The Homeschool Connections Podcast

Episode 42: Insider Tips From the College Admissions Office, with Megan Fassero It can be pretty stressful preparing for the college applications process, not knowing if your child’s home-grown education will be appreciated by those mysterious people in the college admissions office. Wouldn’t you love to know what they’re thinking and how they evaluate your student? Today, Megan Fassero is with us...

Episode 41: Building a Network When Your Children Are Small, Part II In Episode 4 of this podcast, in August 2019, I had the delightful opportunity to interview a young Catholic mom, AnneMarie Miller, who was really struggling to build community for her children, because they are both still too young for most homeschool programs. She had some great ideas to try, and we agreed to have her back to g...

Episode 40: St. Thomas Aquinas for Everyone, with Dave Palmer Have you ever wondered how to integrate the scholarly writings of the great St. Thomas Aquinas into your homeschool curriculum? Today, I'm excited to share a resource so accessible that you'll rush to add it to your daily life. A great friend of the podcast--in fact the announcer for our program--Dave Palmer, is here with his delightful...

Episode 39: The University Model of Homeschooling Today we’re looking at a fascinating hybrid of traditional and non-traditional schooling methods that growing numbers of homeschoolers are investing in, both financially and personally. It’s called The University Model, and here to tell us what all the fuss is about is author and homeschool veteran, Tami Kiser! Find Tami Kiser here: Smart Martha Bl...

Episode 37: A Pep Talk on Accepting Help Sometimes we’re overwhelmed and someone offers to help, but we feel compelled to say NO Thank YOU. I’m fine. When we’re really not. Today’s guest, Amanda Woodiel, will give us a A Pep Talk on Accepting Help. Find Amanda: In a Place of Grace http://www.inaplaceofgrace.com/ Blog post about accepting help: http://www.inaplaceofgrace.com/pep-talk-on-help/ Catho...

Episode 38: The Joy, Art, and Educational Benefits of Read-Alouds Ever wonder which educational activity will bring you and your family the most enduring and impactful results? Reading aloud to our children can bless them beyond measure, now and throughout their lives. Today’s guest, Maureen Wittmann, has spoken and written extensively on the topic of The Power of Read-Alouds! Find Maureen here: h...

Episode 36: Good Books and Good Friends It’s difficult to form children in God’s truth and his holy virtues, when you’re battling outside influences that seep in from the culture. Today we’re talking with Catholic author TM Gaouette about the power of Good Books and Good Friends. Find Tai Gaouette here: www.tmgaouette.com Find more great resources at https://www.catholicteenbooks.com/ Short Featur...

Episode 35: Einstein Blueprint Dan Louzonis stepped out of a lucrative career in finance to create an entrepreneurial homeschool for his two children, and now he coaches families all over the world using a remarkable system he calls the Einstein Blueprint. Don't miss this! Find Dan Louzonis here: https://www.einsteinblueprint.com/ Listen to The Einstein Blueprint Podcast (500+ episodes!) Subscribe...

Episode 34: Homeschooling Boys One of the big reasons that families tend to homeschool is that we don’t want a cookie-cutter education that ignores their unique gifts and callings. But do we try to school our sons the same way we school our daughters? Today’s guest, homeschooling mother of eleven, Jane Ann Bonbrake, is here to share some great ideas about Homeschooling Boys. Resources recommended...

Episode 33: A Typological Approach to Literature Did you know that literature can bring us closer to God, even when it’s neither overtly nor intentionally Christian? Today’s guest, Dr. Henry Russell, will share some fascinating insights on A Typological Approach to Literature. Find Dr. Russell here: https://homeschoolconnections.com/instructors/henry-russel/ https://www.staugustineshep.com/founder...

Episode 32: Working From Homeschool Lots of homeschools have more than one breadwinner, even with mom staying at home. Today’s guest, Chantal Howard--a great friend of this podcast--will step us into what it’s like Working from Homeschool! Find Chantal Howard here: https://chantal-howard.com https://aromarosary.com. Today’s Short Feature:  Dan Louzonis: Einstein Blueprint Topic: Kid Trillionaires...

Episode 31: Servant Leadership We hear a lot about “servant leadership” today, but for a Catholic homeschooling family, it’s a lot more than a buzzword for “enlightened teamwork”—it’s a way of life modeled on the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. Today, we’re talking with Jenny Bales about how her leadership roles teach important lessons to her children. Find Jenny Bales: www.heartofamother.net  ...

Episode 30: Keeping Your Husband Happy (Easy Tips) Okay homeschoolers! You're going to want to take notes on this episode and share it with all your married friends. Today, one of my favorite Catholic experts, Mary Ellen Barrett, is going to surprise you with some incredibly easy ways to make your husband very happy. Because when your marriage has that sparkle, everything else in your homeschoolin...

NOTE: This episode contains sensitive topics regarding Catholic teaching on marriage and sexuality. Episode 29: How Authentic Love in Your Marriage Teaches Your Children Today I'm talking with someone very special, a veteran homeschooling mom who knows a thing or two about how Authentic Love in Your Marriage Teaches Your Children. Find Ellen Gable Hrkach here: https://ellengable.wordpress.com/   T...

Episode 28: SALVATION: What Every Catholic Should Know. If somebody asked you today what it takes to be saved, would you have an answer that was confident and specific? Think about it. Today’s guest, Dr. Michael Barber, is going to help unpack the topic of SALVATION: What Every Catholic Should Know. Find Dr. Barber here: https://www.thesacredpage.com/   @michaelpbarber Enjoy these resources writte...

Episode 27: Ideas From Aquinas That Help Keep Our Kids Catholic What are the main arguments of atheism, and how do we equip our teens to stand up to a culture intent on destroying their faith? Join me and one my favorite authors, Dr. Kevin Vost, as we share two of the most insidious attacks on our faith and how St. Thomas Aquinas can help you help your kids stand against them. Find Kevin at https:...

Episode 26: Choosing a Transformative Lent, with Chris Stefanick! If God identifies Himself by saying, “I AM,” not, “I DO,” then why do we so easily forget who we are in the eyes of Christ? Today I have the joy of talking with a powerhouse evangelist for the Catholic faith that many of you already know: Mr. Chris Stefanick! “We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the know...

Episode 25: Siblings as Co-Teachers in Your Homeschool When children become competent enough to help mom and dad, including guiding and mentoring younger siblings, life gets a lot easier for the parents, but great life lessons are also absorbed by the children themselves. Today, we’re talking with veteran homeschooling mom, Ellen Gable Hrkach, about Siblings as Co-Teachers in Your Homeschool. Find...

Episode 24: Talking With Kids About God’s Gift of Marriage and Sex Are you nervous about having “the talk” with your children? Do you wonder if too much information too soon will hurt their innocence? Today’s guest, Suzy Younger, is here to discuss Talking With Kids About God’s Gift of Marriage and Sex. Find Suzy here: www.suzyyounger.com Recommended Resources: Fertility Care: https://fertilitycar...

Episode 23: Curing Mommy Overwhelm As homeschoolers, we can get really overwhelmed. Self-doubts can wreak havoc on our peace of mind, causing us to lose faith in God’s plan for our families. A wonderful consultant and veteran homeschooling mom, Paola Ciskanik, is here to talk about Curing Mommy Overwhelm. Stay with us! Paola’s BLOG:  https://catholichomeschool.online/blog/ Catholi...

Episode 22: How Thriving in Faith and Fitness Benefits Your Homeschool How often as a homeschooling mom or dad have you wished you were in better shape and had more energy? Today’s guest, Olympic Athlete and homeschooling mom, Rebecca Dussault is here to tell us How Thriving in Faith and Fitness Benefits Your Homeschool. Find Rebecca Dussault at FitCatholicMom.com: http://www.fitcatholicmom.com/ T...

Episode 21: Educating Your Special Needs Child at Home Homeschooling has become a haven for kids the traditional school system has failed in some way. It's not that there aren't some great programs and talented teachers in the system; it's mostly that the system may not fit your special needs child. We're talking with author Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur about educating your special-needs child at hom...

Episode 20: The Unity of Faith and Science We all know our kids should study their Catholic faith--and science--but how do we integrate these two vital subjects into our homeschool curriculum? Today's guest, Dr. Stacy Trasancos, is uniquely equipped to help parents and students grasp the unity of faith and science. Find Stacy here: http://stacytrasancos.com/ And at the St. Philip Institute: https:...

Episode 19: How to Have a Merry Homeschool Dictionary.com defines the word “merry” as meaning cheerful and lively. And in regard to seasons and celebrations, “characterized by festivity and rejoicing.” Wouldn’t you love your homeschool to be merry? Today’s guest, Celeste Behe, will give us some good counsel on How to Cultivate a Very Merry Homeschool! Find Celeste at CelesteBehe.com Today's Short...

Episode 18: Evangelizing Through Beauty and Business Can running a business from home be an opportunity to teach your children valuable life lessons? And can beautiful products offered in the marketplace be a means to evangelize? We're talking with a very popular speaker and best-selling author, Dr. Carrie Gress, about her family's homeschooing adventure. Stay tuned! Visit Dr. Carrie Gress at her...