The Hannah Frankman Podcast

In this episode, expect to learn about what to look for when choosing a school for your kid. Hannah breaks down the difference between “Institutional” and “child-centric” education and how the latter often leads to improved academic outcomes for children. She also explores how child-centric education utilizes technology and AI to customize curriculum, ensuring that students are able to learn at th...

Kerry McDonald is a Senior Fellow at FEE and the author of Unschooled and the forthcoming book Joyful Learning . Kerry returns to the podcast to talk about the trends in the microschool movement coming out of the pandemic, why homeschooling and microschooling is on the rise, and how school choice policy is affecting innovation and entrepreneurship in education. We also talk about the models and tr...

Dr. Nicholas Ellis is the Founder and CEO of Christian Halls , a local, independent learning community, offering college, skilled trade, and other post-secondary education opportunities. Expect to learn about Nick’s experience growing up homeschooled and going to some of the most elite universities, the genesis of Christian Halls, why the current university system is broken, and how we can save sm...

Connor Boyack is the author of 50 books, including the popular Tuttle Twins children’s series. He is also president of Libertas Network , a family-centric liberty initiative. Expect to learn about the recent acquisition of Praxis by Libertas Network, building an audience in the education space, the future of Praxis and how the market for college alternatives has changed over the past decade. Chapt...

In this solocast, expect to learn why our education system in America is broken and what we can do to fix it. Hannah explores the lack of advancement in public education in the 21st Century, the ed-tech tools that are making the most impact, and the possibility of progress through AI, LLMs, and microschools. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:52 - Twitter Battles 2:48 - Is Education in America Broken? 8:46...

In this solocast, expect to hear advice for teachers and educators trying to get out of the public education system. Hannah offers options ranging from the micro school movement to one-on-one and online teaching. She also offers direct support by encouraging interested listeners to reach out to her on X . Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:14 Leaving the Public Education System 5:47 - Building a Career in E...

We’re finally doing an AMA episode! Expect to hear Hannah answer listener questions on topics like reading, homeschool curriculum, education reform, socialization, and much more. Chapters:0:00 - Intro0:45 - What Do You Think is the Best Way to Teach a Kid to Read?3:18 - What is the Best Way to Create a Well Rounded Curriculum for Homeschooling Kids8:34 - Can the Education System Can Be Reformed or...

In this episode, Hannah shares 10 more of her favorite books on education for homeschoolers and their parents. If you’d like to hear Part 1, you can find that here . Chapters: 0:00 - Top Book Recommendations 0:59 - Deschooling Society - Ivan Illich 2:48 - How Children Learn - John Holt 4:36 - Unschooled - Kerry McDonald 6:16 - The Discovery of the Child - Maria Montessori 9:38 - The Last Safe Inve...

In this solocast, expect to learn about the recent Tik Tok ban, the social media driven mental health crisis, whether or not these apps are inherently harmful to kids, and the potential for social media to be used with intention for education and personal growth. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:33 - Why Was Tik Tok Temporarily Banned? 3:34 - What is Social Media Doing to Us? 4:14 - The Social Media Algor...

Ellen Fishbein is a full time editor who has worked with writers like Coleman Hughes, Shane Parrish, and David Perell. She and her team offer coaching via Writing.coach and publish short books via Altamira Studio. Expect to learn Ellen’s 3 Principles of Writing that she wishes were taught in school, the importance of having clear goals before you begin writing, why we should first focus on being p...

Scott Scheall spent the majority of his academic career at Arizona St. University, the largest university in the world, and is now a professor at the University of Austin, perhaps the smallest university in the world. Expect to learn about the bureaucracy that exists in large academic institutions and the perverse incentives in place that make it so difficult for faculty to deliver a quality educa...

Michael Gibson is a co-founder of the Teal Fellowship and then built the investment firm 1517 , both of which invest in young people without college degrees to build start ups. Before his academic apostasy, he was working towards a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Oxford. He has written on innovation and technology for MIT’s Technology Review, National Review, the Atlantic, and City Jo...

Laura Williams is a ghostwriter, editor, and the current managing editor at the American Institute for Economic Research . In this episode, we explore the many cases for teaching writing in today's social media and AI-driven world: as a form of self-discovery, a way of building credibility, a tool for developing and refining thoughts, and a means of joining the historical conversation around ideas...

Thomas Hogan is a professor of Economics at the University of Austin , where he is making a return to academia after spending years in the business world. Thomas has worked in finance and business, and served as the Chief Economist for a US Senate Community. In this episode, expect to learn about Thomas’ first term teaching at UATX and the culture they are fostering at America’s newest university....

Michael Horn is a professor at the Harvard School of Education and author of multiple books including " Disrupting Class " co-authored with Clayton Christensen, and most recently “ Job Moves ”. Michael’s work focuses primarily on innovation and the future of education. In this episode, you'll learn about the trends Michael observes in K-12 and higher education, his perspective on promising educati...

In this solocast, Hannah explores five of the most harmful lessons taught in public schools, examines how these lessons set kids up for failure in the real world, and discusses the process of deschooling and detoxing from traditional education. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:13 - Deschooling 3:43 - The Harmful Lessons That Public Schools Teach 5:17 - Waiting for Permission 11:57 - Being Passive 14:25 -...

Matt Bateman returns to the Hannah Frankman Podcast for the third time! Matt is the co-founder of Higher Ground Montessori , one of the largest networks of Montessori schools in the world. Matt was a former philosophy professor at universities and is an expert in early childhood development. This episode is all about AI in education. Expect to learn about the developments that have taken place sin...

Samantha Westmoreland is a former public school teacher and is currently the writer-in-residence at Guidepost Montessori . She possesses deep knowledge of the Montessori pedagogy and approach. In this episode, you'll learn about the Montessori approach to literacy, its effectiveness in teaching reading, and why Montessori students often surpass average reading levels. We discuss the engaging readi...

Madison Adkins is a Praxis graduate who currently works with Hannah to help market alternative education programs and brands. Expect to learn about Madison's journey as a high school and college dropout and how it influenced her current work. We explore our approaches to marketing alternative education programs, including common mistakes educators make, our process for refining clients' brand posi...

Andrew Bernstein is a professor of philosophy at Marist College and the author of “ Why Johnny Still Can’t Read or Write or Understand Math And What We Can Do About It ”. In his book, he discusses the history of American decline in literacy rates and mathematics, the deterioration of public education quality, and the most promising educational movements for American children. Expect to learn about...

In this solocast, Hannah explains why your physical space has such a profound impact on your life, discusses the issues with public education classrooms, and offers insights on how to optimize your environment for both personal and children's education.  Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:47 - Why Environment Design is So Important 5:56 - What is Environment Design? 9:36 - Environment Design in Montessori C...

In this solocast, Hannah shares her top book recommendations for homeschoolers and their parents. This is the stack she believes is most helpful for understanding how to take charge and facilitate your child’s education experience. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:23 - Don’t Tell Me I Can’t 4:05 - The Intellectual Lives of Children - Susan Engel 6:02 - Free to Learn - Peter Gray 7:05 - The ABC’s of Ho 10:...

In this solocast, Hannah explains her personal experience as a homeschooler. She discusses the debates surrounding socialization for homeschoolers and explores the distinction between "normal" and "common" in relation to student experiences in public education. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:15 - Update on Hannah’s Life 2:13 - Socialization for Homeschooled Kids 14:43 - Are We Over Socializing in Public...

Kaity Broadbent is the chief evangelist at Prenda, a network of microschools expanding across the country and offering Education Savings Account (ESA) options for students. In this episode, you'll learn about Prenda's culture, how it establishes values of curiosity, and why it emphasizes the process of learning rather than standardized test outcomes. We dive into the academic tools Prenda...

Hunter Dane is a wilderness entrepreneur and outdoorsman who leads guided hunting expeditions across the globe. Expect to learn about the genesis of Hunter's career as a hunting guide, his profound connection to nature, and the life-changing experiences his clients undergo during their expeditions. We also discuss the school Hunter is building, which teaches outdoor, hunting, and survival skil...