The BIG Home Ed Conversations

One child happily gets on with a maths app, and the other says a hard no to everything you put in front of them. If you're home educating more than one child, or just one who changes their mind every few months, working out how they learn can feel like building on shifting sands. In this Season 6 episode of our series on the tricky bits of home education, Kelly and Ashley talk about learning style...

Whether you came to home ed after your child burnt out of school, or you're the parent running on empty right now, burnout is something so many of us know far too well. In this Season 6 episode of our series on the tricky bits of home education, Kelly and Ashley get honest about home ed burnout: what parent burnout actually looks like, why it creeps up on us, and how to find our way back, for our...

Consistency is one of those words that can make home educating parents feel a bit twitchy. Some weeks your home ed routine flows beautifully, and some weeks the maths book hasn't been opened and someone's still in their pyjamas at 2pm. In this Season 6 episode on the tricky bits of home ed, Kelly and Ashley unpick what consistency really means in home education. Do you need a strict homeschool sch...

Welcome to season six of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, where we're digging into the tricky bits of home education. Not the sunshine-and-nature-walks highlight reel, but the real, unglamorous moments that every home educating family knows too well. After a summer apart, Kelly and Ashley catch up on what's been going on and why September always seems to bring that big "go" energy, the press...

In this final episode of the season, we’re doing something a bit different. (Please note, no explicit details are mentioned, but use caution if you listen with children as we do discuss things they may be exposed to as they start to use the internet more widely.)   We originally planned an episode focused on internet safety and online security… and then real life happened. We were away at our...

In this bonus episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations, Kelly Rigg is joined by Dr. Chris Bagley — educational psychologist, musician, author, and co-founder of States of Mind (with B. Herbert). Together, they unpack why so many young people are “not ok at school” — and what happens when an education system prioritises compliance, metrics, and control over human development, agency, and real conne...

In this week’s episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast , Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio dive into a big question many home educating UK families wrestle with: how do we teach our children about activism, justice, and using their voice — without overwhelming them? We talk honestly about: Why “quiet protest” (like choosing   elective home education ) is still activism How kids can learn...

In this chatty catch-up episode, Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio reflect on what home education can look like as summer approaches — when clubs pause, routines shift, and the calendar suddenly feels wide open. Together, they explore the different ways families plan (or don’t plan) through summer, how guilt can creep in around “what we’ve achieved this year,” and why many home educating parents event...

Welcome back to The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast with Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio.   This week’s topic: Feelings and journaling (real life edition) We recorded in the middle of a heatwave, so we’re talking dysregulation, grumpy kids, and how hard it can be to “do the right thing” when everyone’s overstimulated.   What we actually found helpful:   A feelings wheel (free printa...

In this episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley continue their weekly home education UK “topic challenge” — choosing a theme and exploring it with their children through real-life learning, conversation, and curiosity-led activities. This week’s topic: Town planning and street furniture — and it turns into a brilliant mix of project-based learning, local community awaren...

In this episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly shares a powerful interview with Jenn Hodge, founder of Doing Education Differently. Jenn is a leading voice in neurodiversity and education reform, and has been at the forefront of challenging the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill — which has now become the Act. Together, Kelly and Jenn talk through what’s happening, why it matte...

In this episode of The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley explore this week’s “topic from the hat” challenge: lesser known sports.   They start by going down the rabbit hole of strange and wonderful sports from around the world (and even a few from right here in the UK), and it quickly opens up bigger conversations about creativity, culture, community, and what sport is actua...

Welcome back to another episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast. Kelly and Ashley are continuing Season 5’s “topic from a hat” home education challenge — where they pick a theme, explore it with their kids for the week (without telling each other what they’re doing), then come back to compare notes, resources, and real-life learning.   This week’s topic: Food Around the World — and i...

Welcome back to the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast. In this episode, Kelly and Ashley share how they tackled a surprisingly big topic with their kids: capital allocation and investing — including spending vs saving, risk, impulse buying, and how money habits form early (for better or worse). In this episode, we chat about: Why this topic matters (and why most of us weren’t taught it!) Helping k...

Welcome back to Season 5 of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast. In this short “we’re back!” episode, Kelly Rigg (home ed mum of two, qualified mindset + ADHD coach) and Ashley Vanerio (home ed mum of three, former primary teacher) share what’s been happening behind the scenes, why we took a break, and what’s coming up next. This season we’re doing something a bit different: each week we’ll pick...

It’s the final episode of Season 4 of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, and we’re keeping up our (now official!) yearly tradition: a relaxed, honest Year in Reflection .   Kelly and Ashley look back on what’s worked in their home education lives this year—what’s felt joyful, what’s been challenging, and what they want to carry forward into next year. Expect a cosy, chatty recap filled wi...

In this episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley get real about adultism—the often-unquestioned power imbalance between adults and children. Inspired by fellow home educating mum and respected expert on Adultism, Eloise Rickman and her book 'It's Not Fair', they reflect on how even the most conscious parents can slip into controlling patterns, and what it means to truly r...

In this episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley sit down with Catherine Gladwell , founder and CEO of Refugee Education UK , to explore what education really looks like when your whole life has been uprooted.   Catherine shares powerful stories from her work with refugee children and teenagers in the UK – many of whom have been out of school for years, arrived alone...

In this powerful episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley sit down with author, educator and neurodivergent advocate Helen Daniel to unpack ableism in the education system through the lens of SEND and neurodivergence. Drawing on Helen’s experience as a teacher, academic and author of Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages, they explore how a system built on standardi...

In this episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley dive deep into the often-unspoken topic of prejudice within the home educating community. From unschooling vs. curriculum-based approaches, to faith, politics, socioeconomic status, and cultural backgrounds, they unpack the subtle (and not-so-subtle) biases that can create divides among home educators. With real-life storie...

In this powerful episode of the Big Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley sit down with Atlanta-based educator, tech specialist, and author Chris Linder—founder of Homeschool Remix—to dig deep into what real diversity and inclusion can look like in home education. Chris brings a wealth of lived experience, working with all families, but especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, and marginaliz...

Welcome back to Season 4 of the Big Home Ed Conversations Podcast! In this new “Changing Perspectives” series, Kelly and Ashley dive into the big, sometimes uncomfortable, but always essential conversations about diversity, inclusion, and breaking out of our bubbles as home educating families. This season is all about stretching our thinking—beyond our own lived experiences, beliefs, and backgroun...

In this special Book Club episode, Ashley Vanerio dives into The Four-Hour School Day —a practical, encouraging guide for new and seasoned home educators alike. Written by veteran homeschool mum of eight, Durenda Wilson, this book challenges the myth that learning at home needs to look like the 8am–4pm school grind.   Ashley shares her honest first impressions (including a heads-up about the...

This week, Ashley pops in solo to launch something new and fun for our community—the BIG Home Ed Book Club! Think bite-sized, practical reflections you can listen to on a walk, while folding laundry, or between activities.   In this intro, Ashley: Shares why we’re starting a book club now (hello accountability and actually finishing the gems on our shelves) Walks through the books on her curr...

Newly deregistered or just beginning your home ed journey this September? You’re in the right place. In the final episode of the “Get Your Head Straight to Home Ed” series, Kelly Rigg (home education mindset coach and co-host of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast) shares a calm, practical 90‑day plan to help you find your feet without recreating school at home. Kelly’s simple three-Rs framework...