Self Directed

Meryl Danziger, founder of Music House and author of Sing It! A Biography of Pete Seeger , has redefined music education through curiosity-driven exploration. With a Master’s in Music from Goddard College and a career as a professional violinist, she focuses on helping children connect with music in personal and meaningful ways. Her unique approach emphasizes freedom, creativity, and the intrinsic...

Traditional schooling isn't the only path to socialization for children. In this conversation with Rebecca, we explore how homeschooling and unschooling empower families to build communities that align with their values. We discuss how these approaches encourage children to form meaningful, inclusive social networks across diverse age groups. Our talk delves into neighborhood dynamics and the...

What happens when you step outside traditional education to empower teenagers to discover their true selves? In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Marta to explore her journey into unschooling and its profound impact on her children and family. We go into how alternative education fosters individuality, emotional resilience, and self-expression in teens, offering a striking contrast to co...

In this episode, Cecilie & Jesper Conrad sit down with Rebecca Jean-Charles to explore the concept of Edugenic Harm —how traditional education systems inadvertently harm children by normalizing control, disconnection, and compliance. Through personal stories and reflections, we unpacks our journeys from the conventional school system to homeschooling and unschooling. Edugenic Harm refers to th...

Marta Obiols Llistar, a former teacher, explains why she left the traditional classroom to embrace unschooling. Marta shares how John Holt's philosophy reshaped her parenting and life, from rejecting rigid educational systems to trusting her children’s natural ability to learn. We discuss the challenges of unlearning as a teacher, building deep family connections, and thriving outside convent...

Charlotte Addison is among our favorite people: A fellow traveler, unschooler, and someone with whom we have co-lived for an extended period and more to come.  Together with Charlotte, we delve into how unschooling and lifelong learning can redefine educational choices and personal growth. We challenge the idea that formal qualifications are the only markers of success. Instead, passion and real-w...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Michael Greger, the best-selling author of How Not to Die and How Not to Age , who has revolutionized our understanding of nutrition and longevity. Dr. Greger dives into the transformative journey that led him to lifestyle medicine, inspired by his grandmother’s miraculous health recovery. He shares actionable tips for extending both lifespan and healthspan through...

In this episode, Christie Ogden shares her remarkable journey of embracing world schooling and creating a life of freedom and adventure for her family. As a single mother of six, Christie boldly moved her children from Canada to the Dominican Republic, transforming a challenging situation into an empowering opportunity. Her story is filled with resilience, creativity, and a commitment to living on...

"The amount of uncertainty you can hold is the amount of freedom you have."​ - Carla Martinez. We met Carla and David at the Worldscchool Summit in 2019. So many friendships formed. It was life-changing. In this episode, we talk with Carla and David, who share their unique journey of nomadic living. From their first transformative experience at the World School Summit in Granada to estab...

Louisa Andrea is a retreat host, educator, and worldschooling advocate based in Egypt. She specializes in creating transformative experiences for families and teens, blending education, conservation, and cultural immersion on Egypt's Red Sea coast while drawing on her mindfulness, spiritual coaching, and energy work background. In this episode, we talk with Louisa Andrea about her move from t...

Jack Stewart is a grown-up homeschooler who now homeschools his kids. We met Jack at HEFF in 2024 and enjoyed talking with him. This is our second episode with Jack, and you should consider starting with the first episode we recorded together.  In this episode, we sit down with Jack Stewart to discuss how technology affects our daily lives and how setting boundaries around internet use can improve...

Jack Stewart is a grown-up homeschooler. We explore how self-paced learning has shaped his social life and personal development. Jack’s upbringing was guided by his mother’s approach to homeschooling, which fostered meaningful friendships and an entrepreneurial spirit that set the stage for his success. These early experiences of forming deep connections outside traditional settings have carried t...

Erin Loechner is a writer, speaker, and the founder of The Opt-Out Family , a movement dedicated to helping families reduce screen time and foster deeper connections. She is the author of The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t , a guide offering practical strategies to reclaim family life from the grip of technology. Erin's other books include Chasing Slow , a memoir...

Shannon Hayes is a sustainable farmer, author, and chef from Sap Bush Hollow Farm in Upstate New York, where she and her family raise grass-fed livestock using regenerative agriculture. In addition to managing the family farm and café, Shannon homeschools her children and explores themes of slow living, sustainability, and joyful living in her writings and podcast. In this episode, Shannon shares...

Lily Nichols is a renowned dietitian and best-selling author, an expert in prenatal nutrition, and advocates for real food and evidence-based approaches that empower parents to take control of their health. We explore the critical link between a mother's metabolic health during pregnancy and her child's long-term wellness, including the irreplaceable role of long-term breastfeeding. Are...

Marc Wallert is a resilience expert, keynote speaker, and author best known for surviving a 140-day hostage ordeal in the Philippine jungle in 2000. Drawing on this life-changing experience, he helps individuals and organizations build resilience and thrive through crises. Marc shares insights on leadership, mental strength, and stress management through his keynotes and his book, "Strength T...

Rob Brinded is an experienced performance coach and healer specializing in the intricate connections between the mind, body, and spirit. With a background in elite sports, including football, ballet, and combat sports, Rob developed a unique approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation, focusing on the holistic integration of physical and emotional health. Over the past 25 years, he has explor...

In 2023, we spent a month at a castle in Normandy with over 30 other worldschooling families. There, we met Katia Dimova, the founder of Chateau Co-Living. We spend many long nights talking, laughing, sharing moments, and creating friendships.  Katia founded Chateau Coliving, where she combines her passions for travel, history, and community. Originally from Bulgaria, she has lived in over 50 coun...

Ken Honda is a renowned Japanese author and speaker celebrated for his personal finance and happiness expertise. Known as the "Zen Millionaire," he combines Eastern philosophies with practical financial advice to help individuals find peace and abundance. Ken has written over 50 books, including the bestseller "Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money," whi...

Michaeleen Doucleff is a science journalist and the author of the bestselling book Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans. In her book, Doucleff explores parenting practices from indigenous cultures worldwide, offering insights into raising cooperative and independent children. Her work blends scientific research with per...

Tim Feldmann is the director of Miami Life Center, which he co-founded with Kino MacGregor and Matt Tashjian. He embarked on his yoga journey after a near-fatal accident in 1992 and is authorized to teach by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath Jois. With a professional dancer and choreographer background, Tim integrates extensive anatomy and meditation knowledge into his Ashtanga yoga teachings. K...

Golden Harper co-founded Altra Running, renowned for its innovative zero-drop shoes, promoting natural foot movement and reducing injuries.  We are a barefoot family and love our barefoot sandals, but when it comes to running on manmade structures, we need some cushion, and Harper has created a great shoe for runners with natural feet. Our curiosity led us to invite him as a guest to determine whe...

Genevieve Simperingham is a leading parenting educator and founder of the Peaceful Parent Institute. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in attachment-based parenting and emotional intelligence, offering workshops and coaching to help parents build deep, trusting relationships with their children. Her work has profoundly impacted many families, promoting harmony and connection. We...

Jesper recorded this episode with Brendan Kane almost two years ago. Initially, we decided not to air it, as it didn't fit with our podcast's direction with both of us as hosts. After our recent episode with Sue Elvis, where she asked us about how we started our podcast, Jesper revisited the recording and decided to share it. It was Jesper's first podcast interview, so please excuse...

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite podcasts? Join us for a unique twist as Sue Elvis steps in as our interviewer, flipping the script on your usual hosts, Jesper and Cecilie. Sue brings heartwarming feedback from new listeners who love our open-minded and conversational style. Together, we reminisce about the origins of our podcast, the nervous excitement of rec...