What is the difference between using AI as a tool and using it as a shortcut? Jessica Frierson, a homeschool graduate, homeschool mom of 10, and graphic design professor, joins Nancy Manos to talk about preparing children for a world shaped by artificial intelligence. Jessica shares how she moved from resisting AI to using it thoughtfully, why homeschooling is about formation and not just information, and why struggle is essential to real learning. They also talk about the foundational skills teens need and how families can set honest, thoughtful guidelines around AI use in schoolwork. Jessica offers encouragement for parents who feel behind, reminding them that they do not need to master every new technology to guide their children wisely.

Jessica Frierson is a homeschool graduate from western North Carolina. She and her husband, Ernie, homeschool their ten children, with seven graduates and three remaining. Jessica is a writer, graphic designer, and graphic design professor. She is also the media director for North Carolinians for Home Education. Jessica’s journey as both a student and teacher have provided a unique perspective on the value of homeschooling in fostering creativity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

https://nche.com  

AI can save time, support meaningful work, and even help spread the Gospel. But what happens when we welcome it into our homes without asking enough questions? Nancy Manos talks with Misty Phillip, cybersecurity executive and author of The Trojan Horse of the Digital Age, about biblical discernment, privacy risks, family guardrails, deepfakes, and protecting real human connection. You will come away with practical ways to keep AI in its proper place while preparing your children with wisdom instead of fear.

Misty Phillip is a best-selling author, cybersecurity and AI executive, podcast host, and faith leader who helps people and organizations navigate the intersection of technology, faith, and leadership with wisdom and discernment.

Before entering technology leadership, Misty left a promising Enron consulting career to homeschool her three sons for more than twenty years, building a life centered on faith, family, and intentional purpose. She later founded Spark Media, a platform that empowered thousands of Christian podcasters through conferences, publications, and community.

Her co-authored title "Upskill or Die: Thriving in the AI Revolution" reached the top Amazon charts alongside her newest and most timely work, "The Trojan Horse of the Digital Age: Why Christians Must Discern AI," released March 17, 2026.

https://mistyphillip.com

BONUS RESOURCE - TROJAN HORSE COMPANION APP: Misty also wanted listeners to know about the Trojan Horse Companion app, a free companion to her book with chapter guides, a 90-day devotional, and a free Digital Discernment Assessment, all kept private on your device with no accounts or cloud sync. It's built to work alongside the book, not replace it. Available free in the app store.

The fourth industrial revolution is changing the world our kids will grow up in, but what they need most has not changed. Nancy Manos sits down with Lisa Nehring, founder of True North Academy, to consider what it means to raise children with character, resilience, and creativity in the age of AI.

Lisa is the founder of  True North Academy, offering 2nd- 12th grade live online and self-paced classes as well as a cutting edge Dual Degree program, (students can earn a high school diploma and an accredited Bachelor’s Degree concurrently)! At TNA you can find ebooks, testing, advising, workshops and more!

Lisa also owns It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool where she podcasts, blogs reviews curriculum, provides community and offers parents the encouragement and support they need to navigate homeschooling.

WEBSITE: True North Homeschool Academy 

AI can be useful for your homeschool family, but it cannot replace wisdom, relationships, values, or real-life experience. Nancy Manos talks with Dan Sanchez, an AI educator, podcaster, and Christian homeschool dad, about how he uses AI in family life, what he limits for his kids and teens, and how parents can approach AI with clear priorities and biblical wisdom. This conversation offers practical encouragement for Christian homeschool families learning how to think wisely about AI, technology, and the future.

Dan Sanchez is a marketer, educator, and podcast host who helps marketing teams figure out where AI fits and where it doesn’t. He’s known for breaking down complex ideas into practical strategies and for asking the questions most people are too busy to ask. Through his podcast The AI-Driven Marketer, Dan shares real-world experiments, smart workflows, and honest conversations about what it actually takes to thrive as a marketer in the age of AI. Dan and his wife, Amy, are Christian homeschool parents of four who live in Tennessee. 

WEBSITE: https://danchez.com

What happens when children use AI before they learn to think, research, write, and wrestle through hard things?

Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Presenting around the world, he addresses issues relating to teaching, writing, thinking, and spelling with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills. Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan (Suzuki Method) and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him “the funny man with the wonderful words.” He and his beautiful, heroic wife, Robin, homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of nineteen, making their home in Northeastern Oklahoma’s picturesque Green Country.

In a world of rapidly changing technology, our kids still need what AI can never replace: real connection.

Nancy Manos and Dr. Melanie Wilson, a Christian psychologist turned homeschool mom of six, discuss social skills, mental health, and AI. You’ll learn warning signs to watch for, what kids may really be seeking when they turn to AI for connection, and how to guide them with compassion and discernment. Melanie also shares creative, low-stakes ways homeschool families can explore AI together with confidence.

Dr. Melanie Wilson is a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. All six have graduated and attended college. She credits God and her husband of 30+ years for the time to write, speak, and homeschool, too. While she doesn’t practice anymore, she does share sanity-saving ideas on her podcast, The Homeschool Sanity Show. Melanie is the author of multiple story-based curricula--Grammar Galaxy, Fast Grammar, Training Aliens, and Reel Life. Melanie is passionate about encouraging mothers in their homeschooling, family life, and faith. In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking, tennis, and reading.

https://homeschoolsanity.com

How can AI help a busy homeschool family without adding more complexity?

Stephanie Price, a homeschool mom of five, joins Nancy to discuss practical ways AI can simplify everyday life. From meal planning and scheduling to activities for her children, Stephanie shares simple ideas that save time and create more margin for what matters most. Together, Nancy and Stephanie discuss using AI thoughtfully, protecting family priorities, and making technology work for you rather than the other way around.

Stephanie Price is a homeschool mama of five doing her best to cultivate a peaceful, joyful, and slow-paced life … even with five kids under nine (so, you know, “peaceful” is relative). She loves homeschooling because it gives her precious time with her kids and the flexibility for the lifestyle she and her husband have built over 13 years of marriage.

mamaIseeyou.com

How do we prepare our children for a future shaped by AI without outsourcing the skills that matter most?

Dr. Seann Dikkers joins Nancy to explore what it means to raise discerning children as AI becomes more woven into everyday life. Together they discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI, the value of real-world learning, and practical ways parents can lead with confidence.

Before our children learn to use powerful tools, they need to learn how to think, discern, and engage with the world around them.

Seann M. Dikkers, MEd, PhD is a husband and father of two homeschool graduates, with over thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, professor, pastor, curriculum designer, researcher, and author. His latest book, Play More: A Case for Play, presents a biblical framework for understanding play as a God-designed tool for learning.

A passionate advocate for faith-based, parent-led education, purposeful play, and a balanced use of digital media, Seann currently serves as Executive Director of Portals Education—a K–12 curriculum providing project-based (or “playful”) daily lesson plans designed to empower parent educators.

Hosted by Nancy Manos, this podcast helps homeschool families navigate AI and technology with wisdom, discernment, and confidence, without the hype, fear, or pressure to have it all figured out.

In this trailer episode, Nancy shares the heart behind the podcast, why these conversations matter for homeschool families, and how we can prepare our children for a rapidly changing world while staying grounded in truth, character, and faith.

Whether you're curious, cautious, overwhelmed, or simply trying to think carefully about AI and your homeschool, you're in the right place.

Subscribe now and join the conversation.