even starts. In this episode we talk about what a Love of Learning Reset a...

If you've ever sat down to teach reading and wondered if you were doing it right — you're not alone. A lot of homeschool parents are working hard and still feel uncertain about whether their approach is actually building the foundation kids need. In this episode, I talk with Alyssa Althouse, reading specialist and founder of Learn with Alyssa, about how reading actually works — what the br...

If summer feels like an escape from homeschool… this episode is going to feel very familiar. Most moms think they need a break from learning. But what they're actually exhausted from is managing learning — the pushing, the reminding, the carrying of motivation that should belong to their kids. This episode is about what happens when you stop managing and start mentoring. And why summer is the...

If reading lessons in your homeschool have started to feel like a daily battle — resistance, frustration, tears — this episode is going to feel very familiar. I sat down with Kathy Cousineau, a Learning Disabilities Specialist with over 30 years of experience, to talk about dyslexia: what it actually looks like, why so many parents feel lost in the sea of resources, and how to find support that ge...

It seems like a good plan. Work during the day. Homeschool in the evenings. Use great resources. Stay consistent. So why does it start to feel so hard? In this episode, we walk through what’s really happening for working parents who are trying to “fit learning in”… and why it often leads to resistance, disconnection, and frustration over time. Because the problem usually isn’t your effort. It’s th...

If you’ve ever felt like your homeschool depends on you managing everything… this episode will give you a different perspective. After my son didn’t pass his black belt pretest, his response revealed something powerful about ownership, motivation, and what mentoring actually produces over time. We’re breaking down the difference between managing vs mentoring—and why that shift matters if you want...

If you’ve ever wondered whether screen time is helping or hurting your child’s creativity, this episode will give you a clear way to think about it. In this conversation with STEM educator Beth Mylott, we talk about what it actually looks like to raise creative kids in a screen-filled world—without losing the hands-on learning that makes it all stick. You’ll hear how to help your kids move from si...

Most conversations about homeschooling focus on curriculum, schedules, and academics. But what if the most important benefits… are the ones no one is talking about? In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story from my son’s black belt pretest—and how it revealed something deeper about what homeschooling can create over time. We’re not just teaching subjects. We’re shaping who our kids become. Ins...

Learning doesn’t have to feel like a daily struggle. If your child is having a hard time focusing, staying engaged, or remembering what they learn, it’s easy to assume it’s a motivation issue. But sometimes, it’s something else entirely. In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Green , from Infinite Mind , to talk about how brain health and activation impact learning—and what you can do to make lear...

If your homeschool feels like school… even a little… you’re not alone. Many parents start homeschooling to create something different—more freedom, more connection, more joy in learning. But over time, it can slowly start to look and feel like the very thing you were trying to step away from. In this episode, we explore why that happens—and what actually works instead. You’ll discover the differen...

If you’ve been wondering what classrooms are like today—or questioning whether you’re making the right choice for your child—this episode offers a clear, grounded look inside. I’m joined by my husband, Eric Wanous, a veteran middle school teacher with nearly 30 years of experience, to talk about what’s actually happening in classrooms right now. From screen use and attention challenges to changing...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Will my teen actually be confident, motivated, and ready for real life?”—this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Ava Villanueva, a homeschooled teen who has become a confident, purpose-driven lifelong learner. She now teaches other kids and teens about healthy cooking and living through her own platform. In this conversation, you’ll hear what her homeschool experien...

Many homeschool parents want to help their teens discover a career path they’ll love, but they aren’t sure how to guide that process without pushing too hard or leaving it entirely up to chance. In this episode, career clarity coach Lisa Marker Robbins shares the step-by-step process she teaches students to help them discover careers that align with their strengths, interests, and values. Instead...

What is a Great Education — and is it different from job training? In today’s rapidly changing world of AI, shifting careers, and cultural complexity, it’s tempting to narrow your child’s education around one goal. But is that preparing them for life… or just for one season? In this episode, I share a conversation that made me reflect deeply on what education is really for. We’ll talk about: Why t...

How to teach handwriting at home in K–2 (and support older kids who still struggle) with clear, doable steps that build skills and confidence. In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Britton (M.Ed.) , the program designer of Squiggle Squad , to talk through what to teach first, when to start, common mistakes that make handwriting harder, and what to do if your child already learned… but writing is st...

Do my kids need speech therapy, or is this just a normal phase? In this episode, I’m joined by speech pathologist Sarah Dowling to unpack what speech therapy actually covers, how to think about speech delay and stuttering, and what a helpful evaluation looks like. We also talk about why speech and literacy are often connected, plus how homeschool parents can support progress at home in a realistic...

Many homeschool parents feel like they’re always responding to what’s happening right now. Each season brings new adjustments, new plans, and new questions, and over time that constant reactivity can feel exhausting. In this episode, I’m talking about what changes when families stop homeschooling only for the moment they’re in and start building with a clear orientation and a strong cultural found...

Many homeschool parents reach a season where homeschooling feels harder than it used to. Kids seem less motivated, learning feels heavier, and moms often tell themselves, “This is just a season we have to get through.” In this episode, I’m talking about what’s really happening when love of learning drops — and why motivation is usually just the first visible sign. You’ll hear: What it looks like w...

Most homeschool plans don’t break because of one big mistake. They slowly break down over time, especially as families grow and seasons change. If your homeschool has ever felt like it was quietly losing strength, even though nothing was “wrong,” this episode will help you understand why. In this conversation, I’m sharing a pattern I’ve seen again and again in homeschool families. One that leads t...

Raising independent kids doesn’t mean removing structure — it means using it wisely. In this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Heagh-Avritt , founder of Vibrant Family Education and co-host of the Bringing Education Home podcast. With over 30 years of experience working with families, Kristina shares how parents can create enough structure to guide progress, while still giving kids the space they ne...

Starting homeschooling can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re surrounded by opinions and pressure to “do it right.” Most parents simply want their kids to love learning again and feel confident they’re raising capable, independent young adults. But fear of falling behind often leads to box-checking — and that quietly erodes curiosity and joy. I’ve been there. In this episode, I share how t...