Art, creativity, and AI might seem like an unusual combination, but this conversation with artist and homeschool mom Julie Abels is full of practical ideas and encouragement. Nancy and Julie talk about where AI can genuinely help with homeschool art, from brainstorming and reference images to critique and problem-solving, without replacing the observation, practice, imagination, and hands-on creating that make art so valuable. Julie brings a refreshingly optimistic perspective that makes this a thoughtful and encouraging conversation for homeschool parents.

https://nancymanos.com/podcast/013-julie-abels

Julie Abels is an artist, author, art instructor, and art curriculum creator based in Tucson, Arizona. She is the founder of Ridge Light Ranch and creator of Anyone Can Teach Art, where she helps homeschool parents, co-op teachers, and classroom educators teach meaningful art lessons with confidence, even when they are not artists themselves.

After earning a BS and MBA and working in the corporate world, Julie began homeschooling in 2012. Her experience with the classical model of education changed the way she approached learning art and eventually led her to create art lessons, classes, a podcast, and the book Anyone Can Teach Art: How to Confidently Teach Art in Your Classical Homeschool. Julie also creates her own artwork, especially watercolor, and teaches local art classes for both children and adults.

Ridge Light Ranch: https://ridgelightranch.com

What could AI actually help you with as a homeschool parent? Join Nancy for ten simple, practical ideas for using AI to lighten your load. You’ll find ideas for planning your week, adapting lessons, meal planning, field trips, hands-on activities, and more.

Have you ever had one of those weeks when the schedule you so carefully created completely falls apart? AI may be able to help you sort through what still needs to happen, decide what can wait, and get your week back on track. Or maybe you want fresh ideas to make a lesson come alive with a hands-on activity or field trip. What if you’re trying to explain something to your child and the way you’ve been teaching it just isn’t clicking? AI can be a great brainstorming partner there, too.

Think of AI as an assistant that can help you get unstuck, save time, and make room for what matters most. You may be surprised by how many little ways AI can make your homeschool days easier.

Technology continues to change, but our calling as parents remains the same.

Nancy Manos and Israel Wayne discuss how Christian homeschool families can prepare children for a world shaped by AI without responding with fear or simply relying on rules and filters. Together, they consider what technology gives us, what it may take away, and why parents must remain a strong influence in their children’s lives.

This encouraging conversation points families back to discipleship, relationship, character, and confidence that God is not surprised by this moment in history.

Israel Wayne is an author and conference speaker who has a passion for defending the Christian faith and promoting a Biblical worldview. He is the author of the books Questions God Asks, Questions Jesus Asks , Pitchin’ a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed-Out Parenting, Education: Does God Have an Opinion?, Answers for Homeschooling: Top 25 Questions Critics Ask, Raising Them Up: Parenting for Christians, Foundations in Faith.and Foundational Truths. He is also the site editor for ChristianWorldview.net and the founder of Family Renewal.

Since 1995, Israel has traveled the nation speaking on family, homeschooling, apologetics, spiritual awakening, discipleship, and cultural issues. .Israel and his wife Brook (both homeschooled graduates) were joined in marriage in 1999 and have 11 homeschooled children. They live in Southwest Michigan. 

FamilyRenewal.org

How do we prepare children well for life in the age of AI without introducing technology too early? Heather Haupt, a homeschool graduate and homeschooling mom of five, with three graduates so far, joins Nancy Manos to talk about how we can approach technology wisely and intentionally as our children grow.

Heather’s older children grew up with very limited screen time, yet they had little difficulty learning to use smartphones, apps, and AI when work and life eventually required them. Heather also shares her own journey from AI skeptic to using ChatGPT to plan swim lessons for her six-year-old.

Nancy and Heather also discuss the importance of movement, curiosity, reading whole books, real-world learning, integrity, and making sure technology does not replace the work of learning. Be sure to listen to the end for Heather’s simple but powerful advice for making room for the activities and experiences that matter most to your family.

https://nancymanos.com/podcast/011-heather-haupt

Heather Haupt is a homeschool mother of five, with three of them graduated. Recognizing the brevity of childhood and the power of a parent’s influence, Heather both inspires and equips families toward intentional parenting, pursuing God, and delighting in the adventure of learning through a developmentally appropriate approach to education. She is the author of Knights-in-Training: Ten Principles for Raising Honorable, Courageous, and Compassionate Boys, The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks, and co-author of the GO TOGETHER curriculum.

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