Radical Learning Talks

What happens when a child grows up knowing they're trusted? How does it shape the way they think, learn, relate to others and imagine their future?

In this special episode, we sit down with Becka's son, Teo, who has been unschooling since the age of ten. Together, we explore his experience of leaving school, the healing process of deschooling, growing up as a neurodivergent young person and what freedom, trust and authentic relationships have meant in his life.

Teo shares thoughtful reflections on learning, creativity, technology, parenting and why he believes children don't need more control—they need more trust. Along the way, we also discuss the parent-child relationship, emotional safety, autonomy and what it feels like to grow up without many of the expectations that shape conventional childhood.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply wondering what becomes possible when children are deeply trusted, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the perspective of a young person who's lived it.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• What happens when you trust your child?
• What is it really like to grow up unschooling?
• How does deschooling help children heal?
• What do neurodivergent children need to thrive?
• How can parents build trust instead of control?
• What role should parents play in their children's lives?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

How much screen time is too much? And is the amount of time really the most important question to ask?

Few parenting topics create as much anxiety as screens. From video games and YouTube to social media and Minecraft, many parents worry about what screens are doing to their children. But what if we began somewhere else—not with rules or limits, but with curiosity?

In this episode, we explore why "screen time" is far more complex than it first appears. We discuss the different needs children meet through technology, how our own fears influence the decisions we make, and why understanding what our children are actually doing on a screen matters far more than simply counting the hours.

We also reflect on social media, online safety, digital literacy, self-regulation and how honest conversations can help children develop a healthier relationship with technology over time.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply trying to navigate screens with more confidence and less conflict, this episode offers a thoughtful, balanced perspective that moves beyond the usual debate.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• How much screen time is too much?
• Should I limit my child's screen time?
• What are children actually learning through screens?
• How can I help my child develop a healthy relationship with technology?
• How do I talk to my child about YouTube and social media?
• How can curiosity replace fear when it comes to screens?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

Should children have a choice in the decisions that affect them? And what happens when we begin treating consent as something that belongs in everyday family life—not just conversations about our bodies?

Many of us think about consent in terms of physical touch. But what if consent also shaped the way we make plans, solve conflicts, set boundaries and build relationships with our children?

In this episode, we explore what consent-based parenting really means and why it's about much more than saying "yes" or "no." We discuss power, control, bodily autonomy, everyday decision-making and how asking for consent can strengthen trust, cooperation and connection within families. We also reflect on the fears that make consent feel difficult and why giving children a voice doesn't mean giving up our role as parents.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply trying to build a more respectful relationship with your child, this conversation offers a practical and thought-provoking invitation to move from power over to power with.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• Should children have a choice?
• What is consent-based parenting?
• How can I parent without relying on control?
• What's the difference between power over and power with?
• How do I respect my child's boundaries while still meeting my responsibilities?
• How does consent help children become confident and self-directed?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

Can changing yourself change your child? What if the biggest shift in your parenting isn't about finding the right school, method or community—but about transforming the relationship you have with your child?

In this deeply honest conversation, we're joined by Liz Neuenschwander, who shares her journey from conventional schooling to worldschooling, unschooling and, ultimately, discovering that lasting change begins within ourselves. What started as a search for a better education for her son became a much deeper journey of questioning fear, control, trust and the parenting patterns she had inherited.

Together, we explore what it means to move from trying to manage our children to becoming curious about them, why relationships can't be outsourced to schools or programs, and how trust grows when children experience empathy, consent and emotional safety. Liz also reflects on the courage it takes to challenge old beliefs, the importance of community, and the ongoing work of becoming the parent she wants to be.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply longing for a more connected relationship with your child, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the greatest transformation often starts with us.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• Can changing yourself change your child?
• Why can't parenting be outsourced?
• How do we build trust after years of control and fear?
• What role do empathy and consent play in family relationships?
• How do we stop repeating inherited parenting patterns?
• Why is our own inner work so important when raising children?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

Are your parenting decisions coming from trust—or from fear? And how can you tell the difference?

Fear shows up in parenting in ways we don't always recognize. It can sound like wanting to protect our children, prepare them for the future or make sure they don't fall behind. But underneath those concerns, there is often something deeper: a fear of uncertainty, a fear of getting it wrong, or a fear of what might happen if we let go of control.

In this episode, we explore how fear influences the way we parent, the stories we inherit from our families and culture, and why trust is one of the most important foundations of healthy relationships. We reflect on how our own fears can unintentionally limit our children's freedom, confidence and ability to trust themselves, and what it takes to choose courage instead.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply hoping to build a more connected relationship with your child, this conversation invites you to look honestly at what is driving your parenting—and how small shifts toward trust can change everything.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• Are you parenting from fear or trust?
• How do our fears shape the way we raise our children?
• Why is trust so important in parenting?
• How can we support our children without controlling them?
• How do we stop passing our own fears on to the next generation?
• What does it mean to choose courage over certainty?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

Why doesn't your child seem interested in learning after leaving school? Why do they only want to play, rest or spend time on screens? And is something actually wrong—or could this be a healthy part of the healing process?

Many parents expect that once school is no longer part of the picture, their children will immediately become curious, motivated and excited to learn. But for many families, the opposite happens first.

In this episode, we explore what deschooling really is and why it's one of the most important—and often misunderstood—parts of the transition away from conventional education. We discuss why children often need time to recover from years of external control, how adults go through their own deschooling process, and why reconnecting with trust, autonomy and our inner compass takes patience.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply questioning the role of school in your family's life, this conversation offers a compassionate introduction to deschooling as a process of healing, growth and liberation.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• What is deschooling?
• Why doesn't my child want to do anything after leaving school?
• Is it normal for children to spend lots of time on screens while deschooling?
• Why do parents need to deschool too?
• How long does the deschooling process take?
• How can I support my child's healing without getting in the way?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

What does unschooling actually look like in everyday family life? Is it complete freedom, no structure—or something much more nuanced?

In this episode, we're joined by Merry MacIvor Andersen, who grew up unschooled and is now unschooling her own two children. Through her unique perspective as both an unschooled child and an unschooling parent, she shares the joys, challenges and complexities of raising children outside the conventional education system.

Together, we explore trust, responsibility, self-awareness, community and the courage it takes to follow a different path. Merry reflects honestly on the freedoms she experienced growing up, the responsibilities she carried too early, and the ways she's choosing to parent differently with her own children.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply curious about what self-directed learning looks like in real life, this conversation offers a thoughtful and refreshingly honest glimpse into one family's journey.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• What does unschooling really look like?
• Can children learn without school?
• How do you trust your child to direct their own learning?
• What are the biggest challenges of unschooling?
• Why is community so important for parents?
• How do we raise children without relying on fear and shame?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

Can children really direct their own learning? If nobody is telling them what to study, how do they learn the skills they'll need for life?

This question sits at the heart of self-directed education—a growing movement built on the belief that human beings are naturally curious, capable and motivated to learn when they're trusted and supported.

In this episode, we explore what self-directed education actually means, how it differs from conventional schooling, and why approaches like unschooling, Agile Learning Centers and democratic schools all belong under the same broad umbrella. We also discuss intrinsic motivation, curiosity, play, trust and why learning looks different for every child.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply wondering if there's another way to support your child's education, this conversation offers an accessible introduction to one of the most exciting shifts happening in education today.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• Can children really direct their own learning?
• What is self-directed education?
• How do children learn without school?
• What's the difference between self-directed education and unschooling?
• Why is curiosity so important for learning?
• How can parents support learning without controlling it?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list

Is there another way to raise our kids? What if the challenges so many families experience aren't caused by individual children—but by the way we've learned to think about parenting, education and relationships?

In this very first episode of Radical Learning Talks, we introduce the ideas that have shaped everything we've created since. We share our own journeys into self-directed education, why we began questioning conventional schooling, and how those questions led us to something much bigger than alternative education.

Together, we explore what we call The Shift—a move away from fear, control and compliance, and toward trust, freedom, curiosity and more connected relationships. We reflect on why questioning inherited beliefs matters, what children can teach us about learning, and why meaningful change begins with the courage to imagine something different.

Whether you're homeschooling, home educating, unschooling or simply wondering if there's another way to support your child, this conversation is an invitation to rethink what learning, parenting and community can become.

Some of the questions and ideas we explore include:

• Is there another way to raise and educate our kids?
• Why do so many families begin questioning school?
• What is self-directed education?
• What is The Shift?
• Why are trust and relationships so important for learning?
• How can questioning our assumptions change the way we parent?

Looking for support as you navigate learning outside school? Explore free masterclasses, resources, and a community of parents asking similar questions → Join UN-SKOOL

Wondering what keeps shaping your reactions when parenting gets hard? → Discover Your Parenting Archetype

Have a parenting, homeschooling, or unschooling question? Send it to us and we may answer it in an upcoming newsletter: → Dear Sari & Becka

→ Follow us on Instagram and come hang out with us between episodes.

→ Check out our website and explore more of our work, resources, and support.

Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot. See the full list