The Homeschool Connections Podcast

Lent is underway, and after a determined start, maybe the Lenten menus are feeling a little shopworn and your family could really use a boost of inspiration—some insights, history, and amazing stories of the life of the Church. Today it is my joy to welcome one of my heroes in the Faith and in homeschooling, Dr. Scott Hahn, here to tell us about his new book, The Lenten Cookbook. Make sure to stay...

As Catholic homeschoolers, we want our children to develop relationships with the saints as role models and friends. However, not everyone who lived a life of heroic virtue has been formally canonized by the Church, so we might have to dig a little deeper to study their fascinating and inspiring lives. My guest, today, the Miracle Hunter himself, Michael O’Neill, is here to tell us about his new b...

Catholic culture is uniquely appreciative of lives that are lived out in great holiness Simply put: we love the saints and what they can teach us about following Jesus in our daily lives, in good times and in bad. My guest today is author Kelly Guest, here to share about her Favorite Saintly Moms.   Kelly Guest blogs at CatholicMom.com and her own website Nun2Nine.com , and find her on Twitter and...

While we love the spiritual and intellectual aspects of raising our children, Homeschoolers love making the connection between the theoretical and the practical. Our wonderful guest today, Inshal Chenet, is going to open up a fascinating topic: The Importance of Learning How Things Work.   You can find Inshal Chenet and his courses at  https://homeschoolconnections.com/instructors/inshal-chenet/  ...

Many homeschooling families are now “homesteading” because they love the self-sufficiency, as they raise animals and grow wholesome food. It’s a simpler kind of life for them and their children. Today’s guest, a very smart homeschooling dad, is here to share how he and his family are Homesteading for Independence.   Find Nick Wilson and his courses: https://homeschoolconnections.com/instructors/ni...

Sometimes the Lord calls us to clear a new path forward for our families, and it can feel lonely, at first. But God rewards our commitment and calls others to come alongside us and share the journey--and oh boy, do those friendships make all the difference. I’m excited to welcome back a very good friend of this podcast, Charbel Raish, here to share about The Importance of a Few Good Friends. Find...

Really good morning routines can set the tone for the whole day. In fact, we’re talking today about an easy system that can set a truly engaged and exciting tone for the whole homeschool year. The wonderful Pam Barnhill is here to tell us all about Morning Baskets. SHOW NOTES: You can find Math Talk: Mathematical Ideas in Poems for Two Voices by Theoni Pappas at https://amzn.to/3uxS7ry To check ou...

These days, online programs are booming, and that’s great news for homeschooled teens who may want to earn college credits during their high school years. Today’s guest is Tom Weishaar, the Director of Online and Graduate Enrollment for Franciscan University at Steubenville, here to explain how to Jumpstart Your Teens with Dual Enrollment!   Email Tom Weishaar: online@franciscan.edu Call Tom: (740...

Our families pass on traditions, values, and relationships that are priceless to our children. And as Catholics, we can help our children find even greater riches of faith and friendship with the earliest Christians. Today’s guest, homeschooling dad and best-selling author, Mike Aquilina, is here to guide us into Cultivating Friendship with the Early Church Fathers.   Contact Mike Aquilina: https:...

Many of us have been blessed to discover that the study of philosophy is key for developing our children’s minds, but Dr. Sam Nicholson is here to help us understand the Role of Philosophy in the Spiritual Life.   Find Dr. Sam Nicholson: https://homeschoolconnections.com/instructors/sam-nicholson/ Contact: scn8v@virginia.edu   Dr. Nicholson’s Philosophy Book List for Beginners:  https://homeschool...

Episode 107:  Answering Your Children’s Toughest Questions   Our children are naturally inquisitive, but sometimes we feel ill-equipped to answer their toughest questions. It pays to have a strategy that honors their growth and their innocence. Today, I’m talking with best-selling author and homeschooling mom, Kendra Tierney, about Answering Your Children’s Toughest Questions. Join us.   Find Kend...

Episode 106: Cultivating a Catholic Growth Mindset   Our Mindset, or the way we think about things, has a powerful influence on the kind of life we build. Today’s guest, Ginny Kochis, is here to help us with Cultivating a Catholic Growth Mindset.   Find Ginny Kochis, her community, and her many original and recommended resources at: https://www.notsoformulaic.com/   Catholic growth mindset article...

Episode 105: First-Year-Homeschool Survival Tips!   Whether you’re brand-new to homeschooling or a seasoned veteran, you’ll find great ideas in our conversation today, for making your homeschool a success. I’m excited to welcome back a wonderful homeschooling dad, coming to us from Australia, Charbel Raish, here to share his First-Year-Homeschool Survival Tips!   Find Charbel Raish: https://www.pa...

Episode 104: Keep the Joy Front and Center   We homeschool to give our children the best of everything—faith, values, education, opportunity--and it’s quite an adventure. But the work is hard, and sometimes we forget to be joyful. Today’s guest is Marine and homeschooling veteran, Teresa Hansen, here to remind us to Keep the Joy Front and Center.   Find Teresa Hansen at ethkids@yahoo.com   Teresa'...

Episode 103: Homeschooling Through Christmas--With or Without Snow! One reason many families choose to homeschool is simply having the freedom to live anywhere they want or need to be, so it’s not uncommon for them to have celebrated the Christmas season in different climates. Veteran homeschool mom, Margaret Gallipeau, is here to share her family’s experiences of Homeschooling Through Christmas—W...

Episode 102: Gothic Novels Can Be Good Literature! Curling up with various genres of good books is a favorite pastime for a lot of homeschoolers, and our guest today is here to share one of her passions. An avid reader and author with a passion for great stories, Eleanor Nicholson is here to tell us why Gothic Novels Can Be Good Literature!   Find Eleanor Nicholson: www.eleanorbourgnicholson.com  ...

Episode 101: Building Executive Function Skills in Moms and Kids We want to pass on skills to our children that will help them succeed in building meaningful lives out there in the real world, but we may feel ill-equipped to train them well. In fact, many parents themselves struggle with being able to plan and execute the tasks that will help them achieve their goals. Today’s guest, Ginny Kochis,...

Episode 100: Giving Thanks for Episode 100! Today, it’s our joy to be celebrating our 100th episode with the founders of Homeschool Connections, the sponsors of our program, Walter Crawford and Maureen Wittmann. If you’re able to pause and relax with us, we’ll be raising a glass together and having a virtual party, and we’d love to have you join in!   We’re going to talk about our own homeschools,...

Episode 99:  Celebrate Advent AND Santa Advent can go by in a stressed-out blur, leaving us exhausted by Christmas morning. But there’s a better way, a Catholic way full of delightful traditions, stories, and prayers your family will learn from and love. Today, we are blessed to have bestselling author, Kendra Tierney, here to help us Celebrate Advent AND Santa! Don’t miss this.   Find Kendra Tier...

Episode 98: Good Music Really Matters   Many of us enroll our children in music programs because we want them to have a foundation in music theory, perhaps learn to play an instrument, and ultimately, to be able to appreciate the beauty of musical expression. Today’s extraordinary guest, award-winning composer and author, Michael Kurek, is here to tell us why Good Music Really Matters.   Find Mich...

Episode 97: Homeschooling Dad, Lawyer, and Mystery Author! Homeschooling families are famous for producing precocious kids. But doesn’t it make perfect sense that the parents who raise those amazing kids are totally awesome, too. It’s my delight to have as our guest, today, a fantastic Homeschooling Dad, Lawyer, and Mystery Author, Antony Kolenc!   Find Tony Kolenc here: http://www.antonykolenc.co...

Episode 96: Carrying Crosses and Embracing Joy   Some days, months, even years, it can feel like our crosses and just too heavy, and even the strongest among us can start to lose touch with the joy of our Catholic faith. A wonderful veteran homeschooling mom many of you already know and love, Mary Ellen Barrett, will share with us about Carrying Crosses and Embracing Joy. Don’t miss this.   Find M...

Episode 95:  Celebrate the Holy in Halloween The stores are full of Halloween candy and decorations that suggest a rather pagan celebration, but this is a distinctly Catholic time of year with a fascinating history and delightful traditions just waiting to be enjoyed with our families. Today, we are blessed to have bestselling author, Kendra Tierney, here to help us Celebrate the Holy in Halloween...

Episode 94: DIY Retreats for Homeschooling Moms   It’s not uncommon for busy homeschooling moms to get in the habit of just pushing through their exhaustion, even to the point of burnout. Sometimes we need the help of other women to remind us to take time to rest in the Lord as beloved daughters. Our guest, today, Jenny Bales, is here to share her beautiful DIY Retreats for Homeschooling Moms!   F...

Episode 93: The Paradox of the Prayerful Mom   We can’t help it. We worry, and we suffer because we love. Yet, in the midst of all our trials, we moms can grow in peace, wisdom, and even joy. Annabelle Moseley is here to help us embrace The Paradox of the Prayerful Mom.   Find Annabelle Moseley here: http://www.annabellemoseley.com   LIMITED TIME OFFER until October 15, 2021: Purchase Ave Prayer B...