Alt on Alt

This week’s guest is someone who’s been shaping young minds—and mine—for decades: my mom, Gittel Goodman. We trace her journey from growing up in a family of educators, to starting her own preschool at the age of 21, to now running a program that blends...

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Rice—who also happens to be my dad. We trace his educational journey and unpack the ways pedagogy can go wrong. We also dive into the role of mythos in shaping a meaningful life, and wander into plenty...

In this episode, I talk with Lucas, one of the longest-running students at Rock Tree Sky—basically part of the furniture at this point, in the best possible way. Lucas has been around since the early days, and his perspective is uniquely shaped by watching RTS...

In this first episode from Rock Tree Sky, I sit down with Juniper, a teen who made the leap from conventional high school into the wide-open world of self-directed learning. Her reason? She wanted more agency and less alarm-clock dread. We talk about what it’s...

In this final episode from The Open School (before I head up to another learning center called Rock Tree Sky) I sit down with Odin, a student whose life on the road shaped his approach to learning. After spending a year and a half traveling...

In this episode, I sit down with Blake, a student at The Open School, to talk about following their own thread—literally. Blake shares how they’ve been able to dive deep into their love of textiles and sewing within the self-directed environment, what support looks like...

In this episode, I talk with Theo, a current student at The Open School, about what it’s like to grow up inside self-directed education. We get into the daily rhythms of a school without formal classes, grades, or teachers telling you what to do. Theo...

In this episode, I sit down with Colin, a graduate of the Open School, to explore his journey in self-directed education. We talk about his experiences in the Sudbury model environment, the freedom and challenges, participating in democratic school governance, and how this unique educational...

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan & M.J. to explore their journeys in self-directed education. We talk about the freedom and challenges of learning on their own terms, the communities that support them, and what excites them most about this approach. Check out...

In this episode, I chat with Luke & Nora to dive into their experiences with self-directed education at the Alcove Learning Center. We discuss what makes their learning environment unique, how they navigate daily life without a traditional school structure, and what fuels their curiosity....