Is Homeschooling Affordable? Real Talk on Money, Access & Making It Work

Is homeschooling just for the wealthy? Ashley breaks it down...sharing how real families make it work with creativity, community, and zero shame. From $10 rec center basketball to free curriculum swaps, this episode is for anyone building a homeschool life on a budget. We also check privilege and talk about why support matters just as much as money.

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In this episode of the "Secular Homeschool Revolution," host Ashley tackles the idea of indoctrination in progressive homeschooling. She argues that all education passes on values. Progressive homeschoolers, she says, intentionally "indoctrinate" their kids with empathy, critical thinking, a love for justice, and a desire for truth. This contrasts with traditional systems that can promote ignorance and bias.

esources for the Revolution:

Podcasts:

• Secular Homeschooling with Blair & Amy: Focuses on secular academics, decolonizing curriculum, and critical thinking.

• Honey! I'm Homeschooling the Kids: Covers child-led learning and progressive approaches.

Documentaries:

• "Teach Us All" (Netflix): Explores educational inequality in the U.S.

Books:

• "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by Paulo Freire: A core text on liberatory education and critical thinking.

In this episode of Secular Homeschool Revolution, host Ashley gets real about the difference between performative parenting and actual growth when it comes to gender and pronouns.

Let’s be honest..most of us didn’t grow up with this language. So yes, there will be mistakes. But guess what? That’s not the end of the world. What matters is how we handle them.

Ashley breaks down what toxic apologies sound like, how to model real accountability, and how to weave pronoun respect into your homeschool in natural, everyday ways. And if you’re still learning (and you should be), there’s a full list of books, Instagram follows, and resources to support both you and your kids.

This isn’t about being perfect.

🧠 Mentioned Resources Include:

• They She He Me

🎧 Listen now and start raising kids who respect identity like it’s second nature.

In this Pride Month episode, Ashley breaks down what it means to raise intentional LGBTQIA+ allies in a progressive, BIPOC-centered homeschool. From reading queer-affirming picture books with 4-year-old Langston to deep accountability convos with 12-year-old Parker, this episode is all about centering queer joy, amplifying marginalized voices, and raising kids who show up with love and courage — not just in June, but always.

✨ Glitter, books, and justice — this is how we raise the revolution. Happy Pride, fam!

📚 Books Featured

Ages 3–6:

• They, She, He, Me: Free to Be! – Maya & Matthew

Ages 7–10:

• When Aidan Became a Brother – Kyle Lukoff

Ages 10+:

• Too Bright to See – Kyle Lukoff

Cringe moments, friend drama, weird YouTube crushes—we see it all up close as homeschool parents. In this episode, I talk about the beauty in staying present through the messy parts, letting natural consequences teach, and choosing connection over control. It's awkward, it's real, and it's part of raising whole humans

In this episode of Secular Homeschool Revolution, Ashley dives into why teaching about immigration is a must in any justice-centered homeschool. Immigration isn’t just politics—it’s personal. It’s about real people, real stories, and the way families navigate new beginnings, loss, identity, and hope. Ashley breaks down how teaching immigration helps kids grow in empathy, critical thinking, and historical awareness—and why it matters especially in secular, progressive spaces.

She also shares a fantastic free resource from the Immigration History Research Center—a 3-part lesson plan that explores:

• What immigration is

Plus, Ashley gives a list of powerful middle grade and elementary books that help bring these lessons to life through storytelling—including Front Desk, Esperanza Rising, Efrén Divided, and Dreamers.

Whether you’re looking to expand your curriculum or just want to have deeper conversations at home, this episode is full of heart, resources, and real talk about raising compassionate kids who care about the world.

Most homeschooling spaces lean conservative, and that includes many BIPOC homeschooling communities. But what happens when you're a progressive homeschooler who doesn’t fit into the traditional mold? In this episode, we're unpacking why this podcast is intentionally for progressive Black and Brown homeschoolers, how Christian conservatism has shaped BIPOC homeschooling spaces, and why it’s crucial to create learning environments rooted in truth, justice, and liberation.

We’ll talk about the conservative stronghold in our own communities, the role of religion in pushing racism, misogyny, and homophobia, and the importance of carving out spaces where we don’t have to justify our values. Because not all skin folk are kin folk, and we don’t always fit—but that doesn’t mean we don’t belong.

Tune in and let’s build something different.

Is feminism a necessary part of homeschooling? Absolutely. In this episode of Secular Homeschool Revolution, we dive into why feminism matters in education, how it impacts both boys and girls, and why power should be shared—not hoarded.

We explore:

As homeschoolers, we have a unique opportunity to create a more just and equitable world—starting in our own homes. Tune in for practical tips, book recommendations, and real talk on raising kids who won’t just fit into the world as it is, but help shape it into something better.

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In this episode of Secular Homeschool Revolution, 8-year-old host Cari takes us on a wild ride through the history of women’s voting rights and financial independence—with plenty of sass along the way! 💥

Did you know women weren’t legally allowed to vote in the U.S. until 1920? And that some women—especially Black, Indigenous, and other women of color—were still blocked from voting for decades? 😡 Oh, and get this—women couldn’t even open their own bank accounts until 1974. EXCUSE ME?!

Cari breaks it all down, spilling the tea on the suffrage movement (including its messy side) and why voting rights STILL matter today. And if you’re up for a deep dive, check out The Vote (PBS American Experience)—it’s a great documentary for learning the real history.

In this special episode of Secular Homeschool Revolution, our youngest guest host, 8 year old Cari, takes the mic to talk about why Stonewall matters during Women’s History Month! Cari shares the story of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera...two incredible trans women of color who helped start a revolution for LGBTQ+ rights. With curiosity and heart, she explores why their fight for equality is part of women’s history and why we should all remember their contributions.

Tune in for a short but powerful episode as Cari reminds us that history is about everyone.