The Well-Trained Mind podcast

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett respond to listener questions. We also asked listeners to send us their thoughts about things we should be talking about more in the home education community. This episode has a video version! Check it out on YouTube! Note: around 51:27, Susanna mentions this episode , about choosing the right online school. 

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Jose Vargas to the podcast to discuss the future of education in the wake of the AI revolution.  (00:00) - Intro with Jose Vargas (02:42) - The onset of Generative AI (04:51) - Example uses of AI and the drawbacks (09:03) - The levels that Jose works with (10:56) - AI in animation (15:50) - The Student-Teacher dynamic (or lack thereof)...

This week we're re-releasing one of our most popular episodes from last season - we'll be back to new episodes next week! In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Susan’s son, Chris Bauer, for the inside scoop on what it was like to be homeschooled by the author of The Well-Trained Mind .  As promised, here is the "Daniel fingers!" blog post Chris mentions.  At 50:53 Susan m...

  In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett are joined by Heather Quintero to discuss the pros and cons of getting your children diagnosed with learning differences or “labels.”  NPR article Susanna mentioned: Younger children in a grade are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.  Other studies referenced: A 2025 study on diagnostic labels found that students labeled with a learning di...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Nendir Noel to the podcast to discuss classical education, its connection to the proverbial “West,” and a few alarming trends we’ve noticed in the American classical education community.  Website recommended by Susan: https://pharos.vassarspaces.net/   Correction: Cannon Press published Stephen Wolfe “The Case for Christian Nationalism,...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome two of our colleagues, Mel Moore and Bridget Nickerson, for a conversation about ignoring peer pressure and choosing homeschool programs that work for your students.  (00:00) - Intro with Bridget Nickerson and Mel Moore (03:23) - The problem with lists (16:45) - Fear of explusion? (18:28) - Common gatekeeping tactics (25:59) - Break (26...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Dr. Warren Throckmorton onto the podcast to review accuracy of various homeschool curricula.  Links to Warren Throckmorton’s work elsewhere:  Substack: The Throckmorton Initiative Book: Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-Checking Claims About Our Third President  Upcoming book: The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian National...

  In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett are joined by Karen Swallow Prior to discuss selecting university education, particularly for Christians homeschool graduates.  Dr. Prior’s substack  Dr. Prior’s website  You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior  The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a...

  In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett welcome Rachael Denhollander to the podcast to discuss homeschooling and abuse.  Illinois case mentioned in the episode  Book mentioned: Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block  Links on biblical counseling movement When Restoration Hurts via Christianity Today The Rise of Biblical Counseling via Pacific Standard  (00:00) - Introduction with Rac...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett talk about parenting styles and discipline strategies with psychologist and homeschool veteran Dr. Melanie Wilson. Dr. Wilson has her own podcast, The Homeschool Sanity Show . She also sells curricula and homeschool tools at Fun to Learn Books .  (00:00) - Intro with Dr. Melanie Wilson (00:47) - Revisiting FlyLady (01:50) - Discipline and paren...

  In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett talk to Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis the authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families .  Find the book on Amazon Order directly from Baker Bookshop book link   Audible link Instagram: @mburtwrites   |  @kelseykmcginnis Threads: @mburtwrites   |  @kelseykmcg...

  In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett announce the upcoming release of The Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient Times, 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition!  Available everywhere February, 2026!  The audiobook and/or PDF of the main text are available NOW at welltrainedmind.com  Learn more about the Story of the World Vol 1: 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition HERE  (00:00) - An anno...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett react to listener responses to this season’s interview questions! Note on Audio: Due to a technical issue, Susanna’s audio in this episode isn’t as clear as usual. Thanks for bearing with us—we think you’ll still enjoy the conversation! (00:00) - Intro (02:05) - How we're organizing the episode (02:39) - Favorite memories being homeschooled (02...

In this episode, Susan, Susanna (and Susanna's teething one-year-old), interview Colleen Sharpe who went college for the first time after graduating two students from homeschool.  Article by Colleen about her experience starting college at 55 years old.  Research Susan Mentioned: A twenty-year study found that the amount of books available in a home had a bigger impact on a child's level of educat...

We will be back next week with a new episode! In the meantime, enjoy this re-release of our episode featuring Dr. Anika Prather. Show notes:  Dr. Prather’s Website Dr. Anika's Suggested Authors to Include in Your Study of the Cannon:  Octavia Butler  Anna Julia Cooper  James Baldwin  Martin Luther King  Corretta Scott King  Ralph Ellison Richard Wright  Alain Locke  Langston Hughes  Carter G. Wood...

CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions for a chance to be featured on the final episode of this season! In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Dr. Melanie Wilson who has her own podcast for homeschoolers, The Homeschool Sanity Show . She also sells curricula and homeschool tools at Fun to Learn Books .  A book that inspired Melanie: A Field Guid...

CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions for a chance to be featured on the final episode of this season! In this episode, Susan and Susanna chat with Rachel from Seven In All on YouTube! Check out Rachel's YouTube Channel here. She also has her own curriculum and resources available here .  (00:00) - Intro with Rachel (01:38) - Rachel's history and experience with homesc...

CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions! In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview three homeschool veteran moms who also happen to be members of our incredible customer service team here at The Well-Trained Mind Press! 1. Kat discovered homeschooling through the writing of early homeschool thought leader John Holt. Check out his organization and bo...

On this episode, we have two guests, Nathan Otto and Shelby Otto. Nathan and Shelby are homeschool graduates who are both doing amazing work in the sciences. We talk about homeschooling and sibling relationships, community college, and pursuing passions that your parents (and educators) don't have expertise in. CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions for a chance to be f...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Heather Quintero, an early homeschool graduate and homeschool veteran parent. Heather shares her inspiring, and sometimes hilarious, experiences and joins us for a discussion on the importance of allowing your children to fail. (00:00) - Intro with Heather Quintero (00:43) - Heather's homeschool history (14:45) - Journey from then to...

In this episode, we’re joined by Julie Bogart, author and creator of the Brave Writer curriculum. Julie shares laughter, insights, and hard-won wisdom from her years of homeschooling five children. Find Julie Bogart's curriculum at bravewriter.com and her author website at juliebogartwriter.com . Check out her latest book: Help! My Kid Hates Writing: How to Turn Struggling Students into Brave Writ...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview Susan’s son, Chris Bauer, for the inside scoop on what it was like to be homeschooled by the author of The Well-Trained Mind .  As promised, here is the "Daniel fingers!" blog post Chris mentions.  At 50:53 Susan mentions her history growing up in a fundamentalist cult, for more on her story check out Season 1, Episode 1: Our Educatio...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer shares an honest reflection on her journey—from being homeschooled herself to becoming a homeschool parent and a leading voice in the homeschooling community.  As promised in the episode, here is the link to Susan's blog posts about daily life homeschooling four young children!  (00:00) - Welcome to season 4! (01:53) - Susan's homeschooling story (13:28) - Susan's...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett finish their discussion about college admissions for homeschoolers with two homeschool college admissions experts, Holly Ramsey and Michele Evard.  Holly Ramsey’s Website Michele Evard’s Website  Holly and Michele’s Book (Use promo code: HOMESCHOOL10 for 10% off the book and everything else College UnMazed sells) Show Notes:  2:06 Holly recomme...

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett discuss what NOT to do when navigating the college admissions process as a homeschool family. They are joined by two educational consultants and college admissions experts, Holly Ramsey and Michele Evard. Show Notes:  Holly Ramsey’s Website Michele Evard’s Website  Holly and Michele’s Book (Use promo code: HOMESCHOOL10 for 10% off the book and...